cathwolfiereads's review
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
(Thank you to Kalie Holford, Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for letting me read this ARC copy)
Oh my goodness was this a captivating and quick read. In other words the author did an amazing job with mixing both the past and present of two different people and also keeping both the main character of the story and us readers on edge.
Of course it follows Mia who follows her late mom’s little scavenger hunt after her graduation day. But I think the story’s focus is mostly on the adventure on the way (sounds kinda cliche but it is very much the right adjective to this book) and we get to know both a love interest for Mia and two love interests for Tori and along the way get to meet people that Tori also counted as family as well as her awesome moms (and Mia’s awesome grandmothers) who I adored but also got a little mad at for (spoiler alert)not letting Mia know a whole lot about her mom or even her dad!
I of course fell in love with the story along the way and the little adventure that Tori had left for Mia and the many puzzle pieces of who could possibly be Mia’s father and what Tori’s message could be for her too. And my heart broke a little bit every time Mia also got a bit stuck during the adventure with the clues as well as how Tori had to say goodbye to a lot of people and get hurt or accidentally hurt someone else (same with Mia).
On top of that the romance had me fully giggling at some points and even making me feel heartbroken for both of the girls when a fight happened etc and I was more or less yelling at the characters to go apologise.
However my only complain is that some parts of the storyline felt a bit too rushed or not really explained at some points in the book. And the ending being a tiny bit predictable but otherwise I highly recommend this book , both for the story, the characters and the cute queer representations that are in the book (and of course the indirect found family of some of the characters with the main characters).
Oh my goodness was this a captivating and quick read. In other words the author did an amazing job with mixing both the past and present of two different people and also keeping both the main character of the story and us readers on edge.
Of course it follows Mia who follows her late mom’s little scavenger hunt after her graduation day. But I think the story’s focus is mostly on the adventure on the way (sounds kinda cliche but it is very much the right adjective to this book) and we get to know both a love interest for Mia and two love interests for Tori and along the way get to meet people that Tori also counted as family as well as her awesome moms (and Mia’s awesome grandmothers) who I adored but also got a little mad at for (spoiler alert)
I of course fell in love with the story along the way and the little adventure that Tori had left for Mia and the many puzzle pieces of who could possibly be Mia’s father and what Tori’s message could be for her too. And my heart broke a little bit every time Mia also got a bit stuck during the adventure with the clues as well as how Tori had to say goodbye to a lot of people and get hurt or accidentally hurt someone else (same with Mia).
On top of that the romance had me fully giggling at some points and even making me feel heartbroken for both of the girls when a fight happened etc and I was more or less yelling at the characters to go apologise.
However my only complain is that some parts of the storyline felt a bit too rushed or not really explained at some points in the book. And the ending being a tiny bit predictable but otherwise I highly recommend this book , both for the story, the characters and the cute queer representations that are in the book (and of course the indirect found family of some of the characters with the main characters).
Content Warnings
Moderate: Panic attacks/disorders
booksandbesitos's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.5
This heartwarming book follows Mia, a recent high school graduate, on a scavenger hunt left by her late mother, Tori Rose. Both Mia and her mother grew up in the same town (a costal town in Oregon!! as an Oregon girl I loved this!!). Despite sharing roots and music, Mia knows very little about her mother.
The book contains two timelines, showing the lives of both Mia and Tori.
It's an incredible debut novel. I’m excited to see what Kalie Holford creates next. I received an advance copy from NetGalley and highly recommend it to music lovers, those navigating mother-daughter relationships, and to anyone who want a queer story with beautiful writing.
Almost forgot my favorite detail- There was two grandmothers/mothers and I loved them so much!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
theinkdoe's review against another edition
emotional
funny
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.25
Heart warming story. The narrative in two different timelines makes the book stand out. Loved the writing style. This is a great read about coming of age drama.
theatrealpaca's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
The Last Love Song is beyond phenomenal. Kalie Holford's debut novel has lit me up and made her an auto-buy author for me. This novel is so beautifully written and deeply vulnerable. I was floored by the journey Mia was taken on by her mother, the music, her love, and her dreams. Holford's incredible story made me cry, smile, and made me remember just how much chasing your dreams matters. I can't wait to see what she writes next.
katevdz's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
This is a cute YA debut novel from Kalie Holford. The cover is great, I adored the gay grandmas. This story follows Mia as she completes a scavenger hunt set by her late mother, country music star Tori Rose. It’s enjoyable to go through the steps with her and watch as she uncovers more about her mother’s past. However, it is definitely a book best enjoyed when you don’t worry about the details. There is definitely a lot that Mia doesn’t seem to know about her mom, despite google existing, and lots of little things I found hard to suspend my disbelief for. Overall I had fun following alone with Mia as she learned more about her mom’s life. And I am always here for queer love stories!
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
Minor: Terminal illness
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