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3.89 AVERAGE
3.89 AVERAGE
I really enjoyed Sammy Espinoza's Last Review by Tehlor Kay Mejia. I haven't read anything by this author before and after reading this book I am surprised that I haven't heard of her before. This is a found family, small town set, and second chance romance novel. I really liked the ending and how the various plot points are wrapped up. The story is heart warming and includes lots of important life lessons.
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read Sammy Espinoza's Last Review.
4.5 stars rounded to 5
Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the opportunity to read Sammy Espinoza's Last Review.
4.5 stars rounded to 5
challenging
emotional
funny
reflective
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:
Complicated
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
(4.5⭐️) Absolutely heart shattering, all the feels, be prepared to cry your eyes out. I sobbed through most of the story. It is achingly relatable (especially if you spent your childhood feeling lonely and isolated from moving around constantly…prepare to feel so seen and have any old trauma you still have around it dug up and laid bare). And the longing for a mother to actually be a mother, and more specifically the mother you really need was ooooof…right in the feels.
Even though I predicted the backstory with Paloma, I was still so mad about it…that Dina could do that. But I absolutely loved reading all the parts with Paloma after they reconnect, that was my favorite aspect of the whole story. So (spoilers ahead) even though I could see that’s where it was going, I was so upset about Paloma dying. While I liked Max and I did enjoy reading their arc…I honestly would have vastly preferred things be irreparable with Max but not lose Paloma…that was so much more heartbreaking than things not working out with a boy, imo.
Even so, I thought it was wrapped up beautifully and a very touching, heartwarming conclusion. Sammy’s found family is so wonderful and I also really appreciated the queer rep throughout the story. I will definitely be reading this book again and looking forward to future books by Tehlor…and probably snagging the Paolo Santiago books off my kids’ shelves to read in the meantime as well!
Even though I predicted the backstory with Paloma, I was still so mad about it…that Dina could do that. But I absolutely loved reading all the parts with Paloma after they reconnect, that was my favorite aspect of the whole story. So (spoilers ahead) even though I could see that’s where it was going, I was so upset about Paloma dying. While I liked Max and I did enjoy reading their arc…I honestly would have vastly preferred things be irreparable with Max but not lose Paloma…that was so much more heartbreaking than things not working out with a boy, imo.
Even so, I thought it was wrapped up beautifully and a very touching, heartwarming conclusion. Sammy’s found family is so wonderful and I also really appreciated the queer rep throughout the story. I will definitely be reading this book again and looking forward to future books by Tehlor…and probably snagging the Paolo Santiago books off my kids’ shelves to read in the meantime as well!
Beautiful, tender, filled with music and anxiety that made my heart hurt. Books about grief and reconnecting with estranged family members is a micro trope that will ALWAYS get me. And Sammy and Max’s journey to healing from their own past traumas felt incredibly real and human. Highly highly recommend❤️
I was contacted by the publisher to review this book, and I can say I’m glad I did.
Sammy is a music critic whose life has fallen apart recently. She decides to head back to a town where she spent a short amount of time in years ago to write an article about a musician that she crossed paths with for one heck of a night. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to remember her like she does him.
For the most part, I enjoyed the story. Besides the romance, Sammy dealt with a best friend who could be a bit judgmental in how Sammy did things, a mom who never quite grew up, and a grandmother who she never had an opportunity to know until now. The only thing I didn’t like about the story was that it did seem to drag a little by the end.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.
Sammy is a music critic whose life has fallen apart recently. She decides to head back to a town where she spent a short amount of time in years ago to write an article about a musician that she crossed paths with for one heck of a night. Unfortunately, he doesn’t seem to remember her like she does him.
For the most part, I enjoyed the story. Besides the romance, Sammy dealt with a best friend who could be a bit judgmental in how Sammy did things, a mom who never quite grew up, and a grandmother who she never had an opportunity to know until now. The only thing I didn’t like about the story was that it did seem to drag a little by the end.
Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this in exchange for an honest review.
I think the best thing out this book was the way it explored relationships. I always believe that platonic and familial bonds need to be talked about more, and Mejia hit the nail on the head with this book. Complex messy relationships were a big part of this story (be it occasional fights with a well-wishing friend or painful gaps with close family), and I love how they were dealt with.
The romance in itself felt messy and relatable, but Sammy's earlier encounter with Max? Not so much. I think the second chance trope in itself was unnecessary, also seeing how there wasn't a 'revenge' aspect to it as the blurb claims. Miscommunication, secrets, banter, and vulnerability are important factors in a relationship, so I enjoyed reading that part of the romance though I feel that it was too slow paced for my liking.
For tropes and rep, this story covers LGBTQ, with the MC being bisexual, neglectful parenting, death (not in depth), found family and so much more. I did enjoy all of it, so gonna rate 4 stars and highly recommend for a heartfelt read.
The romance in itself felt messy and relatable, but Sammy's earlier encounter with Max? Not so much. I think the second chance trope in itself was unnecessary, also seeing how there wasn't a 'revenge' aspect to it as the blurb claims. Miscommunication, secrets, banter, and vulnerability are important factors in a relationship, so I enjoyed reading that part of the romance though I feel that it was too slow paced for my liking.
For tropes and rep, this story covers LGBTQ, with the MC being bisexual, neglectful parenting, death (not in depth), found family and so much more. I did enjoy all of it, so gonna rate 4 stars and highly recommend for a heartfelt read.
Sammy Espinoza's Last Review is a beautiful second-chance romance novel with heavy emphasis on themes of family dynamics, healing and identity struggles.
I honestly loved this entire book. Sammy is such a relatable character, and her struggle to navigate and maintain her relationships due to lack of experience and lack of a role model was one of the most heartwrenching, close to home struggles I've read in a while. I felt for her the whole time, even when she was writing her article to submit to Esme knowing it would be betraying Max. It's so hard to detangle and unpack all of those emotions when you've been trained to expect people to leave you, and I love how Sammy, even as a good person, was imperfect and did things that hurt others. She's such a well-rounded character, and I just absolutely adore that. I wish Sammy had gotten more time with Paloma. The moment they connected and started bonding, I knew that their clock was ticking, but I still wish they'd had more time together. I cried like a baby when Sammy found her in her bed, and was in tears until the epilogue.
Tied in to ^^ that, Dina Rae's character will forever be on my shit list. The amount of just...nasty emotions I harbor towards that woman, I cannot even begin to share how infuriated she made me. The fact that she was the prime reason behind Sammy's problems and traumas and at the end, she admitted to it but still pushed for Sammy to just...let it go? Be happy for her? Go to the wedding? This woman is a nightmare and deserved to be slapped with no-contact.
Sammy's chemistry with Max is honestly so heart-warming to read. The two of them understand each other on such a deep level, even when Max doesn't remember who Sammy is, and it's so cute to see the two of them back on the road to romance even though Sammy swears up and down at the start that she won't let him get to her again. Even though they both hurt each other so badly at the end there, they were willing to work on themselves and try to move past it together. That's such a good mark of a healthy relationship, and we don't get to see that much anymore in romance novels so serious props to the author for writing such a healthy, green-flag couple.
(Side note: I love the Crosses. Can they take me in too?)
All in all, Sammy Espinoza's Last Review is a solid 4.5 star read. I fully plan on recommending this book to any and everyone I know because it deserves all of the hype! Thank you to Tehlor Kay Mejia and Dell Publishing Company for the free book and the chance to read this wonderful story.
I honestly loved this entire book. Sammy is such a relatable character, and her struggle to navigate and maintain her relationships due to lack of experience and lack of a role model was one of the most heartwrenching, close to home struggles I've read in a while. I felt for her the whole time, even when she was writing her article to submit to Esme knowing it would be betraying Max. It's so hard to detangle and unpack all of those emotions when you've been trained to expect people to leave you, and I love how Sammy, even as a good person, was imperfect and did things that hurt others. She's such a well-rounded character, and I just absolutely adore that. I wish Sammy had gotten more time with Paloma. The moment they connected and started bonding, I knew that their clock was ticking, but I still wish they'd had more time together. I cried like a baby when Sammy found her in her bed, and was in tears until the epilogue.
Tied in to ^^ that, Dina Rae's character will forever be on my shit list. The amount of just...nasty emotions I harbor towards that woman, I cannot even begin to share how infuriated she made me. The fact that she was the prime reason behind Sammy's problems and traumas and at the end, she admitted to it but still pushed for Sammy to just...let it go? Be happy for her? Go to the wedding? This woman is a nightmare and deserved to be slapped with no-contact.
Sammy's chemistry with Max is honestly so heart-warming to read. The two of them understand each other on such a deep level, even when Max doesn't remember who Sammy is, and it's so cute to see the two of them back on the road to romance even though Sammy swears up and down at the start that she won't let him get to her again. Even though they both hurt each other so badly at the end there, they were willing to work on themselves and try to move past it together. That's such a good mark of a healthy relationship, and we don't get to see that much anymore in romance novels so serious props to the author for writing such a healthy, green-flag couple.
(Side note: I love the Crosses. Can they take me in too?)
All in all, Sammy Espinoza's Last Review is a solid 4.5 star read. I fully plan on recommending this book to any and everyone I know because it deserves all of the hype! Thank you to Tehlor Kay Mejia and Dell Publishing Company for the free book and the chance to read this wonderful story.
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Sammy Espinoza risked her job as a music reviewer by writing rave reviews for her girlfriend's not-so-great music in a desperate bid not to break up. She gets dumped anyway, and the only way she can get her boss to give her another chance is a promise to get a review of the highly anticipated new records from Max Ryan, an artist that disappeared years ago. She feels like she can do it because he just so happens to be from her almost home town where she plans to go to lick her wounds with the help of her best friend. The main obstacle is that she has already met the former rock god and he promptly broke her heart. And there's also the fact that the family that rejected her pregnant, teenage mother years ago also lives there, which makes her want to get the answers she's always been denied.
This one is all about emotions, having them, facing them, accepting them, and moving on with them. Sammy's situation goes from bad to worse before anything can get resolved, but I loved how she's always making herself face the things she's most afraid of. It doesn't always work and it might not always be the best option, but it makes for compelling reading and some excellent character growth.
Happy thanks to NetGalley and Dell for the great read!
This one is all about emotions, having them, facing them, accepting them, and moving on with them. Sammy's situation goes from bad to worse before anything can get resolved, but I loved how she's always making herself face the things she's most afraid of. It doesn't always work and it might not always be the best option, but it makes for compelling reading and some excellent character growth.
Happy thanks to NetGalley and Dell for the great read!