This ticks so many boxes:
- enemies to lovers
- fake dating
- very sexy sexytimes
- how to change a kingsize duvet

It made me laugh, and cry, and find hope in a hopeless situation.

‘The Last Days Of Summer’ by Sarra Manning is an emotional and steamy enemies-to-lovers romance that will break and repair your heart multiple times across the pages. Cassie and Marc have been arch nemeses almost since they first met, but are forced to orbit each other due to their close friendships with spouses Lucy and Russell. When Lucy and Russell’s perfect family life is struck by an awful tragedy, Cassie and Marc are thrown together to plan them a gorgeous, nostalgic and perfect weekend trip. To create beautiful and everlasting memories, they have to put their differences aside… but is it possible to fake cordiality after sixteen years of hostility?

Sarra is one of my favourite, auto-buy authors (I felt personally seen by the part of this book’s dedication that was to “those who… still think that ‘Unsticky’ is my best novel”), and this novel absolutely met my sky-high expectations (and not just because of the Grace and Vaughn cameo). I admire how Sarra creates realistic and loveable characters, and allows them to open up throughout the chapters until they feel like your best friends. Cassie’s sunny personality was given depth by her grief and complex feelings about family, and Marc’s grumpy and controlled disposition masked so much heart. Each supporting character was vivid and full of personality, even if some of them (Heather) weren’t exactly likeable!

Of course, this book had some wonderful spicy scenes, with Cassie and Marc making good use of the walk-in pantry and the en-suite shower of the beachside Manor House setting. However, the book was as much about friendship and respect as it was about lust. I was dreading the book ending for two reasons - I didn’t want it to be over, and I also didn’t want to feel destroyed by an inevitable gut punch - but the conclusion was pitch-perfect, real and full of hope as well as grief.

This was a five star read for me, and I’d really recommend it to anyone who enjoys character-driven, open-door romance. Just remember you may need tissues, but I promise you’ll smile and swoon more than you sob!

I received an advance Digital Review Copy of this book from the publisher Hodder & Stoughton via NetGalley. The opinions expressed in this review are my own.

Marc and Cassie have a past but they must come together to help their mutual friends have an unforgettable 40th birthday party. Very emotional. I really enjoyed this book. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for letting me review this book.

I’ve been a fan of Sarra Manning since Diary of a Crush, but this book is not for me - not at all because of the quality of the writing, but because of the terminal illness content, which I don’t think was adequately warned for at all. Those able to stomach it will no doubt enjoy this a lot more than me, so I’m rating highly regardless of my own enjoyment!

‘She was always going to feel at her most alone among a group of people who had found their person. Whatever life threw at them, they didn’t have to deal with it on their own…Still, it shouldn’t be so hard to find your most favourite person and be their favourite person in return. Not when she wanted it so desperately.’

Oh wow, Sarra Manning has done it again! THIS STORY is why we love this Author so much, why we will ALWAYS buy her books as soon as they release for our book shelves of love. She never fails to grab our hearts, make us laugh, and make us cry. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME. Sarra Manning is truly MAGNIFICENT!

’Even though it hadn’t been real, to Cassie’s indiscriminate heart, it had felt real. She wanted to hate him but she also wanted to mean something to him.’

Be still our beating hearts! Sarra Manning has written an absolutely beautiful story about friendship, love, and ultimately, the ups and downs of life. What a stunning romance, what a beautiful setting, and what a gorgeous group of friends! We felt every bit of Cassie’s journey as we laughed with her, cried with her, and swooned with her. We join her at a poignant moment in her life which sees her facing the ultimate test where the fragility of life is the main character.

’Despite the wind, the frenetic waves, there was a stillness to the two of them. Their love was palpable. A living breathing thing.’

One weekend changed everything for Cassie and it’s bittersweet. What a beautiful character she is! We loved Cassie for her devotion, her sense of humour, her selflessness, her vulnerability, and her patience.

’They fell asleep like that, the half-moon peeking in at the window the only witness to the start of something that had taken sixteen long years to begin. Something precious.’

When we, as readers, say we love enemies to lovers…THIS IS IT! Cassie and Marc’s story played out as if we were watching a movie, whilst frantically turning the pages, compelled by the stunning storytelling by Sarra Manning. This is a book that’ll stay in our hearts. Always.

Oh wow, Sarra Manning has done it again! THIS STORY is why we love this Author so much, why we will ALWAYS buy her books as soon as they release for our book shelves of love. She never fails to grab our hearts, make us laugh and make us cry. EVERY. SINGLE. TIME! Sarra Manning is truly MAGNIFICENT!

Be still our beating hearts! Sarra Manning has written an absolutely beautiful story about friendship, love and ultimately, the ups and downs of life. What a stunning romance, what a beautiful setting and what a gorgeous group of friends! We felt every bit of Cassie’s journey as we laughed with her, cried with her and swooned with her. We join her at a poignant moment in her life which sees her facing the ultimate test where the fragility of life is the main character.

One weekend changed everything for Cassie and it’s bittersweet. What a beautiful character she is! We loved Cassie for her devotion, her sense of humour, her selflessness, her vulnerability and her patience.

When we, as readers, say we love enemies to lovers…THIS IS IT! Cassie and Marc’s story played out as if we were watching a movie, whilst frantically turning the pages, compelled by the stunning storytelling by Sarra Manning. This is a book that’ll stay in our hearts. Always.

Oh this novel was such a joy. My first book in a day for quite some time because I just wanted to read and read!
The story of Cassie and Marc, best friends to Lucy and Russel. The only problem is that they don’t like each other at all. However with shocking devastating news facing Russell, the two are forced to spend a lot more time together and find that actually they might not hate each other at all… in fact maybe they really quite like each other.
Ok it’s predictable but this isn’t the point. It’s funny, and romantic and sexy and totally enjoyable from page 1 to 400.

I have read and enjoyed several Sarra Manning books and this latest one didn’t disappoint.
Perfectly balanced with interesting characters some of which you will love but some you will love to hate.
It follows the path of Cassie and Marc,drawn to each other despite their differences and fall out of many years ago.Cassie is tasked with planning her best friend Lucy’s big birthday weekend by Lucy’s lovely husband Russell.
Without spoiling the plot news changes the world of old standing firm friends.The novel perfectly balances romance,love,spice(def spicy )and heartache.
Loved it,highly recommended

Smart, funny, sad, hopeful, sexy, addictive … all the adjectives for this latest novel from Sarra Manning which, predictably, is another absolute winner. It has everything you could want in a great read from an enthralling storyline to brilliant cast of characters, and then there's a host of different friendships, relationships, enemies, lovers … it has it all. Could I have loved this book more? I could not

Sarra Manning never fails to deliver, and this book is no exception! Cassie and Marc start off as sworn enemies after a disastrous first meeting. But years later, they’re unexpectedly thrown back into each other’s lives when they’re asked to help their mutual friends, Lucy and Russell. Tasked with planning an unforgettable weekend, Cassie and Marc must put their differences aside and pretend to be madly in love. However, as the weekend unfolds, Cassie starts to question her long-standing resentment toward Marc and wonders if there’s more to him than she ever allowed herself to see.

This novel has everything you’d expect from a Sarra Manning story—romance, friendship, heartache, and redemption. While the primary focus is on Cassie and Marc, the narrative beautifully interweaves their friendships with Lucy and Russell, adding layers of depth to the story. The heartache felt so raw and authentic that it moved me to tears more than once. Manning masterfully balances these emotional moments with lighthearted humor and delightful banter, especially in the playful dynamics between Cassie, Marc, and their friends during the weekend’s escapades.

Without giving too much away, I’ll admit I was nervous about how things would ultimately unfold between the four friends. But the ending was nothing short of perfect—a touching, satisfying conclusion that felt like the cherry on top of an already delicious cake.

Thank you, NetGalley, for the opportunity to read this gem. If you’re a Sarra Manning fan or simply love heartfelt, character-driven stories, this one is not to be missed!

Sarra Manning has always been an auto-buy and favourite author for me, and ‘The Last Days of Summer’ is up there with one of my favourite books she’s ever written.

Is it heart-achingly sad? Yes! Does it have proper enemies to lovers? Yes! Is the spice, spicy? Yes! Is it written in the most beautiful way that made me upset that I had to put it down to live life occasionally? 1000% yes.

This book and these characters will be living with you far past the last page. It’ll make you realise you need to cherish what is in your life and fix the things you don’t like. It’ll make you grateful for the little things and make you want to ring your loved ones to tell them you love them.

Also, the nods to previous characters was *chefs kiss*.

This is romance with the extra oomph. If you’ve never read a Sarra Manning masterpiece than I implore you to start with this one. It is Manning at her best.

A huge thanks to Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley for the ARC.

The Last Days of Summer perfectly captures the sad feeling that engulfs you when you know this will be the last time you will experience something. It is bitter-sweet and it is emotional.


Cassie and Marc are enemies. Enemies who share a history and a couple of best friends. Civil behaviour amongst their friends, snarky when they are alone. They avoid each other at all costs until tragedy strikes and they are forced to present a united front. Is a weekend enough to erase 16-year history of being enemies?


I liked the romance in this book but more than anything, I loved how the author wrote everything around Russell and Lucy. They were not the main couple but are the heart of the story. Russell’s diagnosis, his choice, and the different reactions of Cassie and Marc were portrayed so realistically. You are really able to empathize with the characters and it is an emotional read that balances a heavy topic with the beauty of life. I think by the end of it, you will look at life a little more differently and maybe take one or two more moments to appreciate the beauty and joy of living. See it as a chance instead of a chore and take fewer things for granted.



The only reason I deduct a star is because I would have liked to see a few more tender moments between Marc and Cassie. They went from hot to cold quite a few times and I couldn’t follow the development of their emotions, they just suddenly more than liked each other, it felt a little underdeveloped for me.

Thank you to Hodder&Stoughton and NetGalley for an earc in exchange for an honest review!



The Last Days of Summer is out March 27th 2025!

What an emotion wrecking five-star read. This is easily one of my top five reads of the year, it was just that good. Cassie and Marc will enrapture you; they will pull you into their emotional battle and have you cheering for them and wishing you could be at the top of those beach stairs cheering the whole lot up and bringing them up by your thoughts alone. I completely got Cassies reaction to March after the wedding, and I would likely be exactly the same as her as you know what that’s the reaction, we should expect for ourselves. As the story unfolds you start to understand the history and them as well, as well as everything they have going on with the rest of their friends. Lucy and Russell will make your eyes water, and have you wondering why so many times, but in the end, this is just a compelling story that will break you, but it will also put you back together. The ending was what got me, it was just so well done, and just gave the whole story a chef’s kiss feeling.

This was a feisty and gorgeous read with an equally fantastic main character. I think the book could maybe start with a general content warning (within the first few chapters we are discussing late stage cancer) and this may be jarring to some readers. Overall, I loved following their adventures and am excited to pick up some more reads from Sarra Manning!

What a beautiful romantic love story. I love the hate to live aspect of the novel. It just added that extra spite and touch. It was such a beautiful book. I love Sarah Manning in general, but I think this is one of her best yet.