I’ve noticed a trend in Renée Carlino’s writing: Loss. I’ve read a couple of her books and they almost always deal with a sense of loss in a way or another. This one in particular reminded a lot of of the story One True Love. I felt as though I was there grieving with Laya (whose name is pronounced the way a certain friend of ours DOESN’T like her name pronounced) and poor weirdo Micah trying to get the girl that needed to move on. Pulled at my heart strings and wanted to know more and more what it was going to take in order to get Laya to move on. Cameron. Oh Cameron. I still don’t know how to process his actions. And Melissa...well her story is totally unwritten still. If you want a morose book, I recommend this one.

I’ve heard wonderful things about Renée Carlino‘s books, so I was beyond excited to read The Last Post. Unfortunately, this one missed the mark for me. I had a difficult time connecting to the characters and I didn’t feel any real romantic chemistry between them. Laya was likable enough but Micah came off a little strong for my liking. Although this particular book wasn’t for me, I will still gladly pick up other books by this author in the future.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

This was an emotionally charged roller coaster for me. It was definitely not the light romance I was expecting. I really loved the chemistry and realness of the characters. While I understand while there were no steamy sex scenes, I wished there was because I really enjoyed the chemistry between Laya and Micah.

Thank you Netgalley, Simon & Schuster, and Renee Carlino for the advanced copy of The Last Post!
I devoured this book in less than 24 hours.
This was my first novel by Renee so I went In with no expectations.
With that said I gave this book 4.5 stars.

I LOVED the references to the National. (One of the reasons this book really spoke to me).

I thought Laya and Micah’s relationship was interesting. I didn’t get creeper vibes like other readers did.

My favorite character in the book was definitely Melissa, she brought some funny scenes.

Smooth and easy read. Kind of predictable but sweet.

I love this author's writing and her previous books so much but this one didn't work for me! I did my best and gave my full concentration but I could only give three stars for the parts that I loved!

What went wrong with the book?
1`)TROUBLE ABOUT CHARACTERS
Hero, Micah acted so much like You's Joe Goldberg, I know he likes his boss's daughter Laya so much and he might have good intentions to help her through her grieving process but still I didn't like his obsessive style to bring her happiness.
Laya was more lovely character but at some parts I wanted to yell at her: `Please stand up for yourself!" But she didn't. At the end I'm happy to see she's capable of handling her own grief!

2) THEIR TOGETHERNESS
It was hard for me to enjoy their love stories maybe too many lies and too many obsessed stalkerish starting to a new relationship didn't fit my impeccable romance mind!

3) SLOWNESS
Especially mid parts of the book bored me to death! I tried so hard, even skipped a few pages but it was still slow and all the grieving process kept repeating itself. It was torturing experience for me!

I love angsty, edgy , heart wrecking stories but this one is starting with wrong foot and then you're getting lost in some place of the story.

CONCLUSION: I still love this author and I love to read her upcoming books without thinking a second but this one was not for me!

This story was equally depressing as it was bizarre. At times I wondered what path the author was trying to pave for the main characters. I struggled with my feelings for this book for almost 70% of it. I didn’t empathize or even like the heroine, Laya, and I thought Micah was a deranged stalker. The only character that I liked was Cameron, the dead husband, whom we only get to meet during the first chapter of the book. I idealized him along with Laya, and that’s because, in her point of view, he was the perfect version of himself.





I was worried that this was going to be the first book by Renee Carlino that would be a disappointment, but the writing is good. I couldn’t help but laugh at the snarky and quick-witted banter between Micah and his twin sister Melissa. Those two cracked me up more times than I could count. Somehow the author managed to turn things around but it took almost three-quarters of the story for her to pull off what I considered to be an impossible feat. I couldn’t fathom that Laya and Micah could have believable chemistry but then the author throws in a plot twist to shake things up and it was then that I felt a connection to the story and characters. I only wish it didn’t take so long to finally click. I will say that the author has a great sense of humor and it made for some terrific comedic banter and I’m happy that I got the chance to read this one.





Here are my overall ratings:

Hero: 4
Heroine: 3
Plot: 3.5
Angst: 4
Steam: 3
Chemistry Between Hero & Heroine: 4

Let me preface this by saying I couldn’t love Renee Carlino’s book more. She’s an author I don’t even hesitate to get her next book because they’ve all be undoubtedly great. However, this was a hard book for me to ever get into and connect with. For me, the main problem were the characters. Micah came off too creepy, needy, and just odd... and in no way was endearing to me. Layla wasn’t all that likable to me and I hated her indecisiveness towards Micah and how she would just disappear for long periods of time. And lastly, Mel wasn’t “coming” relief. Her “sense of humor” was just rude and not all that relatable. Unfortunately, this highly anticipated book was a big let down for me

The Last Post engaged me from page one, and I was desperate to love it.

But, I didn’t. I liked it.

Here’s what worked for me: I loved the writing. It was a smooth read. The concept was unique. And I liked the dual perspective. Oh and I loved that Micah had a fraternal twin sister, because I’m a fraternal twin. Though, my brother and I are nothing like Melissa and Micah.

Here is what didn’t work: Creepy dude who’s a mess sees his boss’s daughter and becomes infatuated with her. Stalks her social media and leaves her gifts of things she mentioned OR shows up where she is going to be. I get that he thought his intentions were good, but dude. No.

3.5 stars

When I pick up a Renee Carlino book, I know that it's going to be an emotional ride. One that will pull on my heartstrings and make me examine my own life and experiences. The Last Post was no different.

Laya's journey after the sudden death of her husband was painful, poignant, and sometimes frustrating. There was a lot of hot and cold and erratic behavior, but I think it was the author's way of showing how disjointed and broken Laya felt. People cope and handle grief in so many different ways. I'm hesitant to call this book a romance because even though there were romantic elements, I felt the story was more about healing, forgiveness, and self discovery. My favorite chapter in the book was actually one where Laya and her father speak about grief and loss. It was such a heartbreaking and uplifting chapter. One that gave me a different perspective and had me reframing my own experiences and feelings.

I liked both Laya and Micah, but I can't say that I loved them. Micah was a creepy stalker and did some really questionable things in his attempts to get to know Laya. I just didn't feel the spark and connection that they supposedly shared. They were both emotionally stunted and the back and forth dance between them with Laya pulling away and Micah coming on way too strong or constantly apologizing got old pretty quickly. Micah just felt too desperate for most of the book, taking any scrap Laya would grant him. The first part of the book was a bit confusing and slow for me, but the ending and epilogue were very sweet and tied the story together really well. Overall, The Last Post is a thoughtful read that will have you holding your loved ones next time a little longer and tighter.

*I voluntarily read an advance review copy of this book*

Renee Carlino's vivid, descriptive prose never fails to draw me into her stories. Having read this book pretty quickly, unable to tear myself away from the tortured and tragic yet hopeful and full of love pages, I found myself enamored with the story telling chops of Carlino. Her style of writing just always manages to find some long buried emotion or reveals a new vulnerability in life. It's a sort of magic ingredient that makes her stories so compelling and captivating.

While I didn't connect wholly to these characters I understood them in a myriad of ways. Grappling with their grief and existential issues right along with them helped me to absorb and really feel the story that much more. There were certain actions that I struggled with because I didn't understand it and some I thought I did understand but still didn't agree with. But that's okay for me and didn't detract from the emotional depth of the story.

The Last Post was more than a romance to me. It was realistic piece of contemporary Women's fiction with very complex, layered romance and interpersonal relationships. The romance of the story was juxtaposing the hope with the despair, the light with the dark. The story was as welcoming as it was standoffish making for a really intriguing reading experience. Taking this unique journey with these fascinatingly complex characters told with rich and brilliantly executed writing is definitely recommended by me.

Renee Carlino quickly became a must read for me after Swear On the Life and Before We Were Strangers. I also read Wish You Were Here and loved it too. I was denied for her last book on Netgalley, I cant even remember what it was called, so like a child, I refused to read it. According to one of my book besties, it was total shit, so I am glad I didn’t read it! And here we are with her latest.

I don’t even know what to say about this book. The story line was good, and there was a lot of character growth and development. But it was a little odd too? It is about a woman who loses her husband after a year of marriage and she is grieving. She can’t let him go and still posts on his Facebook page and calls and leaves messages on his cell phone. And a guy who works at the woman’s fathers architectural firm, who basically stalks Laya and reads the Facebook posts and shows up at random places, etc. It was hard to like Micah at first, because of his stalker tendencies, and Laya is such a mess. And a lot of the middle of the book was a little meh for me. It was really heavy and dark, but then also, I felt like there was something missing too?

But then, the end of the book came back around for me and I am glad I read it. So I cant really tell you 100% how I feel about the book. It is no Swear on This Life, I can tell you that. But I guess in the end, I end it up liking it?

Bottom Line: Normally I say something like, if you are a fan of Carlino, read it! But in this case, it isn’t really anything like her other books. I am glad I did read it, because I thought about the book a lot. If you don’t mind a book that goes a little rogue in the middle, and some heavier things…it was a decent plot line and the characters did come together for me.

**I received a copy of The Last Post from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review.**

Laya never planned to get married, never planned on falling in love. But life had other plans for her. Well on her way to becoming an orthopedic surgeon, Laya met Cameron, a fearless stuntman who got his thrills from extreme sports. They had a whirlwind romance and were married within a year. But only a year after they tied the knot, Cameron unexpectedly dies during one of his stunts and Laya is left trying to pick up the pieces of her life. She moved back to New York to be closer to her dad and puts her career—and everything else—on hold during her grieving process.

Micah has been working at the same architecture firm for years and doesn’t feel his career is progressing in any sense of the word. His friends are content partying every weekend, sharing their bed with a new woman every night. But Micah’s over that lifestyle. He’s ready to move forward, settle down and leave the party days behind him. Micah feels he’s in a midlife crisis, even though he’s barely even 30-years old. But when he meets his boss’ daughter, Laya, he snaps out of his funk and has a reason to move forward.

Laya’s family is worried for her—she isn’t coping with Cameron’s death in the healthiest way. She’s been sending Cameron Facebook messages, updating him on her life and reminiscing about all their good memories together. But while doing so, she isn’t able to move on. Little does she know, Micah has been reading her posts and sending her anonymous gifts that remind her of Cameron.

Micah and Laya enter each other’s lives at the most inconvenient of times, but for some reason they just work, even if it takes months to get to their destination.

The Last Post is Renee Carlino’s latest contemporary romance publication. The premise of this story was intriguing—a hard-hitting story about grief, love and moving forward. Previously I read Blind Is and Swear on This Life by Renee Carlino an loved both, but unfortunately there was a disconnect with The Last Post. What I loved about this story: Micah’s relationship with his twin sister, Melissa. Their banter was witty and funny and their connection I feel was awesome. For some reason I couldn’t connect with Laya and Micah. I thought Micah’s interest in Laya was a little odd and he came off too strong for no reason. I sympathized with Laya’s grief but didn’t buy her romance with Micah. I wanted so badly to love this one, but it just wasn’t for me. I think it was well-written and I will continue to read more by this wonderful author. 3/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Renee Carlino for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and Atria books for a review copy of The Last Post. I am a big Renee Carlino fan but this book did not carry the same weight as her others have. I admired Laya and her loss, however the other main character, Micah, I found to be unlikable and creepy at certain places. I thought his twin sister, Melissa, brought much needed humor to the story. This was not a DNF for me, but it wasn't a huge hit either.

This book didn"t quite give me all the feels like Carlino"s previous books. While I adored the heroine and her grieving process endeared her to me, I just did not care for the hero. He was just too beta and bland. I didn't like him, nor did I want him and the heroine together. .

Thank you Atria Books and Renee Carlino for allowing me to read/review The Last Post! This book is prolific and thought-provoking and healing! A full review will be posted closer to release.

DNF. Great albeit heartbreaking premise. Unfortunately the hero did absolutely nothing for me, so I must move on. Normally I adore Renee Carlino's books, but this one was not for me. :(

Laya and Micha and the relationship they have is one I dream to have! Very well written. Some parts are intense, as in my stomach actually hurt from being tense (in a good way)! Love how the characters all come together.

Such a great read. So happy that Laya was able to overcome her grief and find love again. It was very sad that she still posted to her deceased husbands Facebook as if he was still there. She was in denial and seemed as if she hoped it was all a dream and he would come back. I’m glad she found her way. Will recommend book to friends and family.

The blurb for this one was super intriguing and in my mind the possibilities were endless. Unfortunately, I had problems connecting with this one. Although it was not a DNF for me by any means, Renee writes too well for that to be the case. The beginning was a bit slow for my liking and I felt it was a bit all over the place. That being said, the end made all of it worth while, and I'm glad I stuck it out.

Laya Marston has had her world upended. Tragically, she loses the love of her life and denial bled into delusion for her. Micha Evans, an architect at her fathers firm, can't seem to shake her Facebook posts, and goes out of his way to console her, or try to. Even if his methods crossed into stalker territory more times than not, the premise was cute and gave new meaning to the concept of online dating.

Melissa, Micah's sister stole the show for me. Her sense of humor and quick wit left me shaking my head at her antics. Even if I didn't always feel the chemistry between the Hero and Heroine, I did love all of the characters individually.

THE LAST POST is a story about a woman drowned in the grief of the loss of her husband and the man who was determined to save her.

Micha wanted to be the reason Laya smiled, he wanted to be the one she thought about and loved, and he wanted her in his life.

Micah started as a stalker. There really isn't any other way for me to describe his character. It was difficult for me to like him or view him as a love interest. He was oddly obsessed with his boss's daughter, Laya (who is deep in grief over the death of her husband -- the death which she witnessed). He had a strange need to try and make her feel better. He would read her posts on Facebook she made to her dead husband, and then try to recreate for her those experiences she wrote about, in the hope that it will make her feel better …

"I looked at Laya's last post from six weeks ago about the movie. I wanted to have that moment with her. Instead of creeping her out by hiding tickets under her mat, I decided to ask her properly."

For the most part, I liked Layla. I was glad we were able to watch her work her way through the grieving process and come out at the end, a stronger person. There were times, however, when she would lash out at people, that I found it difficult to like her. But everyone grieves differently, so I had to accept her angry and often nasty behavior as a result of her grief.

I loved the first 30% and thought for sure this was going to be another winner for me by this author. But, sadly, by 53% I contemplated not finishing. I put the story away and went on with my day. The next morning, I picked it back up again and decided to give it another try. I am glad that I did. The last 20% or so of the book, the story turned around for me. And, therein lies the problem. The middle of the book was slow. It was heavy. The focus became on Laya's loss and her anguish, and on Micah's odd, obsessive tendencies toward her, rather than focusing on the characters themselves. And those things made me not interested in the characters or their story.

While this may not have been a winner for me, I have loved every other book I've read from this author. Her writing is emotional, and her characters are intriguing. I look forward to reading more from her.