This book was SO incredible, I found myself having to put the book down on several occasions in disbelief. I can’t wait to read everything this author writes!

4.5 ⭐️

I ate this book up. I couldn’t put it down. It was so good.

The storyline was so bingeable and I had to know how it was all going to come together in the end.

I was rooting for the couple in this book the whole time and wanted them to get their happily ever after so bad.

The ending was the perfect ending. The epilogue had me.

I was given this book by NetGalley for an honest review-
A captivating read! Nichol seems to have the perfect life except for one thing- she can’t seem to have a baby. They finally decide to do surrogacy and just when they find out they will have a baby Nichol comes home to hear her dog sitter calling her husbands name. Heart broken she runs to Logan’- a coworker who has always been there for her, How can she handle her life now- she wants out of her marriage. - they are having a baby - she finds herself falling for Logan! Can she make it work?

ARC REVIEW:

4.5 stars, I went into this book completely blind and I am so glad I did. It made me so emotional throughout and had my heart aching for this character. Everyone deserves a Logan who is just as charming and quirky and loving as he is. My only complaint is that the ending felt a bit scattered for me which is why I dropped it .5 stars.

This book has so many things. It’s a very emotional and a good read. It shows on woman going through a lot. She then has to start over. Nicole discovers that her husband cheated on her. She also struggles with fertility issues. Nicole met Logan and their relationship between them changed.

The Best Worst Thing by Lauren Okie is a deeply emotional, beautifully written debut that explores infertility, self-worth, and second chances. Nicole’s journey is raw and relatable, balancing heartbreak with humor. Logan is the perfect golden-retriever love interest, and their chemistry is undeniable. Okie’s writing is poignant and immersive, making this a compelling read for anyone who loves messy, heartfelt stories about love, resilience, and unexpected new beginnings.

Heart warming but heavy hitting, I couldn’t believe this was a debut! I read this in one sitting and definitely recommend.

This story and these characters felt so real and relatable. From the minute I picked it up I knew I was going to enjoy it. Nicole going through her life and feeling her emotions was so raw and inspiring. Everything she was going through with her infertility is easily something so many could relate to and help them feel seen. The writing was great. I enjoyed every page and flew through each chapter. Logan was such an amazing character and I honestly think we all need a Logan in our lives. I really loved their banter and how they interacted! They made me laugh on multiple occasions. It was such a good read and I’m glad I got to experience their world together, I love seeing how characters work through issues together and this book definitely gave me that.

Wow. Just wow. Beautifully written book. What a great novel for Lauren Okie. The emotions I went through while reading this I am still trying to grasp. It had me absolutely hooked from the start. I typically don't have issues with trigger warnings, but my husband and I are going to try for our first child this year so I was hesitant with the concept of infertility and miscarriage in this book, but I am so glad I did not wait and am honored to have experienced this book. It had me laughing and crying, the witty banter was so well done. I will recommend this book to everyone. Thank you NetGalley and Lauren for the opportunity to read this.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC! This was really cute! It felt like it was in the same vein as Ready or Not by Cara Bastone which I read last year and loved. The pacing was great, romance was great. The only thing I ran into that I wasn’t a big fan of was the FMC. She needs lots and lots of therapy. Some of the stuff that came out of her mouth and her thought processes were off the chain. Logan was an angel among men. The short chapters and flashbacks made this go by really quick which I enjoyed a lot

Best Wrong Thing by Lauren Okie pulled me in and didn’t let go. It’s one of those stories that feels messy and real, where the characters are flawed but deeply human. I loved how it explored the unexpected paths we take—the mistakes that somehow lead us exactly where we need to be. There’s a rawness to Okie’s writing that made certain lines stick with me, the kind you reread just to feel them again. It’s heartbreaking in places, hopeful in others, and honest all the way through. If you love stories that sit with you long after you turn the last page, this one’s worth reading.

I’ve also shared this review on Goodreads [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/223614649] and will post on Amazon once the book is released.

I really, really liked this! Fans of Cara Bastone’s Ready or Not, this is for you.

Logan, the golden retriever former co-worker MMC, is *chef’s kiss.* I live for the drama (FMC just split with her cheating hubby and has a baby on the way with him via surrogate). And as someone who calls the South Bay her hometown, I love the setting, which I haven’t seen much of in books. The banter is also A+++.

Readers beware if infertility and miscarriage are triggers for you. Also, I know many are not a fan of third-act breakups… this has 2 third-act breakups! One is enough for me, so I didn’t like having the second; too much whiplash. The FMC can be a bit insensitive and thick-skulled (she really should have seen a therapist). Logan is a literal saint, tbh. But that shouldn’t stop you - I devoured this book.

loved this romance about timing and falling in love. I wasn't a fan of the cheating that happened. I know that gabe did it first . glad that she had a great romance with logan and was able to figure things out with the baby coming and her marriage to gabe. loved logan.

Everyone should have a Logan Milgram! He was so wonderful in so many ways. His humor was spot on, his outlook on life was infectious and at this time, we need all the positivity we can get. Nicole suited him well, although I thought she was a bit selfish. FOr me, Logan made this book. Gabe's character was a bit trite and we went from loving husband on the first couple of pages to horrible, coke-head back to great person.....People have self discovery periods, but it just felt like too much in a short span for his character. It was a fun read and I would read another story by Lauren Okie!

I went into this book not knowing what to expect and it blew me away, The characters were imperfect and messy in a way that felt real. The description of infertility and how it can impact a women’s self worth was heartbreaking yet eye opening. Even a good outcome from fertility treatment doesn’t take away the pain and heartbreak that comes with the years of struggle before. I thought the romance was beautiful but didn’t resonate as much with me as the story of Nicole realizing her self worth outside of being a wife and her ability to have a child.

This novel was an emotional gem, and a bit like its title I simultaneously loved and hated it (I’m being hyperbolic). It wasn’t the story’s fault, but the author’s spot-on depiction of people and their relationships and struggles.

Have you ever had that person that you laugh about nothing and everything with, but they’re with someone, or you’re already with someone and the timing is just wrong? Imagine being able to go back at a new place in your life and still have that zing. Oh, you’re not the same people now, and you have different problems, but it doesn’t matter. This is figures heavily into this book, and the main character’s lives and motivations. The fertility struggle was moving, and the relationships were intense. Really, the unfolding of the entire story was done extremely well, and it had cohesive flashbacks that only contributed to the characters.

Speaking of characters, there were times I laid on my back, kicking my feet in excitement for Nicole, scowling at the audacity of Gabe, and then soaking up every moment of pure perfection that was Logan. I don’t know if there’s anything I would change about them.

There was some awkward phrasing and “bumpy” lines, but I could overlook that because the story was that good. It’s one I would by recommend and buy for a friend without hesitation.

I first came across ‘The Best Worst Thing’ thankfully because of the cover reveal. Then I read the description, and I immediately knew I needed to read this book. Fertility and infertility are part of womanhood and everyone has a different relationship with it. It maybe an afterthought, tinged with fear, or you may have a healthy relationship with it. However, I think for many it’s something vulnerable and it lingers in the back of your mind (right beside that ticking biological clock). The range is vast but every woman approaches it differently and it’s all carefully handled in ‘The Best Worst Thing’.

This is a heartwarming (but also spicy) romance novel of Nicole and Logan finding trust in one another (especially after a traumatic time for Nicole, our lead has done multiple rounds of IVF and faces a shock of a lifetime). It’s about learning to love your body again after poking and prodding, it’s leaning into the arms of someone you trust to be there for you, and it’s absolutely vulnerable. There are multiple instances of self sabotage and ‘being the victim’ situations that were not fun but they add to the story.

My, my, my Lauren. What a debut. You’ve got my attention and I’m definitely getting a physical copy on pub day. Thank you so much to Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC!

I love when books have relatable struggles/themes. I also love a good second chance story. Definitely worth the read, but be prepared to feel all the emotions.

What a heartbreaking, beautiful, brilliant book. I was alternating between wanting to cry and kicking my feet, giggling and giddy over the love story unfolding. Such treat to get to read this debut novel.

Do you like second chance romances? Pick up The Best Worst Thing by Lauren Okie this fall. It was amazing.