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A review by sarahtonin_
The Last to Let Go by Amber Smith
2.0
S U M M A R Y
The Last To Let Go is Amber Smith's sophmore novel that begins with Brooke coming home from school to discover her mother has killed her abusive father. All members of the family process this differently, and express their grief in realistic and individual ways. This is a slow paced story about family, hurt and letting go
" You are born alone. You die alone. The value of the space in between is trust and love."
✔ L I K E S
✔ LQBTI+ rep!
This was a huge surprise to me but I was so happy! A f/f romance takes place in this novel and Dani is the softest girl ever.
✔ Flashbacks
This is both a like and dislike for me. What flashbacks we got I really enjoyed but they were few and far between. I think I would have connected and sympathised with the characters if we could see more of their backstory.
✔ Messy family dynamics
Obviously every experience of domestic abuse is different, but I think this novel did an amazing job at showing the complexities of the situation. Brooke found it difficult to decide what to feel. Her father was both the hero and villain of her story, and she wasn't sure whether or not to place blame on her mother. The sibling dynamic was also messy, but enjoyable. Aaron was one of the characters I found myself most intrigued by, and I almost wish it were told from his perspective.
✗ D I S L I K E S
✗ Brooke
Our main character is something I am most conflicted about. I tend to connect the most with main characters in books, because we spend time in their heads and get to see them for who they are, not through how other characters view them, often resulting in a skewed perspective. However, that was not this case in this book. I know she went through a lot and I don't want to sound as if I am saying she is grieving in the wrong way- but she just didn't connect with me. Brooke was so selfish. She forced her siblings back into their old house, aware that it would bring back traumatic memories. She pushed away those who tried to help her (and not in a respectful way either), she refused to communicate with her girlfriend even though she would obviously have been okay with everything!
"sometimes all I want in the world is to be left alone. Other people make things so complicated. But then I'm finally alone and all I want is other people around."
✗ The pacing
This book
was
just
so
slow
I felt like nothing was happening, which could be due to the fact that we were stuck in Brooke's head and she was also doing nothing. It did not make for a particularly riveting read. I also found myself skimming a lot of this which I NEVER do.
“Being in the present is like coming up for air, and coming up for air only makes me realize I’ve been suffocating. Easier not to breathe at all, like maybe with enough practice I can learn to live underwater like those aquarium fish, lie myself into believing things are okay, that this is what life is supposed to be.”
✗ I was bored
Similarly to the last point, nothing happened. The only point where I could feel potential was in the court room (I love seeing the process of court procedures in books) but alas it only lasted like two chapters.
It was one of those books that when I was reading it I was relatively enjoying it, but as soon as I shut it I forgot all about it.
2.5 stars
The Last To Let Go is Amber Smith's sophmore novel that begins with Brooke coming home from school to discover her mother has killed her abusive father. All members of the family process this differently, and express their grief in realistic and individual ways. This is a slow paced story about family, hurt and letting go
" You are born alone. You die alone. The value of the space in between is trust and love."
✔ L I K E S
✔ LQBTI+ rep!
This was a huge surprise to me but I was so happy! A f/f romance takes place in this novel and Dani is the softest girl ever.
✔ Flashbacks
This is both a like and dislike for me. What flashbacks we got I really enjoyed but they were few and far between. I think I would have connected and sympathised with the characters if we could see more of their backstory.
✔ Messy family dynamics
Obviously every experience of domestic abuse is different, but I think this novel did an amazing job at showing the complexities of the situation. Brooke found it difficult to decide what to feel. Her father was both the hero and villain of her story, and she wasn't sure whether or not to place blame on her mother. The sibling dynamic was also messy, but enjoyable. Aaron was one of the characters I found myself most intrigued by, and I almost wish it were told from his perspective.
✗ D I S L I K E S
✗ Brooke
Our main character is something I am most conflicted about. I tend to connect the most with main characters in books, because we spend time in their heads and get to see them for who they are, not through how other characters view them, often resulting in a skewed perspective. However, that was not this case in this book. I know she went through a lot and I don't want to sound as if I am saying she is grieving in the wrong way- but she just didn't connect with me. Brooke was so selfish. She forced her siblings back into their old house, aware that it would bring back traumatic memories. She pushed away those who tried to help her (and not in a respectful way either), she refused to communicate with her girlfriend even though she would obviously have been okay with everything!
"sometimes all I want in the world is to be left alone. Other people make things so complicated. But then I'm finally alone and all I want is other people around."
✗ The pacing
This book
was
just
so
slow
I felt like nothing was happening, which could be due to the fact that we were stuck in Brooke's head and she was also doing nothing. It did not make for a particularly riveting read. I also found myself skimming a lot of this which I NEVER do.
“Being in the present is like coming up for air, and coming up for air only makes me realize I’ve been suffocating. Easier not to breathe at all, like maybe with enough practice I can learn to live underwater like those aquarium fish, lie myself into believing things are okay, that this is what life is supposed to be.”
✗ I was bored
Similarly to the last point, nothing happened. The only point where I could feel potential was in the court room (I love seeing the process of court procedures in books) but alas it only lasted like two chapters.
It was one of those books that when I was reading it I was relatively enjoying it, but as soon as I shut it I forgot all about it.
2.5 stars