The pull between roots and wings. Austin and Samantha, similar roots, different wings. Learning to love after loss. Great characterization. There is a character in the story that surprisingly showed change and growth, I appreciated seeing that in the story.

This is a slow-burn with Hallmark movie vibes that would make a good beach/poolside read. It has some fun banter moments, and also touches on some complex topics/trauma. It’s also worth mentioning it’s a closed-door romance. The MMC is easy to like - reliable, down to earth, and a lover of romcom movies. The FMC has a complex family history that makes her distrustful of emotional connections. I wish some of the heavier topics were given the depth they deserved. She’s also dealing with some work drama but the true relevance to the plot isn't fully explained until about halfway into the book. I found the workplace nemesis subplot distracting from the main couple. Despite these gripes, I did enjoy this. It was pleasant, had good summer vibes, and it kept me engaged. It’s a solid debut and I’d pick up another by this author.

Thanks to Forever (Grand Central Publishing) & NetGalley for this advanced reader copy - all opinions are my own!

I thoroughly enjoyed this one! Loved the setting of Rock Island Florida- a small island town. I enjoyed seeing Samantha grow throughout the story and Austin was just the sweetest!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. Really fun romance where a woman returns home and falls in love with her best friend’s older brother. Loved the characters and the closed door aspect. This is a debut and I can’t wait to see what the author does next.

As a Last Resort delivers all the beachy tension and emotional depth I love in a small-town second chance romance. Samantha Leigh is career-driven and determined to avoid the hometown she left behind—but when she returns to Rock Island for work, she’s faced with the past she thought she’d outgrown: her complicated family, high school baggage, and Austin Marcs—her teenage crush turned ferryboat captain.

Yes, this is a familiar trope (those who leave home never really leave), but Kristin Wollett breathes fresh life into it with a strong sense of place, sharp dialogue, and layered emotional stakes. The chemistry between Sam and Austin was undeniable, and I found myself rooting for them from the start.

The story is heartfelt without being too heavy, and the pacing kept me engaged from beginning to end. Wollett does a beautiful job showing that healing can come from the most unexpected places—and people.

Highly recommend for fans of small-town settings, opposites-attract dynamics, and second chances done right.

The cover of this book drew me in as soon as I got the ARC for it. I thought I was ready to move on from summery books.
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Nope, I was wrong!
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This was really cute! It gave really good summer and beachy vibes with it being set in Florida. Childhood best friend’s brother, as well as her childhood crush! It was such a feel good read.
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There are definitely some heavier topics in this one too, giving it more emotional depth. I do wish we had gotten to see a little more of that towards the end, but overall, a solid read!
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Thank you to NetGalley and Forever/Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for a review!

With remarkable sensitivity, Kristin Wollett crafts a deeply emotional homecoming story, drawing readers in. Back on her small Florida island, Samantha's story, artfully written by Wollett, is a blend of unlikely romance with Austin, facing off against the workplace boss, and coming to terms with her mother's addiction. The author's prose effectively portrays the island setting and Sam's internal conflict regarding her father's death. Wollett's writing masterfully conveys how emotional issues persist, even when physical surroundings change. As a Last Resort is a touching exploration of healing and second chances. Readers hoping for a poignant romance, filled with heart and humor, will savor this debut novel. I can't wait to see what this author shares with us next!

Thank you to Kristen Wollet for this ARC of As a Last Resort! This was the quintessential beach read and I really enjoyed it.

Sam is forced back to her hometown where she faces a lot of tough memories from her past - including a mother facing addition and an ex she’d rather not see again. As she’s facing past trauma, a lot of sweet and poignant moments unfolds giving the story more depth than I expected.

What I liked:
- Engaging plot
- Slow burn tension
- Delicate handling of alcohol related addiction
- Austin, the swoonworthy MMC 😍

Overall, a solid debut novel!

Thank you Netgalley and Forever for letting me read this! I loved this book!!! Being Kristin’s debut novel, this was done so well!!
Samatha is from New York and has a great career with her company. They redevelop sights, well they bought a strip of land in Florida. Sam’s home town, and she has to go back there. The place she ran from.
In comes Austin, her high school crush and best friend’s brother. He is still reeling from his ex fiancée and ex best friend getting together on him. It’s been years. But he really likes Sam and has not felt this way about anyone since his ex. Austin shows Sam love and that she doesn’t have to run away from the island and run away from the people who care about her.
The story follows both of them navigating the struggles they went through and how to heal.
It was a really good story!!! It comes out September 2nd and you need to read this feel good story!!

A debut novel hasn't grabbed me like this one in a LONG time! From the very first page, I was hooked! Samantha is a type A personality that needs to keep tight control on every aspect of her life, and for good reasons. After tragedy put some serious obstacles in her path, she had to take the reins for her own sanity.
Life often has different plans though, so when Sam has to go home in order to 'hopefullly' get the promotion that she's been working towards, everything starts to spiral out of control. Sam has to make some tough choices, but she's not alone, she has her former BFF Lexi, Lexi's HOT brother Austin, and her kick @$$ assistant Ivy, who is my spirit animal.
This book is an entertaining rollercoaster ride of emotions that will have you crying adn laughing until your sides ache. It's a pugnatious, MMMbopping story that will have you racing through the pages like Florida Man with a gator on his tail!

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!
Kristin Wollett delivers a fantastic debut novel that’s perfect for a summer escape. While there were a few grammatical hiccups, I’m hopeful these will be smoothed out in the final edition.

Fans of Abby Jimenez will likely find this story just as charming and heartfelt. The plot centers around Samantha, a relatable protagonist who’s left her small-town roots behind to chase her career dreams. When a work opportunity brings her back home, she’s forced to confront unresolved family and friendship drama, reflect on her past, and reevaluate what she truly wants for her future.

This novel blends emotional depth with lighthearted romance—romcom at its finest. A wonderful read for anyone looking to get lost in a story of second chances and self-discovery.

I gave this book a 4 star. The writing was easy to follow, and the plot kept me hooked. I really love a work/job plot. Both the main characters had emotional trauma that gave them a strong-willed personality. I loved their banter, the found family, the dual narration, and what the main characters brought out of each other. I will be recommending this book to my platforms.

Now that I live in Florida, I have such a greater appreciation for this story and the setting. I also want to visit Rock Island!

Samantha carries a lot of trauma from her childhood and she has taken all of it and thrown herself into her work in NYC while leaving her life, friends and family behind in FL. But then all of a sudden, work takes her back home and those old wounds get ripped open.

Austin, Sam’s high school crush is a total dreamboat, knight in shining armor and he is just so wholesome and wonderful and how could anyone not like him???

A little forced proximity, small-town meddling and a washing machine malfunction leads to lot of tension and chemistry.

This story was so sweet and I laughed, I definitely cried, I face palmed and swooned. All the while, I was rooting for them to figure it out and find their HEA!

Thank you to Forever Publishing for the early copy!

Perfect for the last days of summer, Kristin Wollett's debut Rom-Com is full of sweet moments while delving into deeper topics as well. (trigger warnings: substance abuse and spouse/parent loss).

Going home is never easy and when Sam is forced to revisit the small Florida island where she grew up, she is faced wirh demons from her past. Meanwhile she is starting a sweet summer romance, but is it doomed from the beginning?

With fun side characters and beautifully described locations, As a Last Resort is the perfect way to end the summer.

As a Last Resort by Kristin Wollett is a nostalgic, sun-soaked debut romcom about coming home, second chances, and learning to forgive the past.

When NYC real estate developer Sam is forced to return to the small Florida town she swore off, she comes face-to-face with old wounds and Austin, the golden boy she once crushed on.
There’s a lot to love here: small-town charm, heartfelt family moments, and a cast of side characters whose love stories shine just as brightly as Sam and Austin’s. While the romance didn’t always hit as hard as I hoped it’s still a solid summer read.

Fans of comfort reads with emotional depth will likely enjoy this one. Thanks to NetGalley and the author for the ARC!

Thank you NetGalley, Forever and Kristin Wollett for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This one was fun! Samanthas unhealthy behavior and responses was totally understandable but I still wanted to shake her a bit. Once we learned more about her upbringing it makes more sense, although still a crappy first reaction to flee when things get tough.

Austin is a dream. After an awful betrayal, he focuses on his family and business. When Samantha comes back to town, things start looking a little brighter.

I loved that there was history between them but not the typical second chance romance.

I’ll admit, I wanted to chuck my kindle at the wall during the third act but eventually Sam redeemed herself.

Glenn was a terrible boss and I hope he got demoted for his terrible business proposal. Also Robby, just eww. Glad he showed occasional signs of not being terrible but still my guy, do better.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

3.25 stars

The story had a lot of potential, with some of the themes and characters in the story, but I felt it just fell short. There were a lot of plots and story lines the author could have dug deeper into, but seemed a bit chaotic and messy with everything going on and not being explored.

I didn’t really feel an emotional connection to the characters or their relationship throughout the book. Austin and Sam’s relationship felt very surface level and I didn’t really understand why they fell in love with each other.

Even the side characters in did not relate with or really care for like I do in other books.

Considering this is the authors first novel, she writes well!

As a Last Resort is a heartfelt and refreshing debut that blends second chances, coastal charm, and the kind of emotional honesty that stays with you. I was immediately drawn to the small-town setting, which felt lived-in and real. Sam’s return home is not just about rekindling an old romance but about facing her past, reconnecting with family, and rediscovering the pieces of herself she left behind.

Kristin Wollett writes with a quiet confidence that makes the emotional moments feel authentic. The characters are well developed and deeply likable, the romance is sweet without being predictable, and the pacing makes this a perfect summer read. There is warmth, wit, and a strong sense of place throughout. I look forward to reading whatever Kristin writes next.

This was the cutest book! Huge thanks to NetGalley for this perfect little summer read. ☀️

Sam heads back to her small hometown in Florida for work, where she’s forced to face her alcoholic mom—and all the painful memories she ran from years ago.

I found Sam so relatable. That tough, guarded shell… her avoidance of past trauma… her no-nonsense attitude. But underneath it all, she was carrying so much fear. I just adored her. And Austin? Swoon. The ultimate cinnamon roll MMC. He was gentle, sweet, and while guarded in his own way, he wasn’t afraid to take a chance. He was steadfast and so supportive of Sam. I absolutely loved these two together. 🥹

The plot was engaging, the witty banter had me LOL-ing, and the angsty tension between them? 😮‍💨 There were also some truly emotional moments that gave the story really good depth. It was the perfect comfort read and one I’ll be reading again.

Such a great debut—well done, Kristin Wollett! 👏🏻 Highly recommend this one for your next beach read.

Spice: 🫑 Closed door, but plenty of tension.

Tropes:
⛴️ He Falls First
🌴 Grumpy x Sunshine (she’s the grump!)
⛴️ Cinnamon Roll MMC
🌴 Witty Banter

Definitely not for me but that’s probably because I don’t like romance. If you do though it’s a great choice. Pretty well-written.