The Best Men

By: Lauren Blakely, Sarina Bowen

Narrated by: Jacob Morgan, Teddy Hamilton

Length: 9 hrs and 9 mins

Publisher's Summary

Best-selling authors Sarina Bowen and Lauren Blakely team up for the first time in an enemies-to-lovers, opposites-attract, irresistibly sexy stand-alone romance between the best man and the other best man! Performed by Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan!

In my defense, I was left alone with a bottle of single-malt and a lifelong penchant for protecting my baby sister. Still, that's no excuse to send 10 drunk-texts on why her hasty marriage would be a mistake.

If only I had just texted my sister. But nope. I accidentally sent the message to her, her groom, and his super hot wingman.

I also used the phrase “super hot wingman”, so I’d like to die now.

Instead, I have to plan a wedding with the aforementioned hottie and share a too-small guesthouse in steamy Miami. Three days in the sun with the cocky, charming former athlete who likes to push my buttons? Fine, two can play at that let’s-infuriate-each-other game.

Until Asher ups the stakes with one wildly sexy suggestion. A no-strings fling, then I go back to my single dad life in New York, and he returns to his star-studded one.

Sign me up.

But the more nights I spend with the other best man, the more I want days too, and that just can't happen. Especially when I find out the real reason why....

Contents Include: first times, a secret to-do list, champion-level flirting, fast cars, #eggplants, and two men who look good in formal wear.

©2022 Troliver Books (P)2021 Troliver Books

A bucket of cold water

Die hards are going to throw five stars to be sure, but it doesn’t deserve those topnotch ratings.

Let’s start with the narration. Jacob and Teddy are Sarina Bowen mainstays, but at some point shouldn’t Bowen want her characters to have a different sound? Jacob Morgan is certainly capable and I usually enjoy his low key style, but he can sound bored - which at times he did here. Teddy is Teddy. A great narrator, and one of the best for female characters, but he’s in nearly every Bowen title. Goodbye paradise, HIM and US, the understatement of the year, roommate, top secret, hello forever, that’s a lot of one narrator. They all sound the same with Teddy’s distinctive flat vowels.

Then there’s the story. Well, the non story. A whole lot of nothing happens. The thinnest of plots moves about here and there without much success. While listenable, it’s all fluff. Set around a shotgun wedding, a moderately bland group of wealthy New Yorkers plan a destination ceremony. Florida. The big issue at hand? A drunken text. The big news? The text wasn’t that bad and is hardly believable as the basis for potential bad blood between the two MCs. As leads go, they’re fine but hardly memorable. A divorced dad is a nice twist, but it isn’t used to create any problems. In fact, no one in this book has any problems, one of the MCs even thinks to himself that he’s lead a dream life. No one had problems coming out as gay or bisexual, no one lacks money, no one has any obstacles to overcome. And the big page 180 break? It’s a nothing burger - a premise so flimsy it can’t stand stand up by itself.

The authors try so hard to inject humor that really falls flat much of the time. The spread sheet becomes gimmicky early on, and the way it is referenced with column and row designations makes me think the authors don’t know much about them.

TBH, this feels very phoned in. I don’t say this lightly as I am a huge fan of Sarina Bowen. I have listened to some of her titles multiple times. I know she can collaborate- HIM/US are at the top of my list.

Unlike other MM titles, there is no angst or slow burn here, and if the goal was to aim for a lighter, more comedic book - they missed the mark. The score is saved by solid narration and the general likability of MC Mark.

✫✫ 5 Stars ✫✫

YES YES YES I knew this would be amazing! I mean how could I expect anything else from my two favorite authors! These two are MM Queens IMHO. I love how they both write such everyday characters with beautiful love stories without all the extra drama. This story was really fun with the Best Men doing all the planning for their favorite people's wedding. It has fun banter and extremely intense chemistry and add on really hot scenes and a beautiful HEA! This book hit all my trope buttons and made my heart happy! I loved how different these two characters were and that their differences were what made them work so well. I really hope we get more of Asher & Mark's HEA story, I would love to see how their lives continue to grow.

The narration was perfect of course, Teddy & Jacob couldn't be anything but Awesome!

Cute & Steamy Romcom

This was such a cute and steamy MM romcom. I love each of these author's individually, so it's no surprise that I enjoyed their co-authored book as well. I had the pleasure of listening and reading this one and it was such a treat! Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan are two of my favorite narrators and they were perfect as Asher and Mark. They were just the right amount of playful to pull off the banter and snark, while also delivering on the oh so steamy scenes. And boy were those scenes spicy!

This single dad, opposites attract, forced proximity, enemies to friends to lovers romance was hilarious and sweet. I loved how Mark and Asher's relationship shifted and grew as they spent more time together. Mark's vulnerability especially pulled on my heart strings. One of the things I appreciated most about the book was that these two stayed true to themselves and there wasn't a magic solution to their issues. They struggled and hurt, but ultimately found their way through. Definitely recommend experiencing this one on audio if you have the chance!

Audiobook Review
Overall 4.5 stars
Performance 5 stars
Story 4 stars

A fun opposites attract MM romance

The Best Men is a fun opposites attract, MM romance, and VERY steamy! With a single dad, forced proximity, and enemies to lovers added to the equation, this story quickly grabs the reader.

Mark and Asher are both great guys, just very different from each other. Mark is an uptight investment banker, recently divorced, with a young daughter. Asher is a former pro soccer player, very outgoing and friendly, and known to play the field. They meet because they are both the best men for Mark's sister's and Asher's best friend's wedding.

They spark off each other early on, but they don't get along. The story is so much fun as they seem to stumble around each other as they get to know one another. Once they head together to the destination wedding to complete the wedding preparations, Mark and Asher really get to know each other, and things really get interesting.

This story is so entertaining, with well-developed characters, fun settings, and a riveting story line. Full of snark, as well as angst, I highly recommend this book.

Don't miss the short prequel, Super Hot Wingmen, which is a great lead in to this story.

The audiobook narration is wonderful, with Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan both bringing their characters, and the story, to life.

So much fun!

I listened to this on audio and it was so swoon worthy! The narrators are amazing voice actors and made me feel everything Mark and Asher were feeling. It’s both a light hearted flirtation and a sexy M/M story. Another great book from Sarina (and her co author)!

Wow!

This book is so well written and both narrators do such an amazing job bringing life into the characters.

AMAZING!!!

Could this possibly be better than the baseball boys!!?? YES! 20 stars!!! Incredible book- Teddy & Jacob are rockstars as always. I was spellbound the entire time.

MM perfection!

Sarina Bowen and Lauren Blakely are two of my absolute favourites. When they announced this book it quickly became my most anticipated release of 2022. Bowen and Blakely have a unique quality to their writing. These authors truly know how to grab their readers from the opening scene. They nail the fun, flirty banter and sexual tension in this opposites attract, MM story with perfection!

Mark is an investment banker, single dad and divorcee. Due to his own experiences his view on love and romance is slightly skewed at the moment. When his sister announces her upcoming marriage to Flip, a wealthy guy she met only a few months previous he is immediately skeptical of their relationship working out. However, her happiness is most important to him and he sets his feelings aside and steps up as Best Man for his sister. The other Best Man is Asher, (Flip’s best friend) and the two are tasked with a trip to Miami to scope out the wedding venue. Mark and Asher have done nothing but get under each other’s skin from first meeting and the sexual tension is coming off them in waves! What could possibly go wrong with a few nights away together?

Asher is an event planner/ photographer and ex soccer star. He is rich, popular and the complete opposite of Mark. Asher’s carefree lifestyle just doesn’t jive for Mark but it is becoming too hard to ignore the sizzling hot chemistry between them. Once Mark and Asher give into their mutual attraction things really heat up! Mark takes spreadsheets to a whole new level and I’ll never look at them quite the same again.

This story is everything I love about romance. It is funny and sexy but at the same time it had its emotional, tender moments as well. I love the growth in Asher and Mark’s relationship as well as individually. What was supposed to be a vacation fling turns into so much more. Even with a few complications and obstacles to navigate together I love how it all turns out and this ended in the most heartwarming and satisfying HEA.

When it comes to MM audiobooks Jacob Morgan and Teddy Hamilton are my favourite duo! There is simply no one better than Jeddy! Their voices are playful, flirty, sexy and emotional and when it comes to the bedroom scenes, oh do they heat it up! This was a fantastic listen and I highly recommend the audiobook!

Absolute perfection!

I know it's January but hear me out. The Best Men was my most anticipated book of 2022. The thought of two of my all time favorite, one click no matter what, authors writing a book together??? Talk about a dream come true!!!!! I cannot rave about this book or recommend it enough. This story had everything-amazing banter, off the chart heat, and full to the brim with emotion. I was hooked from the first line and I KNOW you will be too.

I get Mark Banks. Completely, totally, 100% understand this man. I adored the way he tackled tasks-and let's just say a certain spreadsheet had me grinning like a fool. He's loyal, kind, determined and sexy as all get out when given the opportunity. I fell in love with him right from the start and LOVED watching him grow throughout the book.

Ah, Asher. I had the pleasure of meeting Asher before in both Sarina Bowen's work and in an earlier Lauren Blakely release. That's what set my spidey senses tingling...and hoping for a collab between these two. But anyway, back to Asher. Asher is the total opposite of Mark. He's an open book in a sense. He's a little more scattered than Mark, though he tries hard not to be. Sexy as sin, funny as hell with a sweet side to boot. That's Asher to me. I loved getting to know more of him in this book-there were so many moments he made me sigh.

When you put these two together you'd think they'd be oil and water-and you couldn't be more wrong. These two are more like a powder keg and a match! There's an undercurrent between these two that is palpable from the start. Their first kiss? INCREDIBLE and so perfect for them. (I have a thing for first kisses lol) Watching these two discover each other and understand each other outside of the bedroom was amazing and so well done. But their sexy times??? Off. The. Charts.

The writing here just took me away to another world. I was right there with Mark and Asher (no complaints there LOL) and I loved every moment of it. The supporting characters here were so relatable (well, aside from Flip's parents) to me. Like Mr. and Mrs. Banks could be my mom and dad-or any of my friend's parents. I loved the relationship between Mark/Hannah/Asher/Flip. The dynamics there hit just right. I also loved Rosie. There are lots of people who introduce child characters and then just kind of put them on the back burner. That's not the case here. I loved seeing how all of these people interacted with Mark and Asher.

Now I was VERY lucky to also have an early audio copy of this. If you're a fan of audiobooks GET this. If you're not sure you'd enjoy an audiobook?? GET THIS. Teddy Hamilton and Jacob Morgan truly bring these characters to life. I'm going to confess that I have already relistened to this...twice. It's that good. The nuances they bring to these characters showcase why they are two of my all time favorite narrators.

Run, do not walk, run to get your copy of The Best Men!! These men stole my heart from the very first line. This story is perfection from start to finish and I cannot recommend it highly enough. This isn't just my favorite book of the month-it's one of my favorite books I have EVER read.

I savored this book!

I loved Asher and Mark. The banter between the two sexy men was sexy and funny. Loved the serious parts too! Great job, LB and Sarina! As for Teddy and Jacobs narration? OFF THE CHARTS AMAZING! You two never disappoint.

Hot between the Spread Sheets

Ooops they did it again, wrote another scorcher and the excellent narrators made it sparkle. Feelings and longings ignite the heat between the MCs. The well written descriptions of their hilarious firsts is heart rending and heart warming. There are some silly irritating errors ie Ibiza is not pronounced Ibeeza, but Eyebeetha but are inconsequential in the power of the overall book.

Teddy Hamilton is a fantastic narrator (he does one of the best MM books ever Top Secret written by Sarina Bowen & Elle Kennedy, with co-narrator Christian Fox. It is perfection). My fav book read by Jacob Morgan is Priest by Sierra Simone.

If you enjoyed this book, you will enjoy The Elite by Brooke Blaine and Ella Frank, narrated beautifully by Aiden Snow and Christian Fox.

VERY ENJOYABLE

This book made me late..

..Twice to bed, very late, on a ‘school’ night & once to work!
I Loved Asher’s voice & his French did it for me too!
There is no better review that I can give than to say I did not want this story to be over!
Book hangovers suck!!

As boring and primitive as it can get

It was just terrible. Nothing deep except boring sex and nothing except that. Don’t waste your time

Great narrators, poor narrative

Teddy and Jacob are absolutely amazing (as usual) but the story fell a bit short for me.
Even though the build-up is quite entertaining, the follow-through is somewhat unsustained. Neither of the characters seemed to have a real breakthrough, the story simply fast forwarded. . .

Enjoyable book

I enjoyed listening to this. It didn’t drag me in, or grab me by the heart, as much as some books, but still liked listening to it all the same.

LOVED IT

Absolutely loved it!! The chemistry between Asher and Mark is amazing so is the tension and the build-up. I have already listened to it more than 2 times. The only thing that annoyed me was that I kept thinking constantly aftet some point was "JUST F# SAY SOMETHING" I wished they would have have more honest conversations and not just thoughts, but overall still a great read and I really love Ashers voice!!

AMAZING!!!

Jacob and Teddy are amazing narrators. I would not have listened to the book otherwise. They are the main reason why I have re-listened to this book so many times I lost count (+20)
Love the wrting overall, although there are bits that annoyed me, but still I was so happy that this their orientation was not an issue!!! it's an easy, light read that makes you laugh at certain points. Just what I needed. Nothing heavy, but so sweet and adorable two main characters, you just can't help but love them.

very good 👌🏻

you know it's a good book when the sexy narrator says... epilogue... and you scream: Noooooooo!!!

Sexy, sweet and funny

I loved this enemies to lovers story. Lots of laughs and another brilliant performance by Teddy and Jacob.

The best men

What a great story I loved every thing about it , Jacob and teddy where! Fantastic please can we have more from Lauren and Sarina