The Last Post by Renee Carlino is about Layla living in denial about her husband Cameron death. Then there is a guy named Micah, who is an architect at Layla’s father firm who sees her facebook posts on Cameron’s page. Micah then tries to connect with Layla by giving her notes and gifts anonymously.

I loved Renee Carlino’s writing in Before We Were Strangers and that has always been my favorite book from her. I was excited to read this book because the synopsis sounded great but once I was like 40% into the reading, I was annoyed with the characters and felt like there was no way these characters could be together.

I tried to get into Layla and Micah but I just felt like it was an overall disaster and there was just a lot of weird stuff. Like Micah mentioning walking in on his sister in bed with his roommate or people being irritated about his beard.

This book was not for me but I will be reading the next book Carlino writes.

*I received an advance review copy of The Last Post from the publisher through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

It has taken me a few days to try and compile my thoughts into a review that will express exactly how I feel about this book. To be honest, I’m still not sure that I will be able to do it justice. The Last Post was on my must-read list the minute that it was announced. There are certain authors that just seem to have the knack of striking the perfect chord with me, and this author is definitely one of them.

I always feel strange saying how much I enjoyed a book that deals with heavier, grief-filled topics, but The Last Post was delivered in such a thought-provoking, emotional, real, and satisfying way that I was completely riveted to the pages. Was it a happy, easy, everything-is-perfect romance? Absolutely not! With a synopsis like that, how could anyone expect it to be. This story hit me like a punch to the gut, and I felt every single emotion as it was playing out. This is the kind of writing that I have come to expect from this author. She creates compelling characters and storylines that always have a way of making everything feel so personal, as if I’m witnessing it firsthand.

Laya and Micah are both trapped in their own grief and hardships. Laya lost her husband in a horrible accident and feels as though she is paralyzed by her grief. Micah is going through an existential crisis and is bored with the direction of his life. As a reader who tries to put herself in the characters’ shoes, my heart broke for them, especially for Laya. I was completely invested in the characters and their stories. They weren’t perfect, they struggled, made questionable decisions, they were human. Their journey not only had me filled with apprehension and heartache but also with an abundance of hope. I loved that even in the darkest, most painful circumstances, Carlino always managed to let through a sliver of light, courage, healing, and hope for something more.

There is so much to this story. There is nothing rushed or forced about it. Laya and Micah’s story is not instant, it’s unhurried, it takes its time, weaving, growing, and deepening at a realistic pace that I always appreciate.

While there was an overall melancholy feel to this story, there was also enough levity to even everything out. It was difficult not to smile when Micah’s twin sister was around. She brought a good dose of humor to the story with her interactions with her brother, her overall crass nature, and her relationship with her granola-eating boyfriend.

The Last Post was just the book that I was hoping it would be. It was profound, sincere, heartfelt, and utterly unforgettable. It is definitely a favorite for 2019!

*5 Stars

This book was a tough one for me to review. I loved the author's writing and really felt for the character of Laya, but Micah ruined this book for me. He was stalkerish when trying to put Laya "back together" after her loss and it was supposedly ok because he had great intentions. I found it to be a toxic relationship that was romanticized and that was a huge turn off for me.

4 Stars

When you read a Ms. Carlino book, you'll know to expect that the story will be heartbreaking, heartwarming and will make you feel her character's emotion. And again, The Last Post, did all that. Wow is what I expected when I first read the synopsis.

Laya Marston is going through the rough and heartbreaking emotions after losing her husband, Cameron. And the only she seems to cope is by "talking" to him through his Facebook. At first, I thought this was just weird, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense this day of age. It's just another outlet that is so widely used these days, that posting on a love ones Facebook, it's just another way of feeling close to them.

Micah Evans is a unique character. He's not the typical charming, confident hero in a book and it's the reason why I loved him. Micah is going through his life unsure. He's smart and a talent architect, but he's confused on where he's going. It all changes when he meets his boss' daughter, Laya. He can tell their is sadness in her eyes and when he finds out her story, he's determined to make her live her life again.

Laya and Micah form a unique bond/friendship. Everyone is Laya's life is trying to force her to move on with her life, but Laya can't seem to let Cameron go. But there's something about Micah, that makes her considering living again.

The Last Post is not a fast-paced romance between the two, it develops over throughout the book and keeps you turning the page until these two can find a HEA.

I struggled with this story and ended up shelving it. I adore Renee Carlino's writing but I just couldn't connect with either character in this book.

Laya Bennet has married Cameron, a Daredevil stuntman for Red Bull. Laya is always there to count him down for his stunts, despite having a busy career as a surgeon. Cam always tells her “See you on the other side” before he jumps. This time, he doesn’t come back.

Layla is in denial. Everyday she calls and leaves voicemails on his phone and posts regularly to his Facebook. Cam’s family has asked her to stop but she doesn’t.

Micah is an architect at Laya’s fathers firm. He is also in denial and stuck in a rut. Until he comes across Laya’s facebook posts to her dead husband. Trying to help her through her grief, he anonymously leaves gifts on her doorstep, and even shows up to certain places she mentions. Laya has become his new passion.

But for Laya, letting another man in feels like betrayal to Cam. Even though Micah is exactly what she is looking for, does she deserve happiness again?

I read this book fairly quickly because I wanted to find out what what’s going to happen. Over all... this book was just okay. I found Micah’s tendencies to be borderline stalkerish when Laya clearly kept telling him no! There was a spark between the two of them but Laya’s grief had been so consuming she obviously wasn’t ready to move on yet. The upside was that even though death and grief was a huge topic it wasn’t heavy to read.

Renée Carlino is one of those authors that I can read with no idea what is in store and I devour every page. Right from the get go I'm always sucked in and The Last Post was no exception. The opening alone broke my heart. And the more I read, the more my chest ached.

I loved that both Laya and Micah were broken and lost and searching. Trying to get unstuck from the rut their life had become. While neither of their mechanisms were great, they worked. And it brought them into each other's lives. While their chemistry was quite apparent, theirs wasn't a whirlwind romance (much to Micah's dismay).

While Micah and Laya's journey was long and full of set backs, there was no denying that something great was coming. I could feel the hope laced in the pages. And with every tear, every wave of sadness, that hope only grew. Hats off to Renée Carlino for slapping me in the face with grief and giving me a realistic look at how crippling loss can be. How hard it can be to get out of that tunnel of despair. But also how beautiful the other side of that pain is.

I typically really love Renee Carlino books however this one, instead of being emotionally angsty for me, just feels gray and drab. Not sad, drab. I’m stopping at 70% because I’m also not feeling the love connection between the MCs.

Our heroine Laya is a tragic widow but instead of feeling sad and compassionate for her, I dislike her. She’s not especially nice and can be downright mean to the hero. She’s a bitter woman. Ha.

My biggest entertainment here is the hero, Micah, and his twin sister’s cute banter. But he and Laya aren’t doing it for me on a couple hood level.

Life’s too short to not either enjoy your book reads or at least feel the feels. I’m feeling nothing here but boredom and a constant “suck it up, buttercup” mantra in my head. Moving on.

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Grab your tissues, dear readers, because Renée Carlino is going to smack your heart around like a cat with a toy as she depicts the different ways we grieve.

Laya’s grief consumes her. She locks herself away in her apartment, having moved from the home she shared in California with her risk-taker-for-hire husband Cameron. Newly widowed, Laya tries to understand what happened. She tries to figure out whether she bears guilt (should she have tried to stop him?), whether her marriage deserves the depth of grief she feels (did Cameron love her the way she wanted and needed?), and whether she can rebuild. An orthopedic surgeon, Laya knows how to rebuild other people; it’s her own rebuild that makes her retreat.

To cope, she begins leaving messages on Cameron’s cell phone and his Facebook page. These aren’t messages of bereavement, however. They are messages that read as if she believes Cameron is alive.

Micah, an architect at Laya’s father’s firm, reads the Facebook messages and decides he will help Laya feel better by trying to give her what she reminisces about. For instance, she mentions a concert she and Cameron wanted to see, and Micah gives her a ticket to one. He means well, this quiet, humble, loving man, but he fails to see how unnerved his gifts make Laya.

Yes, there is a romance. It begins with a hot flame but follows with a long, slow burn. Renée Carlino respects Laya’s grief and does not try to minimize nor shortchange it. Much like Laya, Micah, too, is someone who builds things for other people. When his own life crashes, he retreats, redesigns, and reemerges.

I loved that Renée Carlino takes no shortcuts. She does not spare you the depth and breadth of Laya’s loss. She infuses you with Laya’s desperation to remain connected to Cameron, even as she struggles with the ever-present fear that he will disappear completely from her memory.

For me, though, Micah is the heart of this story. Lest I make The Last Post sound heavy, rest assured that Micah’s merry band of friends and family provide belly laughs. As Laya recognizes, Micah is surrounded by people who love and support him. Even so, he needs Laya. He wants to be the man she needs, so even with his missteps, she knows his heart is pure.

Get that box of tissues, immerse yourself in this beautiful story, and please let me know what you think of it.

I was extremely excited to read this book based on the blurb and author. It seemed like the perfect book to tug on my heartstrings and allow me to get lost in a beautiful love story.

Unfortunately, this book didn't tick the boxes I needed it to. Granted, it was not a horrible read. I really enjoyed certain parts and some of the humor, especially between Melissa and Micah. However, much of this book seemed downright weird to me. Many readers, myself included, thought Micah came across as a strange stalker, but that wasn't the biggest issue for me. Much of the dialogue in this book was odd. The characters would go off on unrelated tangents about the banalest topics, while being happy in one moment and in the very next sentence angry and depressed. Trying to keep up with the characters' moods was enough to give me whiplash. Not only that, but all of the relationships, with the exception of Micah and Mel seemed incredibly surface-level.

One would think, based on the subject matter this novel covers, it would be a tearjerker of a story. Regrettably, I didn't feel an emotional pull toward any of the characters. Further, I didn't believe the connections between the characters themselves, which created a disconnect for me as a reader. Instead I was wondering, "do they even like each other?" The words said so, but the feelings indicted otherwise. I do think Renee did a fine job of capturing the grief Laya was going through, but it still wasn't enough to make me feel it along with her.

Like all of Renee's books, this was a fairly quick read, but overall it was a miss for me. I feel a bit confused and disappointed with the story.

The Last Post is an inspiring novel about grief and how we all have our own process. I found it interesting how everyone was grieving from different situations (death of a spouse, loss of identity, failed relationship etc) but on a human level it was still beautifully equal. Pain is sometimes relative. I also love that everyone grieves differently and we have to come to terms in our own time. I found Laya to be refreshingly realistic in her mourning and Micah so charming in his awkward way. I really enjoyed this book!

Unfortunately this book didn’t mesh with me. I had a hard time connecting with the characters. I felt like I had no idea who they were well into the book. I’m a huge fan of Renee’s so I’m very sad that this book didn’t work for me.

I previously read and enjoyed Carlino's SWEAR ON THIS LIFE, so I had high hopes for this one (plus that cover!). Unfortunately there was just nothing about it that worked for me. I found the characters flat and unlikeable, the dialogue unnatural, the relationship lacking in chemistry, and the plot hole-y. I hope this was just a fluke and will continue to read more from Carlino in the future, but I can't honestly recommend this particular novel of hers.

I love unconventional romances.
This story has:
A heroine trying to recover from immeasurable loss.
A hero who is basically stalking her.
Far from a match made in heaven.

If you read the synopsis, you already know what's in store for the heroine, and how hard a battle it will be for her to recover. But what is unexpected is how she eventually makes that recovery.

This book kicks of as both Laya Bennett and Micah Evans' are struggling for direction in their lives. For Laya, it is clear why. Micah is more complicated.

Laya continues to post on her husband's FB page as though he's still around. It's a mix of sad and creepy. Along with that, she's giving up working, socializing, and general personal care.

Three, two, one . . . see ya.

Micah also has begun to pull away socially, preferring to do nothing than go out and test the singles market. He also is described as beginning to look like the Unabomber. However, for one of them, their first meeting changes their outlook. Turns out, Laya is the daughter of Micah's boss.

All it takes is one small smile from Laya and Micah is hooked. Following his friend, Devin's, lead, he begins to stalk Laya's FB posts, and respond to them in an unusual way. Micah's actions are a little sweet, and a little over the top/stalkerish, but whatever the case, his new interest in Laya seems to pull him out of his own slump. He has a new focus, and it is 100% Laya. The trick is convincing her that he has a place in her life.

It is clear that Laya is charmed by and attracted to Micah, but she's far from stable during their initial meetings. And although she keeps pushing Micah away, you can see from her POV how he is having an impact on her and showing her the chance of a life after Cameron (her husband).
This story isn't depressing like I would have thought. It presents a more positive view of hope and recovery. When you add Micah's twin sister in, you get a nice dose of zany and she and Micah bicker.

The journey of this romance is far from conventional, but it has the roots to make the relationship last. As expected from this author, the story is a well written one with odd but intriguing characters. If you are looking for a unique path for romance, this one may interest you.

First off I really need to say I have loved all of the previous books I have read by Renee Carlino but I really struggled with this one. I picked it up I put it down and I picked up a week later but it just wasn’t drawing me in and I just couldn’t connect with the characters. I did finish but it took time and effort and for me I like a book I can get lost in and that wasn’t happening here.
The Last Post is a sad story and maybe I wasn’t in the right frame of mind because this is an author I love but I’m sorry to say this book wasn’t for me.

3.5 STARS!

The Last Post by Renée Carlino is a story of overcoming tragedy and finding not only love, but oneself.

Laya is a newlywed and she witnesses the death of her husband, Cameron. After that tragic event, Laya falls into a black hole of despair and grief. She doesn't know how to let him go.

Micah is an architect working for Laya's father and when he first meets her he feels an instant connection towards her. Laya feels it too, but she ignores it and pays it no mind. Feeling lost and scared, her sadness won't let her move on.

Micah was the opposite of any hero you'll read. He's not your typical alpha hero. He's humble, keeps to himself, and the complete opposite of Cameron. The interactions between his twin sister, Melissa and himself will definitely have you giggling and added a light tone to an angst filled novel.

Though the moments where Micah answers Laya's posts were a bit bizarre and we don't really experience the impact of this couple's love and their true connection til the end of the book, I was still able to take in the story's beautiful message and see that Micah's intentions were good.

"I got to have two great loves in my life. One was a little nuts, a little unpredictable, a spontaneous spirit too wild to restrain, and the other . . . a deep and introspective, thoughtful being with magnificent eyes who loved the stars and space right alongside me. I will always look back and think of Cameron as that rocket ship, shooting for the stars, and Micah . . . well . . . he’s like mission control, guiding me home. Both easy to love, both loved me . . . and I never had to choose."

In all honesty, I'm so conflicted in my feelings towards this book right now that I don't even want to give it a rating. The story was beautifully written, which speaks highly of Renée's magnificent craft; however, it took me a while to feel any emotion towards the plot and its entirety. Though heartbreaking, I didn't feel the full impact of emotion--my eyes weren't watery and I didn't sob into my pillow. The emotion felt wasn't as intense as it was in me when I read and fell in love with Renée's book, Wish You Were Here... But, I say jump into this book head first and experience it head on. Three. Two. One. See ya.


*I received a complimentary copy of this book from Atria Books through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.*

I've loved most of Renee Carlino's books (Before We Were Strangers is one of my favorites). They are nice, easy reads with a love story that makes me believe in love all over again. I usually connect with the characters and I'm rooting for them to overcome the inevitable conflict and get together in the end.
With The Last Post, I felt that was missing. I couldn't connect with Laya, the main character. She tragically lost her husband, Cameron, and is trying to process her grief. There is a monologue from her father about grief, comparing it to waves crashing over you, that is excellent. However, overall, Laya seems to just mope around without any care about a career or money or friends. She gets close to someone and then pulls away and retreats. She has some interactions with Cameron's sister, but then she disappears from the book. I understand that grief is brutal and different people experience it differently, but Laya didn't seem to go through stages of getting better.
Micah, the love interest, is portrayed like a stalker who falls in love with Laya on Day One and will do anything to get her. At times he seems like a stalker, other times it feels like he's on a mission to get his conquest, and occasionally, it seems he really does care for her.
I missed seeing the relationship grow. I missed seeing the connection between the pair. She pushes him away over and over again and he keeps following her for some scraps. That's not a romance that brings tears to my eyes when they finally get together.
Overall, it's a quick, easy, readable book, but it wasn't Carlino's best.

The Last Post is Renee Carlino’s next standalone. I have read and loved a few of her books so I was excited about this book. She has a way with her words that are heartfelt. I don’t want to spoil anything so I will make this quick.

Laya was living the life. Living in San Francisco with her loving husband and completing her fellowship as a surgeon. She never thought she would be married until she met Cameron, a thrill-seeker and stuntman. She loved him and loved him hard. They traveled for his work and he loved every minute of it while she was on the sidelines supporting him and also scared at the same time. And, then it happened. She lost him to what he loved. A tragic accident. Now, she wasn’t sure how to live at all.

Micha was in a funk. He didn’t want to go clubbing and hooking up with randoms. He just wanted to work, sleep, and sit on his couch. Grow a beard. He didn’t like where his life was going. Then he met her. The boss’s daughter. Laya. He felt like he knew her from the very start. He liked her but he felt she was off somehow. Then he found out why. She lost her husband six months ago. And now she was in New York. Once he found out that she still posts on Facebook to Cam, it was a way he thought he could help her except it came out all wrong. Stalker much.

These two loss souls developed a complicated friendship of sorts. And more.

I thought the concept of the story was there but it fell flat. I didn’t feel the connection between Micha and Laya. I did however enjoy Micha and his twin sister, Melissa’ s banter. She is hilarious and snarky. I wish I loved this book but I didn’t. It was slow and too fast at the same time. You would have to read it to understand what I mean.

Overall...it was okay. The concept was good but I didn’t connect to the characters.

Quotes:

“Why do you want me here?”
“Because I need a distraction.”
“I feel like a placeholder or something,” I said in a low voice. I was half-kidding.
“Just stop talking. You’re not an object.”

“Hey, Micah, do you really like that girl?” I turned around, expecting Laya to be right there.
“Yeah, I do.”
“Good,” Mel said. “She’s awesome, by the way. Kind of out of your league, though, dickwad.”
I sighed. “Annnd you’re back.”

“Another risk taker.”
“I get a flu shot every year,” I said, smirking.

This book was great and I loved the relationship between friends and grandparents. I enjoyed how the author used physical ailments to explain the growth of the relationship. More books need this representation in them. This novel made me laugh and made me cry. It made me feel empathetic but also made me root for them to fight their own way. Greta read, with a good balance of serious and sweet.

I don’t like "death" stories. The stories where either someone dies or the main character is suffering the death of a loved one. Sadness cloaks these types of stories like a wet blanket.

I was apprehensive about reading this book, but I'm glad I ignored my apprehension.

I was surprised to find that I could connect with this story the way I did. I’ve told you all before, and I’ll tell you again, I am a sucker for emotional reads. This book had emotion in droves.

Laya is happily married to Cameron. Things aren’t perfect but their shared love makes up for bad parts. She’s getting into her role as a doctor, and Cameron is still living the dare-devil lifestyle. It's this same lifestyle that takes Cameron's life, and Laya is there to witness it. Grief consumes Laya. She's leaving Cameron voicemails postmortem and leaving messages on his facebook page. Everyone is worried about her.

Micah is in a slump. He's unsatisfied. His job doesn't pay enough, and he's not doing the work he feels called to do. Then he meets Laya. She's his boss' daughter. One look at her and Micah is a goner. He takes to her facebook page as a means of staying in touch with her. He discovers secrets about her and in an attempt to help her grieve, he oversteps.

Micah is an interesting character. He was too much and not enough, all at the same time. He was overwhelming in his approach to Laya. I wanted to chuck it up to him being love-struck, but I'm not sure. He was overbearing. He tried helping Laya overcome her grief, but she wasn't prepared for the onslaught of the emotions that came with his presence, or his attempts to help her.

I have to say though he was overbearing, the way he cared for and loved Laya was sort of cute. I liked Micah. He was instant love disguised as a man, but it worked for his character. It was believable and worked for the story and the progression of the plot. I know a lot of readers won't like Micah's character, but I appreciated him towards the end. It brought the story full circle for me.

Laya was a conundrum. She was heavily shrouded in grief, it was a separate entity. The author handled her grief responsibly and realistically. It was a journey watching her grieve, and battle with her feelings for Micah.

The author allowed time for both characters to fully develop separately and then later, together. It was well-written. No doubt about it. This story won't be for everyone, but for those of you that like unconventional, emotional love stories--this will be the perfect read for you. The pacing of everything is perfect, with just enough drama to shake things up. Micah's sister, Melissa, is a riot. It was a pretty great read and another good one from Carlino.