I had high hopes going into this book, but the execution fell flat. The characters felt unrelatable and lacked depth, which made it hard to connect with or root for any of them. Additionally, the dialogue often came across as unnatural or stilted. The plot was also highly predictable, with few—if any—surprises along the way.

Phoebe Manigault is struck by lightening when she is nine years old and begins having very vivid and mysterious premonitions, which her sister tends to use for her own entertainment. Phoebe is the "smart" daughter while her sister, Adeline (Addie), is the "pretty" daughter. Their mother is the quintessential Southern lady who is obsessed with proper etiquette and beauty pageants, both of which Phoebe rebels against.

As an adult, Phoebe flees to Oregon to escape her family as well as the nightmarish premonitions only to be reluctantly called home by Addie to help care for their mother who is now suffering from dementia. Enter Celeste, an elderly woman whose granddaughter vanished years ago and has never given up hope of finding her. She befriends Phoebe and, together, they form a bond that offers comfort and hope for them both.

There is an element of mystery along with strong emotions as Phoebe and Addie come to the realization of their mother's failing health and the secrets that have been deeply buried for far too long.

Karen White never disappoints. I always enjoy her story telling. That Last Carolina Summer is no exception.

She is still my favorite author. This book does not disappoint. I always feel like I know her characters and they are part of the family. This was a great read that I read in one day!

That Last Carolina Summer drew me in from the very first page with its blend of Southern atmosphere, rich family drama, and a dash of the unexplainable. Phoebe Manigault is a beautifully layered protagonist, haunted by her past, literally and emotionally. Her journey back to her childhood home in South Carolina is both a reckoning and a return to herself.

The writing is lush without being overindulgent, painting the Lowcountry setting in a way that made me feel the humidity, smell the marsh, and hear the call of the marsh wren. But what really stood out was the emotional complexity, strained sisterhood, unresolved grief, and the aching pull of a home that no longer feels like home.

The pacing was excellent. I found myself fully immersed from start to finish, never wanting to put the book down. Every chapter added depth, tension, or tenderness, and the story unraveled in a way that felt both surprising and completely earned. I genuinely didn’t want it to end.

A beautiful, immersive read perfect for fans of Southern fiction with heart, mystery, and a touch of the uncanny.

Another stunning novel from one of my favorite authors. I was emotionally drawn into Phoebe's story. I thought the author did a superb job of weaving together the relationships of Phoebe and Addie as sisters, their relationships with their mother who now has Alzheimers, and Phoebe's relationship with Liam, who saved her life when she was nine.

The setting of the marshes of South Carolina becomes a character in and of itself.

I also loved how the author used parallels between the lives and habits of birds with the lives and habits of people.

This was an entertaining page-turner with emotional depth but grounded in reality.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher, for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I was drawn in by the gorgeous cover art of "That Last Carolina Summer" and it would make a great book to pack in your beach bag. The story is told by two main characters. The first is Phoebe Manigault, who was struck by lightning when she was nine years old. After the lightning strike, Phoebe has "premonitions" of events that typically happen in the future. The second POV comes from Celeste, a substitute teacher and also the mother of the young man that saves Phoebe after her strike. When the story begins, Phoebe is a teacher in Oregon, and she is summoned home by her older sister, Addie, who is concerned that their mother is suffering from dementia. Phoebe, who does not have a great relationship with her mother or her sister, reluctantly comes home to help. Back in South Carolina, Phoebe realizes her mom is truly suffering, the house is a mess, and her sister Addie is on a very self destructive life path, often leaving her nine-year-old daughter Ophelia alone in the company of her mom.
What I liked - I loved the bird behavior entries at the beginning of each chapter (from Phoebe's blog) and the general storyline of relationships between mothers and daughters, and sisters. I did think the twist at the end was very predictable, and there were several moments of repetitive dialog in the story. Despite the heavy topics, I would classify this as a beach reach. Thank you, Netgalley, for an advance reader copy.

I really enjoyed this book. I love this author, she hooked me with her Tradd Street Series in Charleston. I love Charleston and always love reading stories taking place in this great city. This book didn't disappoint. Ms. White always has a physic or ghostly charm to her stories.... I did figure out the ending, but still thoroughly enjoyed this book. Can't wait for more from Karen White....

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC of this novel.

Phoebe has a complicated history with her childhood hometown of Charleston, South Carolina. As a child, she survived being struck by lightning and started having premonitions. When she moved away as an adult, those dreams stopped, much to her relief.

After getting called back home for the summer to help her older sister care for their elderly mother, who is showing signs of dementia, Phoebe's dreams return, and she struggles to cope. Between trying to care for her mother and forcing her sister to be more responsible, Phoebe is almost at her wits' end when she meets a spry elderly woman named Celeste.

Celeste is in mourning for her granddaughter, Julie, who vanished without a trace the same year Phoebe's older sister, Addie, graduated from high school. Soon, Celeste and her adult grandson, Liam, are involved with Phoebe's family, and she wonders where her loyalties should lie.

This novel kept me interested. The characters are wonderfully developed, and I enjoyed the alternating POVs of Phoebe and Celeste. Mystery, family drama, and a little clean romance rounded out this story.

My only critique is that I wanted more. The ending, while good, felt more like a chapter ending than a novel ending. I wish there were an epilogue.

This story touched my heart in so many ways. The animosity between sisters and a family member dealing with dementia just seemed to hit home and kept me captivated till the last page. I could relate to the way Phoebe felt about returning to her childhood home. So glad that in the end there is forgiveness, love, and support for the sisters. Thanks to the author Karen White, Harlequin Trade Publishing | Park Row, and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Karen White’s *That Last Carolina Summer* is a delightful novel that takes you into the charming South Carolina Lowcountry, exploring themes of family, memory, and fate.

The story revolves around Phoebe Manigault, who, after surviving a lightning strike as a child, discovers she has the ability to glimpse the future. She returns to Charleston to care for her ailing mother and faces some long-standing tension with her mysterious sister, Addie. Along the way, Phoebe starts to unravel old grudges and secrets in her family.

White brings the Lowcountry to life in such a vivid way that it feels like a character itself. Phoebe's emotional journey is heartwarming, especially in her relationships with her mom, sister, and the intriguing Liam. Plus, there’s Celeste, a grandmother still mourning the loss of her granddaughter, who adds a touching layer to Phoebe’s quest for closure.

As Phoebe’s visions grow stronger, the story fills with suspense and surprising truths that connect beautifully to themes of loss, forgiveness, and resilience. Overall, *That Last Carolina Summer* is a beautifully written tale about coming home and finding redemption in the shadows of the past.

The Last Carolina Summer by Karen White literally begins with a lightening strike. A not-your-usual summer novel, Ms. White navigates the reader through the struggles related to a parent with developing dementia and how relationships are affected. Phoebe left home because of the constant conflict between her and her mother as well as her sister but when things take a major turn, Phoebe left her northwest home to head back to South Carolina. One there, the past meets the present and the realty of her mother’s illness becomes apparent. The Last Carolina Summer is a five star read this summer, a little more serious but a very important novel.

Oh what a tangled web we weave, what a story! Filled with dark and deadly secrets that were tearing a family apart, yet bringing it together all surrounded by the unforgiving tragedy of dementia and caring for a parent with the disease. There was so much going on in this book that I truly could not put it down. This one will completely raise your heart rate from beginning to end. Thank you NetGalley for a chance to read an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

This book follows Phoebe Manigault as she returns home to South Carolina to care for her ailing mother. Home is not where the heart is for Phoebe– growing up, she was the odd one out in a family of pageant-winning mother and daughter and overbearing father, a lawyer who always got his way. While home, she butts heads with her sister Addie, bonds with her niece Ophelia, and befriends Celeste, an older woman whose life is far more intertwined with Phoebe’s than initially perceived. There’s aspects of both magical realism and mystery: Phoebe was struck by lightning when she was nine, giving her what she calls “premonitions,” dreams of events just before they happen; Celeste’s granddaughter Julie went missing when she was eighteen, and Celeste hasn’t given up hope that she may still be out there. The story is told in dual-perspective, alternating between Phoebe and Celeste.
White’s writing really shone in the description of the Carolina lowlands. Having never been to either of the Carolinas, I’ve never actually seen any of its wildlife, but the depictions in the text were beautiful. The passages that stood out to me the most were the prologue and Phoebe’s recurring nightmare, both of which contrasted with the rest of the text which remained quite grounded. The balance between the two prevented the more descriptive, dreamy passages from becoming overwhelming. White also does an excellent job with Phoebe’s mother’s illness, which is written with painful honesty, at times almost difficult to read. I also think this book offers an interesting perspective on what success looks like as an adult– Phoebe’s return home is a success, not a failure. This isn’t an idea I usually see in fiction, but it added to the overwhelming feeling of comfort that this book gives off.
Some things disappointed me, too. I wish we would’ve had more of a chance to explore Addie outside of the overwhelming negative perception of nearly every character. She was disliked by Phoebe, Celeste, and even acquaintances who only met her once or twice. Phoebe, I get, but for her to be subject to everyone’s ire with no redemption until the veeeery end made it difficult for me to read. For a story priding itself on being a tale of sisterhood, I would’ve preferred more care for the main character’s sister. The story hinges on Phoebe’s feeling that everyone, mother included, prefers Addie over her falls somewhat flat because I saw very few people actually seem to enjoy Addie at all. I also found the writing to be at times overly repetitive. Sometimes, the very same passage, sentence, or description would be used time and time again. Some instances could be argued to serve narrative purpose, foreshadowing the book’s ultimate plot twist, but many felt unnecessary. Additionally, I feel that I must note that the plot twist was pretty predictable, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing if that’s what you’re looking for.
Ultimately, I enjoyed this book. It’s a good summer read, and would interest fans of magical realism, mystery, romance, or women’s fiction. I give it a 3.5/5.

Phoebe had moved away from the low country as soon as she was old enough, as far away as she could get, until her sister, Addie, called her in a panic and said she needed help with their mother, who was becoming very forgetful.
From the time she arrived, all the old anger and trouble she suffered as a child came flooding back. On top of it, she had been hit by lightning as a child, had horrible dreams with premonitions -coming back to the low country made them start all over again. Learning to be around her sister again and her mother, who was dealing with dementia, just compounded all of the family drama.
The book contains lots of dysfunctional family drama as they all try to find a way forward.
It was a good story and shows how family does come together, no matter what.

DNF at 15%. Thank you for the opportunity, but the story and writing didn’t really click with me this time. I could notice some mistakes and the premise didn’t really intice me enough.

I really enjoy Karen White’s books, and I think this is one of the best she’s written. Thoughtful and true to life, “That Last Carolina Summer” is a great read. The complicated family relationships, love story, and mystery come together in this very compelling read.

Thank you to Park Row and NetGalley for the ARC!

That Last Carolina Summer by Karen White is a reflective and emotionally layered novel that explores family caregiving, memory, and the fragile threads that hold relationships together. Told through multiple perspectives, the story moves gently between past and present, tracing how unresolved trauma, sibling tension, and the slow erosion of a parent’s identity shape the lives of adult children still searching for clarity. Subtle elements of intuition and memory deepen the narrative without pushing it into the realm of magical realism, grounding the story in emotional truth.

What I appreciated most was how the romance stayed in the background. It’s there—quiet, believable, and tender—but it never overshadows the novel’s central concern: the bittersweet experience of loving and losing someone while they are still alive. The depiction of caregiving felt honest and often poignant, especially in how it reflects the complicated roles adult children fall into. That said, I did find the psychic elements a touch repetitive and wished they had been used with a bit more variation or depth. Still, the emotional impact of the story resonated with me, and the themes of grief, family repair, and memory made this a compelling and satisfying read.

Thank you to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for providing an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

OMG! A phenominal read. I was hooked from the very first page and just could not stop reading. It was very difficult to put this book down until I was done reading. I loved the authors writing style, the characters were awesome and relatable. What a treat this was. I look forward to reading more books from this author. Bravo Karen!!


#Harlequin Trade Publishing# Karen White#Dementia

🌅That Last Carolina Summer 🌅

Title : That Last Carolina Summer
Author: Karen White
Publisher: Park Row
Format: Kindle
Review: 🌟🌟🌟🌟💫
Pub Date: July 22, 2025

Thank you NetGalley and Park Row for the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

“Even during harsh winters when food is scarce, bluebirds will continue to cheerfully sing because they know better days are ahead. They remind us to never lose faith, even in our darkest hours, and to hold on to our belief that in the end everything will be all right.”

Every summer my family and I visit Hilton Head, SC, and I was instantly drawn to this book, as I was hoping I would be transported to SC. Boy was I and so much more. The descriptions of Charleston are so detailed it feels like you are there smelling the marsh and in The Low Country. This book tells the story of Phoebe and Celeste from duel POV. Phoebe after being hit by a strike of lightening, develops the gift of premonitions but leaves Charleston after college. She’s is drawn back to Charleston many years later to help care for her ailing mother. Long lasting tension with her sister Addie causes Phoebe to only commit to a summer of caregiving. Phoebe meets Celeste, whose granddaughter went missing in high school. What unravels is a story that is written with deeply emotional prose about lost childhoods, parenting and caregiving of an aging parent. There is also the premonitions to figure out…..

Likes
🚤 The intro quotes for each chapter is a small narrative about birds and it’s completely captivating and a small insight into what you will be reading with our characters.
🚤 The small side love story of Pheobe and Liam is similar to Sweet Home Alabama!
🚤 Very accurate descriptions of living with a parent with dementia and all the pain that comes with it.
🚤 how the story comes together in the end
🚤 Ophelia’s love of books and how she converts Will into a book lover. She’s a 9 year old booksagramer!

Themes: caregiving, Dementia, low country vibes, small town romance, birds, trauma

#lowcountry #charelston #southcarolina #dementia #ARCreview

A fun, fast read with a great sense of place — I could practically feel the Carolina heat and hear the birds in the marshes. I really enjoyed the bird/human parallels, and the story does touch on some deeper emotional topics, all while keeping that “perfect-for-summer” page-turner energy.

A few things didn’t totally work for me. I tend to struggle with narratives where a character who's endured emotional abuse is nudged toward forgiveness purely because the other party "had their own pain." The protagonist had valid reasons for keeping her distance, and while I understand the intent behind a redemptive arc, this one felt a bit too neat. I also saw the central twist coming around the halfway point, and some of the phrasing leaned into well-worn territory.

Still, this is a heartfelt and accessible read — perfect for readers looking for a weekend escape with a compelling, uncomplicated story.

Big thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Publishing for the opportunity to read this early — always a pleasure to discover new stories ahead of release.