Thank you NetGalley, Harlequin Trade Publishing and author Karen White for the advanced copy of this e-book.

That Last Carolina Summer centers around Phoebe who has returned home for the summer to help care for her ailing mother. She has a strained relationship at best with her mother, made more complicated by her mother’s rapid descent into dementia.

Phoebe also clashes with her older sister Addie who is an absentee mother to her 9 y/o daughter and is unreliable and engaging in self-destructive behavior.

Phoebe begins to rely on an older woman she has befriended named Celeste who has been mourning the disappearance of her granddaughter decades earlier. Celeste’s grandson Liam is also the boy, now man who saved Phoebe when she was struck by lightning when they were children. Add in some premonition-like dreams for Phoebe, the complicated relationships in every direction, and you have our story.

Overall, I enjoyed this read. The storyline and relationships were interesting, but a bit predictable. The pacing was also a bit inconsistent, although the slower paced moments in the book did help to reinforce that hot hazy oppressive heat of summers in the south. The pacing for the last 1/3 of the book picked up, and the ending of the book recaptured my attention. 3.5/5 Stars - rounded up to 4.

Karen White’s That Last Carolina Summer is the ultimate true southern fiction. It’s a story that has family secrets, second chances, caring for a parent and a bit if romance. Each chapter is told in the characters voice. I enjoyed this book very much and couldn’t put it down. A great beach read. Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing/Park Row.

Phoebe, teacher in Oregon, travels home to Charleston SC for the summer. There’s always been conflicts with her and her sister Addie. Phoebe has the gift of premonition from a lightning strike. The story deals with family tensions, dementia of her mother, solving a disappearance through her dreams, and finding romance. Good ending

I enjoyed this story about sisters, secrets and estrangement. It gave beautiful descriptions of the Low country, South Carolina. The bird facts to begin each chapter was a lovely bonus. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC.

This was the my first time reading this author and I will definitely pick up more! The cover is what drew me in! So glad it caught my eye! What a beautiful yet heartbreaking story. There were so many layers to this story and the characters and it was all done SO WELL! I found that I couldn't wait to get back to the story to see what happened next.

I have read a great deal of books written by Karen White, both stand alone and series. Having been born in Charleston and lived my whole life in South Carolina, the low country is my favorite story location and speaks to my soul. This book takes you on quite a journey on an emotional roller coaster. Complicated family dynamics are a reality and hard to read sometimes but make this story what it is. A mystery woven in is always a plus for me and completes this story. That Last Carolina Summer is written in true Karen White style and a heart warming read.

That Last Carolina Summer was a fun summer read filled with the feeling of coming home, family drama, and a bit of mystery. The imagery was gorgeous. Charleston and South Carolina were vividly described. White's writing made me feel like I was right there alongside the characters. The story and the characters relationships were intriguing.

The narrators, Phoebe and Celeste, weren't related but were connected in many ways. Phoebe's relationships with her mother, sister Addie, and niece Ophelia were especially interesting to me. I wished at times that this story had been told from their points of view. Not having this story narrated that way kept things mysterious, but I found myself wanting a little more. Celeste had her own family history and story that influenced her relationship with Phoebe and the others. She had something she wanted and was trying to get it while also creating meaningful relationships.
Phoebe and Celeste's lives were intertwined in ways they never expected, and I enjoyed reading their thoughts on it all.

Honestly, the only thing I struggled with a bit in this book was the pace. It felt a little slow at times. The story took a long time to unfold when I could guess most of what was led up to in the end. That didn't stop my enjoyment of this book, though. The way the story unraveled was entertaining, and it was a pleasure to read another Karen White book.

I absolutely devoured this book! This story of family and the secrets they keep was intense. The dual-POV between two characters who meet randomly, but whose lives are interconnected was something I rarely see, but enjoyed.
The development of all of the characters in this novel was great. Seeing how both sisters interact and deal with their mother’s illness, among issues from their past was done very well. Typically I struggle with mysteries, but the ending was well done- everything wrapped up in a way that both did and did not surprise me. I was hooked on every twist and turn, every plot line, and every bird fact.

Thank you Netgalley and Park Row for the chance to read an ARC of That last Carolina summer by Karen White. While I normally tend to stay away from books that deal with dementia/Alzheimer's in parents, this book intrigued me and I am so glad I requested it. It's a beautiful but emotional story of two sisters who have been estranged when the younger, Phoebe moves across the country, until her sister Addie calls her to come home because their Mom is sick. Phoebe is shocked to discover how bad the family situation has become with their Mom, while Addie seems to be denying anything is wrong. The story is set in the Carolina marshes, told by Addie, and Celeste, whose family has been linked with Phoebe's for years. I didn't want to put this book down, and read late into the night to finish. Recommend this for anyone who love Where the crawdad's sing.

That Last Carolina Summer brings you to the lush Southern marshes of South Carolina in a way that makes you feel as if you are there with the characters.

Karen White is a master of her craft and has a way of making you feel the emotions of her characters and falling in love with them. Mrs. White deals with some tough topics in this novel with such tenderness. Dementia and familial relationships can be hard to navigate and to portray with emotional depth but it is done expertly with this novel.

The story of Phoebe, Addie, and Celeste and how they are all tied together by the past has something for everyone. A little bit of mystery, romance, and adventure all rolled into one. I highly recommend this book to anyone and will continue to read every book that Mrs. Karen White writes.

I love when a book summary for an author I’m not familiar with draws me in and provides me with a heartwarming story and a definite desire to read more books by the author. The Last Carolina Summer is a story of family, past history, emotional experiences, with a bit of the supernatural thrown in. Phoebe the younger sister of the family grows up feeling insignificant beside her beautiful older sister Addie. Phoebe also has the problem of premonition dreams after being struck by lightning as a young girl. After college to free herself from dreams and family she moves across the country to make her own way. Then Addie calls demanding she come home during Phoebe’s summer break from teaching because she needs help with their mother acting erratically. Phoebe comes home to face a home in chaos where she finds herself the responsible adult dealing with her sister who just doesn’t seem to have it together with seemingly a very poor opinion of herself, a mother slipping into dementia, and aniece, Ophelia, without parental guidance. It’s a summer of challenges, the resurfacing of a dream, past history, old mysteries, and healing. Love the characters, love the plot, love the setting. Highly recommended for a very enjoyable read.

That Last Carolina Summer is a beautifully written story of complicated relationships that form you. Karen White manages to combine the supernatural (Phoebe was struck by lightning as a child and had premonition dreams afterwards), family dynamics (a sister who moves as far away as possible from the shadow of a beautiful pageant sibling, society mother, and father who ruled ruled the house), love (the boy turned man who saved her after the lightning strike), and the pull of family duty.

As a younger sister who didn't feel seen and the daughter of a parent with dementia, this book touched places that I hadn't realized I felt. I read Karen White years ago and was reminded of her storytelling and methods of writing emotion that feels authentic without being closing.

I highly recommend this book and will be looking for more from Karen White.

I was given an advanced reader copy of this title by the publisher in exchange for an honest review . Enjoyed this book more than I expected to. Loved the characters and plot development .

A young girl, Phoebe, gets struck by lightning and since there, she has an unique gift of premonition. As an adult, she is called home by her sister, Addie, to help with their aging mother. Phoebe is trying to help but Addie is in denial which is causing a larger rift. Addie's young daughter has been basically raising herself since her grandmother has started losing herself. Throw in an age old mystery of a teenager who disappeared when Addie was the same age and the reoccurring dreams Phoebe has that might lead to what happened to her.

Karen White always has characters that I can related to, which really makes me appreciate the story.

Amazing book! I was captivated from the synopsis but I couldn’t have imagined how beautiful this book is. I loved Phoebe so much- she reminded me of a ray of sunshine- albeit one who was trying to find her way with her gifts. This book was like a warm hug with an ominous undertone

Thank you to @netgalley and @harlequintradepublications for the advanced copy! This book gave me all the feels. There were times I laughed out loud, times I was so sad I cried, times I was a dry and felt it in my bones. I felt like I knew the characters. I felt like I was in the story and experiences all the emotions. Thank you for this beautiful story!

Emotional, atmospheric, and full of Southern charm. Karen White weaves a touching story of family secrets, second chances, and the kind of summer that changes everything. The setting felt alive, the characters were layered, and the ending left me a little teary—in the best way.

I love Karen White. This was a great stand alone!

A perfect read for fans of small-town drama and heart-tugging stories. Thank you NetGalley and the author for allowing me to read and review this early!

Thanks to NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book. It was so heartwarming. I loved this story of family, both those you are born into and those you accept into your life. The bit of magical realism worked for me too. I will definitely be checking out more from this author.

A Southern summer brings two sisters back together as they deal with their mother's worsening dementia. Phoebe comes back from Oregon, facing her early years when she was struck by lightning near the water by their childhood home. Ever since that strike, she has had dreams that sometimes reveal glimpses of future events. Phoebe reconnects with Liam, who gave Phoebe CPR right after the strike. Now, he is a successful doctor who helps care for Phoebe's mother. Phoebe also connects with Liam's grandmother Celeste who has dealt with her share of loss as well. Emotions of all sorts bubble up as the summer evolves and secrets begin to be revealed.

"That Last Carolina Summer" by Karen White is a charming beach read, especially for anyone spending time in the Lowcountry. I loved all the local references—they made the setting come alive and added a special layer of connection for Southern readers. This is a great book for anyone who’s ever wondered if you can truly go home again. Heartfelt, nostalgic, and full of Southern charm.