Member Review
Review by
Eva Kelly H, Reviewer
Book Review: ONE LAST SHOT by Betty Cayouette
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance fans, clear your TBRs because Betty Cayouette's debut ONE LAST SHOT is a whirlwind of tropes—and somehow, it all works! From celebrity romance and small-town charm to fake dating and second chances, this book feels like a greatest-hits album for romance readers. Throw in alternating POVs, timelines, and settings (Salem, L.A., and Cinque Terre, Italy), and you've got a recipe for a page-turner.
I’ll admit it—at first, I didn't want to like supermodel Emerson. She's gorgeous and successful and fabulously wealthy (aka impossible to relate to). But Cayouette cracks her open, revealing vulnerabilities that make you root for her. And Theo? A down-to-earth photographer and Emerson's almost-high-school-sweetheart? You’ll root for him by chapter 2.
Now, here’s the twisty kicker (and what makes this book memorable): Cayouette sensitively dives into a major trauma that shapes everything—though you don't fully understand its impact until the big reveal near the end. It's heartfelt and it’s handled beautifully.
There were a few missteps for me. The one spicy scene felt jarringly out of place. It was a good scene; it just felt like it was in the wrong book. And while this was an ARC (thanks, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin!) with all the usual typos and grammar hiccups, this one had more than expected. Even a few minor plot holes. I assume the final published book smoothed those edges. Fingers crossed!
Overall, ONE LAST SHOT is a fun, trope-packed romance that somehow sticks the landing despite doing ALL the tricks. By the end, I couldn’t stop smiling. If you’re a sucker for classic romance tropes with a twist, add this one to your shelf—it's worth the shot. 📚❤️
#Romance
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Romance fans, clear your TBRs because Betty Cayouette's debut ONE LAST SHOT is a whirlwind of tropes—and somehow, it all works! From celebrity romance and small-town charm to fake dating and second chances, this book feels like a greatest-hits album for romance readers. Throw in alternating POVs, timelines, and settings (Salem, L.A., and Cinque Terre, Italy), and you've got a recipe for a page-turner.
I’ll admit it—at first, I didn't want to like supermodel Emerson. She's gorgeous and successful and fabulously wealthy (aka impossible to relate to). But Cayouette cracks her open, revealing vulnerabilities that make you root for her. And Theo? A down-to-earth photographer and Emerson's almost-high-school-sweetheart? You’ll root for him by chapter 2.
Now, here’s the twisty kicker (and what makes this book memorable): Cayouette sensitively dives into a major trauma that shapes everything—though you don't fully understand its impact until the big reveal near the end. It's heartfelt and it’s handled beautifully.
There were a few missteps for me. The one spicy scene felt jarringly out of place. It was a good scene; it just felt like it was in the wrong book. And while this was an ARC (thanks, NetGalley and St. Martin's Press | St. Martin's Griffin!) with all the usual typos and grammar hiccups, this one had more than expected. Even a few minor plot holes. I assume the final published book smoothed those edges. Fingers crossed!
Overall, ONE LAST SHOT is a fun, trope-packed romance that somehow sticks the landing despite doing ALL the tricks. By the end, I couldn’t stop smiling. If you’re a sucker for classic romance tropes with a twist, add this one to your shelf—it's worth the shot. 📚❤️
#Romance
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