another good novel from Karen White. It reeks of the low country that I know and love. All premonition and dreams. It's what the South is made of

A refreshing escape from tired stories about families and tragedy, the characters were all flawed but engaging, with each having traits that garnered empathy. The detailed description of wildlife specifically birds to each chapter was a bonus learning experience with beautiful descriptions and the focus on conservation. A thoughtful, perspective on how a narcissistic parent impacts one's life, yet balanced by a truly inspiring family member to provide stability and hope. All brought together in a narrative that kept you guessing.

When Phoebe Manigault was struck by lightning as a child, at her South Carolina home, she developed the gift of premonition through her dreams. Growing up, Phoebe struggled with this gift and with being in the shadow of her older sister Addie. After graduating high school, Phoebe moved to Oregon, to get as far away as possible from her family and her dreams. Now, after all of these years Phoebe’s sister pleads for her to return home and help with their mother who has been showing signs of dementia. Home is the last place Phoebe wants to be, and she soon realizes she is not only caring for her sick mother, but also a self-destructive, irresponsible Addie, and her nine year old niece who is neglected by her mother. Phoebe’s plan is to get everything settled and organized for her mother’s care, so she can return to Oregon, but her renewed dreams and a friendship with a family from her past make it harder and harder to resist the urge to once again escape the hold of South Carolina.

That Last Carolina Summer is a beautiful, heartbreaking story of the messy, emotional layers that make up family connections. I thought White’s writing was beautiful and descriptive, and she really drew me into the Lowcountry setting of South Carolina. I also really enjoyed the way that she began each chapter with a bird excerpt, that tied in with Phoebe’s love of nature and the time she spent learning from her Aunt Sassy. I always love multiple POV stories, and it worked well here, with chapters from Phoebe and Celeste, giving the reader a look into the past while connecting the present of the Manigault and Fitch families.

The book deals with heavy subject matter, including caring for a loved one who is experiencing dementia, physical abuse, an unsolved disappearance, and strained family relationships. White does a great job handling all of these issues, and her writing definitely evokes a wide range of emotions from the reader. I did feel like some parts of the story got a bit repetitive, and I would have liked to see that time given over to the book’s conclusion and lending to a more in depth resolution for each of the characters storylines.

If you love family drama stories, with a touch of mystery, romance, second chances, complex characters, and an immersive Southern setting, then I would definitely recommend That Last Carolina Summer.

“When birds migrate, are they running
away? Or are they just temporarily going somewhere else out of a need for survival? It takes a lot more strength to leave than to stay.”

Phoebe returns home to South Carolina to help her sister Addie take care of her mother suffering from dementia knowing that it will bring on the return of the nightmarish dreams she’s had since being struck by lightning as a child.

Loved this book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Karen White’s That Last Carolina Summer is a sad and sympathetic story of a daughter Phoebe coming to grips with her mother’s worsening dementia in Mount Pleasant in the South Carolina LowCountry.

Interspersed with the story are tidbits about birds and bird behavior in the beginning of each chapter that bird lovers will enjoy.

The situation is complicated by a demanding older sister Addie who has lots of her own problems and has not been taking care of her nine year old daughter Ophelia or her mother Elizabeth with whom they live.

Phoebe comes for the summer from Oregon where she’s a science teacher to help and takes her mother to an appointment with a neurologist who confirms the dementia diagnosis. The doctor also happens to be Liam Finch, who saved Phoebe’s life when she was nine and struck by lightning.

The result of the lighting strike was Phoebe’s ability to have premonitions of things that might happen through dreams.

The story then follows Elizabeth’s continuing descent into dementia , Addie’s difficulties and problematic love life, Phoebe trying to take care of Elizabeth and solving issues Addie has caused including a weekend power outage during the hottest part of the summer because the electric bill wasn’t paid.

Phoebe and Liam begin to develop feelings for each other but try not to act on them because she is heading back to Oregon at the end of August. He is divorced and his son Will who is also nine and there for the summer becomes good friends with Ophelia. And his grandmother Celeste becomes good friends with Phoebe and helps take care of Elizabeth.

The book comes to a disturbing conclusion that no one expects. But at the very end there’s love and hope.

A novel well worth reading!

White’s writing shines as she creates characters that feel incredibly real — their flaws, hopes, and struggles are portrayed with such tenderness that it’s easy to see parts of yourself, your family, or someone you know in them. The relationships, especially between generations, are deeply relatable and grounded in a kind of messy, everyday love that resonates long after the last page.

However, readers should be aware that the novel touches heavily on the topic of dementia, particularly the heartbreak of watching a parent slip away. White handles it with grace and compassion, but for those currently facing a loved one's cognitive decline, parts of the story could feel especially raw and painful. It’s both a strength and a potential trigger — the emotion feels authentic because it is.

Overall, The Last Carolina Summer is a moving, well-crafted story with rich emotional depth. I only held back a star because at times the pacing lagged slightly, but the characters and their journeys more than made up for it. Highly recommended, especially for those who appreciate family-centered stories that don't shy away from the complicated truths of life.

I absolutely loved this emotional book set in the low country of South Carolina. Peppered with beautiful references to birds and rich descriptions of the marshes in the Charleston area, this story pulls the reader into to the Southern pace that readers love, and yet I couldn’t stop turning the page. The story of the women in this story pulled at my heart strings, and with a promise of redemption and a touch of romance I couldn’t put it down.

What a great summer read - especially if you are spending on a low country beach! In this latest story from Karen White, Phoebe Manigault has established a life on the West Coast, away from her dysfunction South Carolina family and the premonitions that had dominated her dreams after being struck by lightning as a child. However, this ends when her estranged sister Abbie calls, demanding help with their mother, Elizabeth, who is displaying symptoms of dementia. Upon returning to the family home, Phoebe is shocked to find how quickly her mother's illness has advanced. To make matters worse, her nightmarish premonitions have returned. Also, her mother's doctor is none other than Liam, who saved her life as a child, but whose family had a contentious relationship with hers. He also is the son of Phoebe's new friend, Celeste, a former nurse who is still mourning the disappearance of her granddaughter, Liam's sister. Without giving away the ending, the story culminates with a terrible storm.

This was really different from my typical reads, as I generally read romances, fantasy, and thrillers. I really enjoyed it and recommended it to my grandmother as well because I could tell this is right up her alley (she loves a family drama). The southern lowcountry setting made for such an atmospheric vibe with the premonitions that Phoebe has. The dementia aspect with her mom added some deep emotions for me as it hit really close to home with my mom's various health problems. Lots of secrets, buried family drama, and suspense throughout this one. I would definitely recommend this one to anyone who likes family drama, secrets, and southern settings.

The following review was posted on Goodreads on 4.10.25:

I generally enjoy Karen White's books and, although this one is far from my favorite of hers, I can say that I liked it for the most part. Like most (all?) of White's novels, THAT LAST CAROLINA SUMMER features an atmospheric Southern setting where beauty and ugliness mix behind genteel facades. There's nothing particularly original or memorable about the characters or plot of this novel. Phoebe and Addie—the sisters at the heart of the story—are both sympathetic in their own ways, but only the former is likable. Their mother isn't very appealing at all. Celeste is my favorite character, although she's rather cliché. Plotwise, this one's a slow mover without a ton of action. It's obvious from the get-go how Phoebe's dreams, Celeste's missing granddaughter, and Addie's selfishness all fit together, which takes all the mystery out of the story, making the whole novel more lackluster than it could have been. I'm not opposed to a little touch of the supernatural in the books I read, but it has to be convincing and Phoebe's "gift" really wasn't for me. All these things considered, THAT LAST CAROLINA SUMMER was a bit of a disappointment since it was only an average read for me. I wanted to love it like I have other books by White and I just...didn't. Bummer.

If this were a movie, it would be rated: PG-13 for brief, mild language (no F-bombs), innuendo, and violence

**5 Stars – A Powerful and Poignant Summer Read**

*That Last Carolina Summer* by Karen White is an unforgettable, emotional journey through the tangled threads of family, memory, and reconciliation. I absolutely loved this book—the raw and real characters drew me in from the first page. White masterfully captures the heartbreak and complexity of navigating a dementia diagnosis within a family, and the ways siblings wrestle with regret, rivalry, and the desire to make things right.

Each chapter peels back another layer of long-buried emotions, and I found myself rooting for these flawed, deeply human characters every step of the way. It's a story that lingers with you, reminding us that love endures even through pain, confusion, and change.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC. I can’t wait for others to experience this moving novel when it hits shelves in July!

Please note-the story will definitely be a trigger for those dealing with caring for someone with dementia.
Karen White once again has written a gripping story, this time about Phoebe, returning home to South Carolina to care for her mother who has dementia. Not knowing what she was walking into, Phoebe is blindsided by the state of the household, her sisters actions, and her mother's decline. As a child Phoebe had been struck by lightening and saved by a young boy. After the event, she had premonitions in dreams of things to come. One dream/nightmare had been reoccurring since, yet without clarity, leaving her to think that if she moved, she would be saving someone-possibly herself. Lots of family drama, help from unexpected acquaintances who turn into dear friends, and a long ago mystery solved. The story does end on a mixed of emotions, though somewhat positive note. Thanks to NetGalley, Ms White and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was given an ARC copy of this book in return for a review.

Phoebe returns to South Carolina for the summer to help her sister Addie take care of their mother who has memory issues. Things are in a mess in a number of ways, including financials so Phoebe tries to straighten them out before she heads back to Oregon. Throw in a friendship that develops with an older lady (Celeste) who happens to be a retired nurse and offers to help with Phoebe's mom, Celeste's grandson Liam who ends up being Phoebe's mom's doctor and see what happens in one eventful summer return to South Carolina for Phoebe. Pick this one up in July 2025.

I enjoyed this one a lot. I especially enjoyed the relationships and friendships that developed throughout the book and getting to know each of the characters. Great job Ms. White!

A woman is called back to her childhood home in South Carolina to help her older sister with their m0m, who is suffering from dementia. Determined to only stay temporarily, she tries to help her family, and finds attraction with her mother's doctor, only to find everything threatened by long-buried secrets. I enjoyed the storyline and the writing.

This author loves Carolina and it shows in every story she writes. You can feel the heat and smell the marshes. You really feel like you are there.
This story is a bit darker than some others the author has written. The characters carry a lot of baggage with them and they act out in different ways. There is also the slow killer dementia which effected everyone she came in contact with.
There was still a lot of hope and love throughout the story. And acceptance.
Enjoy.

This was a beautifully written book. The setting was described in such detail, I felt like I was in South Carolina in the hot July humidity! A poignant story of families, the lies we keep, and the unbreakable bonds. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for a sneak peek at the latest gem by Karen White.

into dementia. It was told from the viewpoints of several of the characters in the book.

White's prose described the Lowcountry beautifully. I could see the landscape and almost smell the pluff mud.

As a fan of the Tradd Street stories, I was pleased to see the names Manigault and Prioleau used again.

I would take out the phrase, used several times, "she barked out a laugh". That has been overused to the point of being a joke in several lit groups and there's even a meme about it.

Thank you, Karen White, for another trip to coastal South Carolina!

Phoebe was struck by lightening when she was a kid and a kid with green eyes saved her. She never fit in at home with her mom always bringing her older sister to beauty pageants. Ever since being hit by lightning, are has premonitions and her family tried to hide them

Now she lives across the country as a middle school science teacher and rarely goes home to South Carolina. Her premonitions are gone in Oregon. Except, her sister calls and she's forced to as her mom is deep into dementia and Addie can't deal with it anymore.

When Phoebe gets back, she discovers her sister is not dealing with anything, including her own 9 year old daughter. Everything's a mess. Phoebe gets her mom an appointment with the local neurologist and discovers it's the same green eyed boy. And her premonitions are back...

I enjoyed this book!

Honestly, the premise feels a little tired, but I guess this might be what fans of women's fiction are wanting these days, and I applaud Karen White for her execution. As always, her characters are well drafted if a bit simplistic.

The mystery element is a bit overdone as the author does not seem to trust her readers' intelligence. Most readers want to figure things out for themselves and are capable of doing so.

While the pacing is somewhat slow, and the book could have been shorter and tighter, there is a lovely emotional resonance in this narrative that will appeal to many readers.

The approaching storm is a bit cliche. Ultimately I understand why it was included and it works well for the story.

I recommend THAT LAST CAROLINA SUMMER for fans of family dramas.

Phoebe fled her family years ago, but now her mother has dementia and her sister has begged her to come home for the summer. She fears though that her dreams will also return. She finds the house in chaos and her sister ignoring it all. Over the summer everyone's life evolved, secrets are revealed and loves, old and new appear. Absolutely wonderful.