Thank you so much for the opportunity to read this book. Unfortunately it’s not the book for me. DNF @ 26%.

If you've ever done a road trip along the Australian Great Ocean Road, or dreamed of it, this will immediately take you there.
The Last Days of Us is a beautiful story of love, loss & friendship that will stay with you long after the final page

Yay for this being set in Australia! There are so few, that this really makes me happy!
Boo for the protagonists and forced, over the top scenes and interactions...
This book had an extremely forced feel and the pace, didn't match the pace of the characters progressions.

The Last Days of Us is a road-tripping coming of age story about 5 Australian teens traveling the Great Ocean Rd to Melbourne for a concert. We learn a little about the scenery but I couldn’t quite get past the fact that it took days to get from Adelaide to Melbourne when I know it could easily be achieved in a day. I understand that taking your time and seeing the country is an adventure but I guess the fact that my cross country trips involve an SUV and a family means that the priorities change a little and I just want to get to the destination.
Nicholas has written a story that is totally character driven, the dragged out road trip is a wonderful vehicle to take the reader from start to finish but it is the characters who will keep you glued.
Zoey is a wreck, she lost her older brother and went completely off the rails; ruining friendships, splitting up with her boyfriend and making some terrible decisions. She has decided it’s time to get her life back on track and the catalyst in her mind for finding the girl she was before losing her brother is getting her ex back. Unfortunately for Zoey her ex is now dating her best friend.
There is a big part of me that understood where Zoey was at but I just couldn’t come to terms with her behaviour. She irritated me because for all her talk about making things better and getting her life back on track she plans to destroy her best friend to get it.
It took quite a lot of time to discover what it was Zoey did to break Finn’s heart but it all unfolded the way it probably should. It was relatable, it was believable and it rang true for me… but Zoey’s behaviour still irritated me no end.

Joining Zoey on the road trip is her ex, Finn, and her best friend Cass, both who claim to care about her and promise the trip won’t be awkward. These are two more characters who irritated me. They were not very good friends to Zoey, and even though she had made some bad decisions these were the closest people to her, they really needed to cut her some slack.
Luc and Jolie round out the fivesome and they are cousins of Finn. Luc is the grumpy, over-protective older brother to 16 yr old Jolie who is eternally bright and optimistic. These two seem to be polar opposites but it doesn’t take long to realise that there’s more to these two than meets the eye. Zoey sees the glint of a completely different guy shining from behind the gruff exterior and the two really seem to understand each other.
The Last Days of Us is an end of summer road trip story that sees a change of perspective and a coming of age. It is a story that I really enjoyed with characters I could relate to, even when their actions seemed reprehensible. The bonds of friendship once fractured are quite fragile, the best of friends find themselves battling bitterness and a sense of not knowing one another anymore.
The long road back from the depths of grief can be a slippery slope and it can be difficult to try and work out what will be that magic cure to bring things back to an even keel, because we all know that things will never be the same. Sometimes it seems that getting as much as possible back to the way it was will work but people aren’t the same after suffering so there is no way to go back, you have to find a way to move forward.
The Last Days of Us is an engaging road-tripping tale that is just perfect for the long summer days we are currently blessed with and I would recommend it to anyone who loves a character driven YA novel with messed up leads trying to find their way.

*I received this ARC via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review*

Actual rating: 3.5 stars

I'm always a fan of Oz YA, but this book was interesting because it was a bit more dramatic than Oz YA normally is and therefore it felt more like an American YA roadtrip novel. I liked the main character Zoey and I shipped her with Luc but a lot of the dialogue between them felt super unrealistic which was a bit of a shame.
But yeah I definitely enjoyed the Australian setting and being from Melbourne it was nice to see all the landmarks being mentioned.

I really enjoyed this despite a couple drawbacks.

*This book was received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*

This book was surprisingly deep. After her brother dies, the main character Zoey gets involved in the party scene and her life gets out of control. After a much needed wake-up call, Zoey realises she wants her old life back. Zoey, however, not only aims to do this by making amends with her best friend Cass, but also by stealing back her ex-boyfriend Finn. Zoey's grand plan is to go on a road trip with Cass, Finn and Finn's cousins Jolie and Luc. The trip however leads to unexpected consequences and discoveries not just about love but also the precious fragility of life.

Apart from the plot which was interesting, the characters were also quite well developed with Jolie, Luc and Zoey the most fleshed out. Cass and Finn kind of take a back seat hence there could be some more room for character development with both of them but considering the length of the novel this may have caused the plot to drag. The romance was also well written and believable.
Finally, a special mention must go to Jolie who was one of my favourite characters due to her joyous, resilient and optimistic nature.

Overall, this was a very enjoyable read with a strong plot and interesting characters. Not only that but this book is quite memorable as the reader's emotions are evoked throughout the book.

A sweet coming of age story about friendship, young love and how to move on when the people we love die.

Nicholas conjures up vivid images of south Australia as the setting for this novel. Intriguing characters that get under your skin and into your heart.

This is a sweet, fun story about finding yourself (or at least learning where to start looking!), with a summery vibe. Don't let this fool you though - there are some really heavy issues in here too.
In a way, this book is really about grief - and how people process it at a time when they aren't even really sure who they are (or want to be).

I thought the characters were really well written - I liked that they were all flawed in their ways, but also all trying to be better and so not unlikeable. The ensemble cast also allows us to see that different people deal with challenges in different ways - I love this in YA, since I think it is really important for young people (and everyone, really!) to learn that there is no one right way to react to a particular situation because we are all different.

Given the themes of loss explored in the book, this got pretty emotional in bits. I found some of these heavier parts really moving - partly because the characters were written in a way that I felt a connection with, or at the very least sympathy for, them. I'm not going to lie - there were tears!

Because of the way grief and loss are explored in this book, its one where I'd recommend some further research before reading if you have any concerns about triggering content.

Also, I love this cover!

I gave this one 4 stars

Sixteen year old Zoey is embarking on a journey of reflection and discovery, attending a performance in Melbourne and accompanied by her best friend and former boyfriend. After her brother Daniel passed away, her relationships dissolved as Zoey medicated with a destructive concoction of alcohol and isolation. Although remorseful, Zoe is courageous to concede and apologise for her behaviour, she continued to endure the relationship of friend and former boyfriend Finn. Two important figures in her life seeking solace in one another, rather than support Zoey.

Accompanying them on the journey is Lucien and Jolie, siblings and cousins of Finn. A stoic young man and reluctant passenger, Lucien appears menacing while Jolie is a vivacious and effervescent fifteen year old. Zoey is attracted to Lucien. He's attentive and paternal but with no regards for her best friend, Zoey is determined to rekindle her relationship with Ryan.

I despised Ryan and his girlfriend. Zoey was intoxicated and allegedly discovered with a young man and consequently, this excused her friend and boyfriend from their behaviour. The narrative circumvents the discussion of consent and Zoey is criticised by her friend for her sexuality, implying she's promiscuous. I found the relationship between Zoey, Finn and his girlfriend noxious as Zoey endeavours to reestablish her relationship with Finn. It explores adolescent relationships and deception. Although Zoey is distressed, she attempts to manipulate Finn into a new relationship. Her friend is barely present, a character only existing to aggravate Zoey and create a point of melodrama within the narrative. She spends the entire journey either unsociable or being offensive.

Lucien is a compassionate young man and I enjoyed his gentle and familial relationship with Jolie who is spontaneous and charismatic, her enthusiasm and vitality is infectious. I'm disappointed the narration focalised Zoey when Jolie could have offered a pragmatic perspective. I applaud Zoey's character for reflecting on her behaviour but pursuing Finn was uncomfortable. Zoey's resentment of the relationship between Lucien and Jolie was exhausting as she continuously compared her relationship with Daniel.

The essence of The Last Days of Us is spontaneity, absolution and adversity. Unfortunately it's melodramatic, monotonous and not for me.

3.5 ***' I enjoyed this story, there were parts that I didn't enjoy so much, but overall it was a good read. Sometimes what we think we want isn't always the case. Zoey has a lot to work through, as do her friends ( though I'm not sure I'd want friends like hers). Setting out on a road trip is a great way of making or breaking these relationships.

A road trip across Australia with friends to see a band, umm yes please sign me up! Sounds like the perfect light summer read. A girl trying to get back together with her ex who is now dating her best friend, this should be intersting and fun is what I thought. I was honeslty expecting a fun quick summer beach read but this book was so much more!
Zoey is trying to get her life back together after going off the rails right after losing her brother and she thinks the perfect way to do this is by getting back together with her ex whilst on a road trip to see her favourite band. Things start to get complicated when her ex's cousins join and she finds herself attracted to the dark and moody Luc.
While there is a lot of fun times in this book, it is deep and actually quite heartbreaking. I definitely found myself crying.
I really felt for Zoey, trying to overcome her sadness and move past her mistakes. Realising that life is short and you should make the most of every day.
This coming of age story has it all, friendship, love, sadness, loss, adventure. Definitely a must read!