A hardcover book titled The Best I Never Had by Amy Buchanan, featuring a scenic landscape cover illustration, styled on a light fabric surface with dried orange slices, a lit candle, and roses.
The back of a hardcover book featuring a scenic landscape illustration, styled on a light fabric surface with dried orange slices, a lit candle, and roses.
A hardcover book titled The Best I Never Had by Amy Buchanan, featuring a romantic illustrated cover of a couple in formal wear embracing while framed by fruiting vines, styled on a table with a candle, gold spoon, and flowers.
The back of a hardcover book, featuring an illustrated cover of a couple in formal wear embracing while framed by fruiting vines. The book stands upright on a white cloth table, surrounded by a lit candle, a gold spoon, flowers, dried orange slices, and twine.
A hardcover book titled The Best I Never Had by Amy Buchanan, featuring a black cover with gold floral borders and pink flowers, styled on a white fabric surface with candles, dried orange slices, and other decorative props.
The back of a hardcover book, featuring a black cover with gold floral borders and pink flowers framing the quote 'What if I want to keep you?' The book is styled on a white fabric surface with candles, dried orange slices, and other decorative props.
An open book showing the illustrated front endpapers styled on a white fabric covered surface surrounded by roses, a bowl of potpourri, a candle, dried orange slices, and a gold spoon. The endpaper illustration shows a couple in a romantic position in front of a standing mixer in a kitchen.
The decorative paper edges of a book styled on a white fabric surface surrounded by decorative props, such as a candle, dried orange slices, and roses. The book edges feature illustrated vined lemons and berries on a maroon background.
Close up of decorative paper edges of a book styled on an open book surrounded by decorative props, such as scissors, white muslin fabric, and dried orange slices. The book edges feature illustrated vined lemons and berries on a maroon background.
Promotional graphic for OwlCrate Romance Vows & Vines theme for September 2026. Graphic shows dark purple-washed landscape of rolling vineyard hills framed on either side by illustrated outlines of grapes on the vine.

The Best I Never Had (Exclusive OwlCrate Edition)

$34.99 USD
Details

Two not-so-strangers reprise their fake relationship in The Best I Never Had—a playfully refreshing take on fake relationships, second chances, and forced proximity while pretense and reality begin to blur and new sparks fly.

Thea 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.

But 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.

Owen'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.

But 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.

Features for this OwlCrate Edition:

  • Signed by Amy Buchanan
  • Exclusive redesigned dust jacket by @caromarando
  • Reversible dust jacket designed by @anabidault
  • Printed hardcover case with foil design by @maggieawesomebooks
  • End pages designed by @clauins_
  • Pattern stenciled edges by @anabidault with design by @maggieawesomebooks
  • Author signature page designed by Amber M from Team OC
  • Author letter bound into the book
  • Bonus content bound into the book
  • Ribbon bookmark
  • Book size: 6" x 9"

The Best I Never Had is a 3 (Medium) on our Spice Meter.

This book contains:

  • Abandonment
  • Death Of A Parent
  • Drug Use
  • Foster Care
  • Grief
  • Gaslighting
  • Loss
  • Parental Trauma
  • Sexual Content

Please note: The content warnings listed above don’t cover all content included in this book. 


CONTENT WARNING


Featured in the September 2026 'Vows & Vines' Quarterly Romance box.

Photos by: @thebookscript (on Instagram)

Graphic by: @heyatlasreads (on Instagram)

View details