khairun_atika's review against another edition
4.0
"Emotions...Life...They're complicated. Grief has different stages, and the path is different for everyone. There shouldn't be any judgment about which route you take or how long it takes to get there." - The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas
I have always been a fan of love stories that are centred around grief or mental health. And this book weaves the two themes so beautifully with a tender and poignant love story. It is definitely one of my favourite stories of the year.
In The Last Goodbye, Anna is a grieving widow who still yearns for her husband, Spencer. It has been almost three years since he passed away, yet the grief is still raw and overwhelming. She hated being told to move on, she hated the flash of sympathy from everyone and above all, she hated having to live without Spencer.
Overcome with pain and grief, she found herself calling Spencer's number, just to hear his voicemail message. Instead, her sobs were responded to, and a shocked Anna realises the truth - that someone else was using Spencer's old number. As Anna finds solace in expressing her emotions to a virtual stranger, an unlikely friendship forms. And therein lies another issue - Anna has no idea who she was talking, and the secrets that he had been keeping.
I loved the way this book dealt with how raw and painful grief can be. The explorations are layered and profound, in the details of which the one who mourns continues to make her life revolve around the death of her loved one. How the living is the one who is left behind, to lament over the mistakes they made and face heartbreak in unimaginable ways. I especially loved how erudite the romance is, making this one of the most engaging, heartwrenching yet tender books I have read this year.
I have always been a fan of love stories that are centred around grief or mental health. And this book weaves the two themes so beautifully with a tender and poignant love story. It is definitely one of my favourite stories of the year.
In The Last Goodbye, Anna is a grieving widow who still yearns for her husband, Spencer. It has been almost three years since he passed away, yet the grief is still raw and overwhelming. She hated being told to move on, she hated the flash of sympathy from everyone and above all, she hated having to live without Spencer.
Overcome with pain and grief, she found herself calling Spencer's number, just to hear his voicemail message. Instead, her sobs were responded to, and a shocked Anna realises the truth - that someone else was using Spencer's old number. As Anna finds solace in expressing her emotions to a virtual stranger, an unlikely friendship forms. And therein lies another issue - Anna has no idea who she was talking, and the secrets that he had been keeping.
I loved the way this book dealt with how raw and painful grief can be. The explorations are layered and profound, in the details of which the one who mourns continues to make her life revolve around the death of her loved one. How the living is the one who is left behind, to lament over the mistakes they made and face heartbreak in unimaginable ways. I especially loved how erudite the romance is, making this one of the most engaging, heartwrenching yet tender books I have read this year.
alice94's review against another edition
5.0
Physically, you are unable to put this book down, even if you want to. It is actually, to my surprise a dual POV, and it shows you the journey two people can take not just towards recovery with a bit of support from someone who is non-judgmental and empathetic.
I normally don't read these types of books but this one had me blown away and is definitely very well written and by someone who understands the topic quite deeply without allowing it to be embellished or overshadowed by other stories or content.
I normally don't read these types of books but this one had me blown away and is definitely very well written and by someone who understands the topic quite deeply without allowing it to be embellished or overshadowed by other stories or content.
heidirgorecki's review against another edition
5.0
I loved this book. In the story of Anna and Brody, they navigated thru loss and grief and the resulting anxiety and being stuck in it, while also finding friendship and love in the process.
Thru a bit of an accident, they “meet” each other via phone call and become the support and empathy each other has been missing but truly needs to move forward. The author did an amazing job wading thru what grief really looks like, the raw honesty and vulnerability of it, with Brody and Anna, along with the difficult back and forth that happens with grief and trauma and the risk you have to take when you try to grow and move forward. She highlights how much people really need each other even tho it’s easier to stay isolated and hide what you feel.
Obviously the theme of loss and grief is a heavy one not everyone is going to love but it was so well written in this love story and it resonated so much with me and my experiences, and those of people I know, that I thought it was excellent.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Thru a bit of an accident, they “meet” each other via phone call and become the support and empathy each other has been missing but truly needs to move forward. The author did an amazing job wading thru what grief really looks like, the raw honesty and vulnerability of it, with Brody and Anna, along with the difficult back and forth that happens with grief and trauma and the risk you have to take when you try to grow and move forward. She highlights how much people really need each other even tho it’s easier to stay isolated and hide what you feel.
Obviously the theme of loss and grief is a heavy one not everyone is going to love but it was so well written in this love story and it resonated so much with me and my experiences, and those of people I know, that I thought it was excellent.
Thanks to Netgalley for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
leely's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
5.0
Such an amazing and hopeful book<3 grief doesn't go away but it can be manageable with the right people around us!
yers's review against another edition
3.0
F. Lucas' writing is as always very detailed, emotional and mature. Although I still prefer "Never Forget You" as my number one, "The Last Goodbye" is an engaging story about grief, guilt and second chances. At times the relationship between Anna and her ex-mother in law was kind of repetitive and exhaustive but I do understand the Author wanted to make a point about their points of view and how both coped with death and letting go. Brody's story was heart touching. Through him, we see a different angle of grief as well as mental/behavioral issues. I almost wished the Author could have opened a bigger window into Brody's world to give us more reading time into the mind of a former Children's Author who fell victim of his own prejudices and isolation. The relationship blossomed between Brody and Anna was vitalized with strings of optimism and purpose, which made cheer on for them all the way through. This is for sure, a mature book delving into topics that a more grown up reader can appreciate. A good read; maybe too slow paced but a good read regardless.
love2read1995's review against another edition
3.0
This is a story about Anna, a young woman who loses her husband, Spencer, suddenly. Desperate to continue to feel a connection him, she dials his phone number to listen to his voice on his voicemail and Brody answers. The book focuses on the friendship that forms between Anna and Brody, who is also dealing with grief of his own.
I don't typically listen to audiobooks and decided to give this one a listen. Although the narrator has a nice voice and good pace, I often found myself thinking about other things when I should have been focused on listening & had to rewind several times. I feel I would have enjoyed this more as an ebook or paperback than audio.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
I don't typically listen to audiobooks and decided to give this one a listen. Although the narrator has a nice voice and good pace, I often found myself thinking about other things when I should have been focused on listening & had to rewind several times. I feel I would have enjoyed this more as an ebook or paperback than audio.
I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
thebooktails's review against another edition
3.0
The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas
This story follows a woman who’s still heartbroken 3 years after her husband passed away, and getting in touch via phone with a man going through his own loss.
I’m just not sure how I feel about this one. I found myself getting emotional throughout- I just felt like the story dragged a little. I also couldn’t help but feel like it reminded me of TJR Forever Interrupted.
3 ⭐️
This story follows a woman who’s still heartbroken 3 years after her husband passed away, and getting in touch via phone with a man going through his own loss.
I’m just not sure how I feel about this one. I found myself getting emotional throughout- I just felt like the story dragged a little. I also couldn’t help but feel like it reminded me of TJR Forever Interrupted.
3 ⭐️
booksnbelle's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
meganmcgarryyy's review against another edition
1.0
DNFed at page 204. The story started out good and then it was very slow paced and repetitive. Did not really like the main characters either :/
allthechaptersandverses's review against another edition
emotional
funny
inspiring
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Grief and Death