The Last Encore

Avery Clark is an anxious mess. Her photography business isn't doing too hot, her relationship with her father sucks, and she's still reeling from the abandonment of two important men in her life. She's shit out of luck.

And to make matters worse, her ex-childhood best friend, and secret first love, reappears out of nowhere. All of the feelings she had for Josh flood back to her, the infatuation and the heartbreak. Her closed-off mind is saying to keep him away but her heart is telling her to go for it. Josh wants to make up for lost time, he admits it's always been her. (Wink wink, nudge nudge) Will she open up her heart again?

I loved watching these two fall in love. Their love for each other was palpable, both as friends and as a couple. They both cared so much for one another, it was beautiful. I enjoyed the moments between them.

What I didn't like is how cut and dry the final conflict was given and resolved. Josh getting the opportunity to leave, knowing about it so early on, and not telling Avery seems so out of character in the arc that he had throughout the novel. He was so remorseful about abandoning her when they finally reconnected, it's hard to believe that he would keep this from her. Especially with her anxiety and how he knows every piece of her. And then when it gets resolved, it's quick and fleeting.

I also feel like the other characters weren't as developed as they needed to be after they were introduced. Her father and their shitty relationship were mentioned towards the beginning and then never again. No redemption, which I get because he was an asshole when he cheated on her mother. But still, was the introduction to his character needed, or could the situation just be mentioned? And then her mother was sort of mentioned in the beginning and then added towards the end in the redemption of her love story with Josh. I would have appreciated seeing her more. And Brooke, her best friend, they had a strong relationship in the beginning and it was fun to read but it felt like she was forgotten about towards the end.

However, I did really appreciate the mention and depiction of anxiety in this novel. It gave me the words that I needed to describe how I feel about my anxiety.

In the end, this was great in the beginning and middle, but ultimately fell flat for me in the end.

TRIGGER WARNINGS: sexual assault, depression, anxiety, loss of a loved one

The first thing I want to say before I even start writing my thoughts on the story is that as a sexual assault survivor I appreciate these trigger warnings so much because there's been so many times I've been blindsided by these triggering subjects. Another thing I wanted to say was that I am so proud of the author for using this story as an opportunity to tell their story. Elodie, you're amazing.

This was a classic best friends to strangers to lovers and I was instantly hooked from the first chapter. When I say every character was special and brought something individual to the story, I mean it.

The story was so perfectly paced which helped it give more of a realistic feel to it. I think that's really important, especially when it comes to a story like this that covers realistic issues.

”I'd be the fucking dumbest man on earth not to be completely crazy about you.”

I highlighted this particular quote because it genuinely made me scream into my pillow. Absolute swoon worthy.

Josh is such an important character to me. He is so reassuring and patient but assertive in all the right ways. I only hope one day to find my Josh.

I knew when I was half way through this book that it was going to be a comfort read for me. I laughed and I cried. I genuinely enjoyed this book from start to finish and I will definitely be revisiting this in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Victory Editing for providing me this arc!
I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.