Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.7 AVERAGE
3.7 AVERAGE
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
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
emotional
hopeful
mysterious
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:
No
emotional
fast-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 ⭐
After going in blind with [b:Always, in December|57565808|Always, in December|Emily Stone|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1633452379l/57565808._SY75_.jpg|89188027], I decided to do some research on this book before purchasing it.
I was not going to be blindsided yet again and left in tears on a train back from Chicago.
Safe to say, I was still left in tears, but this time I was expecting them. I loved this story, maybe even a bit more than Always, In December.
The pining and the angst were there, and what can I say, I am a sucker for the brother's best friend trope.
Bring on the next one, Emily!
After going in blind with [b:Always, in December|57565808|Always, in December|Emily Stone|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1633452379l/57565808._SY75_.jpg|89188027], I decided to do some research on this book before purchasing it.
I was not going to be blindsided yet again and left in tears on a train back from Chicago.
Safe to say, I was still left in tears, but this time I was expecting them. I loved this story, maybe even a bit more than Always, In December.
The pining and the angst were there, and what can I say, I am a sucker for the brother's best friend trope.
Bring on the next one, Emily!
Cassie, Tom, Sam and Hazel grew up together and didn't know life without one another. Cassie and Tom, siblings, had lost their parents tragically when the kids were young. Their maternal aunt raised them and offered them a safe place to grow up together but being so young herself along with the grief from losing her best friend and sister, did not know how to comfort the children.
Present day, Tom and Sam plan a trip to Argentina right before Christmas. The night before, Sam is reckless with alcohol and ends up drunk and missing their flight the next day. Tom goes without Sam. Sadly, Tom's rock climbing equipment has a malfunction and Tom dies. Cassie, Sam, and Hazel are crushed but especially Cassie is adrift without her brother and strongest supporter
Growing up, Tom would create a scavenger hunt for Cassie every Christmas. It was the one thing she looked forward to. Tom, not knowing of his untimely death, had left one final scavenger hunt for his sister.
Stone takes the reader on an emotional journey as Cassie goes on this scavenger hunt that Tom left for her. The book brought all the emotions. I was rooting for Cassie the entire way. I will definitely be watching for future releases by Stone.
Trigger warnings: Sudden or unexpected loss, loss of a parent, loss of a sibling
I had not read Emily Stone's debut book so I was not sure what to expect.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
Present day, Tom and Sam plan a trip to Argentina right before Christmas. The night before, Sam is reckless with alcohol and ends up drunk and missing their flight the next day. Tom goes without Sam. Sadly, Tom's rock climbing equipment has a malfunction and Tom dies. Cassie, Sam, and Hazel are crushed but especially Cassie is adrift without her brother and strongest supporter
Growing up, Tom would create a scavenger hunt for Cassie every Christmas. It was the one thing she looked forward to. Tom, not knowing of his untimely death, had left one final scavenger hunt for his sister.
Stone takes the reader on an emotional journey as Cassie goes on this scavenger hunt that Tom left for her. The book brought all the emotions. I was rooting for Cassie the entire way. I will definitely be watching for future releases by Stone.
Trigger warnings: Sudden or unexpected loss, loss of a parent, loss of a sibling
I had not read Emily Stone's debut book so I was not sure what to expect.
I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.
What a genuinely lovely, moving story. I absolutely loved it from start to finish. It made me cry, it made me laugh and I loved feeling like I was right there on the treasure hunt with Cassie the whole way through. Definitely one I’ll reread I think!
I’m definitely a mood reader. When I initially tried to read One Last Gift I couldn’t get through it, this time around the audiobook had me hooked.
As a reader you need to be ready for the emotional content the author throws your way. Trying to read a book about coming to terms with the grief of losing a loved one, while your baby is in the NICU wasn’t the best idea. Thankfully he’s home and thriving, and I can now binge this book and fully enjoy it ❤️
That being said, this book is a beautiful exploration of processing the grief of losing a sibling and having the courage to take chances in life.
As a reader you need to be ready for the emotional content the author throws your way. Trying to read a book about coming to terms with the grief of losing a loved one, while your baby is in the NICU wasn’t the best idea. Thankfully he’s home and thriving, and I can now binge this book and fully enjoy it ❤️
That being said, this book is a beautiful exploration of processing the grief of losing a sibling and having the courage to take chances in life.
Loved. Reminded me of a modern day retelling of Alcott's An Old Fashioned Girl.
“Your loss. So inadequate, like you’d misplaced someone rather than having them ripped from you.”
Each year at Christmas, Cassie’s brother Tom made a scavenger hunt for her. It was special for them as they’d lost their parents at a young age. Only now Cassie has lost Tom also…but he’s left her one last scavenger hunt. This one will lead Cassie not only on a quest for herself, but also on a quest for lost love.
One Last Gift is a true gift. The romance takes a back-burner to a look at grief and how it affects us and the story is better for it. I cried as I watched these characters grieve, grow and, finally, understand the meaning behind Tom’s last scavenger hunt. Stone has created characters who feel relatable and I found myself even rooting for Sam.
Each year at Christmas, Cassie’s brother Tom made a scavenger hunt for her. It was special for them as they’d lost their parents at a young age. Only now Cassie has lost Tom also…but he’s left her one last scavenger hunt. This one will lead Cassie not only on a quest for herself, but also on a quest for lost love.
One Last Gift is a true gift. The romance takes a back-burner to a look at grief and how it affects us and the story is better for it. I cried as I watched these characters grieve, grow and, finally, understand the meaning behind Tom’s last scavenger hunt. Stone has created characters who feel relatable and I found myself even rooting for Sam.