This book may be for you, if you’re a fan of Betty’s Booklist on TikTok and/or stories with:

Dual Point of View
Second Chance Romance
High School Sweethearts
Modeling/Financially Successful Women

The story is sweet, but the book’s pacing wasn’t for me. I wish there had been fewer High School flashbacks and much more of the present-day story. I also found myself wanting more of the Cinque Terre setting (such a beautiful place!) With that said, it’s impressive that this was a debut book.

CW: Past sexual abuse, parent with mental health issues (there is a warning at the beginning of the book)

Thanks to St. Martin’s Press and NetGalley for the ARC.

“One Last Shot” tells the story Emerson and Theo, a pair of high school sweethearts, who meet for the first time since graduation. It’s been ten long years. Both Theo and Emerson are naturally in different places in life. She is a successfully supermodel and he is a struggling photographer. Yet what brings them together is the fact that in spite of being apart, they never stopped loving one another. “One Last Shot” does a lovely job using flashbacks to cue the reader into how their relationship developed over time. I particularly enjoyed watching their characters evolve on the road to happily ever after. This romcom was just the perfect lite beach read and I can’t think St Martins or NetGalley enough for letting me indulge in a little Italian magic. If you are looking for a fun, romcom this book is for you. There are a few spicey moments yet they don’t at all take away from the story. 9/10 stars.

All options are my own.

When I saw that this had a second chance theme going on, I immediately picked it up as a huge lover for second chance romances. I am so glad that I did be able as I said, this book explores the theme of second chance romance, but with such unexpected depth and a touch of nostalgia for high school days that it had me very captivated with it. The story is told from alternating perspectives, following Emerson, a successful supermodel, and Theo, a commercial photographer. As high school best friends, they made a pact to marry each other at 28 if they were still single. Unbeknownst to each other, they were already in love, but fear kept them from confessing to eachother. The plot shifts between their present-day lives and their past as teenagers, highlighting the miscommunication and trauma that caused a decade-long break in their friendship. When a reminder of their pact resurfaces on their phones, they meet again, and from there a new beginning unravels for them.

As the book progresses, they seize the opportunity to finally express their feelings. Despite the challenges they face, their romance unfolds beautifully, creating a sweet and satisfying story. I got completely taken away with this story, and the characters and the romance between them. The romance was truly very heartwarming and it was an absolute delight reading this book.

Thank you to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for this arc!

This story, about a super model and photographer, is written by someone who has first-hand knowledge of fashion photo shoots, and it shows. I was engaged from the first few pages when the female main character broke up with her boyfriend because he faked reading novels. This is a second chance love story about two characters in love as teens and reconnecting 10 years later. There are flashbacks that help show their powerful connection and a poignant backstory for our heroine. The love story is very satisfying, and I loved the Italian setting and info about a photo shoot.

Is this book based on one huge miscommunication and could be solved by the two MC's just talking to each other? Yes. Did I eat it up? Also yes.

What I liked: This was my first time reading a photographer/model storyline and I really enjoyed it. I loved the Italian scenery that was portrayed. I like that Theo encourages Emerson to write a book and supports her in every way. I think the flashback chapters were done really well while revealing just enough to keep us interested without giving up the entire story (even if you can surmise what happens).

What I didn't like: The fact that the MC's were too scared to tell each other what was going on over and over. It isn't just one instance of miscommunication, it happens throughout the book. And if not miscommunication, then just completely avoiding and/or changing the subject. I wanted to toss the book across the room but it did keep me coming back so, I get it! :)

Overall this is wonderfully done for a debut author and I look forward to reading more from them in the future.

Thank you NetGalley, St. Martin's Press, St. Martin's Griffin and Betty Cayouette for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was lucky enough to be granted this ARC from Netgalley! 😊

I loved the European setting as the background and the second chance, friends to lovers storyline. They are two of my favourite tropes! 💗💗 Theo and Emerson’s journey back to each other is not an easy one but the author gave us a great backdrop with the past and present experiences. The two were adorable together and I absolutely loved them and watching their way back to each other.. 🥰🥰

Well done!! Highly recommend 👏 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

A sweet and heartfelt debut.

This love story was well written, and sparked so much emotion. Theo and Em have dealt with incredible trauma, and found a way to heal both individually and together. Having been to Cinque Terre, the author did a great job in describing the scenery and location (although one minor error - she often refers to the ocean, but Cinque Terre is located on the Ligurian sea).

Please read the trigger warning at the beginning of the novel.

Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Unfortunately this book wasn't for me. I much prefer the ""show, not tell" style of writing to this. The characters felt surface level as well as their relationships within each other. Just boils down to personal preference but I am sure there are many out there that will enjoy the quick-pace, second chance romance. Happy I had the chance to read this one. Congrats to the author on her debut!

Betty’s Book List was the first bookstagram account I stumbled on and now here I am getting to review it!

In her debut novel, Betty Cayouette introduces us to Emerson and Theo, who felt an instant connection as freshmen during high school, but were both too nervous to share their feelings with the other. And while they were inseparable during high school, they haven’t spoken in ten years. Now, an alarm has gone off on both of their phones, reminding them that they made a marriage pact more than a decade ago. Emerson is determined to fix their relationship after running away from Theo when they were 18, and modelling in his latest ad campaign is her perfect opportunity.

Knowing that Betty worked in the fashion industry, and dreamed of being a writer, makes this novel all the more special. It should also be mentioned that there is a very meaningful trigger warning at the beginning of the novel, which respectfully addresses that trauma is part of people’s lives, but is not all that they are.

#NetGalleyARC Oh I LOVED this book. Maybe I’m partial because I’m a Salem girl and the author is also from Salem but outside of the Salem connection I loved this book. It’s such a great friends to lovers story. Emerson and Theo are so well written and feel like they could be people we know. A definite must read!

I have a lot of feelings about this and most of them are positive, none of them are really negative they’re just neutral or confused 😂

I loved loved loved how despite their hesitation or uncertainty, Theo and Emerson fall so easily back into their pattern of caring for each other (especially Theo knowing her tells and what she needs when she won’t admit it). The way they were so familiar with each other as people despite the years.

They are both terrible at communicating. Like painfully so. Especially when every time they DO actually communicate with each other effectively, the other responds well with kindness and acceptance. This person has literally never once judged you for anything, and the reveal is almost anticlimactic because after all that sadness and loneliness and distress, it’s just like “… you could have told me. It doesn’t change how I feel”.

Anyway they’re cute and I hope they live happily ever after!

what a feel good reading! Its like watching a rom-com and it's absolutely what I needed today. The writing was easily digestible and well paced. It was funny, entertaining, and I truly enjoyed the time period flash backs to build the story. It was witty and heartfelt...I had so much fun reading this! Thank you so much NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the chance to read this in advance!

I really liked this book! I’m a sucker for a second chance romance, and boy was this one a hit! Not only was it set in coastal Italy (who wouldn’t like that setting!?) but it also tackles real life issues - and I appreciated how it was handled, with care. Of course, the romance was so cute too! I loved the relationships that Emerson and Theo had with their families/best friends and how they developed theirs from years ago - the dual timeline also really went well with the book!

The miscommunication part towards the end did make me a bit iffy (it’s not my favorite trope) but l liked how to book ended.

Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book! All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was just ok for me. I found myself bored a times and I wish they would of just COMMUNICATED, It was very frustrating and I wanted to DNF but I powered through. It did have its cute moments and I enjoyed the parts when they were teenagers more. It just didn't grab my attention that I wanted to.

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

A super cute debut romance novel, "One Last Shot" is a sweet, adult, friends to romance type book that had me hooked from the beginning. Dual POV, slow burn, steamy > spicy, and a beautiful love story.

Emerson and Theo are old "friends" who haven't seen one another in a decade due to a falling out. After a decade apart they're thrown together as supermodel Emerson is reminded of the pact the two made when they were 18. Strings are pulled and photography god Theo is roped in to Emerson's newest shoot and the drama quickly ramps up from there,

The book was a little slow going but it was thoroughly enjoyable and I found myself rooting for Theo and Emerson and wanting to know more and more about their past history together. This book was an enjoyable read and I would recommend it to anyone looking for a well-written debut romance.

Thank you Netgalley for the ARC of this book.

Theo and Emerson have been separated for 10 years since they were seniors in high school. Emerson feels called to see Theo again when she gets a notification on Theo's birthday about their marriage pact- if they are not married by 28 they will marry each other. Being a world-famous model she uses her connections to go to Cinque Terra, where Theo is the photographer on the shoot. Will they be able to reconnect and honor their marriage pact?

This was a great romance book. I really liked Emerson and thought she was well-round in being successful, down to earth, a girl's girl, and independent. I was rooting for her and enjoyed all of her parts.

Theo was a weaker point for me. He was very codependent and whiny. He just felt like someone who thinks he always has to protect Emerson from every little thing, when she is a grown woman who has handled herself for the last decade. It is admirable that he doesn't want someone he loves to be hurt in any way and wants to be sure she is healthily dealing with her emotions, but he was suffocating. I hate to say it but he gave "nice guys" vibes at times. However, he isn't toxic so of course, I was rooting for them to be together. Though sometimes Harry was more interesting than him, I saw his appeal much more.

With this being a romance book, it of course has some common tropes such as miscommunication. While I did not mind that because I knew what I was reading, when we were on about the 80th back and forth of miscommunication with about 6 small chapters left it was pretty played out. It didn't make me not like the book or anything, but I wanted something slightly more original. Overall, I do recommend this book as it is one of the better contemporary romance books I have read with a very likable female protagonist.

I've followed Betty's Book List for a few years. I was excited when she announced she had written and published a book, but I was also a little nervous to read it. What if it changed how I felt about the account I enjoyed so much? Thankfully, I loved One Last Shot!!

This is a second-chance, childhood-friends-to-lovers romance about a supermodel and a brand photographer who reconnect just as the marriage pact they made as teens is nearing. After a string of meaningless relationships, Emerson decides she wants another chance with Theo; she arranges to get hired on the campaign he is shooting in Cinque Terre, Italy, to win him back.

Is the premise a little out there? Yes.
Did it matter? Not at all!

I loved Emerson and Theo separately, and I loved them even more together. They were the perfect complement to each other, and it was almost brutal having to wait so long for them to get together. I don't usually love slow burns, but it didn't bother me in One Last Shot. Their chemistry was fire, and I loved their banter.

One Last Shot switches between past and present and also shifts narrators. I don't always love the past and present back and forth because it often pulls me out of the story, but it was perfectly done. I was eager to know what happened in each timeline, and the transitions never bothered me. I am also really glad we got to hear from Emerson and Theo because it helps round out the story and provides a complete picture.

The Italian setting was easy to picture in my mind and made the story all that much more enjoyable. Most of the book was pretty tame, but there was one spicy scene, which was worth the wait.

I highly recommend this to all the romance lovers out there! I can't wait for Betty's next book.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the e-ARC!

The concept was great in theory but the execution let me down. The miscommunication was INSANE. One time is forgivable. Maybe two. But the whole time no one was honest and it caused so many awkward moments for no reason! Also, none of the dialogue felt genuine or natural. Unfortunately, there’s something in the writing that makes everything sound stilted or like a caricature. Even with a dual point of view, the reader was more told than shown how the characters felt and that kept me from really connecting with them. My favourite part was definitely the flashbacks! Those were written really well and were really adorable. I definitely like Theo and Emerson better at 18 years old than at 28.

I loved the plot and I was rooting for Emerson and Theo, but overall I was surprised to see the miscommunication trope used so many times by a writer that we know reads so much romance. Their love story was cute, but they annoyed me pretty much the whole way through because of how they acted.

I absolutely adored this debut novel! This is a well written work of art that will give you all the feels. One Last Shot is my favorite second-chance romance I have ever read (and I’ve read A LOT)!

The story of Theo and Emerson is perfection. I cannot wait to see what Betty comes up with next!

This was such a fun second change romance read. I was rooting for the characters the whole time! I loved the chemistry the characters had as well as the flashbacks to show how they built their relationship. This will definitely make me reach for more of Betty’s books!