3 stars. This was a cute, quick read romance.

Olivia proposes to her boyfriend on live TV. Her boyfriend refuses, so Olivia decides to take a little sabbatical to Hawaii. There she meets Dom, and a sweet love story develops between them. I'd say this is good reading to a beach vacation!

WHAT I LIKED: Meet cute, beach vibes, Dom's friend group
WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE: Dom's brother and sister-in-law were kinda weird

WHAT TO EXPECT:

Pov: heroine,1st person
Heat: open doors
Pacing: it was ok
Communication: mostly communication was ok but with some miscommunication too
Third act: hiccups
Ending: HEA

Main characters:
* Strangers to friends to lovers
* Millionaire

What?
* Fake dating
* Forced proximity
* Found family

Where?
* Hawaii

Drama?
* Heroine's ex is there too

Other vibes:
* Beach vibes!

Perfect holiday/cold weather reading. Escape to Hawaii from the humiliation of a spurned proposal on national tv. then discover you are living next door to the man in question and there's nowhere else available. Enter Dom, the apartment owner, just the man to make Rex jealous and realise what he's missing .Or will it just complicate the situation? Loved it.

I really wish I had something to say but i just don’t. I don’t see what all the hype was about?

The writing wasn’t the issue so I will give some of this authors other books a go.

Thank you NetGalley and Lily Parker for the arc!

Just want to say thank you to Joffe Books for letting me have an advance copy of ‘The Best Wrong Move’ by Lily Parker.

This was a lovely and thoroughly enjoyable story from beginning to end and certainly matches up to the spice rating 😏
Dom is an absolute dream towards Olivia throughout and caters to her needs in more ways than one. He definitely falls first and hard 🥰
It certainly gives you holidays vibes reading this book, and makes you want to go and book a holiday to Hawaii!!

A definite ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ from me.

❤️ Spicy Romance 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️
❤️ Strangers / Friends to Lovers
❤️ Fake Dating
❤️ Opposites Attract
❤️ Forced Proximity
❤️ Holiday

*4.5*

It’s been a while since I’ve fully connected with a romance book by an author I hadn’t previously read from. I’m not sure why, but romance is a genre that has been giving me the most disconnect.

However, this book completely changed that for me. I found myself instantly gripped and that inner feeling of detachment slowly faded away. In other words, I really enjoyed this book.

The way is held itself within the structure plus the way the writing style went ahead to compliment this, was just the absolute making of this novel and love story.

Because it’s not the most original plot to exist. The beginning part, I will give credit for, echoed uniqueness but the premise, has been done quite a bit. Which only validates this novel further for me. To take a concept that’s been done before and to make it your own alongside gaining a high rating, speaks volumes.

It was just the right amount of fake dating, character development and side plots to make for a cute and engaging read. The spice too was well done and not over the top or too frequent. The romance also blossomed quite nicely and had me wanting the characters together.

The drama too that is essential for a romance book was actually done so well and didn’t make me cringe or feel as though it was over the top. Okay maybe a little bit but it was fun!! Which is the whole vibe of this book, it’s a fun book. The characters are having fun, you’re having fun. It’s a whole party.

The only thing that I could critique is the ending in the sense it ends quite abruptly and I would have loved for another chapter or two of what happens next in the sense of immediately after certain events occur and decisions are made.

I also had liked to see more of Abby because she was such a great friend and character! However, there is build up there for potentially a book (I hope, please) with her leading.

Overall, this book was just what I needed and it truly made me fall back in love with romance books.

Thanks to NetGalley I received an advanced electronic copy of the book to read and provide a review.

This was a cute, fun and quick read. The last quarter of the book kind of went off the hinges but I enjoyed everything that led us up until Olivia met Dom’s brother.

"The Best Wrong Move" by Lily Parker was an absolute delight from start to finish! This heartwarming rom-com is packed with charm, humor, and just the right amount of drama to keep you hooked. I found myself smiling through most of the story and genuinely rooting for the characters.

The book follows Olivia, a witty and determined protagonist, whose life takes a sharp turn after an on-air proposal goes horribly wrong. Seeking solace (and a fresh start), she heads to a picturesque lakeside town, where she meets Henry—a brooding yet incredibly endearing love interest. Their banter is sharp, their chemistry undeniable, and watching their relationship evolve from reluctant allies to something more was so satisfying.

Lily Parker excels at creating rich, relatable characters. Olivia is the kind of heroine you cheer for—her strength and vulnerability make her feel like a dear friend. Henry is the epitome of a dreamy rom-com hero, and their dynamic is filled with swoon-worthy moments and refreshingly honest communication.

The only reason for 4.5 stars instead of 5 is a slightly rushed resolution. While satisfying, I would have loved a bit more time spent on the ending to fully bask in the payoff of their journey.

Overall, this is a sweet, uplifting story with just the right mix of humor and heart. Highly recommend for fans of modern romance!

Thank you, NetGalley, for the ARC!

Thank you for the opportunity to read this ahead of release! I loved the premise and the cover but sadly I put the put down at 30% and couldn’t carry on. It just wasn’t the book for me - I’m ever so sorry!

This was a cute story about a girl who flees her real life after it blows up on national tv. The guy she is renting an Airbnb from slowly pulls her while she’s living next door to her ex. The story fell a little flat for me when Dom and Olivia first started “dating”. It didn’t have the typical fake dating rules or vibes. I read the book but felt like it left me wanting more to the story.

Lily Parker’s The Best Wrong Move is a delightful romance that blends humor, heart, and a stunning Hawaiian backdrop to create a story that’s as sweet as it is spicy. From the vivid descriptions of paradise to a premise steeped in the modern chaos of social media virality, this book pulls you in from the first page and doesn’t let go.

The story follows Olivia, a morning show anchor whose life takes an unexpected turn when her live television proposal goes viral. Seeking solace and a fresh start, she heads to Hawaii to work on her dream of screenwriting.

The chemistry between the FMC and MMC is electric. Their “meet-cute” is quirky and memorable, and their relationship evolves naturally. Unlike many romance novels, there’s no clichéd third-act breakup here. Instead, the couple navigates their challenges with maturity and respect, making their connection all the more satisfying.

Packed with heartfelt moments, laugh-out-loud hijinks, and just the right amount of steam, The Best Wrong Move is a perfect escape. Whether you’re looking for a tropical getaway or a romance that celebrates the little gestures that show someone truly cares, this book delivers in every way. Highly recommended!

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

I LOVED this book! Olivia and Dom were everything! And the spice in this book was perfection!
I really loved the way that Liv and Dom's relationship was built even in a short amount of time. And her ex Rex can suck it! I can't really imagine what it would be like to get a proposal rejection in front of a live tv audience but I could guess that it would be mortifying. But running away to Hawaii sounds like the perfect idea to me, and it was!

Was this Lily Parker's debut novel, because she NAILED IT! I highly recommend this book, it was such a cute story that I could not put down!

*Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for this ARC book in exchange for an honest review*

First, I would like to give a big thank you to NetGalley, Joffe Books and Lily Parker for the early copy of this adorable book!

This was such a sweet, wholesome read and such a breath of fresh air- I honestly had a tough time putting it down. It was one of the better rom-coms I have read in a while, with such an interesting and fun plot!

The story starts out with a bang, sucking you in right away and keeping your attention- even during the slow points. The story as a whole was well written, easy to follow and the characters were great- 🥹 Dom was everything! Although, I have to admit, his brother really creeped me out! The author also did a great job with the setting- truly making you feel like you are off in beautiful Hawaii (it was pretty depressing to look outside and see snow while reading this)! However, the only thing I will say, is that the story did feel overly sweet or almost too perfect at times- but hey, that’s okay!

Overall, I think this is a great, quick rom-com to put you in a happy, feel- good mood. I had a such a good time reading it and would definitely recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley for the copy of the book to read! This is a 3.75, rounded up to 4 for me. I really enjoyed that the chapters are so short and easy to read through! It makes reading it a breeze! The characters were all well written as well and the story is a great love story. My only negative point is that at about the 50/60% mark of the book to the 80% mark, it got a bit slow and boring and repetitive for me. It just seemed there was a repeat of their dates and sex only when it could have been spent on other area (like more dates outside of the home and background characters). But it did end strong and on a high note! I do wish there was more time spent on the other characters as they were briefly touched upon and I think those characters were great! Overall a great book to read and I did enjoy it!

Lily Parker delivers a sun-soaked, swoon-worthy romance in The Best Wrong Move, blending humor, heat, and heartfelt moments into an irresistible story. With a dazzling Hawaiian backdrop and a treasure trove of tropes—fake dating, opposites attract, and forced proximity—this book is the ultimate getaway for romance lovers.

After a public proposal gone embarrassingly wrong, our heroine finds herself in Hawaii, trying to escape her viral infamy. But fate isn’t done with her yet—her ex and his new supermodel girlfriend are there, too. Enter Dom, the gorgeous, laid-back surfer with a smoldering gaze and a need for his own distraction. Their fake-dating pact is the perfect cover, but the sizzling chemistry between them quickly becomes all too real.

With laugh-out-loud moments, steamy romantic tension (🌶🌶🌶🌶🌶), and a dash of self-discovery, The Best Wrong Move captures the highs and lows of falling in love when you least expect it. Dom and the heroine’s journey from reluctant allies to lovers is both sweet and spicy, with plenty of charm to keep readers hooked.

If you’re a fan of beachy, feel-good romances with plenty of heat, this one is a must-add to your TBR!

This was a cute fun read! The premise of the story was quite fun and really interesting.
I wanted to punch her ex a few times and found myself laughing on many other occasions. Dom was a realy great character and had an innteresting back story. Also, Juju, as a side character was quite nice, evenn if at first I thought I was goinng to hate her.
The way Liv had to change her perspective of many things was interesting, but I found it lacking depth in some of her thought-process and her relationship with Dom. Some things sort of happen too fast and I didn't grasp their transistion between fake-dating to "I'm falling in love with you"; however I found the spicy scenes nice and their overall dinamic cute.

If you want a cute fast read, with spicy scenes and interesting MMC, with a fiercy FMC this is really a book for it.
You will have a good time while reading this book.

Thank you Netgalley & Joffe Books for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest opinion.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books and Choc Lit for providing this book, with my honest review below.

The Best Wrong Move had the most enticing location in Hawaii to sweep me away to as I read (thanks to Lily Parker’s amazing descriptions) and a premise I find so interesting in this social media day and age - viral infamy due to public proposal (and of course the unfolding of what comes next, complete with drool worthy love interest). I loved the hijinks Olivia gets herself into during her escape to Hawaii, some within her control (girl don’t change on your doorstep) and some out of it (how in the what is her could be fiance her neighbor… with his girlfriend to boot). This was highly entertaining and a sweet read, complete with spice but also a whole lot of ‘let me take a breath and reassess what I want in life’ reflections. Dom was of course the beyond perfect love interest to tie this all up with a bow. I did find this a little bit overly sweet at times, with the conflict and ending contrived, but that’s also part of the brief with a romance like this. If you’re yearning for a paradise location and a sweetly entertaining romance, I’d recommend this!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Olivia is a successful news anchor who works on a popular morning show. When her producer asks her to propose to her boyfriend on live television to get better ratings, she agrees. What she wasn’t expecting was for him to reject her on national tv. After going viral, she decides to lick her wounds and work towards her dream of becoming a screenwriter. So she heads off to Hawaii to spend eight weeks working on her script. Shortly after arriving she’s in for a shock because her new neighbor is the ex who dumped her on live tv and his new girlfriend. Lucky for her, the charming owner of the rental property, Dom, agrees to fake date her to show her ex she’s moved on. What starts off as fake dating quickly turns into something real. A lot can change in 8 weeks, but when the time on her lease is up and she has to return home to NY, Olivia has a choice to make: go back to her old life or start something new with Dom.

I loved this book. It’s so much fun and is a cute retelling of Forgetting Sarah Marshall. Honestly, there was so much to love. Olivia and Dom are really sweet together, and you can’t help but root for them. I felt so much empathy for Olivia, and Ms. Parker really brings her to life. Her feelings are visceral, and you can’t help but go on the journey with her. She’s the type of friend you want to have. Her friendship with Abby was lovely and felt real.

The meet cute between Dom and Olivia was quirky and cute. Their relationship unfolds naturally, and I liked that they very quickly admit to each other that this is real for them. In fact the open communication between them throughout the book is sexy and honestly so refreshing. While there’s a slight miscommunication it’s quickly and realistically dealt with. There’s also no third act break up. These two are both invested and genuinely respect each other and hear each other out.

Oftentimes, romances have grand gestures that are meant to show the depths of love between the two MC’s, but what I loved about this book is that it’s all about the thoughtful, everyday gestures that shows you that someone was really listening to you and thinking about you. Those little details are what stand out and add to the romance in the novel.

Honestly, I loved this book and couldn’t put it down. I’m excited to read more from Ms. Parker.

What a fun read! I get really bad second hand embarrassment, so I appreciate that the author did not dwell on Rex saying no to Olivia's proposal. That was a nice surprise, I didn't have to skip any part of the book.

Dom had me in a chokehold from the beginning when he first met Olivia and then he very much became a book boyfriend quickly. He was so attentive and protective and so sweet while being sexy at the same time. I loved that he tried to get Olivia out of her comfort zone.

Rex was a complete tool, I hated him, but I loved how Olivia didn't take that out on the new girlfriend. She wasn't nasty, she was kind, and this is a girl's girl book.

And the steam? Please and thank you. It did not disappoint. I loved watching Dom and Olivia's relationship grow, and watching Dom through Olivia's eyes seeing him with his friends and their kids.

Loved it!

This book was so cute. It gave me second hand embarrassment at some points but had me giggling and kicking my feet in others. I love the fuck out of Dom. He had me hooked from the beginning.

This book is told in single POV from Olivia's perspective. She proposes to her boyfriend Rex on air and he turns her down. She then goes on sabbatical to Hawaii to work on her dreams of writing where, surprise, Rex her ex also happens to be with his new girlfriend. I felt so bad for Olivia. It felt like all she was getting dealt was bad luck. Rex was an ass but in the middle of the story I figured out what he had done during their relationship and I just wanted Olivia to see it. That dude never deserved her. I wanted to hate Juju, Rex's new girl from the beginning, but she's just one of those characters you can't help but love. She was too sweet for her own good.

Dom, ohh man, Dom was daddy. He was kind and caring and gorgeous. The conversations him and Liv would have would be funny and swoonworthy. During their facade I just wanted to open their eyes! They are the perfect couple. When Dom revealed who he was and who is brother was, I was shocked. I got the super rich part from all the clues but the rest...now I got the suspicion he had. Dom's friends were equally welcoming.

Dom's brother is another thing. He gave me creepy vibes. I get why he did it, I do. But it still rubbed me the wrong way. The third act breakup felt a bit anticlimactic and forced in there. The ending was cute though. That epilogue of Liv's surprise. I think I squeeled in my head. I just wish I could have seen the outcome and reaction of the surprise.

All in all, this book was adorable if not a little predictable. But definitely worth a read.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC!

this book was a real page turner which I devoured in one sitting. while im not extremely keen of book that reference tiktok, this one only mentioned it at the beginning. I was drawn to dogs character and the mystery surrounding him. the friends and side characters were great, but I felt we only scratched the surface of their stories. id have loved to see more scenes with them, especially exploring Olivias friendships with the wives of doms friends. more cliff scenes would have been fantastic too. on a separate note, I had to look up what a kaftan was, but that's a minor detail. all in all, I loved this book and can't recommend it enough.