When Callie Jackson left her island hometown years ago with big dreams, she knew precisely the star she wanted to be, and she achieved it. At least for a little while.
Jesse Thomas had always planned to move to Nashville with Callie, but he was supposed to get there before her, knocking out his first year at Vanderbilt while she finished high school.
Neither of them imagined she’d get discovered so early or that family turmoil would put Jesse’s family on the brink of financial collapse. He needed to be on Big Dune Island, and she needed to leave. So, Callie did the only thing she could think of that would make him stay: she cut all ties.
Then, all her dreams came crashing down. As she sorts through the wreckage of her career, her Uncle Lonnie forces her to return to Big Dune Island to clean out the family home he’s recently sold. And she knows she’ll have to face Jesse.
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My Review
The story follows Callie as she returns to Big Dune Island, a place filled with both painful memories and the warmth of her past. Confronting the grief of losing her parents and the ache of walking away from her first love, Jesse, Callie embarks on a journey of healing that feels both deeply personal and universally relatable.
Carlisle beautifully weaves themes of second chances and self-discovery with a poignant slow-burn romance that feels authentic and satisfying. The island setting is vividly drawn, immersing readers in its sandy shores and small-town charm, while Callie’s reconnection to her music adds a moving layer of hope and renewal.
Heartfelt, evocative, and brimming with emotional depth, this novel will resonate with anyone who has ever longed for a fresh start or wondered if home—and love—might be waiting right where they left it.
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