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annamickreads's review
5.0
I literally do not have the words to emphasize enough how much I thoroughly enjoyed, loved, related to, cried over, and laughed with this book. It's hard to describe a book as "perfect" because I feel like I've said that a lot in 2021, but "The Last Words We Said" to me is pretty damn close.
Ellie is a young woman of Orthodox Jewish faith living in Georgia. She has a close-knit friend group, hobbies she enjoys, and even a thoughtful, funny, well-loved boyfriend named Danny. It's revealed very early on in the book that Danny had an accident six months prior, and his body was never recovered. As a way to manage her grief, Ellie begins seeing him everywhere—and her friends and family have noticed. Although she and her therapist have "rules" about how much influence Danny's spirit has over her life, Ellie is determined not to forget him, even (in her mind) if everyone else is.
Themes of grief, sexuality, and mental health are pretty rampant in this book, especially where they intersect with Ellie's faith. The journey of self-discovery all of the characters embark upon especially in how their relationships with their faith evolve and their relationships with each other evolve is so stunning and complicated and lovely.
Grief, too, is handled so beautifully. So many kinds of grief. Grief for a friend. Grief for a boyfriend. Grief for a son. Grief for a student. No spoilers, but the scene between Ellie and Danny's dad made me ugly cry into my comforter. So many important conversations about mental health and how it connects to grief. I know that Ellie seeing Danny is a point of contention between all of the characters in the book and Ellie, but I also appreciated how patient they were with her.
I also appreciate that, for those unfamiliar with Orthodox Judaism, the elements of Ellie's life are explained in a way that it's not hard for the reader to see where she's coming from. Anyone who grew up in a religious faith likely has complex feelings regarding faith and sexuality, and I think "The Last Words We Said" did an incredible job of making those feelings hilarious, sweet, and real.
TL;DR thank you thank you thank you Leah Scheier.
Ellie is a young woman of Orthodox Jewish faith living in Georgia. She has a close-knit friend group, hobbies she enjoys, and even a thoughtful, funny, well-loved boyfriend named Danny. It's revealed very early on in the book that Danny had an accident six months prior, and his body was never recovered. As a way to manage her grief, Ellie begins seeing him everywhere—and her friends and family have noticed. Although she and her therapist have "rules" about how much influence Danny's spirit has over her life, Ellie is determined not to forget him, even (in her mind) if everyone else is.
Themes of grief, sexuality, and mental health are pretty rampant in this book, especially where they intersect with Ellie's faith. The journey of self-discovery all of the characters embark upon especially in how their relationships with their faith evolve and their relationships with each other evolve is so stunning and complicated and lovely.
Grief, too, is handled so beautifully. So many kinds of grief. Grief for a friend. Grief for a boyfriend. Grief for a son. Grief for a student. No spoilers, but the scene between Ellie and Danny's dad made me ugly cry into my comforter. So many important conversations about mental health and how it connects to grief. I know that Ellie seeing Danny is a point of contention between all of the characters in the book and Ellie, but I also appreciated how patient they were with her.
I also appreciate that, for those unfamiliar with Orthodox Judaism, the elements of Ellie's life are explained in a way that it's not hard for the reader to see where she's coming from. Anyone who grew up in a religious faith likely has complex feelings regarding faith and sexuality, and I think "The Last Words We Said" did an incredible job of making those feelings hilarious, sweet, and real.
TL;DR thank you thank you thank you Leah Scheier.
koman's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
kathsia's review
emotional
mysterious
reflective
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? Yes
3.75
katiegrrrl's review
4.0
Ellie’s boyfriend disappeared on New Years’s Eve. She is unwilling to believe he is dead, because she still sees him and talks with him.
2022 YMA The Sydney Taylor Young Adult honor
2022 YMA The Sydney Taylor Young Adult honor
notinjersey's review
5.0
Most of you know that I am Jewish but there are many types of Judaism and until now I haven’t found a book set in the Jewish community I am a part of – modern Orthodoxy. The Last Words We Said by Leah Scheier takes place in the modern Orthodox community in Atlanta and it addresses faith, grief, and love in the story of friends Ellie, Danny, Rae, and Deenie. In the nine months since Danny’s disappearance, Rae had rebelled against tradition while Deenie has taken on more and more practices. Ellie – Danny’s girlfriend – has continued to see Danny and to talk to him, but she is the only one who is able to do so. I couldn’t stop reading to discover the secrets that each girl was keeping and to find out what happened to Danny.
kaylareadsbooks's review
5.0
Im so happy there is a book being set in the Orthodox community. I am very excited.
I loved this book more than anything. Thank you SO much to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I loved this. I loved the relationships between the different characters in the story and the way the story developed. The theme of grief was heartbreaking and relatable. The characters and their relationship to their religion was beyond relatable. I loved Deenie and the way she was dealing with Danny's disappearance. My heart broke for Ellie. I didn't like Rae so much. I loved Danny and I loved Deenie's dad.
I loved this book more than anything. Thank you SO much to the publisher for sending me an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review. I loved this. I loved the relationships between the different characters in the story and the way the story developed. The theme of grief was heartbreaking and relatable. The characters and their relationship to their religion was beyond relatable. I loved Deenie and the way she was dealing with Danny's disappearance. My heart broke for Ellie. I didn't like Rae so much. I loved Danny and I loved Deenie's dad.
caitiep92's review
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
jcpdiesel21's review
4.0
A touching, heartbreaking story about grief and guilt. Scheier smartly unravels the story both in present day following Danny's disappearance and throughout the past, documenting how Danny first enters Ellie's orbit and subsequently becomes a fixture in both her community and in her group of friends. It was interesting to see Ellie and Danny's relationship morph from friendship into young love; the contrast between their Orthodox Jewish customs and raging teenage hormones made this situation unique as well as difficult to navigate. In addition to Ellie's perspective and the various stories he told her, Deenie and Rae offer up interesting insight that helps construct a complete picture of Danny and how he came to mean so much to all of them. There are so many secrets and lies between characters and I was rocked anew each time one was revealed. I stumbled across this book at the library and was immediately captivated by the striking cover and synopsis; I'm so glad that I picked it up and hope that others will as well.
kaycanread4's review
dark
emotional
informative
mysterious
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, and Grief