Review Detail

THE FINAL CHANCE by Cait Marie is book number two in the Leaving Summersville series, and this time we follow Dylan and Beth Ann as they try to figure out what they’re going to be to one another. Over the holidays, when they were last together, they couldn’t figure out how to make a long-distance relationship work despite their mutual feelings. Rather than give it a try, Dylan does something to hurt Beth Ann, thinking it would make their situation easier, but instead, they both parted heartbroken. In order to fix it, Dylan makes a drastic decision, one that could change the trajectory of not only his life but Beth Ann’s as well.

As someone who went to college on the other side of the country, I really relate to what Beth Ann’s going through in this book. It’s both tough and exciting when you have to be in a certain place for your future career. While the newness can be fun, it isn’t always welcoming, and I’m sure anyone who has left home for the first time can understand how Beth Ann is feeling. Also, as a former scholarship student, I can empathize with the stress and pressure she feels in trying to win money so she can continue her education. Many who read this with similar circumstances will feel seen, and maybe it will even spark conversations about education and its affordability.

With Dylan, his decision seems illogical, and one that in real life, would not be well received. That being said, I like that aside from his feelings for Beth Ann, he knew himself well enough to understand that the path he was on wasn’t one he wanted to continue. It’s really hard to know what you want to do for the rest of your life at any age, let alone when you’re a teenager, so he actually shows a lot of maturity in being able to make this pivot. By Dylan doing something that feels intuitively right, it gives permission to those reading to do the same.

Aside from that, I really enjoyed the new characters we got to meet, especially Vince. I’d love to read a third novel from his perspective and to get more of his story. Overall, for fans of the first book, THE FINAL CHANCE won’t disappoint.