Rating: ⭐⭐⭐✨ (3.5/5)
Summary:
Beatrice Donovan would do anything for her identical twin sister, even step into her shoes as a hotel manager in a last-ditch effort to help. But the hotel is on the brink of closure, and her new boss, Jonah, is both intimidatingly gorgeous and on her case at every turn. Bea is determined to pull off the job unnoticed and keep things strictly professional, but her growing feelings for Jonah might make this the best mistake she’s ever made!

Review:
Best Mistake Ever brings a fresh perspective to romance with its use of multiple points of view, uniquely highlighting the perspectives of both Beatrice and her twin sister, Delilah, alongside Jonah. This nuanced approach offers deeper insights into the characters’ struggles and decisions, enhancing the narrative. Rooted in beloved romance tropes such as enemies-to-lovers and grumpy sunshine, the story also explores significant themes, including emotional manipulation and the burden of feeling responsible for others.

The slower pacing at the beginning made it difficult to engage fully with the story, but once it hit its stride, the chemistry between Bea and Jonah, coupled with the high-stakes hotel dilemma, brought an element of excitement. However, some aspects of the character development felt uneven, as though the characters’ personalities were being shaped mid-story rather than being firmly established from the start.

Despite this, the novel delivers a heartfelt message about self-growth, resilience, and learning to set boundaries. Bea’s journey to find her voice while navigating professional and personal obstacles is both relatable and inspiring. Fans of romance who enjoy layered themes will likely connect with this story, even if the pacing and development require a bit of patience.

Would I Recommend?
Yes—for readers who love a mix of workplace romance, enemies-to-lovers banter, and grumpy sunshine dynamics, paired with thoughtful explorations of emotional well-being.

I received a copy of this book from Net Galley and am voluntarily giving my honest review.

Review for the Advanced Reader's Copy:

4,5/5 stars for Best Mistake Ever by Christy McKellen.

This was such a fun read!! It was addictive and juicy, it made me wanna keep reading and kept me intrigued all the way though. The hidden identity trope is one of my all-time favourites, and it was well executed!
The book was also full of clichés and exaggerated characters (e.g. Dee), which is why it feels wrong to give it the full 5 stars but it got really close to that. The exaggeration was a bit annoying and threw me out of the storyline a few times. Other than that, I don't think I have any critique.
It was bubbly and perfect to shut off the brain and just to have fun.

This review can also be found on my Goodreads account at www.goodreads.com/sophielantsov

I found this book to be a pretty solid read by Christy McKellan. We have a good Mary-Kate and Ashley sister swap vibe and an unattainable hot boss. I found the chemistry between the FMC and MMC to be fantastic. I could’ve even been wanting more longing throughout the book. Besides the singular chapter from Dee’s point of view being a waste of pages I think this book was a hit. I am excitedly, hoping for a book two that tells all about Dee and Jem’s vacation in Hawaii. I would recommend this book for those who want a solid romance with light spice.

Thank you to NetGalley and Christy McKellan for access to this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

All posts can be found on @campbellbookworms on instagram!

I gave it until 30% before I gave up, The writing felt off in a way, almost robotic at times and I couldn't immerse myself in the story. Bea's sister was an absolute mess and I didn't like her at all, didn't want her point of view, or to see the obvious set up with Bea's partner. Her sister would have lost that job eventually anyway since she's such a disaster, Bea was only stretching that demise and sabotaging herself by letting her sister stay anywhere near her company. There was quite a bit of back and forth with things too, like the MMC not wanting to play music anymore or be seen and then he's like I want to play with them in the next scene, and also about the almost kiss with Dee he flip flopped there too really quickly. I gave it my best shot but I just couldn't connect to the story. I am very grateful for being

As someone who absolutely adored Best Mistake Ever, I have to say Christy McKellen nailed it with this spicy workplace romance! The chemistry between Jonah, the lead character, and his counterpart Bea is undeniable, and their banter is just chef's kiss. Jonah is the kind of hero you can’t help but root for—charming, a bit flawed, but utterly lovable.

The workplace setting added an intriguing layer to the story, making every moment feel more intense, while still maintaining a lighthearted and fun atmosphere. The book felt like the perfect balance between steamy romance and heartfelt moments—definitely a must-read for anyone who enjoys workplace romances with a twist.

-mistaken identity
-enemies to lovers
-forced proximity
Bea's twin sister hurts herself, and is already in hot water at work. When she calls and needs her to step in for her for a few days she agrees. Catching up on her sister's things isn't easy, but she does it and impresses her boss (that was ready to fire her). They end up spending a lot of time together throughout her time pretending to be her sister. One night they get carried away, but then she reveals the truth about her pretending to be her twin. What will happen to the time and secrets they shared?
This was so cute! The characters were very well rounded, and I liked the relationship the sisters have, Bea would do anything for her. I wish that there was a little more love shown between the two MCs, but I still really liked how well they got along. The whole thing takes place over the space of about a week, so it feels like everything happens very fast. Some things between them don't feel very genuine, because of that.
But I enjoyed the plot, and it was a great idea! I also want to hear what happens with her sister and business partner!

After reading Christy McKellen's 'Threes A Crowd', I jumped at the chance to sink into another book by this author. However, this one just didn't hit the mark for me.

Bea and Dee are twins. Identical in looks, but completely different in personality.
When Dee sprains her ankle, she calls upon Bea to pretend to be her and take on her role as the events manager at a gorgeous hotel run by the son of a rock legend.

The premise sounded like a decent romp into romance territory, but for a good 60% of the book, I was just bored. I liked the characters enough, and i enjoy Christy's style of writing, but the plot and the pacing just didn't do it for me this time.


With that said, it hasn't put me off of this author, and I look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

Thank you to Boldwood books for allowing me to read this book via Netgalley.

I like this book a lot! It was a little tricky in the beginning remember who was who when the POV switched but it got easier! It was a sweet story between the fmc and MMC. And the development between the sisters. Can’t wait to read more by this author!

I absolutely love this book! It's so funny, and the plot and storyline really keep you engaged. I would highly recommend it.

Thank you to Christy McKellen and NetGalley for sending me an ARC. I will definitely be checking out more of your books in the future!

Twin swapping lives is what roped me in, because it seemed like a fun read.
It just fell flat for me. The writing seemed all over the place and i couldn’t grasp onto to anything.
Jonah and Bea just don’t seem like they are a couple who will make it forever. They just seem like happily ever after for now….
While I didn’t care too much for the story, I will say it’s a quick read and it’s fun so if you’re looking for fun, quick and insta lust then I would definitely recommend

This very short and sweet. The two of them just connected on everything in a way that they haven't before. It was nice to see them have someone supportive.

I received an arc through netgalley.

Cute story. Unfortunately, I found myself skipping through certain passages to get the story moving along. The climax seemed to be rushed, as was the actual moment of "I love you"s... didn't have much depth to the relationship. I was very interested in continuing to know more about the characters and how they would work through the situation they found themselves in. However, I felt like the jump to love didn't leave any build-up for that strong foundation of the relationship. Otherwise, a cute read if you're just looking for a palate cleanser between denser books.

Too much telling, not enough showing. The first chapter is nothing but an exposition info-dump while the heroine works on her PC. It’s a masterclass on how NOT to open a novel. Maybe that works okay for a British audience, but not for an American one. DNF.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Get ready for a whirlwind romance packed with heart, heat, and a touch of humor in Best Mistake Ever! With its irresistible combination of grumpy-sunshine, workplace drama, and hidden identities, this book delivers all the tropes romance readers adore. The added twists of a sister swap and celebrity romance keep the stakes high and the tension sizzling.

Beatrice Donovan’s attempt to save her twin sister’s career by pretending to be her lands her in the middle of a high-pressure hotel management job—and under the scrutiny of Jonah, her grumpy and impossibly handsome ex-rockstar boss. The manor house boutique hotel setting, complete with wood-fired hot tubs and secret spaces, adds charm and intimacy to the story, while Jonah’s unexpected talents and hidden depths create an emotional pull that’s hard to resist. And the spice? It’s there in droves, delivering all the swoon-worthy moments you could hope for. 🌶️🌶️🌶️

Best Mistake Ever is a steamy, feel-good romance that balances humor, tension, and heartfelt connections. If you love strong heroines, brooding heroes, and an unforgettable journey of love and self-discovery, this one is a must-read!

This book was very cute but a little too slow for me. The story was well written but was slow and then the "plot twist' give away kind of came our of nowhere. I know this author has other books so I would love to give them a try but this one is just not it for me!

From the start, I kept thinking to myself how strongly obvious the development would have to be, with a plot that could go in only one direction, when one of the love interest deceives the other. This said, you do not go into romance for the big surprises most of the time, and all in all, Christy McKellen delivered on the tropes announced.

I was not so convinced by any of the characters, as they lacked a bit too much of substance for my taste. The book is fairly short, which does not provide much room to develop them in details. I found Dee especially annoying and childish <spoiler>and felt like the epilogue was a clear introduction to another novel going over a romance between her and her sister's friend.</spoiler> In the same spirit, I found it sad not to go deeper into the reasons why Jonah was not drinking anymore, instead of brushing it off.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early copy in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley & Boldwood books for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

My first read from Kristy McKellen, and I found her writing quite difficult to get into, the beginning felt rushed and by the second page we had been introduced to about 7 characters.

A nice, quick read if you're looking for a palette cleanser.

Tropes:

⭐️ grumpy x sunshine
⭐️ forced proximity
⭐️multiple POVS

If you're looking for a quick, straight-forward romance read then this is for you! 3.5 stars (rounded up)

The concept of twins switching places intrigued me, and I was excited when I got the approval from NetGalley.

The dual POV was nice - i always love seeing perspectives from both the FMC and MMC. To be honest, I could have done without Dee's POV - it didn't give much (imo) that Bea or Jonah couldn't have provided.

I enjoyed the intensity between Jonah and Beatrice, and the tension of "will they, won't they" throughout. It was a quick, to-the-point story line with a nice plot.

First of all I'd like to thank Christy McKellan, Boldwood Books and NetGalley for letting me read this eARC in exchange for honest review

This book is a lighthearted, quick romance read which follows Bea as she covers for her twin, Dee, at her new job after Dee sprains her ankle.

Unfortunately this book was just not for me, I enjoyed watching Bea grow into her own person over the course of the book but couldn't get behind the writing style, the pacing and really did not like the MMC for a multitude of reasons. There were several instances where there was room to explore certain topics and flesh the characters out a little more but they were ultimately swept under the rug. I also found it a little odd that Dee and Jem just disappeared halfway through the book, I suspect the goal is to set up a second book where their storyline is explored but it was a little confusing from this perspective!

Rated 3.5 stars and rounded up to 4.

This was a delightful, quick read. The only main complaint is that this could have been longer and more detailed. It would have been fun to have more Delilah in the book (and I'm guessing her relationship with Bea's friend). I look forward to reading about Delilah in a future book and will check out McKellen's other books in the near future.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.