Reviews with content warning for Injury/Injury detail - The Last Letter

Reviews tagging 'Injury/Injury detail'

The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros

13 reviews

itkimby'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? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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katelynndzindzio's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging emotional hopeful sad tense 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

5.0

"Ha. Because from the moment I saw your face and heard you speak, you were the only one I wanted." -Beckett

This book depicts grief in such a way that will leave you with tears rolling down your face but continuing to read the pages and having the need to read more. There is love and loss and hope and despair in almost every chapter.

Ella and Beckett were the perfect pair and Ryan just knew they were what each other needed. I couldn't get enough of their love for each other and their need to keep each other. Love this little family and I am thankful that Colt and Maisie finally got to have a dad.

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raxxq's review

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challenging emotional sad fast-paced

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

3.5

Like others, this book left me sobbing. If you find this book through a search for "romance" be warned, this one is not an unequivocal HEA. I wish I'd read a couple of reviews ahead of time.

The growth of the two main characters through the book felt honest and real. Neither character's background was given much detail, just broad strokes. That was fine for the majority of the story, but when their history was used to justify their actions in latter part of the book, I felt like the emotional oomph was missing. I understood contextually that the characters felt themselves justified, but *I* didn't feel they were justified.

Yarros also brings faith and fate into the final chapters of the book in a way that took me out of the story. If they'd been a common thread previously it wouldn't have been so jarring, but bringing it out of nowhere, while perhaps consistent with the "off page" character development that happened in a few time jumps, felt un-earned.

I've read some reviews saying that Colt's death was unnecessary. I get that, and I felt it at first. But also, given Ella's focus on fate during the final chapters, it makes sense. The line where she basically says "Colt was always going to die, but Maisie didn't have to" ties that together for me. Basically she's saying that Colt was always going to have been on that hike, on that mountain, and nothing would have prevented him from dying. Yarros sets the stage for that attitude with the doctor's description of Colt's injuries.

If I felt that Yarros had included it for the emotional gut punch I would definitely feel it was unnecessary. I've only read one other of her books, so maybe that's her MO. But in this story, while it destroyed me, I get it.

If you read books to feel big feelings, this is a great one.

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chelle22's review against another edition

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challenging emotional inspiring sad

5.0

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readers_sea's review

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emotional hopeful sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Exactly what I wanted... my entire heart and soul ripped from my body :)

This book... man, THIS BOOK!!!!

Where do I even start? What can I say?! Nothing will do this book justice. First off, I recommend going in absolute blind!!!! I did, and I felt like everything just hit harder because I had not a single clue about ANYTHING that was going to happen. Secondly, I think I may have just found a new favorite of all time book... I don't know how to move on from this. It hurt so much, but I want to read it all over again.

This book was everything. It had the romance to root for, the relationships you loved to watch grow, the pain of reality because life isn't perfect or easy, the sweet and heartwarming moments, the gut-wrenching sadness, and the addictiveness that made you want to keep reading it all day.

These characters will live in my heart forever and this book will officially live in my head rent-free. I loved every single thing about it. Every single page. That is all I can say because I don't want to say too much. Honestly, just please read it if you enjoy pain.

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emmaklieve's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

5.0

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amanda_reads13's review

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challenging emotional hopeful sad fast-paced

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

2.0

***Please check the warnings if you have any triggers involving children. This book should come with trigger warnings!!!

Beckett's if fulfilling his best friend, Ryan's, last wish. In his last letter, Ryan asks Beckett to get out of the army and go to take care his sister, Ella, and her children.

I don't think I have sobbed do hard reading a book. I loved this book up until about the 90% mark (see next paragraph). This is not your typical romance, you don't get a heartwarming HEA. This book is an exploration of motherhood, of loyalty, and of bonds forged through trauma. It is a story of forgiveness and the healing power of unconditional love.

I really thought this was going to be a 5 star for me. And then the last 10% happened. I knew something big was coming

when they were getting their HEA with 4 chapters left. In one way I was completely blindsided, but in another way I had a feeling that something would happen to Cole. But man, that scene when Beckett finds Cole at the bottom of that landslide destroyed me. It was gut wrentching, absolutely devastating. BUT here is my issue: it didn't add anying to the story and did not need to happen. Yes, tragedies happen, but this last 10% was added for shock value and I don't like that. Haven't they been through enough? Ella has literally lost her entire family and went through her daughter almost dying of cancer, only for her son to be killed off. Why? They couldn't just get their HEA? This whole part should have been cut out.

Beckett is broken, raised in the foster system, he joined the army as soon as he could. He has never known love or emotional connection until he met his best friend Ryan. That connection altered the course of his life forever. Ryan lead him to Ella, who showed him what it was like to truly be part of a loving family.

Ella has not only lost her entire family, but now her daughter is fighting for her life. She is an incredibly strong mother who puts everything into protecting her children. She has major trust issues and has never felt like she has been able to depend on anyone. That is until Beckett. These two help each other heal and support each other through their grief and trauma.

Of course I can't not mention Havoc... The best doggie ever! I loved her and her connection to all of the characters.
Tropes: found family, brothers best friend, forced proximity

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