Sunrise Cove, Book 8
From the publisher:
A Heartwarming Novel of Reconciliation, Forgiveness, and Unlikely Love in the Midst of Family Secrets and Life’s Unexpected Turns
Welcome back to Sunrise Cove for this heartwarming enemies-to-lovers tale where found family, forgiveness, and love may just be the key to finding yourself, from New York Times bestselling author Jill Shalvis.
Lexi Clark’s life is falling apart around her, so when she’s summoned home to Sunrise Cove, the last thing she wants to do is face all the complications she left behind. Her past, her stepsister Ashley, and especially her infuriatingly gorgeous childhood nemesis-turned-crush Heath Bowman.
Yep, Lexi’s pretty sure being home again just might kill her. She’s an overachieving art appraiser who doesn’t believe in trust, love, or Happily Ever Afters. Free spirit Ashley, on the other hand, is so full of life it hurts to look at her. But Lexi can’t refuse Ashley’s plea to honor their late mother’s final wish to make amends with the people she’d wronged. So, on behalf of her estranged mother’s estate—and with Heath in tow as the executor—Lexi embarks on a road trip to repay all the people her gambling addicted mother owed money to.
Complicating everything are the feelings that well up for Lexi: for her mom, for Ashley, and most of all, for Heath. And for the record, she doesn’t like it, or the way he has of scaling the walls she’s built around her heart. The road trip shenanigans that ensue are both funny and heartbreaking, but Lexi finds something shocking along the way. Acceptance. Family. And unbelievably—if you ask Lexi anyway—love.
Jill Shalvis (Better Than Friends) continues her Sunrise Cove series with this eighth entry centering around stepsisters Lexi and Ashley and their childhood friend, Heath. Ashley and Heath have lived in Sunrise Cove pretty much all their lives, but when Lexi was ten years old, her father got sole custody and brought her to live with his second wife and her children.
Lexi had a very unhappy childhood, first with her mother, Daisy, who was an inveterate gambler, and then with her father’s new family, who were cruel to her. The final straw was when her long-time boyfriend and boss dumped her when she was accused of stealing from the antique appraisal company where they both worked. An investigation was launched, and Lexi didn’t worry since she knew she was innocent, but nonetheless, it hardened her heart even further.
Shortly before Daisy died, she won quite a bit of money in the lotto. After her death, she leaves instructions with her lawyer, Heath, that he follows to the letter. A year after her passing, both Lexi and Ashley are to distribute six letters, in person, to people Daisy felt she wronged, along with checks for varying amounts. Lexi had no relationship with her mother, so she was surprised when Ashley insisted she had to come home to Sunrise Cove to take care of this. Since she was no longer employed and running out of money, Lexi couldn’t really say no.
Ashley is thrilled that Lexi agrees, and the stepsisters start to get to know one another again as adults. Ashley is big hearted and kind, and Lexi can’t help her heart thawing towards her. More surprising is how she feels about Heath. Heath also had a tumultuous childhood, but neither of them knew that about the other. They have a bit of history, none of it very good, but slowly he worms his way into her heart, and she into his.
As Lexi, Ashley, and Heath work on fulfilling Daisy’s final wishes, they reconnect as adults, creating a heartwarming tale of found family, forgiveness, and love. The setting of Sunrise Cove is the tie-in for this series, and each book stands alone beautifully.
VERDICT Shalvis’s fans will love this, and it should gain her new fans as well. Recommend to readers who enjoy Susan Mallery, Kristan Higgins, or Lori Wilde.
©Library Journal, 2025
Sunrise Cove Series in order:
1. The Family You Make
2. The Friendship Pact
3. The Backup Plan
4. The Sweetheart List
5. The Bright Spot
6. The Summer Escape
7. Better Than Friends
8. The Love Fix
6/2025 Stacy Alesi, AKA the BookBitch
THE LOVE FIX by Jill Shalvis. Avon (January 21, 2025). ISBN: 978-0063353435. 336p.
Stacy Alesi's BookBitch.com™ 