The Last Goodbye - (Blue Sky Bay) by Laura Pavlov (Paperback)

If you love cozy small-town romances, hilarious banter, heartwarming found family scenes, and an addictive enemies-to-lovers dynamic, you are going to fall completely in love with The Last Goodbye! I loved Bass and Briar’s story so much. Laura Pavlov truly shines when it comes to delivering that signature small-town charm paired with all the heart-stirring emotions and spice. The setup between Briar and Bass had me hooked immediately. New in town from NYC, Briar, the female main character, is ambitious, driven, and set on negotiating the land rights for her father’s real estate company (on her terms). Now, if only she can get the restaurant owner to give her the time of day! Bass, the male lead, is the talented, swoon-worthy local chef determined to protect the restaurant that anchors his community. Their meet-cute is delightfully unhinged and funny. The scene where Briar literally tells his receptionist that she is the mother of his child, just to get a meeting with him, had me laughing out loud. From that moment on, their back-and-forth dynamic kept building. Watching Briar slowly step outside her comfort zone, trading the fast-paced city life for the relaxed one of Blue Sky Bay, trying line dancing, and falling for a man who lives on an actual houseboat, was so sweet. It definitely gave the entire book that heartwarming, aww-inducing Hallmark-with-spice feeling. The culinary scenes were an absolute highlight as well. I loved all of the details, intention, and heart behind Bass's cooking, which practically jumped off the page and made every meal feel special. Beyond the romance, the heart of this book lives in the community and found family vibes. The banter within Bass's friend group is gold, especially their hilarious text message threads. I also loved seeing Gracie and Cutler from My Forever Girl again and watching Briar connect and build a sweet, genuine friendship with Gracie. Laura Pavlov does such an incredible job building hype and garnering curiosity for the rest of the series. Seeing the setup for Phoenix the firefighter, along with the undeniable tension brewing between Bass's sister, Jovi, and the competitive bull rider, Cannon, already has me counting down the days for the next interconnected standalones in Blue Sky Bay! I literally feel so invested in the stories, and I want to know what happens next. Beneath the playful banter, Briar’s healing journey brings so much emotional resonance. Her experiences with grief, paired with her hesitation to open her heart to love, felt real, honest, grounded, and touching. I love romance stories where the MMC just knows how to see the FMC completely, and the scenes where Bass instantly knew how to meet her where she was at, providing a safe space for her to land, made their happy ending so beautiful and rewarding. This was such a comforting, fun, and heartwarming escape! If you are looking for an addictive small-town romance with delicious food, incredible friendships, and top-tier banter, The Last Goodbye is a must-add to your shelf. I want to plan a trip to Blue Sky Bay! Perfect if you love: 💙 Cozy small-town romance 🤍 Enemies-to-lovers and dislike-to-lovers banter ✨️ City girl meets small-town chef 💙 Houseboat living aesthetic 🤍 Hilarious group chats ✨️ Delicious foodie scenes 💙 Found family 🤍 Grief representation and emotional healing ✨️ Hallmark vibes with spice 💙 Heartwarming, feel-good storytelling

Book number 2 in the Blue Sky Bay series left me anxiously awaiting book 3! Laura Pavlov writes stories that just bring you into their world. The characters seem like they are friends. Briar Sinclair has come to Blue Sky Bay to nail down the purchase of a restaurant that sits atop a parcel of land that her family's real estate development corporation owns. If they can buy the building, they can start construction of a project that is supposed to bring a hotel and other businesses to town. But the owner refuses to sell. Bass Bennett is what some people might call stubborn. The good looking chef owns a successful restaurant. He raised his sister and put her through college with the money he made. He has given his employees jobs too. He has two years left on his lease and he isn't about to give it up early. He can't afford to shut down his restaurant and build a new one. He refuses to talk to Ms Sinclair. But Briar is a determined woman and wants to show her father that she has what it takes to be successful. She finally comes up with a plan that will work for Bass. She and Bass find that they have a lot in common and start spending time together. Just when the project is about to be completed, she finds out there is something nefarious that may cause everything to collapse, including the relationships she has created with Bass and the people of Blue Sky Bay. I listened to the audio along with reading the book. The audio was performed by Jason Clarke and Desiree Ketchum. They did such a fantastic job. I always enjoy listening to an audio book by Jason Clarke. Desiree Ketchum did a fantastic job as Briar. Her vocals really fit the character.

The Last Goodbye did not make me bawl my eyes out like My Forever Girl did but it was still an amazing read. I love Briars back story and how even though she is working for her father, she is trying to do it better than him. And her relationship with her brother is so sweet. Of course Bass has his sister and his found family and we love our Blue Sky Bay crew but Briar fit right in with them. This book has a lot of emotional ups and downs for both Briar and Bass, mostly to do with their families, which leads into affecting their relationship with each other. Of course, the child in the group never fails to tell everyone what they dont see themselves. Little Clover is adorable! This was such a sweet, laid back book, even with the conflict. I think my favorite part is Bass' confidence in himself, eventually in Briar, and in all the support he gives those around him. He really brings Briar out of her shell and is the person she needs in her life. You won't be disappointed in this read.