A review by life_full_ofbooks
One Last Shot by Betty Cayouette

emotional slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

While I prefer romcoms I usually don’t shy away from a romance, especially when the synopsis sounds cute and flirty. I’m pretty good with most tropes, but the one I simply cannot stand is miscommunication, which is one of the tropes in this book. 

Emerson and Theo met at their freshman orientation of high school when they were both 14 and instantly clicked- as best friends. During their 4 years of high school their friendship deepened until it morphed into more than friends. They made a pact that if neither were married by the time they turned 28 they’d marry each other. Ten years since high school has passed and at 28 Emerson is now a supermodel and a household name and Theo is a photographer for a Target like store. They haven’t spoken since they were 18 and when Emerson’s reminder app pops up reminding her if she’s not married she’s to marry Theo, she quickly gets herself assigned to Theo’s latest shoot, even though career wise it’s well beneath her. Theo too has been thinking of her, but when someone close to Emerson tells Theo she has no desire to rekindle things with her, he’s confused as to why she’s suddenly on location. The next 5 days are filled with reconnection and confusion as Emerson tries to win Theo back and Theo tries to be respectful of her feelings. 

This is Betty Cayouette’s debut novel and as a debut it’s quite good. While I enjoyed the writing, I felt like the story dragged on, but that’s because there wasn’t an end of the miscommunication until practically the second to last chapter. I would have preferred to see that get resolved earlier than 90% through. I really loved the characters Ms. Cayouette created and I look forward to seeing what else she writes down the road. 

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this. One Last Shot hit the shelves on May 7th.