As a Last Resort by Kristin Wollett is a delightful romantic comedy that hits all the right notes—laugh-out-loud moments, charming chemistry, and just the right amount of heartfelt feels. The characters are wonderfully flawed and hilariously relatable, navigating the chaos of love and life with plenty of witty banter and unexpected twists. It’s the perfect feel-good read for anyone who loves swoony romances sprinkled with humor and a dash of “what the heck just happened?” moments. Definitely a last resort you’ll want to say yes to!

"Everyone writes a story in their head that eventually becomes their life. If you don't write it for yourself then everyone else is going to write it for you."

"Scuttle is my favorite character in that movie. He makes everything in the room brighter just by being in it. You did that. You still do that."

"Sometimes, the last resort is where you end up, but it's exactly where you were meat to be all along."

4 Stars!

What a great debut! I loved Sam and Austin's reconnection and everyone we met in the town of Rock Island. It swept me in and I couldn't put it down!

Sam has been running from home the moment her feet hit the ground after graduation and she hasn't looked back. She has a job she loves in NYC and has no intention on returning to her small home town of Rock Island anytime soon... until a work opportunity forces her to travel home and confront her past.

Through many conversations and apologies she rebuilds bridges with her best friend, Lexi and keeps finding ways to talk with Lexi's brother Austin, her childhood crush turned hot boat captain. He's dealing with his own demons after his fiancé left him for his best friend.

Can they start something and trust each other, when Sam's only there for a few weeks? Can she face her mother, and all the town busybodies and mean girls? What happens with Austin's ex-fiancé shows back up in town?

Lots of trials and tribulations for this possible couple that you can't help but root for throughout the book.

I just loved Sam and Austin together. He was such a softie with his love of romance movies and even the Little Mermaid! And Sam was such a badass with her job - I loved how she fought for what was right for her hometown and put her boss in his place!! And the ending was perfection. LOVED IT!

Can't wait to see what Kristin Wollett writes next!

This book sounds like a great, fun romance read. Unfortunately there were too many moments where it just fell flat for me. Something felt a bit off with the fmc and mmc's romantic connection, I was hoping there would have been a bit more with them. It felt like they got together solely to get together.

I was pleasantly surprised by this debut romance from Kristin Wollett. I enjoyed the book and the character growth shown by Samantha throughout the course of the story. I felt like the middle lagged a bit but it picked it up in the last third of the book.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publisher and author for the ARC of this book. 📖

There were parts of this I really enjoyed but ultimately it fell a bit flat. I appreciated the depiction of grief and the loss of the FMC’s father. The effects of this loss on her mother were a heavy part of the storyline and I thought this part was done very well.

I just didn’t vibe with the FMC. I understand that her stubbornness was caused by deep rooted trauma but at times I wanted to shake her through my Kindle. I liked her relationship with the MMC though. He was perfection. That’s what made it difficult to like her…he was being an absolute gem of a human and she still couldn’t figure her stuff out.

Even though I didn’t love the FMC, I did very much enjoy this author’s writing style. It reminded me of Abby Jimenez with a bit of Lucy Score with the small town side characters.

Confession: The only thing I loved the most about this book was its cover.

There, I said it. As promising as the synopsis sounded, I was really excited to read this one based on the romcom & summer vibes. However, I felt like a big chunk of the story focused more on the main characters' job rather than the summer setting or the romance element. What's more, our major couple's, Sam and Austin's, chemistry honestly was overpowered by that between Sam and her nemesis colleague, Robby. For a second, I almost wished this book would be an enemies-to-lovers story instead. Worse yet, I also found myself pretty lost with some '90s TV/film references...probably because I didn't really watch that much TV or movies growing up or maybe because that era wasn't really where my childhood lied. All in all, As a Last Resort wasn't a bad read for a debut but it simply just wasn't my cup of tea. I'd still recommend to those who were interested in reminiscing oldies but goodies '90s memories and weren't picky about a breezy summer read!

***Thanks to the author and the publisher for kindly providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.***

I find it interesting that this is a reversed grumpy x sunshine story, at least in my reading experience. Often, the male main character is the grump and that is reversed here to some extent, which I found quite interesting. I had my difficulties to connect with Samantha as a FMC as she, especially in the earlier chapters, takes decisions that are sometimes not very relatable/understandable. Austin on the other hand is a nice MMC for the story. He is kind and caring and has wants the best for the little town. All in all, the story itself, the backdrop of Rock Island, Austin as a MMC and the rest of the book was quite good though. It was good that Samantha shows character growth especially in the latter half of the book, as that made the 2nd half more enjoyable. Hence, if you feel like the plot is something you’d appreciate in a romance, I can recommend the book!

Cute and easy to read without being super cliche and predictable. I love that the fmc doesn't have to give up her dreams and is strong and Independent throughout the story. The mmc is also well written and follows his dreams as well. The story Included the return to a small town and best friends older brother tropes, which was great.

This was very cute and I am so relieved it was not your typical rom-com where the girl is the one giving stuff that is important to her up to be with a guy. Only thing missing is Robby not getting demolished in some way.

Thank you to Forever publishing for the advanced reader copy in exchange for my review.

This book was so good!! I love the best friends brother trope. This was a quick and easy read and hit all the right buttons. Sam and Austin were wonderful and I loved them. The story was good and I was so excited when Sam grew up. This was a great first novel by this author.

3.5 ⭐️

Kristen Wollett gives us a story full of promise: a swoony Florida setting, a romantic plotline ripe with potential, and the kind of escapist vibe you want from a summer read.

The premise? Loved! The romance however, fell a bit flat for me. I kept waiting for the witty banter and the tension-filled dialogue that i love and that makes you grin like a fool while reading. Instead, the characters felt... a little flat. They had all the right circumstances to fall madly in love—I just didn’t fully believe it when they did.

That said, the bones of a great love story are here. I think this is a solid debut novel but personally feel that with a bit more fire and sharper dialogue, this could have gone from “I liked it” to “I won’t shut up about it.” Still, if you’re in the mood for a romantic escape to Florida with a pleasant story arc and an easygoing tone, As a Last Resort will absolutely do the trick.

Final verdict: Worth the read for the vibes alone. I just needed more of a sizzle to take this from I liked it to I loved it. Thankyou to netgalley for the ARC.

Thank you so much for this gifted copy in exchange for an honest review. I honestly do not think I could loved this book any more! Everything was fantastic. I laughed out loud multiple times, which honestly is hard for me! I loved this so much

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected eproof ARC of 'As A Last Resort' by Kristin Wollett - expected release date of 09/02/2025.

ARC was provided by the publisher via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This debut novel reminds me of a lot of other books I've read. FMC Sam is unappreciated and overlooked at work, forced to return to her small hometown for a work project, and not looking forward to it. She's avoided home, her childhood best friend and her alcoholic mother, for many years. Predictably, the work project doesn't go as planned, she falls in love with her broken hearted high school crush, and her mom drunkenly embarrasses her again. Also predictably, Sam saves the day - the work project has a positive turn around, her crush loves her back and her mom succeeds at rehab. Happily ever after at the end. For a debut, this was well written, and everything was tied up in a neat little bow. Perfect combo of chick lit and romance.

⭐️ 4/5
Debut Novel
FMC: Samantha Leigh | MMC: Austin Marcs
POV: First
Narrative: Dual
Timeline: Linear
Main Settings: Mostly in Rock Island, Florida & occasionally in NYC
Romance: M/F
Spice Level: 0/5 - Closed Door
Tropes/Themes: Return to Hometown, Small Town Beach Charm, Best Friend’s Brother, Opposites Attract, Family Trauma
Content Notes: Alcoholism (parent), parent death, emotional neglect, grief, estranged family, strained friendships, career pressure and toxicity.

Summary & Thoughts:
I didn’t realize until after I finished the book that this is a debut novel for the author! Amazing.

As a Last Resort is an emotional, slow-burn, second-chance-at-life kind of romance. NYC real estate developer Sam Leigh gets sent back to the Florida hometown she’s spent years trying to forget: Rock Island. Her assignment is to oversee a new resort project. She’s hoping for a quick in-and-out… definitely not a walk down memory lane.

Between a strained relationship with her alcoholic mom, long-lost friends, and a charming ferry captain she definitely crushed on in high school (who happens to be her ex-best friend’s brother), Sam’s forced to reckon with the past while trying to build her future. Literally. (See what I did there? Haha.)

The romance is sweet and slow (very closed-door), and Austin is the kind of grounded, golden-retriever hero that grows on you. But for me, the standout was Sam’s character growth. Watching her soften, reconnect, and reevaluate what success actually means. It’s introspective and rom-com-y, with a beachy setting and quirky side characters that keep it from ever feeling too heavy. Oh! And I absolutely loved the support she gets from the side characters; Ivy is a hoot!

I did want a little more payoff on the romance. And a few side plots were introduced with a lot of emotional weight or stakes but didn’t quite get the depth or resolution I was hoping for. Some threads simmered in the background or wrapped up quickly off-page when I wanted to sit in them a bit more, especially since they tied so closely to Sam’s personal journey. I was also lowkey hoping for more drama with her boss…that setup had potential and felt like it fizzled.

Overall, this is a heartfelt, funny debut about going home, healing old wounds, and figuring out what success really looks like, especially when life forces you to stop running and actually deal with it.

Thank you Forever and Grand Central Publishing for providing me a copy of this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions expressed are my own.

I would give this like 3.5 stars for a debut novel it was good!
Very romantic and the story was well played out. 🩶

I think a duet would have been cool to get more of a background on the characters since we got base level descriptions- would have loved flash backs of her with her dad. Over all really enjoyed it!

3.5 ⭐️’s
Fade to black

This debut from Kristin Wollett was amazing! I was hooked from the very first chapter and couldn’t put it down. I read the whole thing in a day. I’m so excited to see what she writes next.

The story follows Sam, who left Florida years ago and never planned to return. But a work trip brings her back to the place she tried to leave behind, and right back into the orbit of her childhood crush, her ex-best friend’s older brother, Austin. The romance between Sam and Austin felt believable and well-paced, even though the book only took place across a few weeks. I loved watching Austin slowly open up and then fall hard. He starts off guarded from past heartbreak, but once he knows what he wants, he goes for it, and he had me SWOONING.

There’s no spice, but it honestly didn’t need it. This was cute, funny, and gave off cozy, Hallmark-esque vibes in the best way.

Thank you to NetGalley and Forever Publishing for a digital ARC of As a Last Resort.

I liked the premise, but I couldn't get into it or the characters. Pacing was slow.

This is an absolutely binge worthy beach read!

I think I would call this one frienemies to lovers! With Samantha and Austin, we get a brilliant second chance romance with dual POV and forced proximity. I don’t know about you, but if I can get in to the MMCs head with a dual point of view book it’s the icing on the cake!
Austin may be my new fave MMC of all time. He is absolutely swoony! I enjoyed the pacing of Kristin’s writing and I loved that her characters didn’t shy away from difficult topics (insert TW for alcoholism here). I also appreciate that Kristin introduces other characters in this story that we come to know and love (cough Ivy and Patrick) and I am really hoping for some interconnected standalones to follow! The writing style would be perfect for fans of Abby Jiminez and I’m blown away that this is a debut novel!
My only complaint is that it didn’t come out at the beginning of the summer! This is a must read anytime but it just hits different in the summer!

Thank you Netgalley and Forever (Grand Central Publishing) for the ARC! This feedback is entirely my own.

First off I want to say that I received an ARC copy through NetGalley so I want to thank them very much for providing me this early copy to read and review.

So... this book was lovely. I've read a LOT of romance books this year and this is probably one of my favorites. Definitely in the top 10. The quality of the writing and the plot, in my opinion, was on par with Emily Henry, Annabel Monaghan and Carley Fortune. I'm terrible at writing reviews but if you want a book that is feel good and makes you feel all the feels while reading it, this is the book. I highly suggest picking up a copy when it comes out.

I can't wait to see what the author writes next as this is her first novel. Great job Kristin on this great book.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reader's copy of the book. This was a good book. The characters were well written and felt real. The story involved development for the main characters as well as for the secondary characters. I loved all the pug nicknames for the one character, and Ivy was amazing. This was definitely one of the better books of this genre that I've read this year. I would recommend this. 3.5 stars