Last Kiss of Summer

by Jessica M. Felleman

A Walk to Remember meets Everything We Never Said in this heartbreaking and swoony YA love story about a girl whose summer of love takes a devastating turn.

When Sera Watkins and her family arrive at their summer house on Cape Cod, she has one goal in mind: protect her heart from the boy who broke it, her next-door neighbor, Luke Tisdale. The problem is, Luke still has a piece of her heart—literally. When Sera received a new heart as a baby, the healthy valves of her old heart were given to Luke. Forever bonded, Luke and Sera grew up together, spending sun-soaked days swimming at their secret beach and painting at art camp.

Then, two summers ago, their friendship almost turned into something more. Key word: almost. Because one fateful night, everything changed. Sera’s health took a turn for the worse. A family secret sent Luke spiraling. And they weren’t there for each other when it mattered the most.

Now, Sera is ready for a fresh start, which means no more pining over the boy next door. But Luke has grown up a lot since she’s seen him, and the chemistry she felt two summers ago? It’s still there. Sera isn’t sure she’s brave enough to risk it all again, but when she gets some difficult news, she realizes there’s no time to waste. Maybe it’s finally Luke and Sera’s moment, their chance to enjoy the sweet kiss of summer together—before it’s too late.

Genres: Romance, Young Adult, Contemporary, Summer Reads, Audiobook, Fiction

320 pages, Paperback

Published April 28, 2026

About the author

Jessica M. Felleman is a writer and literary agent from Massachusetts. She received her BA in English from Syracuse University and her MFA in Writing from CalArts. She lives on Cape Cod with her cranky tabby cat and can often be found at the beach looking for rocks. Last Kiss of Summer is her debut novel.

Reviews

[Liana Gold · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a real YA TEARJERKER just like Nicholas Sparks 'A Walk to Remember'... It's a medical drama splashed with summer romance that is focused on two neighbors--one who received a heart transplant and the other received heart valves, both are trying to live life to the fullest before their time runs out.

This is NOT an adult romance/medical drama, it's a YA/teen romance but has been generating a lot of buzz on book platforms due to its emotional tone and swoon-worthy romance. Since I am way past YA age, the romance wasn't too developed and it's ok because teens will revel in what the book has to offer regardless. Will this make your teens ugly cry? YES. (Full transparency..I did UGLY cry with 'A Walk to Remember' and I read that a long time ago in my mid 20's)

Expanded review to follow!!


Many thanks to NetGalley, Penguin Young Readers group and the author, Jessica M. Fellerman for the early eARC!

Publication date: April 28, 2026

[ishraq ✿ (semi-ia) · Rating 3 out of 5]

── ⊹ ࣪ ˖ three stars ☀️ ◞

rtc !!

[joni ౨ৎ - interactive hiatus]

this sounds SO good and i may move it up my tbr 👀


thank you penguin teen canada for the physical arc

[lydia {67} ୨ৎ · Rating 5 out of 5]

❀° ┄───╮
review
╰───┄ °❀

thank you SO much to netgalley, publisher, and author for this arc in exchange for my honest review <33


✨✨✨✨✨ ~ 6+ stars


╰┈➤ ✿ ɴᴏᴡ ᴘʟᴀʏɪɴɢ . . . :･*✧ ♩♪
。°⋆ cinematic. - reagan james broome ⋆°。
1:41────●───3:01
↻ ⊲ Ⅱ ⊳ ↺
Volume: ▁▂▃▄▅▆▇ 100%



❝ guess I should've paid more attention in science ❞

plot:
when sera watkins & her family arrive at their summer house on cape cod, sera has one goal: protect her heart from the boy who broke it. that same boy also happens to be her next-door neighbor, luke tisdale. the issue is, luke has a piece of her heart— quite literally. when sera was a baby, she got a new heart and the healthy parts of her old heart went to luke. forever bonded, luke and sera's families grew up next door to each other, spending their summer days swimming at their secret beach spot and painting at art camp.

then, two summers ago, their friendship almost turned into something more. because on that one fateful night, everything changed. sera’s health took a turn for the worse, an uncovered secret sent luke spiraling, and they weren’t there for each other when it mattered the most.

now, sera is ready for a new beginning, which means no more obsessing over the boy next door. but luke has grown into a hot jock since she’s seen him, and the chemistry she thought she felt two summers ago? it’s definitely still there. sera isn’t sure she’s brave enough to risk it all again, but when she gets some difficult news, she realizes there’s no time to waste. maybe it’s finally luke and sera’s moment, their chance to enjoy the sweet kiss of summer together—before it’s too late.



❝ there's no denying i am so in love with you ❞

-ˋˏ tropes:
⊹ childhood bsfs to lovers
⊹ dual pov
⊹ second chance
⊹ flashbacks
⊹ heart health issues
⊹ ya romance



❝ hanging out the passenger window ❞

initial thoughts:
i applied for this arc who knows how long ago. tbh i don't remember requesting it and i really didn't think i would get it. after reading this, I AM SO GRATEFUL I GOT THIS ARC 🥹 omw this book changed something in me. after i finished it, i literally sat there for a good 10 minutes thinking about what i read because this is such an AMAZING BOOK. 🙇‍♀️
this is actually the first arc in awhile where i wanted to write a cute, lengthy review for because it really hit something deep in me <3



❝ hands stretched wide with your eyes closed ❞

⤷ sera
⊹₊˚‧ sera sera sera. first, her name is so gorgeous! i love this spelling instead of the typical 'sarah' 🤭 stop, she is such a strong person. i feel so determined to just be a better person because of what she went through in this book. i actually don't think i could have acted the same way she did throughout the entire book, especially at the end. i loved getting to know her and switching between the 2 summers just made so much sense for this whole book and it was super helpful for getting to know the whole story and background 🤍 the way she is described makes her seem so beautiful and ik i'm probably picturing everything wrong (because i'm good at that), but the sundress that she got?? i just know that it looked absolutely gorgeous on her and i totally want to get one like it 🌅 she had her heart replaced as a baby and she even named it after the girl who gave it to her: edith b. eichman or ebe for short. because she had her heart replaced, she gave some of the healthy parts to luke because he also had heart issues as a baby. throughout the book, she talks about the different issues she has with her heart along the 2 year journey jessica takes us on, which is super interesting to learn about 🫀 also, she's a literal frickin artist and her art i know is something completely out of this world. i love that she works at her old art camp with her old teacher, its just so cuteee 🎨 she might not have been perfectly written, but i still loved her character so muchh 🥰



❝ smiling like your heart's never been broke ❞

⤷ luke
⊹₊˚‧ ahhh he is the literal definition of nerd turned hot jockkk ⚾ "luke and i have always been about the same size" not anymore sera!! now he's tall, extremely cute, plays baseball AND coaches softball! 😍 he also literally shares a piece of her heart, a part she donated to him when they were babies in the hospital. the fact that he had to find out about the secret that led to him needing sera the most and she wasn't there for him had me completely broke and crying. i can't relate to him at all, but jessica's writing just made everything so much more emotional for me 😭 i loved luke from the beginning, before i even knew his backstory, just because of how he looked at her and how him and sera used to hang out and be close friends 💕 the way he took over his dad's role for his little brothers when his dad left made me swoon even more. he even wanted to not go to art school or college because he wanted to stay and help his mom with her shop and taking care of his brothers instead because he knew how much pressure and stress she was trying to handle along with the rocky divorce she was going through 🥹



❝ i can't help it, you're cinematic ❞

⤷ sera x luke
⊹₊˚‧ ok this is def one of those books where you know they're gonna get together. there was no doubt in my mind that they were gonna sort out their issues. but this still didn't stop them from being the absolute cutest couple everr 🥹 all the connections him and sera had were just so gorgeous. reading about them growing up together made the whole thing hurt even more when sera's heart issues started again and when she couldn't be there for him when he needed her. once they finally stopped dancing around their feelings and the chemistry they refused to acknowledge, they were adorable 💋 all the little things they did for each other just made the singleness in my life hit harder, but it also raised my expectations so much higher. like if my future bf doesn't give me a piece of his heart if i ever needed it, i would break up with him on the spot 😂 honestly though, i know he had his flaws, but i still think he is the epitome of a good boyfriend. he really made sera happy, and that made me happy <3



❝ my perfect summer storm ❞

triggers:
language: f**k, b*tch, d*mn, h*ll, p*ss, etc.
s*xual: kissing, kinda fade to black (slight detail), touching, etc.
dr*gs/alcohol: mentions of drinking, underage drinking, getting drunk
violence: nothing so serious that it's worth mentioning
other: parent cheating on spouse, medical/heart issues (including failure), death, family issues



❝ slow down time, i can almost feel your kiss when i close my eyes ❞

cinematic. by reagan james broome

i started listening to this song around late feb. 2026. it took me less than 1 minute to completely fall in love with this song. i love everything about it: reagan's voice, the lyrics, the music, everything.
i sprinkled some of its lyrics throughout this review in hopes that it will entice you to listen to it <3. i didn't want to completely make a playlist for this book because i really and truly think that cinematic. (or at least the chorus) really captures last kiss of summer. i mean come on, literally look at this quote from the book and then compare it to the lyrics of cinematic.:

book quote:
"i remember leaning out the passenger window as the wind whipped through my hair, the music loud, luke pulling me closer to whisper something in my ear, his breath shivering down my spine."

cinematic.:
"hanging out the passenger window
hands stretched wide with your eyes closed
smiling like your heart's never been broke
i can't help it, you're cinematic"

let's break down these lyrics and how they correspond with this book just in case you can't see it 😊

hanging out the passenger window
i don't know, maybe how sera is literally describing how she is LEANING OUT THE PASSENGER WINDOW which is the same thing as HANGING OUT THE PASSENGER WINDOW?!

smiling like your heart's never been broke
THE IRONYYY. her heart has quite actually BEEN BROKE. not just because of him, but because of the heart transplant and having to give pieces of her heart to him!!

i can't help it, you're cinematic
i just know that if luke had talked about this part where she's leaning out the window, i guarantee he would have thought these exact words.



❝ thunder skies, all this rain on my face couldn't come at a better time ❞

the end:
oh man. the end just about killed me. i really did see it coming. when luke said he would give his heart to her, something deep in me knew, but i refused to acknowledge it. i literally got me a warning, it might not have been a bright, flashing neon sign, but JESSICA GAVE ME ONE AND I IGNORED IT. that choice came back to bite me right in the butt.

i stared in shock, i sat there in complete and udder silence at 11:30 pm, and then i cried. and it wasn't a pretty cry. no, it was ugly, broken sobbing and it wouldn't stop. its a really good thing that everyone was asleep because all i could hear was my heart breaking and my loud, wet gasps as i sobbed for a good 1o minutes. i am still in disbelief and i can't even type what happened, which is why there are no spoilers here <3

the only problem i had with the ending was that it felt super rushed. it almost seemed like jessica was sitting there writing it, knowing i would be in disbelief in what she was doing and maybe, just MAYBE, she was feeling a little guilty about what she was doing to all her helpless readers. i can just picture her sitting there with a smirk on her face, evil laughing her way through writing last kiss of summer. BUT STILL. it was almost like it went unresolved and like jess didn't know what to do with all the characters now that everything exciting had happened. i wanted a little more closure about sera and her thoughts/feelings on everything that happened.



❝ why you so surprised that i'm falling? ❞

why i fell in love with this book
omw this book. jessica literally gave me all the feels. the giggles, the tears, the romance, everything i asked for. i didn't come in with very high expectations for this book, not because of the plot or the author (although it is a debut novel so that does usually lower the bar), but just because it wasn't a top priority book. i know now it should have been and i really should have been warned about the heartbreak i would experience reading this amazing book. the only suggestion i have is the dual pov. yes, readers do get to experience both sera and luke's perspective on the summer, but the majority of the book was from sera's. i am warning you now, sera seems to have a lot more issues heart-wise than luke, but i still want more from him, more feelings, more thoughts, more luke!

i 100% recommend this book to any hopeless romantic, no matter how emotional you are. it might be heartbreaking, it might make you sob and want to find jessica's house, but it is so worth your time to just get to know sera and luke. i have been changed by this book and i know others will be too. my heart is still broken and it will be a long time before i go a day without thinking about this book.





❀° ┄───╮
pre-read
╰───┄ °❀

its about summer but its released in april? anywayss its a ya romance soo 🤭

[My.bookish.diaries · Rating 3 out of 5]

3⭐️

Thank you Penguin Teen Canada for the free arc copy.

This was an okay read for me…it just didn’t fully hit the way I was hoping it would.

I did really enjoy the summer town setting and the idea of returning every year, especially with the neighbor-crush storyline. That part felt nostalgic and cute, but I also felt like I’ve read a lot of stories with a similar setup, so it didn’t feel super fresh to me 🌸

One thing that didn’t quite work for me was the miscommunication. I just didn’t feel like the reason for them not being together was strong enough, and it honestly felt like one honest conversation could have saved a lot of the hurt.

That said, I did like Luke…he was sweet, caring, and I could see how much he loved Sera. Their relationship had some really cute moments.

I also kind of saw the ending coming. Not exactly how it happened, but I had a feeling it would go in that direction, and because of that, it didn’t feel as impactful or believable for me for things to line up like that. Even though it was meant to be emotional, I just wasn’t as invested in that final moment as I wanted to be.

Also… the spicy scene caught me a little off guard 👀

If you enjoy summer romances, childhood crushes, and soft, nostalgic love stories, this might still be one you’d enjoy! 💙

[Irene&#x1f98b; · Rating 4 out of 5]

Irgendwie versuche ich gerade meine Gedanken und Gefühle zu sortieren. Denn eigentlich hatte ich mir gedanklich schon überlegt, eine Rezension für 3 Sterne zu schreiben. Grund dafür war, dass mich die ersten 50% nicht wirklich abgeholt haben, vor allem in Bezug auf die Beziehung zwischen Sera und Luke. Wir bekommen kaum gemeinsame „aktuelle“ Momente, sondern hören immer nur etwas über ihre vergangenen Momente. Wenn sie dann in der aktuellen Zeit miteinander sprechen, sprechen sie selten das aus, was ihnen eigentlich auf dem Herzen liegt (und ich mag es wirklich nicht, wenn die Kommunikation zwischen den MCs schlecht ist…). Das Ende wiederum war aber auf eine bestimmte Art und Weise sehr berührend und hatte auch nicht das typische Drama, dafür ist etwas anderes dramatisches passiert 😅. Da ich niemanden das Leseerlebnis wegnehmen möchte, werde ich mich zunächst vage halten und gleich (mit einer Spoiler Warnung) meine Erklärung dazu ausführen:
„The Last Kiss of Summer“ entführt den Leser an einen schönen Sommerort (an dem fun fact zufällig vor wenigen Tagen ein ehemaliges Haus von Taylor Swift verkauft wurde haha) und erzählt eine eher düstere und schwere Geschichte (ich musste teilweise eine andere Geschichte dazwischen lesen, weil mich die ganze Stimmung etwas betrübt hat). Natürlich gibt es auch schöne Momente, aber aufgrund Sera’s Vergangenheit hat man das Gefühl, dass jeder Moment mit einer gewissen Schwere versehen ist. Die Autorin beschreibt die Szenerie sehr ausführlich und schön, wobei sie sich gelegentlich auch oft wiederholt (zum Beispiel, die Szenen, wenn Sera und Luke gemeinsam malen enthalten inhaltlich immer den selben Wortlaut). Ich finde es auch schön, dass die Kunst eine große Rolle spielt im Buch, da ich auch gerne zeichne (obwohl ich definitiv kein Talent habe haha). So und das ist glaub alles, was ich Spoiler-frei sagen kann ;)

Also ab hier Spoiler, bitte nur lesen, wenn man inhaltlich „gewarnt“ werden möchte:
Wie bereits gesagt, spürt man das gesamte Buch über, dass jeden Moment etwas schreckliches passieren wird und wartet nur darauf, bis es dann endlich soweit ist. Das Ende hat mich dann sehr an „Das Schicksal ist ein mieser Verräter“ erinnert (obwohl ich die Geschichte nicht gelesen habe, aber den Ausgang kenne ich) und obwohl ich meinte, dass mich das Ende emotional auf jeden Fall abgeholt hat, habe ich auch Kritik hieran. Denn ich verstehe nicht, warum die Autorin sich für diesen Ausgang entschieden hat? In einer anderen Rezension habe ich gelesen, dass jemand meinte, dass wäre eben die Realität, aber ist das so? Denn ich hätte es absolut stimmig gefunden, wenn Sera gestorben wäre (versteht mich nicht falsch, Tod in Büchern find ich immer etwas „unnötig“, denn hier können Charaktere theoretisch alle unendlich lange leben :), aber ich weiß auch, dass es zum Leben dazugehört und warum es auch zu einer Geschichte dazugehören kann) und Luke am Ende erzählt, wie es allen danach erging etc. So fand ich das Ende nicht schlecht, tatsächlich eher schmerzhaft und es hat mir für Sera sehr leid getan…
Trotzdem konnte ich sehr mit ihr mitfühlen und musste mit meinen Tränen kämpfen, was nicht oft passiert. Allgemein hat mich das eher überrascht, weil ich Luke bis 60% irgendwie nicht greifen und „fühlen“ konnte. Er war für mich kein Charakter, den ich „vermissen“ würde und ich glaube, ich habe auch eher den Schmerz von Sera gefühlt und nicht den von Luke bzw. über den Fakt, dass er stirbt.
Hier auch eine kleine Kritik: am Ende wird gewarnt, dass ein Autounfall detailliert beschrieben wird, dem muss ich widersprechen. Nur, weil man einen Blitz sieht, gehe ich noch nicht davon aus, dass jemand gestorben ist oder sterben wird (die Szene war auch schwer nachvollziehbar, was denn genau passiert ist, weil im Auto ist man während eines Unwetters meines Wissens nach, mit am sichersten, außer man kommt von der Spur ab und landet dann im Graben etc., aber dass erfahren wir ja nicht). Und an dieser Stelle hätte ich es auch besser gefunden, wenn das Kapitel von Sera (das davor kommt), erst danach kommt. Dann hätte ich wohl auch eher verstanden, was überhaupt los ist bzw. mit Sicherheit gewusst.
Ein letzter Punkt noch, der mir beim lesen stark aufgefallen ist: Wenn ich nicht wüsste, ob ich jeden Moment sterben würde aufgrund meines kranken Herzens, würde ich jeden Tag mehr genießen und Dinge wagen/machen…Ich finde, Sera schiebt alles mögliche eher vor sich her und greift die Möglichkeit nicht am Schopf. Dass sie dann nach einem medizinischen Zwischenfall plötzlich sagt „ja, GESTERN wurden mir die Augen geöffnet, jetzt muss ich mich endlich trauen…“ find ich einfach etwas unglaubwürdig zur Gesamtsituation. Aber, wenn sie diese Einstellung die ganze Zeit gehabt hätte, wäre dieses Buch in wenigen Sätzen wahrscheinlich vorbei gewesen ;) Wobei ich halt finde, am Ende haben die beiden sooo viel gemeinsame Zeit verloren, weil sie nicht miteinander geredet haben und im Hier und Jetzt gelebt haben und das ist einfach schade... Vielleicht ist das ja etwas, was dieses Buch einem mit auf dem Weg geben soll, aber dann muss ich auch wieder kritisieren, dass das halt nichts Neues ist 😅
Ihr merkt, wenn das Ende mich nicht so berührt hätte (obwohl ich ein anderes Ende besser gefunden hätte haha), hätte ich dem Buch nur 3 Sterne gegeben. Die Geschichte ist gut und lesenswert, aber ich finde auch, dass sie noch mehr Potential gehabt hätte.

Danke an den One Verlag für das Rezensionsexemplar ❤️
#LastKissofSummer #NetGalleyDE!

[Rebecca Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story for sure had me in my feels, and yes, I did cry like a baby. Definitely a good read. Pick it up, so I’m not the only one crying here.

[BernLuvsBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This YA romance had me chocking back sobs. Sera and Luke grew up together, from the moment she received a new heart as a baby and the healthy valves of her old heart were given to Luke. Forever bonded, the families spent their summers as neighbors in Cape Cod and the two became best friends. Until the summer their friendship felt different. The lingering stares and angsty moments felt like they could be more. On the night where they were going to take the leap from friendship to more, everything changed…for the worst.

A few years later, they find themselves back in Cape Cod together. Each harboring resentments but also undeniable feelings for the other. As truths are uncovered and their spend time together, can they risk their hearts and friendship for a chance at love?

This is YA romance that was heartbreaking - think A Walk to Remember, Five Feet Apart, Th Fault In Our Stars. I was rooting for these two’s second chance at romance, loving the friendships and strong family bonds and even with the tough topics, the setting got me in summery mood.

The book takes some “dramatic license” with the medical drama. If you can jut go with it, you’ll find yourself emotionally invested and in your feels. I enjoyed watching these characters grow, overcome struggles and find love amidst heartbreak.

[Trinity Gerke · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨4.75
My heart is broken. This book was like reading The Summer I Turned Pretty and A Walk to Remember mashed into one. It gave the beach town young romance, but threw in a girl who thinks she will die if she doesn’t get a new heart. I loved taking the journey with Sera and Luke and I really wish it didn’t end the way it did, but life doesn’t always turn out the way we plan and we have to pivot and make the best of it!

[Ashley · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a beautifully written, yet heart breaking story. It was a quick read that had me on an emotional roller coaster. I enjoyed the dual POV, however I wanted a little more of Luke’s POV throughout.

Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

[Mallory King-Childs]

I want to thank Penguin Young Readers Group and NetGalley for an advance copy of Last Kiss of Summer in exchange for an honest review.

I loved this book so much, until I didn’t. I am so mad I don’t even want to rate it and refused to finish it if I’m being honest. I got to around 93ish% and refused to finish the rest for reasons I will not spill.

This book was so cute (till isn’t wasn’t). I “finished” it within 2 days. I was hooked. The writing style was great, the characters were amazing and I felt so attached to every single one of them, every single thing they’ve been through. Many emotions throughout the reading of this book.

If I could rate it while I loved it, it would be a 5 until it became a 1.

#LastKissofSummer #NetGalley

[Amy Voelker · Rating 3 out of 5]

First just let me say that I realize I am definitely not the intended audience for this book. This is very much a young-adult book and if I were 18 I might have given it 5 stars. But now a few decades removed from my teens I honestly felt this book tried too hard to be an angsty, swoony love story and it fell flat. For the first half of the book the two main characters just danced around each other, both holding grudges the other didn’t understand from 2 years previous. The health conditions mentioned were so dramatic and overly focused on. I saw the big “twist” coming way in advance. In general twist like that, written to create the “ugly cry” in the reader may work in YA world but in general it just makes me mad.

This book probably works well for its intended audience but it wasn’t for me. Many thanks to Net Galley and the publisher for the ARC.

[madeline · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is like if Just Friends and A Thousand Boy Kisses had a baby. It was a super cute but also insanely devastating read that did indeed leave me sobbing😁 I gave it 4 stars and would highly recommend to someone who wants their heart broken (no pun intended).

[Jessica · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven’t been broken by a book in a long time, and this one is truly a masterpiece. Full of heart, swoons, and emotions you’ll be surprised by, Jessica M. Felleman is a debut to watch!

[Gwen S · Rating 5 out of 5]

A story of two friends inexplicably tied together by health issues. The story portrays the ups and downs and miscommunications of young love. It’s beautiful and emotional with the most heartbreaking ending.

[Katie Lewin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I want to start this review by saying, I am not a crier, but this book...Oh my god! I loved the dual POV and the pace of this book. This super cute small town romance is perfect for your older young adult crowd. The issues in this book are real and raw but nevertheless were an important part of the storey.

Sera and Luke hearts are connected and always will be. Best friends at one point; when they both needed each other the most, they weren't there for each other. That was until this summer, when it all changed and they gave into their feelings. That was until it was too late. I was hooked from the beginning and never saw the end coming.

Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

[Brianna Restovic · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a beautiful yet heartbreaking story about friends to lovers with dual POV. It’s definitely a tearjerker if you’re in need of a good cry. If you loved A Walk To Remember, you’ll love this book too. I couldn’t put this book down and read it all in one day. I was so wrapped up in these characters and ALL the feels. I loved it! The only thing I could wish for to make this book even better, would be more from Luke’s perspective…especially at the banging and ending of the book.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

A total tear jerker The story of two sick teens meeting as neighbors and heart patients at the same time. Sera has had her transplant and major complications but now is going to the Cape for her first summer in two years.

What happens now if excruciating and sad and happy and love and family Yikes we went through it all

[sydney · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you NetGalley for the e-arc!

This book was a rollercoaster for me! I appreciated the multi-faceted main character however I felt like other characters (specifically Luke, Maddy, and Abbi) fell flat for me. Sera had many ambitions and true desires that are realistic for a teenager however I felt like everyone else in the story really just revolved around her. Maddy's character did have a significant other but she was only mentioned a few times.

Beginning this book, I noticed a lot of similarities to Jenny Han's The Summer I Turned Pretty, I think that Felleman did a wonderful job making the book feel atmospheric and truly like a vacation, in the same way that Jenny Han does in TSIT. I also felt like the romance was similar to TSITP in the way that the two main characters are childhood best friends and there is a central theme of illness in the story. I really enjoyed the light-hearted summery bits of this book.

However, I really did not like the ending. I felt like it was not only rushed but also entirely predictable and just so unnecessarily sad. I could see myself being very moved by this story when I was younger, but I think it just wasn't for me and that's okay.

[Amandine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comment commencer ? Ce livre est un bonbon, mais doux amer….

Sera est vraiment touchante. Elle sait qu’elle a une épée de Damoclès au dessus de sa tête mais ne se morfond pas. Elle veut profiter de la vie. Sortir de sa zone de confort. Se trouver, se projeter. Je la trouve tellement forte mentalement. Et même si son cœur est tout en guimauve face à Luke, on ne peut que comprendre pourquoi. Ils sont fait l’un pour l’autre ces deux là. En amour comme en amitié. Luke est tout aussi mignon, le poids qu’il porte sur les épaules ne devrait pas exister à son âge. Deux personnages touchant et attendrissant. Gros plus sur Maddy qui est une amie en or.

Une romance de toujours. Une romance d’été. Une romance qui semble évidente mais qui est compliqué. Deux adolescents, des quiproquos, des non dits. Des erreurs mais de la sincérité. On a envie de les conseiller mais on est que des lecteurs impuissant….

𝐄𝐧 𝐛𝐫𝐞𝐟 : Une lecture touchante. Même si j’ai eu peu de surprises, ça m’a quand même touchée et émue. Mon petit cœur a souffert mais j’ai été contente d’avoir pu découvrir leurs histoires.

[Lencredeplume · Rating 3 out of 5]

J’ai lu ce livre dans le cadre de mon stage en librairie. Il me tentait particulièrement car on me l’avait présenté comme un dérivé de Nos étoiles contraires s’intéressant aux problèmes de cœurs plutôt qu’à ceux pulmonaires, et je dois dire que je n’ai pas été déçue car c’est réellement ça.
J’ai particulièrement aimé la relation de Sera avec sa meilleure amie Maddy que j’ai trouvé très belle, le personnage de Maddy étant très drôle à beaucoup jouer. Le personnage de Sera est très touchant et j’ai beaucoup aimé sa détermination à vivre malgré sa maladie. J’aurais aimé avoir plus de point de vue de Luke afin d’en savoir un peu plus sur lui car ils étaient trop peu nombreux à mon goût.
La relation de Luke et Sera est très touchante en raison de leur passé commun et leur amour de l’art et j’ai beaucoup aimé la voir évoluer au cours des pages même si il aurait fallut apprendre à communiquer un peu plus 🫠

[Ellie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a quick read and a wholesome, sweet, summery story. As I read more, I could see the signs for a sad ending, but I was not prepared for what happened. Currently ugly crying and in shock. The ending did feel a little rushed but I’m also kind of glad because it was hard to keep reading (in the best way).

[Hannah Byrd · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emotional story that I felt throughout the book. I literally gasped when I figured out what was happening at the end.

[Mattie Stoermer]

This book was so good but do sad!!

[Ashlee (bookswithnopictures) · Rating 4 out of 5]

What in the Nicholas Sparks??

[Daisy Casamassimo · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last Kiss of Summer is a sweet, heartwarming read. Jessica Felleman paints a vivid picture of small-town charm, orchard life, and the pull between family responsibilities and following your heart. The romance is tender and believable, and I enjoyed watching the characters grow into themselves while navigating love, loss, and second chances.

Overall, it’s a feel-good story with plenty of cozy, emotional depth. Perfect if you’re in the mood for a comforting romance with a touch of bittersweet reality.

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC

[Livvy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to NetGalley for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

There were parts of this book that I really liked. Sera and Luke's history was rich and deep, and I bought their connection was something special. I, however, thought the pacing felt off in some parts, and their getting together felt too slow. The last 20 or so pages also felt rushed, and so the ending felt fairly rushed.

I also thought some elements of this book were too unbelievable and didn't feel realistic. Though I do appreciate this book's deeper message on organ donation and how important it is to give back to those who need it most.

[Laura Waters · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet young adult love story with a medical backstory. I didn’t really love the character of Sera, but enjoyed the story.

[Danae Mckain · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Sweet story about love. The cliche of miscommunication is so frustrating when I read, but so true to life! We aren't fully honest with each other and sometimes those decisions have lasting impacts in our lives.

Clean(ish) and a quick read.

[Willful Wanderings · Rating 5 out of 5]

Physical Book - Such a heartbreaking book. I really loved this book. It was easy to read and I found myself wanting to read more whenever I could. I enjoyed the story line and all of the characters. If you like A Walk To Remember, you will like this book.