Simply the Best

by Shirley Jump

After her latest relationship ends in yet another disaster, newspaper writer Alexandra Kenner turns to her best friend and commitment-phobic contractor Mack Douglas for support, only to discover that he could just be her Mr. Right. Original.

Genres: Romance, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Friends To Lovers, M F Romance, Chick Lit

347 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2008

About the author

Shirley Jump is a writing instructor and an award-winning, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, Amazon, and USA Today bestselling author who has published more than 80 books in 24 countries. She has spoken all over the world about the power of narrative and how to create compelling books. A former reporter and communications director for a marketing agency, she uses her diverse background to help clients create impactful books that readers can’t down.

She knows the path to publication isn’t all rainbows and unicorns, so to help writers write their best possible book, she offers monthly Manuscript Masterminds through her website, www.WritingCompellingFiction.com.

On her channel, https://YouTube.com/@WritingCompellin..., she unlocks the secrets behind compelling novels and delves into the psychological aspect of overcoming creativity-stoppers like doubt and perfectionism. Follow her channel for more writing exercises, classes, and behind-the-scenes writing lessons or join her Manuscript Mastermind to build your tribe of like-minded writers and receive crucial feedback on your pages.

Reviews

[Julie (jjmachshev) · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you like 'friends to lovers' books, then Shirley Jump's "Simply the Best" should be on your must-read list. She's penned a tale of two best friends who are real people with real problems yet come to learn that the one they have always relied on turns out to be the one that will always be there.

Alexandra is tired of playing at relationships. She's 27 and it's time for her to grow up and be an adult. That means no more flings, she's looking for the real thing. But before she can look to the future, she'll have to come to terms with her past. The mother who bore her too young, the sister who died, and her fears of abandonment. Lucky for her, she's got her best friend Mack who's always been there for her.

Mack's best friend has always been Alex. He's been her protector, her listener, and her hero. She's stuck with him through good and bad and he can't imagine his life without her even though his disastrous and short-lived marriage made him realize the 'white picket fence' was not for him. So why is it that lately he's been having these 'feelings' for Alex? Hot, sweaty, lustful feelings? But also warm, sweet, and tender feelings? He knows she wants marriage, but since that's something he can't do, would it be better to try and quash these feelings?

I loved every minute of this book (and the cover ain't too bad either)! It's got sweetness and heat and trauma and healing. The characters will stay in your head and your heart after you finish their story. I can almost see them now--three kids playing in the backyard with two grandparents and one great-gran watching over them while Alex and Mack fight over the grill utensils. See? They're people I want to know and spend time with and I can't think of a better compliment for a writer's story.

[Lisa Kay · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like the whole 'friends-to-lovers' set-up; however, I was dissappointed when Alex became pregnant by someone else. I don't mind when a man falls in love with an already pregnant woman, but this happened after I already knew how Mack felt about her.

[Deanne · Rating 2 out of 5]

Cute story but the story line is taking too long to build up, not one of the best books i have red from her. But i would recommend this to young adults who is transitioning from the YA romance to Adult fiction romance, and this book is a good way to start

[Sylvia · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly about forgiveness.

[Nikki Kunde · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very predictable but cute!

[Megan Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

the chemistry between them is strong and powerful. I love reading best friends to lovers tropes. it's the best topic I love reading about. when the book starts it shows Mack wanted her and be openly checking her out. when old lovers or old girlfriends come in the mix, jealous dances in with it's ugly head attached and have drama trailing behind it. when they finally have sex, I'm surprised that I didn't fall off the couch because the scenes are so steamy and hot that it'll make you sweat. when one falls and the other runs. I guess she doesn't expect Mack, the man that has commitment issues and be scared of children, to fall for her. her grandma is absolutely hilarious and always be the woman that plays matchmaker. at first she wants her granddaughter to fix up the house so she can move in but later she decided to stay where she is. the book goes on to reveal that the granddaughter has flashbacks when she's in the house and realized later that her mother loves her. but what broke my heart is that her sibling was found dead and which cause the mother to fled the house. I would fled the house too if I seen one of my kids dead too but she shouldn't abandoned her daughter. that's neglect and I know the mother wasn't in her right state of mind, and that she was traumatized but she should of took her daughter with her. even though this book was disturbing and depressing, let alone boring at first but I end up enjoying the book. this book took me the longest to read but I'm glad that I read it. I can't wait to read more books from you Shirley!

+5 stars

[Gemma · Rating 5 out of 5]

The theme of best friends falling in love is a favorite of mine, and the author handled it well. The hero and heroine had great chemistry without being overdone. While their sexual tension sizzled, I also felt like there was more to their relationship than just the physical. The author did a good job of developing the characters, so that I really felt like I knew them, and could see why they would fall in love with on another. The author also tackled some real relationship issues in this book; this was more than the stupid misunderstandings you read so often in romance. I was expecting a bit of a fluff read, given the cover art (that'll teach me to ignore the advice of not judging a book by its cover!) but this one got to me more than I expected. I got tears in my eyes more than once while reading this.

In the secondary relationships, the heroine's friend is dealing with the near breakdown of her marriage, and the hero's parents are currently seperated, though still in love with one another. I felt the author did a good job of bringing satisfying conclusions to all these story threads without being over-the-top cheesy. There were also some laugh-out-loud moments while reading this. Not many authors do humor well, but this book hit the mark.

If an author can bring me to both laughter and tears in the same novel, it's a winner. I'm a very picky reader, but it's safe to say that I will definitely be reading this author again!

[Carolyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

The story between Alex and Mack is magnetic. They have been friends there whole lives, best friends in fact. They both have issues, Mack never wants to get married again and Alex is looking for the white picket fence. Along the way, something changes and they both start noticing one another, the attraction between the two are off the charts but they don't want to ruin a great friendship. The plot and characters are well written and it's a laugh out loud, can't put down read. Then the plot thickens and Alex becomes pregnant with another mans baby, I think, "Oh Lord, here goes a good read", I was wrong, it only improved the book. The added plot between Mack's parents are a added bonus. I enjoyed this book and would read it again.

[Katherine · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was really enjoying it until Alex got pregnant. While, yes, up to that point the book was a typical trashy romance novel, I was really liking how the story was progressing. Then, BOOM. After a great chapter came the bomb. Once she got pregnant, it was all downhill. I just couldn't get back into the story. 2 1/2 stars from me.

[Margaret Konecsni]

Found and finished (whew!). Great laughs and miscommunication, but you might get worried about the side stories (the married best friend w/ the troubled marriage, the husband who can't let go of the wife who abandoned him).

[Via Magleo · Rating 4 out of 5]

"Every woman dreams of being rescued. It's that Rapunzel-in-the-castle, Snow White-in-the-bed fantasy. But sometimes, we fall in love with the idea of the hero, and not the man himself."

I love the ending ;)

[Peggy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book just drug on and on. It should have ended 100 pages sooner than it did.

[Maggie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I dunno why this isn't on my read list, I read it months ago and just finished another Jump book last night.

[Penny · Rating 3 out of 5]

I more like a 2.5, I really like Mack, but there isn't much of a story, to many cliches at the beginning, and a HEA at the end.

[ThePerpetualBookJunkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

i thought the story was boring at first but it got really exciting as the story unfolded. It was so far the best story about best-friends-falling-in-love.

[Ashley FL · Rating 2 out of 5]

Probably a 3 star story, but there were so many problems with the time-line that I kept getting pulled out of it. Cute, but not as good as so many other, similar books.

[Sassy]

This book was great all around well rounded romance. One I'd read over. Sweet

[Nancy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring.

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great

[Martha Cox · Rating 2 out of 5]

Meh. I found myself skipping over parts.