{"product_id":"the-best-i-never-had-9781250341587","title":"The Best I Never Had","description":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cb\u003eThey staged a romance, faked a breakup, and this time around, anything can happen--even something \u003ci\u003ereal.\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e \u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eThea Pappas has always been the storm in her own life--fiery and unpredictable--traits that led her and her younger sister, Addy, through a series of foster homes. But with Addy's whirlwind engagement, Thea is determined to be the perfect maid of honor, even if she finds it odd that she hadn't heard of the fiancé until the ring was on Addy's finger. She believes she can survive a week in the Blue Ridge Mountains with a group of strangers without causing any trouble. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut upon arrival, Thea realizes these aren't strangers. Among the familiar faces is Owen Hayes--the man who, three years ago, paid her to pretend to be his girlfriend at a family wedding. Now, he's looking at her with the same panicked expression. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eOwen's life has always been about control--managing his mother's matchmaking schemes, his family's expectations, and the career path he never truly chose. Thea was his one rebellion, a beautiful lie that ended with a \"heart-destroying\" fake breakup. Now, with his younger brother's wedding underway and his mother on the prowl, Owen begs Thea to reprise their roles. One week. Same fake breakup. No feelings. \u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eBut as old sparks reignite and the lines between pretense and reality blur, Thea and Owen will have to choose: carry on their greatest performance yet or admit the truth--that it was never fake at all.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eBinding Type:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e St. Martin's Griffin\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 08\/18\/2026\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781250341587\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 336\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 1.00lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 8.25h x 5.38w x 1.00d\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations: \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003ci\u003eLibrary Journal\u003c\/i\u003e 07\/01\/2026 pg. 47\u003cbr\u003e","brand":"Amy Buchanan","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52733001203893,"sku":"9781250341587","price":16.15,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":false}],"url":"https:\/\/pastforward.org\/products\/the-best-i-never-had-9781250341587","provider":"Past Forward","version":"1.0","type":"link"}