The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas has been on my NetGalley shelf for an embarrassingly long time and I finally got to it yesterday. Anna lost her husband Spencer in a sudden accident and three years later is still struggling to move on. On New Year's Eve, she calls his old number, as she has done several times, just to hear his voice and leave a message. But this time a man answers. Brody is struggling with his own traumas from his past and has basically become a recluse living in a cottage with his dog and doing everything possible to avoid being around people. In the beginning, Brody is just trying to be kind and allow Anna someone that she can talk to about her grief, but soon a friendship forms. As the two phone friends become closer, they start to wonder if there could possibly be something more between them. 


The first thing I will say about this book is that it is all worth it in the end. Not trying to be completely insensitive, but for the first 25-30% of this book I was feeling completely weighed down by Anna's grief and inability to move forward. Between her negative outlook and her wretched mother-in-law wanting to forever immortalize her deceased son, I almost gave up. However, as Anna and Brody's friendship develops, so does Anna. I absolutely loved watching her take baby steps and then bigger steps and then coming to be a woman that was nothing like the woman at the beginning of the story. And along with Anna's amazing strides she was making, it was also pushing Brody out of his comfort zone and getting him to the point where he also wanted to be better. 

Even without knowing all of the pieces to Brody's puzzle, I think I fell in love with him by the halfway point of the novel. But by the end, I was all in and completely mesmerized by the changes he had made. I found it interesting that it was constantly Anna moving forward, but then after their attempted meeting, it was Brody that surged ahead while she did not. Brody had experienced an unimaginable loss and when he finally started getting back to himself, it was amazing.

The Last Goodbye is not a light read and at times is emotionally taxing. However, it is a worthwhile read and I think anyone can relate to this novel whether you have experienced your own loss or not. 

*Thanks to NetGalley for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Anna lost her husband, Spencer, and she is having trouble moving on. His mother is being not very nice to her, and she calls his old phone number to hear the message for when his phone is not answer. She is shocked when someone answers the phone.

This book deals with grief but is a beautifully written journey that will hit your feels. I cannot wait to reread it.

Thank you Netgalley and those associated with this story for arc copy for an honest review.

It has been almost three years since Anna Barry's husband, Spencer, was killed by a drunk driver. Ever since that traumatic event, Anna has been mired in grief. She cries frequently when she remembers the good times that she shared with Spencer. Gabi, Anna's best friend, encourages her to date again, but Anna is horrified at the thought of starting over with someone new. These days, she works as an administrator at a family-run plumbing and heating business, and she endures awkward meals with Spencer's parents. For some unexplained reason, Gayle, Spencer's mom, treats Anna with thinly-disguised disdain.

When Anna calls Spencer's number just to hear his voice, she connects with a stranger named Brody Smith, to whom Spencer's old number has been reassigned. Much to Anna's surprise, Brody turns out to be a considerate and sympathetic man who hints that he also lost someone dear to him. He listens compassionately and offers words of solace when Anna pours out her heart.

"The Last Goodbye," by Fiona Lucas, is about those left behind when someone close to them tragically passes away. There are many novels with similar themes, but the twist here is that, although Anna has never laid eyes on Brody, she develops a warm relationship with him over the phone. Together, they work through their unhappiness and pain and slowly begin to heal. "The Last Goodbye" is engrossing enough, but ultimately, the story is weakened by its predictability and sentimentality. Still, this book will likely appeal to readers who enjoy emotional, weepy, and angst-filled works of fiction. It takes quite a while for the central characters to face their inner demons and to realize that wallowing in misery and obsessively dwelling on the past will condemn them to lives of loneliness and despair.

This was an excellent audiobook. It’s heart-wrenching and heart-warming. It’s kind of a British take on Sleepless in Seattle, but with two very damaged people.

Anna loved her husband Spencer. She was certain she could never love another. But one night, Spencer went out to the store and never came home. Anna was devastated and only barely managed to move on with her life. But on New Year’s Eve a few years after Spencer’s death, Anna calls his phone number, to hear his voice mail message. Instead, she connects with Brody, the new holder of Spencer’s phone number and another injured soul. It’s a strange call between strangers, but there’s something there, and Anna can’t help but call the number again. Slowly, Anna and Brody become friends; they help each other to heal.

I loved the characters and felt they were very realistic, believable, and relatable. Gabi is a loving friend to Anna, who tries her best to help Anna move out of the darkness of her grief. She mean well, and only wants to see Anna return to the living. Anna’s mother-in-law, Gayle, however is another story. She’s spent the years since her son’s death hiding her hurt, until it boils over and spills onto Anna, sending her back into the shadows. Gayle doesn’t come off as a nice person.

The writing is near perfect, well-paced, and holds a few surprises. The narration of the audiobook is beautifully performed. I never doubted which character was speaking. I felt the narrator made the characters and the situation come to life.

This is a book about grief, fated meetings, healing, PTSD, agoraphobia, friendship, but most of all love. It’s a slow-burn romance as Anna and Brody each work through their grief and pain, trying their hardest to find the sunshine in their lives once again. It will leave you smiling and with the knowledge that no matter how dark life seems, you must not give up hope. Light is always just around the corner.

I received a copy of this audiobook from the publisher through Netgalley. I thank them for their generosity, but it had no effect on this review. All opinions in this review reflect my true and honest reactions to reading this book.

I will preface this by saying The Last Goodbye is beautifully written. In terms of the grief cycle and how different people handle it, I believe Fiona wrote a moving and believable story. I personally wasn't in the proper headspace for such a heavy book initially and it did take me longer to finish than usual. The best compliment I can think of is that I kept thinking about it and coming back to it until I finished it earlier this morning.
Our introduction to Anna is after her husband, Spencer, has passed. She's filled with grief and struggling to move past it. Annually she calls his mobile number and most recently it is answered and she is met with silence. She pours out her love for him and discovers a grieving soul on the other end of the line. Brody, meanwhile, is suffering in a different way. While Anna has surrounded herself (uncomfortably) by those who loved Spencer, Brody has essentially become a hermit. Anna's breakthrough into his isolation begins a healing journey for both.
I know this is a book that will stick with me. Often the ones that make me sad or contemplative do. I think one of my favorite bits of it is that the journey and timeline was practically perfect. Anna and Brody's pen pal via phone relationship is a great love story.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the advanced copy. All thoughts in this review are my own.

The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas is a love story with a different twist. From the first page I was deeply involved in this story.

live life without him. Three years ago, Spencer was killed in an accident. On New Year's Eve, Anna calls Spencer's phone in hopes that she'll hear his old voicemail greeting, however, someone answers the phone. Brody has inherited Spencer's old number and is one of the few people who truly understands what Anna is going through. But Brody hasn't been truly honest with Anna. Will his secret change everything just as she may have the courage to open her life again?

I really enjoyed this one! I enjoyed watching Anna work through her grief and find ways to be herself again. This book gave me some major Lydia Bird vibes. I thought I had some major plot parts figured out but I was wrong. Overall, I was impressed with this one

I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

I didn’t really like this book as much as I thought I would. It sounded like an interesting idea. The main character’s husband has died tragically and she calls his cell number to hear his voice in the message only to find out the number has been recycled to a new guy.

I didn’t really relate to any of the characters or get very invested in their story. Oh well.

tw: multiple death of loved ones; panic attacks

I love a good grief story and this follows both a woman who lost her husband 3 years ago and a man who has also experienced loss, and they connect via phone and form a relationship from there. I am realizing that I actually do not like the "friendship formed over phone, mail, etc" trope. While I enjoyed the exploration of later stage grief, as well as Brody's experience of panic and agoraphobia, I mostly found the story slow. I also realize I have a hard time resonating with romances where they do not even meet until the end.

This was really a cute story and the writing was done really well. Unfortunately for me, I just never really felt a spark between Brody and Anna. They seemed to lack chemistry and their story of falling in love without ever meeting in person just didn't convince me. I am normally okay with cheesy romance that isn't realistic, but this one just didn't blow me away. I loved the mental health aspects of this book and how they addressed grief and anxiety. Overall, I liked it and thought it was super cute, so I hope someone else really loves it!!

Cute story….can one find love again after losing their true love? I thought it began to get a tad dramatic and repetitive? Will they ever meet?
#TheLastGoodbye #NetGalley

Enjoyable story about Anna and her journey with grief after she loses her husband. She has a moment and calls her late husband's phone to listen to his voice on his voicemail and is connected to the new owner of his phone number. She and Brody talk and develop a friendship to which they both can relate to the other. I enjoyed following Anna and Brody through their progress and friendship.

"The Last Goodbye" is the emotional read from start to finish, however the journey you experience is such a rollercoaster, and you have a wonderful cast of characters to experience this with. Within the pages of Lucas's novel Anna and Brody, along with their family and friends, spin a story of loss, grief, and mental health.

"The Last Goodbye" is touching, emotional, and for much of the book, heart-rending. Anna and Brody have both experience great losses in their lives, crippling their ability to move on from their heartache. As an unlikely friendship blossoms, both discover moving on doesn't mean forgetting their lost loved ones, but allows you to believe in second chances, pushing you to search for the light at the end of a dark tunnel.

Thought this one was ok - felt a little slow to me. Anna's story felt more 'real' to me than Brody's and I definitely enjoyed her chapters more than his. Anna's relationship with her mother-in-law, though upsetting, made for interesting reading. I didn't feel like I could connect with Brody, the mystery phone friend, much as we intentionally didn't know much of his story until the end. I know that was part of the 'mystery' but I'm not sure that part of the story worked very well for me.


Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC!

The Last Goodbye is a hard-hitting contemporary story that covers the topics of loss, grief, the struggle of recovery and finding your way again, as well as mental illness.

It’s a deeply touching novel as we watch Anna and Brody respectively stumble through their own ordeals and find solace and healing with one another. It also touches on the extended relationships of those who have suffered loss and how complex those ties can be.

Fiona Lucas writes in a way that captivates the reader and draws you into the story itself. It’s emotional and heartbreaking, but also hopeful and therapeutic. I look forward to reading other books by her in the future.

Three years ago, Spencer, Anna’s husband and the love of her life was tragically killed in a car accident.
Anna is still shattered by her grief, despite the efforts of her friends and family. On New Year’s Eve, in an attempt so hear her late husband's voice, she calls his cell phone number, expecting to hear his voicemail, only to have someone pick up.
Brody is familiar with grief, and he becomes the first person Anna can talk to that can relate to her experience. Through their conversations, Anna begins to move forward as she feels Brody is the first person who understands her pain and grief. As their relationship builds, we find that Brody has secrets of his own, that he fears will scare Anna away.

Anna's character is well developed, you understand and feel her pain, you want her to overcome her sadness. You want her to resolve old relationships, but push forward with new ones. The author writes her in a way that you feel every one of Anna's emotions. The story is written well, following 2 parallels. On one side you watch Anna grow and mend relationships with her Mother in law. While on the other side you follow her as she navigates through new relationships and self-discovery.

I had some trouble getting started on this one but I knew I should hang on. I am so glad that I did! Total PS I Love You vibes.

This was a lovely and at times melancholy book of lost love that eventually leads the reader out of the darkness of loss and into a future of hope. A young woman, Anna, has lost her husband to a car accident. One she blames herself for as she was the one that asked him to pick up some goods at a store. During a moment of grief, she picks up her phone to call her deceased husband's phone just to hear his voice mail. But this time someone is on the other end.
Brody, too, has suffered immeasurable loss and has been stuck in it for a decade. With a twist of fate, the two connect as only two people who have suffered the unimaginable can. A support group of two.
During this tentative time of reaching out, Anna still remains close to her in-laws but it's changing. Do they still want her around? Who grieves the most and how should grief be expressed is challenged when Anna feels herself being pushed out of the family.
A lovely book about life, death, family, fear, and hope.
Thank you to Netgalley and The Book Club Girls for the ARC received in exchange for an honest review.

3.5 STARS

I was given an eARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.</b>


It’s been three years since Anna’s husband, Spencer passed away due to an accident. Anna’s still struggling— unable to get out of bed, going through days of numbness, and shutting herself out from the world. Her best friend constantly is trying to get her out into the world by trying new things. But, Anna isn’t ready to move on yet. She still has all of Spencer’s things where he left them and her fortnight dinners with his family are spent mourning him.

Anna calls Spencer’s phone on occasion, just so she can hear his voice. On New Year’s Eve someone picks up, someone who’s not Spencer. Through the next year, the two form a bond and help each other through their grief. Anna is able to pull herself out of her depression and get back out into the world. Brody, the man on the other end of the phone, finally begins to stop isolating himself from the world. Through it all they heal, and maybe even find love along the way.

This was a beautiful book about grief and mental health. Anna and Brody were struggling and Fiona Lucas did a fantastic job depicting this. There were subtle hints throughout showing the characters beginning to heal, as well as setbacks to their healing. The two characters were so real.


<b> SEMI SPOILERS??</b>






I felt like the book dragged in the middle and also I wasn’t totally buying that they were falling for each other. To me it just seemed like they were mistaking their healing and dependence on each other for love.


Overall this was a beautiful book on healing after loss and finding yourself again.

This story has it all, snappy dialogue, tender heartbreaking scenes, love, uppity inlaws, and perfectly human and flawed characters and a great message to glue it all together. The feelings and trials of the character Anna surrounding her loss and grief resonated so perfectly with me. You will love this book!