Honor Tierney just wants one night with the playboy.One hot, steamy, meaningless hookup, and then she’ll happily go back to reading her favorite books, studying to be an accountant and writing for the campus-paper-nobody-reads. Too bad she ends up in the wrong bed, with the wrong brother…who gives her the hottest night of her life.Archer O’Brien just wants to play ball.Well that, and for his … ball.
Well that, and for his brothers to stop acting out, so he won’t have to worry 24/7. As the oldest O’Brien and team captain, it’s his duty to make sure they don’t drink too much, party too much, or get in too much trouble. But when she walks into his bedroom–mistaking him for his brother–life throws him a curveball.
She’s determined to guard her heart. He’s not giving up.
And when Honor gets assigned to cover the Wolves baseball team, it’s game on.
This new adult sports romance features one hot (and hilarious) case of mistaken identity and a sexy set of brothers guaranteed to make you swoon.
Sometimes, the best mistakes are worth making.
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The characters are fabulous. I love how he’s so in to her. It’s sweet and romantic and not something you see often. Great story. I hope that the other brothers get their happy endings. And soon!
This first-in-series sure makes me want to read more about the O’Brien clan!
I had a lot of fun getting to know Honor and Archer (and their well-meaning, meddling friends and family, of course!), and I can’t wait to find out more about Archer’s brothers – and the ladies who are going to steal their hearts. 🙂
This is the first new adult novel I’ve read by Cookie O’Gorman, and I’m hooked. She took everything I love about her young adult books: quirky, fun characters and angsty romance, and mixed them up with older characters with more independence, but still trying to figure out life. The combination is both heart-warming and hysterical. Honor Tierney is about to finish up college, still a virgin. Baylor O’Brien has the reputation as a ladies man who leaves his partners satisfied. Who better to give her a night she’ll never forget? Unless she accidentally mistakes one O’Brien brother for another, with hilarious results. What follows is two college seniors trying to make sense of one mixed-up night that might be anything but a failed one-night stand. Add a plethora of O’Brien siblings, Honor’s diverse roommates, and more than a few sparks to ignite a series of events that are at times laugh-out-loud funny and gut-punching. While this is Honor’s and Archer’s story, I can’t wait to find out what happens with the rest of this crew! I’m so happy this is the first book in a new series.
Plot
This is a straight up romance without any real sub-plotting, but the romance drives the story so well, not much else is needed. The back and forth between what Archer wants and what Honor wants along with misconceptions and assumptions on both their parts drives the bulk of the conflict, with Archer’s siblings contributing the rest. When you put that many alpha males together, all from the same family, sparks are bound to fly. The best dialogue is between the O’Brien siblings.
Characters
O’Gorman excels at characters. Honor is equal parts smart, socially awkward, and adorable. The only thing I didn’t really like about her was how little self-esteem she has. And that didn’t really change over the course of the story the way I hoped it would. But her best friend and roommate, Charlie, more than makes up for it with an over-abundance of self-assuredness. She’s the yin to Honor’s yang. Guys fall all over themselves to be with her, except for Archer’s brother, Chase. These two need their own story, stat. Then there’s Rose, the third roommate, who I still haven’t figured out yet, and the O’Brien sister, now a freshman, who rounds out the apartment. Her best friend, June, has it bad for bad boy Baylor, and I’m convinced their story will be the best of the bunch. And above them all is the baseball coach and Mama O’Brien herself, who keeps them all in line while coaching the winningest team in college baseball.
What I Loved About THE BEST MISTAKE
1. Honor. Delightfully awkward and funny.
2. Archer. As the oldest O’Brien, he has a sense of responsibility that keeps him on the straight and narrow as his brothers devolve into drinking, brawling, and general debauchery.
3. Baseball. I miss sports of all kinds during this pandemic life we’re in now, but since it’s baseball season, I really enjoyed the ballpark scenes.
4. The O’Brien Brothers. Each is very different from the other, making for a colorful cast of characters.
5. Charlie. She was my favorite character in the book and I can’t wait for her story.
Bottom Line
A fun, fast-paced contemporary romance with plenty of laugh-out loud moments.
4.5 Stars
This is the first book I’ve read by Cookie O’Gorman and I can say she has gained a new reader. I’m a sucker for a baseball player so I knew I had to read this one. I’m also gobbling up new adult sports romances. I loved the characters so so much. Those O’Brein brothers are yummy and have me hooked on this series. I really liked Honor. I can relate to her with her love of reading. I’m never without a book or my kindle when I’m out. I so agree with her on Jamie Fraser being top book boyfriend materiel so I was happy to Outlander mentioned. When you start this book you’re going to have a hard time putting it down. The characters are going to pull you right in. I really can’t wait for more from those O’Brien brothers. This book gave me everything I was looking for. It has plenty of heart and feels. I would recommend this one for sure!
he Best Mistake is a swoony, romantic new adult sports romance that is refreshingly free of much of the angst that NA books usually feature. Yes, Archer feels overly responsible for his siblings, but they still have a mother who is very present in their lives (she even coaches 4 of them on their college baseball team!) so the entire world isn’t really on his shoulders. And yes, Honor has relationship issues inherited from her parents, but they’re not nearly as OTT as the genre can get.
Add in book geekiness (Honor and I might not share exactly the same tastes, but our feelings about HEA are the same–and yes, I was that girl who brought books to parties; even now I won’t buy a purse that my ereader doesn’t fit in, because why bother? I won’t use it), a close knit family for the ages (inspired by The Bridgertons! Need I say more?), and a BFF that will always have your back (tell me that Charlie’s going to get a story too? Please?) and yeah, I didn’t want to put this one down.
This was EXACTLY what I needed to read right now–just the right blend of fun and romance to get my mind off of everything else. Please, please, please write the rest of the O’Briens’ stories ASAP, Ms O’Gorman 🙂
Rating: 4 stars / A-
I voluntarily reviewed an Advance Reader Copy of this book.
The Best Mistake was my first time reading anything written by Cookie O’Gorman, and it didn’t disappoint. Generally New Adult is not always my favorite genre, but I was captivated by Honor and Archer’s story from the very first chapter.
Honor is a romantic at heart, innocent and a tad naïve. I loved that she’s a realistic character and quite relatable, and likeable.
Archer is responsible, driven, kind and loyal. Events in his past have made him grow up before his time, and it’ made him into the caretaker he is. As the eldest O’Brien sibling and the captain of the Baseball team and takes his role very seriously and does his best to manage other’s behaviors and choices. Although you can understand his motives some of his choices and actions were a tad frustrating, but he is quite redeemable.
The chemistry this pair shares is undeniable, despite a case of mistaken identity, and I love the friendship that they develop over the course of their story.
The side characters intrigued me, and I cannot wait for more books in this series. Overall this title is a sweet, enjoyable and entertaining read that I highly recommend to anyone who enjoys a New Adult or sports romance
Disclaimer: I received an Advance Reader Copy at no cost from the publisher/author. All opinions in my review are my own.
OH. MY. GOD. This book completely tipped me off my axis. I am so smitten with this book right now, ya’ll. I am 100% here for this and you should be too.
It’s no wonder why this author’s books are so amazing because her storytelling is unparalleled. I first read The Good Girl’s Guide to Being Bad by this author and I remember fondly that I fell totally in love with the storytelling from the get-go. Her writing voice is brilliant and she has a unique way of touching readers through the story. The narration is smooth but never dull. The connection that she makes with the reader through her words is impressive.
These characters…what can I say? They were glorious. And I am not only talking about the main characters, Honor and Archer. The entire cast of characters is amazing. I was so drawn into this story because of this stellar cast of characters. I am truly waiting with bated breath for more books in this series to release. These characters left such an impression on me. I loved the incredible representation of both family and friendship in this story. It warmed my heart so much. As for the main characters, both Honor and Archer were well-developed characters and they both had such immense growth in the story. I felt very connected to them. I also felt that they were portrayed very realistically which only made the story seem more authentic.
The romance of this story really had my heart thumping in my chest. From the embarrassing and hilarious meet-cute to the very end of the book, this couple had me invested in their love story. Honor and Archer had immediate and electric chemistry. What’s more, is that they had a wonderful friendship. I was rooting for this couple from the first scene.
I really loved the plot of this story and I think that the author did a fine job of setting everything up in the story. The premise is totally riveting – a case of mistaken identity in the most humorous meet-cute leading to true love. The entire story was magical. I read this book in a single sitting because I legit couldn’t put the book down.
Overall, this is another home run story from Cookie O’Gorman! I am so in love with her writing and it can only get better from here. If you liked her YA books then this NA story will blow you away. This book is a new favorite for me! I can’t wait for the next book!
**3.5 stars**
The Best Mistake is a sweet, new adult romance. This was the author’s first venture into the new adult world and it was a very solid start. It’s a pretty clean new addition to this category though. Honor is a book lover, journalist/accountant and quite innocent. She decides that she wants a college hookup, and who better to do that, than the campus playboy; only problem is she ends up in the bed of the wrong brother! Archer is the oldest, captain of the baseball team, responsible, driven, and kind. Honor ends up mistaking him for his brother. Things get super awkward, but these two have a ton of chemistry. As fate would have it, Honor gets assigned a story for the baseball team and comes face to face with Archer again. They begin a tentative friendship, that turns to more. These two were so adorable together. I will say Honor was a really hard character to get a read on. She sent so many mixed signals, and with all her interests, she definitely doesn’t fit in one box. Archer was much easier to like, even when he made terrible decisions. It sounds like this might be a series, and I cannot wait, because the scenes with the brothers were great! This was a quick, cute, clean new adult and I would recommend it.
*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.
“How were women supposed to function in the face of such unmistakable male beauty?”
It was supposed to be a one night stand…
She has abandonment issues. She doesn’t do relationships. She wanted to have sex for the first time, no strings attached, before she left college. She knew of a guy who would be willing. But she accidentally put the moves on the wrong brother… then feelings started to get involved…
-‘“Just wait, Honor,” she’d said. It was a day she’d forgotten (yet again) to pick me up from elementary school, and I’d had to walk the three miles it took to get home. “When you find the man of your dreams, you’ll know what I’m talking about. Everything and everyone else will become a blur, and all you’ll see is him. When you’re in love, he becomes your whole world.”
But I didn’t want that. It was one of the main reasons I was so afraid to let myself fall in the first place. Mom’s obsession with love—particularly love of men—had always flashed bright like a warning sign. The way she forgot to care for her family when she was with one, the way she didn’t care for herself when they left, I wanted no part of it. And what if that all-or-nothing mindset was hereditary? I’d never been with a guy, so I wouldn’t know.’-
-‘Chase nodded. “If my parents taught me anything, it’s that love is real. There’s someone out there for each of us. We just have to be patient and keep our eyes and hearts open.”
This book is very different from her usual writing style. There is swearing and sex in this one. For a first attempt at NA, I think she did a great job. Very sexy. Hot. It’s a bit beyond my comfort zone but it is well written. The story develops at a good pace and revelations are made with great timing. The characters are realistic and completely engaging. I felt like I’d love to meet them in real life and I definitely had my favourites. While I prefer her YA books, I think she is also well suited to this genre. Congratulations on your new book!
I was pleased to get an early reader’s copy and it was a pleasure to review it without compensation. These are my own thoughts and opinions.
The Best Mistake was my first time reading anything written by Cookie O’Gorman, and it didn’t disappoint. Generally New Adult is not always my favorite genre, but I was captivated by Honor and Archers story from the very first chapter.
I loved the character of Honor. She is fun and quirky. He has a lot of self-doubt and trust issues to wade through due to some personal history. I do not typically enjoy the new adult genre often because the characters are immature, it also sometimes comes off as “high school” this was not the case by O’Gorman. She wrote Honor as if she has been carrying the whole world for her lifetime. So much so that she has not even attend a college party. She is a senior and hasn’t even had a boyfriend or sex.
Archer O’Brien has a lot more depth than I thought a college athlete would have. He is super thoughtful. He has such a seriousness about him. His sense of responsibility for his family makes him even more desirable. All this plus being a star baseball player makes him a completely swoon worthy character. His familiar relationships play a huge part in this story line. As with any large Irish family they are constantly in each other’s business.
The meet cute between these two was steamy and simply perfect but at the moment when says the wrong brothers name you just know this story is going to have its share of push and pull between Honor and Archer.
The supporting characters in this story also have a lot of potential. I can’t wait for their stories. They all add something to the storyline. Sometimes if there is a large cast of supporting characters the story becomes muddled. O’Gorman made sure that it was very clearly Honor and Archer’s story and the supporting characters did not distract from the main story.
This is was a good read for me. It was a solid 4/5 read. I loved that their connections were more than just sexual or baseball, it gives the sense this relationship will go the distance.