ᯓ★ 3.75 stars ᯓ★
⤿ i am so so so pleasantly surprised <3

🌷“He was my person, around him I was the best version of me, the me I wanted to be all the time”🌷

theo and emerson have my whole heart ☹️💓
betty cayouette managed to take all the tropes i hate and turn it into perfection. im so looking into the rest of her books!!

🌼here are said tropes:🌼
➵ second chance romance
➵ childhood besties
➵ other woman drama + other man drama
➵ angst (lots and lots of angst) and mutual pining
➵ slow burn
➵ …miscommunication..

now you may look at these tropes and think.. gross. disgusting. no thanks. because same. my previous read had a few of these tropes and it made me never wanna look at second chance again. but this.. was somehow spectacular 🤭ok ok lemme actually get into it instead of just talking sweet nothings!!

🍩 plot 🍩

the story follows theo and emerson, who were besties in high school!! they did everything together. watched sunsets, ate lots of donuts (donuts is lowkey a big chunk of the story which was random but cute), skipped school to go swimming. like they were friends with a tinge of flirting here and there.

they jokingly make this silly pact and put a reminder on their phone that if both of them are unmarried when theo is 28, they marry each other. HOW SILLY RIGHT!??!!

one day, on prom (i wanna say but im not 100% sure) theo kisses emerson. and basically after that she leaves and never sees him again (enter the heavy miscommunication)

fast forward to 10 years later emerson is a model, theo is a photographer. the marriage pact reminder thingy goes off and emerson decides she wants to rekindle things so she books him to shoot something for her. and they refall in love~~💘

📸 theo 📸

ohmygod. i want to give him a big fat hug.

HE IS SOOOOO PRECIOUS AND CUTE AND SWEET AND EVERYTHING I WANT IN MY FUTURE HUBBY. he’s so understanding.. too understanding that you think how is he even real!??! <s>news flash sama, he’s not</s> he really would do anything for her. like ANYTHING.

he was like so sad and pathetic though in the nicest way possible. he hated himself 😭 theo baby no need to be so insecure 🤧❤️‍🩹

“Oh yeah?” Emerson teased. “You don’t have a secret girlfriend somewhere who’s coming after me for wearing your jacket?”

“Of course not. You know no one wants to date me.”

i rolled my eyes but i also wanted to cry for him at the same time like he called himself a loser soooo much bro have some self-esteem.

💃 emerson 💃

*putting dance emoji bc there’s no emoji for model 😭*

honestly.. at the start I hated her because she basically ghosted him and he kept calling her and she wouldn’t pick up. and then when he stopped calling she was sad 💀

but she grew on me!!! whilst I don’t agree with what she did, she’s been through a lot of trauma so i’ll try not to hold a grudge on theo’s behalf 😭

I don’t really have much to say about her. she was cute. she had good intentions but executed them poorly that’s pretty much it.

💓romance💓

THE ROMANCE DELIVEREDDDD ‼️

the angst, the pining i ate it all up 🥹🫶🏼 that is how you do second chance romance. other books better be taking notes.

i also adored that it was a slow burn. it was slow af as it should be.

i loved them together but icl emerson made him miserable sometimes. and like on purpose. she brought her ex to make him jealous.. like um miss girl you left him you have no right playing hard to get.

another complaint is THE MISCOMMUNICATION.
it was sooo consistent like they kept thinking things and never discussing it i was so mad. like imagine a miscommunication that lasts 10 years. that’s just too much.

🧸 quotes I adored 🧸

➵ “Do you miss home?”
“I miss you,” i say immediately.

➵ “Sorry” Theo says. “She’s just so perfect” he grimaces. “In this light, i mean”

➵ I’ve forgotten what it feels like to be natural. I have to be careful of every bit of myself i show to the world, since once it’s out there it’s no longer authentically me, it’s a part of my public image.

➵ When his phone finally beeped, a grin spread over Theo’s face. I suddenly knew I would do anything to make him smile like that again.

🎀 in conclusion 🎀

to sum up i had an amazing time reading this and i highly recommend if you’re looking for something cute and sweet. ive been super busy lately but i still found time for this whenever i could. I read it first thing after i woke up, before bed, in the car. literally everywhere 😭💘

thank you netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review!!

This is a sweet romance and a perfect summer read. The cover alone will make you want to run out and book a plane ticket. But also read the book because it is really well-written with an engaging plot, easy tone and lovable characters. It is hard to believe this is a debut romance. Betty Cayouette is a talented writer and I look forward to reading more of her novels.

To summarize: friends to lovers, a decade-old marriage pact, and second chance romance set in Cinque Terre, Italy. The MCs are extremely likable and the flashbacks to their high school romance beginnings are so sweet. The dual timeline and dual POV give this story some depth. And then there’s the emotional punch: the author’s note warns that this book deals with the aftermath of sexual assault. But, as she states, it is just part of the story - it is not the story. Instead we see a model [pun intended] of survival and strength, with an already fabulous and successful life, pursue the final piece to her HEA. It is a joy to watch these characters come together, both in the past and in the present.

A heartwarming and emotionally satisfying love story. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press, Betty Cayouette, and NetGalley for the eARC in exchange for my honest review.

They were everything to each other in high school. They made a pact to marry at 28 if they were still single. She’s now a famous model and him a photographer. Their deadline is almost up, will reconnecting make them whole again or break them completely.

I liked this book. I was charmed by the characters and the story.

The author starts the book with trigger warnings of past mentions of sexual assault so beware.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martin’s press for the ARC.

Thank you to St Martin's Press and Netgalley for the advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

One last Shot is a cute second chance romance between a supermodel and her ex photographer who had a previous marriage pact and meet again a decade later at a photoshoot in Italy. The premise sounded so fun and adorable so I was interested in diving in. First, this was decently written, albeit with a few cheesy and silly moments and the story believable. Second, the characters felt authentic and the author did a good job of making me feel connected to them and want to root for them. There were some dialogue moments that, for me, didn't feel realistic, but I get a bit picky when it comes to certain things like that.

The different POV and timeline was a nice addition to this story. I enjoyed seeing them in the past and present and watching them fall in love. The pacing was decent. There were a few times when the story snagged a bit and felt slow but I did enjoy the characters' slow burn overall and then the big reveal at the end that I wasn't expecting.

The scenic setting, the beautiful writing, the cute cover, and the sweet love story will make anyone who's a romance fan fall for this story. It sure stole my heart. This didn't quite live up to a 5 star, but overall it was a cute romance story I'd recommend for others.

Can we marvel at how beautiful this book cover is? I love a really good aesthetically pleasing book cover to set my reading tone. For a debut romance, the author did seem pretty seasoned.

While the world is experiencing winter, this book gave us the a pleasant summer-y read to keep us warm in this cold weather. It was set in Europe and both characters were likeable. Also can we talk about supermodel x photographer trope like yess I loved that. And they were childhood friends who connected later in life, so a second-chance romance too! If you want a cute summer-y romance book, I’d reckon this book.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to NetGalley for giving me a exclusive ARC to read before publishing!

4 stars

omg i love this so much. the tropes in this books are second chance, miscommunication, and friends to lovers. personally i love second chance so much and friends to lovers is super well played. but omg the miscommunication in this BOOK. i love flashbacks in books, they add a lot to the story and help us to understand the characters betters. if this author puts out any other books i will be reading them! the plot of this book is about a supermodel who has a marriage pact with her childhood best friend and lover, he is a photographer. basically they go to italy together and slowly rekindle together. this being my first netgalley ARC was so good! thank you so much netgalley!!

I’m a sucker for friends to lovers and second chances so Emerson and Theos love story was fun from start to finish. Their relationship felt both relatable and real and you were rooting for their happiness throughout the entire novel. Perfect for the beach or wherever you choose to read books that are guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan for the advance reader copy.

5/5

One Last Shot by Betty Cayouette is one of the best books that I have read so far this year. When I read its description and saw its cover, I was immediately hooked.

This book starts off with an author’s note. To me, this set a tone for the entire book that was to follow, and I loved every single word of it. I think that theming a book around the aftermath of sexual assault and how it impacts all relationships in the future was a really powerful idea. As soon as I finished reading the author’s note, I knew that this was going to be one of my new favorite books.

I loved the story that Cayouette created. I enjoyed the characters, their backstories, their development, and the dual timeline between high school and present day. Second-chance romance and friends to lovers are two of my favorite romance tropes to read. I also really loved the setting of this book; the descriptions were wonderfully painted and helped to create a really clear mental picture of what Cayouette was describing.

I have several favorite quotes from this book, but the one that impacted me the most came from the author’s note. “I hope that reading this book and seeing the wonderful lives of characters who have been impacted by sexual assault makes readers who have experienced any type of sexual harassment or violence feel seen and optimistic. Because while sexual violence did change my story, it was ultimately just a chapter.”

I can hardly wait to have the chance to own this book once physical copies are released to the public, and Cayouette will be an auto-buy author for me from now on.

Thank you for the advanced reader copy of this book, I loved it.

If you thought the cover of One Last Shot was beautiful, the story is even better.

No pun intended, but I took a shot on One Last Shot and mostly chose to read it based on the cover. I was not disappointed. I fell in love with this story within the first few pages. At times I didn’t even feel like I was reading, and I felt myself get lost in the love story of Theo and Emerson.

There are so many things I loved about this novel, but here are my top picks:

1. Theo and Emerson were real in the sense they were multidimensional characters that did not fall flat on the page. They each had pasts that we got to visit, and they had their quirks and issues. Theo struggles with anxiety, while Emerson experienced something no woman (or man) should ever have to go through.

2. I believed the love story (it was not forced), and I think the flashbacks helped since we got to see them grow up, but it didn’t become tedious. The flashbacks were few and only enhanced the story. Trust me, I am not a flashback person, but it worked here.

3. The plot was unique and carried well. I never felt myself getting bored and wishing the plot would progress faster. It was the perfect speed at which Theo and Emerson reconciled and fell in love again.

4. Some may say the big miscommunication issue was a cliche, but I liked it. I’m also not a cliche person (unless it is done right) but I was okay with this one. It made sense since the characters were both anxious and nervous to see one another and express their feelings.

The only thing I would have added to this story is more about Emerson’s mom. We only see her briefly twice, but both times she seems nice, funny, and supportive. Sure she’s a hoarder, but get over it. It makes no sense that her being a hoarder and rejecting a gift from Emerson is the reason they barely speak. I would have liked more info on this and maybe a reconciliation at the end of the novel.

I LOVED LOVED LOVED this novel. I can see myself rereading this one very soon. I could also see this being a movie someday (Pick it up, Netflix!). One thing is clear: I just discovered a new favorite author!

*An ARC was received in exchange for an honest review.

I am a self-admitted book worm, and I have been the majority of my life. Here lately, I gravitate towards suspenseful books. Ultimately, at my core I am still a fan of romance. Because of this, I was very excited to read this book.

I tend to be hesitant to read books from a new author, because it sometimes takes me a while to get used to their particular writing style. This was not the case with this book. I liked that it was told in first person and it switch from different perspectives.

I also appreciated the “disclaimer” the author included at the beginning of the book. Although it did not take away from my enjoyment of the book, it did help me mentally prepare for one of the subjects in the story.

I absolutely loved this book. I empathized with both of the main characters, even though I was sometimes frustrated by the miscommunications. I definitely recommend this book.

**I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I’m a sucker for a second chance romance, so I was really intrigued by the premise of One Last Shot, but it ultimately left me disappointed. The miscommunication trope is one of my least favorites and unfortunately this book hinged heavily on it. I think there’s a ton of potential with this story, but the writing style wasn’t a fit for me. I found the dialogue to be awkward and unnatural, the pacing felt off in the middle of the book and I struggled to connect with Emerson and Theo. With some further editing, I think these issues could easily be fixed though!

I do think the author handled some of the more serious topics that are included in storyline really well though. I also loved the dual POV and multiple timelines.

Overall this wasn’t a fit for me, but could be a great summer read if you don’t mind a romance heavy on miscommunication!

So grateful to have gotten to read this ARC by Betty Cayouette! This is a perfect summer romance read about Emerson and Theo who are best friends growing up only to have once incident split them apart for ten years. Emerson is now a famous model while Theo is a photographer both on the same campaign shoot in Italy. The will they or won’t they get back together throughout the book was so well written and I couldn’t get enough of this story, I read the whole book in one sitting! I also loved how the two main characters were from Salem, MA because as a fellow New Englander I love a good New England side setting. I enjoyed how the book went back and forth between the characters in the present and their relationship growing up.

I almost didn't read this, as I thought it might be a little too heavy with the assault aspect, but it wasn't! I enjoyed the back and forth between the leads, the tension with the almost connections and finally the actual connection. I loved that they were best friends that had great respect for each other and each other's work as well. They lifted each other and made everything work. Easy reading and nicely done, all around!

This book may be for you, if you’re a fan of Betty’s Booklist on TikTok and/or stories with:

Dual Point of View
Second Chance Romance
High School Sweethearts
Modeling/Financially Successful Women

The story is sweet, but the book’s pacing wasn’t for me. I wish there had been fewer High School flashbacks and much more of the present-day story. I also found myself wanting more of the Cinque Terre setting (such a beautiful place!) With that said, it’s impressive that this was a debut book.

CW: Past sexual abuse, parent with mental health issues (there is a warning at the beginning of the book)

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

“One Last Shot” tells the story Emerson and Theo, a pair of high school sweethearts, who meet for the first time since graduation. It’s been ten long years. Both Theo and Emerson are naturally in different places in life. She is a successfully supermodel and he is a struggling photographer. Yet what brings them together is the fact that in spite of being apart, they never stopped loving one another. “One Last Shot” does a lovely job using flashbacks to cue the reader into how their relationship developed over time. I particularly enjoyed watching their characters evolve on the road to happily ever after. This romcom was just the perfect lite beach read and I can’t think St Martins or NetGalley enough for letting me indulge in a little Italian magic. If you are looking for a fun, romcom this book is for you. There are a few spicey moments yet they don’t at all take away from the story. 9/10 stars.

All options are my own.

When I saw that this had a second chance theme going on, I immediately picked it up as a huge lover for second chance romances. I am so glad that I did be able as I said, this book explores the theme of second chance romance, but with such unexpected depth and a touch of nostalgia for high school days that it had me very captivated with it. The story is told from alternating perspectives, following Emerson, a successful supermodel, and Theo, a commercial photographer. As high school best friends, they made a pact to marry each other at 28 if they were still single. Unbeknownst to each other, they were already in love, but fear kept them from confessing to eachother. The plot shifts between their present-day lives and their past as teenagers, highlighting the miscommunication and trauma that caused a decade-long break in their friendship. When a reminder of their pact resurfaces on their phones, they meet again, and from there a new beginning unravels for them.

As the book progresses, they seize the opportunity to finally express their feelings. Despite the challenges they face, their romance unfolds beautifully, creating a sweet and satisfying story. I got completely taken away with this story, and the characters and the romance between them. The romance was truly very heartwarming and it was an absolute delight reading this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this arc!

This story, about a super model and photographer, is written by someone who has first-hand knowledge of fashion photo shoots, and it shows. I was engaged from the first few pages when the female main character broke up with her boyfriend because he faked reading novels. This is a second chance love story about two characters in love as teens and reconnecting 10 years later. There are flashbacks that help show their powerful connection and a poignant backstory for our heroine. The love story is very satisfying, and I loved the Italian setting and info about a photo shoot.

Is this book based on one huge miscommunication and could be solved by the two MC's just talking to each other? Yes. Did I eat it up? Also yes.

What I liked: This was my first time reading a photographer/model storyline and I really enjoyed it. I loved the Italian scenery that was portrayed. I like that Theo encourages Emerson to write a book and supports her in every way. I think the flashback chapters were done really well while revealing just enough to keep us interested without giving up the entire story (even if you can surmise what happens).

What I didn't like: The fact that the MC's were too scared to tell each other what was going on over and over. It isn't just one instance of miscommunication, it happens throughout the book. And if not miscommunication, then just completely avoiding and/or changing the subject. I wanted to toss the book across the room but it did keep me coming back so, I get it! :)

Overall this is wonderfully done for a debut author and I look forward to reading more from them in the future.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin and Betty Cayouette for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was lucky enough to be granted this ARC from Netgalley! 😊

I loved the European setting as the background and the second chance, friends to lovers storyline. They are two of my favourite tropes! 💗💗 Theo and Emerson’s journey back to each other is not an easy one but the author gave us a great backdrop with the past and present experiences. The two were adorable together and I absolutely loved them and watching their way back to each other.. 🥰🥰

Well done!! Highly recommend 👏 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A sweet and heartfelt debut.

This love story was well written, and sparked so much emotion. Theo and Em have dealt with incredible trauma, and found a way to heal both individually and together. Having been to Cinque Terre, the author did a great job in describing the scenery and location (although one minor error - she often refers to the ocean, but Cinque Terre is located on the Ligurian sea).

Please read the trigger warning at the beginning of the novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.