I lovely book that just keeps you going until the final page. Will they? Won’t they? They keep you guessing. True love is always worth waiting for,Loved it! A heartwarming tale that I could not put down.

The Last Charm by Ella Allbright

The poignant story about Leila whose charm bracelet follows a journey.

There are some very sad moments in this book although at times I got a bit annoyed with Leila but Jake is lovely.

I found this book to be a little bit slow but the beginning just pulls you in.

Very intriguing and a lovely romance.

The Last Charm by Ella Allbright .the love story of Leila Jones and Jake was sad at times. I liked how Jake gave Leila charms for her bracelet. I loved how the author told the story of each one of the charms.

Leila Jones has lost her most prized possession, a charm bracelet given to her by her mother the day she left. When she is asked to identify it to the person that locates it, Leila takes the reader on the journey of her life through each charm. Each one represents a momentous occasion or a small memory she has collected along the way, mostly with Jake by her side. Jake and Leila have known each other since they were children and now over twenty years have passed since the day they met outside on the road when Jake moved in and Leila was forced to move away. Neither of them were dealt a perfect hand at life but fate intervenes bringing them together for Jake and Leila to help each other grow. Leila must start at the beginning sharing her memories of what each charm means to her in the hopes of getting this most precious item back where it belongs. "The Last Charm" is a slow-burn, coming of age love story. Many, many times I wanted to shake Leila myself for being short sighted and selfish, definitely not someone you are pulling for throughout the whole book. For the right reader this will be a heart-warming book but, I fear for most, might hit at the lukewarm level. Fans of light romance give this a try and see what you think. Thank you to NetGalley and HarperCollins for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

This book left my heart aching! Such a beautiful story! Written about 2 characters and the journey they share throughout the years! This book kept me up into the early hours of the morning and may be one of my favourite reads! Will 1000000% recommend this book to everyone!

Beautifully written yet not my usual genre. That being said I did enjoy this book, which I buddy read along with friends, and would look out more by this author.

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher and the author for giving me the opportunity to review this book. I admit in my joy at joining NetGalley I may have been overzealous in my requesting numbers. As this book has already been published, I am choosing to work on the current upcoming publish date books in my que. As I complete those I will work on my backlogged request and will provide a review at that time. I again send my sincere thanks and apologies.

This was a sweet but sad story that ended up being a fast read for me. I love the idea and thought Jake was great. If you're looking for a fast read this is for you. A great summer, laying by the pool read.

// The Last Charm Readalong 🌻//

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Huge thanks to @onemorechapterhc @harpercollinsuk for the Gifted E-Book to join in with the Readalong ✨

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When Leila Jones loses her beloved charm bracelet, a stranger finds it. To prove it is hers, she must tell the story of each charm, recounting each memory of her life with Jake. Twenty years of charms, so she starts at the beginning, when she never would have expected to be in possession of such a bracelet.

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I completely loved Jake in this book, he is your troubled, boy next door that just wants to be cared for. His character really came across well, but I wasn’t as struck by Leila. It is a story that passes through time and locations, reminiscent of ‘One Day’, it follows their lives from children to adults. Stories that intertwine between their struggles. It covers hard hitting topics effortlessly and is a book to read, when you want a little old school romance in your life. ✨❤️

I really wanted to like this book, but I couldn’t. I only got 10% in, but I had to give up. I don’t like the writing style. It sounds so childish.

"Every charm has a story. This is their love story..."

Ella Allbrigth has already proven to me under her pen name Nikki Moore that she is a brilliant author. I loved her #LoveLondon series and have been eagerly awaiting a new book since the last release in the series. Many years later, the time has finally come and the long wait is over.

I'm very happy for Ella Allbright that her latest book has been so well received by readers and is getting many 5 star reviews on Amazon and other platforms. I'm afraid I can't quite share that opinion. I have just finished the last lines of the book and feel torn as to whether I loved the book or am just disappointed. Before I go into more detail, I would like to briefly tell you what the book is about.

"Each charm on the bracelet if part of teir story. My life, his life our lives … and how they’ve intertwined over the past fifteen years."

For Leila Jones, there is nothing more precious than her charm bracelet. It is the only connection she still has to her absent mother, because Amelia left the family when she was still a child. The bracelet is like a part of her and makes her who she is, as each charm added over the years represents an important event in her life. In the story Leila tells how each charm came into her life and so we see Leila growing up from the age of eleven to the present day.

We start in 2001 when Jake and Leila first meet as children. Jake has just moved into the house that was previously Leila's home before she moved to Bournemouth with her father. Despite the short time they have together, they become friends. Since her grandfather still lives on the same street, Leila is comming back to her hometown regularly. This is a beginning of a very unusual friendship that spans over 15 years. Over the years, we get to know Leila and Jake better. We see how they get closer, how they collide, but in the end they are there for each other.

"Always look out for the rainbow, Jones. You have to treasure life – no one else is going to do it for you."

On the one hand, The Last Charm was one of the most beautiful and emotional stories I've ever read (it didn't make me cry, though), but Leila Jones, the main protagonist of the story, destroyed a lot for me with her manner, behavior, and character. I even hated her at times. She lives in her own little world, is stubborn, judgmental, selfish and just a pain in the ass. She also often acted childish and very hurtful towards Jake. Therefore, I couldn't develop any sympathy for her and couldn't identify with her either.

Jake, on the other hand, was wonderful. I think part of me fell in love with him. For me, he was the standout character in this story. He was so genuine, too-patient, caring, loyal, sincere, and kind. He is strong, calm and supportive, always there for Leila even when she wants to hurt him. Still, at times I wondered what exactly he saw in her. I couldn't understand why Jake kept giving her a chance, being so patient with her and developing such feelings for her. Also, I don't think Jake's character was developed enough. Jake's POV should have been more in depth.

Both Leila and Jake have their struggles and are trying to find their place in the world and in each other's lives. Despite my dislike for Leila, I was hoping from the beginning that they would end up together. When it finally did, I just thought Leila finally got it. It's about time!

Another downside for me is that the story almost exclusively is about the bracelet. We don't spend much time with the characters being together as a couple, we don't see the actual relationship play out, before that could happen the story is over.

"The only constant in life is change. You can’t control it. Nothing is ever certain. Nothing. And it’s only what we do when we’re faced with that fact, that makes us who we are."

I have now said many things that I did not like, there is nonetheless much that I did like. Ella Allbright did a wonderful job of tying the whole story together, developing it, and letting us as readers share in the journey. I've always liked Nikkis / Ellas writing style and that hasn't changed.

Structurally, I loved this book. The dual narrative, written in first person, from the point of view of both Jake and Leila, allows the reader to feel and experience the pain, anger, loss, hope, desire, and love that these characters struggle with as their story unfolds. The "will they, won't they" question that battles in the reader's mind leaves you frantic and desperate, devouring the pages and losing all sense of time, desperate to get the outcome you dangerously imagined. Overall, a beautiful book that pulls your heartstrings.

Here are a few little side notes. I'm a huge Coldplay fan, so it was a particularly nice moment for me when Jake, Leila and their friends went to a concert of the band. I could relate to those moments of the concert so much that I was taken right back to the last time I saw Coldplay live. I also really enjoyed Ella's mention of C.L. Taylor's The Accident. It's a brilliant book!

I love researching locations and places described in books. Durdle Door is definitely on my Buckert List. This beach looks gorgeous and I can't wait to see this one with my own eyes.

Tender and touching novel that tells a story over 15 years. This book was graciously provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you to Netgalley and One More Chapter for a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review!

I had high hopes for this story, but find myself quite disappointed. Leila is a very unlikeable character. She is extremely rude, snappy, quick to go on the defence, and I find it hard to read along through the parts with Jake because she does not treat him well. I actually feel their relationship is quite toxic and not something to aspire to at all. I realize that Leila has issues because of her relationship with her mom, but it appears to be okay that she can treat everyone in her life like garbage. I also understand that there was to be some animosity created between the two of them in order to make the turn-around that much sweeter but it was too much for me. Paying attention to Leila’s friends throughout I notice that they all mature and grow, yet she appears to stay just as childish and surly as she was when she was a teenager.

I saw a lot of positive reviews around this story and read some of those reviews. After reading the story I am surprised by all the positivity and I think it says a lot about what we as a society accept and let people get away with. The one positive thing I can say about this story is that I love the charms! And Jake is a lovely character, though he too has his faults. I wish I had found him in a different story. The saving grace and the bump up to 2 stars is the ending. The last portion of the book is definitely the best part.

As always, you can form your own opinion if you choose to read this story!

Wonderful love story! Our parents, friends and experiences can harm our outlook on life or allow us to live it to the fullest. Leila and Jakes unconventional friendship takes us on an incredible journey in finding love and trust. You will laugh, cry and maybe wince, but it is so worth the read. Couldn't put it down.
Thanks to NetGalley and One More Chapter for allowing me to read this charming story.

I could hardly read the last few chapters through the tears. What a beautiful story. All along I thought they would finally get their act together and be a couple. But the final twist was so unexpected. This book will stay with me for some time.

Thanks to One More Chapter for including "The Last Charm" by Ella Allbright as their winter monday cheer-up.

A book that you won't forget and will tug on all of your heart-strings.

What a sweet story with the charm bracelet as the thread throughout. It had me digging out my old bracelet and reliving the memories. This story is one of loss, love and hope. One I am sure everyone an relate to in some way. It was very character driven and the lengthy time frame o9f the book gave you tme to fully enjoy reading the story a it unfolded.

trhis book is reall ysad and i thoguht it was a sweet romance so i was not entrhalled with that. but like thanks netgalleyl.

Where to even begin with this, what an emotional rollercoaster. It really really sucked me in and I felt myself heartbroken over this.

Was so well executed and impossible to put down!

Soooo good!

This book was so incredibly lovely. The last book that took my heart captive like this was One Day in December- much like that, i won't be able to stop thinking about this for a while.

Wonderful book for anyone looking to be swept up in some real wholesome romance.

The characters were great as well, pulling you into the story, you experienced everything with them- but i guess that's more of a sign of good writing.... And it was damn good writing.

I highly recommend this book