Cover Image: Last Summer

Last Summer

Pub Date:   |   Archive Date:

Member Reviews

Blurb given to publisher: “Last Summer is a deliciously dark and twisty tale that leaves you wondering who you should root for until the very end.”

Was this review helpful?

For some reason I looked at the cover of this book and thought fun beachy romance, right? last summer - ooh la la......definitely wrong - this is 100% women's contemporary thriller! And wowza it was the kind that has a billion flashbacks, secrets, amnesia, building of the story, multiple misleads, adventure, intrigue and a tiny romance. I always think thrillers make great audiobooks and this narration was really good! It's free with KU and as an ebook or audible!

Was this review helpful?

I'm a huge fan of her books. This one is no exception. I read it in one sitting, because I could not put it down! If you've never read her books, you should definitely start. You will NOT be disappointed! Highly recommend!

Was this review helpful?

This is my first book by Kerry Lonsdale and happy to say it won't be my last.

Ella seems to have the perfect life - a job she loves, a loving husband and beautiful home. The one thing she doesn't have are the memories of a car accident and the unborn child she lost in the accident. Ella is on a mission to recover her memories and find out what happened to her and her child. In order to unwind her memories, Ella meets up with Nathan - a mysterious man that she knows is from her past, but she isn't quite sure how he fits in.

There was an element of romance in this fast paced mystery that differentiated it from other books of this genre. This kept me turning the pages - couldn't wait to find out what happened to her missing memories

Was this review helpful?

I really liked this author and this book did not disappoint, it was an appropriately paced, page-turner that will have me hooked throughout the story.

Was this review helpful?

If you are looking for an escapist, light read, then this novel could very well be for you. I was in the mood for just such a book, yet this one left me underwhelmed.

I don't always have to like the characters in a book, but it does help. Ella, the protagonist here, came across as very self-involved, privileged, and lacking in moral fiber. She was supposedly in love with two men, her husband Damien (a cybersecurity tycoon), and Nathan (an outdoorsman TV celebrity). The men were similar in physical appearance, and she was attracted to both. So much that I would say she was in 'lust' with them, rather than in love.

The lost memories theme of the book was a tad far-fetched in my opinion. Ella had commissioned a cognitive scientist to deliberately and selectively suppress some of her memories. Of course, after that was done she had no memory of it... Now, she wants to know what happened last summer, and how those events brought her to her present situation.

If you like reading of privileged people, in luxurious and wealthy locales, then you'll enjoy this. I, on the other hand found it quite shallow. Some serious themes are raised in this novel. Themes like honesty, betrayal, deception and childlessness, but these themes are dealt with in a frivolous and salacious manner.

Unfortunately, this novel was not really for me. Don't let that deter you though if you like modern romance with beautiful people in luxurious locales.

Was this review helpful?

Well, it certainly took me long enough to read a book by Kerry Lonsdale, but I am not mad that I started with Last Summer. I expected this to be more along the lines of romance but was pleasantly surprised that while it does have some romance and steam, it was also very twisty! I loved the aspect of Ella's lost memory, and I loved the ride we go on as she tries to figure out what she forgot. Her husband Damien and celebrity adventurer Nathan are both super hunky and there is romance and some open-door steamy scenes which I know a lot of people are into. They never got too graphic which was nice for me but was just enough, and I loved Ella's chemistry with both of them. The story really is quite heartbreaking thanks to her losing her child, and I loved the blend of different genres. Lonsdale explores all sorts of heavier topics, including grief, and I definitely teared up more than once.

The audio of Last Summer is narrated by Cristina Panfilio, and while it was a little off for me, I still thought it was good. I loved Panfilio's voice for Ella, I just wasn't a huge fan of her chapter transitions. It is hard to explain, but I still think audiobook lovers would like it fine and it wasn't a bad audiobook by any means. There are so many times while reading this that my mouth dropped open and a couple of things actually gave me chills which I loved. I really enjoyed Lonsdale's writing and I can see why she is a favorite author for many people. I was glued to this story and it went pretty quick despite being a bit of a slow burn. Memory loss is thoroughly explored in Last Summer, but it is not your typical amnesia story and I loved every single one of the twists. I can't wait to read more by Lonsdale, and I am excited that she has such a great backlist!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

This book was amazing. Once i started, I could not put this down. This one kept me guessing until the very end.

Was this review helpful?

Open that beach bag back up and throw in Last Summer by Kerry Lonsdale! This one caught me off guard and left my eyebrows raised! Sizzling with mystery, deception, and a whole lot of intrigue, Ms Lonsdale’s latest novel is full of secrets between Ella and Damien, a complicated power couple who are struggling to find each other again after a car accident takes the life of their unborn baby and Ella’s memories. Immediately likable, you have so much hope for these two, then the secrets unfold with the turn of each page and the lies begin to catch up with them both. Last Summer was a fast-paced, attention-grabbing novel with an engrossing storyline. There was a lot going on with Ella and Damien - almost too much which is why I gave it 4 stars instead of 5… but I’m wondering if that “extra” is leading us into the rest of the story.

Was this review helpful?

Amazing! Is it possible that I like this story even more than the Everything Series by Kerry Lonsdale?? Memory is an amazing thing... people will remember weird things and also want to forget about things. I loved how Kerry wrote this story and all the little twists and turns; it makes you want to read well into the night (which I did many times!).

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for my honest review. All opinions are my own.

Having read and enjoyed most of Kerry Lonsdale’s novels, this one certainly did not disappoint. The premise, while common, came with several twists and turns that I couldn’t have predicted. The characters were very relatable and the angst in the pages was tangible. Lonsdale’s descriptions did an excellent job of painting the picture of the scenery, context, and plot. It has been a few months since I finished the book (I’m a delayed reviewer) and I can still picture the scenes and tap into the emotions evoked while reading this novel.

The big twist came right at the end – you need to keep reading and wait for it! You won’t be disappointed. I highly recommend reading Last Summer for a fun, quick, yet emotional read.

Was this review helpful?

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Was this review helpful?

Unfortunately, I have not been able to read and review this book.

After losing and replacing my broken Kindle and getting a new phone I was unable to download the title again for review as it was no longer available on Netgalley.

I’m really sorry about this and hope that it won’t affect you allowing me to read and review your titles in the future.

Thank you so much for giving me this opportunity.
Natalie.

Was this review helpful?

I received this ARC in exchange for an honest review. This book was amazing from start to finish. I couldn't put it down! I was surprised so many times during the story and the ending completely caught me off guard!
Like her other books, these characters are all too real. Their story is so in depth that you have to go back and read things a second time to make sure you caught it. I love that about Kerry's writing.

Was this review helpful?

What in the.... I did not see that ending coming and I was blown away. I loved this addictive story that kept me burning through the pages. I was so hooked that I did not want to stop the story, so I got it on audiobook, so I could keep listening while I was running errands. I burned through it in just over a day! A hit and a new favorite book!

Was this review helpful?

So well written a book I sat down to read a few pages and wound up reading late into the night.Tense emotional moving will be recommending,#netgalley#lakeunionpublishing

Was this review helpful?

When journalist Emma Skye comes to, she finds herself in the hospital. She doesn't remember why she is there but her husband, Damien, tells her she has been in a car accident. But there's more. She was five months pregnant with their baby, Simon, and he did not survive an emergency Caesarean delivery. Emma is shocked not from grief but because she doesn't remember Simon. She doesn't even remember being pregnant.

After she goes home, she tries to recover her memories. She remembers most things from her past. She remembers falling in love and marrying Damien, who is a technology superstar with his own cybersecurity firm. She remembers her parents dying when she was six as well as losing her best friend when she was fifteen. But the events leading up to the accident continue to elude her and for some reason Damien is reluctant to talk about it with her.

After going back to work, she receives a plum assignment. She is given the cover story of Nathan, a TV star who specializes in extreme sports. She is shocked to discover that she has been given the assignment because she had started it last summer but the article was unexpectedly pulled. She doesn't remember why nor does she remember Nathan.

When she goes to interview him, she has to confess that she doesn't remember him or their time together when she started the assignment. He definitely remembers her and from his reaction to her, apparently they had forged a close relationship. She doesn't know how close but her physical attraction to him and his to her suggests that it was more than professional. Could she have been in love with him? Did it have anything to do with her accident and loss of Simon?

Kerry Lonsdale has written an intriguing tale of a young professional woman, determined to have a career and a satisfying love life along with a family. She relates the issues in trying to have it all and the story twists and turns as Emma begins to realize that secrets can kill any relationship. Readers will find themselves plunging deeper into the story as it changes direction again and again. This book is recommended for readers of women's fiction.

Was this review helpful?

Ella writes for a prominent lifestyle magazine & interviews some of the most influential & well known people in the world. She is also married to a very handsome & successful man who adores her, Damien. When she wakes up after a week in the hospital following a car accident & miscarriage, she remembers nothing about what put her there. She goes back to work & tries to deal with the change in Damien since she told him about her memory loss, but it worries her. A celebrity who she'd interviewed the previous year requests she do another story on him, & as she spends time with him, her past begins to come back to her, but it isn't what she expected.

This was an interesting & well written story. It is a perfect beach read & I absolutely recommend it.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Kerry Lonsdale, and the publisher Lake Union Publishing for the free ARC I received in return for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Thank you to NetGalley and the Author and publisher for a copy of this ARC.The opinions expressed are my own.

Due to a extended illness I've gotten way behind on my reviews, so these are going to be short and sweet!


I loved this story. Read in one setting., Excellent plot, held my interest from first word. The characters were well liked and complex.
4 stars highly recommend

Was this review helpful?

This isn't my first Kerry Lonsdale novel, nor do I doubt it will be my last. Like it's predecessors Last Summer was a riveting novel that kept me on my toes from page one. Psychological twists and turns, love, suspense all thrown into a masterly crafted work of literature. Ella faces memory loss after a terrible accident that leaves her without a child, Damien, her husband is by her side through it all. Both partners are high profile in their own rights, he owns a cybersecurity firm, she a free lance writer for a major magazine. Secrets unfold, as Ella tries to remember or forget why she forgot her son in the first place. Deception is beautifully worked into this piece as well, and when it hits you sit back and go whoa where did that come from? I could not put this down once I started it. Bravo!

Was this review helpful?