3.5 stars. I thought this book started out pretty slow. Nicole and her husband, Gabe, have faced infertility for a couple years and finally found a surrogate. Nicole found out her husband had been cheating on her and met up with one of her ex-coworkers, Logan. Nicole can’t really make up her mind on if she wants to be with Logan because she thinks it will make her a bad mom if she chooses to find love again.

Wow, The Best Worst Thing completely snuck up on me with respect to my connection to the characters. For 3/4 or so of the novel, I assumed that it would be just another easy-to-read novel— that is, one during which I felt ‘meh’, but was able to consume its words rather quickly. Color me surprised (and a bit impressed) that the last few chapters left me charmed and tickled by the fact that it finally clicked for me.

At the outset of the novel, Nicole seemed to be a stereotype of the stay-at-home wife who gives up everything to create the visage of a perfect marriage to her wealthy, ‘dudebro’ type husband. Even as her fertility story unfolded, I felt sympathy and empathy for her heartbreak, but felt little for Nicole herself, as she was devoid of any real personality traits. Logan’s reappearance in her life, nor her developing love for him, still didn’t compel me to feel anything. Indeed, despite the manner to which the narration alluded to the depth of her feelings, Nicole’s fickle nature and inability to be open and honest with Logan gave me pause and I wondered if she would go back to Gabe. Perhaps this was due to an invisible barrier that Lauren Okie’s writing style created— one in which she attempted to make Nicole relatable and authentic, but for over half of the novel, succeeded in only frustrating me due to a veil of superficiality. Every piece of dialogue and action should have conveyed Nicole’s genuine attraction, character growth, etc. Yet, as aforementioned, it was only after the second third-act breakup that I felt her words ring true. Now that I relay this idea, I’m questioning whether or not Okie intentionally chose to portray Nicole’s journey as such.

Logan, thankfully, was much easier to read, although again, I became frustrated, probably because I thought he deserved better than Nicole (until the end). He was endearing and wholly devoted to her, while still being his own person, which frequently seems to work in novels these days. I assume Okie thought that Nicole’s character arc sufficiently established her as an independent woman. It is not lost on me that the majority of such an arc was dependent upon her interactions with men. While Nicole seemed to function on her own, she was still too wrapped up in Logan for me to be confident about her ability to do so. Thus, Logan inadvertently lost a bit of his lustre for me (through no fault of his own).

The pace of the novel was interesting, for the present timeline confused me at times. The summer went by so slowly, while the fall and winter were mere blips on the radar. The flashbacks were well written and thoroughly detailed, though I think for their connection’s sake, it would have been wonderful to read about the moment they met. It would have been even better had Okie chosen to write from Logan’s perspective at least once.

All in all, this was an enjoyable read, despite me not connecting with The Best Worst Thing as much as I would have liked. Anyone who has experienced fertility issues and pregnancy loss definitely should be forewarned, as they are a central focus of the novel.

Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for the ARC!

This book was a beautiful debut, and I can’t wait to read more from the author. The story deals with raw and tender subject matter like infertility and opening oneself up to love again after heartbreak.

I'm absolutely blown away by Lauren Okie's debut, THE BEST WORST THING—a sharp, angsty, and hilarious novel that balances realistic, heartbreaking issues with deeply heartfelt romance. It's a true page-turner. Thanks to great pacing, lovable characters, and a plot that weaves in unexpected, occasionally difficult, and oftentimes swoony directions, I finished the book in two days. Nicole and Logan's chemistry leaps off the page from the moment they're together and never lets up, which makes it all the more satisfying to watch them navigate the ups and downs of their relationship. Okie's prose blends poignant observation with laugh-out-loud one-liners, making her a new auto-buy author for me. I can't wait to read whatever she writes next, and I'll be recommending THE BEST WORST THING to all my friends who enjoy realistic, entertaining romance novels that don't shy away from life's tougher lessons.

I could not put this book down. I stayed up until 4AM reading and took the physical book with me while walking the dog. It was truly one of the most readable books I’ve picked up in a while.

One thing that made this book feel even more special to me is that it’s set in the South Bay of Los Angeles, the place I grew up in and still live. I’ve never read a book set here and being able to picture every location made the story feel so personal. There’s something so familiar in the way Lauren writes her characters and reading about them in a setting I know so intimately made me feel deeply connected to them. I miss Logan and Nicole already. I wish I could get updates on their lives like they’re real people.

And don’t get me started on Logan. He might be one of my favorite book boyfriends of all time. He’s been quietly obsessed with Nicole from the very beginning, but the way he cares for her is so respectful, patient, and full of genuine love. The man was reading all her favorite books just to feel closer to her. I can’t even!

Lauren Okie’s writing has such a distinct rhythm to it, almost like poetry. It’s unique, lyrical, and stood out to me as someone who reads a lot of contemporary romance. Her voice feels so fresh and I loved how she approached this story with so much emotional depth.

This book doesn’t shy away from the messiness of life. It explores infidelity, infertility, grief, and the confusing, heartbreaking ways those things can change you. But there’s also so much humor and hope. I especially appreciated seeing a character in her 30s still figuring things out. That kind of growth and exploration feels so honest and relatable.

Knowing that some of this story comes from Lauren’s own experiences made this such a powerful read. I’ll be reading everything she writes and recommending The Best Worst Thing to everyone I know.

I can only describe this book in 3 words: messy, raw and real. Its a story about love, heartbreak and most importantly about a woman’s struggle with infertility. I think this book was well written and helped me empathize with the FMC, even if I havent gone through anything similar. Definitely a must read book for this year!!

This was such a gorgeous book. And felt very real given the subject. I loved the amount of spice and the dynamic between the main characters. Definite trigger warning of pregnancy loss and infertility. This felt like a very accurate portrayal of infertility and I appreciated the grittiness of it.

Utterly romantic, but a little too messy. I loved Nicole and Logan's dynamic and how she really became more like herself around him, and I really appreciated Logan as a character. He was charming, funny, and supportive. The pregnancy of Nicole's surrogate (with Nicole and her cheating ex's baby) was a little too out there for me. I think it could have worked had Logan and Nicole been a long haul, slow burn relationship (which the author definitely tries to hint at with flashbacks that only make Nicole seem like she was having an emotional affair, which of course is to be excused because her husband was having a physical affair) but things moved very fast with them and then, with nowhere left to go, the author sentenced them to breakup after breakup. I understand Nicole was in denial of her circumstances, but the denial then went straight into a Hallmark esque epilogue rather than ever allowing her to really sit with her feelings. The third person POV added unnecessary disconnect as well. I really did enjoy reading this and the romance definitely worked for me, but I think the complexities needed to be further explored rather than only used for dramatic effect. 3⭐️

The best worst thing by Lauren Okie
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

You know when you’re reading a book and the characters keep dying on their sword that they’re in love and they have wicked chemistry - but you just sort of have to take them at their word? Because they’re not showing you the chemistry, they’re just telling you it’s there? This book is the opposite of that. Lauren Okie takes her time with her words and banter to really bring “show, don’t tell” to life. The banter, the chemistry, the attraction, the fireworks and butterflies of new (and passionate) love are all there in spades. I absolutely fell in love with Logan in this book and I dare anyone else to not feel the same about him.

While this book is a great love story, it’s also fraught with pain and heartbreak and the betrayal of one’s own body and how you recover and heal from that. The author poured so much of her real life heartbreak into this novel (as confirmed in the authors note), and it shows.

I really enjoyed reading this book and I highly suggest it to those who love a good love story with a lot of depth.

Please check your trigger warnings if infertility and infidelity is something you’re not currently able to read about.

Thank you to the publishers at Harper Collins Canada and Avon for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review review

This was a unique premise - a woman finds out her husband is cheating right after her surrogate finds out she is pregnant. That alone, made me want to figure out where everything was going. I really liked the relationship that developed between Logan and Nicole. I think the lack of the backstories between Gabe and Nicole made the book feel a little disjointed. I was confused how it appeared that the two had a great relationship and she was truly blindsided only to find out things were not so great. That piece felt a little off to me and it felt at times those details were added to justify her immediately turning and falling in love with Logan. It didn't have a natural progression from one dissolved relationship to another. The dialogue was great and the potential for a five star book is there with this author if things can get fleshed out a little bit more. 3.5 stars.

A fantastic debut!
Lauren has created something really beautiful here, and I cannot wait for everyone to read this. Nicole and Logan are messy in the best ways possible. They are perfectly imperfect, and I somehow loved them even more because of that. This book is filled with a lot of hard truths, it's funny, and it's filled with so much hope. This is one of the best books I have read in a while, and the worst thing about it is it's over.

Now, to serious matters! Logan is the love of my life. He's read every book she's ever recommended to him. Let that sink in! This man showed up for her every step of the way, and I don't think I could love him more if I tried. Nicole and Logan are so perfect for each other; it's heartbreaking they didn't get together sooner. However, the right person, wrong time trope will never not be my favorite, so I enjoyed every second of it.

There is so much more I can say about this book, but I will stop here before I write an essay. I loved every single second of it, and I could talk about it for hours. This book is guaranteed to rip your heart out and slowly put it back together. The pacing is fantastic, and so is the writing. The chemistry was seriously off the charts, and I cannot wait for this book to hit shelves. Lauren's debut is something remarkable. Big thank you to Avon for the arc!

4.5 🌟

Beautiful prose, a messy situation, imperfect characters. But a whole lot of… rawness. Truth. Trauma. Hiding. Discovery.

I loved this.

It oddly reminded me of The Notebook? One woman. Two men. One objectively maybe better for her than the other, but the other being the one true love of her life. I mean, Ali did end up with Noah.

I think this story is powerful & so real. I caught myself asking “what would I do?” So many times. When Gabe voiced his apologies so eloquently, so many times. I wanted to scream FORGIVE HIM. But honestly, good for Nicole for, well, not forgiving him. & still managing to build a whole beautiful life around him.

The pacing was great and the drama kept me on my toes but even though I loved this for the majority of it, there were some things that just didn't worked for me.

4.25⭐️ – A beautiful, emotional debut from Lauren Okie

Wow. The Best Worst Thug truly blew me away. This stunning debut had me laughing one minute and crying the next. Lauren Okie dives into real, heavy topics like infertility and that feeling of being in your 30’s and not knowing what to do.

Nicole and Logan’s chemistry was unreal. I rooted for them so hard. The flashbacks, the quiet moments, the slow build of feelings it was all so intimate and beautifully done. And we need to talk about the yearning. Logan yearned like his life depended on it, and I devoured every second. Yes, please give me a man who yearns 😭

Nicole’s story was raw and honest. Lauren didn’t shy away from the trauma she experienced, and it really made me think. Watching her heal and grow was such a powerful journey. This book was messy in all the best ways emotional, real, and full of heart.

I’m so excited to see what Lauren writes next!

“Life gets bigger around the grief. You learn to love the life you have. The gifts you’ve got.”

Thank you so much to Avon Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC 💛

Lol THIS WAS GREAT!!!
I had never heard of this author before so I didn't know what to expect from her but OMG Amazing!!! This was good and I am looking forward to other things they write.
I cried, laughed and was just in such a great mood reading this. Definitely na 4 star read from me

The Best Worst Thing is one of those rare books that sneaks up on you, it is raw, emotional, and unexpectedly unforgettable. From the very first chapter, Lauren Okie draws you into a story that feels so grounded in real life that it’s impossible not to see pieces of yourself in the characters. Nicole and Logan are complicated, flawed, and deeply human, and their dynamic is magnetic.

Their banter is sharp, sarcastic, and at times pushes the line between playful and biting, which might not be for everyone. But for someone like me, with a dark sense of humor and a love for snarky back-and-forth, their connection felt both entertaining and authentic. I appreciated how Okie allowed us to discover their layers gradually, revealing their struggles and vulnerabilities in a way that felt natural and well-timed.

What surprised me most was how attached I became to these two. As I closed the final page, I found myself feeling that familiar ache, you know the one, the kind you get when you realize you won’t be spending more time with characters who have come to feel like friends. That kind of emotional imprint is rare, and it’s a clear sign to me that this book was something special. It didn’t just entertain me, it stayed with me.

The Best Worst Thing is easily a top 3 read of the year for me. It explores themes of infertility, divorce, and childhood trauma with honesty and care, all while telling a love story that feels refreshingly real. I can’t wait for the world to fall for this book the way I did.

I loved this one! Very reminiscent of Jim/Pam, but also a great story about the one that got away/ and the “what if” of life. An outstanding debut.

Someone should figure out where Gabe gets his audacity because it is a truly startling amount!!!

I did actually adore this book even though the morality of it was veeeeery hard for me as someone who is violently against cheating in every way shape and form. But I also felt like nobody (except Logan) was fair to Nicole at all. Even her friends and family who pushed her to move on with her life still seemed surprised that she a) did and b) did not do it well. How did nobody notice just how frantically she was scrambling for purchase?

Meanwhile Logan is just like. Okay let’s watch a movie and go for a walk and eat ice cream and we ARE going to talk about things, but at a good pace. We will be friends. We will communicate. And Nicole could not wrap her head around it because everyone was so mean to her??? Except Lauren, who was perfect always.

This was infuriating and heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud funny and so deeply complex, and I adored it. Even if I was also making this face a bunch 🥴

All I’m saying is if Gabe had died suddenly and mysteriously a lot of this turmoil could have been avoided.

I'm trying to be chill about this book, but I just can't because this (DEBUT!!!) book is perfect and it deeply altered my brain chemistry. New favorite book, periodt.

Lauren Okie’s THE BEST WORST THING is an intimate story about starting over, second chances, and two people who cannot help falling into each other’s orbit once again.

After Nicole's life implodes after her husband's infidelity and her continued infertility, she ends up back in contact with her old coworker, eagle-scout-hot, golden retriever, King of Yearning Logan Milgram. The more they fall back into each other's lives, the more Nicole starts to feel like her true self again. Then, when a Hail Mary embryo transfer gets Nicole's surrogate pregnant, Nicole's blast-from-the-past fling develops into something much deeper, Nicole struggles to balance her past, present, and future.

With a baby on the way, Nicole must learn to forgive her body for falling short and recognize that sometimes, it’s the biggest betrayals in life that set us free. With everything on the line, can Nicole accept love from the greatest man she’s ever known . . . even if it’s nothing like the story she’d written for herself?

This book is life-altering and deeply emotional, while also being the SEXIEST thing I have ever laid my eyes on. My tabs and highlighter were fighting for their lives during my first read of this. Gahhhh, I'm never going to shut up about this book. Ant farms and depression lasagna, d&d, yelling love confessions, closet book collections, tar pits, AND SO MUCH YEARNING.

I want Lauren Okie books forever and ever, amen.

Thank you to Netgalley and Avon for the e-ARC (and Avon for the physical ARC) in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. THE BEST WORST THING is out 10/14/25.

this book had tears streaming down my face but then at the same time giggling from the banter between Logan and Nicole.

I’ve never met a man who yearns as much as Logan did. This man would have done ANYTHING for Nicole. He was gone from the first moment he met her but he was so respectful of her!! A real man, truly. Don’t even get me started on how he started reading all her book recommendations or I’ll start crying again.

This novel is such an intimate portrayal of life and second chances. While there is a significant amount of discussion involving grief, miscarriages, fertility struggles, and infidelity, there is also significant discussion of second chances and how it’s never too late to put yourself first and be happy. There is more than enough light within this story to balance to darker topics.

Lauren Okie outdid herself with this debut novel and when I read the author’s note we received in more insight to why this story was so powerful due to the personal relationship the author herself had with infertility. “A stunning new voice in romance” indeed and I can’t wait to see what else she writes.