Review Blitz | The Best Man by A. S. Kelly

Love on the rocks

The Best Man tells the story of two childhood friends from a small town in Ireland that drifted apart when they were young adults. Reunited several years later, they struggled to overcome their past and forge a path to the future.

Our thanks to the author for the advanced reader’s copy.

Book Details

Title: The Best Man
Author: A. S. Kelly
Genre: Contemporary Romance
Publishing: May 25th, 2020
Length: 526 pages

Book Description:

I always turn up at just the wrong moment. I never know how to make the most of a situation; I don’t know the right thing to say, or when I should come or go.

Let’s just say I have really shit timing. I’m not a smart guy. I don’t have great ideas. I’m practical, a hard worker; someone who lives for his family, and for the air that she breathes.

It’s just a shame that the “she” in question never knew this. It’s a shame that I waited all these years to make my move. It’s useless to tell you, readers, that it was already too late; that I’d screwed everything up, once again. And, this time, my mistakes forced her to come home.

Except she didn’t want to stay.

And now she hates me – or maybe she doesn’t. I still haven’t worked out what’s going on between us, but like I said, I’m not the sharpest tool in the box. And even though this could be my last chance, I’m not going to be the one to ask her to stay. Not even if she turns out to be the one I’ve always waited for.

Because she doesn’t belong in this place. And she doesn’t belong in my life.

My name is Alex Brennan, and this is my story: of how I realized I’d lost the most important person in my life, before I even had her.

From the Publisher’s Blurb

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Review

Alex and Ellie were best friends. Ellie’s outspoken personality had always enchanted the quiet and introspective Alex.

When Ellie left town to go to university, Alex knew she would not come back. He tried to move on with his life, but he kept her in his heart.

What Alex could not have predicted was that, several years later, Ellie would return engaged to his best friend Chase.

The story is very emotional. Alex is an interesting beta hero. He is handsome and kind but lacks confidence. He is not brilliant or spirited, he is just a regular guy.

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My heart went for him. As I said numerous times, I’m a sucker for unrequited love.

I think the story could have been a little shorter. It was nice to accompany the characters’ journey, but it dragged a little in places.

I loved the side-characters and the setting. Ellie’s brothers were so friendly and fun, and Alex’s kid was simply adorable. Most of the story takes place inside Ellie’s family’s whiskey distillery, or around the beautiful countryside of Ireland.

I was fascinated by the whiskey production and the workings of the distillery. The traditions and the sense of community that surrounded the business were very captivating.

Keep in mind that the characters consume plenty of alcohol. I guess it is kind of expected from people whose livelihood is connected to the production of spirits.

Overall, an engaging and emotional read.

About the Author:

A.S. Kelly was born in Italy but lives in Ireland with her husband, their two children and a cat named Oscar.
Bookworm, English Literature lover, music passionate, coffee drinker, she lives in a small village in the North of Dublin, where she looks for inspiration for her new stories.

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