August Reunion

by Juliet Madison

Some love stories take a lifetime to find their way home. The bestselling author of Holiday in July returns to Tarrin's Bay.
After her divorce, Katy McKenzie promised herself she'd wait a year before dating again. But just when she does, her troubled twin brother shows up needing help, and Katy's newfound freedom is put on hold.
At her high school reunion, Katy reconnects with Dan Dexter, her childhood best friend and the boy whose romantic confession she once rejected. Now a famous relationship coach, Dan has never forgotten Katy. As they spend time together, old feelings resurface, but their futures may be too different to ever align.
With her heart pulled in two directions, Katy must decide whether love is worth the risk and if some second chances are meant to last forever.
Heartfelt, emotional, and uplifting, August Reunion is a story about second chances, the strength of family, and finding the courage to follow your heart.

268 pages, Kindle Edition

Published July 9, 2025

About the author

Juliet Madison is a bestselling and award-nominated author of 20 books with humour, heart, and serendipity. Writing both fiction and self help, she is also an artist and colouring book illustrator, a mind/body/spirit coach, and a writing course creator.

With her background as a naturopath and a dancer, Juliet is passionate about living a healthy and positive life. She likes to combine her love of words, art, and self-empowerment to create books that entertain and inspire readers to find the magic in everyday life.

Juliet lives on the picturesque south coast of NSW, Australia, where she spends as much time as possible writing books, drawing, teaching online courses, being with family, and as little time as possible doing housework.
She is represented by literary agent Joelle Delbourgo, and has been published by Escape Publishing-Harlequin/Harper Collins Australia, Sourcebooks USA, Dover Publications, Diversion Books, Bloodhound Books, and Once Upon a Book Club.
Juliet loves to interact online with readers and writers. You can contact her on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/JulietMadison..., instagram http://www.instagram.com/julietmadiso... and through her website http://www.julietmadison.com

Reviews

[Caroline · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book, possibly one of my favourites so far this year.
It's a gorgeous romance between childhood best friends who are reunited at a high school reunion some 20 years later.
There are the usual will they won't they moments, but there was such a warmth between the two characters that I was fully rooting for them from the start.
A lovely pace to the book, and really nicely developed characters alongside the two leads, I would really recommend this as a summer romance, though there are a couple of moments which will make you cry!
Thanks to Bloodhound books for sending me a free advanced copy to read and review.

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely easy to read book set in Australia, (at first I thought it was set in the USA as nothing was mentioned until later in the book). Good characters that built well and were easy to follow. A great romantic novel.

[Cathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lovely story of old friends and true love. When friends reunite at a school reunion what will happen with an ‘almost’ romance from their past. Some lovely moments and great characters.

[Karen · Rating 5 out of 5]

August Reunion is the 8th book in the Tarrin's Bay series by Juliet Madison.
This is a beautiful, feel-good story about two friends who reconnect after meeting at their high school reunion.
Katy McKenzie is a divorced nurse, living in her childhood home in Tarrin's Bay. About to celebrate her "divorce-aversary", she is considering dipping her toes back into the dating pool, although she has not completely committed to the idea.
Dan Dexter is a successful, famous relationship coach. Due to family circumstances, Dan is back from the US and staying in Tarrin's Bay.
August Reunion takes us on the journey of Kate and Dan's relationship. With stories of childhood friendship, unrequited love, heartbreak, struggle, joy and family, we come to know the heart and courage of not only Katy and Dan but supporting characters as well.
Juliet has a way of holding the attention and emotions of her readers. I thoroughly enjoyed August Reunion, and at times found myself relating to various situations and feelings.
Congratulations on another wonderful story Juliet.

I would like to thank Juliet and the team at Bloodhound Books for my ARC of August Reunion, which I received in return for an honest review.

[Trish Drinkwater · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved August Reunion, the latest "Tarrin's Bay" book. It's just a beautiful, feel good story with characters who are realistic without anything being forced.
The story belongs to Katy and Dan but there are lots of lovely side stories as well. Lots happening but you never lose track. The mental health issues of Kane, Katy's twin brother, are handled with care, sympathy and understanding and it is extremely obvious that Juliet Madison has researched the area and knows her facts regarding this difficult issue. Kane's development and improvement is portrayed sensitively and realistically and you never feel the issue is stage managed.
The characters come alive and you feel like some could become your friends. A beautifully written, sensitive book that I would happily recommend highly to anyone who loves beautiful Australian literature.
I was honoured to receive an advance copy but I would never give a 5 star rating unless I genuinely meant it. I loved the book.

[Jacqueline Moxon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a light hearted, feel good, story about two old friends who meet up at a school reunion. There is unfinished business between them, and both would like to rekindle their relationship and take things one step further. However, neither of them are the same teenagers that they once were. One has a recent divorce behind her, and the other has changed from awkward adolescent to highly successful life coach, with a huge fan base. Then there is the problem of Katy’s twin brother, who is battling demons and addiction. Just when the two would be lovers get close to giving it a go, another obstacle reveals itself, and this one seems insurmountable. A good story, which I enjoyed.

[Paula Corregan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a lovely, enthralling book. The characters were delightful. It featured best friends, Katy and Dan, who were reunited at a class reunion after several years apart. Katy was recently divorced and has moved back to her hometown and is a nurse, while Dan has become quite successful as a psychologist and dating coach. Dan had tried to kiss Katy back in the day, but she wasn't interested in him then. He still feels the same way, but does she? Find out by reading this fantastic book, which I highly recommend to other women's fiction readers. I received an ARC of this book, and the opinion expressed is strictly my own.

[Sian Powell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you to bloodhound books for the opportunity to read and review this book 📖

I have read a few by this author and it is safe to say like the others this does not disappoint ❤️

This is a romance between 2 people who after 20 years meet up again at a school reunion after being childhood best friends and a possible romance when teenagers.

The book fills you with plenty of will they or won't they turns and from the start all you want is for these 2 to find their moment.

lovely summer read

[Vivian · Rating 4 out of 5]

A feel good book with great characters that will melt your heart. What happens when two teenage best friends meet later in life at a high school reunion? Will she finally realize that the boy who was her best friend growing up is the true one for her? And the boy, will he finally get the girl, or woman, he has been in love with since they were teenagers?
Love, friendship, heartbreak, longing, and life complications are some of the themes in the book and ones that makes it a hard to put down one.

[Leanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A sweet romance for Summer. When old friends reunite at a school reunion it becomes a game of will they or won't they? I found myself rooting for them all the way because of their undeniable chemistry. The plot of this book really hit home for me as I have been through a few of the things myself and I am not ashamed to say I had to stop reading at one point because I couldn't see through my tears. So as well as being sweet and fun it's also emotionally draining in the best possible way.

[Anitra Mansson · Rating 4 out of 5]

A lovely story of two friends who reunite at a High School reunion. Formally best friends, they each went their own way after Dan tries to kiss Katy. They reconnect at the reunion after twenty years. There is a definite connection, but do they want the same things in life? Set in Australia, this is a stand alone in the Tarrin's Bay books. The author does briefly throw in a character from one of her other books, which was fun. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

[Sarah Jackson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another delightful outing in the Tarin Bay series. Katy is coming up to the one year anniversary of her divorce and is ready to start dating again. But her plans change when her troubled brother moves back home, and their old school friend returns to town. A lovely story about friendship, family and romance.

[Yvette Salmon · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book a good romantic love story about 2 people that reconnected at a school reunion . Great characters and loved the story. A good beach read, well worth a read.

[Helen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this is book 8 in the series
It can easily be read as a standalone. I read the previous book to this one and didn’t know it was a series and this was a new author for me.

This was a lovely heartwarming read set in Australia about second chances and friendships and romance set around
The theme of a school reunion.

This author writes about relatable and engaging characters and situations.

I will definitely look out for more of their books.