This book absolutely wrecked me in the best way possible. I COULD NOT STOP READING, The moment this book started- I knew this was going to be a serious, emotional journey, and I was correct. The way both Nicole and Logan's characters were written made me feel like I was reading a years long love story about old friends. The emotional depth in this story and the journey they both went through was powerful. This book could have topics that are triggering for some readers but I felt that all topics were covered with care. For me, one of the most successful parts was her friendships. Nicole had very real and wonderful friendships that helped her navigate every up and down she went through in this book. I can't say enough good things- everyone needs to read this book ASAP!

This book was so good. It gave me all the feelings and I love how the author was able to make us see the flaws AND the redeeming qualities of all the characters. Logan was such a simp and I loved him. Nicole really had a hard time of it, and I was so glad that she got her happy ending. There was a moment there when I wanted to shake her ("WHAT ARE YOU DOING??!") but she came around. Even Gabe I could empathize with. Dude blew up his whole life. It was sad to watch, even if he deserved it. The fertility journey felt very true to life and I think it was a very important story to tell. This was a 5 star read for me (and yes, I paid $5 each for those stars and Lauren Okie STILL gets them all). Do yourself a favor and read this book!

The Best Worst Thing

Huge thanks to Avon and the author for the eARC of this book!

I really enjoyed this one! I’ll admit it took me a little time to fully get into the story, but once I was in, I was all in.

First things first: as a 32-year-old woman myself, it was incredibly refreshing to see a character my age in a book. It instantly made Nicole feel more relatable — and even more so as the story unfolded. From the heartbreaking realities of infertility, to the struggles of marriage, to the challenge of losing and rediscovering yourself after building your identity around a relationship, this story hit home in so many ways. I found myself truly feeling for Nicole and the circumstances she was navigating. While at times I felt she could have used a little more emotional maturity, I completely understood her inner turmoil and connected deeply with her journey.

It also took me a little time to warm up to the MMC, but their chemistry became more and more believable as the story went on. He may not have been the MMC we thought we wanted at first, but he was absolutely the one we needed. By the end, he had completely stolen my heart. Everyone needs a Logan.

Overall, I really enjoyed the way the story was laid out, weaving between their past and present to show how everything led to where they are now. I’m a big fan of flashbacks in general, and this was done so well. Also, give me all the Jim and Pan correlations… yes, please!

That said, there were two small things that bothered me. First, the frequent use of the word “like” in the dialogue; it’s a personal pet peeve of mine and drove me a little crazy seeing it written out so much. Second, while the banter between the two main characters was cute at times, other moments made me cringe a little. I’m all for good banter, but when it starts to sound like straight-up insults, it takes me out of the story.

All that to say, none of these minor things took away from the overall impact of the book. It left me emotional, thoughtful, giddy, and absolutely rooting for Nicole to take charge of the hand she’d been dealt. Watching her and Logan rebuild trust and rediscover their love was raw, rewarding, and exactly the kind of hopeful, hard-earned story that stays with you long after the final page. I truly enjoyed how the story wrapped up and every single monologue leading up to the perfect last line.

It’s easily one of my favorite reads of the year — and one I know I’ll be thinking about for a long time.

This book. Alright. *Rolls up my shirt sleeves*

Let's dig in a little bit.

I will be the first to say, this book may not be everyone's cup of tea. It's angsty. It's heavy without being too heavy, but deals with topics that might make some people shy away, (ie, pregnancy, fertility), but handles it with care.

This book gave me the same feelings that "When We Had Forever" by Shaylin Gandhi did. It was raw and real but you were still able to feel the love between the two people (definitely a right person, wrong time situation). I would say if you love Kennedy Ryan (the deep-touching topics) or a TV show like This Is Us, this book is going to be for you.

The only thing that made me dock it to a 4.5 instead of a 5/5 stars was the (minor spoiler?) two third act "break ups". I've never been a fan of a third act break up to *that* proportion, but I was definitely all for the ride that this book gave me! Please, please check it out on release day come Oct! Definitely a "cool weather, cozy up, hit you in the feels" kind of read.

ahhh I ADORED this 🥹 such a beautiful love story that’s filled with so much banter, tension, humor, and heartache. Logan and Nicole’s chemistry is INSANE and their love language of hurling insults was sooo fun to read lol

also, he reads all the books she recommends even after they stop talking for a period of time?? they watch pride and prejudice as foreplay basically??? he supports all the dreams?? she gets to know all his nerdy interests?? YEAH I love them so bad 😭

I think people will be frustrated with certain decisions characters make in this story but me personally?? I have to give grace because I certainly know I haven’t made the best decisions when it feels like my world is crumbling. It all just felt really realistic to how something like this would’ve worked out in the real world. Shit is not easy!!! And Nicole’s life suddenly became extremely complicated.

Overall this was such a beautifully complex romance with a “right person, wrong time” vibe. Perfect for fans of Ready or Not by Cara Bastone or even Funny Story by Emily Henry.

Lastly make sure to check TWs as topics like infertility and miscarriage as massive themes of this book

I’m so glad this book had the ending I wanted and that these characters deserved. I was so scared for a moment. This book was so thoughtful, hopeful, and full of love. I never wanted to have Logan and Nicole stop talking. It was too good!! I can’t wait for others to read this story. They are going to love it.

The Best Worst Thing is the debut novel by Lauren Okie. I loved her writing style. This author has the ability to make her characters feel real and raw. The emotions that are conveyed on the page really pull at you. This book does talk about some heavy topics that for some people may find triggering so I always like to say check this first before diving in. This book deals the sadness that comes with infertility, IVF and miscarriages. It also deals with infidelity. I love watching Nicole and Logan’s relationship through the trying times. Okie does a great job with character building and her side characters were really fun and enjoyable. They felt so important to the story. Thank you to Avon and NetGalley for this copy in exchange for an honest review.

I have to be honest, this book was way more than I anticipated.

the characters were complex, the story was so real and the way that feelings and the growth of the fmc was delivered was just amazing. Lately a lot of books are very surface level, the story is predictable and just leaves you feeling meh.

this story was, instead, a rollercoaster of emotions, it gave me hope that even if things don't work out the way we expect them to, they can still resolve themselves and be even better than our own limited expectations. The love story was off the charts.

To the author, thanks for sharing your story, Nicole's story and the story of a lot of women in the most authentic way.

I hope one day I can become a mother, in whichever way the universe has decided and be able to take it and cherish it.

PS: if the universe can also send me my own Logan, I would not complain, not one bit.

*Thank you netgalley, publisher and author for giving me this ARC

My heart hurt for Nicole throughout after seemingly one bad thing after another happened to her. Nicole’s thoughts, feelings and actions hit me square in my heart, even as delicately as the author was, the pain came through honestly and so true to life. To my life in particular. I’m old so I’ve had years to heal, but if pregnancy loss and/or inability to carry are a trigger for you, may want to hold off until you’ve healed. The friendships and the new relationship she embarks on had funny dialogue, loved the D&D game she plays with him and his friends. The pace was perfect for me, whipped though this very quickly. And being from the South Bay (of Los Angeles) I loved the references to cities in my hometown. Pier Ave got a shout out!

Thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read an Arc of The Best Worst Thing for my honest opinion. Recommend!!

This book wrecked me in the best way possible. If you want a well-written romance novel that tackles tough issues, don’t miss The Best Worst Thing by Lauren Okie.

Nicole has been through hell and back to achieve her dream of becoming a mom. The worst, and best, things happen—she discovers her husband has cheated on her and learns her surrogate is pregnant with their baby. As her marriage falls apart, she falls in love with Logan. But will the circumstances of her life get in the way?

Read this book if you like:
🩵 Workplace romance
🩵 Found family
🩵 Banter

I’m endlessly thankful to Avon and Harper Voyager, as well as NetGalley, for the eARC of The Best Worst Thing. I’m calling it now: This is the best book I’ll read in 2025.

A contemporary romance that tackles difficult topics, The Best Worst Thing is about Nicole, who has a seemingly perfect life. A handsome, successful husband, a popular podcast about their fertility journey, and endless resources to invest into IVF and surrogacy. She tells herself that she doesn't miss her career and her former coworkers, like her work bestie Logan. But when she walks in on her husband with another woman, her world crumbles.

Second Chance romance (with dual timelines)
Infidelity
Fertility Issues
Workplace romance
The One that Got Away
Some spice
Quarrels with exclamation points!
Supportive friends

At times I was not on board with Nicole's choices, I liked that the book handled infidelity in a mature way with lots of different viewpoints - what should Nicole do? She is in a difficult situation and her choice is not as easy as it may seem. Logan is fully in love with her, and he is one of those "book boyfriends" who completely ruins the real world male population for you.

She loves reading and he actually reads her favorite books. Only my mom does that! Boys would never! But Logan does. The epilogue is very sweet and endearing.

Great for fans of Elissa Sussman and Abby Jimenez

Thanks to NetGalley and Avon and Harper Voyager for the ARC. Book to be published October 14, 2025.

I loved this book! I am a huge fan of stories that deal with tough topics but also have humor and romance, so this ticked a lot of boxes for me. Nicole and Logan had so many obstacles in front of them, I wasn't sure how it would all wrap up, but it resolved perfectly.

such a great and enjoyable book! I love how it makes you notice that things may seem perfect from the outside looking in, but once you look inside, there is a facade being out up. I like that. It was well written and it kept me entertained!!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I saw that Jessica Joyce was reading this book, one of my favorite authors, and thought the premise was interesting and different. I wish I had shared the same wonderful experience as other reviewers had while reading, as I was so excited to receive this e-ARC, but I just had a fine experience. The book is written in 3rd person, and there are tons of chapters, but they're short, which I loved and appreciated; it was easy to keep saying, "One more chapter," but similar to another reviewer, I felt like the chapters needed more depth. I LOVED Nicole and Logan's banter; they're both so funny! Logan was funny, quirky, charming, and sweet; he really had golden retriever energy! I liked the flashbacks, but they jump right into Nicole and Logan already having a connection, being work friends/crushing on each other. I would've enjoyed it more if we saw how they became friends, how Logan's feelings shifted from platonic to romantic towards Nicole, and how Nicole dealt with her developing romantic feelings towards Logan despite being with Gabe. Nicole and Logan shared some adorable moments in the flashbacks, such as lingering glances and gentle touches. However, I didn't feel a strong connection to their romance. It was clear from the beginning of the flashbacks that they liked each other, so there was no real build-up to their connection. Like another reviewer, I wish there was more showing of Nicole and Logan's strong connection instead of telling readers they had this connection. The book would benefit from showing the establishment of Nicole and Logan's connection/romance rather than telling and showing them already having a romantic connection from the start.

Thank you to Avon and Harper Voyager & Netgalley for the e-ARC!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Best Worst Thing by Lauren Okie
Pub Date: October 14, 2025
Trigger Warnings: Miscarriage, surrogacy, infidelity, divorce

Review:
5 stars. No notes. I devoured this book. Lauren Okie’s debut is a raw, heart-wrenching, beautifully layered exploration of love, grief, betrayal, and unexpected second chances. It’s angsty in the best way, full of grown-up feelings, and feels like getting caught in a summer storm—messy, emotional, but oddly healing.

Nicole and Gabe have been together for ten years, and it looks like they have the perfect marriage, except they haven't been able to have children. Just when they’re hoping for a fresh start via surrogacy, Nicole discovers Gabe has been unfaithful. Enter: Logan—her old work crush and the literal embodiment of a cinnamon roll. One drunken night leads to something deeper, funnier, and full of banter that sizzles.

Nicole’s “best worst summer” is a rollercoaster of emotions as she navigates heartbreak, impending motherhood, and the chance to build something real with Logan while learning to be true to herself.

I laughed, cried, and wanted to give Logan the Book Boyfriend of the Year award. He’s nerdy, loyal, awkward in the best way, and you will be completely smitten. Nicole’s journey felt so authentic, and I appreciated the way her grief, uncertainty, and resilience were portrayed.

This book is for anyone who’s had to rebuild their life after everything falls apart—and finds something even better in the process.

Read if you like:
💔 Right person, wrong time
🍼 Surrogacy and infertility rep
💕 Book boyfriends who ruin you for real men
👯‍♀️ Strong female friendships
🎢 Emotional rollercoasters
✨ Hope after heartbreak

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I knew this book would wreck me. Do I think this a book everyone should read? Yes. Do I think it’s a book everyone can read? Maybe not, depending on your current circumstances. I’m going to review this in two parts.

Part one - I loved this book. I loved the characters, I loved the raw emotions, I loved the banter, I loved the conclusion, I loved the author’s note. I. Just. Loved. It. Our female lead is going through A LOT and while sometimes the decisions she makes seem a bit extreme, she’s trying to deal with years of issues all at once and make everything make sense. Nicole and Logan have the most fun banter I’ve read in a long time. The dual timeline in this one is perfection. The emotional baggage is written so well and never tipped to the unrealistic side. As I said, I loved it.

Part two - if you are part of the infertility/ivf/pregnancy loss community, be gentle with yourself. I will say that this book made me feel seen. That the minute Nicole discussed treatment and the emotional toll, I could immediately tell that this author had a personal stake in this. It felt like someone took my struggles and got them on paper. These hardships are written with care, not dragged out, but also so so so real. If you are at a place where you can read about these topics and not harm your mental health, it is by far worth the read. Pregnancy loss is also talked about and again, the way it’s written made feel like my experience was written into a book. It was not in great detail but the emotion of it was done perfectly. If I read this closer to the time of my miscarriage, I don’t know if I would have been okay. So again, think of yourself and if you are in a place to read about these topics.

All the stars.

Thank you Avon for this amazing arc. And thank you Lauren for writing this story.

The Best Worst Thing follows Nicole, a married woman whose world unravels when she learns she’ll never be able to carry a child. Heartbroken, she turns to surrogacy, but her emotionally unavailable husband, Gabe, offers little support. Nicole, once full of promise, now finds herself without a job, and even her podcast—centered around her fertility struggles—is losing steam.

Her life takes another unexpected turn when she discovers Gabe is cheating on her with the dog walker. In the wake of this betrayal, and in a moment of raw vulnerability, she reconnects with Logan—an old coworker who was always kind, funny, and quietly in awe of her. Logan is the kind of character who makes you root for second chances.

The novel does a great job of weaving together themes of loss, identity, betrayal, and new beginnings. I appreciated the emotional honesty, especially in Nicole and Logan’s journey toward healing and rediscovery. That said, I found Nicole’s constant inner turmoil and back-and-forth decision-making a bit much at times—it made the story feel a little drawn out.

Still, the connection between Nicole and Logan felt genuine and satisfying. Their relationship brought a hopeful and heartfelt layer to the story that made it worth the read.

This book deserves all the stars in the sky.

I finished it at 1am, rocking my toddler back to sleep for the millionth time, holding my breath so I wouldn’t start actively sobbing, and somehow it was the perfect way to say goodbye to Nicole and Logan. The Best Worst Thing was exquisite—heart-wrenching, deeply personal, and stunningly written. Every word hit with exacting precision, and by the end, I felt completely wrung out. I loved every second.

Nicole’s story hit so hard. The journey to motherhood is complicated as hell. We build up these expectations, and when things don’t go as planned (or even when they do), it rocks you to your very core. And yet, life just keeps moving forward. Watching Nicole navigate infertility, betrayal, and the grief of it all was rough, I’m not gonna lie. There was no easy resolution. She messed up a lot. She shut people out. Untangling her life was slow, extremely messy work. But in the end, her arc was one of the most healing and life-affirming I’ve ever read.

And then there was Logan—the true embodiment (CAD model, if you will) of steady, unconditional, golden retriever-level love. The kind of person who truly sees someone, even when they can’t see themselves. Their history made every interaction crackle with unspoken feelings, and the flashbacks only made the longing hit harder. Their dynamic was this perfect mix of humor, inside jokes, playful banter, deep understanding, and years of complicated emotions that made their connection feel inevitable.

Here’s where I’m going to get nerdy for a quick sec. Lauren Okie’s writing was masterful. The pacing, the sentence structure, the way she wove rhythm into her prose—it was truly lyrical. Short, clipped sentences landed like gut punches. Long, meandering ones built emotion so intensely that I occasionally had to pause and simply stare at a wall while I processed. The craftsmanship of Lauren's truly blew my mind, elevating an already incredible story into something actually unforgettable. And then, just when I thought it couldn’t get better, the epilogue delivered the most satisfying, quietly perfect ending.

By the time I reached the acknowledgments, I had nothing but awe for what Lauren Okie accomplished with this debut. Her voice is singular, her storytelling feels effortless, and her ability to translate grief, love, and healing onto the page is unlike anything I’ve read before. This wasn’t just one of my favorite books of the year—it’s one of the best I’ve ever read. I want a million more.

This book comes with an undoubted trigger warning for infertility and loss; there are many tears to be shed throughout this novel.

This book will repeatedly rip your heart out and then put it right back again. It’s messy, exciting, and filled with love.

Exploding with love.

The goofy, childish love. The serious love. The hard to face love. The passionate, perfect love.

An added side note: I love the authors writing style. As a mom who struggled to get back into reading postpartum, the chapters are short and sweet. It makes it easy to pick up for a few minutes and put it back down, and easy to keep dying “just one more chapter.”

The Best Worst Thing is a heartfelt, honest story about grief and healing. The characters felt real, and while some parts wrapped up a bit too neatly, the emotional moments landed beautifully. A quick, meaningful read that’s well worth your time.