A good friends to lovers romance! An easy, enjoyable read, one for all romcom fans, it has some really interesting family and friendship dynamics that help develop the story and the characters.

*I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Friends-to-Lovers gets me every time, and this book was no exception! I adored Avery and Joshua and their friendship, and loved that their progression from friends to more was so organic. They had exceptional chemistry, the story unfolded exactly how I expected/wanted it to, and it ended on a good note. This book also did the unthinkable and made me actually LIKE Toronto?! Anxious anxious girls do not like being in Toronto, but apparently anxious anxious girls DO like their romance novels being set in Toronto. Who knew!

There were a few unfortunate continuity errors in the book, nothing plot-shattering, but if the reader is paying attention they are definitely noticeable. They don't take you out of the story by any means, and overall I didn't feel like they hugely impacted my enjoyment of this book.

A strong debut that has left me excited to read more from Elodie Colliard in the future. Bravo!

The Last Encore is childhood best friends to falling out to lovers romance novel. It's a cute fast-paced book which I could read during my exams without wasting too much time on it. Avery Clark is trying to run her photography business while handling her parental issues when she meets her ex-best friend Joshua Harding, who is a piano player. *cue swoon*. Both of them battle their issues while trying to build up a romance.

I gave this book a 4 star because I feel like the book lacked some chemistry between the leads. It was a fast-paced book so there was definitely not much slow burn involved but I felt there could've had more chemistry. While I was reading the ending I was getting pissed thinking the ending was going a not-very-feminine side but It did not happen and I WAS SO HAPPY!! That scene definitely made up for the flaws of the book.

Oh my word Elo you have RIPPED ME TO SHREDS in the absolute best way. This book was, IS, everything.

Childhood friends to lovers has never been my number one trope, but when I tell you my mind completely changed after reading this.

As someone who married her high school sweetheart, this story truly touched me in so many ways.

Avery and Josh are both so ambitious and career driven, but they both also only want the best for each other and want to see the other succeed. It’s so beautiful. I saw myself in Avery in so many ways, and seeing it on paper made me feel SO seen 🥹

Reading about all the little bits of home in this story was so exciting. Knowing all the places that were mentioned made me feel completely in my element.

I can’t wait to see what else Elo comes out with, because I’m absolutely hooked.

Averie and Josh were childhood best friends until Josh left in high school to move to Europe, breaking Averie’s heart. The two didn’t speak for 10 years. Averie is working her photography business in Toronto and Josh unexpectedly comes back into town. A job opportunity falls into her lap so she agrees to be the photographer for Josh’s sisters upcoming wedding. The two become friends again and realize quickly they both feel something more. This was a great childhood friends/second chance romance with great steam! The characters felt relatable and real, and I loved the mental health rep. Overall, a sweet story of two friends being separated and reunited only to find out they’ve loved each other all along.

The Last Encore is a childhood friends to lovers and second chance romance of Avery and Josh.
I was drawn to this book because of the cover, it's so beautiful. I loved the anxiety rep.
I really wanted to like this book but it seemed very fast paced andthere was no angst despite second chance.

Thank you Netgalley and publisher for giving this arc in exchange of honest review.

@elosreadingcorner I’m in awe of you. I cannot believe this is a debut novel! I felt all the feels and connected with the MC, Avery, almost immediately. I related so, so much to Avery’s experiences with anxiety. I love a book with genuine human experiences and the aspects of this book that mention anxiety are done so in a way that displays authentic emotion. I think that absolutely sets this apart from other romance novels. Pub date is November 1 and will be available on Kindle Unlimited!

Thank you so much to Elodie Colliard and Netgalley for a copy of The Last Encore ! I am so grateful to be reading this debut!

I loved the premise of this novel and there is so much heart in the writing. I loved that there was an author note for the content warnings at the start of the novel too, detailing which pages to read past if needed.

There are so many great aspects of this novel. I loved the friendships and the sibling relationships. The relationship between Avery and Josh was loving and also endearing. I wish we saw more of them falling in love - I felt like there was a lot of history and reliance on the reader believing they were in love already.

There were a few grammatical errors in this arc and at times times I felt that some passages were over written, but the writing and characters still captured my attention and heart, I was rooting for them!

3.5 stars and a solid debut!

I don’t know where to begin to share how amazing this book was. As a debut novel - it was fantastic! I can’t wait to read more of what Elodie creates. This novel was set in fall in Toronto - so major points right there. This wasn’t just your fluffy romance novel. Elodie has written about some tough but important subjects. There is a trigger warning at the beginning of the book. One of which resonates with me is anxiety. You are able to get right into Avery’s head and you feel all the pain and concern she is feeling. When it comes to Josh, you can feel the guilt and pain he went through those 10 years when he disappeared. The regret that he felt upon his return was evident in the writing. You slowly get to watch the relationship between Josh and Avery bloom and it is genuine and romantic. You also can’t forget about Avery’s best friend Brooke - the friendship between them is strong - they have been there for each other for their whole lives and continue to be each other’s ride or die. I love a book that has a strong female friendship. Overall this book was a great slow burn with amazing characters and had you begging for their second chance at love to succeed!

Name of the publication/blog/outlet where your review will be published/posted: will be posting on Goodreads, Instagram and then Amazon.ca when I am able to.
Run date for when the review will be posted/published: Posted September 22, 2022
A link to your review, if available, so the publisher can share your review (note: click the link icon) - Will update with Instagram link shortly.

Woohoo a book based in Toronto! This definitely felt like a squad up moment because I lived for knowing this was happening in my home town. This book featured a sweet second chance romance between best friends turned enemies turned lovers. It was sweet and soft, making me feel all the gushy emotions that I love when I read a good old romance novel.

Both of the characters were written really well, I do wish we saw more of the FMC pushing back and not taking back the MMC without making him grovel a little more after breaking her heart.

However all in all, this was a sweet book that I absolutely devoured! Thank you NetGalley for providing me with an ARC of this book!

A good read. I wish i had known about the trigger warning, however it was addressed well. The characters and story were well developed. Overall, a good book. X

Second chance romance and friends to lovers are two tropes that I absolutely love so I had a feeling I would enjoy this book - and I did! Avery and Josh were best friends until he left 10 years ago, but now he's back, things finally develop between them.

I loved Josh and Avery's friendship and how it progressed into feelings - it was so sweet reading about how they still knew and understood each other after all the time apart, and how their growth helped them to finally admit their feelings. I do wish there had been slightly more longing before their relationship started, as it seemed to start fairly quickly and early on in the book.

The mental health representation in this book was also great, and I thought the anxiety and panic attack representation was done particularly well.

I LOVED THIS BOOK!

Canadian love stories. My kryptonite. Being able to actually immerse myself mentally in the story’s setting was incredible.

Second chance romance, friends to lovers, the SPICE… Josh and Avery’s story was one I couldn’t put down. For a debut novel this was phenomenal. I found myself rooting for Josh through all the miscommunication and the roadblocks throughout their relationship.

I’ve followed the author Elodie Colliard on bookstagram for a while and was so excited to get the chance to read this early!

Thanks Netgalley and Elodie for the chance to read this amazing book in exchange for an honest review!

Out 11/1

An incredibly cute rekindled romance. It’s got friends to lovers, and second chance romance tropes! I’m liking it to Every Summer After as it has similar tropes and setting.

I loved getting to know Avery and Josh and their deep history despite being apart for a decade. Is it possible that love can be rekindled after no contact for many years? Or will it be too good to be true when faced with a chance at an amazing career opportunity?

I love how this book was not solely about Avery and Josh’s romantic relationship, but also Avery‘s relationship in trusting not only in others but also herself after everything she has been through.

The second chance romance in this book I think was portrayed very well with a “romance book worthy” yet realistic development. Moreover, Avery and Josh’s personalities didn’t feel that different from characters I’ve read in other books however I didn’t mind it that much since I’m more of a plot-driven reader, with that said, I appreciated the author writing out important scenes including Avery’s past experiences with mental health and sexual assault (rape), etc. because it is important to her present self’s character and how we can understand her better on a physical, mental, and emotional level.

I also loved the people that Avery surrounds herself with like Brooke and Miles, how they truly deeply care for her and don’t want to see her hurt again, It was very refreshing to read.

And lastly, Just a quick warning that don’t let the cover fool you because this book is super steamy 🫠

If you like second chance childhood friends to lovers with a lot of spice this is for you!

The Last Encore is such a lovely debut! Photographer Avery Clark is struggling with her job, her family and her anxiety is constantly clawing at her. But at a gala event, she is faced with Joshua Harding—her former best friend who broke her heart when he left a decade ago. I love a friends to lovers romance and this was just beautifully and eloquently written. The descriptions were beautiful and there was such a strong build in the romantic tension and the angst. It is an emotional and angsty read and I truly appreciated the thoughtful trigger warning the author included. I thought the mental health rep throughout too was so strong, it is so vulnerable and heartbreaking and I just really wanted to give Avery a hug. I was hoping for a little more growth in her and I think I wanted a little more of a romantic gesture from Josh after the larger conflict at the end. But I adored the characters in this. Brooke is a wonderful best friend and I loved Josh too. He was so charming and sweet and just really cared for Avery. Avery and Josh have so much chemistry. The dialogue is wonderful and it’s a steamy read too! It was a really heartwarming, emotional second chance/friends to lovers romance! A strong debut and I’m excited to see what else Colliard will write!

Elodie my sweet friend, this book is a masterpiece. I am so beyond obsessed with this story. When I tell you this book made me feel ALL the feels. From heartbreak, to empathy, to love and desire. I related to Avery’s character SO much. From her daily struggles with anxiety to her past. I felt like I was part of her story. And Josh, where do I even begin. He went through his own struggles at an early age which made him hurt the people closest to him. But he learned from his mistakes and overcame the biggest obstacles to get him back to Avery. He was so sweet, gentle and understanding. He showed so much compassion for Avery and her daily struggles. He took the time to make her feel comfortable first and foremost and I just love that about him. Not to mention all the side relationships that were so important to this story, including Brooke and her friendship with Avery and Julia and her relationship with her brother, Josh. I don’t think I could ever say enough wonderful things about this story.

ating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
➡️Swipe for synopsis
Read if you like:
❤️Second chance/Friends to lovers
🔥Steammmmmmm
🇨🇦Canadian settings

The Last Encore is such a lovely book by debut author and fellow Bookstagrammer Elodie🥰 I loved Josh and Avery’s story so much. It’s a mashup of tropes that I love including friends to strangers to lovers and second chance. Both Josh and Avery were not willing to give up on their dreams even if it meant not being able to be together, a refreshing concept in a romance novel.

This book delves into some heavier topics which added depth to the characters and story as well as the relationships within it. Brooke and Avery’s friendship and Avery and Miles’ sibling relationship was so wholesome and healthy and supportive. Add this to your TBR! Thank you to @netgalley and @elosreadingcorner for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review🥰 The Last Encore is out November 1st!!

Link to review: https://www.instagram.com/p/CisOg29rpR5/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

I really don't like giving negative reviews, especially on advanced copies and debut novels, but this one really didn’t do it for me. I found the story boring, the dialogue a bit basic and inauthentic, the characters all felt very one dimensional and similar, and it very much just felt like a debut novel’s writing. I wanted to DNF about 25% in, but saw it through to be able to give it a proper review. I do love the fact that a bookstagrammer wrote and released a book, that in itself is a huge accomplishment, but I think the author just needs to hone in on her writing style and get more writing experience. I gave it two stars because I appreciated the attempt to tackle bigger subjects, like sexual assault and representation of a main character with anxiety.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

Loved this story! Didn’t know anything about this book, but knew I had to read it as it is a fellow bookstagrammer that wrote it. I was so excited to get approved for this arc 😍 This story was exactly what I needed as I was finding myself going into a reading slump. First off, the MC, Avery has the same last name as me 🙌 It also has friendship, love, tough topics and steam. Of course, it had one of my favorite tropes which I was so excited about and loved hearing about Toronto 🇨🇦 I was invested in the characters and couldn’t wait to see how it ended. Bravo Elodie, so well written. What a great debut. Cannot wait for your next story 🤍

Highly recommend.

Thank you to Victoria Editing Netgalley Co-op for my advanced ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

Publish Date: November 1, 2022