𝕊𝕪𝕟𝕠𝕡𝕤𝕚𝕤 📖 - Phoebe was struck by lightning as a child and developed the gift of premonitions that she carried with her into her adult life. Phoebe is called back home to help her sister with their aging mother who has dementia, and he niece. Her premonitions start to come back with intensity once she arrives, and once she realizes the truth behind these premonitions, it will change everything for their family.

𝕊𝕥𝕖𝕗’𝕤 𝕥𝕙𝕠𝕦𝕘𝕙𝕥𝕤💭 - Overall I liked this book, I enjoyed the narrators for the audio which made for an enjoyable listen. I liked the messy family ties that ensued between the members of the family. I felt Phoebe and Addy’s struggles in dealing with their mothers dementia, and the conflict it caused between them. However I did guess what Phoebes premonition had to do with, which sort of took away some of the suspense for me at the end of the story as the storylines were wrapped up and tied together.

Karen White, one of my favorite Southern fiction authors, has once again transported me to the beautiful Carolina Lowcountry. Her writing style is a perfect blend of Southern charm, family drama, mystery, and a touch of the supernatural.

Phoebe has returned home after her sister, Addie, demands she come back to help with their mother, who is suffering from dementia. But being home also means the return of her recurring nightmares, premonitions really, that may lead her to the truth of what happened to a young woman who disappeared years ago.

This story is heartwarming, bittersweet, and emotional, as it weaves together a heart-wrenching family drama, mystery, and a little romance. Watching Phoebe and her sister deal with their mother, as she slips farther into the depths of dementia, was so difficult, and I think many will be able to relate to their struggles. Their emotional journey is one that will keep you engaged and invested in their story.

I was thankful for the bit of a supernatural element in here, which Karen White is known for. It wasn’t as prominent as in some of her other books, but it served the story well. The mystery came to a heartbreaking conclusion, but it allowed for healing and a beautiful redemptive story.

🎧Sharing time between reading and listening was a treat. The audiobook narrated by Jorjeana Marie; Kimberly Farr did a great job of hitting all the emotions and breathing life into this story.

Thank you @uplitreads @Karenwhitewrite and @parkrowbooks for this #gifted copy.
Thank you @Harlequinaudio for the gifted audiobook via #NetGalley.

That Last Carolina Summer is a heartfelt family story that started pulling at my heartstrings from the very first chapter.

Stories about complicated family dynamics always pull me in, and this was no different! Then, throw in a little mystery, and this really grabbed my attention and held on!

☀️𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗼 𝗲𝘅𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁:

Multiple POV
Family Secrets
Second Chances
Sisterhood
Mystery
Forgiveness

I received an arc of this title from NetGalley for an honest review. I tried to get into this story and just could not connect with it.

Wow… I loved this book. It’s one of those quietly powerful stories that sneaks up on you. At first, it feels like a simple tale about a family with issues and the way they come together (or fall apart)—but it becomes so much more. The writing is phenomenal. Karen White draws you in so deeply, you feel like you’re part of the community, living and breathing the Carolina marsh air.

The story touches on so many layers—family drama, childhood trauma, the heartbreaking reality of Alzheimer’s, and what happens when the children become the caregivers. There’s a beautiful sisterhood at the center of it, a deep mother-daughter bond, and an unexpected multigenerational friendship that really stood out. I also loved the way neighbors showed up for each other—there’s something so comforting about a story where people still care and show up in hard times. The slight touch of magical realism, especially involving lightning, added a unique layer of intrigue, and the bird facts scattered throughout were a fun and meaningful thread (the blog excerpts from The Thing With Feathers were a lovely detail!).

I was hooked the whole time and even though I guessed the big twist near the end, it still hit hard. One of my favorite quotes:
“There’s something about the scent of the marsh at low tide that I could never leave behind. It’s like a magnet, isn’t it? This place. It pulls us back no matter how far we wander.”

This book is heartwarming and heartbreaking in equal measure, with rich characters and writing that lingers long after you turn the last page.

I just adored this book. These two families had so many struggles, together and separately. But they came together whether hesitantly or not to help and support one another. I enjoyed learning about their families history and their struggles and what made each character who they were. The author did an amazing with characterization. I felt like I got to know the characters pretty well and felt for them. They each had issues but redeeming qualities.

The dreams was interesting as well. Not overpowering. I was glad they didn’t play a large role. I especially liked the bond between Phoebe and Celeste. They were able to be there for one another and take the place of the ones they needed but weren’t able to be there.

I do think the story was a bit predictable and I knew where it was going long before we got there. But I still enjoyed the journey there. 4.5 stars

The narration was well done and I liked that there were two narrators. Made it easy to follow and they followed pace well

This sweeping family drama held notes of mystery, compassion, and loss in its pages.

Phoebe moved away from South Carolina years ago, but she is forced to come home when her sister Addie is unable to deal with their mother's progressing dementia on her own. A local woman named Celeste offers her help throughout the summer as the family learns to navigate their new normal and how to be around one another again.

The Lowcountry setting was atmospheric and well-written, transporting me back to my days living in the Charleston area. I could feel the muggy heat and sense the thunderstorms that abruptly roll in, and the setting was absolutely one of my favorite parts of this read.

The Manigault family is full of dysfunction, going back to the years the girls were growing up, as their mother showed an obvious preference for Addie. Phoebe’s feelings about her mother's condition are complex and varied, as she carries the regret over the way their relationship could have been repaired if they had more time along with the guilt for being away and the anger for the way she has been treated. I thought the author did a good job of showing the complexities that come along with dementia, from the ways days can be so different to the many emotions the families and caregivers can feel.

I think I have, unfortunately, read too many books with dementia in them recently, which probably affected my rating. This felt like a slower story to me and didn't hold my attention quite as much as I would have liked, taking a good amount of time for me to finish it.

I did enjoy both narrators and feel like the audio kept me more interested in this one than I would have been in a physical copy, both narrators became their characters easily and were great to listen to.

That Last Carolina Summer by Karen White and narrated by Jorjeana Marie and Kimberly Farr was a delightful summer read! I read this in a multi-format style and this book was perfect for that combination! I love when I can stay in a story throughout my day whether I’m sitting with the book or driving in my car!
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In the prologue we learn that Phoebe was struck by lightning when she was 9 years ago and after that event had dreams. The fallout from those dreams stays with her. Chapter 1 picks up when she is an adult, having established her life in the PNW far from the people she comes from in Carolina. This is a story that pulls you in and keeps you turning the pages, but it’s not scary or anything like that. You just want to find out what happens next. After the deep heavy reading where I’m constantly wanting to place tabs and such, this was just a refreshingly wonderful story that didn’t have me thinking deep thoughts. Don’t misread that, I’m not saying this a fluff read, because it’s not. It’s just a great story well told.
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Every chapter starts with a quote from a blog, The Thing With Feathers. I don’t know if it is invented or is in fact, real. But they are factoids about birds that I think my birders would love. @mrs @tc
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Take this on your next beach trip or pick it up when you need a great story where you can just sink in and enjoy for the sake of enjoyment!
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The audio was really well done and absolutely a delight to listen to!
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Thank you NetGalley and Harlequin Trade Paperback, Park Row for gift of the ARC and ALC in exchange for my unbiased opinion. I gave this 4.5 stars!

I enjoyed this title greatly! I listened to it in two sittings and couldn't wait to get back to it. The story is deep in family and small town history. It's an emotional storyline with multiple angles that tug at the HeartStrings but also intrigue the reader as one of the storylines involves the disappearance of a teenager many years prior. The narrator was easy to listen to and quite enjoyable as well. I felt as if I was on location in the story, watching it take place. I recommend the read for this one!

Phoebe has been called back home by her sister, Addie. Their mother is experiencing Alzheimers symptoms and Addie just can’t handle it. Phoebe is determined to only stay the summer. She does not want to revisit her past. It comes with nightmares!

I enjoyed Phoebe. I loved her “visions”. After she was struck by lightning as a young girl, she has been able to “sort of” see the future through her dreams. I love a book with a bit of mysticism. It always adds to the drama!

The animosity between these sisters is so real! I could just feel it oozing off the page. Phoebe and Addie are like oil and water. But, they also have each other’s backs! And with this twist at the end, they really do need each other.

Y’all, this book is about family dynamics, pain, grief and healing. It is about being there for someone. And it is about love…and hate! It is a book you do not want to miss.

Now, the narrators, Jorjeana Marie and Kimberly Farr, are not my favorite. The voices are a bit too soft. But, this novel is so well written, it did not matter.

Need a fabulous, healing, family drama…THIS IS IT! Grab your copy today.

I received this novel from the publisher for a honest review.

Phoebe was struck by lightning when she was a child. Since then, she’s had premonition dreams. As soon as she could she left home to live across the country to escape the premonitions and family drama. It disappointed her mother that she didn’t care about being a Southern belle like her sister, Addie. Phoebe was more interested in exploring the beaches and marshes, spying birds along the way.

Now Phoebe must return home to help to care for her ailing mother and she has a lot of mixed feelings. Her dreams come back, the most disturbing one back in full force. Old resentments between Phoebe and Addie rise to the surface and her mother’s condition brings all the hurt into sharp focus. I felt bad for Ophelia, Addie’s young daughter.

I had my ideas about the dream. Things made sense as more came to light and I felt for all involved.

In all of this, Phoebe meets Celeste a woman whose granddaughter went missing years ago. Celeste her grandson, Liam and great grandson, Will are all big players in the story as well.

I enjoyed how each chapter opened up with interesting bird facts, how they sometimes related to human behavior. The setting of South Carolina was almost another character, hot, vibrant and mysterious.

That Last Carolina Summer was a captivating story with mystery, family secrets, reconciling the past and a bit of romance! I loved every minute!

I alternated between the audio and e-copy. I can recommend either version. Jorjeana Marie did a wonderful job with Phoebe’s chapters, the range of ages, male and female voices and emotions. I thought Kimberly Farr performed Celeste well, age appropriate, but there was little change with other voices making it a little hard to distinguish who was speaking at times. Still, I really enjoyed the audio version!

. Special thanks to Harlequin Audio for the advanced listening copy!

As a South Carolina native, this story wrapped around my heart like a warm breeze off the marsh.
Karen White captures the essence of Southern life with uncanny precision: The traditions, tensions, and ties that never quite loosen, no matter how far you try to run. The narrators’ accents added a layer of authenticity that made it all feel so personal, so familiar.

Beyond the sibling rivalry, southern etiquette, and the tug-of-war between staying and escaping, this story also tenderly paints the emotional weight of caring for a parent with dementia. The reversal of roles—from child to caretaker—was written with such honesty and grace, it moved me deeply.

The love story woven in brought a soft, heartwarming balance to the heavier themes, while the mystery threaded throughout added a page-turning “whodunit” quality that kept me guessing until the very end. And just when I thought I had it all figured out, the ending threw in a twist that left me wanting more.

There’s so much packed into this one story—grief, love, identity, mystery, and the ever-complicated pull of home. That Last Carolina Summer is a Southern gem that lingers long after the final chapter. Thank you for the literal perfect story to end my summer vacation

*this review also added to Goodreads.

When I first saw the cover of this book, I assumed it would be a light and fluffy summer read. But y’all…it is SO MUCH MORE!

This story was so beautifully written! Karen put me right in the middle of the Carolina Lowcountry, which is somewhere I have always wanted to visit. It is tender and tragic and so powerful at times! The story begins with Phoebe as a child, who is struck by lightning and develops an odd ability to see premonitions in her dreams. She never fit into her family or her community, and escapes South Carolina as soon as she is able. When her mother is diagnosed with dementia, she returns home where she must face her estranged sister, her ill mother, and the secrets that have been long buried by her family.

I highly recommend this book and look forward to reading some of Karen White’s other work!

I read and listened to. this one and the narrator did a great job setting the scene and immersing me into the story.

Thank you so much to publisher for this review copy.

Southern legend Karen White returns to her roots with an impeccably well-written story exploring the struggles of sisterhood, mother-daughter dynamics, and the long-hidden secrets that can both bind and break a family. Phoebe and Addie are forced to confront their painful past and strained relationship when their mother’s battle with dementia worsens.

As Phoebe returns home after some time away, old wounds resurface alongside memories of a summer that changed everything. White masterfully explores the emotional toll of dementia on the family, painting a tender yet unflinching portrait of love, loss, and resilience. The sisters must navigate their shared history, buried truths, and the devastating effects of illness while rediscovering what it means to forgive and reconnect.

Despite the heavy themes, the story flows beautifully across its 350 pages, balancing heartache with moments of hope and warmth. Karen White’s vivid descriptions and rich character development draw you into the South’s charm and complexities. Bring your tissues, folks- Karen’s going to make you cry this summer. This is a must-read for anyone who loves a deeply moving family drama with all the feels.

Thanks to NetGalley and Harlequin Audio for an advanced listening copy of that last Carolina summer in exchange for my honest opinion. That last Carolina summer will be released to retailers on July 22, 2025.

There is so much to like about this book. I live on the Georgia coast. Three hours from Charleston and our marsh setting is so similar to the South Carolina low country. The description of Charleston (which is one of my favorite cities) is just beautiful. I can imagine the docks and such because of my in-laws dock and so many more here on the Georgia coast.

Two families were intersected in an unforgettable way when 9 year old phoebe was struck by lightening. After that lightning strike, phoebe now has premonitions. These premonitions become more of a curse than a blessing. She leaves Charleston after college and moves to Oregon. She has to come home suddenly because her mom is showing signs of dementia.

The neurologist- the boy who saved her all those years ago. The caretaker, that boy’s grandmother who should hate her parents but shows so much grace and care. Her sister Addie makes horrible decisions and phoebe is having to help with Addie’s daughter Ophelia. Phoebe feels slightly stressed with everything. Liam, the boy and now doctor, slowly becomes more.

20 years later, there are secrets are still being kept that are threatening to come to life. Phoebe’s dreams are all about the same event. When it all comes to a head, lives won’t be the same and the truth all comes out.

I loved the audio for this. I listened to it in 2 days and really enjoyed the narrator. This is the first Karen white book I’ve read and won’t be the last!

This book was such a perfect summer read!! I know I have been saying that about so many books; that is the type of books I love but also this book just has so many layers to the story that you can’t help but be pulled in with each turn of the page and for me that was such an enjoyable aspect of this story.

The setting of this book takes place in the Low Country of South Carolina— the atmospheric description really set the stage for the book and almost made this like another character with the vivid descriptions of marshlands, ocean breezes, salty air and all the feels of summer. Each chapter there is a small little fact about birds that was fascinating little detail and added a layer to the story.

The story starts with Phoebe as a child and a traumatic event that happened in her life that has changed her. We then flash to present day and she must return home to help her sister care for her ill mother dealing with dementia. This story has a little bit of mystery, family drama, secrets and even a bit of romance come together to bring this story to life. Perfect to read at the beach or by the pool.

Audiobook is narrated by Jorjeana Marie and Kimberly Farr. These two really bring Phoebe and Celeste story to life. The southern accent really gave this audiobook listen such a more immersive feel. It was an easy listen, and found the story so captivating.

That Last Carolina Summer by Karen White isn’t just a story—it’s a feeling, slow and humid like a July afternoon in the Lowcountry. It seeps into your bones and sits heavy on your chest in all the ways Southern stories do when they’re wrapped in memory, grief, and the ghosts of what could’ve been.

As someone who calls the Carolinas home, I felt every page like the whisper of Spanish moss in a summer breeze. And as someone who’s lived through the long goodbye of dementia, this story hit a place that’s equal parts tender and torn. There’s something both painful and healing in watching a character lose a parent piece by piece—it’s like watching the tide roll out, knowing you can’t hold it back, only witness it.

Phoebe and Celeste are two women cut from the same strong, weathered Southern cloth—graceful, stubborn, and deeply rooted in pain and resilience. Their bond, born from grief and second chances, is as breathtaking as the Carolina coast. And though heartbreak is never far—you feel it coming like a storm on the horizon—you read on, steadying yourself for impact.

This story is steeped in mystery, layered with secrets, and softened by love. And those quotes? Lord, they’ll stay with me:

“Worrying is a lot like sitting in a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but gets you nowhere.”
“The time a daughter finally sees her mother without the stain of childhood is a transfer of Grace.”
Yes, ma’am. That’s Southern truth if I’ve ever read it.

Karen White has given us a tale that doesn't just entertain—it remembers with you, aches with you, and reminds you that even in the worst storms, we can come out the other side. Maybe not unscathed, but stronger. And maybe that’s the point.

That Last Carolina Summer is not the beach read I expected from the title and cover—it’s a layered, emotionally resonant story about family, memory, and the quiet magic of the Lowcountry. Set against the rich, atmospheric backdrop of Charleston, this novel blends mystery, magical realism, and family drama in a way that feels both timeless and intimate. It’s a slow burn, yes, but one that unfolds with care and depth, building to a story that stays with you long after it ends.

The audiobook narration by Jorjeana Marie and Kimberly Farr is excellent. Each narrator brings warmth and nuance to their characters, capturing the story’s emotional weight and Southern charm. Their voices, complete with pitch-perfect Southern accents, made the characters feel lived-in and real. The novel also weaves in a magical realism thread and a recurring bird theme that adds a fun element to the story. While the central mystery was a bit predictable, it served more as a framework for the deeper emotional journey.

At its heart, this is a story about family—particularly the pain and beauty of watching a loved one fade due to dementia. If you’ve experienced anything similar, expect a few gut-punch moments. But there's comfort here, too, in the way the story honors memory, connection, and finding peace in the past. A heartfelt listen that sneaks up on you in all the right ways.

This is the first book I have read by Karen White, and it won't be the last.
Phoebe Manigault gets a call from her sister, telling her to come home because Addie, the older sister, is no longer able to deal with their mother. When she arrives home, she discovers her mom, always a proper southern lady, is now unable to care for herself, and battling dementia. Her sister, is working in a bar, a sorry excuse for a mom to her daughter Ophelia. Phoebe is soon reconnected with Liam, who, as a young boy, saved Phoebes life when she was struck by lightening. You soon learn that Liam wasn't thanked by her family, but instead her father sued his family for breaking her ribs while performing CPR.
This book is full of secrets, suspicions, love, unhappiness.....just about everything. Watching two sisters deal with the longest good-bye with their mom, you feel the anger and frustration, the mistrust and the eventual acceptance that they need to work together.
Also in the story is Celeste, her grandson Liam who saved Phoebe, his son Will, and Julie, Liam's sister who disappeared at the age of 18.
It was easy to figure out what the story is with the missing sister. After Phoebe was struct by lighting, she had premonitions, she had glimpses into the future, and one reoccurring dream involves a swamp, it didn't take long to put the puzzle together.
I listened to the audio book, narrated by Jorjeana Marie and Kimberly Farr, and they both did an excellent job. The southern accent is soft and understandable, it isn't forced. It is read at a comfortable pace and brings the story an extra touch.

I was expecting a summer romance and this story was so much more than that. There were family struggles, lots of secrets, and plenty of trauma to keep you interested in this story. It was dual POV between Phoebe and Celeste who stuck up an unlikely friendship. The dreams that Phoebe had were interesting and her overall connection to Celeste was as well. Phoebe's sister, Addie was an interesting character but the ending made it all make sense why she thought she deserved so much less. Phoebe and Addie's mom having dementia threw another side story in there and it really made you feel for Addie for having to care for her on her own before Phoebe came back home. Overall, I really enjoyed this story and the mystery behind it.