𝐊𝐀𝐑𝐋𝐀 𝐒𝐎𝐑𝐄𝐍𝐒𝐄𝐍 - 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐁𝐄𝐒𝐓 𝐎𝐅 𝐀𝐋𝐋
🎉𝐀𝐑𝐂 𝐁𝐎𝐎𝐊 𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖
👉𝘚𝘞𝘐𝘗𝘌 𝘛𝘖 𝘚𝘌𝘌 𝘛𝘏𝘌 𝘚𝘠𝘕𝘖𝘗𝘚𝘐𝘚 & 𝘛𝘙𝘖𝘗𝘌𝘚

💖𝐑𝐄𝐕𝐈𝐄𝐖:
Let me start by saying this: I need more Karla in my life. I need more books and longer stories, more-more and just more!
I don't know how to sum up my feelings about Liam and Zoe's story, other than yes, I cried. Yes, I swooned. Yes, if you're looking for male yearning in a book, you found it!
The trope of the book starts off with the sad reality of both MC's best friends naming them as legal guardians of an almost three year old. Liam, the closed off, grumpy Brit and Zoe, the heartbroken but fierce ray of sunshine don't see eye to eye. They never have, not since Liam started off their relationship with a rude comment almost ten years ago. Despite them being on the wrong foot, the parents of Mira thought they'd be the best at raising their daughter in case of a tragedy.
I think the author did a remarkable job at balancing the hard hitting aspects of the book, regarding grief, parental issues, sprinkling just enough humor and banter to lighten up the storyline at the right moments. But even with this, my heart ached for the trauma of the current events in the book, with the grappling of learning to care for a toddler paired up with the insurmountable grief. But I also shed tears reliving the trauma Liam went through. Despite his upbringing and convictions, the reluctant but adorable way his relationship with Mira played out was the most precious thing I experienced while inhaling this story.
For me, the romance aspect was something I would have needed more of, even with how well-rounded the whole book is. Especially because Liam was the epitome of a yearning grumpy cat, who does not know how to solve his big feelings in a remotely normal way. But the double POV made this behaviour so much more acceptable and at times even funny, I instantly excused all his shortcomings.
I admired Zoe's strength and certainty, taking in strides and accepting the full spectrum of raising someone else's baby. She was a firecracker with the sweetest soul, and her unexpected crankiness towards an unreasonable male.

I think my only complaint should be echoed here, and I know it's a tightrope to dance on, but: I need some more Liam and Zoe moments, so please-please let me have a 400+ pages long Karla Sorensen book.

I really enjoyed this one! I was immediately interested because the premise reminded me a lot of the move “Life as We Know It” and I love that movie!

While the circumstances throwing Liam, Zoe, and Mira together were tragic (and made my tear up multiple times), it was lovely watching them interact with each other. Especially Liam. Seeing him not only coming to terms with his feelings for Zoe, but watching him fall in love with that little girl… 🥰

I also really loved Rosa and the book club ladies, and wish we’d gotten to see more glimpses of them because they were so much fun!

The only reason it’s not a full 5 star from me is that I personally wanted to see a little more of Liam and Zoe together as a couple. This one was a slow burn, and it took a lot to get there, and I just wanted a smidge more of them happy at the end. However I also understand a lot of readers don’t like that for some reason so 🤷🏻‍♀️

While this isn’t necessarily an exact “dupe” for “Life as We Know It”, it did have a lot of similarities and I couldn’t help but picture Katherine and Josh as Zoe and Liam, though obviously Liam is British and an athlete instead of being American and a sports reporter. And then obviously in LAWKI the child is an infant, whereas here she’s a toddler. Perhaps my love of that movie did influence my reading experience but I don’t necessarily think it’s a bad thing! I tend to really enjoy books that are loosely based on or inspired by my favorite movies as long as they’re written well and I think this one was.

I definitely want to go back and read book 1, and I’m interested to see where the series goes moving forward!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC copy in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

4.5⭐️

Zoe and Liam have an antagonistic relationship at best, but they both love their friends Chris and Amie and the couple's young daughter Mira. They are Mira's godparents and her new guardians when Chris and Amie pass away.

This story and these characters broke my heart at times but also put it back together again. There was real sadness and grief that Zoe and Liam both experience, but they have to come together and do their best for Mira. They have a definite slow burn and it was so interesting watching them fall for one another as they try to adjust to their new lives. There is great character development and I loved watching the two of them fall for one another as they became a family with Mira.

Karla is one of my favorite authors, and this book is a perfect example of why. I was hooked from the very beginning and could not wait to see what happened next.

The Best Of All by Karla Sorensen joins my list of the best books l've read this year. It is a dual POV told through the eyes of Zoe Valentine and Liam Davies. I was emotionally invested in the characters throughout the whole story. Mira was just the cutest little girl and held my heart from the very beginning.
The Best Of All had the slowest burn possible but it was so worth it at the end. The sexual tension was so palpable by the end, I swear I could feel what the characters were feeling.
Liam is probably one of my most favourite MMCs. I just love characters who are so tough on the outside but are just so loving on the inside. His character made me cry more than once; the moment he finally let Mira in, the exchange at the grocery store with his young fan and the bookstore date (best date ever!).

This is the second in the Best Man series and I really thought I was done grieving for Chris and Amie after the first book. But, alas, I still have more tears to shed over them. This time, we are dealing with the custody of their daughter, Mira, and the two people who are now her guardians.

Zoe and Liam are both single with no interest in having children in the immediate future when they find out they are guardians to their best friends’ daughter, Mira.

This is a slow burn with a lot of mutual pining, even though they act like enemies most of the time. Their chemistry is off the charts, but what I loved most was how Liam recognized that Zoe needed some time away from being a mom and he made that happen. And even though he was resistant to being a father figure at first, he really rose to the occasion as a partner for Zoe.

I really loved how she tackled (no football pun intended) the tricky parts of grieving while taking on a whole new role of parenthood. That everyone was involved in counseling was such a wonderful addition to the story.

This might deal with some tough topics, but its also has such wonderful moments of joy. I totally recommend this series.

"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."

- Co-guardians
- Sports romance (British NFL player) x accountant
- Grumpy (him) x sunshine (her)
- Forced proximity
- It's always been you
- Slow burn
- No breakup
- 🌶️/5
- Dual POV
- Narrated by Shane East and Samantha Brentmoor (free to listen via KU)

Premise: Basically, the movie Life As We Know It. But make him a British NFL player who's always secretly loved you and the kid an adorable 2.5-year-old girl.

The Best of All has everything I want and crave from the perfect romance book:
- an extremely grumpy British MMC who's basically Roy Kent if he played NFL. His emotional depth and character growth were a highlight for me. We see him not wanting anything to do with Mira and Zoe, begrudgingly accepting them into his life, being a total cinnamon roll with Mira, and letting Zoe in one personal question and vulnerable moment at a time. It was a journey, and I loved every single second.
- "It was inevitable, I suppose, that this tiny little girl would be the thing to knock over the first brick, to shove through all the mortar and bindings keeping the bricks in place."
- an FMC going on her own journey who doesn't take Liam's sh*t.
- a freaking cute kid who says things like "I hold you" to a grumpy man 😭.
- a delicious slow-burn romance (think Mariana Zapata) brimming with tension and a dash of spice at the end. This also means no breakup! "You are a weapon of mass destruction, love." 🫠
- absolutely amazing audiobook narration. Hands down one of my top audiobooks of the year!

If you want a book that will make you laugh, tear up, and swoon, I need you to read or listen to The Best of All and thank me later.

After the way The Best of All started I wasn't sure my heart would be able to take it. But that thought quickly flew by the wayside. And I have to mention the 'book club' ladies that were such a source of laughter amongst all the heavy feelings.

I loved the way Zoe stood up, not only for herself but for Mira too. The way she put that broody Brit in his place. She was for sure the sunshine to his grumpy. But under all that brood and hurt was a heart that was scared and didn't know how to ask for what it wanted.

Does anyone write a slow burn better than Karla Sorensen? I mean my goodness...the longing, the anticipation, I could feel it pulsing off the page. But man it was so worth the wait. Seeing them both lower their walls and let themselves feel and live fully was oh so sweet to witness. Zoe and Liam's quasi enemies to lovers romance was emotional and witty and had me hanging on every word.

I really liked this book! I haven't read a good slow burn book in awhile and it was oh so good! I loved Liam and his British ways! He is definitely yummy! I loved Zoe too. Their chemistry was off the charts once it finally got started at the end! A lot of grief too and heartbreak but it was so worth it!

This is a unique story. One where I’ve only ever read one other book with the same similar situation. I enjoyed it because it was unique. It’s a slow burn that doesn’t sizzle for a very long time. It’s a grumpy sunshine. I did enjoy Mira and her part in this story.

If Karla Sorensen writes it, I will read it. The Best of All is an emotional roller coaster, and I loved every moment of it. Liam is a grumpy professional football player with no plans of ever starting a family. Zoe is pure sunshine and approaches life with optimism. When tragedy strikes, they are thrown together into the co-guardianship of their late friends' daughter, Mira. Zoe is ready to take on the responsibility; however, Liam is reluctant to be involved. Liam and Zoe don't get along, but Zoe is determined to do what's best for Mira, even if Liam refuses to be there to help.

The Best of All is a beautifully written story. Karla Sorensen created two characters who are believable, relatable, and full of depth. Not only must Liam and Zoe grapple with the loss of their friends, but they must also navigate providing the best care for Mira while dealing with their own personal struggles and trauma. They are also forced to really get to know each other and face hidden feelings. I loved everything about Liam and Zoe together. Their chemistry was amazing, and I loved the push and pull of their relationship. This story broke my heart, but I enjoyed witnessing their journey of healing and growth. Little Mira was adorable. The development of Liam's relationship with Mira was super sweet. This story is a super slow-burn romance with lots of tension and all the feels. I highly recommend this book!

I typically love Karla Sorensen books, but this one missed the mark for me. I wasn't really feeling the chemistry between Zoe and Liam at all which made the slow burn just kinda painful. My biggest gripe with this book though is why would anyone leave their kid to a person who is adamant about not wanting kids? To me, that makes no sense. If anything, I would have appreciated Liam just sending money for a few months, feeling guilty about it and then sort of working his way into Mira and Zoe's life. I just didn't Liam all that much. There were some cute moments between Liam and Mira, but not enough to save this book for me.

Literally…THE BEST OF ALL
To say that this was one of the best slow burn I’ve ever read is an understatement.
A good slow burn that creates the best sexual tension, longing looks, accidental touches and pining, oh man this book has it all and more!
A definite must read, be sure to add to your TBR immediately if you love a good slow Burn !


Ok let’s get into the details..
Liam the protagonist, the big grumpy British football athlete who secretly had a crush on his bestfriends friend and neighbor the beautiful Zoe, the one he loves to hate or so it would seem.
He’s been in love with her for years but because of childhood trauma he feels that having a family is not in the cards for him.
Zoe Valentine the beautiful nerdy FMC with a sunshiny personality who cannot help but feel antagonistic towards this grumpy Britt who loves to rile her up!
The only thing Zoe knows about Liam is how much he dislikes her, or so she thought.
But sadly,they both will be thrown together in the most heartbreaking way, this moment will test their resolve and their lives will never be the same.

Becoming co-parents both Liam and Zoe had no say in the matter whatsoever, little Mira this bundle of cuteness would become their entire world.

Zoe was immediately in loved with little Mira but it was Liam who will take time to come around to the rambunctious smart and Duck loving Mira the cutest 2 1/2 yr old,

“I hold you?” Mira asked.

But that beautiful little girl tears down the walls Liam had erected and while his hard facade crumbled, Zoe takes notice that Liam is not the grump she thought he was.
But listen ….when this Dirty talking Britt begins to open up
And she starts to reciprocate, this is when the sexual tension heats up but so does the most romantic date ever.


This man … he wanted to do things right by not rushing Zoe, after all whats a day compared to the years he spent waiting and wanting her !
And boy was it worth the wait!.

Liam’s confession was stunning and his vulnerability was oh so heart achingly beautiful, and when Zoe, realized she wants Liam too? it’s was everything!

“It’s even worse when you realize the person you want to be with has been in front of you the entire time.”

This story drew an emotional reaction from me that was also in part due to Mira, the little person who came in their lives at the opportune time.

That was what Zoe didn't understand.
All she had to do all she'd ever had to do— was simply be there.
That was all it took, and I was desperately, impossibly inflamed.

What I loved about this book is how much they all loved each other from beginning. From Liam’s Resistance to the way how he patiently waited for her to choose him…And the way how Zoe try to understand Liam’s hesitations towards becoming a family and never question his confessions about his feelings towards her. Also the family dynamic they build together unknowingly.
💖
I haven’t read a book by Karla before, But this one she wrote with this cute kid and the way Liam loves his mom and his incredible interactions with her coupled with the family and friends dynamics, settles something deep down in my heart!


Definitely read this book if you love
🏈Grumpy/Sunshine
🐥Co-Parenting
💕Mutual Pining
🏈Football Player/Sports Romance
💝Angsty but so good
🐥Found Family
🏈Hate to love
💝Forced roommates
🐥Single Parent
🏈Forced guardianship situation
💝He Falls First
🐥Slow Burn 🔥
🏈Secret cinnamon roll Brit hero

Well Deserved review
5⭐️. Story overall
4🔥slow Burn
3🌶️
An ARC Review by Me
Georgious_eleanorpb🦋
be sure to get this sweet endearing book !
Hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.💕

Welllllll this one hit me right in the feels. The Best of All had me going through all the emotions. I was swooning. I was laughing. I was crying. Holy. Heck. Karla’s stories just speak to my heart.

Parenting doesn’t come with an instruction manual and there’s no one size fits all. This is something Zoe and Liam learn very quick when their goddaughter is left in their care after a tragedy.

Zoe jumps right in but Liam is so reluctant. He never wanted kids or a family and his best friend knew that the best but still appointed him guardian anyway. But my god! When he sees Zoe, tired and just trying her best, he knows he needs to step up. And when he does, my ovaries nearly exploded!

I truly loved this story so much. Zoe is convinced Liam hates her from the moment they met ten years ago but really, it couldn’t have been further from the truth. This grump of a man has been pining for over a decade for the one woman he can’t have.

This is a slow, slow burn and I was here for it. The tension between these two was unreal. Being forced together, Liam and Zoe let down their walls and watching them fall for one another was just so beautiful!

Liam is the biggest grump. And I tell you! The grumpiest ones always fall the hardest. This man is so gone for Zoe. And for Mira! Oh my god, the way this little girl brought out this big teddy bear side in Liam had me melting.

If you love a slow burn, swoony as heck romance between the grump and then sunshine and their duck loving adorable girl - please read this. Like right now!

The Best of All by Karla Sorensen is book 2 in The Best Men series and after reading book 1, I have been impatiently waiting for it! This can be read as a standalone, however, I highly recommend book 1 as well. I loved it. Here we have a sports romance with forced proximity and sunshine/grumpy romance with a British hero. Liam’s life is all about football. He is determined, grumpy and reserved. One of the few people that mattered to him was Chris, a teammate, and his wife. Zoe is all about sunshine and happy endings. However, both are about to get their world turn upside down after losing their friends and are asked to raise their daughter.

Liam has never wanted a family and avoids commitments. Zoe has always wanted children, but never imagined it like this. Now they have to put Mira first. While they are trying to learn how to be there for Mira, they begin to spend time together after year of animosity between them. Lines begin to blur and I love their slow burning journey. They both have pasts they are learning to overcome and move forward; can they find their way? I truly enjoyed Liam and Zoe’s journey, how they came together for Mira and each other so much. I loved it and highly recommend this story so much.

Happy reading!

When I tell you this book gives good grump, it really gives!! Liam is the grumpiest hero but he is no match for Zoe and Mira teaming up on him to melt his heart!

“Part of life is having to stumble through the shit when you can’t see the outcome. You don’t know how messy it’ll get, and you don’t always have a perfect plan.”

This story was heartbreaking healing all at once! Zoe was ready to do anything and everything to take care of little Mira after her best friends passed away tragically, leaving their daughter in her care. That is until their final wishes of shared guardianship are revealed with Liam, the man she can’t stand to be in the same room with let alone share custody of a grieving child with. But vowing to do whatever is best for Mira, Zoe sacrifices her sanity and embarks on what turns out to the best unexpected twist of fate in her life!

“Just because you two are in this situation with Mira doesn’t mean that real, beautiful feelings can’t blossom from such an unexpected place. Don’t let the unlikely nature of it keep you from the possibility of the kind of love and family you’ve always wanted.”

Grumpy, gruff, and stubborn are the perfect words to describe Liam, but once he let his heart finally open, he was absolutely charming! And it was oh so satisfying when he finally fell! His love for Mira, his little “ducky” was the sweetest and you know a hero is completely gone for the heroine when he plans the absolute cutest date! Zoe’s heart in turn stood no chance against her once supposed enemy, she didn’t need to be strong and guard her heart after all. And I of course loved the neighborhood ladies book club! They had no shame in ogling Liam and pretending he was all their book boyfriends come to life! Overall this story was sweet and charming and gave me that happily ever after feeling I crave! 🫶🏻💕

“It was always her, even when I tried to think about something, someone, anyone else. Always Zoe. It would always be Zoe too. There was no escaping it, even if I wanted to. I wasn’t sure I did anymore. I’d suffer the want of her for the rest of my life without complaint.”

Oh my goodness, Liam is my new favorite Karla Sorensen hero! That growly, grumpy commitaphobe turned out to be such a softie with a huge heart, and I just wanted to hug him!

With The Best of All, KS delivers a masterpiece. While Liam and Zoe's story has a HEA, there is A LOT that these two have to go through before they get there. This captivating story is a super slow burn -- like seriously, it all builds up to the last 15% of the book. But once Liam and Zoe get there, it is on! That said, the journey that these two characters go on in is quite the emotional rollercoaster.

Both Liam and Zoe are grieving the tragic death of their best friends, which leads to them needing to raise little Mira together. But on top of that, we get some very heavy stuff from both characters as Zoe attempts to piece herself back together after a divorce and Liam is running from his troubled childhood. It takes a lot for Liam to face his fears and take a chance on the hope of a relationship with Zoe. Without even realizing it, he's become a fierce protector of both Zoe and Mira, despite his insistence that he wants nothing to do with having a family. I absolutely loved that Liam didn't know what to do with all those big feelings. Watching him transform from the growly guy in the beginning to the guy he is by the epilogue was heartwarming.

"It was always her."

Gah, I was so happy that Liam found the love and life he deserved with Zoe and Mira!

I received an advanced copy and voluntarily left a review.

5⭐️
1.5🌶️

Man, this book pulled at my heartstrings. It will break your heart and slowly put it back together again. I’m not embarrassed to say that I teared up a few times and couldn’t imagine this type of tragedy happening in my life. Zoe and Liam are tasked with the unimaginable: taking care of their best friend’s very young daughter after a horrible accident. Zoe, a kind-hearted accountant, cannot imagine a life where she wouldn’t be there for young Mila. She takes on the role of mother right away and vows to be the best she can for Mila. Liam, a broody football player, is the exact opposite of Zoe. He never wanted a family and could not believe that his friends wanted him to be a guardian to Mila. Zoe and Liam have never really liked each other. They are opposites in every way, and Liam wants nothing to do with Zoe or parenting. When he sees how frazzled Zoe is one day, his conscience kicks in and says he’ll help with Mila. He has always had a chip on his shoulder because of what happened in his life when he was a kid and told himself that he didn’t want a family or serious relationship. Zoe was a hopeless romantic, even though her past relationships were anything but great. The more time Zoe and Liam spend together, the more Liam can see how amazing and beautiful Zoe is. He can see how open her heart is and how much she cares for the people in her circle. Zoe carefully starts breaking down Liam’s walls and can see why he is the way he is. Liam would never forgive himself if he hurt Zoe or Mila but realizes that he deserves good things, too. You are going to fall in love with these three, and you are going to read how much Liam melts for this little girl when he lets his heart feel. It's such a tragic yet beautiful story. It's one of my favorite reads this year!

I devoured this book. The angst, the growth, the emotions - I loved everything about this book. This book had me feeling all the feels, from laughing out loud, to tears, to hope... all of it. Liam - my heart broke for him, I can't even imagine feeling the way he felt. The author took a few hard and sensitive subjects and just handled them so well. I loved both the MMC and the FMC - they were both a bit broken and thrust into a situation that would be hard for anyone. I loved seeing Liam's growth throughout the book and turned into the best book boyfriend (can we talk about that first date) and guardian. The way he was with Mira, once he was all in - so precious. Zoe - was all in from the beginning and I loved how she was willing to do anything for Mira - she showed such strength and courage. Best of all - loved Rosa and her book club - they were hilarious and just added to this book. This book, was angsty, slow burn, banter was incredible, heartwarming and heartbreaking - all the things. Loved every moment!

The beauty of Karla Sorensen's words comes out full on as she sees with her heart and takes readers on an emotional journey in The Best of All.

Leave it to Karla Sorensen to create a grump in a million in Liam Davies. Tightly wound with pent up emotions and a swear inventory that would make a sailor blush Liam's motivations were not always clear even to himself but his longing was worn on his sleeve. Family, love and the ability to trust all circled Liam's heart and the result was an amazing hero!

Aptly named Zoe Valentine was the heart and soul of everything she was part of. A more giving and kind character you could not find. She took what life handed her not as a responsibility but as a calling, throwing herself into whatever she did from her work to relationships to love.

As a couple Liam and Zoe were complete opposites only to find in their confrontations that they were more alike than they were aware of. Their simmering reluctant and confusing attraction was the catalyst for more than one self-realization on both parts. The banter in this work was well devised and kept this story lively.

This story eloquently took on tragedy. Ms. Sorensen did not gloss over dealing with the aftermath of loss from many different angles spanning from a child's grief to adults who were grappling with their own sorrow and the changes and regrouping that came with their loss resulting in a modified family. There was an endearing cast of secondary characters in this book from the toddler Mira to Zoe's book club and Liam's teammates; the pages were infused with an entertaining and caring community to help Liam and Zoe tackle their unexpected parenthood and relationship. Adjusting love and its expectations were all tackled by this author with insight and kindness. This was a love story that was about embracing love in all its forms after rising from the ashes.

One of Karla Sorensen's strengths in her writing is captivating slow burns. The physical chemistry is there but it is the friendship and interactions between her love interests that is in a league of its own. This author gives emotionally intimate portrayals that leave her readers invested in her characters. The Best of All brings out all the best in Karla Sorensen's story telling for a touching read!

I absolutely loved this book. It was a slow burn romantic masterpiece. Liam and Zoe were just magical together after they finally came clean with each other. Liam is such a good man who just couldn’t accept that he was a good man. I was so happy that Mira, Zoe and therapy helped him to see his worth and to release his past trauma. This book broke my heart but also pieced it back together beautifully. I feel like I don’t have enough words to explain how much this book just gave me all the feels. I rated this book 5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I wish I could give it so many more.