Reviews with content warning for Infidelity - Last Night

Wow. Just wow.

I was originally planning on giving this book ~4 stars, about halfway through reading it. I liked the writing a lot, but felt that the story was a bit darker and slower than what I had signed up for. There were a few twists that were exciting but beyond that, I was left wondering why this was recommended to me, knowing my usual genre. I was a bit slower getting through the first half, again not because of a lack of good writing or interesting plot, but just because it was heavier than I was used to. It was definitely important to set up the rest of the book, but again just a little different from what I was expecting (which is why I gave it 4.75 instead of 5 stars- I’m not sure how much I’d enjoy reading through the first half again and going through that pain, knowing how absolutely amazing the second half is) .

And then I started the second half, with the

trip to Edinburgh

and I just could NOT stop reading. I finished the second half of the book immediately, not stopping once. I was planning on going to sleep earlier, but just kept thinking “one more chapter, I HAVE to know what happens now.” The first half of the book left me wondering why it was a romance and the second half not only put those questions to rest in an instant but led to this book becoming one of my favorite realistic romances. The banter between

Finlay and Eve

was INCREDIBLE, and had me so excited for them.

The author did a tremendous job with character development.

You were already attached to Susie before she died because of the vivid writing that made you feel like you were sitting there in the pub on trivia night with the friend group. You started to get suspicious of Ed when you first learned about the “missing” letter and grew to dislike him as his little behaviors started revealing more about him. I loved how the author actually added in a mature, genuine apology on his part. You disliked Finlay, only to realize how much his behavior was a trauma response to protect himself.

. All in all, just some of the best, most vivid, realistic, and flawed characters that I have ever encountered.

10000% recommend this book, even if you are a fan of lighthearted books like me, it will be worth it!!! Such a beautiful and realistic story about life, death, friendships, love, parents, etc.

Content Warnings

marysaou's review against another edition

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emotional sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

This book carries you through the experience of childhood friendship, sharp loss, and how to move through grief. It reminded me of "Guncle" really, with the surprising depth of content amidst witty banter. Throw in some estranged family dynamics and personal growth, along with an English setting, and you've got a winner here!

Content Warnings

gtrue21's review against another edition

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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

4.0

Content Warnings

kb33's review against another edition

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emotional sad tense medium-paced

3.5

Fair warning: this isn’t a book about AFTER a friend dies. This is a book about a friend dying AND what happens after. Very emotional to read about finding out about the death of a friend and all the death admin - identifying the body, planning and attending the funeral, etc.. The first half of the book is written so well, the grief and details described so well, I felt crushed. This is a tear jerker. The last third focused less on grief and more on the rest of the story, and I enjoyed it. I was so proud of how Eve handled her relationship with Ed - so few books in this genre get that honest and introspective. I still love MacFarlane’s skill as a writer.

Content Warnings

le3713's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful sad medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

This felt like two separate books that didn’t fully connect. Though I could see some of the developments coming, it felt like the book was trying to do too many things and thus wasn’t realistic to me. There were some scenes I definitely enjoyed, but overall not a favorite.

Content Warnings