Review & Giveaway - - That Last Carolina Summer

That Last Carolina Summer

by Karen White

Publisher: Park Row

Release Date: July 22, 2025

Reviewed by PJ

As a child, Phoebe Manigault developed the gift of premonition after she was struck by lightning in the creek near her Charleston home. Plagued throughout her life by mysterious dreams, and always living in the shadow of her beautiful sister, Addie, Phoebe eventually moves to the West Coast, as far from her family as possible. Now, years later, she is summoned back to South Carolina, to help Addie care for their ailing mother.

As Phoebe’s return lures her back into deep-rooted tensions and conflicts, she is drawn to Celeste, whose granddaughter went missing years ago. Their connection brings comfort to Phoebe, while Celeste’s adult grandson Liam resurrects complicated emotions tied to Phoebe’s past.

But the longer Phoebe spends in her childhood home, the more her recurring nightmares intensify—bringing her closer to the shocking truth that will irrevocably change everything. Unfolding against the lush backdrop of the South Carolina Lowcountry, That Last Carolina Summer is an unforgettable story about the unbreakable bonds of family and the gift of second chances.

PJ's Thoughts:

Karen White paints a picture with her words of South Carolina's Lowcountry in her newest novel, That Last Carolina Summer. From the weather to the food to the topography, the southern turns of phrase, character traits, and more, the uniqueness of this region is brought to life on the pages of this book. I could feel the dense, sultry humidity of the air on my skin, hear the whispers of marsh grass swaying in the breeze, smell the brine of the nearby ocean, and tingle with electricity from incoming storms. And speaking of storms, there are more than a few, some created by the weather while others spring from long-held family secrets. 

This was such a compelling, immersive read. White kept me on my toes with these complex characters and their twisty, emotional journey. She plunked me right down in the middle of this fractured, three-generation family and the challenges facing them one turbulent summer. I never felt like an outside observer; I was right there with them experiencing each new revelation and the multitude of emotional reactions elicited. 

Then there's the masterfully constructed mystery element of the book surrounding an event at the core of those long-held secrets, a devastating truth with ripples still being felt many years later, with long-delayed answers just out of reach. I kept flipping pages long into the night trying to figure out if my guesses were correct and what, if any, impact those answers would have for the characters involved.  

If you enjoy multi-generation, Southern stories with rich authenticity, complicated family dynamics, romantic elements, and a twisty mystery, add The Last Carolina Summer to your summer reading list. I highly recommend it. 

Have you read any of Karen White's books?

What book have you recently read where you felt immersed in a particular setting?

I named some of the attributes that are unique to the Lowcountry setting in That Last Carolina Summer. What are attributes that would describe the region where you live?

One randomly chosen person who posts a comment before 11:00 PM (EDT), July 25 will receive a hard cover copy of That Last Carolina Summer.

*U.S. only

*Must be 18