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.
Title: That Last Carolina Summer
Series: Standalone Title
Author: Karen White
Published: July 22, 2025
Publisher: Park Row (Harlequin Trade Publishing)
My Rating: 4.5 stars
That Last Carolina Summer is a standalone title that will bring us a family facing change, sisters reconnecting, not always with the desired results, and a woman’s journey of discovery where facing the past isn’t always comfortable.
Phoebe’s family has always been… unusual, dysfunctional perhaps. She never felt she lived up to the high standards of her mother, and felt overpowered by her sister’s beauty and confidence (even if sometimes Addie could be a bit of a bully). And there was that moment in childhood, when she was struck by lightning, where her life was saved by a young boy, Liam, and it resulted in her dreams, nightmares really, that some call precognition. She moved away from the South Carolina Lowcountry the moment she was old enough, clear across the country. Since then, she’s had little contact with her family, and that suits her just fine.
Until her sister contacts her, demanding she return home to help care for their aging, ailing mother… and Phoebe cannot come up with a logical reason to refuse. Thus begins an often painful yet definitive journey as she navigates old feelings, connects to new people, and reunites with the boy who once saved her life. Coming home isn’t exactly what she expected, but maybe it’s what she needed.
That Last Carolina Summer by Karen White drew me in from the opening scene, and kept my attention focused on these characters and their lives until the final page was turned. There are painful, difficult subjects addressed, always with grace and sensitivity, yet with almost brutal honesty. There is no way to sugarcoat the reality of dementia/Alzheimer’s. None. Losing one’s parent (no matter the relationship) to a disease that wipes away their memories, forever changes them into someone you no longer know, is devastating for all involved. (I’ve been there) Trying to heal a relationship, help someone who doesn’t intend to change, doesn’t want the type of help you’re offering, is painful. Dealing with what actually caused Phoebe’s nightmares is revealing and eventually freeing.
Phoebe’s story is well-written, emotional, difficult to read at times, and a novel that will linger in your mind long after you close the cover. I enjoyed my time in this world, would highly recommend it to any reader who loves to get lost in an emotional, conflicting world.
*I received an e-ARC of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley, and I sincerely thank the author or publishing house for their trust. It is my choice to leave a review giving my personal opinion about this book.*
Leave a Reply