I’ve read most of Mariana Zapata’s works, and it is safe to say, that ‘The Best Thing’ just like every other work of hers centers on romance that burns slowly rather than fiercely.
When Booktok notified me of this book, I instantly had it on queue to read, because I was curious to know if the plot was nearly as good as the title itself. So it is safe to say that my expectations were very high, and a part of me wondered if this author would meet those expectations or I’ll just be left disappointed.
This book begins in a rather interesting way. We are introduced to Lenny’s character, and I liked her almost immediately. She appears like a tough person, bragging, with an attitude and with a very exciting thought process. To me, all of this seem like a façade, but was it truly a façade? Or is Lenny, truly who the first part of the book paints her to be.
‘The Best Thing’, is a slow burn sizzling romance novel, that centers of Lenny and Jonah’s romantic connection.
Lenny, a former world judoka champion, who also manages her grandfather Gus’ gym has heaps of resentment and anger towards Jonah, a world champion rugby player, over how he abandons her.
I couldn’t understand why being an abandoned love interest hurt Lenny so much, I mean she could have simply healed and moved, but I get to understand that Lenny’s anger could have something to do with the fact that her own biological mother had abandoned her to be raise by her grandfather Gus.
Lenny was someone who was consistently let down by others, so it was therefore no surprise why she was so deeply angry at Jonah.
Jonah, who was her love interest, wakes one day, and just disappears from Lenny’s life. No calls, no texts, just two miserable postcards that leave Lenny wondering where she went wrong.
I almost instantly disliked Jonah’s character, until he reappears months after, and we get to see, not only the reason for his disappearance, but the kind of character that he is.
Other than being a disappearing love interest and a ghoster, he is portrayed as s sensitive, caring person, who instantly ready to fix his mistakes.
How then does such a caring person ghost and cause hurt to someone he supposedly loves? Well, you’ll have to go on a thrilling ride of exploring the pages and chapters of this book to find out.
There have been various criticisms that the author should have centered more on the leading characters, instead of attempting to intertwine their lives with family. This is largely reliant on the fact that we see how much impact grandfather Gus has on Lenny’s life.
I am forced to disagree with these critics. Family has always been wholesome, and the plot of this novel shows nothing different. Lenny’s relationship with her grandfather, forms a huge part of the strong, sensitive, self-reliant woman she becomes, and what is slow burn romance without family?
‘The Best Thing’ gives us more than main character romance; you are clearly able to have a peek into the lives of the other characters, and you’re almost tempted to believe that they are all real people and not just fictious characters.
Character wise, I think I related more with Lenny. Not only is she so real, but she is not afraid to show her feelings, which is something that is very admirable. However, although it was very much expected, seeing that it is a slow burn romance, there was rarely intensity and passion in Lenny and Jonah’s romance. Just a slow reigniting of romantic connections, which is not entirely bad. But I think, for couples who stay apart from each other, it is only fair that we, the readers, not only see an attempt at getting closure and starting again, but a ferocious and insatiable need, to just be all over each other, and with each other.
Although it isn’t my favorite of Mariana Zapata’s work, I truly enjoyed reading this novel. If anything, it had me believing in the power of giving second chances.
It was a truly enjoyable and worthy read, and if you’re a lover of slow burn romance, then you should waste no time in reading this book.
Maybe then, you’ll be able to find answers to the question of why Jonah left.
