2.5 rounded to 3
This book was lacking something, but I’m not sure what. It was boring at first. Plus I absolutely did not like the idea that even though Abby ghosted Dax 6 years ago, when he sees her again he acts like that never even happened and as if he didn’t harbor any distrust of her. Ok, right. The vibe between them felt as if they had a mutual separation and then fate brought them back together, yet we were frequently reminded how she ghosted him TWICE.

I really enjoyed this one! I felt like I could resonate with Abbey being someone who knows she deserves love but pushes it away because she knows it's too much of a risk to let someone in if they're not going to commit 100%. I love that Dax recognised the value of Abbey so much that he travelled just to spend more time. Silas, I feel like i need this wingman in my life. This guy is a legend and my goodness did he make me laugh.
I loved the romantic moments and especially the spicy ones. I would defintely recommend this book to those who love a good romance story.
Thank you netgally for my advanced readers copy.

Absolutely! Here's a more personal and narrator-inclusive review for The Best Worst Mistake by Lily Parker:


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⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️½ – A Mistake Worth Making (Again and Again!)

I went into The Best Worst Mistake thinking it would be a light, fun escape—and it absolutely delivered on that front—but what surprised me was the emotional depth and slow-burn tension that kept me hooked until the very end.

The characters are flawed in all the best ways. You can’t help but root for them, even when they’re making questionable decisions. There’s wit, vulnerability, and just the right amount of spice. It struck that perfect balance between heartfelt and sexy without ever feeling forced.

Dax and Abby had a law school fling that finished when Abby ghosted him when law school was over.

Abby has committed her life to her work, and she barely leaves her office.

Waiting for coffee in a Manhattan coffee shop, Abby bumps into Dax, they’ve not seen each other for years.

Abby ghosts Dax again, not expecting to ever see him again … but fate has other plans for these two.

I loved this romance story it was fun and entertaining. You could cut the sexual tension in the room with a knife whenever Dax and Abby were together!

The author manages to get the chemistry between the two just right.

I loved how the chapters alternated between Dax and Abby we also got some of their history to help explain more.

These two were so obviously meant to be, they were the only ones who couldn’t see it!

The story made me smile throughout, it was an easy and light read.

Abby keeps bumping into her college situationship, Dax Harper six years after she ran out on him after graduation and now they are rivals in a corporate merger but he’s looking for a second chance… she’s needing one.

Abby is the avoidant QUEEN but I did not see it coming where her story was headed. Her backstory is absolutely heartbreaking and like, I get it. Her transformation is absolutely everything and I loved it. The fact that Dax was willing to see her through it and be patient? King behavior. I laughed, and cried, and I’m completely invested in this group of found family as the rest of the series unfolds. Thank you Lily, and Choc Lit publishing for the advanced review copy so I could provide my opinion for you!

Instagram post will be added on or around June 29

Second chance Romance!

Abby has been successfully keeping men at bay, especially Dax whom she had a friends with benefits, but more benefits than friends relationship with. But when she meets Dax again, she has to confront her past and let him in.

This is a very easy and entertaining read, but I would have liked a bit more build up, chemistry and tension. All in all it is an ideal beach and summer read for people who like second chance and little drama.

It’s the second book in a series but can be read as a standalone.

Thank you to Netgalley, Joffe Books and Lily Parker for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Chose this because my boyfriend is going to law school and I needed a fun lawyer romance and I was so obsessed with it!!

Once upon a time, Abby ghosted Dax. Six years later, when she runs into him in New York, she takes the opportunity for one more night together with no intentions of anything more - however, fate or coincidence has other ideas…
This is fun, fast-paced and full of flirty banter, but with underlying serious themes. I liked how Abby’s history is gradually and heart-wrenchingly teased out, and Dax’s quiet determination to break down her walls. I would have liked to see more of the ‘work rivals’ part, because that seemed to be mostly told rather than shown, but nevertheless there’s enough character depth and emotional development to make this a satisfying read.

This is a really short and quick second-chance romance that is just a little over 250 pages. I initially enjoyed the beginning of the book where Dax and Abby first bump into each other at the coffee shop. I enjoyed the sparks, the tension and the banter and was looking forward to seeing where it would develop. Dax was super charming and I liked him as a MMC. Unfortunately, the book slowed down immensely after this and I wasn't liking the FMC at all and found her very frustrating. I understand that she has some trauma and history that prevents her from communicating well and committing to a relationship but it was a struggle and a half to read this. All I wanted to do was shake her and say you are self sabotaging yourself!

And so I am DNFing at 45%, I did enjoy what I saw of Starry and probably would have enjoyed the found family and grandmotherly advice and relationship Abby would have developed with her, but I just don't think the relationship between Dax and Abby was going to make up for it.

Thank you to Lily Parker and Joffe Books for the ARC.

I love a good rivals to lovers moment so I was super excited for this book! I also am a big fan of second chance romance if it's done right! I thought this book had a unique premise and loved how it tackled a lot of popular tropes. I felt it was appropriately paced and the story felt believable. The FMC could have communicated more but I guess I can understand why she was hesitant and not so forthcoming given the circumstances! Would recommend for anyone who loves a story filled with tension and yearning!

im ngl i dnfed this at 30% because i was so damn bored. i don't find our main character, the mmc gives me the ick and comes off way too strong, like ik they have a past together and all that, but still like as someone who's also walled up, that would make me run for the hills!!! anyways not my cup of tea

A swoony second-chance romance that delivers on tension, charm, and just the right amount of spice.

I had such a good time with this book! From the moment Abby bumps into Dax in that Manhattan coffee shop, I was all in. Their chemistry crackles right off the page — full of unspoken history, sharp banter, and emotional undercurrents that keep you turning the pages.

I’m a sucker for a second-chance story, and this one hits the mark: flirty, heartfelt, and grounded in real emotional stakes. The workplace tension? Delicious. The rivals-to-lovers edge? Even better. And let’s just say Dax is peak cinnamon roll in all the best ways.

I also appreciated the pacing — it felt fast and addictive without skimping on character development. Watching Abby and Dax find their way back to each other, balancing ambition, history, and heart, was incredibly satisfying.

Rom-com readers, especially fans of Emily Henry or Carrie Elks, will feel right at home here. The Best Worst Mistake is an absolute treat — fun, flirty, and full of heart.

- Second chance romance
-Friends to lovers
- Workplace romance
- Found family

A generally wholesome book, funny and witty and great characters overall. The lead dynamic is electric, evolving from tense to tender with plenty of laughs and swoons along the way. If you love a strong FMC, who are not perfect and carry some childhood trauma, and a supporting MMC this could be the book for you.
I did struggle with the first half of the book, but after that I couldnt put it down. There was not much happening in the first half of the book to keep me interested and the characters lacked depth, however the story picked up after it, im glad i kept on reading!

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

Color me excited when I learned this was the sequel to The Best Wrong Move, which I thoroughly enjoyed. I couldn’t wait to find out about workaholic Abby.

Abby Torres works round the clock at her law firm in the hopes of making partner. After her best friend moved to Hawaii to be with her love, Abby is left with her cat, who’s not impressed with her. When a chance encounter at a coffee shop with the one that got away happens, she decides to have one night of passion before going back to her limited existence.

Dax Harper has been in love with Abby since their situationship back in law school. When he see her again, he believes fate put her back in his path. But when she ghosts him after a magical night, he thinks maybe the universe is toying with him. But when a huge merger brings them back in each other’s orbit he’s not going to give up on her that easily.

I loved Abby and Dax, and their relationship! Abby has worked hard her entire life to prove her worth. She had a difficult upbringing. She grew up with parents who were addicts, and was finally placed with her aunt and uncle after social workers caught wind of her circumstances. Neglected as a child by her guardians, she grew up thinking that people leave and it’s safer to put up walls to protect your heart. Though Dax is her soulmate, she’s too afraid to take the plunge. I loved how patient Dax was with her, and how he didn’t pressure her to talk about her past or her reasons for pushing people away until she was good and ready to do it. Dax is a kind and caring man, who’s deeply in love with her. I enjoyed watching Abby’s walls slowly come down as she began to believe his love for her. It was heartbreaking to witness how small she’d made her world, and her realization that what she truly wanted most was a home with people who missed her and wanted to hear all about her day. Their relationship journey was lovely, and I appreciated how they took their time to evolve. I loved their HEA and was happy that Abby chose the life that truly filled her with joy.

I can’t wait to read Silas’s story next. What a great series!!

This was a cute read! I really like that the author wrote about a realistic career woman. I also really appreciated the bluntness and describing the treatment of career woman.

Tropes/Tag List
Friends-to-lovers
Sunshine/Grumpy
Forced proximity
Workplace romance
Found-family

First of all thank you to Lily Parker, the publisher and NetGalley for giving me early access to this eBook! All opinions in this review are my own.

Abby is a hardworking lawyer who hides behind her job to avoid dealing with her painful past. She doesn’t believe she deserves love and avoids connections. One day while grabbing coffee she runs into Dax. Her old law school fling. They were friends with benefits for years buttt when real feelings started to grow Abby panicked and disappeared. Dax never got over her. Now they’re thrown together again this time as rival lawyers fighting for the same big case. As they reconnect old sparks fly. But Abby still struggles to open up and Dax isn’t sure he can handle another heartbreak. To move forward Abby must finally face what’s holding her back and decide if she’s ready to let love in.


It was a good book! I didn’t love it as much as other books but it was okay!

I enjoyed this book, I still felt that there was something lacking from this book. I did not enjoy the female main character just being so bad at communication period. Glad it worked out better, just felt Dax laid everything and she played with his feelings

Lily Parker delivers a compelling second-chance romance that had me hooked from the first page. Abby and Dax's chemistry is electric, reigniting past sparks with a blend of sharp banter and heartfelt moments. Abby's journey from a guarded workaholic to someone open to love is both relatable and inspiring. Dax, ever the patient and understanding counterpart, complements her perfectly.

The narrative structure, unfolding initially over 24 hours before expanding over several months, adds depth to their rekindled relationship. The emotional stakes are high, and the payoff is immensely satisfying. Parker's writing is crisp, witty, and infused with genuine emotion, making this a standout in the genre.

If you're a fan of workplace romances with depth, sizzling tension, and characters you can't help but root for, The Best Worst Mistake is a must-read.

Some of my favorite books come from Emma Chase’s “Legal Briefs” series and Julie James’ “Just the sexist man alive” and “Practice Makes Perfect”. All of these are lawyer romances. So when I saw “The Best Worst Mistake” by Lily Parker I was so excited. I love nothing more when a the FMC and the MMC go at it against each other in the court room with sizzling tension and well placed jabs. This story had the added pleasure of also being a second chance romance as Abby and Dex were in law school together. Then with both presented with a career changing case they have to face off in the board room while their past crackles between them as Abby ghosted Dex and Dex never stop thinking of Abby. If you love lawyer/lawyer romances like I do you’ll enjoy this quick second chance romance.

I'll be honest, I struggled with the first half of this book. I started reading it 10 days ago, stopped and read another book, then came back to finish this one. The last 40% of the book is way better than the first part, so I'm glad I stuck with it til the end. Abby and Dax just seemed so robotic and emotionless in that first half and that made it nearly impossible for me to connect with them or want to see them get a HEA. And a whole lot of nothing happened during that time too, so it was really hard to push myself to keep reading. They worked all the time and that was pretty much their life. Abby seemed to be solely focused on work and nothing else in life and that made her come off as one-dimensional. But we see in the last half of the book that she really is capable of experiencing emotion. Her upbringing is what really made her the driven and work-focused person she was in that first half, but again, we don't see the 'why' behind that one-dimensional focus until that second half.

If you can stick with it, this book turns out to be pretty good. I thoroughly enjoyed the epilogue and the little life they built for themselves.