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emilyjean917201999's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Stalking, and Murder
Minor: Child death, Cursing, Grief, Car accident, Alcohol, and Injury/Injury detail
cyndi1966's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Murder, and Gaslighting
Minor: Child death, Death, Infidelity, and Death of parent
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Author: Julie Clark
Genre: Thriller
Rating: 4.00
Pub Date: June 2, 2020
T H R E E β’ W O R D S
Thoughtful β’ Entertaining β’ Bittersweet
π S Y N O P S I S
Two women. Two flights. One last chance to disappear.
Claire Cook has a perfect life. Married to the scion of a political dynasty, with a Manhattan townhouse and a staff of ten, her surroundings are elegant, her days flawlessly choreographed, and her future auspicious. But behind closed doors, nothing is quite as it seems. That perfect husband has a temper that burns as bright as his promising political career, and he's not above using his staff to track Claire's every move, making sure she's living up to his impossible standards. But what he doesn't know is that Claire has worked for months on a plan to vanish.
A chance meeting in an airport bar brings her together with a woman whose circumstances seem equally dire. Together they make a last-minute decision to switch tickets--Claire taking Eva's flight to Oakland, and Eva traveling to Puerto Rico as Claire. They believe the swap will give each of them the head start they need to begin again somewhere far away. But when the flight to Puerto Rico goes down, Claire realizes it's no longer a head start but a new life. Cut off, out of options, with the news of her death about to explode in the media, Claire will assume Eva's identity, and along with it, the secrets Eva fought so hard to keep hidden.
π T H O U G H T S
The Last Flight was my final book for my 12 recommendations from 12 friends challenge in 2023. I tried reading it earlier in the year, but knowing I was going to be flying in July made me put it aside until afterwards.
Told in dual POV format, Claire and Eva are both strong, vulnerable characters. Each came across as a real person escaping an equally dangerous situation. The novel sure starts out with a bang - a plane crash - and I couldn't turn the pages fast enough through the first third. There's definitely a lull in the action through the middle, where it becomes more suspenseful than thrilling, yet it picks back up towards the end. I think the plot structure really worked for the story Julie Clark was trying to tell. It allowed me to really get to know each of the two women and how they ended up where they were, and it slowly unravels their connection. I definitely did not figure out how Eva came to be at the airport until it was revealed.
Beyond the story, what I appreciated so much about this book was the depth beyond the words on the page. Because the male characters were background here, there's a sense of female strength and empowerment. It also shines a light on how neither woman could trust the system to help them, and how they each had to take matter into their own hands. This is a reality many people continue to face on a daily basis and I just thought it added another layer to the story.
While The Last Flight was less than thrilling in my opinion, it definitely had an element of suspense and was an escape read during the frantic holiday season. What I appreciated most about it was the social commentary that was there, yet wasn't there. I'd recommend this to readers who like thrillers with depth.
π R E C O M M E N D β’ T O
β’ Lisa Jewell fans
β’ readers who like psychological suspense
π F A V O U R I T E β’ Q U O T E S
"I believed my voice alone wouldn't be enough. That nobody would want to hear the truth and step in to help. But when I needed it most, three women showed up. First Eva, then Danielle, and finally, Charlie. If we don't tell our own stories, we'll never take control of the narrative."
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Addiction, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug use, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexism, Stalking, and Gaslighting
Minor: Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Abandonment
drug trafficking, poverty, plane crashabicaro17's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Graphic: Addiction, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cancer, Child abuse, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexism, Suicidal thoughts, Violence, Blood, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Alcohol, Injury/Injury detail, and Classism
annaofjesup's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Abandonment
Moderate: Addiction, Confinement, Cursing, Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Gore, Physical abuse, Violence, Grief, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, Alcohol, and War
Minor: Cancer, Deadnaming, Terminal illness, and Schizophrenia/Psychosis
Plane crashjamiejanae_6's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Moderate: Death, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Blood, Grief, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, Gaslighting, and Abandonment
tezariah's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? N/A
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Graphic: Adult/minor relationship, Cancer, Death, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, Stalking, Car accident, Death of parent, Murder, Fire/Fire injury, and Gaslighting
chaidoo's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.75
Let me just say Julie Clark writes side characters SO GOOD. I loved them as much as I loved the main characters. They have layers and layers of personality. I never thought book characters felt real to me, but ever since I read this, I finally thought otherwise! While reading, I loved and grieved and feared with the characters. They felt so real and so relatable, and I love everything about themβall their flaws and not. This books sheds a light to all those who suffered the same things, and having a dive into what life is like for them is very informative, and the fact they continue to fight despite everything is so inspiring.
There were so many times where I wanted to cry (especially the ending!), but I couldn't because I was always reading this in public LMAO.
With all of that out in the way, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND YOU READ THIS BOOK. If you're wondering whether you should or if it's good: it definitely is! Don't postpone this and read it already! A world of adventure and bravery awaits you.
Minor: Domestic abuse, Drug use, Emotional abuse, Infidelity, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Grief, and Gaslighting
basicbookstagrammer's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexism, Toxic relationship, Stalking, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Confinement, Drug abuse, Drug use, Infidelity, Misogyny, Grief, Car accident, Death of parent, and Murder
shannonxvx's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Gaslighting
Moderate: Death, Drug abuse, Drug use, and Death of parent