“I absolutely adored this …Jess Bryant’s best book to date and straight into my 2019 Top Reads.” – Goodreads reviewer“This is one of the most emotional stories I have read and I loved every second.” – Goodreads reviewer“This was easily one of my favorite books for 2019 so far! Heart-warming, sexy, and full of emotion” – A Book Nerd, a Bookseller and a BibliophileBlurb:It’s a destination wedding, … Bibliophile
Blurb:
It’s a destination wedding, Fate, Texas style, and the thermostat isn’t the only thing about to hit its boiling point.
Lulu Nichols has lost the love of her life.
Her best friend, Derek, proposed to someone else. He’s marrying someone else. And oblivious to her feelings, he’s asked her to play best man at his wedding. She can’t say no, not without admitting her secret and ruining everything, so she pastes on a smile and heads to Mexico to watch the man of her dreams get his happily ever after, even if it isn’t with her.
Connor Shaw is finally ready to claim the love of his life.
He wants Lulu. He’s always wanted her. Even though she’s slightly crazy and seriously delusional about her relationship with Derek. Connor is the one that brings out her fire and matches it with his own. He’s the one that drives her just as crazy as she drives him and it’s way past time for her to admit that all their fighting is really just foreplay.
Together they’re like gasoline and a match; a powder keg destined to blow, but oh how satisfying an explosion it will be.
But is their spark the kind that burns fast and then out? Is the heat going to Lulu’s head or is there more to Connor than she’s ever realized? Could they possibly be meant for forever or are they destined to always be a should’ve been?
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Wow! I loved this book! It was emotional and hooked me from the first chapter. Lulu and Conner’s story was amazing. Lulu thinks she’s in love with Derek and Conner proves to her that she isn’t. They have such amazing chemistry. This is the first book I’ve read of Jess Bryant’s and I can’t wait to read more!
This is a story of a groups of friends & family which hail from a small town. Lulu has been in love with her BFF Derek forever but now he’s getting married & she is drowning in sorrow. Connor, Derek’s friend & also her longtime frenemy is in the same position as Lulu. But it’s her he’s after.
As Derek is having a destination wedding with activities planned will their issues ever be solved? Things really heat up between the sheets when our two find each other but who?
There are quite a few secondary characters, possibly from other books? However we are made aware of their stories so you’re not going in blind.
An engaging, slightly angsty unrequited love triangle.
I received a free copy of this book via Booksprout and am voluntarily leaving a review. 4.5*
This enemies to lovers is the perfect weekend read when you want to spend a few hours in the pages of something delicious. I’ve loved Jess Bryant’s work from the first book I picked up and Should’ve Been Us is now one of my favorites. I love those stories you can fall hard for the characters instantly, especially a hero that knows what he wants after waiting for so long. So dreamy. A must read for all romance fans.
Y’all. This book right here was EVERYTHING. And so much more. I didn’t want it to end. Lulu and Connor were two of the best characters I have ever read. Jess did an absolutely phenomenal job when it came to these two and the circumstances surrounding them. Something so much more came out of dislike and banter between them.
Connor had so much dimension to him that Lulu couldn’t see because she was in love with Derek. Things happen to make other things happen. And those last happening things can be way better than you ever expect! If you haven’t read one of Jess’ Fate TX novels you are seriously missing out! I definitely recommend the whole series and this one of course!!
Thank you so much Jess for the early review copy in exchange for my honest review! It’s an honor!
This is one of the most emotional stories I have read and I loved every second. I love her stories but this has to be my favorite one so far and one of her best. The characters are written so beautifully that you feel their every emotion. The story is addictive with Lulu and Connor melting hearts along the way. It is written in such a way that is so relatable you cannot help but think about your own life and choices. A must read that will not disappoint.
I really loved this story! There was Lulu dealing with unrequited love oblivious to what was right there in her life. She and Connor sparred verbally, and Lulu convinced herself that he got on her last nerve, but sometimes what you think you want is really not what you need. This story had me tearing up, swooning and enthralled with the steaminess!! Connor is the perfect book boyfriend! Thank you Jess Bryant for such a heartfelt story!
I mean c’mon. Can Jess Bryant write a book or what!
Should’ve Been Us is one of my top reads of this year and I just can’t put it into words really why, other than I loved the book. Sure, Lulu came off mean at the beginning, but who wouldn’t be in her position.
I need me a little Fate.
I highly suggest this book for people wanting a little escape and some hotness at the same time.
Should Have Been Us by Jess Bryant is a brilliant frenemies to lovers read!
Starting the book you get caught up in LuLu’s misery as having to accept her long time love interest is getting married. Little does she know that Dereks best friend was always there for her Connor has had the same feelings for LuLu.
Oh man.. I loved every second of this book, tbe back and forth, the jabs and the connection they shared. The more I read the more I loved Connor! The love scenes were freaking hot! And I really loved the way Connor made her feel wanted and important.
The conversation that was between Derek and Connor just plain ticked me off.. What could have been and I had so many emotions running through me.
But everything at it’s time… And the ending was perfect, I absolutely loved, loved it!!
Should’ve Been Us is a rollercoaster of emotions that you won’t want to put down until you have nothing left to read. Literally. And then, you’ll spend a whole day in book hangover mode thinking that nothing will ever fill it’s shoes. I laughed. I cried ugly tears. I got angry and then I smiled again and again at these two enemies to lovers.
Lulu and Connor are fire and ice. Two people whose lives would be forever changed over one week spent in Mexico. Lulu was about to watch the love of her life marry another woman. Connor was about to see the love of his life’s heart shatter again for the umpteenth time.
Jess Bryant gives you a story jam packed with emotion, hilarious banter, and sexy Connor Shaw. My first book by Jess Bryant was the Fated Mates Duet, her shifter series. I’m sad that I didn’t find her books earlier, I would’ve been hooked a lot faster. I promise you, once you pick Should’ve Been Us up you won’t be able to put it down. You’ll be drawn in from page one. I read it in one sitting because I just couldn’t get enough of these two, Lulu and Connor. You WANT to read this book, you just didn’t know it yet! Highly recommend Should’ve Been Us! Pick up your copy on March 20th!
This story is amazing and I am so glad I read it. I have been taking a break from my normal reads and I am so happy to have read this romance that had me on the edge of my seat because there was so much going on.
Lulu has been in love with Derek since they were kids. She always thought they would end up together and have their happily ever after. But that is not the case because Derek never shows any interest except for friendship with Lulu and she is hurt by that but still has hope for them as they get older only Derek shocks her by asking someone else to marry him and for her to be the best man in his wedding. Shocked and hurt she agrees to do it.
Then Connor comes in the picture and he loves Lulu and wants to be with her. He has always loved her but he knew that she loved Derek so he stayed away not wanting to get hurt but now that Derek is married he is ready to make his move. And when he does there is fireworks because they have a push and pull at first then bam their chemistry is so combustible they are about to blow.
Will Lulu let Connor in or will she keep him in the friend zone because she is still hooked on Derek?
I couldn’t put this book down! I was initially so drawn to Lulu and her feelings and accepting of Derek and his upcoming wedding. I felt so bad for Connor and how he hid his feelings for Lulu for so long, especially with the unknown love triangle between the three of them. The storyline ultimately followed Lulu’s journey in finding who she was really in love with and work through her feelings with both Derek and Connor. I also really enjoyed the relationship between Connor and Lulu, they both fed off of each other and their needs from one another. It really showed that Connor really understood her and was able to help her work through her feelings and thoughts. I loved the epilogue where it showed the total HEA for Connor and Lulu and it really rounded out the storyline. Great story and can’t wait to see what else is in store in Fate, TX!
I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
Should’ve been us is an absolutely breathtaking story, that begins as one of unrequited love. This was my introduction to Jess Bryant, and I don’t believe I could have picked a better book for it.
Lulu is a extremely relatable character, possibly one of the most relatable that I’ve read. I can close my eyes and remember a time when my own thought process was very much like hers. I began this book fairly blind, I’m not even sure I read the blurb. So let me tell you how hard my eyes rolled when I thought this was going to be 250 pages of unrequited love….
Boy how wrong was I!!!
As soon as Connor appeared on the pages, the chemistry between he and Lulu was absolutely palpable. Jess takes you through each characters past, and drags you through every single heartbreaking emotion. Having known each other since childhood, both Lulu and Connor have their own misconceptions to work through about the other…. but when they finally get to the other side their love is undeniable!
Should’ve Been Us is a good read. Lulu and Connor are frustrating at times. Lulu is in love with her best friend Derek but he’s getting married to someone else. Connor has had a crush on Lulu for a while but she doesn’t know. Lulu and Connor fight a lot. Connor comes off at as a jerk at sometimes but he’s just really honestly blunt. When Lulu comes to terms with letting her dreams of Derek go, Connor is there letting her know how he really feels about her. These two have great chemistry even when they are fighting. I was rooting for these two to get a HEA.
The enemies-to-lovers trope is one of my favorites because, when done right, all that animosity leads to heavily charged banter and I love me some clever banter with steamy subtext.
Should’ve Been Us has that delicious wordplay in spades. It’s a joy to read (even when it’s a little bit sad). Highly recommended!
Wow! Loved loved loved Lulu and Connor’s story! Frenemies to lovers with blazing chemistry. Lulu thinks she is in love with Derek, who is marrying someone else, but the connection she has with Connor proves to her that she was wrong. I’m fairly new to Jess Bryant’s books but I am loving her writing.
I want to start with “this book is amazing.” This is a beautiful story. Lulu, poor Lulu, is heartbroken at the beginning of the story; Derek, her best friend since childhood, was getting married. Lulu was in Mexico for the wedding. But, her heart was hurting; Derek, her childhood friend, was the object of her affection for such a long time she couldn’t see past him and couldn’t quite let go of the hopes and dreams she had of a life with Derek. Conner grew up with Lulu and Derek and is good friends with Derek, but, the three of them were far from a happy friend group growing up. Lulu and Conner have a history of circling around each other, each orbiting Derek and from Lulu’s point of view, tolerating each other; their interactions with each other were simply irritating and reactionary. Conner bears his own hurts privately, but is frustrated with Lulu’s inability to see what Conner’s true feelings are.
This story has a lot of feels, it’s written with such raw emotions as you are brought through some of the tangled history of these three people. There are a lot of intimate scenes that are so beautiful and poignant, Conner is amazing in so many ways. He takes a gamble on this vacation/wedding trip that he can distract Lulu and show her what is truly hers, and he’s so vulnerable as is Lulu. I enjoyed every single chapter of this book, once I started I couldn’t put it down. I absolutely loved the Maren Lee Easter Egg and Visiting with Lance and Trent! Thank you to the author for an excellent read!
Oh my goodness, I loved this book! I literally did not put it down till I stopped reading it, even in class! Conner and Lulu’s story was amazing. I loved watching Lulu realize who she was really in love with. She learned that what we want isn’t always what we need and how to find the person that fits you, instead of changing yourself to fit them. I loved how Connor always pulled her back into reality anyway her knew how, and how well he understood her. All in all this book was amazing!
I received and ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
What do you do when the person you are in love with is in love with someone else? In Lulu’s case, you sit by and watch that person’s love story unfold. You also agree to be the best woman in his wedding. In Connor’s case you bide your time until it is the right moment to confess your true feelings. And if that happens to be at the wedding of the man Lulu is pining after, then so be it.
On the surface Connor and Lulu are like oil and water. They have known each other for years and all they have ever done is fight. Most of the time Lulu can’t even stand to be around Connor, but she starts to realize that what she thought was him being annoying was just Connor trying to make Lulu see reason. For years she loved a man who didn’t love her back and there was someone else right in front of her who was more than willing to be the man she needed. Once she started to realize that, this book got really interesting.
We need to talk about Connor for a second. Oh my god. I love me a good dirty talking/take charge man, especially when it’s a surprise. The first time that side of him was unleashed, my interest in him was amplified and I needed more. Kind of like Lulu. Her stubborn side gave him more than one chance to take charge and after a few times it just became a part of their relationship. All the sexiness.
But Connor was also a giant sweetheart and he had these moments when he would express his feelings to Lulu that were just perfect. He always knew the right thing to say to her at the right time and if that’s not something that people want in their life, then I don’t know what is.
And I’ve said it before when reviewing a Jess Bryant book and I will say it again…good banter can be a form of foreplay and these two had it in spades. I should have known just from their back and forth that when they finally got together that it would be good, but it was way better than I thought it would be! Keep a fan handy. Just saying.
Jess Bryant is a new author for me and I have to say, I’ll be reading more from her. This was a great story, with all the feels. It made me laugh and cry, made me want to yell at the characters to stop being dumb.
Lulu’s been in love with her best friend, Derek, for over 2 decades, but, he’s totally clueless, so much so, he’s getting married and asked her to be his Best Woman. Lulu is a bit of a glutton for punishment because she agreed to do it. Not sure I could have done that!
She’ suffering from a severe case of unrequited love and the last thing she needs is bossy, controlling and ‘in her face’ Connor telling her to buck and get her act together.
Sexy and seductive,Connor has watched from the sidelines as Lulu suffered through her unfulfilled desires for his best friend. He’s had a thing for Lulu… now that Derek is finally off the table, he’s hoping she’ll open her eyes as well as her heart and let him in.
Oh, the possibilities!
This book was written in third person which is not my preferred style of reading but I still enjoyed the story, plenty of laughs along the way as well as some serious swoon time but you’ll definitely cry some snotty tears too.
I loved the very first paragraph of this book and then it got better… and better!
Lulu has loved her best friend forever but he is marrying someone else. Connor has loved Lulu from afar but has decided that now is the time that she will SEE him. When they come together there isn’t a spark. There’s a whole fire!
This story is sweet and steamy. I LOVED it!