The Best Man: Unfinished Business

by: Malcolm D. Lee, Jayne Allen
published: July 1, 2025
genre: Romance
489 Pages, E-Book
Goodreads | Amazon

Disclaimer: Watch the films. Then watch the Peacock series. Then read the book. This is not an independent story—you need the film and TV versions to understand the context, nuance, and character development.

Summary

Two and a half years removed from the end of his twenty-one-year marriage, Harper Stewart is still riding the high of his latest (and Pulitzer Prize-winning) book, Pieces of Us, as well as enticing Hollywood producers after the successful film adaptation of his first novel, Unfinished Business. Single Harper has fully entered his “hoe” phase and is charting a new path forward.

But when reliving his porn fantasies stops doing it for him and he’s struck by a debilitating case of writer’s block, he figures some time away might help him finish his screenplay outline. With a meeting planned in LA, he decides to pitch… well, nothing… to the Hollywood execs and then jet off to Maui for three weeks to hunker down and finish. Sounds like a solid plan, right?

There’s one hiccup: his friendship with Jordan has stalled. She’s in Malibu, and somehow their lines have gotten crossed—and it’s not just the time difference that’s driving the distance.

Jordan Armstrong is enjoying the easy life on the Left Coast. She’s doing what she wants, entertaining only the work she’s interested in, and prioritizing her mental health. No more boardrooms. No more fires to put out. Her only executive decision each day is where to order dinner from.

After growing tired of hearing about Harper’s latest conquests around New York City, she pulls back from their friendship and dives headfirst into Jordan Motherfucking Armstrong. But she still feels the sting of their buried text thread. When Harper texts her to say he’s coming to town, she ices him out—until she can’t anymore. One night leads to another… then another… then fourteen. Suddenly, everything becomes crystal clear. Have they finally gotten their chance, after thirty years?

Then a frantic call from Harper’s daughter, Mia, sends him rushing to Accra, Ghana—a whole day and two continents away. Of course, he has to go; she’s his daughter. But at what cost to Jordan?

In Ghana, Harper reconnects with Mia, only to realize he’s been lured there under false pretenses. He catches a glimpse into Robyn’s life—his ex-wife—and finds himself in a personal conundrum. Harper the fixer. Harper the savior. Harper the knight in shining armor. But if he’s no longer needed in that role… then who is he?

In some ways, Ghana becomes the awakening he needed—much like it did for Robyn during Quentin’s wedding.

Who is Harper without someone holding him up? Validating him? He leaned on Jordan as his muse, as he elevated his writing and figured himself out. He needed Robyn as he grew his career and craved stability. Now Harper is tethered to no one—a feather in the wind. So, who is Harper Stewart, the man? Who is Robyn without him? And what’s Jordan’s next mountain to climb?

Character Summary

The gang’s all here—but this book focuses on writer, producer, and Pulitzer Prize winner, Harper Stewart. Father to Mia and perpetual fuckboy to the unsuspecting women of New York City. Since college, Harper has held on to the same crew of chosen family, and they’re all still… well, them: Julian (Murch) and his wife, Candace; eccentric hotel maven Quentin and his wife, Shelby; famed NFL star turned coach, Lance, and his new wife, Jasmine.

It would be easy to lump Jordan Motherfucking Armstrong in with the crew—but she’s so much more than that to Harper. His longtime confidant, muse, soulmate. A boss bitch with the best wardrobe and a resume to match. Once the executive vice chairman of MSNBC, Jordan climbed to the top of the corporate ladder with accolades and achievements to boot. But when her mind and body no longer aligned—and she’d given everything to her work—she walked away from it all for peace in Malibu.

Robyn Stewart, Harper’s ex-wife of twenty-one years, built a small business from their Brooklyn kitchen. What started as a home meal subscription service grew into Robyn’s Nest, now a cozy local eatery in an up-and-coming area of Accra, Ghana. She’s there with Mia, embracing their new normal.

My Thoughts

When this hold became available, I damn near dropped my iPad. I couldn’t move my fingers fast enough to click “Borrow” in the Libby app. I’ve been waiting for this book since it dropped.

Malcolm and Jayne! Whew! Okay now!

I think I went through every human emotion while reading this—anger, sadness, hurt, indifference—all of them. Harper took me through it, but ironically, I found myself having a little grace for him by the end. And I caught myself identifying with Jordan more than I thought I would.

Let me back-up.

I rewatched the series about a year ago, and that rewatch solidified my dislike and distrust of Harper. Surprisingly, I found myself disliking Robyn too. So picking this up and having it start just after the end of the series thrust me right back into those feelings—and honestly, not much changed by the end of the book.

Harper is who Harper is. Selfish. While I did find grace for him as he tried to find himself, his character growth also confirmed what I already knew: these men really be out here not knowing what the f**k is going on! Harper is too damn old to still be behaving this way—but here we are. I loved that everyone is holding him accountable (and I mean everyone). That kind of growth is the most sincere and honest—because yes, as we mature and see more of the world, we should be able to hold our friends accountable with love.

In the films and the series, Jordan was always aspirational for Black women. I loved that this book highlights everything Black women sacrifice in the pursuit of professional excellence. It’s a thankless grind. One that can break you down, stress you out, and drain your best years. Watching (or rather, reading) Jordan pivot and choose herself was refreshing. She woke up when she wanted. Ate what she wanted. Worked when and if she wanted. That is true freedom—not a glass office in a steel building.

Personal Note: A few months ago, I had this same conversation with some girlfriends—about the invisible brass ring we keep chasing. I remember asking a friend, “What are you chasing? A title? A dollar amount? What are you breaking your back for?” And she didn’t have an answer. I hope she’s thought about it since.

While Robyn’s story didn’t hit me emotionally, I know it’ll connect with others—especially with so many Americans choosing to go abroad to work, heal, or start over. That’s what Robyn’s story is. You may not have it all figured out or packaged neatly, but you can pivot, and you can do it on your own.

Some suggested reading on the power of the pivot for women and black women:

I was a little disappointed that we only got narratives from Harper, Jordan, and Robyn. But I get it. The Best Man franchise has always centered around Harper—he was the best man, after all. Still, I wanted more from Shelby. I also missed the comedic edge from Candace. Is Murch still doing back-alley MMA? How’s LJ? Where’s Kennedy—and is Q still buying her purses as investments? I need answers, Malcolm!

Lastly, the writing is superb. Well done. I can’t say I was a Jayne Allen fan before—I was super critical of her Black Girls Must Die Exhausted series—but this? Chef’s kiss.