I am all in on books right now that take me away to another place and One Last Shot had me at “Cinque Terre.”

Emerson, a supermodel, and Theo, a photographer, haven’t spoken in ten years when they were inseparable as teenagers, first as friends, then as more, before their relationship crashed and burned. After a decade of dating disasters, Emerson is reminded of a marriage pact they once made and wondering if Theo was her one shot at happiness. She gets herself booked on a campaign that he’s shooting but a decade of misunderstandings mean that he may feel different then she does. They slowly rekindle their relationships but are plagued by misunderstandings and issues leading her to wonder if they can ever actually be together.

The cover makes you grab the book and then you get sucked in just from the scenery alone — it reads like a movie and I want to book a ticket to Italy, eat all the pasta and gelato, and hope for an Emerson and Theo sighting.

Ten years ago, Emerson and Theo made a pact that if they weren’t married by 28, they’d find their way back to each other. Now a globe-trotting supermodel, Emerson is tired of meaningless relationships and haunted by what could’ve been. So when that calendar alert goes off, she takes fate into her own hands. The only problem? Theo, now a sought-after photographer, may not be as thrilled to see her again. Thrown together on a breathtaking fashion shoot in Cinque Terre, they have four days to decide: is this their final goodbye or their long overdue second chance?

Tropes
* Second-chance romance
* Friends to lovers
* Grumpy x sunshine
* Slow-burn with *serious* tension
* Marriage pact
* Forced proximity
* Famous heroine / reluctant hero
* A lush Italian setting (hello, Cinque Terre!)
* Flashbacks that hurt in the best way
* Longing stares and unresolved tension
* Emotional depth mixed with swoony moments

Betty Cayouette’s debut is heartfelt, cinematic, and full of aching romance. One Last Shot feels like summer nostalgia wrapped in couture. Emerson is vibrant, determined, and a little messy in the most relatable way, while Theo is broody, careful, and heartbreakingly guarded. Together, they create the kind of magnetic pull that makes you believe in second chances. With a backdrop as romantic as Cinque Terre, every moment feels drenched in longing. The narration adds another layer of emotional depth, with each voice bringing their character to life. This is one of those stories that feels like a love letter to what could have been and what still might be.

The miscommunication trope is REAL with this one. It's the entire plot. Other than that, this book was good. I enjoyed it even though the miscommunication drove me up a wall sometimes. I liked the side characters and how the flashbacks brought more info to the reader. The author's note was really appreciated and made me feel more connected to the main character going into it. That author's note alone probably is why I wasn't bothered by the miscommunication trope!

Thank you to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for the ALC! ♥

One Last Shot surprised me. I expected a breezy romance, but the story veered into heavier territory I wasn’t quite prepared for. While I appreciated the attempt to address sensitive topics, I wish it had gone further in resolving them. The decision to keep a major situation a secret felt like the wrong message, especially for young readers who may relate.

The story started strong, and I enjoyed the final chapters, but the middle dragged for me. The main character was down-to-earth and likable at first, but once she re-entered the spotlight, her behavior became harder to root for. The obsession with media spin and immature communication between the love interests wore thin. That said, the Italian setting was a win, and the audiobook narrators did a solid job—even if the characters themselves got a bit grating.

Overall, this had potential and charm but missed the emotional depth I was hoping for. Thanks to MacMillan Audio and NetGalley for this audiobook.

One Last Shot by Betty Cayouette

Oh, how I love this book! It’s not getting a lot of attention in the book world, yet it has stuck with me and I’ve thought about it a lot over the last year since I read it. I love Italy and I love friends to lovers. A marriage pact trope pushed it right over the top for me, and I enjoyed it so much. I’m a very character-driven reader. I have to connect with the main characters in order to love a story, so I will admit that the idea of having a famous, successful supermodel and an up-and-coming photographer as the main characters had me a little worried. They both ended up being so sweet and down-to-earth. Nothing like the models we meet in The Devil Wears Prada. lol. Emerson’s and Theo’s rekindling was so heartwarming and special, all set against the stunning backdrop of Cinque Terre. I felt like I was right there with them, enjoying the sun and the beautiful scenery.

Emerson and Theo were joined at the hip as teenagers, spending their childhoods swimming and eating lots of donuts together. They get torn apart, as is always the case, and spend years dealing with the fallout of some major miscommunication (I hate the miscommunication trope, but it worked for me here). They lived their lives separately, her as a supermodel and him as a photographer. When Emerson’s calendar notification goes off, reminding her of her marriage pact with Theo, she realizes how unhappy in love she’s been. So she strong-arms her agent into booking her a modeling job where Theo is working. Their reunion is icy cold at best, and then they start to warm up and fall into their old friendship. The feelings they had for each other all those years ago are still alive and kicking, and I loved watching them figure out how to be around each other as adults.

Theo made this book for me. He is everything. As soon as his calendar notification goes off, he is flooded with feelings of his time with Emerson and it made me so sad for him. He’s so sweet and caring and understanding and has carried his love for her for ten years. And he’s also so insecure and self-conscious, which made me want to hung him very tightly. He would do anything for Emerson. I kind of hated Emerson in the beginning because how could she just leave a guy like Theo without a second glance? I know as teens we’re at the mercy of life and are not always in control of where we go, but she didn’t even say goodbye to him. But I grew to really love her, just as Theo grew to be able to trust her again. There’s so much angst and mutual pining and the burn is soooooo slooooow, which was surprising considering their history. But I gobbled it up. I loved the push and pull, will they or won’t they, WHEN WILL THEY. I couldn’t stop reading. Their romance is so swoony and perfect, even though the road is bumpy and winding sometimes. This is a true movie romance. Oh my gosh, someone needs to make. movie out of this. It would be amazing, especially in Italy!

Audio notes: Loved it. I’ve struggled with Brittany Presley in the past, but she did a great job with this one. This was my first time listening to Sean Patrick Hopkins, and his voice was perfect for Theo. Both narrators read with emotion, which made me feel for the characters so much more deeply than if I had read it on my own.

All in all, you need to read this. It’s a tender, sweet, beautiful romance set in my favorite country in the entire world. I can’t wait to see what Betty Cayouette writes next!

4.5 stars

I read this last year, and even though some of the details have faded, I still remember how much I loved it. I’m always a sucker for a good second chance romance, and this one delivered in all the best ways.

First of all, the settings in this book? Stunning. Betty Cayouette transported me to the most beautiful places, and I loved how the different locations reflected the emotional journey of the characters. There was something so cinematic about it, like I was right there with them, feeling every bittersweet moment.

Even though I don’t remember every little detail, what does stick with me is how this book made me feel. The longing, the heartache, the push and pull of two people finding their way back to each other—it all hit so perfectly. If you love second chance romances with gorgeous backdrops and all the emotional depth that comes with rediscovering lost love, I highly recommend this one!

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for a gifted copy. My thoughts are my own.

Loved the audiobook narrator. No crazy man sounding voices. Just a solid telling of the story.

If it is a second chance romance, I must have flashbacks of their initial relationship and this one delivered. I loved that it was a celebrity romance and set in Europe. Great concept and execution!

3.75 out of 5 Stars

Thank you to #Macaudio2024 for a copy of this audiobook. First, I had a difficult time getting in to this book at first because there was miscommunication throughout the beginning of the book. However, it made sense for the storyline for this to be the case. I really enjoyed the narrators for this story, particularly Brittany Pressley who has narrated several of my favorite audiobooks. I appreciated the dual timeline storytelling that shows what went wrong from 10 years prior and how their interactions are today with Emmerson and Theo. Seeing how the pair navigate their interactions after having a falling out 10 years prior was intriguing and I really enjoyed the story.

Closed Door Modifications: Chapter 32,33

This was a satisfying book. Emerson and Theo met in high school and made a plan if they were not married in 10 years they would marry each other. Well, they set a timer on each other's phone and now it is 10 years later. Emerson is a supermodel and has not found anyone she wants to be with and her 28th birthday and quickly coming. Theo is a fashion photographer, the type you would see in catalogs. Emerson convinces her agent to book her for Theo's latest shoot even though it is not of her caliber. Will he be happy to see her? After the shoot they spend time together to see if they still have feelings for each other.

This was a like, not a love for me.

Two childhood best friends promise to marry each other if they haven’t found anyone by a date certain — where the main characters happen to be 28 (what!! So young — come on!).

Fast forward — she’s a model, he’s a photographer and she somehow gets herself on his much lower-brow shoot in Italy. Will sparks fly?

This one is predictable but cute. A perfect palate cleanser.

3.5 rounded to 4. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher.

Wasn't my favorite. Although it was pleasant with likeable characters.
A debut romance about a supermodel and a photographer with a past marriage pact who meet again ten years later on a photoshoot in Cinque Terre, Italy.

From the moment Emerson and Theo met as teenagers, they were inseparable. But just when they finally expressed their feelings to one another, they were torn apart.

Now, supermodel Emerson is nearing her twenty-eighth birthday, and she’s tired of looking for love in all the wrong places. When the calendar reminder for the marriage pact she and Theo made as teens goes off on her phone, she realizes this is it―her chance to rekindle the only romance that ever really made sense. Emerson convinces her grumpy agent to book her as the face of the fashion campaign that Theo, now a fashion photographer, is shooting. The good the campaign is being shot in ridiculously romantic Cinque Terre, Italy. The bad news? Theo might not be as happy to see her as she'd hoped.

The two embark on a four-day campaign that tests not only their feelings, but their ability to keep their hands off one another. But as roadblock after roadblock keeps them apart, Emerson starts to will this photoshoot be the key to getting one last shot at love, or will it be a final goodbye?

Had to DNF this book. I kept trying to get into it, but it just wasn't happening. I've tried listening to this multiple times but the narrator's voice was not helping me get into the story either.

Unfortunately, it seems this audiobook is just not for me.

I wasn’t sure what to expect when I started ONE LAST SHOT, but enjoyed this debut romance between Emerson and Theo, that featured friends to lovers, second chance, and celebrity fiction.

WHAT TO EXPECT
-friends to lovers
-dual timelines
-second chance

*many thanks to SMP, and Netgalley for the gifted copy for review

3.5 stars rounded up! This was a pretty cute light and fluffy romcom and an enjoyable enough read. I loved the parts with Emerson and Georgia and would absolutely love to get more stuff with Georgia. My one major issue with the book is that it is a touch on the forgettable side, and certain parts I think could have been shorter while other parts, like the two leads being together could have been longer.

Both narrators did a fantastic job and the audio was excellent and made for a very smooth listening experience.

DNF'd arond 40%. I just could not get passed the BIGGEST misscommunication trope ever; the plot was so flat without them coming clean. How far was the author going to stretch it out? I wasn't going to wait around and find out.

This friends-to-lovers romance takes place in Italy on an unlikely photoshoot. Emerson is a supermodel who never models for commercial brands, but when her former best friend, Theo, is scheduled to shoot a four-day campaign for a retail giant, she knows that she needs to be one of the models. This story is full of so much tension and some truly delightful dialogue. All of the characters come to life to make the whole setting feel very real. I personally love a romance with a celebrity and Betty Cayouette does it really well.

Is a great choice for fans of Nora Goes Off Script.

Many thanks to Macmillan Audio for an Advanced Listener's Copy in exchange for my honest review.

*one last shot* by betty cayouette was not that great. the plot felt recycled and lacked originality, leaving me struggling to stay engaged. the characters were one-dimensional and didn't grow or evolve in any meaningful way, making it hard to care about their journeys. there was too much will they, won’t they. i don’t understand why they waited days to even discuss past events? nonsense.

I looooved this love story! I haven’t read a book by this Author before but I definitely will be keeping an eye of for their work in the future!

Emerson and Theo have all my heart, I’m not usually this much of a sucker when it comes to Romance but I thought that this was very well done.

I enjoyed all of the characters even the side ones, I also really loved the Authors note in the beginning about some of the more series parts of this story, I think it was done so tastefully!

Thank you so much Betty Cayouette for writing this incredible story and sharing it with me!

Big Thank you as well to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for my no cost copy of “One Last Shot”.

I received this advance review copy at no personal cost and all opinions are voluntary.

I loved this audiobook. Wonderfully set in Italy, this book tells the story of a humble supermodel who realizes that her long lost love is childhood best friend. She makes it her mission to travel to Italy where he is set to photograph for a company, akin to a Walmart and below her status, just to get close to him again. All the while she is going through internal trauma she suffered during the years she was away from him. I thought it was great how the author prefaced the book with an SA warning. All in all a great enjoyable read, not too heavy.

This was a fun romance that definitely hit those summer vibes! I loved the setting and the romance was sweet, if a bit simple. A nice summer read!