Published by HarperCollins on February 4, 2020
Genres: Fiction, Romance, Romantic Comedy, Multicultural & Interracial, Women
Pages: 368
Format: eBook
Source: ARC
USA TODAY BESTSELLER!
"A romantic comedy that's fun and flirty, young and fresh." – PopSugar
Named one of the Best Romances of 2020 by EW, Cosmo, OprahMag, Buzzfeed, Insider, and NPR!Mia Sosa delivers a sassy, steamy #ownvoices enemies-to-lovers novel, perfect for fans of Jasmine Guillory, Helen Hoang, and Sally Thorne!
A wedding planner left at the altar? Yeah, the irony isn’t lost on Carolina Santos, either. But despite that embarrassing blip from her past, Lina’s offered an opportunity that could change her life. There’s just one hitch… she has to collaborate with the best (make that worst) man from her own failed nuptials.Marketing expert Max Hartley is determined to make his mark with a coveted hotel client looking to expand its brand. Then he learns he’ll be working with his brother’s whip-smart, stunning—absolutely off-limits—ex-fiancée. And she loathes him.
If they can nail their presentation without killing each other, they’ll both come out ahead. Except Max has been public enemy number one ever since he encouraged his brother to jilt the bride, and Lina’s ready to dish out a little payback of her own.
Soon Lina and Max discover animosity may not be the only emotion creating sparks between them. Still, this star-crossed couple can never be more than temporary playmates because Lina isn’t interested in falling in love and Max refuses to play runner-up to his brother ever again...
"The Worst Best Man is rom-com perfection. . . Sosa has a gift with words that’s infectious and wry, one that keeps the pages turning in delight." — Entertainment Weekly
Writing a five-star review can be a challenge, especially one as well thought out as this one. Now, I am not Brazilian nor have I had much contact with the vibrant culture beyond a joke proposal from a Brazilian exchange student so the exposure was thrilling for me! The food, language, and family dynamics all added so much to this fun, romantic story. Sosa managed to make even the most minor characters seem authentic and necessary to the storyline. Natalie’s extra behavior had me in stitches every time she was on scene.
After being left a jilted bride, Lina has clambered her way to the top as a successful wedding planner and small business owner. Her character is fierce, witty, intelligent, and someone that I would love to be friends with. I loved the slow build from enemies-to-lovers between Lina and Max. Occasionally, I get frustrated with the yo-yo of relationship progress and then back to step one but I was fully invested in this somewhat forbidden romance.
Beyond the relationship, Sosa has gifted us with an insightful look into the pressure a daughter of the first generation has to build upon the foundation of her family’s efforts upon arrival to the US as well as the pressures that come with being a woman of color.
Ultimately, this book hit all the marks for this reader. The vibrant culture that Sosa wove into this fantastic story was nothing short of inspiring. It made me want to hunt down a Brazilian restaurant, and if that didn’t work then I would get the ingredients and attempt to make it myself and then fail. Then I would be stuck eating like Peter Rabbit (Read the book and you will understand this not so clever reference). I definitely recommend for fans of Jasmine Guillory and Helen Hoang!
**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
