The Last Encore: It's Always Been You, Book 1

It's Always Been You #1

by Elodie Colliard

What if love is the key? Avery Clark needs a break. Between her photography business not doing as well as she’d hoped and incessant family drama that does nothing to ease her spiking anxiety, she needs something to go her way.

And that was even before her ex-best friend, and talented pianist, Joshua Harding, ran into her during an event in Toronto, after he left her suddenly ten years ago, breaking the only promise he had swore he wouldn't.

When an opportunity to grow her business falls into her lap, Avery decides to put her doubts and resentment aside and agrees to photograph Josh’s sister’s upcoming wedding.

As they spend more and more time together, rediscovering each other and the people they turned into, Avery realizes that maybe, the spark she felt ten years ago wasn’t just a fleeting teenage phase.

But the past is never far away, and an unknown future is terrifying. Could Avery take that leap of faith?

There is nothing that screams romance more than two childhood best friends who haven’t spoken in years and suddenly bump into each other ten years later with all the possible longing, aches and hurt this time apart created. Filled with Canadian vibes, The Last Encore is a heartwarming, friends-to-lovers and steamy slow-burn romance that explores the themes of friendships, woman empowerment, identity, loss, and learning to trust yourself.

Genres: Romance, Friends To Lovers, Contemporary, Contemporary Romance, Second Chance, Adult, Mental Health

Audible Audio

First published November 1, 2022

About the author

Elodie Colliard is a Canadian and French romance author. She currently lives in Montreal with her two very needy cats and her romance-worthy partner.

An avid reader (and dreamer) since childhood, she never gets tired of watching people fall in love. After all, she's a Cancer through and through, and emotions are her specialty.

When she’s not immersed in reading or working her other full-time job in politics, you can find Elodie crocheting, cuddling with her cats or behind her keyboard, creating the heartfelt, empowering love stories everyone can dream of.

Reviews

[siff ♡ · Rating 2 out of 5]

➵ 2 stars

“𝙏𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙬𝙝𝙤 𝙛𝙚𝙚𝙡 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙪𝙥: 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙞𝙨 𝙩𝙚𝙢𝙥𝙤𝙧𝙖𝙧𝙮. 𝙉𝙤 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧 𝙝𝙤𝙬 𝙗𝙖𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙧𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩 𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙞𝙩 𝙨𝙝𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨. 𝘼𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙤𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙧𝙤𝙬 𝙞𝙨 𝙖𝙣𝙤𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙤 𝙜𝙚𝙩 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙪𝙥 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙛𝙞𝙜𝙝𝙩, 𝙟𝙪𝙨𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙬𝙚’𝙫𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙙𝙤𝙣𝙚.”

okay ngl i had higher expectations than two stars. but it’s okay, because i mainly brought this book for the second book in the series “from paris, in love” have y’all seen the cover on the second book ? it’s the cutest thing i’ve ever seen omfg

first of all why is everyone saying there was focus on depression and anxiety in this book ? the fmc’s mother had depression and the fmc had anxiety. yes the fmc got 2 or 3 panic attacks throughout this book, but it wasn’t a focus, and there wasn’t any development (imo) <33

“𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙧𝙚𝙮, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙣𝙭𝙞𝙚𝙩𝙮 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙣𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙧-𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙚𝙣𝙚𝙢𝙮.”

characters:
𝗮𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆 𝗰𝗹𝗮𝗿𝗸
idk how to feel about avery. sometimes i felt kinda bad for her, but other times i thought she was a little unreasonable ngl, e. g. she really couldn’t see josh’s side of the story 10 years ago, when he told her he was going to leave town, because he had to do something for himself and put himself first yes she had the right to think it’s unfair and be sad about it, but girl come on let the poor guy do something for himself, and support him instead. when they were little they had this threesome friend group; avery, josh and brooke. avery and brooke stayed best friends throughout all those years, and when josh came to town again they made plans all three to go out for a drink, and then josh and brooke had a conversation over text but not in the group chat with avery (josh and brooke had also been best friends when they were little), and avery literally got kinda mad / jealous over it girl wtf, you doubted your best friend in less than 5 seconds, because you thought she had something going on with the guy you had a crush on when you where little, but she was literally just texting him to be careful and not hurt you. i personally couldn’t be friends with avery.

“𝘼𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙛𝙚𝙡𝙩 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤 𝙨𝙦𝙪𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙤𝙣𝙚, 𝙡𝙞𝙠𝙚 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝙘𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙜𝙚 𝙤𝙛 𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙤𝙙𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙮𝙢𝙤𝙧𝙚.”

“𝙎𝙝𝙚 𝙠𝙣𝙚𝙬 𝙩𝙝𝙖𝙩 𝙖𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙬𝙞𝙩𝙝 𝙝𝙞𝙢, 𝙨𝙝𝙚 𝙬𝙖𝙨 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚.”

𝗷𝗼𝘀𝗵 𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴
this man did absolutely nothing for me, felt nothing okay that’s not true, i felt a lot of secondhand embarrassment because of him, so yayy. i found him very corny, very needy, and very clingy. seriously avery was getting a lap dance from a stripper at his sister’s bachelorette party and he instantly got mad at avery, and went outside first of all; you weren’t even together then, second of all; be a man and rip the man off her instead of that childish shit. my deal with this man for me was already settled in the start of the book, where i found out he was a pianist i seriously hate when the mmc either plays or sings a song for the fmc, i can’t take it seriously and i get slapped in the face with a big about of secondhand embarrassment every time.

“𝙄’𝙢 𝙛𝙡𝙪𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙞𝙣 𝘼𝙫𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝘾𝙡𝙖𝙧𝙠.”

this book did not do justice to the cute cover. it was really underwhelming, and i skimmed the last 70 pages because i just needed it to be done. i found the characters okay, but kinda boring, and sometimes annoying. i think brooke (avery’s best friend) and miles (avery’s older brother) might have been my favorite characters. there were often some scenes i had to skim over because i couldn’t take the secondhand embarrassment, e. g. when josh played a song for avery in front of idek how many people, and she couldn’t think of anything else than him hard between her legs first of all; he’s playing a song to her in front of other people, second of all; girl calm tf down. and every time they were about to have sex josh would say “I don’t know how long i’m going to last”, come on josh please get a grip.

“𝙔𝙤𝙪’𝙧𝙚 𝙞𝙣𝙨𝙖𝙣𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙜𝙤𝙧𝙜𝙚𝙤𝙪𝙨, 𝙨𝙢𝙖𝙧𝙩, 𝙛𝙪𝙣𝙣𝙮, 𝙥𝙖𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚, 𝙨𝙚𝙭𝙮. 𝙄’𝙙 𝙗𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙛𝙪𝙘𝙠𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙙𝙪𝙢𝙗𝙚𝙨𝙩 𝙢𝙖𝙣 𝙤𝙣 𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩𝙝 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙗𝙚 𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙥𝙡𝙚𝙩𝙚𝙡𝙮 𝙘𝙧𝙖𝙯𝙮 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪.”

⚠️ spoiler incoming: ⚠️
.
.
.
.
josh literally promised avery he’d never leave her when they were teenagers, and then he left her for 10 years without reaching out to her. then he comes back, and they get together and all that other shit, then he promises her that he’ll never leave her again. then he gets a phone call, from a job in los angeles and he kinda implys that he’ll take it, then he had the audacity to ask avery to go with him even tho her whole life is in toronto. he ended up staying but still THE AUDACITY
.
.
.
.
⚠️ spoiler over ⚠️

“𝙒𝙚’𝙧𝙚 𝙣𝙤𝙩 𝙤𝙫𝙚𝙧, 𝙗𝙖𝙗𝙮. 𝙒𝙚 𝙘𝙖𝙣 𝙣𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙗𝙚. 𝘼𝙨 𝙡𝙤𝙣𝙜 𝙖𝙨 𝙄’𝙢 𝙗𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜, 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙨 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨. 𝙄𝙩 𝙖𝙡𝙬𝙖𝙮𝙨 𝙝𝙖𝙨 𝙗𝙚𝙚𝙣.”

tropes; childhood friends to lovers, friends with benefits, second chance vibes and forced proximity

i’m lazy today, so sorry for the kinda lazy review, and if there’s any spelling mistakes <3

------
preview:
 i need a cute romance before i start w all the drama and toxicity, w gossip girl vibes again i’m sure y’all already know which series i’m talking about 😭

[preoccupiedbybooks · Rating 2 out of 5]

Avery and Josh were best friends at school, until he suddenly left for Europe ten years ago, breaking her heart. They haven't seen or spoken to each other since. After bumping into each other at a fundraising event, they rekindle their friendship, but could it be something more? Avery has been let down before, can she take that leap?

I just love a good childhood friends to lovers romance, especially if it's a second chance love story, so naturally jumped at this arc.

Sadly, this didn't live up to my expectations☹️📷Firstly, it wasn't really a second chance romance they weren't together as teens just friends...

📷The writing and dialogue felt very simplistic and immature, and was often cheesy and cringey.

📷There wasn't enough angst! I need more slow burn, longing and pining; this just felt too quick.

📷There was only one flashback to the teenage years, so couldn't really connect too much to their story, which lacked depth. There was too much telling, and it was a bit boring in parts.

📷Avery spoke about being a bigger girl at the start of the story, but then it's never mentioned again, and the girl on the cover is slim🤷🏻‍♀️

📷Brooke, Avery's best friend felt very one dimensional, as if she was just there to tick a box.

🎶However, I did appreciate the mental health rep, particularly focusing in on anxiety and panic attacks. As a sufferer of both, this felt true.

🎶I liked the consent between Avery and Josh, it was present in all of the many sexy scenes between the two of them. This was a very open door romance, with lots of sex scenes 🔥

*The author included a sexual assault in the past, which she have a trigger warning for*

🎶Avery being a photographer, and wanting a career was great, I liked that about her.

Overall, I think Elodie Colliard definitely has potential, as this was her debut. However, the writing, characterisation and plot does need to improve.

Many thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the ARC, in exchange for an honest review. I'm only sorry I didn't like this as much as I wanted to

📷📷

[Elodie Colliard · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well, I might be a little biased with this rating but you’ll forgive me.

I wrote this book and poured my heart, gut and soul into it. I wanted a story that was both tender and steamy, with real life events and mental health rep. I hope I succeeded in all of those aspects.

In many regards, I share a great deal with Avery: her anxiety her drive, and her trauma. It is why it was oh so very important for me to bring this story out in the world, as a way of sharing my struggles that I know a lot of women face.

In the end, I truly hope that Josh & Avery’s love story will make you feel all the feels and that you guys will root for them the way I do.

It is very humbly that I leave my debut in your very expert hands, knowing fully well that no matter what, I gave it my all.

[Sylvie {Semi-Hiatus} · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 out of 5 stars

What I liked about this book:
- Childhood friends to lovers
- Second chance romance
- Secretly pining over the years
- Pianist and Photographer MCs
- Adorable cover
- Series title that will certainly turn you into a hopeless romantic
- Supportive friends and family members
- Mental health topics
- Cute story

What I didn't like about this book:
- The writing feels like a first draft from time to time

[Anindita ლ · Rating 4 out of 5]

That this is the author's debut book still baffles me!

This was such a lovely and beautiful tale of friendship, love, and second chances. The appropriate trigger warning was present, which I appreciated, and it was handled delicately.

The characters had a lot of depth, were likable, grew, had chemistry, and were portrayed in such a clever way.

Our MC, Avery She struggled with anxiousness at times, but her main issue was that she was adamant about living the life she desired and would not let anything stand in the way of her goals.

Josh and Avery had a wonderful and sincere relationship. I was rooting for Avery and Josh the entire book. Their relationship took a twist that was rough, lovely, delightful, and yummy. The gradual burn was scrumptiously spicy..

As I've already said, I also personally think the author does a wonderful job of portraying mental health. it's so real and true while still being full of kindness. The author depicts these mental diseases as they actually are. How it can engulf and remove a person totally.

Although there are a few flaws, I think you can still grasp this fantastic debut despite them.

The book is anticipated to be published on November 1, 2022.

And I thank the opportunity to receive an ARC from Victory Editing Co-op and NetGalley in exchange for a honest review.

*Reviewed on NetGalley & Goodreads. Will review on my blog once published!

[Gigi · Rating 2 out of 5]

The FMC is freaking annoying 🙄

[Angela Staudt · Rating 4 out of 5]

PSA: THIS BOOK IS BEYOND ADORABLE AND CUTE.

This is the author's debut book and I'm still shaken because it is just that good! I ADORED Avery and Josh so much. I loved the plot of this, the friendships, second chance love, and family. The chemistry between Avery and Josh was *chefs kiss* absolute perfection.

Avery and Josh were best friends growing up, until Josh left one day. He had promised he would never leave her, but he broke that promise and went to live his own life in another country. 10 years later he is back and full of apologies. I really loved getting the little snippets of their backstop and friendship and seeing who they have become as adults.

The mental health representation was so spot on with Avery. She struggles with anxiousness, and she wants to be dependent and not rely on anyone. The family relationships were so in depth and I loved reading the good and the ugly.

The S L O W burn between Josh and Avery was so spicy and I lived for it.

Really, for a debut romance novel this was phenomenal and I will 100% be reading whatever this author has next!

Thank you to Netgalley for an eARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Jena · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I really liked this author's writing style and the characters and world she created, this book just didn't do it for me. I'm realizing that friends to lovers and second chance romances can be risky, as authors tend to fall into the trap of not showing any romantic development, since the characters already know and love each other. I love some good yearning, but it's not interesting when the characters have been in love since page one. I found that this book lacked any conflict, and in effect had zero tension between the main couple. Yes, the pining was cute at first, but as it continued without conflict or escalation, it got boring, and at times, cringey. I also felt that the themes, although progressive, were very bluntly delivered. Overall, I had to push myself to finish this book, however, I am interested in trying this author's writing again in the future. Maybe, in a book with different tropes, and that isn't her debut, the strong parts of her writing will get a chance to shine.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for an honest review!

[Bree · Rating 2 out of 5]

This is a second chance romance with the friends to lovers trope. I was immediately drawn in by the stunning cover but sadly this book didn’t do it for me.

Avery and Josh were childhood best friends until Josh moved across the world and left Avery heartbroken. Fast forward ten years and Josh is suddenly back in Toronto and trying to re-enter Avery’s world. Despite being upset and questioning if Josh can be trusted to stick around, Avery forgives him in no time and their friendship quickly begins to turn romantic. IMO the lack of grovelling from the hero was a missed opportunity. The ‘will they, won’t they’ aspect of second chance romances and the tension that builds is my favourite and that just wasn’t there in this book. The characters got together so early on that the back and forth between them quickly got boring and it was difficult to stick with the story.

Thank you to Netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

2.5 stars

[Ilaria &#x1f338; · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring immensely boring
Never ending d script ions and subplot descriptions
Boring
So much that I gave up
Next please!!!

[AvidReader · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was very excited to read this book then I came to know from a fellow Bookstagramer that there is an on page se*ual Assault scene in the book. So you can imagine my hesitancy as I’m a very sensitive reader and a traumatic scene like that would be in my mind for a long time. And then I read the Author’s note and boom! I was encouraged.

I would say The Last Encore is the story of Avery. She was a very relatable character. A simple, lovely woman who is navigating the life in the best way she could with issues that we all have.

I liked Josh. Initially I was upset with him especially because of way he left. Then I understood his reasons, his regret and like he said Avery could’ve also reached out. But she didn’t. The another thing in his favour was, he never forgot his high school best friend l. He cherished her memory but didn’t have the courage to face her again. Also he was rather sweet.

I also loved their third best friend Brooke. She was a hoot!
Loved the writing style. So much emotion was poured in to the story. At times it was sweet and uplifting and at times it was emotional and dealt with self healing and discovery.
Overall an enjoyable read.

Safe and recommended.

I received and advance review copy for free and I’m leaving this review voluntarily.

[Kendall · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything about the story and characters felt so real to me. In second chance romances, it is VERY important for the person who messed up the relationship to grovel a lot and Josh did just that. Josh is the sweetest most caring man and I am so jealous of Avery. The mental health aspects from Avery and her mom was handled so delicately and thoughtfully - as someone who experiences anxiety and depression, I appreciated the accurate representation. I did find the “third act breakup” annoying, but I understand that Avery and Josh have been through a lot in their lives and aren’t perfect. This was a truly beautiful rekindling of trust and journey to healing. (NetGalley ARC)

TW:SA

[Kim Loves Reading! · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this story! It is beautifully written with all the feels, love lost, love found again. The author was spot on when it comes to anxiety attacks with panic from trauma or PTSD. I have tried to explain it to people, but they really don't understand unless they have been through it. When you have a mental illness, you get better, but it is always with you, like weather you learn to roll with it. I have lost friends because of it and now have a small circle of friends like Avery. You have that ride or die friend that will show up like Brooke and sit with you till the storm passes.

I like this line from the book " She was the prey, and her anxiety was her number-one enemy."

I could see this story as a movie, the love between Avery and Josh was so real to me. The writer did such an amazing job I felt the love and when Josh played the piano, I could hear it and it brought tears to my eyes.

I am really looking forward to the next book from Elodie, I will be in line to read it.

Avery needs something big to happen, that will distract her from family drama and spiking anxiety. She is trying to make a name for herself in her photography business. At a charity event she attends she runs in to a lost love, he left her ten years ago and broke her heart. When they reconnect, feelings are brought to the surface can they get back to where they were? They have both changed since he left, but their hearts have not. Can they face the past and the feelings they have without heartbreak?

Thank you to NetGalley and Elodie Colliard for a copy of this beautiful story for my honest review.

[Southern Lady Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

I DNFed this basically within 10% of the book because it was based on the most juvenile grievance I've ever read and I therefore couldn't continue.

**This was a kindle unlimited read and I returned so quickly my Kindle spun.

[María · Rating 2 out of 5]

Comencemos con que está narrado en tercera persona, ahí ya te lo digo todo. Tiene momentos tiernos pero nada súper destacable y ¿ya mencioné antes que ESTÁ NARRADO EN TERCERA PERSONA?

[Katie | niftyreads · Rating 5 out of 5]

First thoughts review:

Love, love, love the mental health rep 🙌🏻 and I cannot wait for everyone to read the *redacted* chapter because I had tears, chills, tingles, feelings…ohmigoodness!

Full rtc.

~~~~

Full review:

Thanks to the author for the gifted book!

Do you ever have expectations about a book before you read it, only to realize that you are 100% wrong? 🙋🏻‍♀️ This was me with THE LAST ENCORE by Elodie Colliard. What I thought would be a fun, fluffy romance was a beautiful love story with so much depth, excellent mental health rep 🙌🏻, and great steam!

This book made me a mushball of feelings on many occasions, and I’m very excited for the world to experience it. Avery and Josh are two extraordinary characters that I think people will easily connect with on many different levels. For me, I connected a lot with Avery and her anxiety. The way it was written was so raw and honest that I felt like Colliard had pulled an anxiety attack right out of my brain. And I loved Josh and Brooke’s (her best friends) patience with her invisible illness.

The fantastic thing about THE LAST ENCORE is that it isn’t a perfect romance. I mean, we get our HEA, but it comes unexpectedly through a roller coaster ride of emotions to get there. Think of it not as straight line from beginning to end, but more of a roller coaster ride that is very much worth the ride to get it.

And there is a chapter y’all… Ohmigoodness… You are hit with so many emotions in this one chapter that you are dizzy. I texted this to the Colliard as I was reading:

“I just finished chapter *redacted*and I had tears, chills, tingles, feelings ohmigoodness”

I’m so excited for the world to fall in love with and ship Avery and Josh. Then I won’t be sitting here on my little island with all my feels alone waiting for friends to discuss them it. 🏝🥹

THE LAST ENCORE is out 11/1

•

Content Warnings: (per the author) sexual assault, depression, anxiety, loss of a loved one

[Melissa | bookswithbuzzi · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved this book! It was the perfect romance for me, and a bonus that it was set in Toronto!

[milliereadsalot · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the author for providing me with a free eARC in exchange for an honest review!

I would like to point out that I am very appreciative of the trigger warning at the beginning of this novel, and I think that the topic involved was handled delicately throughout. I found the main character to be very relatable - Avery is a very anxious person and struggles with panic attacks, and I thought that these two topics were handled really well and the representation was really great. I really enjoyed seeing how Josh and Avery's relationship grew throughout the novel, from friendship to a tender growth to something more, balancing second chances and pain from years before. I do think that the romance occurs a bit too quickly into the novel - I wish there had been more buildup, especially with the past between Josh and Avery, but it was a really lovely romance and as I said before, the mental health topics were handled so brilliantly and realistically.

[Beena · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a nice book. I loved the premise and the main characters. I also really loved the mental health representation. However, a few times the plot felt half-baked. I don't know how else to describe it. It felt like something was missing and as though some important bits were rushed.

Either way it was good book overall, nice and easy to read.

Thank you to the publisher for kindly providing me with an ARC via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[bee &#x1f349; · Rating 5 out of 5]

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.

[malak · Rating 1 out of 5]

i'd rather fail one of my psychology classes than ever read this again.

[Jo · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Certain aspects of this book worked perfectly, but certain fell short.

I'll start with what worked.

I applaud the author for including her own experiences with sexual assault in the book. I think it was incredibly brave and well done. I love that each spicy scene started with asking for and granting consent. In that regard, this book was excellent. I also really enjoyed the smut, it was pretty well executed.

Another thing I loved was the mental health rep. I struggle with anxiety and panic attacks, and I think that these conditions were portrayed truthfully. I also love the message that we are all a work in progress, and that it's okay not to be okay from time to time.

However, this is where I have to turn to several elements that didn't really work for me.

For one, I found the language far too simplistic. The dialogues didn't sound realistic at all, and some parts were incredibly cringey to me. There is indeed potential, and I hope future books in the series show the author has made some progress in this regard.

Next, the side characters were not at all developed. It seemed as if they were just three to fit into roles: the overprotective brother, the funny friend, the stern dads, the depressed mom... Besides these traits, the characters were flat and didn't make me care one bit.

The romance... I thought it was rushed. We didn't get to see many scenes of them as teens, and we were suddenly thrust into their meeting ten years later. As such, this meeting didn't really hold any weight or make me feel anything. We were told, again and again, that they were close and that he was in love with her back then, but I think showing that would have made the story more moving and powerful. I found the whole reason they fell out of touch incredibly stupid. It felt a bit lazy, like the author needed a reason for them to fall out and this was all she could think of. And then they literally just jumped into being in love and obsessed with each other, so there was no chase or pining or longing. I think those elements are necessary in a second chance romance, especially if it's friends to lovers. In addition, I thought the third act conflict was forced. Why didn't they consider doing long-distance? Why did either of them have to give up on their dream at all? Their actions seemed a bit too childish for my taste, if I'm being honest.

I feel like the author had a good idea and included all the right tropes, but the execution wasn't the greatest. Some parts could've been omitted, others were just too cringey (Josh's dad hearing him play and suddenly forgetting a decade old grudge, for example), while some needed to be rewritten in more detail and expanded.

All in all, it was an easy read with great mental health rep, but it needed a lot more work. Seeing as this is a debut, I will definitely pick up more books from the author in the future, all in hope that she'll improve. One thing is for sure: the potential is definitely there.

[Maria · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars

Let’s start with what I liked about this book: the mental health rep was on point, especially Avery’s anxiety felt incredibly real to me. I found myself annoyed at her so many times for the way she was overthinking situations, choose to interpret words in their most unkind/worst way possible, and how she wouldn’t let herself truly trust in the relationship she was building (again) with Josh - it annoyed the heck out of me, only for me to realize every damn time how familiar this behavior was. I really liked how her mental health struggles seeped into her entire behavior and didn’t only show themselves at plot-convenient moments.

The book also has some nice thoughts and moments about the feeling of belonging and young people figuring themselves out.

My main gripe with this book was the way the characters were written, they didn’t feel like people in their late twenties at all! During the flashbacks scenes when they were teenagers they gave off the same cringey energy as they did ten years later, how?

So much happens in this book that feels forced and just conveniently engineered. Avery is clumsy, but only when it aids the ‘re-meet cute’; her house is temporarily inhabitable so she has to move in with Josh; their car breaks down so they can finally get a little closer; .… what bothered me about this was how often the plot depended on this kind of convenience to move forward, it would’ve been less bothersome if it had happened fewer times.

Overall the book opens up a lot of side plots that either have no impact on the main story and stick out like leftover puzzle pieces or these plots wrap up unsatisfactorily.

CW: Sexual assault (explicit, flashback)

I was provided an e-ARC by the publisher via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Kristin | kfals_reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book holds a very special place in my heart because it’s written by a friend who was sweet enough to offer me an early read last year. Needless to say, this review is a long-time coming, and I was so excited to get this physical copy in my hands to tab all my favorite moments and lines, and reread the final version of this beautiful story.

This book has so much heart; I can tell Elodie put every ounce of herself into these two characters—their struggles, their triumphs, their independent, ambitious nature—to lay the foundation for this story.

Josh and Avery each had their own past traumas to overcome and seeing them find their way back to each other was emotional and heart-warming. I loved how right out of the gate during their reconnection the air was cleared, apologies made and accepted, and their relationship started anew. I found that to be rare so early on in a romance read. While this wasn’t a textbook second-chance romance, it was a second chance at a friendship, and a chance to make the long-awaited leap into something more. Also, another unique angle.

I loved that this is a mature, adult romance. It covers heavy themes, career and life decisions, and there is communication, tenderness, and patience between Josh and Avery throughout. It has all the things I love in a romance.

💫 | Oтнer Hιɢнlιɢнтѕ:

- Female entrepreneur energy
- Family dynamics + staying true to yourself
- Strong sibling + friendship ties
- LGBTQ rep
- Dealing with past trauma + grief and loss
- Flashbacks to provide context
- Mental health rep + personal growth
- Wedding activities
- Alpha, protective brother 😮‍💨
- Strong setting (set in Toronto)
- Elite Steam

I highly recommend this book, and I can’t wait to read Miles’s story (Avery’s brother) next!

Geɴre: Contemporary Romance
Trope(ѕ): Ex-Best Friends-Lovers
Sтeαм Rαтιɴɢ: 🌶️🌶️🌶️

[V · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'll admit I don't usually pick up second chance romances but this cover enticed me enough to give it a go. The plot certainly wasn't bad but I can't say that it was for me. I found the characters to be mostly interesting but at time I found myself rolling my eyes at their antics. Not a bad book at all, just not my favourite.

3/5 stars. Thank you to NetGalley and the author for this copy to review.

[Emily Christopher · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Encore
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: Romance
Format: Kindle eBook
Date Published: 11/1/22
Author: Elodie Colliard
Publisher: Victory Editing
Pages: 366
GR: 4.21

I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and Victory Editing and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.

Synopsis: What if love is the key? Avery Clark needs a break. Then her ex-best friend, Joshua Harding, ran into her during an event in Toronto, after he left her suddenly ten years ago, breaking the only promise he had swore he wouldn't. When an opportunity to grow her business falls into her lap, Avery decides to put her doubts and resentment aside and agrees to photograph Josh’s sister’s upcoming wedding. As they spend more and more time together, rediscovering each other and the people they turned into, Avery realizes that maybe, the spark she felt ten years ago wasn’t just a fleeting teenage phase. Could Avery take that leap of faith?

My Thoughts: This trope builds on a familiar one, second chance romance and friends to lovers (my personal favorite), the trope that most Hallmark Christmas movies are created from. The author does a fantastic job at representing mental health, so raw and authentic yet full of grace. While I do not personally suffer from anxiety, my daughter does, and it can be delibating. This is not your typical romance, it more of a beautiful story of how two friends got lost, come back together and realize they have always loved each other. The tone and setting are done so authentically that I felt like I was visiting Canada without leaving my living room. The characters were well fleshed out with depth, growth, endearing, chemistry, and so creatively written. The author’s writing style was complex, yet graceful, romantic, beautiful, and brilliant! This does not release until 11/1/22, however, I would highly recommend you preorder now!!

[kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you, Netgalley, for the ARC!

I don’t think I retained anything from this book except for the fact that it took place in Canada and that it came with a playlist (which a lot of books should do more).

[andi · Rating 2 out of 5]

i truly wanted to like this book because it sounded extremely fun, but it somehow didn't work for me. it's not a bad book by any means and it's a solid novel for a debut. "the last encore" is a romance book with a pretty straightforward concept - a second chance romance between two childhood best friends. i did somewhat like how the tropes were handled, but everything felt too easy. the subplots were pretty interesting and i liked how focused the main character was on her career. i also really appreciated how the mental health aspect was approached, props to the author for covering the topic so well. there was also a SA scene that i didn't see coming, but i also didn't really check the TWs thinking this would be a fluffy romance, so that's on me. don't be like me.

the writing was pretty bland, with some funny dialogue at times, but it would get unbearably cringy at times, with sentences nobody irl would say. the dialogue during the smut parts especially was quite bad, occasionally. avery's mom had some lines that sounded extremely fake and they stood out a lot. i feel like some parts definitely needed a bit of polishing, just to make everything fit better. i understand this is a piece of literature, but sometimes it felt like i was reading a love story between teenagers, not some 30 yo adults.

the romance felt rushed - they just saw each other after 10 years of no contact and they instantly fall in love. i wish the book took a bit more time letting them be friends at first instead of diving straight into the romance. i also wish the romance didn't play such a big role in everything and, yes, i know this is a romance book , but every single subplot wasn't developed well enough, so nothing felt complete. mild spoilery content next. very mild. for example, we know avery has some issues with her dad, we're given two scenes with them and then the topic is never touched again. similarly, josh also has problems with his father and they're somehow resolved in a few pages after avery screams at him. everything was just too easy. there wasn’t any real conflict between the characters, just petty stuff to add some angst to the story and that didn't work for me.

the side characters were pretty one-dimensional, which sucked because they had potential, especially brooke. she was there just as the "quirky best friend". i couldn't tell you a single thing about avery's brother besides him being very protective of her. same goes for basically any character besides josh and avery.

overall, an interesting premise, with an execution that didn't work for me. for an adult romance, it felt juvenile. it's still a solid debut, just not the book for me.

→ 2.5 stars;
→ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review!

[Kalyn✨ · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book felt like a love letter to Toronto. I loved the setting, the gorgeous cover, and how kind Élodie Colliard seems judging by her author's note.

The Last Encore is a second-chance, friends-to-lovers romance that follows Avery and Josh, two parts of a close-knit trio back in high school whose friendship dissolved when Josh revealed his plans to leave for Europe. Ten years later and Avery is still deeply hurt by his decision to leave, but when they run into each other at an event in Toronto they soon find themselves where they left off as teens.

Unfortunately the execution of this novel wasn't my favourite. The plain writing, straight-forward plot, one-dimensional characters, and inauthentic dialogue all left a lot to be desired and pointed to an inexperienced writer. The couple is together almost immediately, but their mutual attraction wasn't convincing because they didn't feel fleshed out as people. Everything was too easy and simple.

I personally wouldn't recommend this book unless you're looking for a very light, simple read. However, I'd love to see what Colliard comes up with in the future when she has more experience under her belt.

Thank you to Victory Editing for giving me the chance to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Tash (tash_turns_pages) · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Loved this story! Didn’t know anything about this book, but knew I had to read it as it is a fellow bookstagrammer that wrote it. I was so excited to get approved for this arc 😍 This story was exactly what I needed as I was finding myself going into a reading slump. First off, the MC, Avery has the same last name as me 🙌 so how could I not love it right off the bat?? It also has friendship, love, tough topics and steam. Of course, it had one of my favorite tropes which I was so excited about and loved hearing about Toronto 🇨🇦 I was invested in the characters and couldn’t wait to see how it ended. This book definitely gave me all the feels. Bravo Elodie, so well written. What a great debut. Cannot wait for your next story 🤍

Highly recommend.

Thank you to Elodie and Victoria Editing Netgalley Co-op for my advanced ecopy in exchange for an honest review.

Publish Date: November 1, 2022