Review - - One Last Summer

One Last Summer

by Kate Spencer

Publisher: Forever

Release Date: June 11, 2024

Reviewed by PJ

Clara Millen’s life is spiraling out of control: her dream job is a nightmare, she’s resoundingly single, and it’s been years since she’s taken some time off. Thankfully, the last problem she can fix—this year she’ll join her friends on their annual summer vacation to their beloved childhood sleepover camp for a much-needed escape.

But when Clara arrives at Pine Lake Camp, she faces yet another unwelcome change: the owners are retiring and selling the property. The news turns her plans for revelry into a night of reminiscing . . . and prompts a surprise heart-to-heart between Clara and Mack, her old camp nemesis and constant competitor, who's still just as annoying (and annoyingly handsome). 

Soon the campfires aren't all that's throwing off sparks. And when one wildly passionate night turns into two (then too many to count!), Clara begins to wonder if she and Mack could have a future together. But when Clara's boss finally offers her everything she's worked so hard for, Clara will need to decide if the life she's always wanted is the life that makes her feel truly alive. 

PJ's Thoughts:

Sometimes, we have to revisit the past in order to figure out the present and find the right path for our future. That's what happens to Clara when she's forced into a break from work that she doesn't want and doesn't think she needs. What follows is a week of reunion that brings nostalgia, growth, mending of friendship fences, personal challenges, a frenemies-to-lovers romance, and, possibly, a new direction in life. 

This newest book from Kate Spencer checks so many boxes for me. Who among us hasn't burned out at some point? I know I have. Clara, desperately in need of a reset without realizing it, is such a relatable character. It put me firmly in her corner, urging her on as she slowly begins to confront each aspect of her life that needs to be addressed. 

I love the bonds of friendship among the former campers in this book. The relationships bring to mind people in my life who I may not see often but with whom I share memories, experiences, and the ability to pick up like no time has passed even if it's been years since we've been together. They also remind me to nurture those friendships.

Spencer put me smack dab in the heart of New Hampshire with her sense of place in this book. I could smell the crisp air, hear the calls of the loons, see the dark, star-filled sky, and feel the chill of the lake. It took me straight back to my own summer camp experiences and some of the happiest, adventure-filled weeks of my young years. I even found myself humming some of those tunes we would sing off-key around a roaring campfire and feeling the urge to toast up a gooey, melty, change-your-life, campfire banana boat. 

I enjoyed these characters, who are all well developed and have storylines of their own that are woven together with Clara's. The story is told from Clara's viewpoint and it's clear that she's the primary character but at no time did her friends feel "lesser" to me. I found myself invested in all of them. 

If you're looking for a feel-good story of friendship, taking stock of your life, and personal growth, with a light sprinkling of romance and a conclusion that leaves you smiling, add One Last Summer to your summer reading list.