Quick Synopsis

Best in Show meets You’ve Got Mail in this rivals-to-lovers romcom following a woman ready to do whatever it takes to save her grandpa’s shop—even if that means training a wild pup for a dog show, side-by-side with her greatest rival.

Publisher’s Synopsis

Aspiring fashion designer Cora Lewis should have known better. Entering her grandpa’s extremely adorable—and totally unruly—pups in a dog show? What was she thinking? Oh, right. Her grandpa is injured, his beloved pet shop is losing the fight against the upscale dog boutique across the street, and his business and home are on the line. She needs that prize money to save the day—and if the only way to win is to train with her strongest adversary, then she’ll suck it up and ask for help.

Rival store owner Leo Salinger is everything Cora is not: successful, wealthy, and overly ambitious. She would never guess that he is also the kind and witty pen pal she’s met on a local message board. But somewhere between teaching pups to heel, fetch, and stay, Cora and Leo are finding a little competition can ignite a serious attraction. Can they stop this sexy spark . . . before all her dreams go to the dogs?

Book Review

Worst in Show is an enemies-to-lovers, small town romance… with dogs! Cora has put her dreams on hold to help her grandfather keep his pet store open. Struggling to stay afloat, Cora is discouraged when a bougie chain pet store opens directly across the street. Her only hope is to enter one of her eccentric mutts in a local dog show… but the competition includes her new worst enemy.

I will admit that Worst in Show caught my eye simply because there are dogs on the cover. I love the idea of a romance novel centered around dogs. However, I will sadly say that there was not nearly enough dog content in this book. Except for occasionally training for the dog show, the dogs played a rather small role in the plot. As a result, I would describe Worst in Show as a novel in which the protagonists run competing pet stores, rather than a dog-centered novel.

Worst in Show reminded me of a Hallmark movie – predictable, a bit bland, and ultimately forgettable. While a plot is present, it is not gripping and does not feel like the true driver of the story. That is to say, this novel felt like a slice-of-life story, rather than a plot- or character-driven one.

The focus of Worst in Show is very much on the relationship between Cora and Leo, the two protagonists. Once introduced, the two become instant rivals. After some sabotage and pranks, Cora and Leo find common ground and slowly develop a friendship prior to romantic feelings taking over. The chemistry and coupling does not happen until nearly 75 percent in. So, if you like romance to unfold quickly, this may not be the best novel for you. Personally, I thought this felt like a natural progression despite the uneven pacing. However, without much else driving the narrative forwards, the story could feel slow at times.

The only part of Worst in Show that did not work for me was the third act break up. I will not dive into details so not to spoil anything. But I thought the conflict felt contrived. As a result, I ended up being annoyed at the characters and their decisions. In the end, I did not feel like the conflict was ever fully resolved. The story simply skimmed over it and relied on grand gestures.

One of the strongest portions of Worst in Show was the characters. I found them to be likable and developed with distinct (and fun) personalities. This is true for both the protagonists and the slew of side characters. Yet, the characters and their personalities could not carry the entire book.

Overall, Worst in Show is a readable romance novel with a semi-unique premise. However, I never felt truly invested in the characters or the storyline. If you enjoy slice-of-life books or those that primarily focus on the romance, I think you may enjoy this novel.

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