The Best I Never Had: A Novel
Aug 2026 · Sold by St. Martin's Griffin
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About this ebook
They staged a romance, faked a breakup, and this time around, anything can happen—even something real.
Thea Pappas has always been the storm in her own life—fiery and unpredictable—traits that led her and her younger sister, Addy, through a series of foster homes. But with Addy's whirlwind engagement, Thea is determined to be the perfect maid of honor, even if she finds it odd that she hadn't heard of the fiancé until the ring was on Addy's finger. She believes she can survive a week in the Blue Ridge Mountains with a group of strangers without causing any trouble.
But upon arrival, Thea realizes these aren't strangers. Among the familiar faces is Owen Hayes—the man who, three years ago, paid her to pretend to be his girlfriend at a family wedding. Now, he's looking at her with the same panicked expression.
Owen's life has always been about control—managing his mother's matchmaking schemes, his family's expectations, and the career path he never truly chose. Thea was his one rebellion, a beautiful lie that ended with a "heart-destroying" fake breakup. Now, with his younger brother's wedding underway and his mother on the prowl, Owen begs Thea to reprise their roles. One week. Same fake breakup. No feelings.
But as old sparks reignite and the lines between pretense and reality blur, Thea and Owen will have to choose: carry on their greatest performance yet or admit the truth—that it was never fake at all.
Thea Pappas has always been the storm in her own life—fiery and unpredictable—traits that led her and her younger sister, Addy, through a series of foster homes. But with Addy's whirlwind engagement, Thea is determined to be the perfect maid of honor, even if she finds it odd that she hadn't heard of the fiancé until the ring was on Addy's finger. She believes she can survive a week in the Blue Ridge Mountains with a group of strangers without causing any trouble.
But upon arrival, Thea realizes these aren't strangers. Among the familiar faces is Owen Hayes—the man who, three years ago, paid her to pretend to be his girlfriend at a family wedding. Now, he's looking at her with the same panicked expression.
Owen's life has always been about control—managing his mother's matchmaking schemes, his family's expectations, and the career path he never truly chose. Thea was his one rebellion, a beautiful lie that ended with a "heart-destroying" fake breakup. Now, with his younger brother's wedding underway and his mother on the prowl, Owen begs Thea to reprise their roles. One week. Same fake breakup. No feelings.
But as old sparks reignite and the lines between pretense and reality blur, Thea and Owen will have to choose: carry on their greatest performance yet or admit the truth—that it was never fake at all.
They staged a romance, faked a breakup, and this time around, anything can happen—even something real.
Thea Pappas has always been the storm in her own life—fiery and unpredictable—traits that led her and her younger sister, Addy, through a series of foster homes. But with Addy's whirlwind engag...
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Ratings and reviews
1 review
Viper Spaulding
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August 27, 2026
Does it count as a second-chance if the first was completely faked? Thea posed as Owen's girlfriend for a family wedding a few years ago, then they went their separate ways. Now, coincidentally, they discover that her sister is marrying his brother, and his family has never gotten over Thea. Neither has Owen, but he's trying. There's quite a bit of humor surrounding the secrets kept about their past as well as their growing attachment to each other this time around. Their love grew from their instant chemistry, with each one struggling to be braver than they were the first time. That vulnerability really added depth to the emotional impact of their relationship journey. The only thing I took issue with was the way Thea blamed herself for the foster care failures, even though she was just a child. The whitewashing of the Fischers, without mentioning what is clearly emotional abuse of both Thea and Addy, is unconscionable. Other than this issue, the story was as perfect as a second-chance romance can get. This book was a lot of fun to read, and I couldn't put it down. I definitely recommend it for anyone who loves contemporary second chance romances, just try to ignore the foster care injustices if you can.
About the author
Amy Buchanan has had a lifelong love affair with romance. After decades of devouring love stories written by others, she decided to share the ones pinging around in her own brain. She writes spicy contemporary romances with relatable heroines, swoonworthy heroes, and loving found families.
She lives in Central Florida with her three littles, two pups, and one husband. On top of writing, she uses her Masters in Higher Education Administration to run a scholarship foundation for first-generation college students. When not working, she trolls travel sites for luxury rentals outside of her budget and–poorly–trains for half-marathons.
Amy Buchanan has had a lifelong love affair with romance. After decades of devouring love stories written by others, she decided to share the ones pinging around in her own brain. She writes spicy contemporary romances with relatable heroines, swoonworthy heroes, and loving found families.
She l...
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