REVIEW: Last Kiss of Summer by Jessica M. Felleman

Every summer, Sera Watkins returns to Cape Cod and the memories she’s shared with her next-door neighbor, Luke Tisdale. Their connection runs deeper than friendship—when Sera received a life-saving heart transplant as a baby, the healthy valves from her old heart were given to Luke. Growing up, they spent endless summers together, but two years ago everything fell apart. A health crisis, painful secrets, and missed opportunities left them more distant than ever. Now Sera is determined to move forward, but being back in Cape Cod means facing Luke again—and realizing that the feelings she thought she’d left behind never really disappeared.

LAST KISS OF SUMMER by Jessica M. Felleman was a tender, emotional YA story about first love, missed chances, family secrets, and two teens trying to find their way back to each other after life pulls them apart.

What pulled me into this story was Sera’s determination to keep moving forward even when life continued placing obstacles in her path. For much of the story we see her balancing hope, uncertainty, and the reality that tomorrow is never guaranteed. Watching her figure out what mattered most to her—and finding the courage to go after it—made her easy to connect with.

The relationship between Sera and Luke carried so much history. Every shared memory, every misunderstanding, and every conversation felt layered with years of friendship and unresolved feelings. I loved watching them reconnect as they spent the summer together, confronting old wounds and discovering how much they still meant to each other. Their story wasn’t just about romance—it was about finding their way back to the person who knew them best.

Tropes & Vibes
🏖️ Cape Cod summer
💕 Childhood friends to almost more
💔 Second chance romance
🎨 Art camp memories
🌊 Beach-town atmosphere
😭 Emotional YA

LAST KISS OF SUMMER was a beautiful reminder that life rarely unfolds according to plan and that some connections leave a mark on us no matter how much time passes. Equal parts hopeful and heartbreaking, this is the kind of story that lingers long after the final page.

💬 QOTD: What book has completely broken your heart and then put it back together again?

Book Info:

Publication: Published: April 28, 2026 |  Penguin Teen |

Nothing breaks like a heart.

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 last saw 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.