Imagine this: if you’ve ever wanted to disappear after a public humiliation, imagine proposing to your boyfriend on live TV… and getting rejected. That’s exactly what happens to Olivia, who jets off to Hawaii to lick her wounds, only to discover her ex—now flaunting a supermodel—is vacationing there too. Because the universe loves irony.

Enter: Dom, the bronzed surfer with just the right amount of mystery, charm, and abs. What begins as a fake relationship (to save face and throw off Rex) slowly melts into something hotter than the Hawaiian sun.

This book is a total vacation-in-a-book. The chemistry is sizzling, the banter is hilarious, and the secondhand embarrassment is deliciously cringe in the best rom-com way.

If you're a fan of slow-burn sizzle, romantic hijinks, and heroines who bounce back stronger (and sassier), grab this one and escape into paradise.

I received a complimentary copy from NetGalley and am voluntarily leaving my review.

The Best Wrong Move is a great book. The perfect mix of romance, great lead characters, gorgeous setting and a touch of spice. I’ve just found out two more books will be released in the series…I can’t wait. The perfect summer read

Lovely book. Quick read with spice mixed in! I love a fake dating trope! I was unsure with the one POV, would’ve like to have seen Don’s. Love a HEA!

Thank you for the ARC!

Rating: 3/5 ⭐️
Spice: 2/5 🌶

I really wanted to like this book, and believe me... I tried to get into it multiple times, but I just found myself to be bored.

I did manage to finish it though.

This kind of gave me vibes from the movie Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

It felt rushed, and the chemistry between Dom and Olivia didn't have enough time to give the reader any built-up tension. However, I didn't mind it as a holiday romance novel. It would make a good Netflix movie 💁‍♀️

♡ Avoid the ex, except you're stuck near each other
♡ Spice
♡ Tropical holiday vacay
♡ Insta love
♡ Fake dating
♡ RomCom
♡ Single POV

Loved this book! It's a spicy romance. It's located on holiday and the friends become lovers after some fake dating!!!

4,5 stars

wow, this book gave everything it was supposed to give and then some more.

I loooooved the tension the characters had when they were faking the relationship, and then every second after. I wasn't a big fan of the third act break-up though, but thankfully everything ended up working good. I was also scared of how it was going to end, but fear nothing because this woman is a strong and independent woman that knows what she wants and goes for it!

But definitely recommend this book if you're going through a reading slump (as i was). It's fast paced, cute and spicy at the correct amounts so just sit down and relax while reading about a unlucky woman that becomes a joke and has to fake-date her landlord to make her ex jealous.

I just loved this book I know I will read it again and again.I hope there is more stories like this one

In a twist of fate that could only happen in fiction, Olivia takes a leave of absence after her life falls apart only to end up next door to the man who rejected her on live television. Sharing a wall with Rex and his new girlfriend is torture, but she can't afford another rental and going back to New York isn't an option. The property owner, Dom, offers to fake date her but right from the start it feels like the real thing. Except Dom isn't who she thinks he is and his truth could change everything.
Poor Olivia's situation is so ridiculously hilarious and I loved it. Dom is just so down to earth and perfect especially once you find out why he hid the truth. The setting was so beautiful and perfectly fit the story. I felt the ending was a little abrupt but I loved the epilogue. I'm looking forward to the next book.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

My Thoughts: I think Dom might just be my new favourite book boyfriend, he was just everything. Soft and soppy, but yet fiercely protective when the time calls for it.

I felt so sorry for Liv, she’s the ultimate people pleaser, always going out of her way and stepping out of her comfort zone to do things because other people think it’s a good idea, she’s full of self doubt which honestly broke my heart, so I just wanted to jump inside the book and give her a big cuddle when she realised that the one person she was going to Hawaii to escape was living on the other side of the wall.. talk about bad luck.

Luckily for her she has a landlord who is willing to go above and beyond to make her feel comfortable and also show her a good time, he helps her get out of her own head and helps her to realise her worth.

This book is funny, sassy, sexy and just a whole lot of fun, I ate it up completely & was a little sad when it finished because I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye to the characters.

I am already eagerly awaiting Lily’s next book.

💘 The Best Wrong Move – When falling in love feels like the riskiest (and rightest) choice 💘

If you love your romances with a little chaos, a lot of chemistry, and a slow-burn connection that sneaks up on you—The Best Wrong Move might just be your next favorite read. This book follows Olivia and Dom, two people who are complete opposites on the surface but somehow, the messiness between them just works. She’s chasing a fresh start, he’s guarding his heart, and neither one of them expects love to crash into their plans—but of course, it does in the most deliciously complicated way.

From the very first chapter, I was hooked by their banter and undeniable tension. Lily Parker does such a great job building up the emotional layers between them—what starts as friction slowly turns into something deeper and so much more satisfying. The writing is sharp, witty, and heartfelt, and the chemistry? It jumps right off the page. I genuinely found myself smiling, swooning, and rooting for Olivia and Dom as they navigated all the ups and downs.

Now, I did feel that a few moments dragged a bit or leaned into cliché territory, but those were small bumps in what was otherwise a really enjoyable ride. Sometimes the emotional whiplash between conflict and resolution felt a little fast, but not enough to take away from how much I was enjoying the story overall.

✨ Rating: 4/5 – This book is warm, spicy, a little messy in the best way, and full of heart. If you’re a sucker for slow-burns, reluctant lovers, and characters who grow together, then Olivia and Dom’s journey is definitely worth the read.

Amazing! I enjoyed this book so much!! Thank you so much to letting me read this arc!

I will be looking forward to reading more from this author

📱E-Book Review📱

The Best Wrong Move
Lily Parker

🌟🌟🌟🌟

This is the first book in the Off-Limits series and the first book that I've read by this author.
I just couldn't resist grabbing this as the front cover looked so summery and cute and I knew that it would make the perfect read for this early summer weather we've been having so far this year.

Imagine proposing on live TV....and being turned down!
Well this is how we enter this story and I was already invested!
Olivia takes a break to escape all the social media posts, and heads off to recharge for 6 months in Hawaii.
Unfortunately, who should also turn up there, but her Ex ....and his new girlfriend!

From here on in, the story takes a familiar turn as Olivia meets a hunky stranger and together they concoct a fake dating plan to exact revenge on Rex.
But, of course, we can instantly see the chemistry between Olivia and Dom and it was great to see their relationship develop into more!

This was the perfect summer read - light and easy to read with a great plot and some dreamy characters.
I felt so sorry for Olivia at the start, but she definitely came up trumps meeting Dom.
I loved the setting and the sunny, holiday vibes that this gave throughout and the spicy scenes added a little extra heat too!

There were some great side characters who seemed well fleshed out and I wonder whether this may be a hint to future books in this series?

I absolutely flew through this and loved every second. Can't wait to read more by Thai author a d especially to follow this series too.

The Best Wrong Move by Lily Parker is a breezy, heartwarming read that hits all the right notes for a light, fake-dating romance set against a dreamy Hawaiian backdrop. Olivia’s story of bouncing back from public heartbreak is relatable and easy to root for, and Dom is the perfect counterpart, bringing charm, patience, and plenty of grin-worthy moments to their connection.

The setup between them is adorable, and their chemistry is cute, but I did wish for a little more tension and buildup between Dom and Olivia to really make their eventual connection sizzle. While their banter is fun, there were moments where I wanted to feel the pull between them just a little stronger.

I also would have loved a deeper dive into Olivia's backstory—particularly her failed relationship with Rex. We hear about it, but don’t fully see the dynamics that led to the breakup or how they shaped Olivia's emotional growth. A closer look at that "before and after" could have given her arc even more emotional payoff and helped round out her journey in a more satisfying way. Similarly, seeing more of Olivia’s scriptwriting process would have added an extra layer to her character, showing us rather than just telling us about her passion and talent.

That said, the Hawaiian setting is vibrant and immersive, and the friendships and family ties woven throughout bring a cozy, grounded feel to the story. Even though the side characters sometimes felt a bit underdeveloped, the overall vibe of the book is warm, hopeful, and perfect for when you want something light, fun, and full of second-chance energy.

While it wasn't a full five-star read for me, The Best Wrong Move is still absolutely worth picking up if you’re after an easy, feel-good romance with a soft, sunny heart.

This is Book 1 of the Off-Limit Series, and if it is a taste of things to come, then I am so looking forward to seeing what happens in future books!

The story follows Olivia, who has an 8 week sabbatical after a proposal turns disastrous on live TV, with the guy (Rex) rejecting her publicly.

She decides to go to Hawaii and guess what rat she bumps into... none other than Rex... so of course, let the fun and fireworks begin.

I adore Olivia. She is fun and fiesty. Even though she has been through what she has, she is still carrying on and even using her sabbatical as a period to write a screenplay... her dream!

I loved it when Dom entered, and even though things seemed platonic to begin with, I was on Team Dom from the word go, and I loved watching their relationship as friends and beyond grow!

Lily has a way with words, and I found the comedy element of the book hilarious - with little one-liners and comedy nuggets discreetly woven into the story for the reader to find and have a giggle.

The trope combination of friends to lovers, romance, fake dating, spice, and the likes all set in the background of Hawaii makes for an absolutely perfect summer read!

At the very least, it will get you in the mood for your holidays!

It was absolutely fantastic, and I can't wait to read the rest of the series and to see what else Lily has in store for us!

Highly recommend to all romance lovers 🌶.

Thank you Joffe Books & netgalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!

I thought this book was cute!! A holiday x fake dating romance! A perfect read to get you in the summery mood! It makes me miss Hawaii!! This book was an easy read and I liked Olivia! However, I felt like we didn't really know much about Dom? Despite that, I did really enjoy their relationship. I thought Dom was very sweet and they fit perfectly together!!

I'd recommend this book to everyone, it was short and sweet!!

The Best Wrong Move: ★★★☆☆ (3)

Pub date: available now!

My sincere thanks to Joffe Books/Choc Lit and NetGalley for giving me the opportunity to read The Best Wrong Move by Lily Parker. I give my honest opinion of it in the following review.

The story begins with Olivia being humiliated on live television when she proposes to her boyfriend Rex and he turns her down. It wasn't her idea to do this stunt, but the network she works for. When the whole thing goes viral, Olivia is allowed to take a sabbatical for a few months in Hawaii. While there she plans to work on writing a script in hopes of maybe making a slight career change. When she gets to Hawaii and the front step of her rental, she has trouble opening the door and a handsome surfer helps her get it open. Things were looking up UNTIL she sees her ex through the window. How is it possible that he is renting right next to her? To top it off, he is not alone. His new girlfriend JuJu is with him. What a disaster! How is she going to get through this? Should she leave? Should she stay and act like it doesn't bother her? Is there anyone who hasn't seen her viral video?

The Best Wrong Move is what I call a low stress romance read. It read quickly and smoothly, and I enjoyed the characters and the setting in Hawaii. It was a little too insta for me, but I enjoyed Olivia and Dom's interaction. I don't want to give too much away, but let's just say that Dom is kind of too good to be true, so it is a good thing this is fiction. This is a perfect beach/summer escapist read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Joffe Books for providing the ARC.

This book is essentially Forgetting Sarah Marshall in book form. I don't dislike it for that, but it did feel too close to the same story for me to really appreciate it on its own.

Both Olivia and Dom were great characters. I didn't really much like the insta-love aspect of their relationship. I wanted the fake dating arrangement to last longer than it did. Part of what makes that particular trope work is the push and pull between the characters, with both of them wondering what was real between them. Almost as soon as it had started, they had moved on to being in a relationship for real.

The conflict was also a bit underwhelming and also wrapped up too neatly for it have any real impact on the story. But that's not as big of an issue than the pacing of the plot. I think this story would have benefitted more from having a more evenly disbursed story with a meaningful conflict and resolution, but I won't get into it too much because of spoilers.

Decent book overall. I can definitely tell where Parker shines in her prose.

Rating: ★★★★
Spice: 🌶🌶🌶

Quotes:

‘I never thought of myself as brave. I only saw this trip as a way to escape my worst moment. My ultimate failure.’

‘That’s not what I see when I look at you.’


“His gaze sweeps down to my toes and back up to meet my eyes, even more slowly than he did in the townhouse earlier today. Like he’s taking his sweet time checking out every inch of my body. If all this feels so real to me, I’m almost positive his act will appear real to them too. ‘You look absolutely beautiful.’”


Short version:

The Best Wrong Move is a charming, heartfelt romance that delivers more than just escapist fluff. With a likable heroine, a hero who listens, and a fake dating plot that feels surprisingly grounded, this is a perfect pick for readers who crave romance with emotional stakes, fresh dynamics, and personal growth. While some areas could have used more depth—particularly Dom’s backstory—the book as a whole feels both satisfying and emotionally honest.

Recommended for fans of:

- Beachy romances
- Fake dating with real stakes
- One POV romances done well
- Light billionaire romances without power imbalance

Thanks to Lily Parker, Joffe Books and NetGalley for an ARC of this novel for my review!

Full review below:

Tropes:

- Secret Identity
- Fake Dating
- Billionaire Romance

Plot Summary:

Olivia is a successful producer from New York who makes a very public mistake—proposing to her boyfriend, Rex, on live TV… only for him to say no. Humiliated and emotionally gutted, she books an extended getaway to Hawaii with hopes of finally chasing her long-deferred dream of writing a screenplay. But paradise gets complicated fast when she realizes her "dream beach house" is a rundown duplex—and her next-door neighbor is none other than Rex and his picture-perfect new girlfriend, Juju.

Enter Dom, the charming and enigmatic property owner who offers Olivia more than just handyman help—he proposes a fake relationship to save face in front of her ex. Dom's plan seems like the perfect rebound distraction, but he’s hiding a few big secrets of his own. As Dom and Olivia’s connection deepens, their fake relationship begins to feel very real. With career ambitions, old wounds, and unexpected revelations standing between them, they must decide whether the risks of being vulnerable are worth the reward of a real future together.

The Good:

Olivia is a beautifully complicated main character. Lily Parker delivers a surprisingly heartfelt, deeply character-driven story that transcends its slightly outlandish setup. Olivia is the shining star of this novel—funny, self-aware, and refreshingly assertive. Her post-breakup spiral leads to genuine growth, and her desire to pursue screenwriting feels like more than just a plot device. Watching her rebuild confidence—while bonding with a stray cat and navigating a hilariously awkward living situation—was a joy.

Dom breaks from the stereotypes of a billionaire romance in the best way. Dom, though quiet and mysterious, quickly earns reader affection with his protective instincts, emotional attunement, and soft confidence. He listens. He repairs. He surfs. The chemistry between him and Olivia simmers with authentic connection, and even their fake-dating antics never feel too over-the-top. Despite being a secret billionaire (a trope that can easily derail realism), Dom contributes far more emotionally than financially, giving their relationship genuine balance.

The writing is immersive. The pacing is mostly strong, the dialogue sparkles, and the Hawaiian backdrop is both vivid and symbolic—stripping the characters of pretense and allowing them to discover who they truly are.

No unnecessary female competition. Bonus points for the unexpectedly lovely friendship between Olivia and Juju, and the subtle way the book explores kindness between women who might otherwise be rivals.


The In-Between:

The spice was a bit repetitive. Though the book largely excels at emotional authenticity, the intimate scenes started to blur together after a while. They weren’t gratuitous, but by the third, the novelty had worn off. A bit more variation—or fewer scenes with more emotional weight—would’ve helped.

Short chapters made the rhythm of the novel feel a little choppy. The chapter structure sometimes worked against the otherwise strong narrative rhythm. Short chapters made certain transitions feel abrupt and occasionally disjointed.


The Bad:

Dom felt a little underdeveloped. While the book succeeds in many ways, it occasionally skims the emotional surface. Dom, though incredibly likable, remains underexplored; his backstory is revealed late and without the depth needed to fully contextualize his actions or internal world. The single POV choice works well for Olivia’s arc but leaves Dom feeling more like a wish-fulfillment figure than a fully fleshed-out partner.


Spicy Chapters: 32, 37, 41, 44, 45, 53
Cheating: Not by main characters
Third-act Breakup: Third-Act Drama
HEA: Yes
OWD: No

I want to start by saying the first half of the book was amazing. Loved the character growth, the interactions, and the back stories. A lot of it was obvious, with a couple unexpected twists added in. It had all the makings of a 5 Star read, easy. But halfway through things began changing. The timeline for the story was off, details were getting changed, and the plot flow got off. There wasn't much tension or drama in the second half.
It felt like there were a lot of conversations that where half started and never finished, but time jumped. And I'm meaning hours would pass in seconds of conversations. It just felt rushed and details were missed.
I'm the type of reader that can get caught up on the smaller details. It is my biggest flaw as a reader, you could say. I try hard to get past it when these things happen, but if a dog gets left behind in a bar and is never mentioned again, that sort of thing sticks with you. (If you know, you know)
Due to all of this I am rating it a 2 star. It wasn't a dnf, probably should have been, but this author has great potential. She reeled me in those first few chapters and it was fantastic. I look forward to maybe checking out another book of her's in the future.
I hope this review helps.
Happy Reading,
Lily

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Joffe Books, and Lily Parker for sending me this e-arc in exchange for my honest review!

This was such an incredibly sweet and wholesome read. The setting was stunning - Hawaii in all of her amazing glory! Dom was delicious. Olivia was such a sweet soul and the way in which she chose to work on healing, while also taking a chance on herself and a life long dream? It was really a great way to see her character work on coming back from rejection and embarrassment.

Olivia is dealing with a lot, and the way in which she meets Dom? Oh, how it just had me giggling. That and the unfortunate neighbor of hers in her airbnb really did have me rolling because well, what are the odds? I loved her friendship with Abby and hope that in a future book we get far more Abby! As she's just great and that friendship felt real and true. The weird triangle of sorts with Rex, JuJu, and Olivia was just odd - I loved how Dom jumped in, but Rex was just a total and utter pig - like I really wasn't shocked to find out how bad he really was.

Dom's brother and SIL were interesting (to say the least), but I can at least see the point of why they were the way that they were. Dom's friends were incredibly wholesome and sweet and I just adored how accepting they were - it really just added to the story overall!

I truly recommend this one and can't wait to see what comes next from Lily!