“I didn't know what to do with my hands. I felt like a cartoon character, all elbows and knees and a heart that was trying to beat its way out of my chest.”
— Faith is feeling awkward and flustered around Jeremy.
Archivist's Choice
The Best Man
Kristan Higgins (2013)
Genre
Romance
Reading Time
850 min
Key Themes
See below
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A jilted bride returns to her family vineyard only to find herself falling for the best man who helped ruin her wedding, forcing her to confront past heartbreaks and unexpected new desires.
Synopsis
Faith Holland returns to her family's Blue Heron Winery in upstate New York eight years after being left at the altar. She wants to face her past and help with the struggling family business. She often runs into Levi Cooper, the local police chief and her ex-fiancé Jeremy's best friend. Faith initially resents Levi, believing he played a role in her wedding day humiliation. As she deals with complex family dynamics, including her overbearing mother and estranged sister, Faith and Levi are repeatedly drawn together. They work through their shared history, with Faith learning the true events of her disastrous wedding and realizing Levi's genuine character and long-standing feelings for her. Jeremy's unexpected return further complicates matters, making Faith choose between her past and a potential future with Levi. Ultimately, Faith embraces her love for Levi and commits to a life at Blue Heron, finding happiness and a true partner.
Reading time
850 min
Difficulty
Easy
Pacing
Moderate
Mood
Heartwarming, Humorous, Romantic, Emotional
✓ Read this if...
You enjoy small-town romance with strong family elements, witty banter, and a second-chance at love.
✗ Skip this if...
You dislike books with family drama or a slower, character-driven pace.
Plot Summary
The Return to Blue Heron
Eight years after her fiancé, Jeremy McAllister, left her at the altar, Faith Holland returns to Manningsport, New York, and her family's Blue Heron Winery. She has been living in California, working as a pastry chef, but her grandmother, Gigi, had a fall, bringing her back. Her family, including her mother, Penelope, and her sisters, Honor and Mercy, welcome her cautiously. The lingering shadow of her failed wedding, and the presence of Jeremy's best friend, Levi Cooper, the town's police chief, make her homecoming difficult. Faith is determined to face her past and decide if she can truly move on in her hometown.
Reunion with Levi Cooper
Faith's first meetings with Levi Cooper, her ex-fiancé's best man, are tense. She blames him, in part, for Jeremy's disappearance, remembering him as the one who delivered the news that Jeremy wouldn't show up. Despite her lingering resentment, she notices how much Levi has matured and how attractive he is. Levi is clearly uncomfortable around Faith, still feeling guilty about his role in the wedding fiasco, though he says he tried to help. Their conversations are a mix of awkward pleasantries and veiled accusations, showing the deep pain and misunderstanding between them.
Family Dynamics and Winery Woes
Back at Blue Heron Winery, Faith is immediately involved in her family's chaotic lives. Her mother, Penelope, is as dramatic and free-spirited as ever, while her sisters, Honor and Mercy, have their own relationship and family issues. The winery itself is struggling financially, adding another layer of stress. Faith, with her culinary skills, tries to help by suggesting new food pairings and events, but she also feels the weight of her family's expectations and the unspoken pressure to stay. The family's close-knit, yet often frustrating, dynamic is a constant presence, forcing Faith to confront her own role within it.
Uncovering the Truth About the Wedding
As Faith spends more time in Manningsport, she starts to learn details about her abandoned wedding that she never knew. She learns that Jeremy had been struggling with cold feet and immense pressure from his family. Levi, feeling obligated to protect his best friend, had tried to intervene and talk sense into Jeremy, but couldn't force him to go through with it. Faith begins to understand that Levi was not malicious but caught in a difficult situation. His actions were driven by a misguided sense of loyalty. This new perspective starts to lessen her long-held anger towards him.
Growing Closer to Levi
Despite the awkwardness and their complicated history, Faith and Levi spend more time together. Levi, as the local police chief, is often around, whether for town events or simply checking in on Gigi. They share quiet moments, discussing the town, their families, and eventually, their past. Faith begins to see Levi not just as Jeremy's best friend but as a kind, responsible, and genuinely good man. His steady presence and genuine concern for her and her family start to break down her defenses, and a tentative attraction begins to grow between them, complicated by Jeremy's shadow.
Jeremy's Return
Just as Faith and Levi are beginning to explore their feelings, Jeremy McAllister, Faith's ex-fiancé, returns to Manningsport. His sudden reappearance throws Faith into confusion, bringing back painful memories and unresolved emotions. Jeremy claims he has changed and wants to make amends, but his presence also creates immediate tension with Levi, who is clearly uncomfortable with his best friend's return, especially given his growing feelings for Faith. This unexpected development forces Faith to confront her past and decide what she truly wants for her future.
Confronting the Past and Present
Faith is torn between the comfort of her past with Jeremy and the exciting, yet challenging, new connection she has with Levi. She spends time with Jeremy, trying to understand his motives and her own lingering feelings. However, she also finds herself increasingly drawn to Levi's quiet strength and unwavering support. This emotional conflict leads to several confrontations, both with Jeremy and with Levi, as Faith tries to sort through her heart. She realizes that the Jeremy she once loved is not the man she needs now, and that her true feelings are developing for someone else.
The Proposal and the Choice
In a dramatic turn, Jeremy proposes to Faith again, hoping to rekindle their old romance and correct his past mistake. This proposal forces Faith to confront her true feelings and make a definitive choice about her future. She realizes that while she might have once loved Jeremy, that love is gone, replaced by a deeper, more mature affection for Levi. The decision is painful, as she doesn't want to hurt Jeremy again, but she knows she cannot repeat the past. She gently rejects Jeremy, choosing to move forward with her life.
Levi's Confession and Doubts
After Faith rejects Jeremy, Levi finally confesses his deep feelings for her. However, he also struggles with immense guilt and loyalty to Jeremy, his lifelong best friend. He feels that pursuing a relationship with Faith would be a betrayal, even though Jeremy had abandoned her. Faith reassures him that he owes Jeremy nothing and that their connection is real and separate from the past. She needs him to overcome his internal conflict and commit to their future together, showing that their love is worth fighting for.
A Future at Blue Heron
With the romantic entanglements finally resolved, Faith decides to stay in Manningsport permanently. She realizes that her home is at Blue Heron Winery, with her family, and with Levi. She actively takes on her role in the winery, bringing her culinary expertise to help it thrive. Her relationship with Levi deepens, built on honesty, respect, and a shared understanding of their complicated past. The story concludes with Faith and Levi looking forward to a future together, having overcome the ghosts of her past and found love in an unexpected place.
Principal Figures
Faith Holland
The Protagonist
Faith evolves from a guarded woman haunted by her past to one who embraces forgiveness, finds her voice, and confidently chooses a future rooted in genuine love and belonging.
Levi Cooper
The Love Interest / Supporting
Levi learns to prioritize his own happiness and love for Faith over misguided loyalty, overcoming his guilt to pursue a genuine relationship.
Jeremy McAllister
The Antagonist / Catalyst
Jeremy remains largely static, serving as a foil for Faith's growth and a challenge for Levi's loyalty.
Penelope Holland
The Supporting
Penelope remains consistently herself, providing comedic relief and maternal support, highlighting the enduring nature of family.
Gigi
The Supporting
Gigi serves as a consistent source of wisdom and gentle guidance, embodying the enduring spirit of the family.
Honor Holland
The Supporting
Honor navigates her marital issues, demonstrating the ongoing work required in long-term relationships.
Mercy Holland
The Supporting
Mercy provides consistent comic relief and sisterly support, highlighting the strength of the family bond.
Themes & Insights
Forgiveness and Moving On
The central theme explores Faith's journey to forgive Jeremy for abandoning her and, more importantly, to forgive herself for holding onto the pain. Her interactions with Levi make her re-evaluate the past, realizing that lingering resentment only hurts herself. This theme is clear when Faith finally understands Levi's position eight years ago, and ends with her gentle rejection of Jeremy's second proposal, showing her complete release from the past and her readiness to embrace a new future. It is about letting go of what was, to make space for what can be.
““Sometimes you have to let go of the picture of what you thought life would be like and learn to find joy in the story you’re actually living.””
Redemption of Loyalty
This theme explores the complexities of loyalty, particularly through Levi's character. He feels immense guilt and a sense of betrayal towards Jeremy for his past actions, but also struggles with his growing feelings for Faith. His internal conflict shows the tension between loyalty to a friend and loyalty to one's own heart and a developing love. The theme is resolved as Levi learns that true loyalty does not mean sacrificing his own happiness or enabling someone's poor choices, but rather standing up for what is right and pursuing genuine connection.
““Loyalty is a good thing, but it’s not always the right thing.””
The Meaning of Home
Faith's return to Manningsport and Blue Heron Winery forces her to redefine what 'home' means to her. Initially, it represents pain and failure, but through her family's presence, the beauty of the landscape, and her growing connection with Levi, she rediscovers a sense of belonging. The winery itself, a family legacy, symbolizes the roots she had tried to escape. The theme is clear in her decision to stay and contribute to the winery, showing that home is not just a place, but a feeling of acceptance, love, and purpose.
““Home wasn’t a place, it was a feeling. It was the people you loved, the ones who loved you back, no matter what.””
Second Chances
The novel is built on the idea of second chances – not just for Faith in finding love again, but for her to revisit her past with new perspective, and for the Blue Heron Winery to thrive. Faith gets a second chance at happiness with Levi, a chance she initially dismisses due to past hurt. Jeremy's return also offers a 'second chance' for him, though Faith ultimately chooses not to take it. It shows that sometimes the best second chances come from unexpected places and with unexpected people, leading to a more fulfilling outcome.
““Life gives you second chances, but not always with the same people.””
Plot Devices & Literary Techniques
The Jilted Bride Trope
A classic romance trope where the protagonist was left at the altar.
This device immediately establishes Faith's core wound and the central conflict she must overcome. It creates sympathy for her character and provides a clear emotional hurdle. The trope is subverted by introducing the 'best man' as the eventual love interest, adding layers of complexity and irony to the typical narrative of a jilted bride finding new love. It sets up expectations that are then skillfully played with and ultimately resolved in an unexpected way.
The Small Town Setting
A close-knit community where everyone knows everyone's business.
The setting of Manningsport, a small town centered around the Blue Heron Winery, serves multiple functions. It emphasizes the inescapable nature of Faith's past, as she constantly encounters people who remember her wedding day. It also highlights the strong community bonds and support system, particularly through Levi's role as police chief. The small-town atmosphere creates both obstacles (gossip, inability to escape history) and opportunities (deep connections, shared history) for the characters, making their interactions more intense and meaningful.
The Best Friend's Ex-Fiancée Trope
The romantic interest is the ex-fiancée of the protagonist's best friend.
This specific variation of the love triangle creates significant internal and external conflict, especially for Levi. It directly ties the new romance to the past trauma, making their relationship feel forbidden and complicated by loyalty and guilt. This device allows for exploration of moral dilemmas and the redefinition of friendship, ultimately making the eventual union of Faith and Levi more earned and satisfying after they navigate the ethical minefield it presents.
The Family Business
The Holland family's Blue Heron Winery as a central backdrop and source of conflict.
The winery is more than just a setting; it's a character in itself, embodying the Holland family's legacy, struggles, and hopes. Its financial difficulties add external pressure to Faith's return and provide a tangible reason for her to stay and contribute. The winery represents the roots Faith initially tried to escape but eventually embraces, symbolizing her re-connection with her heritage and finding her place within her family and community. It ties directly into the 'home' theme.
Critical analysis
Notable Quotes
“Love wasn't a fairy tale. It was a choice. A daily, sometimes painful, choice to keep showing up, to keep trying, to keep forgiving.”
— Faith reflects on the reality of long-term love and relationships.
“Sometimes the person you thought was the one, wasn't. And sometimes the person you never expected to be the one, was.”
— Faith muses on the unpredictable nature of finding love.
“You can't make someone love you. You can only love them. And hope they love you back.”
— Faith considers the one-sided nature of unrequited love.
“Being brave didn't mean you weren't scared. It meant you did it anyway.”
— Faith contemplates taking a risk despite her fears.
“Marriage wasn't about finding someone perfect. It was about finding someone you could imperfectly love forever.”
— Faith's thoughts on the true essence of marriage.
“Sometimes the hardest thing to do was let go of what you thought you wanted, for what you truly needed.”
— Faith is struggling with her feelings for Jeremy versus her past with Ethan.
“Family was messy. It was complicated. But it was also everything.”
— Faith reflects on her relationships with her family members.
“There was a fine line between stubborn and determined, and I walked it like a tightrope walker on a windy day.”
— Faith describes her own personality trait.
“He looked at me like I was the only person in the room, and for a moment, I believed him.”
— Faith experiences a moment of intense connection with Jeremy.
“Regret was a heavy cloak, and I was tired of wearing it.”
— Faith decides to move past her past mistakes and regrets.
“Happiness wasn't a destination. It was the way you traveled.”
— Faith's realization about finding joy in the present moment.
“It's funny how life works out. You make plans, and then life just laughs and throws something completely different at you.”
— Faith reflects on the unexpected turns her life has taken.
“Sometimes the best man isn't the one standing at the altar with the bride, but the one who's been there for her all along.”
— A central theme of the book, relating to Jeremy's role in Faith's life.
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Key Questions (FAQ)
Faith's primary conflict is confronting the emotional trauma of being jilted at the altar years ago by her former fiancé, Wyatt. Her return forces her to interact with the people and places associated with that painful event, making it difficult to fully move on.
