Overall this book was perfectly fine. I read it and will likely immediately forget everything about it by next week, but at no point was I like this is a bad book. It to me just felt like a book where the bones were good but the execution wasn't. The prose/writing style didn't flow the way I wanted to - or, more accurately, consistently. I absolutely loved the chapters from their teen years, and almost wished the book was just following that half of the story. Which is extra wild because more often than not I am like please stop flashing back give me the present when i read second chance romance books.

This is the author's debut novel, so I can see how in the future she'll be writing great books. But this one was riddled with miscommunication between the two main characters (like half of their conversations were them just not speaking the same language), a lot of "telling" not "showing" and some pacing issues. Everything on paper should have worked, but there was something a little clunky about it.

That being said, I would totally read a book by Cayouette again in the future! I think she has a ton of potential and while this one didn't necessarily work for me, I can see a future one hitting a bit more.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Since the first day they met freshman year in high school, Emerson and Theo have been inseparable. But right after they crossed the boundary from best friends to something more, they were torn apart. Ten years later, Emerson is now a supermodel, and Theo is now a photographer. When a marriage pact reminder goes of on Emerson's phone, she realizes this could be their second chance. Emerson manages to convince her agent to book a campaign that Theo is shooting, and they are reunited.

As a romance reader, I've read many of them but not one centered around a supermodel and a photographer (ngl, that was one of the selling point for me to read this book). Emerson and Theo innocently fell in love as teenagers. They went separate ways, and then reunited later as adults. I loved that dual timelines-the alternating between their past and how their friendship bloomed to love, and now present time, both wanting a second chance. They were IT. Even though they haven't spoken in years, Emerson kept tabs on Theo and vice versa. Their love story was well-written! Highly recommend.

The author is a huge TikTok star, who parlayed her success into this wonderful second-chance romance debut between model Emerson and photographer Theo, who meet again on a shoot in Italy. Beautifully written, One Last Shot will bring the author wild new success as a writer, as well as great joy to her readers.

I really enjoyed this! I have been following Betty and her book recommendations on tiktok for a long time. I was excited when I was approved for this and excited for her! I love a good second chance romance so this was right up my alley! Hoping for the best for Betty and her book.

Absolutely love second chance romances so this gave everything. As someone who has been to Italy I loved reading a story set there, it felt very nostalgic. I also really enjoyed the past/present timeline, it helped to get to know the characters more.

Such a sweet, light-hearted romance book! I loved that the book flipped two amazing locations - present-day Italy and North Shore, Massachusetts where Emerson and Theo grew up. For a storyline that could be really cheesy, it felt so honest and real. I loved both of the main characters and felt myself rooting for them. Perfect for anyone who likes friends-to-lovers, fashion, Italy, and a romance with a lot of heart. I can't wait to see what Betty Cayouette writes next!

Cute book that made me want to go to Italy.

Emerson is a supermodel with just one name. Seriously. I don't think she had a last name mentioned in the entire book. On the day of her birthday, a marriage pact she made with her first love goes off. She discovers Theo is a photographer who is about to do a campaign in Italy. Despite it being a bit below her standards, Emerson joins it to see if Theo remembers the pact. He does.

If you love the miscommunication troupe, you'll love this one. Even the characters call themselves out on it, which I found refreshing. The ending felt a bit rushed, but other than that, it was a cute story.

A coming of age story of Theo and Emerson that you get to learn about in a dual time line and dual narration.
Emerson is a top fashion model and Theo is a photographer who have lost touch but are reunited for a photo shoot.
If you’re interested in the ins and outs of the fashion industry and photography the author seems very knowledgeable.
The pacing of the book sometimes felt off to me, but I give kudos to the author for a debut novel.
Give this book a chance if you like:
Coming of age
Second chances
And you don’t mind miscommunication as a theme overall.

One Last Shot by Betty Cayouette is an angsty, slowburn, friends to lovers, second chance romance that I absolutely devoured! Theo and Emerson are *chef's kiss* perfection! I loved the past/present, two POV structure. Didn't want it to end! Highly recommend!!!

Let me start by saying: I really enjoyed this book! I had a great time reading it. In fact, I couldn’t put it down! There were only a few eye roll moments, but it wouldn’t be a romance book without them!

One Last Shot is a friends to lovers, second chance romance that follows the love story of Emerson, a famous supermodel, and Theo, a photographer. Emerson and Theo were inseparable in high school and now, 10 years later, get another chance at love during a photoshoot in Italy. Through flashbacks and dual POVs, we learn what really separated them the summer after high school, everything that happens in between, and how they eventually find their way back to each other.

I adored Theo. Emerson, on the other hand, is where my (slight) eye rolls came into play. And why I rated this 4 stars. After 10 years of therapy, you’d think she’d have better communication tools and we could have avoided the entire miscommunication trope. However, Emerson is a human with trauma and healing is not linear, so I’ll let it slide. As far as miscommunication tropes go, this one was not at all a detriment to my enjoyment of the book.

Debut novels can be really hit or miss and I think this one will be a hit! It’s clear the writing is not quite as sophisticated as a veteran author, but that honestly didn’t matter to me at all. The story was engaging and worth every minute! I’m excited to see where Betty Cayouette goes from here and will certainly be reading any future novels she writes!

Overall, I thought it was a cute story and was eagerly rooting for Emerson and Theo’s happily ever after along the way.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my first ever ARC in exchange for an honest review!

I have been following Betty on social media for a while, and was very excited for this book in man did it not disappoint. The story features Emerson and Theo in Friends to lover, slow, burn romcom.

I thought the marriage pact plot was very creative and loved learning all the behind-the-scenes videography, that Betty clearly was able to pull from her days working on sets. I’m always a fan of celebrity romances and childhood friends to lovers thought the story was a great combination of both.

Highly recommend!

Thanks for the arc.

This book intrigued me from the time I first saw the cover, but it did not live up to my expectations. The premise was fine, great setting in Italy (for part of the story, at least), and the subject of a supermodel and a photographer was interesting, but I had no sympathy for the main character. She was so self-centered and self-absorbed, and didn't let a day pass without telling us how rich she had become. Near the end of the book was a statement that summoned it up for me when Emerson said to Theo: "But we also need to cut it with the miscommunication!" That pretty well said it all for me too.

If there is one thing I love it's a second chance romance!! I loved how the author incorporated dual timelines so we could get a glimpse into Emerson and Theo's teenage selves. That might have been my preferred timeline but overall this book was super cute and I would recommend it.

This was a sweet second chance romance! Though I would recommend it to all my romance readers, miscommunication is my least favorite trope of all time and this book was just full of it. There were many moments that made me laugh and smile but there was a lot more moments when I just wanted to shake the main characters. Thank you NetGalley and St. Martins press for this advanced readers copy!

I tried really hard. Really, really hard. I can read a romance in 24 hours. I've been reading this for a month and I'm at 42%. It is so slow. So, so slow and it seems the entire book is one big miscommunication, which is my least favorite trope. I enjoy second chance and friends to lovers and I had high hopes for this one after following the author on Instagram but I'm ready to throw in the towel. On the plus side, the cover is GORGEOUS. I'll try again with her next novel and see if maybe she has worked out the kinks.

Thank you to St. Martin's Griffin and NetGalley for providing me with an ARC eBook version in exchange for my honest review.

Emerson and Theo were a friends to lovers couple that included a past history from their high school years. At 18 there was a falling out that we're told about but earlier on they'd agreed to a marriage pact at 28 if they were still single so Emerson searches out Theo as we begin their current story. We're given alternating POV's along with chapters written between past and the present. I thought the author wrote both very well and found them easy to follow.

Theo may be what some call a cinnamon roll type of hero but he had a strong character and I adored his character. Emerson meanwhile was a successful model and while I felt she could be indecisive or insecure at times, she also had overcome some things from her past which you learn about as you read the book. With that said I liked her more as the book processed. You knew how both felt about the other and this is a slow burn yet the tension was there as you read each chapter.

The banter was great between the characters and side ones too-it was very realistic and you almost felt like you were right there with them. Sometimes it could be a little too descriptive or detailed though which lead to my 3-4* rating as this caused a disconnect for me personally. There was low drama/angst but you kept turning the pages to find out what happened when they were 18.

I enjoyed this book and look forward to reading more by this author. I thought she had a deep knowledge between a photographer and model and read in her bio that she was previously a fashion videographer which was very apparent in her writing.

Thank your NetGalley and Betty Cayouette for the eARC of One Last Shot. I enjoyed this debut romance novel, it kept me engaged and I especially loved the setting. It took me a bit to connect with the MMC, but towards the end I was rooting for Theo.
3.5 stars.

One Last Shot has the dreamiest, most atmospheric setting on the Italian Rivera, following two old friends who have fallen out of touch but had promised each other that they would get married if they were both single later on in life. Oh, and one is a super model, while the other is a photographer. Cute, quick, and full of everything I want in a RomCom, this was fun to read.

I read ‘One Last Shot’ the debut novel by Betty Cayouette and gave it 4 stars out of 5.


As a follower of Betty’s on TikTok I’ve been following her book recommendations on TikTok for a while so I was excited to see that she was publishing a Romance novel of her own and I’m happy to say I was thoroughly impressed.

This book follows Theo and Emerson who are close friends and do so many adorable things together like swimming eating donuts but with the barely-there flirting between the two there’s something much more brewing between them, much bigger than they know it.

Theo is OBSESSED with Emerson. He adores her with everything and was in awe of her all through out the book. Emerson was a little more hesitant and there’s that slight miscommunication trope on her end which I normally like but my heart was in anguish for Theo at time. Nevertheless, Emerson and Theo had great chemistry and were genuinely so cute.

Congratulations Betty and thank you the publisher and NetGalley for this e-ARC!

Emerson and Theo made a marriage pact in high school, well before she became a supermodel and he a fashion photographer. After 10 years without contact, could this be what brings them back together. Content warning, discussion of sexual assault. While there is the heavy undertone of assault, this story has all the makings of a classic love story. Second chance, high school sweethearts, girls supporting eachother, and good old fun.