Sarra Manning, a bestselling author in Britain, is quickly amassing a fan base in the U.S. The Last Days of Summer will introduce those readers who don’t know her in the best possible way. The novel, a great beach or, in fact, anywhere read, is heartfelt, engaging, and beautifully written.
When Cassie attended Lucy’s wedding, the two women were friendly, but not best friends. She wasn’t part of the wedding party and as the night wore on, found herself sitting alone until a good looking man with a French accent approached her. Not one to indulge in a one-night stand, Cassie could’t resist. Marc, a childhood friend of Russell’s, was drop dead gorgeous, smelled good, and had all the right moves. Even while the sex was happening, Cassie didn’t second guess her decision. Until she came back from the bathroom and found that Marc was gone, leaving her feeling used and humiliated.
Flash forward. She and Marc are sitting on Lucy and Russell’s patio. Right off the bat, Cassie knows there’s something off with Lucy, who has had too much to drink. But she and Marc are unprepared for what Russell has to tell them. What is clear is that Cassie and Marc must now step up to help.
First on the agenda is Lucy’s fortieth surprise birthday party which Russell had begun planning months ago. He now wants Cassie, who works as an event planner at her company, to take the lead, with Marc helping out. The partnership gets off to a rocky start with Marc constantly emailing Cassie, who ignores his missives and calls. Cassie is still angry that Marc never apologized to her. For Marc’s part, their one nighter was consensual, and he has nothing to be sorry about. With each in a corner, how will this surprise party actually come off?
There are other complications. Russell has asked Cassie and Marc not to reveal their secret, a burden that Cassie, in particular, has difficulty managing. Lucy’s sister, Heather and her husband, Davy, are invited, but the sisters have never had a good relationship. Cassie is constantly receiving text messages from Heather making unreasonable requests for special foods and accommodations. When she shows up, she’s even more confrontational.
Between dealing with Marc and Heather, and making sure everything is perfect for Russell and Lucy, Cassie has her work cut out. She has no choice but to let Marc help, but when she repeats the decision she made at the wedding, she’s reliving the past and uncertain about the future. Is Marc really the nice guy that Russell and Lucy claim he is? Can Cassie finally find someone who can truly love her? Can Marc, despite their history together, be that person?
Manning has created a modern day Taming of the Shrew. And like Kate and Petruchio, Cassie and Marc can’t stay away from each other. But can they carve out a new normal for themselves? We know they will. How they get there is much of the fun. While the ending is bittersweet because of what’s happening to Lucy and Russell, the future is less bleak with Cassie and Marc joining together to support their friends.
The Last Days of Summer
Sarra Manning
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