Reviews

Last Things by Jacqueline West

turtleman196's review against another edition

mysterious slow-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

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Fire/Fire injury

Moderate: Murder and Car accident

Minor: Rape and Stalking

smorrison4's review against another edition

3.0

I found my mind wandering while I was reading this book. I felt the pace was a little slow at times but it eventually picked up. Overall, it was an enjoyable story.

betwixt_the_pages's review against another edition

4.0

When strange things start happening to local music idol Anders Thorson, everyone blames his number-one-fan, Thea. But is she out to hurt him? Or protect him?

High school senior Anders Thorson is unusually gifted. His band, Last Things, is legendary in their northern Minnesota hometown. With guitar skills that would amaze even if he weren’t only eighteen, Anders is the focus of head-turning admiration. And Thea Malcom, a newcomer to the insular town, is one of his admirers. Thea seems to turn up everywhere Anders goes: gigs at the local coffeehouse, guitar lessons, even in the woods near Anders’s home. When strange things start happening to Anders—including the disappearance of his beloved cat, then his sort-of girlfriend, and, somehow, his musical talent—blame immediately falls on Thea. But is she trying to hurt him? Or save him? Can he trust a girl who doesn’t seem to know the difference between dreams and reality? And how much are they both willing to compromise to get what they want?

Rating: 4/5 Penguins
Quick Reasons: darkly gritty and atmospheric; this puts a new twist on "muse"--in a terrifying way; really loved the building tension from beginning to end; well-rounded, intriguing characters; this was a wild journey

HUGE thanks to Jacqueline West, Greenwillow Publishing, and Fantastic Flying Book Club for sending a complimentary egalley of this title my way! This in no form altered my review of or opinions on this book.

Jacqueline West did a BEAUTIFUL job of writing a darkly gritty, atmospheric novel. The purple prose and air of mystery surrounding Anders Thorson's "gifts," and the forest that watches everyone, only helped to build to the tension that wrapped around me while reading. The unknown answers were thick as fog; I knew no more than what Jacqueline West allowed me to, until it was time for everything to fall into place.

I had a fantastic time reading this, and getting a good "spook" on--it's been a while since I've found a book that managed to so thoroughly creep me out, without giving away much at all. The characters were well-rounded and humanly believable, even in the midst of all the paranormal taking place. Thea Malcom was just as intriguing and mysterious as the watching, listening forest, making me want to peel back her layers one by one.

I'd definitely recommend this title to lovers of the paranormal, seekers of the things that haunt and watch from afar, and purveyors of richly detailed prose. These characters are bound to make you want to uncover all their secrets, even while you try your best to keep your distance lest the watching forest turn its gaze toward you. Don't look too closely at the trees, Penguins...you might see things there you won't be able to forget.

kagold240's review against another edition

4.0

This was REALLY fucking good

annels789's review against another edition

5.0

This was excellent! West’s descriptions are so vivid that I will be walking around with her settings (especially the woods!) and characters in my head for weeks now. Set aside some time to read this one without interruptions. The entire story is absorbing and suspenseful, but once you hit the last 100 pages you won’t be able to set the book down.

whimsyvoid's review against another edition

5.0

It’s one of those books that leaves you wanting more.

ohemgeebooks's review against another edition

4.0

I was scouring the shelves at the library- and I found the perfect book to satisfy my whims.
1. It is SHINY. Looking at books from the side is sometimes taxing, but this one stood out.
2. It’s blurbed by Victoria Schwab on the cover- one of my favorite authors!
3. I was looking for something a little spooky to suit my mood.
4. It’s a YA- and a quick read and ENTERTAINING.
5. It had some Stranger Things vibes.
It checked off all these boxes. If you are looking for a seasonal read for Fall- be sure to check this one out!

nessa_8l's review against another edition

4.0

I really do like this book. There’s so many creepy and twisted things that happen. It doesn’t have an explanation until the end so I HAD to keep reading to know why all that twisted stuff was happening.

nightc0urt's review against another edition

3.0

I started reading to my boyfriend since he’s not a big reader but wanted to hear the stories and I started with this book.

Not my usual pick but he picked it so I read it to him. It was very captivating with almost lyrical writing, not what I’m used to but i still enjoyed it. I found myself guessing the whole time what this book was actually about.

If you’re looking for a YA sci-fi-ish mystery then this would be a good pick for you.

lex084's review against another edition

adventurous challenging dark mysterious tense slow-paced

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

2.0