The Last Summer

This sweeping love story gripped us from the start, so we can’t wait for the next in the series. Best historical romance of 2022 * Independent *I so enjoyed The Last Summer by Karen Swan, which provides fascinating details about life on St Kilda prior to the evacuation of its inhabitants from the island. Powerful writing and a wonderful premise make this a novel you’ll simultaneously want to savour and race through. I loved it and can’t wait for the next in the series! – Jill MansellThe most exciting, enchanting and evocative story of forbidden love I’ve ever read. I truly loved it and am waiting feverishly for the second installment. – Cathy BramleyA delicious romantic tale of wild 1930s Scotland … perfect for everyone dreaming of summer – Rachel HoreA dramatic start to a gripping new series set on the Scottish island of St Kilda. The Last Summer is meticulously researched and beautifully told by one of our most prolific and talented writers. It contains all the ingredients of a wonderfully satisfying read: love, passion, drama, violence, menace and peril, and characters you fall in love with - and some you hate! Happily, this is the start of a series so your longing for more will be fulfilled. * Santa Montefiore *The queen of destination books…exciting…beguiling…The first in a new series, we’re already looking forward to meeting these characters again … * Woman and Home *A sweeping page-turner with an engrossing love story at its heart, this is an absolute treat for historical fiction fans. Swan is a superb storyteller. I loved it. – Eve Chase author of The Glass House Vividly drawn and beautifully atmospheric, this is a book to savour. * Heat Magazine *Wonderfully romantic and epic in feel, this beautiful historical novel is a fascinating and deliciously escapist read – Tasmina Perry, author of Guilty Pleasures and Perfect StrangersWhat a great adventure! The perfect way to tell the tale of the St Kilda’s population in fiction form. History fans will love the fascinating St Kilda detail woven throughout this thrilling romance. Wonderful! – Jennifer Ryan, author of The Chilbury Ladies Choir and The Kitchen FrontA promising new series from Swan … The vivid beauty and danger of St. Kilda only enhances Swan’s effortlessly intricate plotting. Toeing the line between romance and historical fiction, this gorgeous story and its unconventional heroine are sure to win hearts. * Publishers Weekly *

Karen Swan is the Sunday Times top three bestselling author and her novels sell all over the world. Her books are known for their evocative locations and Karen sees travel as vital research for each story. She loves to set deep, complicated love stories within twisting plots. The Last Summer is the first book in her five-book historical series called The Wild Isles, based on the dramatic evacuation of the Scottish island of St Kilda in the summer of 1930. It was partly inspired by Karen’s Scottish roots: her father’s family came from Skye, moving to Fort William where Karen was christened and where many of her family still live. Her childhood memories are full of Christmases, Hogmanays and summer holidays spent in the Highlands.