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thisiswhy_wecanthavenicethings's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
sad
tense
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
4.25
This was a pretty good book, really interesting, I really liked the romance but also how the book wasn't just focused on the romance. I'm glad we saw different people in Tori's life deal with the grief, and I liked seeing Tori's POV. Some things felt a bit odd, like how no one knew for so long how she died. The hunt was a bit hard to follow at times, but I may have also just not been paying enough attention. I wished we could have seen Tori's life more spread out rather than just the beginning of her trip. I would definitely read a book just about Tori Rose.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death and Death of parent
MC's mom is deadagirlsnightbookbash's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent
lettuce_read's review against another edition
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Grief and Death of parent
hawksquill's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent
mari1532's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
lighthearted
mysterious
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
I would like to thank Blackstone Publishing and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this book.
Brief Summary: Mia Peters is stuck. She can feel the pull of a bigger life as she writes songs in secret, but she is also the daughter of Tori Rose, a famous country singer tragically taken at the height of her fame. As Mia prepares to start her life after graduation she looks around the town that has raised her and immortalized her mother wondering what her next move should be. Luckily she has a rainbow of clues pointing her in the right direction.
Thoughts: This book is a slow burn. It took at least five chapters before this book really hooked me.
How Holford was able to not only write a book, but all of the songs included in this book is impressive. Although it was a bit of a slow start, the way that Holford was able to integrate two coming-of-age stories, two love stories, and two musical worlds ended up bringing me to tears.
This is a love story, but I would not call it a romance novel. Mia and Britt do have friends to maybe lovers vibe throughout the endearing book, but the real focus of this book is Mia and Tori and their relationship as mother and daughter. The way that Holford writes Mia as a confused teenager trying to grapple with her grief is breathtaking. So many times throughout the book I just wanted to hug Mia and tell her it would be okay and I felt joy at her every success and sadness at every failure.
Tori was a little more difficult to read throughout the book. We only catch glimpses of her from the stories people share with Mia and letters, but I could never really say I understood her...at least the younger version of her. Tori chases her dreams and finds herself in a love triangle. The mystery surrounding her drives the narrative of the story. I did wish that there was a little more explanation of Tori's relationships with the women she was friends with throughout her life. I feel like with her bandmates and classmates we just see snippets of Tori's relationships with her friends. The love triangle had me hooked and I had a favourite, but her friends made such big sacrifices for her and it was a little hard to understand why.
Holford's writing made me feel and I truly did cry at the end of the book. I found Mia to be such a dynamic character even though she was a teenager. I read somewhere that this book is similar to Mamma Mia. In many ways, I agree with that description, but it feels more like the sequel rather than the original because Mia is just surrounded by a shrine of her mother. I do wish that we had been able to see any part of the town that was not some roadside attraction to draw fans of Tori Rose. It felt a little weird that this was all the town offered, but maybe that is supposed to make us feel the oppressive weight that Mia must feel having grown up there.
I would recommend this book, but I do think that you should go into it understanding two things. First, this is a book about a mother-daughter relationship. Other relationships are described in its pages, but this is the central focus of the book. Second, the music is going to guide you through the book. If you are a fan of puzzles and how song lyrics help you answer those puzzles this is the perfect book for you. I would also recommend having a tissue handy for the tears at the end.
Brief Summary: Mia Peters is stuck. She can feel the pull of a bigger life as she writes songs in secret, but she is also the daughter of Tori Rose, a famous country singer tragically taken at the height of her fame. As Mia prepares to start her life after graduation she looks around the town that has raised her and immortalized her mother wondering what her next move should be. Luckily she has a rainbow of clues pointing her in the right direction.
Thoughts: This book is a slow burn. It took at least five chapters before this book really hooked me.
How Holford was able to not only write a book, but all of the songs included in this book is impressive. Although it was a bit of a slow start, the way that Holford was able to integrate two coming-of-age stories, two love stories, and two musical worlds ended up bringing me to tears.
This is a love story, but I would not call it a romance novel. Mia and Britt do have friends to maybe lovers vibe throughout the endearing book, but the real focus of this book is Mia and Tori and their relationship as mother and daughter. The way that Holford writes Mia as a confused teenager trying to grapple with her grief is breathtaking. So many times throughout the book I just wanted to hug Mia and tell her it would be okay and I felt joy at her every success and sadness at every failure.
Tori was a little more difficult to read throughout the book. We only catch glimpses of her from the stories people share with Mia and letters, but I could never really say I understood her...at least the younger version of her. Tori chases her dreams and finds herself in a love triangle. The mystery surrounding her drives the narrative of the story. I did wish that there was a little more explanation of Tori's relationships with the women she was friends with throughout her life. I feel like with her bandmates and classmates we just see snippets of Tori's relationships with her friends. The love triangle had me hooked and I had a favourite, but her friends made such big sacrifices for her and it was a little hard to understand why.
Holford's writing made me feel and I truly did cry at the end of the book. I found Mia to be such a dynamic character even though she was a teenager. I read somewhere that this book is similar to Mamma Mia. In many ways, I agree with that description, but it feels more like the sequel rather than the original because Mia is just surrounded by a shrine of her mother. I do wish that we had been able to see any part of the town that was not some roadside attraction to draw fans of Tori Rose. It felt a little weird that this was all the town offered, but maybe that is supposed to make us feel the oppressive weight that Mia must feel having grown up there.
I would recommend this book, but I do think that you should go into it understanding two things. First, this is a book about a mother-daughter relationship. Other relationships are described in its pages, but this is the central focus of the book. Second, the music is going to guide you through the book. If you are a fan of puzzles and how song lyrics help you answer those puzzles this is the perfect book for you. I would also recommend having a tissue handy for the tears at the end.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Terminal illness, Toxic relationship, Grief, Death of parent, and Abandonment
Moderate: Cursing and Gaslighting
Minor: Sexual content, Pregnancy, and Alcohol
libraryofjazz's review against another edition
this is a it's me, not you situation. I just think I'm not the right demographic for this book which is fine! I don't think its a bad book at all just not for me :)
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
crystalleighwrites's review against another edition
4.25
THE LAST LOVE SONG kicks into gear quickly and moves through its ~230 pages at an equal pace. The story follows Mia Peters as she graduates from high school and struggles to figure out what her next step in life is. Helping her on her journey is a scavenger hunt set up for her by her mother, a country singer who died tragically when Mia was only a year old. Through her life, she's struggled with her identity as they daughter of her small town's most famous resident, especially since no one, including her grandmothers, can bring themselves to talk about her mother with her. During her journey to learn more about her mother (and her own past) she carves out a path for her own future.
This story punched me in the feelings in a big way. Debut writer Kalie Holford gets the emotions -- of abandonment, yearning, that summer after graduation when everything feels that it's changing -- all so right and so truthful that you can't help but be brought along the journey with Mia. A standout element of the writing is the song lyrics; it's incredibly difficult to write song lyrics for songs that within their universe are smash hits, but these lyrics sing right off the page (pun absolutely intended).
THE LAST LOVE SONG might be for you if you love:
- Taylor Swift, Mamma Mia, I KISSED SHARA WHEELER, Almost Famous
- Queer representation all over the place
- Complex mother/daughter dynamics
- Girl bands
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing an advanced review copy. This review is cross posted to other sites.
This story punched me in the feelings in a big way. Debut writer Kalie Holford gets the emotions -- of abandonment, yearning, that summer after graduation when everything feels that it's changing -- all so right and so truthful that you can't help but be brought along the journey with Mia. A standout element of the writing is the song lyrics; it's incredibly difficult to write song lyrics for songs that within their universe are smash hits, but these lyrics sing right off the page (pun absolutely intended).
THE LAST LOVE SONG might be for you if you love:
- Taylor Swift, Mamma Mia, I KISSED SHARA WHEELER, Almost Famous
- Queer representation all over the place
- Complex mother/daughter dynamics
- Girl bands
Thanks to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for providing an advanced review copy. This review is cross posted to other sites.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Abandonment
Moderate: Terminal illness
emilygibbs's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death of parent and Abandonment
bookishmillennial's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
funny
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
disclaimer: I don’t really give starred reviews. I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not. Find me here: https://linktr.ee/bookishmillennial
I really enjoyed this young adult contemporary coming-of-age story about Mia, who embarks on a scavenger hunt set up by her late mom to get answers about her mom (who was a singer) and who her dad is! She also navigates her relationship with her best friend Britt, who is about to begin her own music journey.
Honorable mention to Mia's Nana and Grams; they were adorable, and I love seeing elder queer folks represented. The queer community deserves to grow old and live peaceful lives!
Overall, I read this in two sittings because it was both goofy and tender, and I was rooting for Mia so hard! Her concerns and questions were so understandable, and thought she (like all people and especially teenagers) was a bit of a mess, I appreciated her arc/journey!
I really enjoyed this young adult contemporary coming-of-age story about Mia, who embarks on a scavenger hunt set up by her late mom to get answers about her mom (who was a singer) and who her dad is! She also navigates her relationship with her best friend Britt, who is about to begin her own music journey.
Honorable mention to Mia's Nana and Grams; they were adorable, and I love seeing elder queer folks represented. The queer community deserves to grow old and live peaceful lives!
Overall, I read this in two sittings because it was both goofy and tender, and I was rooting for Mia so hard! Her concerns and questions were so understandable, and thought she (like all people and especially teenagers) was a bit of a mess, I appreciated her arc/journey!
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent and Abandonment
quirkyneon's review against another edition
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
sad
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? No
4.0
The Last Love Song was an emotional rollercoaster, in the best way possible.
Mia Peters was a character that felt fully fleshed out, even in the parts of the story where I didn't always agree with her actions. Mia was a deeply thought out character but she wasn't my favorite character - the real star of the story (in my opinion) was Tori Rose.
The condensed timeline that Mia was faced at the height of the story, the whirlwind of a week, was a great way to make the reader feel like every step that Mia took really mattered. And it did, every step forward that Mia took revealed a deeper part of the overall story that really sucked me in.
The relationship between Britt and Mia felt real, slightly juvenile for sure, but they felt like real people in a real friendship. I loved the two of them working together to figure out the Big Thing that Mia was hunting for.
The story pace felt great in the beginning and middle but it did feel slightly rushed toward the end, all the loose ends were trying to be tied up in a very short window of time and I could feel that rush. That's not to say it was bad, the ending was just as heart wrenching as the middle, but I feel that it could have been built out more - even an extra twenty pages (I feel) would have felt less rushed toward the end.
This was a solid 4 star read, if only because it felt like every 30 pages I was being brought to tears by the emotion in the The Last Love Song.
**This book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher as an Advanced Reader Copy (eARC) in exchange for an honest review**
Mia Peters was a character that felt fully fleshed out, even in the parts of the story where I didn't always agree with her actions. Mia was a deeply thought out character but she wasn't my favorite character - the real star of the story (in my opinion) was Tori Rose.
The condensed timeline that Mia was faced at the height of the story, the whirlwind of a week, was a great way to make the reader feel like every step that Mia took really mattered. And it did, every step forward that Mia took revealed a deeper part of the overall story that really sucked me in.
The relationship between Britt and Mia felt real, slightly juvenile for sure, but they felt like real people in a real friendship. I loved the two of them working together to figure out the Big Thing that Mia was hunting for.
The story pace felt great in the beginning and middle but it did feel slightly rushed toward the end, all the loose ends were trying to be tied up in a very short window of time and I could feel that rush. That's not to say it was bad, the ending was just as heart wrenching as the middle, but I feel that it could have been built out more - even an extra twenty pages (I feel) would have felt less rushed toward the end.
This was a solid 4 star read, if only because it felt like every 30 pages I was being brought to tears by the emotion in the The Last Love Song.
**This book was provided by NetGalley and the publisher as an Advanced Reader Copy (eARC) in exchange for an honest review**
Content Warnings
Moderate: Death of parent