This is an adorable tale of two friends, photographer Theo and super model Emerson. These two have been the best of friends since high school. But life got busy and these two lost touch. But Emerson’s phone alerts her one day of their marriage pact. All of Emerson’s feelings come rushing back. But has Theo married? Will he feel the same way?

Of course these two do not make it easy! There are a lot of misunderstandings and some hurt feelings. But as you can guess, (yes it is a romance novel, so no surprises!) the chemistry just can’t help but pull them together with great force!

I enjoyed these two, especially Emerson. For her to be a super model, she is really down to earth. Add in the setting of Italy and this is a romance you will definitely enjoy!

Need a cute friends to lovers romance…This is it! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for an honest opinion.

First time author shares her debut with us of long time friends meeting up at a photo shot. What are the odds of seeing each other again? Both want to do their own job but the attraction is strong. Act normal they tell each other but can they continue that way?

Thanks NetGalley for the opportunity. Unfortunately tried to get into this book a couple times but just did not love the tone of the writing and therefore DNF. I felt the description and author’s note alluded to a more layered, deep plot, but this didn’t jive with the writing style for me. From the opening pages, Emerson felt a little too shallow and immature. I saw other reviewers commented on writing style, as well. This lighter romcom story will probably be a hit with many, just was not my personal preference.

I loved the premise of the book, teenage best friends who fell in love with each other but insecurities and anxiety take over and when they’re just about to really be a duo something happens to split them apart. 10 years later their pact set up on their phones remind them. I loved the relationship and the back and forth of when they were in high school to today, and the dual POV. I felt like my emotional heartstrings were being pulled and hoped it would end up a happy ending. The entire journey felt like their hike where they climbed to finally reach the top and then the ending was a quick run to safety and a beautiful view.

One Last Shot is Betty Cayoutte's debut novel and it tells the story of Emerson, a successful model and her ex-boyfriend Theo, a photographer. They dated back in the day and back then agreed to a marriage pact if neither was married by age 28.

Well Emerson reaches her 28th birthday and after pining over Theo for years she decides to set up a chance meeting by agreeing to a modeling gig where Theo happens to be the photographer. Through the gig/shoot Emerson and Theo explore their feelings for one another and so much more!

This story is a duel POV and explores the characters experiences and feelings from their perspectives. While I typically love this style it felt like we were sometimes shorted part of the story. It's a cute story and has fun characters.

DNF

This book sounds interesting and like something I'd be into, but the writing style wasn't my favorite and I felt a weird disconnect with the main character.

This had a few of my favorite tropes in it, but it fell a bit flat for me. The celebrity aspect was fun and I enjoyed the flashback chapters and dual POV. I didn't get hooked in to the story though and felt that it dragged some. Things were slow when I was hoping for more to happen while other moments passed too quickly. Looking forward to see what the author writes next as this was a debut!

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

I enjoyed this book. I liked the different timelines and how we learned about each of them and their relationship. I eventually figured out where it was leading to but I liked the way it was presented. However, I really think most of this could have been avoided if they just actually communicated. Especially as adults, 10 years later. But it was still a fun story and I enjoyed reading it!

I was drawn to this book based on the cover and the setting of the premise—both were unique. Those two things did not disappoint. However, outside of the unique careers and setting...the writing/the story felt a little...bland? Unmemorable. The story just didn't pull me in as I'd hoped. Their romance felt too easy. They clearly both loved each other and wanted to be together, they simply chose their careers over love. It was hard for me to swallow the predictability of this story.

i simply could not get into this one and no ones more disappointed than i am :( i gave it multiple shots (no pun intended) but it seems like it is not the book for me, whether that’s my state of mind at the moment and for now, it is a soft dnf. i would hopefully like to come back to it at some point in the future!

DNF at 30%. Although the premise was intriguing, the pacing was way too slow, the FMC immature and the miscommunication trope drove me crazy.

📸 This was a cute, debut romance read set in Italy. Thanks to @stmartinspress for access to this- it’s out now!

📸 Ok, what I loved:
- the setting — take me to Italy please!
- parts of the plot were original and cute: I liked that it was about a model and a photographer
- the writing style was pretty great, especially for a debut

📸 What I didn’t love:
- the execution of the setting — take me to Italy please! I was disappointed I wasn’t more swept up in the atmosphere
- part of the plot stretched my limits on suspending disbelief (this couple spent way more time pining for each other than they ever spent dating)
- I thought the author’s note in the beginning about she didn’t want the book to be was in stark contrast to what the book ended up being (I don’t want to spoil anything but DM me if you want to discuss)

📸 Overall, I thought this was ok. Didn’t hate it, didn’t love it. I think it’s really cool the author is a well-known BookToker and she’s been given the chance to write her own novels! I’d definitely check out her next one to see her growth!

This was pretty good! I think it was overall a little bit long for what actually happens in the story (not much lol, but that's fine!) and it dragged a little, but overall I still enjoyed it. The writing made for a smooth read, and the setting was described so perfectly in each scene! The last 10% of the book really packs a punch and I probably enjoyed it best. Thanks to the publisher and author for the chance to read an eARC of this book!

One Last Shot by Betty Cayouette is her debut romance. Emerson, a supermodel, never forgot her first love, Theo. They both remember the marriage pact they made as teens. Theo is a now a photographer and Emerson schemes to be a part of his next campaign shoot.

It was fascinating to walk with Emerson in her world of being a high fashion model and a celebrity. The story is told from both Emerson and Theo point of view in the present and during their high school years. I felt like I knew both of them well by the end of the novel and enjoyed watching them grow. The setting was so lovely and I wanted to visit Cinque Terre, Italy after reading this second chance romance.

The beautiful cover drew me in and I enjoyed reading One Last Shot by Betty Cayouette. I appreciated how the characters worked through hard things and become better people. The ending was very satisfying and I left happy. I recommend.

TW shared in first chapter.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin for the gifted ARC. All thoughts are my own.

I love a good marriage pact story, and this did not disappoint. Definitely a beach read, and an enjoyable one. There was a great will they/won't they that kept the story moving along at a nice pace. Great read!

Emerson and Theo were best friends in high school and made a pack to marry each other if they aren’t married at 28.

It is told by dual perspectives and different timelines

This is a great summer romance book and all about the one that got away

This would make a great beach read.

Supermodel Emerson gets an old notification to her phone, it’s time to set her marriage pact in order with her old best friend Theo, so she gets herself schedules as the talent at his shoot to rekindle their romance. They are both the exact same character, which spoke to the lack of experience of writing for Cayouette, both totally in love, unable to talk about anything important, and both insecure in life. Between getting reacquainted now and watching their high school lives play out we learns about their past and how they got to where they are today. Will they be able to rekindle their love and ever truly open up to one another?

The book was long and repetitive. The relationships has one problem, but it happens numerous times and is never resolved so it continues to happen. It was almost too much of that. The setting was great and the background characters were more likeable than the mains in my opinion. It read more of a YA than a women’s fiction/romance.

A romance about a model and a photographer with a marriage pact who meet again ten years later in Cinqueterra, Italy. Okay I LOVE the setting. Anything set in Italy will be a go-to read for me. I really think readers will enjoy this as a summer beach romance. If you like second chance romance and beautiful European settings check out this fabulous debut!

Thank you to Griffin and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my review.

Love the trope of friends to lovers. I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this book. The setting was spectacular, I could envision myself there. I did struggle with the pacing of the book and would have appreciated a little more development.

ONE LAST SHOT by Betty Cayouette was a fun, quick weekend read, but ultimately not anything groundbreaking or memorable.

A forgotten marriage pact brings two friends-to-lovers-to-strangers-to-friends-to-lovers back to each other in this parallel timeline romance. Photographer Theo and high fashion model Emerson find each other ten years after a mysterious teenage falling out and are immediately drawn back into their mutual friendship and attraction. Set in the lush landscape of Cinque Terre, they rediscover each other over the course of a several-day photoshoot.

I love a friends to lovers romance that flashes back and forth between timelines and keeps us guessing as to what led to the separation, a la EVERY SUMMER AFTER, but this one didn't really have the magic spark of tension and longing that keeps me captivated. Overall, it feels kind of bland and underdeveloped. I wanted more detail, more richness, more background, and much more pining.

And while I enjoyed the author's writing style just fine, I find it frustrating when it appears that book deals go to who goes viral on TikTok. If virality is the indicator for what book deals happen, I'm a little discouraged at the future of book publishing.

A solidly mid read.

Thank you to St. Martin's Press and Netgalley for the e-ARC in exchange for my honest, unbiased review. ONE LAST SHOT is out now.