This is one of the few books where I didn't like the MMC. He was clearly love-stricken but in a pathetic kind of way, not in a 'I've always loved you' kind of way. I think Theo just missed the mark on a MMC that readers love to love.

Emerson was marginally more likeable. Her character was more relatable despite her fame. The only thing that bugged me, completely unrelated to the story, but the narrator for Emerson pronounced 'Theo' like B/O and I couldn't get past it.

Other than that, I liked the setting of the story in Italy. I also enjoyed the flashbacks of the character's childhoods when they fell in love. I think that part of the story was wee-written, and the characters were much more likable in their youth.

this is my first ever audiobook without have the physical copy to read along and honestly at first i wasn't feeling it but then i really enjoyed it! it was very sweet and feels like summer ✨

First thing first, the narrators for this book are great; absolutely no complaints from me for either of them. Super fun, entertaining listen!

This story felt like a miscommunication layer cake where miscommunication is the cake layers and witty banter is the filling between. The second chance romance aspect was perhaps my favorite part of the story along with their banter. Emmerson and Theo seemed to have such a great foundation to their relationship that I had a hard time understanding how significantly their miscommunication was able to shape their lives for 10 years. SA trauma is respected and given the weight it should. Even with that consideration, miscommunication was an issue for them long before and after. I mean, Theo knew Emmerson used a mensural cup instead of tampons but they couldn't tell each other they had big romantic feelings? While I love that they had those conversations about her menses hygiene, 15-18 year old me would never think that conversation was easier leaving some things hard to believe for me and that's OKAY. Overall, it's a sweet fun story that I'd recommend to any romcom reader.

Thank you to NetGalley, Betty Cayouette, and Macmillan Aduio for the audiobook ARC.

I enjoyed this book. I think it went on a little too long, lots of bumps in the road. But it was readable and enjoyable. Would recommend to others.

Wow! Really enjoyed this one.

Emerson met Theo in 9th grade when she started at the local high school. Immediately, they formed a best friendship. They spent all their time in high school together, inseparable and planned to move to New York City together after high school, where Theo would attend college and Emerson would model. They formed a pact that if they were not married by their 28th birthdays, they would marry each other.

Then life happened. Emerson experience trauma and fled to California, leaving Theo behind. Emerson went on to become a hugely successful Supermodel while Theo becomes a pretty good photographer.

A week before her 28th birthday, Emerson's phone dinged with a reminder. If she was still single, she was supposed to marry Theo. This notification pushes Emerson to get into contact with Theo.

After ten years, Emerson puts a plan into place to meet up with her long-lost love. However, is Theo even single?

This is a heart-wrenching, sweet book that I did not want to stop listening to. Such a good story.

The book is narrated by Brittany Pressley and Sean Patrick Hopkins. They both do an excellent job and speak with so much emotion. I definitely recommend! 4.5 stars, rounded up to 5.

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the advanced listen in exchange for my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Friends to strangers to hopeful lovers. That is the premise of this book. Childhood best friends drift apart when there is an event that separates them. When a long forgotten alarm reminds them of each other they reach out to each other and circumstances bring them together. Can they reconcile the feelings they previously held for each other with who they are today?

What I love about this book is that the characters are flawed and well rounded. Name another book that will make me sympathize and like a super model .... I'll wait. Spoiler alert there isn't one. This book felt emotional and heartwarming in the best way. This book definitely talks about some triggering things but in such a delicate way. As it states in the author's note they do a great job of making events a part of what shapes the character but not a defining trait. Very delicately written and she did a beautiful job tying it all together.

This book had so many elements I liked it in and I found myself really rooting for the characters. Second chance romance is so hit or miss for me so I was excited to say this one was a hit! I know I will be picking up more books from this author was they come out.

I would recommend this book for anyone who is looking for an emotional second chance romance set in a beautiful vacation spot. Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read this story!

I really enjoyed this; set mostly in Cinque Terre, Italy, it would make for a perfect beach read.

This is sort of but not really a second-chance romance; I'd consider it more friends-to-lovers. Soccer-playing Theo and loner Emerson meet on the first day of high school orientation and almost instantly become best friends. They're also secretly smitten with each other but are afraid of ruining their friendship. Despite this, they vow to marry each other in 10 years if they're both still single and set reminders on their phones to do so. They finally reveal their feelings to each other the summer after their senior year, but soon after something horrible happens to Emerson and she breaks things off with Theo.

Fast forward 10 years: Emerson is a world-famous supermodel, Theo is a lifestyle photographer, they haven't spoken since their breakup, and their phone reminders to marry each other go off. Emerson finds out where Theo's next photo shoot is (Cinque Terre for Target-esque brand Anthem) and uses her influence to get hired for the shoot in order to reconnect with him, even though this will destroy her caché as a high fashion model.

The story is told in dual POVs in two timelines, one in the present and one following the course of Theo and Emerson's high school friendship. I love this approach because it allows the readers to fall for the characters (both of whom are decent and likable human beings) and their romance twice. The author does a wonderful job of both capturing that distinctive adolescent yearning for a friend whose feelings you're not certain of, and writing a wholly believable adult romance with well-written secondary characters. Reading this made me deeply nostalgic.

My quibbles: Theo's perception of Emerson is a bit too Not Like Other Girls, Emerson's best friend Harry is kind of an ass earlier in the book, a late subplot with Emerson's agent is introduced for drama but never resolved, and there was more angst than I usually like at the end — but the angst is entirely understandable here, at least.

"One Last Shot" is Betty Cayouette's debut novel, and I'll absolutely read whatever she writes next.

Audiobook notes: Brittany Pressley and Sean Patrick Hopkins were perfection as Emerson and Theo. Their narration made an already good story even more engrossing.

TW: sexual assault (off page)

One Last Shot
Betty Cayouette
Griffin & Macmillan Audio
Pub : May 7
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

I’m grateful to @netgalley and @macmillan.audio for allowing me access an e arc and an advanced listening copy of One Last Shot! I love when I can use two modes to read❤️

One Last Shot was a fun, sweet, second chance romance. I loved the character’s chemistry and Italy has to be one of the best possible settings for any love story.

10 years ago as high school besties our two main characters made a marriage pact that if they were single at the ripe old age of 28 🤣 they would marry each other. Fast forward 10 years and those reminders are now going off!

This story has:
Friends to lovers
Second chance
The slowest of slow burn
Dual POV
Dual timelines
Celebrity model FMC
Photographer MMC
Workplace romance

I love this couple in both timelines. It was a great read and very much a feel good story. I do appreciate the author’s note that gave content warnings as there is some trauma involved the fmc’s backstory. It was helpful for me to be prepared ahead of time, though nothing is depicted in the page. Overall it’s a story about healing and second chances and going after what you want.

I also enjoyed the dual narration for the audiobook by Brittany Pressley and Sean Patrick Hopkins. Both voices were delightful to listen to and added to the humor and the romantic mood.

I’ll admit, this one caught my eye because of the cover. I’m so happy the story itself is quite a jewel. It’s also the featured romance in a May romance booksub and I’ll definitely be getting it this month.



#onelastshot #romcombooks #brittanypressley #audiobooks #secondchanceromance

Loved this book!! Once I started reading it, I couldn’t put it down. The character development is perfect. Love Theo and Emerson. The narrators were perfect and exactly what I expected the characters to sound like. I loved that they sounded young but mature. Just perfect. The setting is great, the peek into the modeling industry was fun, and the high school flashbacks were well done. And the cover?! Stunning! The pacing felt off at times— lagging in areas and rushed in others. There were some side stories that I felt were left unresolved. Overall, the story was so great! It’s the perfect summer binge read that I would love to see as a movie adaptation. I will be reading everything this author puts out. One Last Shot has earned a loyal reader for life. Can’t wait to see her success and follow her career. Well done!!

I really enjoyed this book! The dual narration was on point and the dual POV for our main characters was so good. A second chance romance based on a marriage pact made in high school. We have amazing locations for photo shoots not to mention Emerson is a model and Theo is a photographer! This book does touch on the tough topic of SA but know that it is not the main focus of the novel nor does it happen on the page. This one does have miscommunication but not a third act breakup exactly. I will say the ending was beautiful and I definitely recommend to anyone looking for a second chance romance between high school sweethearts!

I CONSUMED this book in a day. It definitely didn't feel like a debut, and this story brought unique characteristics to the childhood-friends-to-lovers-to-strangers-to-friends-to-lovers, marriage pact, second-chance romance plot, but there was also so much more to this story than that.

This book is perfect if you love:
- Alternating timelines/flashbacks
- Dual POV (in both chapters and narration)
- Celebrity storylines (she's a super famous model, he's a photographer)
- Heavier topics
- Target-esque photoshoots
- Donuts
- Former best friends turned awkward coworkers
- Marriage pacts
- Daily questions to get to know each other again
- Men who aren't afraid to own their emotions (men crying in books is a weakness of mine)

Content warnings: Death of a parent, absence of a parent, hoarding, sexual assault, misogyny

This story was refreshing and easy to get lost in. I adored the main characters, Emerson and Theo, and getting to know them between present day and flashbacks. Their high school selves were so tender and sweet. They both cared so deeply for one another from the very moment. Theo had everything going on for him and an amazing family to boot, while Emerson was alone on an island until she found Theo. He was SO SWEET to her.

In the present, we see Theo in just a tender of a place when it comes to Em as he was when they were teenagers. Where Em has just realized it's time for their marriage pact because she moved on with her life, Theo hasn't. He's tried. And he wears that heartbreak like a second skin.

When Em's agent meddles and manipulates the situation, these two don't have the reunion Em was hoping for. In fact, she meets a very reserved and standoffish Theo in the present, leaving her more confused and hopeless. Neither wanting heartbreak at the end, the story is slow to build from the strangers they are to friends, and then finally (FINALLY!) to lovers, only for the trauma of their past to come back and threaten their future.

As for the writing of this book, it's hard to believe this is a debut novel! Betty balances heavy topics with realistic feelings and challenges. I enjoyed this immensely.

The audiobook was SUPER easy to listen to. Both narrators did a great job, helping me to connect with the main characters and feel their emotions throughout the story!

4.5stars rounded up here to 5 stars!

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and St. Martin's Press for the ALC/ARC of this book. These are my honest thoughts.

"I will not take responsibility for your icecream addiction"

I absolutely loved this book! It's one of my tops for this year!

Tropes include:
- Second chance romance
- Childhood besties
- Slow burn
- Photographer/Model

I loved the concept of a marriage pact. I literally gasped, laughed, and cheered out loud this entire read. I loved the flashbacks, especially those from high school.

It takes place in Cinque Terre. Emerson has a one-week deadline for herself to reignite the spark they had between them. Facing different challenges along the way and a ton of miscommunication.

I don’t know how to feel about this book. I liked Emerson, despite what happened to her when she had just turned 18, she kept a positive outlook in life and worked hard to be the best she could be and got to the top. A place she never imagined she’d ever reach. Then, there’s Theo. He was likable at first, but then he kinda turned into a bit of a man child and couldn’t really handle her fame. I’m ok with a man who cries but I think he was a bit too much of a crier— so that was a turn off for me. At the end, I didn’t care anymore if they stayed together or not.

I felt that there were things left in the air, like her relationship with her mom and I wanted to know what Emerson and her friends did to her agent in revenge for the blasting he did to her.

Read the trigger warning at the beginning.

The narration was fine but the writing was juvenile, and difficult to read/listen to. DNF.

The premise of the story was good but the writing needs development, and the FMC was basically a model “Taylor Swift”, and she was low-key annoying. She frequently said stuff like “I don’t want to complain” and then always complained and had a pity party. I think I needed more development from her.

This book was so good. It was a second chance lovers slow burn high school sweethearts that finally get their happy ending at the end after a decade of loving each other no matter where they were in life. I absolutely love this book because it does show representation for women that have been sexually assaulted in the past egg shines. The light of everything in Hollywood isn’t always glitter and glam. There are some really dark sides to it. I love the main character knew he loved her from the start. He fell 1st and fell hard and respectfully gave her for her wrongdoings to him and was able to rekindle that love. Highly recommend. Thank you so much NetGalley and the author for allowing me to be a part of the advanced listener copy go check this out.

Overall, I did enjoy this book. The story of a childhood friendship to lovers, one being a photographer and the other a model is… perfection. They obviously would fit so perfectly well together, and you really feel that from the jump of their first interaction. Their connection is beyond electric and after 10 years of being apart, no love is lost, and I felt that in my own damn bones… and that’s the kind of love I strive to read about.

That being said, there were quite a few things that fell short for me. I enjoyed a lot of moments but overall wasn’t able to fall completely in love with it.

So here is what I did love:
- The Plot. One of the more unique plots I have read recently, and something so not traditional. I enjoyed the specifics and how their dynamic together regarding their jobs would make or break certain decisions for them. The fact that he’s a photographer and she’s a model, it was like two puzzle pieces coming together and it meshed WELL.
- Absolutely love a good “old flame” story – especially with how significant Emerson and Theo were in one another lives. This is added a level of want/need to not only the story but the anticipation of what could happen next.
- Theo. I absolutely LOVED him. What a dream of a man for all. He was so incredibly supportive, caring, thoughtful, kind, trustworthy.. again just an absolutely DREAM. The amount of thought he put into everything he did for Emerson and what she may have wanted?! What a guy. Really did feel for him in how shut out he felt for a few years. Having a decision made for you without given the respect of a conversation of your own opinion, is not easy to deal with.
- When they reunite at the end. WOW, swooning, blushing, completely jealous, loved every word I read of that. It was perfection. It was done beautifully and really represented how much they meant to each other and how well they know the other person. The fact that they both do the exact same thing one their layovers at the specific airport, I laughed out loud because of course they would!

Here is what I struggled with:
- Emerson. I really struggled with her character and seeing any redeeming qualities in her. I found her incredibly selfish, and while I can understand her struggle of what happened to her, I find it hard to believe that the ONE person who she knows would move heaven and earth for her, would not understand. Beyond that, she could not separate her job vs her feelings, EVER. Obviously as a celebrity, a lot of decisions are made with a marketing mentality, but do you really sacrifice that much of yourself even behind closed doors? I felt like even when no one was looking, she was worried about what others would think. Even Theo, who gave her zero reason whatsoever to feel she had to be anyone but herself, she hid things from. I understand trying to not show how much “help” she really has normally, and I commend her for that, but she was really falling short for me. Even down to Georgias show. She spoke a big game on making sure Theo was okay and prepared for what was about to happen with being with her, and then she basically dumped him to the side when it got a little rocky for her and left him to fend for himself and shut him out. She wasn’t it for me.
- The lack of communication. Oh my god, this is my biggest pet peeve. When its sprinkled here and there, fine - I understand it creates a level of drama to a story, but this just dragged on way too long for me and Emersons inner thoughts made me want to scream. The “question” game should have been for the honest, hard questions you needed answered since it was a deal you both had to answer… not what your new favorite color is.
- Matts “evil” story line. I don’t mean matts entire storyline, but just the ending where he speaks out badly on Emerson. Those were HUGE accusations, and obviously created to be the dramatic effect that divides Emerson and Theo in that moment, but it completely fell on its face. A few comments at a party and then….. nothing? Literally nothing else happened or is heard again regarding that? She got that worked up and upset over a few photographers making comments and then it just magically disappeared? That would have been a GREAT story to push deep into towards the end. I would have rather had more of that and seeing Emerson buckle up with Theo and navigate herself through that hell fire than the constant nagging back of forth of the miscommunication between the two of them on set. It felt forced, dull, and completely unnecessary if you weren’t going to run with it the way it needed to.

I really wanted to love this book more than I did but I would still recommend it. The love story itself is worth the read and I think the author did an amazing job translating their deep connected love into this story

A lovely sweet second chance romance about miscommunication, best friends. a long time promise and two people finding their way back to each other. Emerson, a supermodel had a tough upbringing and the only person who helped her through it was her best friend Theo. They absolutely loved each other and made a marriage pact ten years post graduation. Then something awful happened to Emerson and she bolted and disappeared from his life. Fast forward ten years, they are both successful in their own right, but something is missing from each of their lives. When her reminder goes off, Emerson sets off to reconnect and maybe finally find love. This was a very sweet, romance with a wonderful happily ever after.

One Last Shot has everything a good romance should have. Protagonists who are earnest, flawed, and hopelessly in love. Tragic backstories that don't overwhelm the plot. And of course, a happily ever after. This novel takes a supermodel and a commercial photographer and takes us through their long history. We see as their teenage friendship blooms, as they both secretly fall for each other, how they're torn apart by bad circumstances and miscommunication, and finally how fate gives them a second chance.

This book includes:
- childhood friends who were mutually pining for each other
- second chances at romance
- solid female friendships
- insight into the life of a supermodel
- idyllic scenes of a summer in Cinque Terra
- heartbreak and yearning
- scenes that will make you groan in frustration
- miscommunication trope

I enjoyed listening to this audiobook so much. It was fabulously produced and the narrators were talented. I loved the way that Cayouette didn't try to give us perfect protagonists. They both make very human mistakes that are frustrating as a reader, but felt like an honest portrayal of how people sometimes get in the way of their own happiness. I just love Theo so much - as an adult and in the flashback scenes. Cayouette did a fabulous job of demonstrating how Emmerson's disappearance impacted him as an adult and changed his POV on life and even shifted his personality. It was subtle and well executed.

I can't recommend this book enough! Fans of Sarah Ready in particular will love this romance. However, if readers hate the miscommunication trope, I would steer clear of this one. It is 100% nonstop miscommunication the entire book.

I received this audiobook as an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Thank you to NetGalley, Betty Cayouette, and Macmillan Audio for the opportunity to review this book. This review has been posted to GoodReads - check out my profile https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/62314863

🎧One Last Shot🎧
By: Betty Cayouette
Narrated by Betty Cayouette, Brittany Pressley, and Sean Patrick Hopkins
Review Score: 4 Stars

Boogie’s Bulletpoints
•Emerson and Theo are simply amazing.

•I love a dual POV. Add in amazing narration, and it makes the story all the more intriguing!

•This is set in Cinque Terre, one of my favorite places in Italy.

•I really love the time jumps (and trying to figure out what happened between Emerson and Theo).

•No spoilers, but I really enjoyed the ending of this book!

———

🎧 Audiobook Review! 🎧


One Last Shot was kindly provided as an ARC by Netgalley and MacMillan Audio. Thank you for allowing me to enjoy this wonderful book!

Release Date: 5/7/24

I went into this book thinking it would be a fun and flirty book about a couple reconnecting in a beautiful place. And while there is that, there is so much more (which I did not expect)!

There is pain, betrayal, sadness, and loss. There is hurt and fear. There is also redemption, and loyalty, and trust. This book really has every emotion (and I felt every emotion as I read it)!

I really enjoyed this book. It was fun and funny, but also intriguing and moving.


#bookstagram #books #readingnow #boogiereadsbooks #fivekeyfeels #audiobooks #audiobook #fiction #arcreview #netgalley #boogiesbulletpoints #onelastshot #bettycayouette #brittanypressley #seanpatrickhopkins #macmillanaudio

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early copy of this audiobook!

Apparently this author is a booktoker - and you never know how books from them will go, but I genuinely enjoyed this! It's clear Betty is a <i>reader</i>. This is a solid debut. It's rare I give 4 stars and it's really rare I give them on debuts, but this one deserves it.

I will say, the entire plot is contingent on a miscommunication/lie, but it's done in a believable way. The way that you, as a human, just kind of need space and then lose touch as time continues to go on.

This is very reminiscent of My Best Friend's Wedding, but obviously, if Cameron Diaz's character wasn't involved.

I like the plot, two successful former best friends reconnect after their 10 year "if we're not married by 28, we get married to each other" calendar reminder goes off. The two haven't spoken in 10 years, and now they're forced together for the next week on a fashion shoot.

There's confusion. There's drama. There's awful managers. Ya know, the usual.

I will say, the one problem I have with this book is the timing. I think the photo shoot is something like 5 days? Maybe a week? People change a LOT in ten years, and the idea that they are still "in love" after all this time is what kills me. Maybe you're still hung up on that person. Maybe you've compared everyone you've dated to them. But you're not IN LOVE with them because that's a totally different human.

So I wish this would have had a longer storyline, but that's my own person preference.

All in all, a fun book and with Brittany Pressley as the narrator you really can't go wrong.