The Last Encore by Elodie Colliard: Avery Clark needed a streak of luck for her photography 
business. She hoped her work for her new client would bring her more work and broaden her clientele to a wealthier group of people. She needs something in her life to finally go her way since her family drama was causing her anxiety to build up.
Discovering her ex-best friend, Joshua, who had abruptly left her ten years previously broking his promise, was back in Toronto left her stunned. Can she forgive him and trust him not to leave her again?
The Last Encore is the first novel written by the author and there were some things that worked for me and some that didn’t. What I really liked was the way she graciously handled the sensitive topics of mental illness and sexual assault.
I was moved by the way she expressed the character’s strong emotions and struggles, and I would have loved to have been given Joshua’s point of view. I think the idea for the plot was interesting but in reality, it just lacked depth. Also, the romance side of the story felt rushed to me considering Joshua and Avery went from friends not seeing each other for ten years to lovers falling for each other within days.
Overall, I thought it was adequate as a first novel but just wasn’t a good choice for me.
Book Info:
Publication: November 1st 2022 | Not Given | It’s Always Been You #1
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.
