What would you choose to do if you only had about 6 months to live? One last glorious summer. Harriet was dying of cancer. She wanted to spend her last summer with her very best friends in the world, and occasionally her daughter. She rented a historic priory in Somerset, England. The description of the priory and the area, including the seaside, are mouth-watering beautiful. It makes you want to be there yourself! When you only have 6 months left to live, it's not a time for secrets. It's a time to bare your soul, to share your deepest thoughts and feelings but with others. But, can Harriet bring herself to do that? No, she keeps the secret that she's dying from her friends for most of the summer. Will they find out? How will they find out? This book is about friendship, love, the choices we make and discovering what is important in life. That summer changed the lives of all. The hours I spent reading this story were delightful.

* I received a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for a review. That did not influence my review; my review is an honest review.

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A very moving story about Harriet and her 2 friends spending what will be Harriet's last summer together. A beautiful well told story but one that didn't lean to much on the cancer part of the story. Yes it was sad in parts but I think they main part was the friendships and figuring out to enjoy your life in the best way you can.

A book about death and dying, friendship, and loyalty set in a beautiful location for one last summer. How do you tell your best friends that you are dying, that this is the end of their long-lasting friendship? At first Harrie tries to pretend that nothing is amiss, but it's hard to hide the ravages of cancer. I think the lesson here is that you need to trust your friends with the truth, no matter how difficult,

I have read all of Victoria’s books, loved them, and recommend them!

One Last Summer is very well-written and, as in other books, Victoria deals with real-life subjects with enormous empathy and tact. We see three old friends – Harrie, Lisa, and Audrey – spending the summer together in a beautiful rented country house, but there is a specific reason for this. One of the friends is terminally ill and wants one last summer with her friends.

Unfortunately, I am still grieving the loss of my own father so I did find parts of the book quite difficult and had to skim-read them, but this doesn’t alter my recommendation because my personal situation isn’t the same as everyone else’s.

I highly recommend One Last Summer as a beautifully-written story of friendship and feelings.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for an advance reader copy in return for an honest review.

Perfect Summer. Given the premise of this book, one would expect a "perfect summer" story - and to a point, that is what you find here. But this "perfect summer" also has quite a bit of drama as our central character fights with herself over how much to share of her situation and when. There is quite a bit of laughter and even some hijinx. There is an epic "last supper". But overall, there aren't the tears that maybe one would expect with a story with this premise. Maybe it is the male in me, but I've rarely had trouble connecting with female centric stories before, so I doubt it. Overall a solid tale, one that deserves to be read and explored. Looking forward to the next book from this author. :)

I received an early preview copy of this book from Netgalley in return for an honest review.

Harrie is diagnosed with terminal cancer and only has months to live. She decided to make her last summer memorable and rents an old priory for her and her two best friends, Audrey and Lisa. She intends to break the news to them that she is dying. It's been 7 years since they all met up, and Lisa is still drifting through life, dissatisfied with how it's turned out. Audrey is a workaholic, who is on the verge of health problems as a result.
Hattie finds that she can't break the news to her friends because of the stresses that they are suffering from. She struggles to keep her illness a secret, while she is helping her friends. Her last summer is not turning out how she wanted it to.
The subject of cancer is obviously a sad and emotional subject. The author is sympathetic and gentle with her writing. It is well-written and sensitive, although it is poignant in places.
The setting of the priory in the Somerset countryside is perfect. It is relaxing and soothing, which helps the characters to calm down, and assess their friendship.
Despite the subject, the writing flows well and it is absorbing. I would recommend this book.

The beautiful cover is what originally drew my attention to this book. Once I started reading it, I was hooked on the author's words. It's a sad story but it was well written without being outright depressing.

Harrie is the voice of the story and we learn that this will be her last summer due to a terminal illness. She decides to spend the summer at a priory with her two very best friends who do not know about her illness.

We get her thoughts and fears and I could imagine how hard it was to tell her friends, Audrey and Lisa. They are the type of friends where you can go for years without seeing each other and then it's like you've never been parted. It's a story of secrets, trust, sadness, friendships, but most of all, there is love.

This is a special kind of book and I found it hard to put down. Looking forward to reading more of this "new to me" author. I would recommend One Last Summer!

* I was provided an ARC to read from the publisher and NetGalley. It was my decision to read and review this book.

Publisher's description: "Harriet Greenleaf dreams of spending the summer in a beautiful ancient priory on the Somerset coast with her two best friends—but her dream is bittersweet. On the one hand, it’s a chance to reconnect three lives that have drifted apart; on the other, she has a devastating secret to share that will change everything between them forever.

"First to arrive is Audrey—the workaholic who’s heading for a heart attack unless she slows down and makes time for herself. Then Lisa, the happy-go-lucky flirt who’s always struggled to commit to anyone—or anything. Ever the optimist, can Harriet remind them of the joy in their lives and the importance of celebrating good friendship before it’s gone?

"Through the highs and lows of a long, glorious summer, these three women will rediscover what it means to be there for each other—before they face the hardest of goodbyes."

This is the first book I have read by this author, and I have seen all the positive reviews. I wanted to like it based on the description, but I wasn't impressed. We know from the outset how this book is going to end. Harrie has terminal cancer, and she wants to spend her last summer with her two best friends, Audrey and Lisa. I expected this to be three friends spending their days reminiscing, thinking about the good times they had, the challenges they experienced, reliving their time as friends. Instead, it felt like they spent more time apart than together. It felt depressing and preachy instead of introspective, and I just didn't enjoy it.

I also have to wonder where on earth Harrie earned what seems a ridiculous amount of money for a teacher and a single mom. Even if she saved every spare penny, the amount she spent to rent out a priory for the entire summer, to lavish her friends with gifts. And at one point, she tells her friends about all of the things on her bucket list that she did with her daughter after her first diagnosis. I just can't believe it. I know healthcare in the UK is different than in the US, so she wouldn't have had those expenses, but it's not like teachers in the UK make a ton of money.

I'm sure there are others who will love this, but it was definitely not for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a free advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This novel was beautiful and heartbreaking at the same time. It also hit very close to home, as I am about the age of the three main characters. I spent a good bit of the end of the book teary-eyed. Harrie, Audrey, and Lisa have been friends for almost 30 years. They haven’t been together as much the past few years and Harrie decides to rent a large, beautiful old house in the English countryside where they can spend the summer together, enjoying each other and their time together.
This was a beautifully written novel that deals with a subject that could be difficult or depressing, but the author did a wonderful job of keeping it out of that realm, while, at the same time, keeping it realistic. Victoria Connelly’s writing made me feel I was there with them and her characters were three-dimensional and felt like they could be anyone I knew. This novel has made an impression on me, giving me a lot to think about. It is going to linger in my thoughts for quite some time.
#OneLastSummer #VictoriaConnelly #LakeUnion

Harrie has been best friends with Angela and Lisa since they trained as teachers together.

Arranged by Harrie, the friends are now spending ‘one last summer’ at a beautiful priory in Somerset where they are looked after by the fearsome, but protective Mrs Ryder. The house and grounds are described in such a way that the reader can sense the calm and tranquil atmosphere Harrie was aiming for.

As the story progresses, we learn more about the three main characters; their humour, their frustrations, their sorrows, their loyalty to each other and their futures.

It was written in a style that felt positive, even though I did shed the odd tear.

A best friend is someone you can count on no matter what. This book is about Harrie who has called on her best friends to spend the summer with her at a beautiful priory. She has a desire to make the most of "One Last Summer" with the friends she has loved and lived life with. Although it's been six years since the friends were together, they meet back up just like they had seen each other the day before. Like nothing had changed....but things had changed.
For me this is a story about friendships and taking life on with each other through thick and thin. Ms. Connelly took me along the summer journey with emotions that pulled at my heart. Her narrative with Harrie and the deep, personal thoughts she was thinking had me thinking, too. The spectrum of emotions she went through, the "last" thoughts of things she would do or see, the agony of what to say to those she loved. It's a book that will have you reflecting on life. Every day is a gift.
"One of the hardest lessons to learn in life was how to turn tomorrow into today. Harrie hoped she'd learned how to do it."
"It's the same with regrets. I think it's sad that people have them because everything we experience, everything we feel, makes us who we are and that's a truly unique person."
I want to thank LU, Netgalley and Ms. Connelly for the opportunity to read this book. It's a well written novel of friendships that are forever.

This is such a good, inspiring, sad, emotional, touching, insightful, loving, heart wrenching, beautiful book. From the very first page to the very last word you won’t be able to put it down. It will touch your heart and soul in ways that you won’t soon forget. I cried so hard in places then laughed out loud in others. The three main characters in this book are so wonderful. So loving to each other and so hell bent on having a great summer despite the outcome of one’s life. The love of friends is endless. The friendships here are so beautiful and so inspiring. From college to the end of one’s days they are the best of friends. Even after they will reign as the best of friends.

A mother, daughter, best friend. Harrie just wants one more summer with her best friends. Just one more chance to have time with them and tell them what is going on. How do you plan your life for the end. To tell the ones you love that you will be leaving them and that you are ready to go. That you love them and will miss them dearly. How to you tell your best friends to move on and enjoy, cherish life before it’s to late. Harrie is just that kind of friend. She has always put everyone before herself. She’s kind to a fault almost.

Each woman is special in her own right. Each has dreams and loves the others deeply. It’s a story of true friends who would do anything for each other.

This book made me weep in parts and wonder if any of the people I have known who had cancer felt like Harrie. Did they know it would be their last time here. Did they enjoy their time? Or did they hide scared. I don’t have a clue how I would handle it but hope that if I did I would be like Harrie. Strong and outgoing. Take a chance and love life. Live it. Eat it. Drink it. Enjoy...

I have to thank NetGalley, Lake Union, and the wonderful author Victoria Connelly for this beautiful written book. It’s a definite 5 stars and should be way more. Thank you for the honor of reading this.

I highly recommend it. The characters are all likable. You won’t find fault with a single one. It came from the heart. At the end, the Author’s Notes is a must read also. It was a very touching tribute.

I loved it!!!

I laughed and cried my way through this book. It is a beautifully written story about love and friendship and what matters in life. I would definitely recommend this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for my copy.

Harrie, Audrey, and Lisa are three very different women but they are united in their love for one another. Harrie, who is dying of cancer, brings them back together after too long apart. The ancient priory near the sea is a good setting for this story that might seem familiar but for the characters. It's still special because each woman has realistic quirks and because it's not all hugs and kisses- Audrey and Lisa pick at each other a lot. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. It' a good read that never gets overly sentimental but always emphasizes the importance of friendship.

I never read her, so I wanted to give her a try. I loved this book! I could not put down! Had to keep reading. Looking forward to reading more of her books.

A very thought provoking book, Harriet dealing with terminal cancer, but she seems to be more concerned about her friends than herself. A lovely story about the interaction between the friends. It was done in a very sensitive way avoiding the clinical side of things and focusing on feelings. A pleasure to read a book that is not looking to sensational or shock..

Grab an entire box of tissues because you're going to need it...three friends (all of whom are extremely different now that life happened) decide to spend an entire summer together on the beach and reconnect. There are funny moments, trying moments, and sad moments. This book was a pure joy to read that left my heartstrings tugged in all kinds of directions. Ms. Connelly outdid herself with this one! Lastly, thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to read this wonderful book.

DNF at 20%.
I don't know but this story is not for me. It's too sad and disturbing and the plot basically has nothing to offer except the friendship of the three leads.
You kind of know from the start what would happen at the end. I tried to connect with the story but nothing happened at all. The story is so slow and depresses the mood completely and there seems to be no reason to continue reading because I can predict easily what happens next.

A perfect summer-filled read for softies: heartrending and hilarious.

Victoria Connelly's books are always a treat to read. From the opening page you know this is going to be a lovely, light read with heart. One Last Summer is an uplifting story, joyous at times despite its subject. Forty-something teacher Harrie knows it is going to be her last summer and intends to make it a perfect one. She invites her two best friends Lisa and Audrey to join her at historic Melbury Priory in rural Somerset for the whole summer holidays. She hasn't told her friends about her diagnosis, hoping they will relax and enjoy themselves together until she finds the right moment to drop her bombshell.

Victoria describes the ancient priory and its beautiful gardens so well you feel you'd enjoy a dip in the pool or chilling in the priory garden yourself. Emotions are depicted vividly. You feel Harrie's pain when it sinks in that this really is her last summer and her joy when her daughter, Honor, comes to stay.

Not everything goes to plan. Housekeeper Mrs Ryder seems frosty, Audrey can't leave work behind and Lisa gets in a huff when her friends tease her about Alfie, the handsome young gardener. There's lots of relaxing time together though and Harrie enjoys bringing taciturn stonemason Samson Haverstock out of his shell!

The story hinges on what happens when Harrie finally plucks up the courage to tell her friends her secret, how they react and help each other deal with the devastating news.

I loved Harrie and Sampson's interactions, especially his lasting gift to her. So many other scenes to enjoy, from Honor's tears with her mother to the three friends (and Mrs Ryder) trying on all the gorgeous gowns for a very special event.

Keep those tissues handy!

A bittersweet story about a group of friends enjoying one last summer together.
The author has created a set of likeable characters with rounded personalities you can warm to,this includes the minor ones such as Sampson.
The author handles Harrie's diagnosis well and I liked that she didn't introduce any clichéd romances to mar the storyline.
My only disappoint that a story about death didn't make me cry.