The Best Thing by Mariana Zapata is a heartwarming story about Lenny and Jonah, two individuals who met in France and shared a special connection, only to be separated by unforeseen circumstances. The book delves into themes of love, family, sacrifices, and personal growth, with a focus on complex relationships and deep emotional connections. Mariana Zapata's writing style is characterized by slow burns, rich character development, and a strong sense of humor, creating a captivating narrative that keeps readers engaged till the end.

Characters:

The characters are well-developed, showcasing Lenny's strength and independence alongside Jonah's sweet, patient nature, complemented by supportive figures like Grandpa Gus.

Writing/Prose:

The prose is engaging, primarily from the heroine's perspective, incorporating humor and emotional nuance while using inventive text exchanges to deepen the narrative.

Plot/Storyline:

The plot centers around a second chance romance where Lenny, an MMA manager, confronts emotional grievances tied to Jonah's past abandonment. Over time, they navigate trust and redemption.

Setting:

The story is set in Houston, with key events tied to a gym and various sports settings, including France.

Pacing:

The pacing is slow, allowing for a gradual build-up of romance and emotional depth, leading to significant character development.

Hadn’t I just told myself to clear the damn cookies and the history on my computer? Yeah, I had. I knew I had. It had just been a few weeks ago when the last article had popped up on my home page, and...

Notes:

The story follows Lenny, a strong heroine who manages a gym and has a background in MMA.

Lenny's close relationships with her grandfather and a father figure named Peter are central to her character development.

The book is told from Lenny's point of view, revealing her inner thoughts and struggles, especially regarding her past with Jonah.

Lenny and Jonah's relationship is marked by a significant emotional conflict, as Jonah ghosted her after an event in Paris.

Each chapter features texts from Lenny to Jonah, expressing her hurt, which adds depth to their relationship story.

The narrative includes a slow-burn romance as Lenny and Jonah work through their past issues to reconnect.

Jonah is portrayed as a compassionate, gentle soul who is dedicated to his rugby career rather than being a typical 'manwhore'.

There is minimal intimate content apart from the main romantic relationship, emphasizing emotional connection over physical attraction.

The book has a notable epilogue that years later involves Lenny and Jonah, which has been described as emotional and satisfying.

While the author is known for her slow burns, this book presents a mix of humor and emotional complexity, particularly in Lenny's interactions with her family.

Some readers found the book underwhelming compared to Zapata's previous works, citing a lack of uniqueness in the plot and character development.

The themes of love and family are explored deeply, showcasing how past mistakes can be overcome by genuine effort and growth.

Sensitive Topics/Content Warnings

Content warnings may include themes of abandonment, miscommunication, use of profanity, and past trauma, which may affect sensitive readers.

Has Romance?

The romance is a central element of the story, focusing on Lenny and Jonah's rekindled relationship after being separated.

implied steam level

From The Publisher:

Some things are easily forgiven. Other things… not so much.

Lenny DeMaio made herself a promise: she was done.

Done thinking about him.

Done worrying about him.

Done reaching out to a man who clearly didn't want to be found.

Too bad no one gave Jonah Collins the memo. more

Ratings (36)

Incredible (6)
Loved It (13)
Liked It (7)
It Was OK (6)
Did Not Like (3)
Hated It (1)

Reader Stats (58):

Read It (36)
Want To Read (15)
Did Not Finish (3)
Not Interested (4)

1 comment(s)

katyana

Incredible

3 months

I have to start with this: that epilogue fucking killed me.

Grandpa Gus' funeral? SERIOUSLY? Full on ugly cry over here, folks.

I really liked it, which isn't a surprise after the last couple Zapata books I read. What is a surprise is that second-chance stuff rarely, rarely works for me. So that was nice.

This book was different than Kulti and Wall of Winnipeg, which was nice. Don't get me wrong, I loved them. But it was nice to shake it up a bit. This book was freaking hysterical at points, and while through all the books I've loved how real and grounded the family relationships are, something about Lenny, Grandpa Gus, and Peter's relationship was just extra special. And hysterical.

Jonah and Lenny were great. I was feeling some quibbles getting near then end -

it seemed like the resolution was going to land on her giving up absolutely everything so that he could carry on with the life of his dreams and have everything, and that just didn't sit right with me. Also, I could have used some reaffirmation that she matters as much as his career, given the reason they went kaboom the first time around was because he got depressed about his career...

But then where the actual resolution landed, I was okay with it all.

It seemed like Maio House was never really her dream. And Grandpa Gus freed her from it so she could chase what she really wanted. And then of course, he and Peter went with her. That was a critical component of the end for me. She couldn't give up everything - job, life, friends, family - to follow Jonah around and be absorbed into his family.

So then, as always with Zapata, my only real quibble is the epilogue. Like, give me more of it. Not

more funeral

TYVM. But more of their lives together. I wanted to see the moment when she told him what she was choosing. I wanted to see their lives together. At least a little.

But those are little things. The truth is, the story was wonderful and it was hard to be done with that world and those characters.

Re-read Jan 2024

It's hard to say for sure, but this one might be my favorite from MZ, which is crazy because I generally hate second-chance stories. But it's just so touching, with some of the best familial relationships I've read, that I just freaking adore it.

That epilogue, though. Goddamn, my nose is still plugged solid from ugly crying.

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The Best Thing?

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The Best Thing

Mariana Zapata