Perfect Summer. Given the premise of this book, one would expect a "perfect summer" story - and to a point, that is what you find here. But this "perfect summer" also has quite a bit of drama as our central character fights with herself over how much to share of her situation and when. There is quite a bit of laughter and even some hijinx. There is an epic "last supper". But overall, there aren't the tears that maybe one would expect with a story with this premise. Maybe it is the male in me, but I've rarely had trouble connecting with female centric stories before, so I doubt it. Overall a solid tale, one that deserves to be read and explored. Looking forward to the next book from this author. :)

Note: I reaped this fresh. ( )

Harriet has two best friends, Lisa and Audrey, who, thru time and life, have been distanced. She has a grand plan to rent a Priory for 6 weeks and get caught up with her friends. This time together comes with it a huge secret that Harrie needs to share with them. If you had One Last Summer, how would you handle it?

Not your typical love story, but a love story of friendship and family. This book will leave a huge lump in your throat. Quick and emotional read, some parts seem drawn out but it all comes together nicely in the end. Beautiful descriptions of the Priory and the grounds.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are mine alone. ( )

One Last Summer was an AMAZING read, really and truly. Here, we have a story filled with friendship and laughter, hopes and dreams, and that dreaded gray area in our futures called...THE FUTURE. No one knows what it will hold, and no amount of planning can truly prepare up for it...especially when cards are dealt that we weren't counting on. Yes, we're talking the big "C" here, my friends, but before you go getting all emotional over it...I beg you to stave off the raw emotions and go with the story because it's not really about the big "C", but rather about how we choose to live our lives after its grand reveal. What we do with our time, how we share the burden, the coping mechanisms employed, the bucket lists put into action...basically how we choose to LIVE.

Harrie is a STRONG woman, so much more so than her body might portray, but even that is made of stronger stuff than you might imagine. The amount of heart this woman has is incredible. Audrey, the best friend and workaholic, was having a hard time coming to terms with all that was changing in her life, so much so that it was starting to catch up. Through the midst of all that, she was still on point when first arriving for their summer together...she was in tune to Harrie which was heartwarming, but not herself. Lisa was a sweetheart...strong, stubborn, living life in the moment, and yet so affected by her own past that she literally shut herself down when the going got more than tough. It didn't make her any less in my eyes, but I shared her pain as she tried to resurface for herself and for Harrie. Then there are the supporting characters like Honor (Harrie's daughter), Samson (the stonemason), Mrs. Ryder (the initially abrasive, but caring housekeeper/cook), and so many more that play vital roles in the lives of these characters. The good just keeps coming.

Though this could simply be a story filled with tears of sadness, it reaches over those initial boundaries and pulls out the beauty that can be found in TRULY LIVING with grace, with love, and with friendship. Sad that it can take an "end of life" sentence to give us that push towards embracing the every day, but perhaps it's a lesson we can carry forth from the pages of fiction to our own lives and live fully as ourselves. Recommended whole-heartedly for fans of Women's Fiction, Fiction, and Contemporary Romance.


**ebook received for review; opinions are my own ( )

One Last Summer is a sad story about last chances. Reading this filled me with a sense of regret and just felt bleak. While the story is touching and relatable, it's too depressing for my taste. I've never been much for life examining reads. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review. ( )