Unworthy by Susie Tate is an emotional and heartfelt brother’s best friend romance, full of slow-burn tension, complicated family ties, and years of unrequited love finally reaching its breaking point. Yazmin Hardcastle has loved Heath Markham for as long as she can remember.

Once her childhood hero who defended her quirks, he is now the man who seems to find fault with everything she does, her passions, her choices, and even the way she lives her life. For Yaz, the sting is sharper because she still feels that same pull toward him. For Heath, his rigid walls of control and stability have always been easier to cling to than the chaos that Yaz represents.

Yaz is a heroine who refuses to be boxed in. Seen by her family as unreliable and flighty, she pours her soul into the sea, her well-being centre, and her windsurfing. She is unconventional and vibrant, but also vulnerable, carrying years of being dismissed by those who should have believed in her. Heath, meanwhile, is the classic gruff doctor hero; disciplined, brilliant, and scarred by a difficult childhood. With his carefully ordered life, Yaz’s unpredictability is both irresistible and terrifying to him.

Their relationship is one that simmers with attraction and unresolved history. Yaz’s teenage crush and Heath’s long-suppressed desire collide in heated confrontations and stolen moments, with misunderstandings and pride pulling them apart as often as they draw closer. When Heath finally lets himself face the truth, it is almost too lat; Yaz has learned to stop waiting for him. Watching him fight for her, while Yaz steps into her own power, is what makde this romance work.

That said, I found myself wishing for more angst. The setup of unrequited love, brother’s best friend, an age gap, family conflict is one ripe for explosive tension, but at times the execution felt softer than expected. There were plenty of emotional beats, but not always the gut-punch intensity that would have made their journey truly unforgettable. Still, the growth arcs and the eventual conclusion kept me invested until the end.

What I loved most was Yaz’s transformation. She goes from being dismissed as the family’s black sheep to proving her worth on her own terms. Heath’s redemption, his groveling, and his struggle with abandonment issues also hit the right notes, even if I sometimes wanted him pushed harder. They are messy and imperfect, but in the end, just the perfect fit together.

Recommended for: readers who enjoy brother’s best friend and age-gap romances with strong heroines, family drama, and heroes who take their time figuring out what really matters.

Final Verdict: Sweet, emotional, and satisfying, though not as angsty as I expected—Unworthy is still a rewarding slow-burn romance.

Purchase Links: Amazon | Apple