This is a cute romance that also sends the main characters through some tough trials (mainly in the past). He’s been burned by love, and she’s been burned by tragic loss and a mother she could never count on. The island setting is charming, and Sam has to face the reasons she left her hometown after high school and never looked back. Austin, the ferry boat captain, helps her rediscover a love for the place where she grew up. If you enjoy a good brother’s best friend trope and a beachy setting with closed-door chemistry, this is a great one to check out.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever for the e-ARC of this novel!

This was such a cute read!

All of the characters were great. I loved Austin. He was so sweet, optimistic, and genuinely good guy. I really appreciated how the characterd dealt with most conflicts in a mature way. The main characters had good chemistry.

I love the small town feel of this book. It was charming and I loved how important that was in the plot and to the characters.

I would definitely recommend for someone who is looking for a nice beach read.

Thanks to NetGalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC!

I really enjoyed this book. It was a very easy read and quite honestly predictable but fun. I enjoyed the characters and their stories. A great beach or vacation read.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for this e-arc in exchange for my honest review.

A gorgeous cover with an absolutely fantastic book inside. Austin was drool-worthy and was such a cinnamon roll; Samantha was an strong willed, beautiful real woman that grew so much in this story.... it was a truly beautiful story about coming home again, finding forgiveness, and growing up.

I enjoyed this book a lot more than I thought I would from the beginning. The first several chapters were a little choppy and nothing seemed to point to how this would all fit together besides the inevitable. Pretty soon the characters are fleshed out and you're rooting for both of them. Samantha left her home town in Rock Island, FL soon after graduation has returned very little trying to forget all the challenges there. She is a successful real estate professional in New York who works for some very annoying men who prefer their "boys club" members to the best producers in the firm who actually could be women. This is a rant I will always go on. Samantha is sent to her home town to do due diligence on this real estate project, and now we meet Austin, her best friend's older brother. Of course she knew him years ago, but they were too far apart in age to have much of a relationship. He has had relationship troubles in recent years (I won't spoil that story). Samantha repairs her relationship with her best friend Lexi and the story goes on from there.

I recommend this book as a great summer read. Thank you to NetGalley, Kristin Wollett and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

As a Last Resort was fabulous! I was hooked from the first page and could not put it down. Sam and Austin were sooo cute together! It was a super fun story while still having depth and handling tough topics.

This was a great debut novel and I will definitely be watching for more from this author!

This was SUCH a cute book. The references to the notebook were great and Austin and Samantha are the absolute cutest. Who doesn’t love a beach town love story?!? I’ll be on the lookout for this author in the future. Thanks for the earc copy!!

Thank you so much to Kristin Wollett, Forever (Grand Central Publishing), and NetGalley for letting me read As a Last Resort early!

This book was such a sweet, heartfelt small-town romance with just the right amount of drama. Samantha Leigh swore she’d never go back to Rock Island, Florida, but when her job dangles a big promotion in front of her, she ends up right back where it all began. That means dealing with her past, including her complicated family, old high school bullies… and Austin Marcs, her teenage crush who’s now the town’s charming ferryboat captain.

The banter between Sam and Austin was so fun. They butt heads, challenge each other, and yet the chemistry is undeniable. I loved watching Sam slowly see the beauty in the place she was so eager to leave, especially through Austin’s eyes. The beach strolls, sunset boat rides, and unexpected moments of vulnerability were just chef’s kiss.

It’s heartfelt, funny, and full of that small-town magic that makes you feel like you’re right there alongside the characters. If you love opposites attract, second chances, and a dash of hometown nostalgia, this one will hit the spot.

“As A Last Resort” by Kristin Wollett was a romantic story about coming home. I really enjoyed the characters and their growth. I was happy when Sam released two things can be true: she could be heartbroken and happy still with her home town. Her struggle with her mother was extremely touching on what I could imagine her a young teen trying to navigate and being the cause for her to uproot her life for so long. The ending was perfect! I was rooting for Sam and Austin’s epic love story the whole time!

Sam and Austin forever!
Loved this setting, the romance, the vibes and the overall premise. I adored this story, and I'm so glad I read this during the summer, on the beach!

If you love:
- best friend’s older brother
- Childhood friends
- Summer vibes
- Small town in Florida
- Dual POV
- Fade to black
- Temporary roommates
- Forced proximity
- Found family
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Content: minor language, drinking, alcoholic mother ,

While it started off quite slow for me I did overall enjoy this read. It felt like Gilmore Girls but on an island in Florida. Some of the tropes were small town romance, work relationships & family issues! If you like Gilmore Girls or hallmark movies you should enjoy this! Thank you to the author and Forever for this one!

This book was a solid 4 stars, lovely, summer beach read for me until the last 15%. Small town girl, Samantha, makes it in the big city and never wants to return until she is forced to visit for work. She then falls in love with her best friend's older brother, Austin. She flees back to the city scared of her feelings for him and her valid issues with her mother. The author, Kristin Wollett, wrote the tension very well up until Samantha returns to Florida. In the midst of a step forward in reconciliation with her mother, her mother tells her that Austin is back with his married ex-fiance and unnecessary and distracting drama ensues. It felt extraneous and took me completely out of the story. Overall, I still enjoyed the book so I gave it 3 stars.

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!