The Worst Best Man

This was an entertaining read for me. The story revolves around Franchesca Baranski, a strong and sassy Maid of Honor, and Aiden Kilbourn, a successful but commitment-shy businessman. When the groom gets kidnapped, their adventure to rescue him takes unexpected turns. I found Frankie to be a refreshing heroine, unapologetically herself. The book had moments of humor, engaging banter, and a growing attraction between Frankie and Aiden. However, some secondary characters felt one-dimensional and clichéd, which was a drawback. While the story followed some familiar romance tropes, it managed to keep me engaged until the end. Overall, it's an enjoyable romantic escapade with appealing character growth.

I am at a bit of a loss here. The first portion of the book was almost a wash for me. If it hadn't been for the heroine, Frankie, I am not sure I would have kept reading it. Her witty comebacks were hilarious. However, once the wedding was done and they were back at home the book took on new meaning. I LOVED it from then on. The connection between Aiden and Frankie as they progressed into something more was one of my favorite things about this book. The scene with Frankie's family had me laughing out loud. I could HEAR them as if I was in the room. The author nailed the Brooklyn thing.

It was refreshing to see a heroine like Frankie. She definitely wasn't afraid to speak her mind. I think it was her Brooklyn upbringing and it showed. show more She was fiercely loyal, took no crap from anyone, wasn't some shy naive virgin. She was authentic and real AND hilarious. I also liked the banter that Aiden had with her. He understood her as she also understood him. They needed each other. This had a little of that Pretty Woman feel to it. Except Frankie wasn't a prostitute and this wasn't Beverly Hills. Maybe that is why I liked it so much.

So my advice, if the beginning is a bit messy for some of the readers out there, just skim it. Until they get back in New York and then become avid readers again for the rest of the book because trust me when I say that the rest of the book is fantastic.

I have to take off a star for the beginning because it was just a hot mess with the debacle of vapid vain women and a kidnapping problem that just seemed to be out of place here. I hate to even say that considering that this author has put so much work into this story. I Still love you, Lucy! show less

This was kind of a disappointment. The first 20% of this book was hilarious, off the walls crazy, and the sexual tension was off the CHARTS. Loved it. The rest of the book felt like a completely different story, and I can't help but wonder if the author wrote the first part and then had to figure out how to make a whole book out of it and bring it to a resolution. It wasn't bad, per se, but the two sections of the book just did not mesh. Specifically and most importantly, it felt like the Aiden at the wedding was not Aiden in New York. Frankie felt pretty consistent and I enjoyed her brothers. They felt pretty fleshed out, while Aiden fell kind of flat after the wedding.

Book Review: The Worst Best Man
Stars: 4.5 x 5
Author: Lucy Score @scorelucy
Publisher: Bloom Books @_bloombooks

A reader just knows a book has to be great if it gets a new cover and republished five years after the first published date.

The book starts with Frankie (Francesca) Baranski a Brooklyn girl heading to her socialite best friend‘s destination wedding in Barbados. Frankie is Pruitt’s Made of Honor. She also meets Aiden Kilbourn who is the groom Chip’s best man. This is a society wedding and sassy Frankie doesn’t quite fit in but she and Pruitt have been best friends from college and you do things for your bestie you would not do for anyone else.

I have to admit that there are quite a few characters at this wedding. Some show more are very spoiled and entitled and they make it fun. Aiden and Frankie have chemistry from the first meeting where he mistakes her for a stripper. Because of this wedding, Aiden and Frankie are forced to work together so everything gets done as needed to make this wedding perfect. For Frankie, she just feels Aiden is driving her nuts during this process. Of course, you know you cannot have a destination wedding and not have something going awry and once that happens the antic just go up from there. Chip gets kidnapped and it is up to Frankie and Aiden to find him. They need to get him to the wedding on time. It is during this process that Frankie realizes Aiden is loaded and he can get things done with money that she would not otherwise be able to do. In the end it ends up being Aiden’s half brother who had Chip kidnapped because he wants Aiden to vote a certain way at an upcoming business meeting. All ends up well. Pruitt and Chip marry albeit with Chip wearing an eye patch and a few of the guest bruised, bloody and sunburned.

They all return back to New York. Frankie is back at her job a waitress for a catering company while finishing up her MBA and Aiden back at the family business and becoming CEO. Oh, and yes Frankie was right he is loaded as he is a billionaire.
Aiden was infatuated with Frankie from the beginning and he still wants to see her now that they are back home. Unfortunately for Frankie he only wants a casual relationship that will no be permanent. It takes her a while but she finally agrees to his terms. I mean this man is pure perfection and he could have anyone and he wants Frankie! As Frankie and Aiden’s relationship grows and evolves, the reader also meets Frankie’s sweet parents and adorable brothers. The read also meets Aiden’s totally dysfunctional family. His mother is wonderful and divorced from his father. His father has decided to divorce his stepmother, retire from the company have an affair with a younger woman. (Again) Plus we all have already met his slimy brother in Barbados and he will do just about anything to try to ruin Aiden.. I do have admit Frankie definitely knows how to deal with them all.

Aiden and Frankie finally realize they are in love but they still have obstacles to over come but they will. The romantic struggle they have is real. This book is full of sassiness, humor, suspense, chemistry, betrayl, bizarre family dynamic and love. I was sad when the story ended as I wanted more. I have to say Lucy Score did an amazing job with the writing of this book.

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4 stars and a half

I read the whole book in one go and overall I really liked it. I was expecting the beginning due to the plot, but was pleasantly surprised with the way it turned out afterwards. I didn't expect it to follow the romance part and see the bumps in the road the characters hit. The characters are not unidimensional so that was nice as well. The plot wasn't overly complicated or hard to decipher, but I got surprised a few times so that's definitely a plus. And Frankie's sassy comebacks are just was I needed to have a grin on my face.

It isn't a 5-star book from my point of view because there were still a few things I think should have been dealt with a bit more smoothly and some scenes didn't make much sense to me. show more Otherwise, it got me to relax completely and the writing style is easy to read and get absorbed into, so I would definitely recommend it if you're looking for a light read! show less

DNF at 11% due to petty assholes (it’s in the blurb) and unlikable mains...and mainly ennui

5*