The Best Worst Mistake” is a quick and easy romance read about Abby and Dax. They were ex situationship/no labels but definitely more than friends who reconnect in New York.
The book focuses on moments in time, with the first half happening mostly over 24 hours. This allows readers to feel the characters’ emotions as they reconnect. This intimacy creates a connection with the reader. The second half happens over the course of a few months. The second half focuses on getting to know Abby as a character and understanding her reluctance to a relationship. I would have enjoyed reading more about their law school romance to feel more connected to the rekindling romance. But it worked.
Overall, it’s a fun and quick read perfect for a holiday or summer.
I received an advance copy the best worst mistake from Choc Lit Contemporary Romance: A Joffe Books Company & NetGalley for a review. All opinions are my own. Thank you to both the publisher, author and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book.

This book is a lighthearted second chance romance that will make you feel warm and fuzzy inside. The chemistry between the characters was palpable and I was rooting for them the whole way through!

Why do I always end up crying?
Dear sweet Abby, everyone’s BFF, who keeps her heart closed to everyone.
Shutting out everyone, all feelings, to keep out memories from her childhood.
There was only ever one guy who could have broken in but he didn’t fight for her, he let her go, she left him go.
The years have passed but when fate has plans that crosses their paths, can they take advantage of a second change? What about a third? Will there be a fourth?

Abby is a workaholic, the girl boss, she goes home to an empty kitchen, a cat that was never hers and hates her, and a million plants she loves to look at but doesn’t even know how to water. Money has given her all the things she thinks she wants but doesn’t know how to have, so like any modern woman, she outsources it.

Dax is the boy how got away, walked away, ok fine, Abby kept him at arm’s length, pushed him away and he let her. Neither of them ever getting over that fact.

I knew this wasn’t going to be a cut and dry second chance with instant love after reading the first in the series. There is depth I these chanters and though the book leans more towards Abby’s past, you get to know a larger cast of side characters too.

I’m looking forward to the third book!
Though I’m still holding out hope for Juju’s book Lily!!!!!

ARC Read - releases July 2025. Thank you NetGalley!
Second Chance Romance with Heart and Humour. Abby is a workaholic lawyer with a difficult past that makes it hard for her to be loved and love in return. Deciding the best way to prove herself is through work, she never leaves the office. One day, while getting coffee, she runs into an old flame - Dax. Abby and Dax were friends with benefits/no strings for years in law school, but when the feelings started to get real, Abby ghosted Dax. Dax has never been able to get over Abby. So when date pulls them back together, it feels like it might be their time. But when Abby runs again, Dax is ready to give up. When they meet again, it's as opposing lawyers fighting for the same deal - a career making deal. Trying to navigate their past, Abby and Dax try to build up their connection as more than just physical, and Abby looks within herself as to why she cannot let herself love and rely on another.
Beautiful, funny story. Great cozy read. Will be going back to read the first in the series -Liv's book - and looking forward to Silas' book.

Best worst mistake by Lily Parker
Release date: July 2nd 2025

⭐️4/5

This was the perfect pick-me-up book, light, warmhearted and gracefully written.
‘Best worst mistake’ is a second-chance workplace romance novel following Dax and Abby who meet 6 years after college. Unravelling their past and present relationships, career aspirations and a career changing M&A deal, the storyline is addictive and a relatively quick read, and ideal accompaniment to a holiday relax by the pool.

Although spicy in places, I found this story to be memorable as the plot line was meaningfully planned, not just a string of spicy scenes, which seems to be the case in a lot of modern romances. Whilst I do wish there was more build up to their first encounter and slightly more backstory to their college relationship, their later development and particularly Abby’s character development made up for it.

Abby’s career journey inspires you to never settle for less and to find something you’re passionate about to dedicate your life to.

This story truly gives you all the feels - I wanted the epilogue to never end and I can’t wait for the next instalment to the series, Parker’s writing is addictive ! Whilst I read this on kindle, I just wish I had it in a physical copy to put on my shelf!!!

Thank you to Lily Parker, Net Galley and Joffe Books for this

Thank you NetGalley and Joffe Books for this Arc!
This was a fast read, second-chance romance trope with force proximity throughout with moments of you just wanting them to hurry up and be together. Lots of spice of you like a spicy read with plenty of chemistry from the start with Abby and Dax.

For as long as I can remember, I have been a fan of traditional romance. Once I read more, I started to really enjoy both romantic suspense, and romantic comedies (quite the spectrum). I have to admit that I was very nervous reading a book two of an existing series. Lucky for me, I was able to read this as a standalone.


This is one of those books where I started out being EXTREMELY frustrated with the female lead. As I got into the book, I did start to understand where she was coming from. I ultimately wanted both of the characters to “win” but didn’t see how that could happen without a huge amount of sacrifice from one side more than the other. I was glad to say that, although that did happen, it definitely happened in a good way.

Ultimately, I really liked this book. It has a really satisfying epilogue (spoiler alert!). I can’t wait to read book three in the series, and I might read the first book as well!

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

3.5 stars rounded up

Okay sooo The Best Worst Mistake was one of those books that I flew through, even if I had a few moments of “girl what are we doing here??” Abby and Dax have that classic second-chance, right-person-wrong-time vibe, and I was immediately pulled in by their surprise coffee shop reunion.

Their chemistry is definitely still alive, and Lily Parker writes tension really well. There’s one scene (you’ll know it when you get to it) where I literally had to pause and go stare at a wall. It’s giving “I shouldn’t but I absolutely will.” And Dax?? Ugh. Confident, charming, and way too good at showing up at the worst possible time.

That said, some of the back-and-forth dragged a bit for me. There’s only so many “we shouldn’t do this” moments I can handle before I’m like… then don’t??? Or do. Just decide. But the ending wrapped it up in a satisfying way, and I liked that the stakes felt real without getting overly dramatic.

If you’re into second chances, steamy boardroom tension, and a little chaos between two stubborn people who clearly still love each other, you’ll have fun with this one. Not a fave, but definitely glad I read it.

Thanks NetGalley and publishers for this ARC

It's a perfectly pleasant quick read for fans of second-chance romance, since it's a prime and sweet example of that trope.

The dynamics between characters were really nice, both the main ones and the secondary. The spice and the dialogues, too.

At the end of the day, it's one of those books that I liked but won't write home about, because it didn't grab my heart the way some others do. I blame the main trope (really sweet, again, but I'm not that big on second-chance like this one).

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

Thanks to Joffe Books and NetGalley for this arc!

If you like second chance romance and forced proximity you will love this book! It has lots of spice, work place drama, a cinnamon roll in a suit, a fiesty fmc and more.

It was a quick and easy read!

I LOVE a second chance romance and a bit of corporate romance!
Unfortunately this was a bit of insta-lust (I know they have lots of history but there wasn't enough buildup for me) and I struggled with the nosedive into spice (saying that, the massage was written beautifully).
I also struggled with some comments such as Dax saying that Abby is a breath of fresh air compared to other women. Not for me unfortunately, but a great spicy read if you want something for a beach read!

Abby runs into Dax at a coffee shop after not seeing him since they graduated law school 6 years earlier. They had a long standing fling back then, and the chemistry is still sizzling after all this time. They decide to go out for dinner, and end up having a sexy night together. Fast forward 6 months, and their respective law forms are vying for the same deal.

Read if you love:
***Second chance romance
***Dual POV
***Workplace romance
***Smoking hot chemistry
***Smart, feisty FMC

I enjoyed this one! This wasn’t just a straightforward second chance romance; the trauma our FMC dealt with growing up has a lot to do with the decisions she’s made with love. I love that the author went deeper with this novel, and that our delicious MMC was there for support (and hotness).

Thank you to Joffe Books and Netgalley for the ARC of this novel; all opinions are my own.

abby runs into her old law school fling, dax—who, yes, has a hot name and hotter energy—but their reunion is giving “we used to vibe once and now we’re both awkward and mildly emotionally unavailable.” they hook up, think it’s a one-time thing, and then boom she walks into a boardroom and guess who’s there? it’s dax. in all his smug, lawyer-y glory.

forced proximity? ✅
career-threatening stakes? ✅
sexual tension?? …eh. kinda?

⸻

so what went wrong?
insta-lust syndrome. i know it’s a second chance romance so technically there’s history, but baby we didn’t SEE that history. the connection felt more like “remember that time we kissed during finals week?” than “i’ve been in love with you for years.”

where’s the build-up?? it jumped from “hey lol long time” to “take your pants off” with zero tension in between. like okay… sir i just got here.

characters were meh. i didn’t dislike them, but i also didn’t care if they kissed, cried, or committed a crime. they just didn’t STICK.

⸻

some good stuff tho:
• dax is a cinnamon roll in a suit. love that for him.
• the workplace drama COULD’VE been iconic if it had more bite.
• quick read. if you want something light, sexy-ish, and kind of brainless (no shade), this’ll do the trick.

⸻

final verdict:
if you love second-chance romances and you’re in your “i’ll read anything with forced proximity” era, go for it. but if you’re looking for that REAL slow burn tension or characters with actual flavor?? you might wanna skip.

2.75/5 — fine but forgettable. not a WORST mistake, but definitely not my best read either.

Second chance sizzler! 💕 🔥 🌶️

When Abby and Dax bump into each other in a New York coffee shop then fireworks quickly ignite again. It has been too long since they last saw each other, when they were friends with benefits at law school. However, everything has now changed, and Dax is looking for more from a relationship.

Abby lives and works in New York and Dax, L.A. So, after one night, everything returns to normal without each other. Then Abby is sent to L.A. for a deal of a lifetime, and she wants to reconnect as before, but this is not what Dax is looking for. He is looking for something more meaningful, which she cannot manage. The pair clearly are pulled like magnets towards each other, but everything becomes more complicated when they are vying for the same deal 🧲 .

This was a lovely, easy read with some sizzle. It was good to see the problems with the situationship and understand Abby’s back story. The characters worked well together, but I would just have liked a little more spice, a bit more build and spark 🧨 .

All in all, an ideal holiday read 📖 . A nice little romance which leaves you feeling good. This was the second in a series, which did not make any difference to the reader. I will look forward to reading the others at a future date. Recommended 😊.

Thank you to Netgalley, Joffe Books and Lily Parker for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Due to be published on 2 July 2025.

Abby and Dax had a "special relationship" during law school. One,she was never keen to deepen. When they meet years later by chance, they start to explore why this was and see if they can move beyond their own limitations.
"The Best Worst Mistake" started out light enough, before packing an emotional punch I wasn't really expecting about midway through. I particularly love books where the FMC is the emotionally unavailable one and this delivered that beautifully. At times it leant slightly too far towards saccharine, but it is hard to begrudge when all the main characters are so charming.
This is the first book I've read by Lily Parker and it won't be the last!

Look maybe I’m just more sensitive than most but the revelation about Abby’s past legit made me cry, and her reunion with the one person from her past that helped her, it didn’t last long but I was practically sobbing. This book is great, it started out with me thinking this would just be a really good 4-4.5⭐️ read, but after that it definitely bumped up to a 5⭐️. Plus that absolutely hilarious texting fiasco in Chapter 14 had me absolutely rolling. I enjoyed this book so much. I did receive an advance copy of this from NetGalley, and I’m so glad I did, cannot recommend this one enough for someone who wants something fun, but also will pull at your heart multiple times.

This was just okay. I was really hoping for something with a little more oomph and more likable characters like The Devil You Know by Elizabeth O'Roark.

These characters were super insta-love/insta-lust, which makes sense, it is a second chance romance, friends to lovers situation. Due to those tropes, these characters do have a past and past chemistry, I just never got to see any real build up to it, so it felt really sudden and jarring.

The two main characters end up as friends with benefits in law school, then on opposing sides of a deal. So there is drama there, for sure!

There's nothing necessarily wrong with this book, I know a lot of people will really enjoy it, it just wasn't for me.

Thanks to NetGalley for the e-ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! My Goodreads review is up and my TikTok (Zoe_Lipman) review will be up at the end of the month with my monthly reading wrap-up.

Dax & Abby had a friends with benefits situation in law school which ended 6 years ago. Dax always had real feelings for Abby but she kept herself guarded. They have a chance meeting in a coffee shop which leads to one night together again. Dax leaves Abby with a note that the ball is in her court. Flash forward 6 months and she hasn’t contacted him. So imagine the surprise when they both end up on opposing sides trying to secure a business deal. The heart of this book is really about Abby. She’s had a difficult life. She needs the space and security to trust people. I enjoyed seeing Abby transform into someone that can believe in love. Dax is amazing and patient. They are definitely meant to be happy together 🩷

Thank you to Netgalley, Joffe Books/Choc Lit Contemporary Romance, and Lily Parker for this early copy in exchange for my honest opinion.

(This review will be posted to Amazon on publication day & the link to goodreads is below)

Abby had a fling with Dax while in law school. She never thought that she will see him again. She slept with him again years later when she saw him again... She sees him in LA later while working on a deal and he's on the opposite side...

Love Abby and Dax. Dax is a sweetheart... Abby is all fire and sass... Love their chemistry together. A fast paced fun read.

Thanks to the publisher for the arc.

Lily does it again with a sequel! This was a fun story with great characters. I enjoyed reading it and found it a good escape from heavier literary reads. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.