The Wife at the Last House Before the Sea by Liz Eeles - Book Review

Series: Heaven’s Cove #8 (Standalone) 

Publication Date: 24th March 2025 

Genre: Contemporary Small Town Fiction 

3.7 Stars 

One Liner: A bit repetitive but nice 

Heartbroken and sad after her divorce, forty-six-year-old Emma moves to Heaven’s Cove to make her dream of opening a pre-loved dress store come true. Someone leaves a bag full of lovely clothes outside her new shop, and Emma finds the most stunning wedding gown inside it. 

Leo and his father Robert own the shop next door, a bespoke suit store. Their grumpiness doesn’t make Emma a fan nor do they seem to like her. However, Robert is shocked to see the wedding gown but doesn’t want to talk about it. Soon, Emma and Leo try to find the truth. However, learning the truth comes at a price. 

The story comes in the third-person POVs of Emma, Leo, and Robert. 

My Thoughts: 

Though this is the eighth book in the series, it works as a standalone. You will meet some characters from the previous one, mostly Rosie, who owns the Driftwood House, and Maise, the teenage brat. 

The book is women’s fiction rather than romance since the focus is on finding the woman who owns the dress and the growth of the FMC’s arc. Initially, there is quite a bit of repetition about the wedding dress, the past, the secret, etc. 

As well as repetition in the FMC thinking about her dreams and her ex-husband’s attitude toward it. This is understandable to a point since her divorce is still fresh and she has pretty much lost the confidence to stand up for herself. 

Getting Leo and Robert’s POVs balance the story even if the latter is hard to like. He sounds annoying and snobbish but manages to make an impact. I like that there are no drastic changes in him by the end. There is some development that feels believable. Though Leo is grumpy when introduced, he shows his true side quickly. He also has a sad past, the poor guy. 

The characters seem to act their ages, so despite a bit of tension towards the end, they are mostly decent in handling what life throws at them, albeit after a short tantrum. 

To summarize, The Wife at the Last House Before the Sea is a heartwarming story about choices, self-worth, second chances, and family. It is always great to revisit the beautiful Heaven’s Cove and its cliffs (never mind the erratic weather). 

Thank you, NetGalley and Bookouture, for eARC. 

#NetGalley #TheWifeAtTheLastHouseBeforeTheSea