One Last Summer

Harrie needs to reconnect with her two best friends. Time is of the essence.
Harrie rents a special old Priory for the entire upcoming summer and invites Audrey and Lisa to join her in the hope of creating new memories together and rekindling their friendship. She also needs to reveal a secret that will change all of them.
The gardens, the chapel, the architecture are breathtaking and the ladies find new goals, new spirit and new memories in this sacred summer space.
"Could she hope to still live in the memory of those she had known?" Harrie will try.
This is a thought provoking novel of love, friendship and truth. I loved the details of the beautiful surroundings that the characters resided in for the summer.
I could feel each women's emotion as the plot began to unfold.

Victoria Connelly is an author I just discovered through this NetGalley request and I'll be adding additional copies of her titles to my to-be-read shelf. While reading One Last Summer I laughed, I cried, and I wanted to call each and every one of my friends who has ever meant the world to me and to also live life to the fullest as if tomorrow were an unexpected gift.

It was a moving tale with flawed characters (man, I wanted to smack those girls sometimes) which made them feel very real. The prose was descriptive and I felt like I too was vacationing alongside friends of the heart, experiencing their pain, their frustration, their happiness, their sorrow, the complexities of daily life, and the heartache of knowing you're about to lose someone near and dear, but are powerless to stop it.

Clean and evocative - a plus for fellow readers who are selective in their choices - no sex scenes, no swearing. It was however packed full of feeling and the intricacies of friendship. Highly recommend!

Published by Amazon Publishing UK, Publication date February 5, 2019

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and/or author through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#OneLastSummer #NetGalley

Harriet has two best friends, Lisa and Audrey, who, thru time and life, have been distanced. She has a grand plan to rent a Priory for 6 weeks and get caught up with her friends. This time together comes with it a huge secret that Harrie needs to share with them. If you had One Last Summer, how would you handle it?

Not your typical love story, but a love story of friendship and family. This book will leave a huge lump in your throat. Quick and emotional read, some parts seem drawn out but it all comes together nicely in the end. Beautiful descriptions of the Priory and the grounds.

Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC. All opinions are mine alone.

Also reviewed on BookBub.

An emotional reading and it makes you question what would you do with one last summer left. I found the book depressing and slightly boring in places. This just wasn't the book for me and I'm afraid I didn't enjoy it, Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for letting me review this book.

Thank you NetGallery, the publisher and author, Victoria Connelly, for the opportunity to read a arc of “One Last Summer.” This is my honest review.
I found this book to be a heartwarming story about friendship, love and finding the truth. It’s a very emotional read that I very much enjoyed reading. Beautiful love story about family and friendship.
If you had “one last summer” how would you imagine it playing out for you?

This book was difficult to read. A young person with a terminal illness, is not an entertaining subject, but Harrie’s handling of he4 situation was courageous. She brings her two best friends, to an old Abbey that she rents for the summer, to tell them, and spend her las summer with them.
This is about courage, friendship, love and the need to be with those you love best, in times of loss. Set in an ancient restored Abbey, Victoria Connelly shows off the beauty of the old, the magnificent gardens, the camaraderie that good food provides and how we handle pain and loss that can provide
healing.
I received an ARC from Lake Union Publishers for my review. It’s a worthy read.

This was a warmly written story of three friends spending a last holiday together. Set in beautiful Somerset, the characters were believable and the story compelling. I enjoyed this novel very much and would certainly read others from the author.

This is my first book I have read by Victoria Connelly and I really enjoyed it. I just wanted to keep reading and reading! It really was full of emotion. It really made me want to call up old friends or my sister and get away! . I would love to be able to plan a retreat with my friends and get away from day to day life and really relax. Harrie is a great loving character who was coming to terms with her life by planning a summer get away with her best friends and I could feel they were really having a great time. I would recommend this book for sure. Thank you Victoria and NetGalley for the chance to read his great book.

This is a lovely book about life, friends and re-connecting along with joy and sadness. The descriptive writing is beautifully done. Although the main topic is terminal illness, I think the author explores the idea that keeping such information to oneself is cutting off the people you love.

One Last Summer is a sad story about last chances. While the story is touching and relatable, it's too depressing for my taste.

Harriet Greenleaf has terminal cancer and has come to terms with her prognosis, supported by her daughter, even though she has once survived her breast cancer. Now the cancer is incurable and she knows this will be her last opportunity she has to be with her family and friends. She decides to treat her two best friends to a summer of reigniting their friendship which started when they were at university training to be teachers. Her two friends are very different: Audrey is a workaholic who has just founded her own school and is burnt out with all the problems of setting up her own business. Lisa, once a TV actress in a popular sitcom, loves her yoga. She is vibrant, flirty and is just rolling on with her life going nowhere. Her two friends are unaware of her ongoing health issues and delighted with their summer holiday reunion plans. Isn’t it sad when a busy life interferes with your friendships? So the invitations go out and the summer lies tantalisingly ahead.
Harrie has rented a beautiful ancient priory in the Somerset countryside. It’s so tranquil and peaceful, just the sort of place for the four of them to relax. She wants to break her news to her dearest friends and create new memories, but only when the time is right. Her daughter will be joining them for some of the time: it will be quality time for them all to share fond memories and reminisce over their past joyful and carefree times. Only when the time comes Harrie finds it difficult to unburden herself. She doesn’t want to upset her friends. It’s certainly a subject she finds more and more difficult to broach.
This poignant story has such a beautiful ending and I really enjoyed the wonderful storytelling. The setting was just right for the occasion and together the friends look to their futures and access what they could still make of their lives. I received a complimentary copy of this novel from Lake Union Publishing through my membership of NetGalley. Thank you for my copy sent in return for an honest and unbiased review. It’s a quick read and also the characters are very endearing. It’s a 3.5* review from me.

I suggest having a box of tissues handy when you read this book!

After reading this book I've definitely done a lot of reflection on my life and what I've deemed "important." I suspect that many of those things would change if I were diagnosed with a terminal illness, like the main character in this book. Harriet knows she is dying and spends one last summer with her two best friends and her daughter. She focuses on the simple pleasures in life - walking barefoot in the grass, listening to the wind in the trees, and enjoying the feeling of the rain on her head.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for providing a copy for review.

When I started reading the book I wasn't sure I would like it. A book about a terminally ill character seemed like it wouldn't be something I would enjoy being someone who suffers from a terminal illness but I was wrong.

Meeting Harrie and her two best friends Lisa and Audrey was fun, enlightening and very interesting. With three very different personalities and life getting to know these three women were entertaining.

first, there is Lisa and aging actress that is prone to drama. From her, I learned that life can change and that you can pursue your dreams at any age.

Audrey is a workaholic and from her, I learned that you need to slow down and enjoy life.

Finally, there is Harrie a mom and friend suffering from an illness that is life-threatening. From her, I learned to make each moment count. I also learned that in trying to protect those close to you-you really only hurt them.

This book was not only a great read it was a life lesson. it was a book that teaches, entertain=s and inside. I highly recommend if you are looking to read something unique and different that will take you on an emotional rollercoaster through life this is your book.

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the eARC.
This book was quite emotional and sweet. Harris is dying of cancer and wants to spend one last summer with her best friends. She has hired a beautiful ancient prior so as to spend quality time with her beloved friends for the last days of her life.
Knowing she is fatally ill, she is reluctant to tell her friends until the end of summer. With a heroic attempt to keep negative thoughts at bay, she tries to absorb all the love that surrounds her and soak in the beauty of her surroundings.
The story is a wistful one and a quick read. I enjoyed it, even though the ending was obvious. 3.5 stars.

What a beautiful, poignant, intense, thought-provoking, inspirational story this is! I am a great fan of Victoria Connelly and I think she has done a brilliant job. In fact, I think this is her best book so far. The English countryside she so masterfully depicts in her novels gives only a little respite to the dramatic story unfolding before our very eyes. Such a sad topic and yet so poetic. Heartbreaking and yet so positive. It makes you think and it'll stay with me for a long time.

What would you do if you had only one last summer left ?
Harriet, Audrey and Lisa have been friends for a very long time. Sharing highs and lows over the years!
Since it’s been 6 years since they’ve spent any quality time together , Harriet rents an old Abbey ( which is being restored) to spend the summer with them. Not letting them know that this will be her last summer , as she has terminal cancer .
These ladies were so different but are exactly what one needs, although at times I wanted to yell at them and then hug them.
This is the story of friendship, love and courage .
This is my first book by Victoria Connelly and it won’t be my last !

3.5 stars
This is a pretty sad story to read about a woman who is terminally ill, acknowledges her time left and wants to spend the summer with her best friends and adult daughter. Harrie has kept the knowledge of her illness from her friends for many years but time is running out and she wants to really enjoy what time she has left with those who are important to her. Harrie wants a summer of carefree days at an ancient Priory with those who mean the most to her.
Thank you NetGalley, the publisher and the author for an ARC of One Last Summer. This is an honest review.

Harrie has a terminal illness and her childhood friends Lisa and Audrey don't know yet. She wants to spend one last summer holiday with them all together. Although I beautifully written book, I did find it a bit depressing, and maybe would have enjoyed and appreciated the emotion at a another time.

I loved this book, I love Somerset and this book made me feel like I was there. The setting was wonderful and where I would to be.

The characters were lovely and I wanted to eavesdrop on everyone’s conversations when they were now longer recorded. This is a very brave book on a tough subject and really made me think.

To be very honest, I wasn't very engaged in this book for the first several chapters. I think the reason is that for the other Victoria Connelly books I've read, I had the audiobooks available and was therefore able to multitask while listening to the book. With this one, the audiobook was not available to me and I had to make time to actually sit and read the book. That's on me, not the author.

In terms of content, the book started off very slowly for me, which is why I gave it only four stars. I wasn't sure I could stick with it although I liked the premise of the book. I didn't feel invested in the story itself until around halfway through. After that, I really began to enjoy the relationship among the women and with the other, more peripheral characters. I became interested in each of the three central characters and was curious about their personal development as the book progressed. The ending was somewhat satisfying, although I was curious about some of the peripheral characters that were not mentioned at the end.

That said, this was a good read and I will continue to read this author's work. I will, however, wait until I have the audiobook to make best use of them.

Oñe of tose books that I just didn't want to end. A definite must read and I shall be exploring Victoria Connelly's other novels for sure. A story of friendship, love , memories and making more memories. I loved the characters Harrie who has a secret, Audrey who works too hard and Lisa, who is spiritual and needs to follow her own advice and follow her dream...and Harries daughter Honor who makes an appearance. I loved the ending....intact I loved everything about this book!! Enjoy

A somewhat short and very easy to read book. Quite emotional as the central character, Harrie, is dying of terminal cancer and she wishes to spend her last summer with her friends so in that respect quite thought provoking if one was in the same position. She tries to keep her illness a secret, which I can understand, but eventually her situation is found out. However, overall, I found the characters a little flat and there is quite a lot of dialogue which I found a little tedious and annoying in places.

There is a lot to take away from this book whether one is in the unfortunate position of having Harrie's prognosis or a family member or friend.

Strong friendships are at the center of this emotional roller coaster of a book. Aside from the idyllic setting, this book takes you on a journey of lifelong friendships, love and truth. Set in a beautifully described ancient Priory, this book will move you and make you want to call your best friend 'just because".

This isn't the first Victoria Connelly book I've read, and although I always enjoy her work, I thought One Last Summer shows how her writing has matured. It's beautifully written. Although you might think reading about a woman who is terminally ill would be depressing, Connelly writes in such a way that the sadness and poignancy is tempered by many uplifting moments. I couldn't help but hoping that there would be a twist at the end, but the ending is fitting. It's a good read, and I loved the introspection, on mindfulness, doing what you love, feeling grateful for the small things, taking more notice of nature . . . I felt not long after starting this book that I'd put on a comfortable jumper - I knew I was in safe hands and settled down to enjoy Harrie's story and that of her friends.

With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Very intense and selfless view of a patient that has a terminal disease. Emotional, fun at times and full of love for friends and family. Great read!! Really enjoyed it!

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.

Harriet Greenleaf invites her two best friends for one last summer holiday together. She’s rented a 13th century priory that has been converted into a B&B. She and her friends haven’t spent a summer holiday together in six years, in fact, they’ve barely seen each other during those six years. Audrey, the workaholic, has been too busy with her startup business to spend time doing anything but work. Lisa is still chasing her dream of becoming an actress even though she’s been reduced to making commercials for products no one uses just to make ends meet. When they come together at the priory, they tell themselves that their friendship hasn’t changed over the years. One of them, however, knows that even that’s true, her secret, when shared, will forever change their friendship.

The story is told through Harriet’s first-person view. She tells us of the sniping that Lisa and Audrey can’t seem to stop doing, and which may get tiresome for some readers. Using the first-person, Connelly may have limited her story too much. We don’t get to see Audrey’s and Lisa’s reactions to the reunion through their own eyes.

This is a well-written book and will capture the reader from page one. And while we know what the secret is and who’s secret it is to tell, we keep reading. The story and the three women are somewhat stereotypical, it’s the writing that keeps us reading into the late hours of the night.

Very deep and sad story. A woman dying invites her two best friends to a beautiful house for the summer to spend and enjoy time together. However she does not tell they she is dying, they all learn lots of things while together.

Thanks to netgalley for an early copy in return for an honest review
Iam a great fan of Victoria Connelly and this book was literally OUTSTANDING
Covering a very sensitive subject can be difficult but this was done so tastefully and with great dignity
Harrie Lisa Audrey had the most magical summer this book deserves more stars than I can give can highly recommend to friends and family
A real TRUMPET-TOOTING EXTRAVAGANZA OF A BOOK

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 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..

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.

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 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.

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!!!

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.

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.

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.

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.

https://nolagurlreads.blogspot.com/2019/02/one-last-summer.html

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,

This book was the story of 3 friends that is good so emotionally you feel it in your soul. I received this book as an ARC from Netgalley for my honest review. I laughed I cried and felt apart of them. Very well written and touching on so many levels. I couldn't put this down. Grab a cozy spot and a box of tissues and read this book! I definitely recommend it !

Harriet has rented a priory for the summer and has invited her two best friends Audrey and Lisa to join her. She is hoping they can reconnect and deepen the friendship these ladies have had since college. The all gather at the beautiful priory and their journey begins. What Audrey and Lisa don’t know is that Harriet has a deep secret that she has been hiding from them the past few years. Is their friendship strong enough to handle what is coming?

I did enjoy this book, but if I am being honest and keeping it real, I was a little disappointed in the beginning of the story. The allure of the book for me was the “deep secret” Harriet was keeping. Her secret was revealed right at the beginning of the book, which took all the mystery out of the story. The characters were well developed and you get drawn into the lives of the three women as the story continues. Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

Such a beautiful story and quite an emotional read! As a cancer survivor myself, this book had me thinking how lucky i was. This is the second book that i have read by Victoria Connelly, the previous book being 'The Heart of the Garden'. Both books are excellent reads and cannot wait to read more by this author. Highly recommended.

My thanks to Netgalley and the Publishers for my copy. This is my honest review.

The setting in and around the ancient priory on the Somerset coast was the perfectly suited place for three friends to spend together in One Last summer. The characters were wonderfully realistic and each had their own story to tell. The book was very emotional and touching, but had many happy moments also.
I want to thank the author and Lake Union Publishing for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book. My opinions are my own. I highly recommend reading this book.

One Last Summer was an engaging read that was filled with beautiful descriptions of the unusual place Harriet chose to reunite with her friends for one last summer.

While I would recommend this book, I didn't care for the characters. They were well rounded and described well by the author, but they just didn't click for me. I don't know why, but I did continue reading because I was interested in how the story would unfold.

It does make you wonder what would you do if you knew for certain your time on earth was very limited. Thanks go to Netgalley, the author and Lake Union for approving my request for an ARC. Thoughts in this review are my own.

One Last Summer was a beautiful novel! I enjoyed the characters and how the friends’ relationships were portrayed. Harriet has rented an old priory for her to spend a few weeks in with her two close friends. She wants to spend this special time with them to reconnect and share her secret with them. The women hit some rough days, especially once they find out Harrie’s secret. But along the way they reminisce, bond with each other, and form new friendships with some people they meet at the priory. These characters were absolutely delightful! The story was both fun at times and emotional at other times as the friends were forced to look at their lives in a new way.

The netgalley blurb didn’t mention that there was the sensitive subject of terminal cancer featuring very heavily. Sadly this is too close to my heart so I’ve had to stop reading. I love Victoria’s books so will wait eagerly for the next one. Have four starred it even though I’ve stopped reading very early on so it’s not unfair to the author. Won’t post this anywhere else.

This wasn't my favorite book. I just lost a friend to breast cancer earlier this year and wasn't sure I would be able to get through the book without crying nonstop. The cover is beautiful and I so wanted to love the book, but sadly I didn't. The story is incredibly sad and it's hard to prepare yourself for losing a dear friend. I hate to say it, but I didn't connect with the characters. Harriet, Lisa and Audrey were just blah for me. They were all supposed to be best friends but Harriet never shared the truth about what was happening to her until the very end. Honor is mad Harriet's friends aren't acting a certain way. How should they act they don't even know their best friend has cancer?! I don't mind books that don't have a lot of action, but the three friends did absolutely nothing for six whole weeks. In the end, Audrey and Lisa figure out how to change their life for the better. I loved the description of the priory and gardens. It all sounded beautiful.

The book just wasn't meant for me, so I do recommend the book for others. I enjoyed the writing style, so I look forward to reading more books by the author.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Amazon Publishing UK through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

One Last Summer is an emotionally and poignant read. The story follows Harriet who brings her two closest friends together with her, to spend a summer together. Unbeknownst to her friends, Harriet is terminally ill and wants to spend one last summer with her friends.
This book does not bog you down in sadness and despair, even with the terminal illness hanging over the story. It was a great read and reminding me as the reader to live in the moment, take nothing for granted. Victoria Connelly took a tough subject and made a very memorable story, that will stick with me long after.

Harriet has got a secret that she has been keeping from her two best friends Audrey and Lisa, she had terminal cancer and only has six months to live. She decides to rent an old priory on the Somerset coast for two weeks so that she can spend some time with them and tell them her sad news.

This is a bittersweet novel about old friends reconnecting and spending time together in sad circumstances but we get to know all of the characters and their stories and the setting is fabulous

Thank you to NetGalley for an ARC of this book for my honest opinion.

I loved this touching story. It was a bit emotional to get through....we all have someone close too us we have lost too soon. But it was a wonderful story about friendship, love and figuring out what is important in life....and making the most of it.
Loved the plot. The author did a wonderful job of handling a very difficult subject that could have been sad and depressing but instead turned out a celebration of life.. The writing was wonderful. Loved the characters, they were like people you would know.I
I recommend this book..but make sure you have tissues on hand!

I appreciate the opportunity to pre-read One Last Summer and liked the premise of bringing friends together for a final time; however, I found the book predictable and ultimately, it didn't reach me emotionally as I thought it might. I enjoyed the book while reading it but two days after finishing it, I had to look at the synopsis to recall the book. Having said this, I think this is a book that will find an audience and be enjoyed by many and for that reason, I'm giving it a higher star score.

This is a story of lasting friendship, that friendship comes together well throughout the story showing that geographical distance can be overcome. However, there were many times throughout the book where the characters felt one dimensional to me.

I love Victoria Connelly's books and highly recommend them all. I was eager to read this one and wasn't disappointed. What a fantastic read - so emotional but so well written.

Very thought provoking, sensitively written - a bittersweet story of love, friendship, relationships and facing death. This book did make me cry but there were also funny moments which made me smile. I loved all of the characters and how they interacted together. The priory location was beautiful.

I found the story compelling and found it difficult to put this book down. Highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Victoria Connelly is one of my favourite writers, and this book is up to her usual high standard. Beautifully written, with relatable and believable characters, this was a stunning read.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read this.

This is a well written book, just not what I expected. I knew it was going to be sad but not so depressing. This book just wasn't for me, but don't let my review stop you from trying it. Thank you Lake Union Publishing Via NetGalley for the free copy of this book. This is my honest opinion.

Beautifully written, incredibly uplifting celebration of friendship - this is the story of Harriet who knows time is running out and she is determined to give her two best friends one last summer to remember,.

Harriet is full of strength and clearly loves her two besties Audrey and Lisa, even though they have barely spent much time together in the past 6 years.

This is a summer in which not only does Harriet have to reveal her reason for the get together but the other women all develop and learn more about themselves too.

Like I find with all of this authors books, the pages flew past incredibly fast, and I was sucked into the story very easily.

I loved the setting of this book too, The Priory, which was a big atmospheric building, that is having some restoration work done to it.

The three friends, experience a lot over the course of the book, and although there are sad emotional undertones throughout, there were only a couple of moments where I found a lump in my throat.

A fabulous story that I am delighted to have had the opportunity to read.

Thank you to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

One Last Summer by Victoria Connelly
Lisa and Audrey have been invited by their long time friend Harrie to spend a summer holiday at a converted priory she has treated them to. They met 27 years ago and have not met up for the last six but have kept in touch. Harrie has a secret, one she wants to tell them but not until she has to as it will change the whole equilibrium. They have a housekeeper and there is a restorer on the property, a chap who Harrie is finding herself drawn to. They spend their days catching up and reliving the past , enjoying their beautiful surroundings.Lisa is into her yoga and tempts the gardener into trying it for his injured back. Audrey can’t stop working and disappears home for a few days and gets more than the work she anticipated. Harrie invites her daughter over to stay wit the group and this tips the balance. I liked Harrie. She was calm and in control in a very difficult situation. She thought of others over herself. The others had their strengths and weaknesses as we all do and found the best in each other.This is a poignant and evocative emotional read which is beautifully written. The pages almost disappeared between my fingers as I got so immersed in the story, I was almost at the end before I knew it. One of those reads to take you to another place. One to smile at, one to shed a tear. A truly wonderful read.
For more reviews please see my blog http://nickibookblog.blogspot.co.uk/
or follow me on Twitter @nickijmurphy1
(rest of links as part of blog tour)

This book follows the tough times that have been bestowed on Harriet, gathering her two best friends together for an amazing long summer in a beautiful priory in the country.
Many tears were cried and many laughs had throughout the book.
A great read!

This book will make you laugh and cry. I could not recommend this book more. I look forward to the next book written by this author

Beautifully written book which is easy to read. It’s a lovely celebration of friendship As always with this author the books are a joy to read

My first book by this author, but she has written so many that I wonder how I ever missed them! This is the emotional story of three friends who have drifted apart. Harriet organises a summer away in an old priory on the Somerset coast for herself, Audrey and Lisa. With secrets to share and friendships to rekindle, can they face what the future holds?

What an emotional story this was! Reading between the lines on the blurb, it was obvious it was going to be, but I didn’t expect how much it would bring me to tears and tug at my heartstrings. It does have a cancer storyline, so if you prefer not to read storylines which involve this illness then perhaps this isn’t the book for you. I have to admit, I’m not very good with stories of terminal illness and whilst I knew it was going to be a tearjerker, I may have chosen not to read it if I had realised the complete story.

But I was brave and did read it! Whilst it is a book which will have you reaching for your tissues, it is also a heart-warming story of three friends who are bought together for the summer after finding that they had drifted apart for years. Whilst the storyline is a sad one, it does have its happier moments watching the friends revive their fragile relationships and reminisce about past times. The characters are so likeable and you get drawn into their stories right from the very beginning.

The setting of the beautiful Somerset coast was wonderful, and the other characters which they meet during their stay at the Priory add extra depth to the storyline. It was a sympathetic and well-written story and the author has done a fabulous job of keeping it from being too depressing. I did struggle with parts of the book but only because of my own memories and emotions that resurfaced - it was in no way because of how the author had written it.

A sad story with a beautifully enlightening theme of friendships and love running all the way through it. Be prepared for tears, but also expect moments of laughter and fun. The moral of the story – keep your friends close and live for today, as you never know when it may be your last.

Harriet, Audrey and Lisa are long time friends getting together to reconnect. They have to rediscover each other and themselves on the beautiful Somerset coast. A story of lifetime friendships are discovering what is really important. Thank you Lake Union for the opportunity to read this book of friendships and what is means to be there for each other.

Favorite Quotes:

He was the head of the maths department and she’d told him that she’d always hated figures and he’d made some wisecrack about liking hers.

Harrie’s diagnosis. D-Day, she called it, and now her life seemed to be divided between everything that had happened before D-Day and everything that had happened after.

Kindness. That was the trait she’d come to value most in recent years. You realised that as soon as you became ill. Kindness trumped absolutely everything else.

… the likelihood was that she wasn’t going to see her birthday. How strange a thought was that – to know that you have seen your last birthday?

A moment of stillness and wordlessness passed between the two women. It was a strange feeling because Harrie didn’t feel any sort of closeness to Mrs Ryder, but this confession – this sharing of intimate pain – now connected them. Harrie had found that her journey with cancer had linked her to so many people in this way – people she probably would never have spoken to.

Lisa, aligning my chakras and teaching me how to breathe through one nostril isn’t going to save me… This thing’s got me good and proper.

They say laughter is the best medicine… but I don’t think it’s going to cure what I’ve got.

I know he’s the father of my daughter and there’s a part of me that will always love him, but he’s moved on now. He’s married to Lizzie, who has big hair and wears tight tops. So, you see my health isn’t his concern anymore.

My Review:

Knowing her days were numbered, Harriet, Harrie for short, splashed out a fortune to provide one last hurrah to host a peaceful summer vacation with her two oldest and dearest friends of twenty years, who are unaware of her dire health issues. This wasn’t a highly eventful or active story but a slowly evolving character-based study of coming to grips with mortality, as well as how that was processed and dealt with within complicated relationships and personalities. Each woman possessed a distinct and complex identity with vastly different temperaments, life goals, and levels of accomplishment, yet they cared about each other and fussed like siblings.

The premise was relevant and thought-provoking while the writing was emotive and thoughtfully insightful with recurrent themes of interpersonal tension, poignancy, melancholia, angst, and wry humor. The main characters were well fleshed out, although the character of Audrey was the most difficult for me to warm up to as she was the type of person I generally make an effort to avoid in real-life; she was stubborn, bristling with self-importance, driven, highly opinionated, and abrupt. I actually found the local workers to be the most compelling and interesting and greatly enjoyed their addition and contributions to the story.

New additions to my Brit Word list include plimsolls – which are rubber-soled canvas shoes; slap-up – a large and sumptuous meal; and supply teaching – what most Americans know as substitute teaching.

One Last Summer is a beautifully written and sensitively told tale of friendship, reconnecting with the past and the ties that bind that will bring a tear to your eye, touch your heart and warm your soul. Best read with a box of tissues handy, One Last Summer is a brilliantly emotional read from Victoria Connelly.

Harriet, Audrey and Lisa had once been the best of friends, but in the last couple of years they’ve drifted apart and are now no longer as close as they once were. With everybody being so busy with their lives and careers, losing contact had become inevitable, however, when life throws you a curve-ball that turns your world upside down, you soon find yourself realising what your priorities are and that is certainly the case for Harriet. Having received some earth-shattering news, Harriet realised that if she wants to reconnect with her friends, then she should stop dawdling and do something about it now. She has always dreamed of spending the summer in an ancient priory on the coast of Somerset and it looks like she might finally get her wish – even if she knows that getting back in touch with her friends will mean revealing her painful secret.

Spending time with her old friends in Somerset will give Audrey a chance to take stock and maybe figure out that there is more to life than working yourself into an early grave? Slowing down and making time for herself are two concepts that are anathema to her, but if she keeps going at this rate, she is going to end up paying the ultimate price for her dedication to her job. Meanwhile, Lisa is the total opposite. A happy go luck flirt with commitment issues, she has always preferred her relationships to be casual and transient, but will this summer end up changing her mind?

As the three friends reconnect, they soon realise how important their friendship is to all of them and they will need all the strength and support they can get as, just around the corner, is a twist of fate that will change all of their lives forever.

Having read some of Victoria Connelly’s books in the past, I expected One Last Summer to be a rural romantic comedy, however, no sooner did I read the first page that I realised that this was a book that, while at times witty and charming, was also compassionately told, searingly emotional and wonderfully uplifting. One Last Summer is a very special book that manages to break your heart and lift your spirit in equal measures.

A book that will stay with your long after you turn the last page, One Last Summer is an outstanding tale that should not be missed.

A beautiful, sensitive and thought-provoking read about who we really want to spend time with when we know that our time is limited. This also hit very close to home as the ladies in the book are only very slightly younger than I am and these types of issues are similar to the ones that I’m having to think about rather more than I’d like to these days!

Harrie has booked a summer holiday at a gorgeous old priory that’s being restored on the Somerset coast and has invited her two oldest, closest friends to spend it with her. But she has an ulterior motive: this will be the last summer that she gets to see and she wants to take this opportunity for them to reconnect, reminisce and recapture their unique, special friendship.

This is such a poignant and relevant story that raises all those ‘what if?’ questions we tend to avoid. Written with empathy but managing not become over-emotional and gushy, Connelly writes about the depth of female friendships and the lengths that women go to for each other, through thick and thin, no matter what. The friendships that we form with our girlfriends cannot be explained or understood. Regardless of disagreements, misunderstandings, upset and anger, when push comes to shove, we know who we can count on and who will be there for us. The author captures all of this perfectly here and you will find yourself nodding your head as you read, with tears streaming silently down your face.

I found such a touch of melancholy in the contrast between the restoration being done on the Priory, compared to the decline in Harrie’s life. Something was being restored and renewed, whereas her life was waning, coming to an end and the same couldn’t be done for her.

Although the underlying subject matter is admittedly grim, this isn’t a book about illness. It’s not depressing or dull in any way. It is a celebration of life and of friendship. It reminds us to live each day and to revel and rejoice, not only on special, large occasions but also in the small everyday things. Appreciate what we have and who we have, and never take anything for granted. Tell the people in our lives that we love them, and what they mean to us, without expecting anything in return.

A sunny, bright 5 stars for this beautiful life-affirming book!

Harriet, Harrie to her friends, books the Priory, a getaway in Somerset for six weeks.

She hopes that she can reconnect with her two oldest friends, Audrey and Lisa. Harrie holds a secret though, one she is not sure she’s ready to share.

Audrey is busy running her own school and is not taking the time for herself. Even when she arrives for the six-week holiday she has promised Harrie, she still can’t stop working.

Lisa has Yoga but isn’t really fulfilled by her day job.

One Last Summer is one of those novels that I knew from the first page was going to make me cry. And it did.


I immediately got very emotionally involved with all the characters. All three of these women have things they are needing to work through – work/life balance, getting older, mortality and relationships.

Most of all though, this book is about the friendship between these three women. There is a love story but it surrounds Harrie, Audrey and Lisa. It was one of the things I loved most about this book.

The setting for this novel sounds amazing. I could really picture this place from the descriptions given. Can I go live there?

I am not going to say much more as I don’t want to give away any more of the plot.

There are times in this novel where I smiled, laughed, got sad, cried – lots of emotions.

Much like its setting, this book is perfect for the warm summer evenings, with a glass of wine and your feet up.

There is sadness but a lot of warmth and a powerful message at its centre. I know what I took from it. I hope you get as much from it as I did.

Thank you Victoria for a wonderful novel.

I really enjoyed this book. Despite some serious themes in it, it is an easy book to read as it flows seamlessly from one scene to the next.

The characters are all well-written, they have depth and genuine issues which are realistic and I suspect everyone who reads the book will either identify with one character or recognise their traits in someone they know. The priory they stay in sounds gorgeous and cosy and just the sort of peaceful getaway that I think most of us could do with at some point in our lives.

This is the second book I’ve read recently that has got me thinking about the little things, listening to the wind blowing through the trees, the softness of my cats fur, the joy of standing with the sun on my face and many other small things that we take for granted or forget about while we’re rushing around apparently living our lives. How many people, on their daily commute, look out the window and see the patterns in the clouds or the sunrise or set? How many people are rushing about each day just now and missing the spring blossom on the trees? We’re always chasing something that’s just out of reach, ever wonder what would happen if we stopped chasing?

While this is a story of friendship and how deep those bonds can go, it’s also a story of living life, properly appreciating the little things and that it’s never too late to do something new. If the world is getting you down or life is looking a bit duller these days then give this book a try, you might just find yourself looking at things differently once you’ve read it.

Harriet has received the devastating news that her cancer is back and it's terminal. She wants to spend one last summer with her best friends. She rents an old abbey in a beautiful location so they can all enjoy peace, serenity and being cut off from the responsibilities and stresses of everyday life.

Harriet wants to say goodbye, but without the other two being aware of that being her intention. It makes the situation slightly difficult, because Audrey and Lisa can only react to the facts when they know what they are dealing with. It makes them come off as insensitive and self absorbed.

I liked the fact the author didn't feel the need to make the relationships Harriet and Lisa have with new men automatically be sexual. Men and women can have close friendships without any extra commitments. They can bond and have satisfying conversations without going the full mile within the first few days of meeting each other.

I found it a little unusual that Harriet hadn't shared anything about her illness with her 'best' friends. I understand it makes for a more emotional read, but surely losing an important part of herself and image as a woman would be something she might want to share with the women she says are the closest to her.

It's a story about friendship, loyalty and relationships. It's also about maintaining control of your life when life decides to throw a spanner in between the spokes of your wheel of life. Harriet decides, it is her choice. She might not be able to dictate the when or the how, but she can try and determine the time leading up to it. It's a thoughtful and emotional premise.

This is a moving and poignant read which still provides the reader with a hopeful and enjoyable read. You feel invested in the story and I particularly enjoyed how you got to know all the women in the novel who all had their own story going on. It is a thought provoking story and deals with some difficult issues of terminal illness and saying goodbye. However, it always retains a sense of the love and friendship between the friends.

Hannah is a wonderful character who is never mawkish or self- indulgent. It feels like a credible story. With a wonderful setting and beautifully written prose, it is an engrossing read which you can't put down. Despite the sadness, there are also some funny moments and a feeling of timelessness and life carrying on.

In short: A moving and compassionate story of love and friendship.

Thanks to the author for a copy of the book.

Harrie, Audrey and Lisa have been good friends since college, nearly twenty years. Harrie decides to rent out a priory for the entire summer and host her friends, so they can relax, laugh and ultimately learn that she won't be around for that much longer. The setting allows them to enjoy each other's company and hash out some of their current life issues. Audrey is overworking herself in a new business endeavor and Lisa is scraping by working as a supply teacher and wishes for a more settled and secure life. Hattie has recently learned that her breast cancer has returned after being in remission for several years, and it has spread to the extent that it is now terminal. After she got over the shock of her diagnosis, with the help of her daughter Honor, Hattie decides that her dearest friends must be told, and that it will be in the most beautiful setting possible. Her goal is accomplished soon after the friends are reunited and settled in at the priory.

This book and its difficult topic are so well written that even though the predominant thought throughout the story, especially in Harrie's thoughts, is a very sad one, this book is not sad. It is not morbid. It is a wonderful, heart warming read that makes you want to get in touch with all the people you care about. Having lost three dear friends to cancer I can connect very well with the story and I loved reading it. Very strongly recommend.

Thank you to Netgalley, the author Victoria Connelly, and the publisher Lake Union Publishing for a free ARC in return for my honest review.

Such a lovely poignant book to read. I hadn’t read the description before I started it. Just liked the look of the book. I was not disappointed one iota. Lovely storyline. Flowed well and was easy to read. Though the storyline included a sadness it didn’t dominate the entire book which is good. I might not have read it if I’d seen the description so was glad of that.

What a beautifully touching story about three friends reconnecting, although it wasn't under the best circumstances this was a really heartfelt and emotional book that had me hooked from the beginning.

This is such a well written book from the emotions and relationships to the descriptions of the priory. We get to meet Harriet, Audrey and Lisa, each with their own unique struggles as they are able to reconnect for the Summer. This is one of those books that stays with you long after you have put the book down and gave me a bit to ponder in my own life, it may not perhaps be the best book to read if you know someone going through a terminal illness, as I've mentioned there is a lot of raw emotion throughout but one I would recommend to anyone who is even slightly interested in the blurb.

A heart-wrenching four out of five star read!



Rating: 4/5

Would I read again: Yes

Would I Recommend: Yes

Would I read another book from this author: Yes

Expertly written and very moving. This was extremely immersive and I really enjoyed reading it. You can tell that the author has clearly done their research. This is one of those books where you experience every single feel. Am looking forward to seeing what else this author has to offer.

An emotional moving book about friendships illness gathering together .A book that kept me turning the pages tissues needed.A novel that stays with you.#netgalley #lakeunionpublishing

Victoria Connelly is one of those writers where you know you are in safe hands! Her books are always beautifully written with gorgeous settings, characters that you believe in and dialogue that flows like a conversation with your best friend. Perfect tonic for this mad world!

The beginning of the dialogue was boring. It's been six years since she divorced Charles. They remained friends. Audrey i
Was the reliable steady one. Harriet has breast cancer. Interestjng but I couldn't get hooked

Thank you Netgalley and the Publisher for my ARC in exchange for my honest review. This was an enjoyable book.