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3.74 AVERAGE
3.74 AVERAGE
dark
emotional
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:
Yes
had me bawling at parts…dani i love you <3
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse
Minor: Suicide attempt
Trigger warnings; abuse, violence, mentions of suicide
I don’t want anybody to be scared anymore. I got this. I promise.
The Last To Let Go is a really beautiful book. It’s such a hard hitting story following 16 year old Brooke who comes home one day to find that her mother has killed her abusive father and then it follows the trail and how Brooke, her brother and sister cope with what has happened.
I really liked Brooke as a main character, I really felt for her and what she was going for and I started to get annoyed with some characters around her because it did start to feel like everyone was beginning to rely on her for everything. But, at some points she did frustrate me especially when it came to Dani. I lot of those issues could have been solved if she had just talked to Dani and told her what was going on, I know that she was embarrassed and scared about what was going on with her family but if she had just talked to Dani she would have had support around her!
I also liked Callie and Aaron but we didn’t see enough of Callie, I was so invested in her journey but we didn’t really see enough of her honestly. Aaron was frustrating in some parts, again, it was so horrific knowing what he’s been through, I’ve been there I know how horrific that is but I just really wanted more for him, I wanted him to be trying harder and he wasn’t and it was frustrating. I would have actually liked to see some of the story from his POV because we only get Brooke’s then we only get one perspective on the story and I think it would have been good to see some of it from Aaron’s.
I think Amber Smith’s writing is absolutely beautiful! It all flowed so well and went really quickly, I read this book so quickly and it’s because her writing flows so well and is just so gorgeous.
Overall, I really loved this book! It is a book I definitely won’t be forgetting any time soon because of the story, the characters and the writing. I can’t wait to pick up her other books now!
I don’t want anybody to be scared anymore. I got this. I promise.
The Last To Let Go is a really beautiful book. It’s such a hard hitting story following 16 year old Brooke who comes home one day to find that her mother has killed her abusive father and then it follows the trail and how Brooke, her brother and sister cope with what has happened.
I really liked Brooke as a main character, I really felt for her and what she was going for and I started to get annoyed with some characters around her because it did start to feel like everyone was beginning to rely on her for everything. But, at some points she did frustrate me especially when it came to Dani. I lot of those issues could have been solved if she had just talked to Dani and told her what was going on, I know that she was embarrassed and scared about what was going on with her family but if she had just talked to Dani she would have had support around her!
I also liked Callie and Aaron but we didn’t see enough of Callie, I was so invested in her journey but we didn’t really see enough of her honestly. Aaron was frustrating in some parts, again, it was so horrific knowing what he’s been through, I’ve been there I know how horrific that is but I just really wanted more for him, I wanted him to be trying harder and he wasn’t and it was frustrating. I would have actually liked to see some of the story from his POV because we only get Brooke’s then we only get one perspective on the story and I think it would have been good to see some of it from Aaron’s.
I think Amber Smith’s writing is absolutely beautiful! It all flowed so well and went really quickly, I read this book so quickly and it’s because her writing flows so well and is just so gorgeous.
Overall, I really loved this book! It is a book I definitely won’t be forgetting any time soon because of the story, the characters and the writing. I can’t wait to pick up her other books now!
Once again, Amber Smith does a wonderful job of telling important stories that need to be told. I personally enjoyed her debut novel more, but that may be because I could relate to "The Way I Used to Be" more. But "The Last to Let Go" highlight the importance of looking at kids who grow up under abusive parents or parents with mental health issues. It's hard to read, heartbreaking, and emotionally jarring, but I would highly recommend it to any and everyone.
medium-paced
2.5
I felt like this didn't... go anywhere. I loved Amber Smith's previous book SO MUCH, and expected a lot from this one. But while it had important and interesting themes/messages, I felt like nothing happened. There was so much to explore with the characters, their histories and memories, character depth, dynamics... but it was bare bones. This was the skeleton of a book. This needed to be a first draft at best.
I felt like this didn't... go anywhere. I loved Amber Smith's previous book SO MUCH, and expected a lot from this one. But while it had important and interesting themes/messages, I felt like nothing happened. There was so much to explore with the characters, their histories and memories, character depth, dynamics... but it was bare bones. This was the skeleton of a book. This needed to be a first draft at best.
emotional
reflective
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
There were a few things I didn't care for, but others I adored. Real review to come.
*Edit: 02/28/2018*
I found this book on accident really. I couldn't decide what to read so I decided to read a little from each of the ones I had in mind. When I got to this one, I just couldn't stop reading it.
Brooke was supposed to have it easy. Go to a new school and have an easy summer. But one day, that's all changed when she comes home to see that her mom has been arrested for killing her father. Brooke has so much on her plate trying to learn how to keep the family together and everything else. But then she learns the hardest lesson yet- when to let go.
The writing style was what got me. I wasn't expecting to fall into this book and get stuck like I did. I called myself reading only the first chapter and I just couldn't stop reading it. I loved how Smith was able to "show" me Brooke's world instead of just telling me. This is one of my favorite parts of reading, getting lost in the character's world.
However, I wasn't a fan of the MC. It was like a wreck that you couldn't look away from. I felt so bad for her situation, but I also knew that was too much for anyone to go through. Adding on to the fact that she got migraines from stress, (which I can definitely relate to) it was just too much. I wanted to shake her and tell her it didn't have to be that way. But I knew her pride was getting in the way. (However I LOVED Dani and I was not happy about how things went with her....)
I also really liked how Smith handled the tough subject of having a parent in prison, having one pass away, and having one kid witness it. It was such a terrible situation, and I really wanted to hug them all. Especially Callie. I couldn't even imagine what to do in that type of situation. Smith found a good way to handle it all.
I really was expecting to only read the first chapter in this book, but I was sucked into it unexpectedly. Sometimes that makes the best stories. I'm happy that I chose this one to get sucked into.
*Edit: 02/28/2018*
I found this book on accident really. I couldn't decide what to read so I decided to read a little from each of the ones I had in mind. When I got to this one, I just couldn't stop reading it.
Brooke was supposed to have it easy. Go to a new school and have an easy summer. But one day, that's all changed when she comes home to see that her mom has been arrested for killing her father. Brooke has so much on her plate trying to learn how to keep the family together and everything else. But then she learns the hardest lesson yet- when to let go.
The writing style was what got me. I wasn't expecting to fall into this book and get stuck like I did. I called myself reading only the first chapter and I just couldn't stop reading it. I loved how Smith was able to "show" me Brooke's world instead of just telling me. This is one of my favorite parts of reading, getting lost in the character's world.
However, I wasn't a fan of the MC. It was like a wreck that you couldn't look away from. I felt so bad for her situation, but I also knew that was too much for anyone to go through. Adding on to the fact that she got migraines from stress, (which I can definitely relate to) it was just too much. I wanted to shake her and tell her it didn't have to be that way. But I knew her pride was getting in the way. (However I LOVED Dani and I was not happy about how things went with her....)
I also really liked how Smith handled the tough subject of having a parent in prison, having one pass away, and having one kid witness it. It was such a terrible situation, and I really wanted to hug them all. Especially Callie. I couldn't even imagine what to do in that type of situation. Smith found a good way to handle it all.
I really was expecting to only read the first chapter in this book, but I was sucked into it unexpectedly. Sometimes that makes the best stories. I'm happy that I chose this one to get sucked into.
I enjoyed Smiths debut novel, but this only never really clicked for me. The scenarios that played out are all a little too farfetched for me. I would have liked more of the focus being on the past family issues instead of the present issues. I just never really got hooked into this one..
emotional
hopeful
sad
tense
slow-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
Breathtaking
Such a wondrous novel. Everything this author puts out is magnificent. I Will read everything by her. So so good.
Such a wondrous novel. Everything this author puts out is magnificent. I Will read everything by her. So so good.