Thanks to NetGalley and Montlake for the ARC!

I’m an avid romance reader and this was my first my Karla Sorenson. It’s the second in a loose series but can be read standalone. The story follows Liam and Zoe, who have not gotten along for the entire ten years that their best friends, Chris and Amie, have been married. When Chris and Amie die in a drunk driving accident, they find out that they’ve been granted co-guardianship of Chris and Amir’s daughter Mira.

This story is mostly about Liam overcoming his childhood trauma and deciding what he wants for himself, and not what he’ll grant himself out of fear. His relationship with Zoe, as they slowly learn to trust each other and open up about why they spent the last ten years bickering, grows and develops naturally over the course of the book. I loved that Zoe is a romance reader and always wanted a HEA for herself, and also sort of fourth-wall recognizes that she’s in a romance story too. There’s a bit where she’s like “normally we’d have a huge fight and you’d storm out and we’d both have revelations before getting back together” but thanks to their “no bullshit” policy they avoid that particular romance trope. :)

If kidfic isn’t your thing, I do recommend this one still as it’s not focused on the child as much as the adults. Mira (the daughter) is written realistically for a traumatized two year old, and her issues help the adults in her life with their issues too. It doesn’t get too heavy and is balanced by a whole lot of sweetness.

I've always loved the movie Life as We Know It. This book is so much better then the movie.

Liam is a football playing Brit and Zoe is an accountant. They have known each other for 10 years and haven't always gotten along. They both receive custody of little Mira when their friends die in an accident.

I loved seeing their relationships with Mira grow. And seeing Liam and Zoe come together. The slow burn was so worth the wait. Rosa and her friends are a hoot.

The realness of them figuring out a toddler on the fly. Any parent can relate.

Thank you to NetGalley for letting me review this book early.

Such a sweet story *cry in Spanish*

This book is like a hug for your broken heart. Thank you Karla Sorensen for this unique book. You are a sweet angel.

I expected this was going to be a good book because Karla's writing is exquisite - Bombshell is the example - but this one??? Is just aaahhh!!!!!

Loved how perfect Zoe and Liam were for little Mina. Karla wrote about grieving so beautifully - the first chapters were perfect - my heart twisted for Zoe, Liam and specifically Mina.

I loved how Karla took the time for the romance - it was a very difficult situation, they needed to adapt to their new life before starting something. There's no rush between them. Mina was the priority.

I can only recommend The Best of All to everyone, it's so good.

Thank you NetGalley, Montlake and Karla Sorensen for this arc. You made a happy fairy today.

4⭐️ I really enjoyed this book✨

Zoe and Liam have known each other for over a decade. However, it felt like the right person at the wrong time situation. Now, both of them are the guardians of Mira after losing their best friends in an accident. They are forced to live together and get along for the well-being of the little girl. Also, they show us the stages of grief from their perspectives and how they deal with it in their own ways along with the new situation of taking care of Mira. It is a process of adaptation, acceptance, and healing for everyone. One of self-knowledge and knowledge of each other where the author does not rush any process. I really like that. This book has a slow burn really slow😭😂 but I like it because, again, it didn't feel rushed given the circumstances.

I loved the patience of Zoe and how strong she is facing these hard times. Liam fell for her since the first time he saw her. He was obsessed with her and tried to ignore and hide this fact for all those years. Also, how cute Mira is, the development of Liam’s character, and how they slowly became a family💛

This book healed my soul!!!!!!!!🥹
I’ve read a lot of karla sorensen’s book and i was excited nonetheless to read this book, BUT TO BE A BANGER O A STORYYY, she totally outdid herself with this one. The tension, the slow bur , the dialogue, MIRA, Liam, Zoe were pure perfection. I love them as individuals and as a unit it was the best thing Ive read in a while in the romance category and im so glad i got to read it.

I laughed, i cried more times than i would like to admit and im not even upset about it.

Preordered my copy the minute i finished it

Thank you Netgalley for the arc I absolutely adored the book!!! 🫶🏻🫶🏻🩷

if you need a easy reading love story with characters who have lots of banter while trying to heal from trauma together this is the book.

right from the first chapter you get sucked into te book and you just want to keep reading more. it was an amazing story and i will read it again when the mood strikes for it.

Great read! I lovrd the writing very much! I feel like anyone with kids will feel something with this book. I have a 14 month old and the struggle of adjusting and learning was very relatable. The build up to the spicy part was a bit long but the immediate lead up was good.

Storyline was well timed and I enjoyed the push and pull between these two. It didn’t feel rushed and it also didn’t feel like these the characters weren’t willing to change. I really enjoyed this slow burn and would definitely read another book by this author.

Karla Sorenson is a one click author for me. The follow up to The Best Laid Plans introduces us to Liam and Zoe who unexpectedly become the guardians of little Mira when their mutual friends pass away. This close proximity romance shows the commitment of Liam and Zoe to Mira and honoring their friends' wishes. Another Karla Sorenson hit!

Received ARC through netgalley. It was a cute read! Perfect for someone who likes found family, enemies to lovers, or sports romance.

I don't think I've ever read a book from this author that I didn't enjoy, and this book was no different. I devoured this book in one sitting, and I wasn't ready for it to end when it did. I love a good slow burn romance, so this story was perfect for me. I absolutely loved Liam, Zoe and Mira. Liam and Zoe's chemistry was undeniable, and their back-and-forth banter had me laughing out loud. They were perfect for each other. I loved the love they had for not only their friends but for Mira. I feel as though I felt every emotion the characters were feeling and that's when I know I'm reading a good story and, in my opinion, this is one story worth reading. This romance story was heartfelt, emotional and funny but it also dealt with grief, loss, moving forward after tragedy and more. It ends with a deserving HEA and is a story I can and will read again. I will definitely be recommending it to my romance book loving friends.

Inhaled this in less than 3 hours and that should tell you everything you need to know about this book!

Karla is the best in the game when it comes to sports romance, she has never once let me down and this book is a prime example of how well she can write this genre. The prologue hooked me in with a bang and I instantly fell in love with Liam’s gruff exterior, and Zoe’s sunshine personality. Their chemistry was off the charts from the first page, from their snarky banter and lingering gazes, I felt how much Liam truly liked Zoe from the beginning despite what she might have thought!

This story was an emotional journey for the two MC’s in navigating not just trauma/grief but also how to become the best co-parents for this gift left for them in the form of the cutest little baby girl ever 😭 I adored watching Liam flourish and grow as a man who is capable of loving and raising a little girl. Zoe’s journey into motherhood may not have been what she imagined but I loved watching her raise Mira as her own, giving her all the love she thought she would never be able to give after her past.

If you’re looking for a book that not only pulls at your heart strings, but also makes you laugh, giggle and blush then look no further and dive into Zoe and Liam’s story 🩷

Thank you so much to netgalley, the publishers and Karla Sorensen for my arc in exchange for an honest review!

Gosh this was such a wonderfully unexpected surprise! I have adored Karla Sorensen for years and her books are always so addictive and heartwarming. But The Best of All is in a league of its own— I cried, I swooned, I mourned and I laughed. The romance between Zoe and Liam was so natural, so authentic, and it worked perfectly with the storyline of them raising Mira together alongside battling their shared grief of losing their best friends.

I devoured this in one sitting and didn’t move from my chair the moment I decided to pick this up. I tried to force myself to stop but I just couldn’t because it made me feel so giddy and excited to read. I didn’t want it to end. I haven’t read Karla in such a long time and this book reminded me why I’ve always relied on her books to make me smile.

I’ll definitely be going back to the first book and diving in asap!

Rating: 4.75/5
Steam: 2.5/5
Warnings: parental abuse (in past), grief, loss of a parent, divorce

Thank you to Montlake and NetGalley for this advanced copy, all opinions are my own.

This is the second time in 2024 that I have given a Karla Sorensen book five stars...what is she doing right now? Whatever it is, it's working wonders because her latest work is simply phenomenal.

Perfect for fans of the film, Life as We Know It, or the Godparent Trap by Rachel Van Dyken. This guardianship romance delivers on every front. With a perfect blend of raw emotion, tension, and humor, it was everything I didn't know I needed.

Liam was so grumpy and closed off, for good reason but to see this man open his heart was pure perfection. He didn't understand his feelings, he wasn't great with words but he showed up with his actions. He was in love with Zoe for TEN YEARS, waiting for his shot, pining for her and then he got the girl. This book was such a slow burn, you could see the relationship development and the tension throughout the story.

Zoe, on the other hand, embodies strength, kindness, and a fierce protective instinct as a mother figure to Mira. Her curiosity and spirited nature complement Liam, creating a dynamic relationship that unfolds beautifully throughout the narrative.

The intricate dynamics between Liam, Zoe, and Mira tug at the heartstrings, particularly the tender moments shared between Liam and Mira. Their bond is portrayed with such authenticity that it's impossible not to be moved, especially with her nickname duck.

I have discovered that Sorensen writes grief very well, the balance of humor and romance make these romances so real and raw. she captures the essence of human emotions. You can't help but laugh and cry throughout the whole thing.

Favorite Quote: "All she had to do-all she'd ever had to do-was simply be there. Stand there. Look at me. Breathe. That's all it took, and I was desperately, impossibly inflamed."

Books in this genre in particular live and die by their dialogue and character work, and that’s something I’ve found I never have to worry about with Karla Sorensen. I had so much fun reading it.

Arc review
Single parent
Child guardian
Divorce
Commitment issues
Best friend tragic dead
Zoe and Liam become guardian of their best friend child after they die from a drunk driver. Zoe been with her since her bestfriend die doing alone after the lawyer finally contacted Liam he doesn't want to do anything with Mira but then his bestfriend came to him in a dream and told him to take care of his family. That phrase literally broke me because I have a child. So now Zoe and Liam have to deal with con parenting especially because they don't get along. Since the moment they meet Liam had an attraction toward Zoe but when he saw her engagement and then meet her fiancé he told her, her marriage was going fail and it did they got divorce and Zoe felt resentment toward him.
They have this attraction toward each other. Liam have demons from his past with his father and he very close off.
Liam think he will end up like him the way he treated his mother.

The Best of All is an absolutely brilliant read. Although knowing each other for ten years through mutual best friends Chris and Amie, professional footballer Liam and accountant Zoe detest each other.
When tragedy strikes and their friends are killed in an accident Liam and Zoe find they have been left as joint guardians to Mira the two and a half year old daughter of their friends.
Liam is a complete commitment phobe who after a terrible childhood has vowed never to have a relationship or children. Zoe a divorcee is full of love and wants to surround Mira with stability and love. Putting their animosity aside they work together to provide this. Gradually their relationship changes as they realise their perception of each other was way off.
A wonderful story with characters of great emotional depth and also humour and sparkling dialogue. I loved this book and read it in a day as I just could not put it down.
My thanks to net galley and publisher Montlake for the opportunity to review this book honestly.

The great plot and character development kept me so engaged throughout the entire book that I had a very hard time putting this book down until the very last page was turned!

Aaaaah, romance waiting for years, tension, doubts, self questioning - and emotions from happiness, and attraction to grief to self doubt. A rollercoaster of emotion and path of self discovery to an eventual HEA. A definite engaging read, and more than the "usual" romance.

I was not expecting to cry as much as I did. I also laughed a lot too. Karla knows how to make you feel all the emotions. I also wasn't expecting this to be a slow burn, but it was well worth it in the end!

I loved the family dynamics that was portrayed throughout the entire book. From a single mom perspective, to allowing others to help when you most need it. Zoe was amazing the way she jumped into her new role to be there for Mira. She made sure Mira was always happy even though she missed her parents dearly.

Liam was very skeptical at first with the entire situation. He didn't understand why he was chosen or if he wanted to even take up the role as a parent figure in Mira life. Being around Mira helped him overcome some of his fears and trauma. I love the relationship with Mira and Zoe, but watching the relationship between Liam and Mira blossom was absolutely beautiful. The way he takes care of both girls Just kept a permanent smile on my face. Hes the cutest golden retriever

I devoured this book slowly because I did not want it end.

If your looking for an amazing book to make you cry and laugh then this is for you!!!