Book Review: The Best Thing

As I wait for Mariana Zapata to release news of her next book or announce a surprise drop of said book (that she’s hinted is coming very soon!) I read another title from her backlist, The Best Thing.

It’s hard to talk about this book and the plot without giving away any of its twists, so I’ll keep this short! The novel follows Elena “Lenny” DeMaio and Jonah Collins. Lenny is Luna’s best friend from Luna & the Lie and her family’s gym, Maio House, is where Bianca from Hands Down works as a front desk receptionist. in Hands Down, Bianca complains about the new owners of the gym after Lenny and her grandfather sold it abruptly, so I may have read these books out of order but it doesn’t matter!

Lenny runs her family’s gym, which specializes in training MMA fighters. She is working as usual one day when someone shows up that she was not expecting – Jonah Collins. Jonah is a professional rugby player from New Zealand and Lenny’s ex. Lenny and Jonah met almost 2 years ago in Paris when Jonah was playing for Paris and Lenny was living/working there for a while. They had hit it off and spent as much time as possible together for 2 months before Jonah was injured and then disappeared off the face of the earth and Lenny never heard back from him.

Now Jonah is in Houston, specifically to explain himself to Lenny and hope she will take him back. However, Lenny isn’t going to make it easy for him. She was incredibly hurt when he disappeared on her and a lot has happened since they were together. Will Lenny forgive Jonah? Will they get back together?

I loved this book. It’s a slow burn like all Mariana Zapata books, but I didn’t feel it as much as her other books since they already had a history together. I loved Lenny and Jonah and Lenny’s Grandpa Gus and Peter. The characters were so good, the relationship between Lenny and Jonah was fun to watch develop or re-develop, and the novel has so much heart to it. Lenny was raised by her grandfather so the relationship they have is so special and full of love. The novel really is just filled with examples of all different types of love and relationships.

I had seen over the years a lot of people saying the Epilogue of The Best Thing made them cry so much. It was definitely emotional! I was on the verge of tears, but held it together because I finished the book while on lunch break at work!

Anyway, I loved the book and all the loving relationships seen throughout.

Read this if you want a second chance romance with a lot of heart and some spice.

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