Never the Best by Maya Alden

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️ (3/5 Stars)
Trope: Second Chance | Enemies to Lovers | Slow Burn | Mental Health Rep
POV: Dual 1st Person
3rd ACT BREAK-UP: No
SERIES: Savannah’s Best
TYPE OF SERIES: Series of Standalones
RELEASE DATE: March 17, 2025
PoP: 74%

Never the Best by Maya Alden—book five in the Savannah’s Best series. promised all the emotional angst, tension, and messy I usually love, but it ended up being a bit of a mixed bag for me.

We’ve got Rhett Vanderbilt and Pearl Beaumont, who have a complicated and painful history. Rhett took Pearl’s virginity—only to destroy her emotionally right after, thanks to a cruel bet. Understandably, Pearl left town, heartbroken and humiliated. Now, years later, she’s back in Savannah for work, and her path crosses with Rhett once again. Cue the tension, the lingering pain, and a slow journey toward healing.

This is a true slow burn with enemies-to-lovers vibes, and I did appreciate that Alden didn’t rush their reconciliation. The emotional damage here runs deep, and the story reflects that. However, the pacing dragged a bit for me. 

One of the things Alden handled really well was Pearl’s anorexia diagnosis. It’s portrayed with sensitivity and realism, and I appreciated how her mental health wasn’t glossed over or used for drama. Pearl is layered, strong, and still healing, and her journey felt authentic. That said, I wish we’d seen more conflict resolution with her mother. It felt like a missed opportunity for deeper healing journery all around.

As for Rhett… I had a hard time fully warming up to him. He’s remorseful, yes, but it took me a while to believe in his redemption. I wanted more groveling, more accountability. By the end, I saw growth, but it didn’t completely hit the emotional payoff I was hoping for.Never the Best isn’t a bad read—it’s emotional, heavy at times, and definitely fits the second chance mold. But it didn’t quite deliver the depth or chemistry I wanted from this pairing. If you’re invested in the Savannah’s Best world, you’ll want to pick it up, but go in knowing it’s a slower, more emotionally introspective story that might not hit the mark for everyone.

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