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.

This book is perfect for readers who enjoy small-town settings, character-driven stories, and the comforting notion that sometimes, coming home is the best decision you can make.

What unfolds is a beautifully simple love story rooted in second chances, community, and rediscovering where you truly belong. The pacing is gentle, the romance is genuine, and the emotional moments are quietly powerful. The town itself feels like a character—warm, familiar, and full of heart.

This is a charming, second-chance romance that hits all the right notes for a feel-good read. While some plot beats are familiar, Kristin Wollett brings heart and humor to Sam’s journey of rediscovery—of love, family, and the town she tried to forget. A perfect pick for fans of coastal settings, messy family dynamics, and opposites-attract romance.

This summer-y beach read was just what I needed coming off a book that was a tough read! This was Wollett’s debut novel and she killed it. To me, most authors only get better once they have one or two under their belt, so I really hope she continues to write because I will definitely read whatever she puts out next.

When it comes to Rom-coms, I am not one for specific tropes; I just love a good storyline with a lot of witty banter and the right amount of “will-they” or “won’t-they” without too many on and offs of the main relationship or unrealistic scenarios. This novel delivered that.

I often find in debuts, that characters are not well developed and relationships are not all that deep. Wollet’s characters were complex, as were some of their relationships, but they were also so likeable. Even the ones we probably should have hated.

After a slow start I did end up getting very immersed in this story. I loved the addiction/family dynamics storyline, lost and regained friendship, and of course the love story.

3.5⭐️


Samantha Leigh es una ejecutiva ambiciosa en una firma de inversiones de Nueva York, cuya vida gira en torno a contratos millonarios, cafés apresurados y relaciones personales cada vez más disfuncionales. Todo cambia cuando un proyecto de resort la obliga a regresar a Rock Island, un pequeño pueblo costero en Florida que ha hecho todo lo posible por olvidar, junto con el pasado complicado que dejó allí.

Austin Marcs es el capitán de una empresa de ferris local que ha encontrado paz en el agua tras una traición que lo marcó profundamente: su prometida lo dejó por su mejor amigo. Ahora, enfocado en su negocio y en evitar los rumores del pueblo, lo último que quiere es una turista ambiciosa que altere su rutina… hasta que se reencuentra con Sam.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest

Thank you NetGalley & Forever for allowing me to read this ARC.
As a Last Resort is a cute romance perfect for the last summer days! When Samantha's job sends her back to the hometown she swore she'd never return to, everything she ran from is waiting for her including her first crush, Austin. He's still gorgeous, still infuriating, and still in love with Rock Island. From there start the second chance romance! The book focus a lot on the FMC's job, not leaving much place for the romance to bloom in my opinion. Note that Austin was super swoony though!

Idk what I thought this would be but it wasn’t this.
There was nothing original and I was soooo bored. Apparently it’s just a me thing as there tons of great reviews. Dnf at 30%