lastingliterature's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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? Yes
4.0
I read The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas early this month, and I am getting so many of the same vibes from this one!
Lydia Bird loses her fiancé, Freddie, with whom she had been with for over a decade to a tragic car accident. Suddenly alone for the first time, Lydia struggles with how to live without him. To help numb the pain, she begins taking the sleeping pills her doctor prescribes so she can finally get some sleep. Instead, Lydia finds herself in another world…a world where Freddie is alive. Now, Lydia is split into two places: awake and asleep. Awake, she has to push herself to entire the world again, go back to work, make up with Freddie’s best friend, Jonah, and start to find enjoyment again. Asleep, she has to struggle with seeing the life she would have had if Freddie had stayed alive, both the good and the bad.
Although marketed as a romance, I don’t think this book really fits into that genre. It is more so centered on coping with grief, which includes Lydia working on dating again. I would say the true focus of the book is simply relationships. Lydia’s family, friends, and coworkers help bring Lydia back to life and demonstrate how valuable they are. While I do have a few problems with the book (Freddie in the asleep world…), I do not think they greatly tainted my view.
This book covers a sad and tragic topic, but it is filled with hope and lightness. The ending was just what I was looking for, and I want to sit with it for a bit before I move on to my next story.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Lydia Bird loses her fiancé, Freddie, with whom she had been with for over a decade to a tragic car accident. Suddenly alone for the first time, Lydia struggles with how to live without him. To help numb the pain, she begins taking the sleeping pills her doctor prescribes so she can finally get some sleep. Instead, Lydia finds herself in another world…a world where Freddie is alive. Now, Lydia is split into two places: awake and asleep. Awake, she has to push herself to entire the world again, go back to work, make up with Freddie’s best friend, Jonah, and start to find enjoyment again. Asleep, she has to struggle with seeing the life she would have had if Freddie had stayed alive, both the good and the bad.
Although marketed as a romance, I don’t think this book really fits into that genre. It is more so centered on coping with grief, which includes Lydia working on dating again. I would say the true focus of the book is simply relationships. Lydia’s family, friends, and coworkers help bring Lydia back to life and demonstrate how valuable they are. While I do have a few problems with the book (Freddie in the asleep world…), I do not think they greatly tainted my view.
This book covers a sad and tragic topic, but it is filled with hope and lightness. The ending was just what I was looking for, and I want to sit with it for a bit before I move on to my next story.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Content Warnings
Graphic: Death, Mental illness, Grief, and Car accident
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