Wow, where do I even start with "The Best of All" by Karla Sorensen? This book had me hooked from the first page! A decade-old animosity between Liam Davies and Zoe Valentine makes for such a juicy setup, especially when they’re thrown together as co-guardians of their mutual best friends' adorable toddler, Mira.

Liam, a professional football player with a tough past, thinks he's not cut out to be a father. His defense on the field is top-notch, but when it comes to relationships, he's got his guard up big time. Zoe, on the other hand, is an optimistic romantic who's always dreamed of a fairy-tale life. She might be dizzy over Liam's biceps and can't stop thinking about his lips, but let's be real—he's not exactly Prince Charming.

Their journey as unexpected co-guardians is nothing short of heartwarming and hilarious. The way they discover new things about each other, the sparks flying, and the sizzling chemistry—it’s just too good! Liam’s brooding Brit charm combined with Zoe’s sunny optimism creates a dynamic that’s both entertaining and touching.

Mira, the pint-size surprise, is the glue that holds everything together. Her presence brings out the best in both Liam and Zoe, turning their house into a home. The challenges they face and the way they overcome them together make for a story that's full of heart, laughter, and a few tears.

Karla Sorensen has crafted a tale that’s impossible to put down. The banter, the emotional depth, and the sizzling romance are all on point. I laughed, I cried, and I swooned—sometimes all in the same chapter. This book is a must-read for anyone who loves a good enemies-to-lovers story with a side of adorable toddler antics.

If you haven't picked up "The Best of All" yet, do yourself a favor and dive in. It's a beautiful story about love, family, and finding home in unexpected places. I can’t wait to see what Karla Sorensen has in store for us next!

𝚁𝚞𝚒𝚗𝚎𝚍 𝚒𝚗 𝚝𝚑𝚎 𝙱𝚎𝚜𝚝 𝚆𝚊𝚢!!🩷

✨𝔸ℝℂ ℝ𝕖𝕧𝕚𝕖𝕨📚
♾️🧜🏼‍♀️🖤 (top read of the year)
🌶️ (1/5)


Every single part of this book I adored! From the grumpiness and stand-offish nature of Liam to watching him heal while caring for Mira. Who was the most adore little girl!

The dynamic + banter between Liam + Zoe was perfection. Their dislike for each other made for the best tension. Then when she realizes he never hated her, chefs kiss!! And the slow burn 🫠🥵

I truly played this story over-and-over in my head well after finishing it. 😍 The way Karla writes grief + healing is everything I love about her writing.

𝚃𝚑𝚊𝚗𝚔 𝚢𝚘𝚞 Karla & NetGalley for allowing me the early reading opportunity! I’m so honored to be a part of your team! 🩵

The Best of All by Karla Sorensen
(2025/03/09)
Rating 4/5 Stars
Disclaimer: All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thanks to the author Karla Sorensen Montlake and Netgalley for an e-arc copy of this book. Read this if you like . . .
☆ Grumpy x sunshine
☆ Hate to Love
☆ Found Family
This contemporary romance delivers a gut-punch of emotion, humor, and reluctant connection as it throws together two enemies-turned-co-parents in the wake of unimaginable loss.

Zoe Valentine, a hopeless romantic with a heart as soft as her bookish dreams, finds herself entangled with Liam Davies, a gruff NFL player with zero interest in happy endings—unless they're on the scoreboard. But when their mutual best friends die suddenly and leave behind their toddler, Mira, Zoe and Liam are named co-guardians and are forced into close quarters and even closer emotional territory.

Liam, a walking wall of emotional armor, harbors deep wounds from his childhood and doesn't believe he's capable of being the kind of father Mira needs—or the kind of partner Zoe deserves. But Zoe sees more in him than he ever has. Through sleepless nights, toddler tantrums, and moments of unexpected tenderness, these two broken people begin to rebuild something not only for Mira, but for themselves.

This book beautifully balances grief and healing, humor and heartache, and romance and responsibility. The slow burn is excruciating in the best way, and every interaction between Liam and Zoe simmers with repressed desire and mutual growth. Zoe’s sunshine optimism balances Liam’s emotional reserve, making their eventual union that much more satisfying.

If you're a fan of character-driven romance that tugs at your heartstrings and celebrates the messy, beautiful journey of becoming a family, this one's for you.

TW: Death and Grief, domestic violence (mentioned).

***5 Stars***

I DEVOURED this baby!

I actually kinda sorta forgot I had this one the TBR until Liam was mentioned in Lessons in Heartbreak and had a full on “Oh Shoot” moment and made the decision to read it after my review for Lessons was done…and I did and finished this baby in a day ~ which doesn’t happen all that often.

I adored Zoe from the start. She didn’t hesitate to be there for Mira, even as she was dealing with her own heartbreak at losing her friends. I loved her sass and sweetness and how she didn’t back down. Liam, I didn’t not like him upon first experiencing him, I was in “let’s wait and see” mode with him because even with his gruff and grumpy nature, there was heart and as things progressed I ended up loving the guy…but much of that has to do with Mira. Mira was a rockstar in this story, especially when it comes to showing Liam’s softer side, but to experience her going through the loss of her parents was all kinds of heartbreaking. So to watch as these three, who lost two of the most important people in their lives, become a family was definitely a journey, but one that made my heart happy in the end.

Not to be a broken record, but I just really enjoyed this book. There was a good balance of humorous and heartbreaking moments and it was just one of those reads that I couldn’t put down and will probably do a re-read of at some point down the road.

The Best of All has a sweet premise and some charming moments, especially for fans of small-town romance and sports themes. Karla Sorensen writes likable characters with good chemistry, and the story has that cozy, feel-good vibe. That said, some of the plot points felt a bit familiar, and the pacing was slow in spots. It’s not groundbreaking, but if you enjoy light, low-drama romance with a heartwarming touch, it’s a solid pick.

This was such a fantastic listen. It was emotional, sweet, and had so much heart. Zoe and Liam’s start is so rocky, but I loved how they came together to raise Mira after her parents’ deaths. While Liam was slow to come on board, I loved how he gave pieces of himself to Mira slowly along the way. They shared so many cute moments and Mira almost sole the entire show. With such a difficult past, his grumpiness is understandable and even a little endearing. Zoe was a wonderful character. She was strong and gave her all to raise Mira while also making room in their lives for Liam to step up. The dynamic between Liam and Zoe made this story un-put-down-able. The tension was so thick you could cut it with a knife and as they began to open up and get to know one another their rocky start didn’t matter so much. I really enjoyed how they went from enemies to friends to eventual lovers in this slow burn, forced proximity, sports romance. This story will make you fall in love all over again and have you sitting with your feels.

In audio, this story was an absolute treat. I enjoyed it for hours on end and really had a tough time putting it down. Samantha Brentmoor and Shane East were amazing opposite one another and they both have the cutest kid voices which really brought Mira to life as much as the MCs. I enjoyed this standalone so much that I immediately snapped up the audio for the first book in this series. I can’t wait to see what that story has in store for me. I’ve long been a fan of Karla’s writing and this book just made me want to cozy up with her other newer releases.

🩷 T H E B E S T O F A L L 🩷 by Karla Sorensen

There are so many things I love about this book, the tropes, the pining, the grump x sunshine and a gorgeous little girl at the heart of the story.
Zoe and Liam are not strangers, yet neither are they friends. Connected by mutual best friends, Chris and Amie, Zoe and Liam are in the periphery of each other’s lives … until tragedy strikes and they are appointed mutual guardians of Amie and Chris’ little girl, Mira.
Mira loves ducks, is strong willed, fun and is grieving for her parents. Dealing with their own loss, Liam and Zoe are thrust into this new role of caregivers where they are navigating it all, including how they feel about the other. The author writes with sensitivity and care as Zoe, Liam and Mira live with their grief and boy was this an emotional read. I had tears numerous times, as well as moments of laughter . This must have been an emotional story to write, it is raw and real, a page-turner that kept me reading in one sitting. And the tropes, all the ones I love!

🩷Forced proximity
🩷Grumpy British hero
🩷Sunshine FMC
🩷He falls first

The Best of All is the second book in Karla Sorensen’s The Best Men series and is out now! I loved it.

Thanks to the author and Netgalley for my early copy I received. This is my honest review.

This book.
Whew!
Ok, so I'm always up for books with kids involved. As a newly single mom myself, it's great to see some of the realities of life on the page even though fiction is meant to be an escape.

In this book the author delivered so much I loved. Between the interactions between the main characters, the handling of grief, and the building romance, I felt immersed in this world. It took me far too long to read - I'm a terrible mood reader - but I'm so glad I came back around to it.

I also need to go back to read book one in the series at some point. Heck, maybe all of Karla's back list at this point since she has more sports romances.

Would definitely recommend to others, especially for a the 'he falls first' aspect, which I know has become popular.

Thank you to the author and team for the free copy. :)

I loved this book and I couldn't put it down once I started reading it. This book keeps you on your toes as you are reading because you don't know what is going to happen next. This book was amazing so add it to your TBR and you wont be disappointed.

Unfortunately I was unable to download this book before the archive date, so I'm not able to leave a review. I look forward to reading and reviewing books by this author in the future.

Karla Sorensen ate this book up. The synopsis enticed me and didn't lead me astray. I loved the slow burn and sexual chemistry between the pair!

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Fav Quote:

“I’d see that smile in my sleep, no fucking doubt about it. I’d see it stamped behind my eyes when I closed them. I’d feel it carved into my chest.”

I fell in love with this book easily, and couldn’t stop reading it once I started. Karla Sorensen crafted a story that hits right in the feels, and doesn’t let up. I became immediately invested, and by the end felt like the characters were a part of me. I laughed, I cried, and was so emotionally caught up that I finished this one quickly, and loved every bit. The angst is so SO good.

Liam and Zoe are the MCs, and the story unfolds when they’re tasked with the care of their best friends’ daughter, Mira. Liam and Zoe can’t tolerate each other, but have to figure out how to put that aside as they navigate co-parenting in a situation neither planned for. Grumpy x sunshine, found-family, pining, and a group of batty old women to boot? Sign me up 👌🏻

Karla Sorensen wrote the 𝑯𝑬𝑪𝑲 out of this story. It is a SLOWWW burn, but the build-up is so worth it. If you liked the movie “Life As We Know It” - then you will LOVE Zoe and Liam, and totally fall for the cute little girl they’re raising together too. Highly recommend this one.

I had fun with this one. I can’t wait to see what else the author comes out with in the future. I can see myself definitely picking up more books by them.

Loved it from start to finish. It was spicy and it was a slow burn where you could feel the heat. The story was great and it had its ups and downs. Gods read just like always when I read a her stories.

4.5 ⭐️ Thank you Karla and The Author Agency for an e-ARC of ‘The Best of All’

This book. Let me tell ya’ll. The emotional ride that this took me on was INTENSE. I could not put it down if my life depended on it and I devoured it in just a few hours.

I don’t even know where to begin, but let’s start with Zoe. Zoe was an amazing woman. She did not have to step up like she did to become Mira’s guardian, however she did it without question. She became the safe space Mira needed after her life was changed forever. She was determined, loyal, sweet, and a little spitfire (with Liam). Zoe stopped her life to be there for someone else which was incredibly selfless. She was a fierce FMC and I enjoyed reading her chapters.

Liam. Liam. Liam. That man. He was incredible. Starting off as the grumpy football player who was determined to be alone due to childhood trauma, ended up being the most perfect man for both Zoe and Mira. In the beginning, he was willing to just exist, but eventually stepped up and became a fixture in Mira’s daily life. Their bond was the sweetest part of this book and I found myself craving the interactions between the two.

Liam, once he got over his fears, was the best man for Zoe. Surprising her with girls nights, letting her sleep in, and giving her massages. Let’s not even talk about their first date. It was so thoughtful and everything Zoe could want being the book girlie that she is. I am so happy that after years of secret pining, Liam was able to get the girl he’s always loved.

I’m not one to LOVE a child’s character in a book, but Mira changed it all for me. Her little voice and her way of showing Zoe and Liam how much she loves them was too special. She was such a light in this book.

This book made me laugh, cry, and smile like a giddy little girl. I absolutely adored this one.

Reasons to love this book:
🩷Football Romance
🩷Co-guardianship
🩷Grumpy, British MMC
🩷Sunshiney FMC
🩷Hate to Love
🩷Roommates
🩷Childhood Trauma
🩷Secret Pining (for a LONG time)
🩷It’s Always Been You

A tragedy that tears a family apart and is supposed to put a new one together, but Liam is and always has been a loner and finds it hard to open his heart to anyone, but Zoe and Mira are different.

The reason why he always stays away from Zoe is interesting.

I love the dynamic of the little family and how they grow together (the happy ending isn't really a spoiler)

Have fun reading it yourself!

⭐️4.5
🌶️ 1.5

Omg this book had me in tears! It was heart wrenching and beautiful. In the end it was worth every single tear shed.

Liam is the grumpiest man that has a hard time expressing himself without curse words. He takes pride in pushing Zoe’s buttons over and over. She is under the impression that he hates her because of his demeanor. Through tragic events they end up guardians of their friends’ daughter together. They must learn to work together and live together for the sake of Mira.

Liam will make you mad and want to hug him at the same time. His backstory was so sad and explains his grumpiness perfectly. Zoe had some struggles as well that she had to overcome before starting any new relationship. This love story is everything and more. It will make you believe in “it’s always been you”.

This book was a great palate cleanser from what I typically read. Great enemies to lovers with “it’s always been you”. Can’t beat gorgeous 🏈 players!

The Best of All by Karla Sorensen is a delightful and heartwarming romance that explores themes of love, personal growth, and second chances. The story follows two characters who, despite their differences, find themselves falling for each other in a genuine and tender way. Sorensen’s writing is warm and engaging, with well-developed characters and a slow-burn romance that feels both authentic and swoon-worthy. With its emotional depth and feel-good atmosphere, The Best of All is a charming read for fans of contemporary romance.

This book was one heck of a ride. I thoroughly enjoyed every second of it. This was my first Karla Sorensen book and I am definitely going to continue reading more of her other books! This book is a *slowwwwww burn* so if you are okay with that I 1000% recommend this book. I love a good he falls first moment and this gave me that and then some!