Her Last Affair is a slow burn, character-driven story that follows seemingly unrelated characters. An exploration of choices made, regrets experienced and how past hurts carry into the future. Marketed as a thriller, I found it to be more reflective and pensive, almost contemporary fiction, with a bit of mystery thrown in. Maybe due to the slower pacing of the book, I didn't get the edge of the seat feels like a thriller normally has me feeling.

Skyla is a widow living alone in a cottage, on the property of a non-operating, family owned drive-in movie theater. She rents the second cottage out to Teddy, who looks to reconnect to a long ago young love relationship with, Linelle.
Jeremy who seemingly is unrelated to the rest of the characters, is tangled up with past crushes, new breakups and low self esteem..

The plot unfolds steadily intertwining the past with the future in a combustible ending. About half way the pace picked up a bit and I found I enjoyed the second half a bit more than the first. Good for those that like a character driven story, where the author takes his time creating exceptional characters and weaving an intriguing mystery.

A solid three star read.

Thank you to @netgalley and publisher William Morrow for an advanced digital copy in exchange of an honest review.

3.5 stars rounded to 4.

I went into this book blind, I didn’t read any reviews beforehand and it had been awhile since I read the synopsis so I didn’t know what to expect. This book started off amazing. I got sucked in pretty much right away and was really enjoying it. At the beginning, I was thinking this book was going to be about rekindled romances but boy, was I wrong! The last half of this book was unsuspecting and took me by surprise. I didn’t see the end coming. This book is categorized as a physiological suspense but I personally didn’t feel a lot of suspense. This book is told in different POVs by unreliable characters and in different timelines. I did like how the characters all ending up tying together at the end. The storyline is definitely different and original.

Thank you Net Galley and William Morrow and Custom House for an ARC in return for my honest opinion.

Her Last Affair is the first book that I've read by John Searles but it won't be my last. This mystery combines the narratives of three characters whose lives become intertwined in unexpected ways to create a fast-moving thriller that keeps you guessing right up to the conclusion. This book has you thinking about your past behavior and how it might have affected those around you in ways you'll never know. Read and enjoy!

Her Last Affair is a psychological thriller that intertwines the lives of multiple people in a unique and chilling way.

Skyla is a retired nurse, recently widowed after a nearly 50 year marriage. She begins going blind and decides to rent the second cottage next to her home in an effort to solve for her loneliness and failing sight

Teddy answers the ad to rent the cottage and finds himself reaching out to an old flame from decades prior based on Skyla's encouragement.

Jeremy is feeling low self esteem as her nears middle age as a single man with multiple failed relationships under his belt. During a work trip back to his hometown, he decides to connect with an ex.

None of them realize how connected their lives are about to become ...

It took me a minute to get into this, mostly because I struggled to understand the connections between all the characters. In a few places I was even left slightly confused. Once things started to click for me, I was very invested. Character-driven thrillers can often get stale pretty fast, but this one unfolded enough mystery to keep me interested as the pages turned. I needed to know how it ended and how all the characters were connected. It was a solid satisfying ending that wasn't overly predictable.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review.

3.5⭐ rounded up

This was an interesting one for sure. A bit odd.
It jumps all around between their pov's and the timeline, which sometimes confused me.

The biggest thing I think these main characters have in common is that they are all lonely.
Skyla ~ in her 70's, former nurse, widowed a year prior and blind as a bat. I am not sure how she gets on by herself. What a whackadoodle.
Teddy ~ a British bloke who met Linelle when they were teens working at Disney.
Jeremy - failed writer, feels unloved, knew Teddy when they were younger and now lives in NYC.
Linelle ~ lives in Florida with her boring husband, Marcus. She swipes his 67' Camaro to surprise Teddy 19 hours away.
I'd like to take the "67" and run Marcus over with the way he went on and on and on and on about it.

I get that Skyla was lonely and took a liking to Teddy, but they were so weird together ~ can I have a hold? just plain weird.

Since a good portion of the story took place at Skyla's, where there once was a drive-in theater on the property, I enjoyed reading the movie quotes at the top of each chapter.

Most of the twists were quite obvious to me before being revealed. There was one, maybe two, I didn't see coming, so that was nice. Overall, this kept me engaged and the unique writing style of this author would make me give him a whirl again. He did a great job of weaving these characters together when it seemed at times like they had nothing to do with each other. I like how Linelle's life turned out too.

*Thanks to Netgalley, William Morrow and Custom House and John Searles for the ARC. I am voluntarily leaving my honest review*

Skyla met her husband, Hollis, as a teenager working at the drive in theater his parents owned. We enter the scene years later after Hollis has died. Skyla is renting out the next door cottage identical to hers and being rather picky about its new occupants. She knows she’s met the perfect gentleman when Teddy arrives, but Teddy is hiding something. Skyla, too, has a few secrets up her sleeve and isn’t the perfect little old lady. In the throes of macular degeneration, Skyla only sees blurs and darkness so life isn’t the easiest for her, but she’s hoping with Teddy’s help she’ll be able to get by. When talking about their pasts, both revisit relationships that were hurtful, with the hope of closure and perhaps second chances, but things don’t always go according to plan and soon they both have even more secrets. Some darker than others! With an intriguing backdrop of a derelict old drive in with old movie quotes introducing each chapter, this book had its humorous, sad and downright crazy moments that melded together perfectly!

John Searles has written another hard to describe but wonderful novel. There is suspense to be sure, and thriller elements as well, as we watch the collision of three very different characters who end up at a rundown drive-in theater for a genuinely unsettling finale. But the book’s real power comes from the characters Searles introduces to us - a retired nurse who is going blind, a failed novelist, and an unhappily married woman who still holds a torch for a guy she loved years before when they both worked at DisneyWorld in Florida.
Searles keeps shifting his points of view - and includes many flashbacks - but he never loses control of his plot or the steadily mounting suspense. Searles is not one of our most prolific authors - Her Last Affair is only his fourth book - but the wait between novels is always worth it.

3.5 stars, rounded up to 4

Pick this book if you like: multiple POV thrillers, twists, being in the dark for a bit

Thoughts 💭
Every marriage has it's secrets. This book follows multiple different perspectives that do not seem like they go together at first. I will admit the beginning half of the book was a little confusing to me. It would have been easier to follow had the author wrote whose POV it was for the chapter.

We follow three people. First is Skyla who lives alone in an old drive in theater after her husband of 50 years suddenly died. She starts to rent a cottage from a man named Teddy. A thousand miles from her is a married woman named Linelle who starts an online affair with her ex, also Teddy. Lastly, we have Jeremy, a failed writer who lives in NYC. He accepts a job in Rhode Island, the home of his first love.

The pace of the first half was a bit slow but that is often when a thriller is trying to paint the picture for you. Once everything started to come together it really picked up. It was a wild ride. I was throwing all kinds of guesses out while I was reading.

The conversations were a bit odd sometimes. There's one in particular that bought up another character but it had nothing to do with the actual conversation. It was just to let you know they know each other. Some of the conversations didn't seem like they would be real. That's my only really issue with the book.

Loved the ending. Definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author John Searles, and the publisher Harper Collins for the ARC!

A slow burn that delivers in the end.
This story follows the seemingly unrelated experiences of Skyla, Linelle and Jeremy. Skyla is a recently widowed owner of a now defunct drive-in theater and twin cottages. Her husband died in an unfortunate accident leaving her alone and losing her eyesight. Looking for companionship she decides to rent the second cottage to one Teddy Cornwell who happens to be pining over Linelle. Linelle meanwhile is in an uncomfortable marriage and when Teddy contacts her she too starts to reminisce about her past relationship with him. Jeremy is a struggling journalist whose latest job takes him back to his childhood town of Providence, RI and hopefully to reconnect with his once best friend and heartthrob, Maryanne with another ex's show dog (he's dog sitting) in tow.
This may seem like a bit to keep straight as you jump from one character's story to another but the author does a masterful job of keeping them easily followed. The characters are richly drawn with a lot of descriptive development that they come alive in the pages of the story. How these multiple story lines and plot come together in the end is thrilling with just the right amount of suspense thrown in to keep it that much more interesting.
If you enjoy a well plotted psychological thriller that slowly builds to an exciting climax, then I highly recommend this nicely crafted story.

Ding, ding, ding! What do we have here? We've got a WINNER of a story and I am beyond thrilled to be able to say that. 🏆🥇

Skyla is an elderly widow that has recently lost her sight. She lives in solitude outside the drive-in theater that her and her husband owned. She has decided to rent out her second cottage to....

Teddy Cornwall, a man looking for a fresh start living away from the hustle and bustle of the city and while he's at it he may just connect with his long lost love of his youth....

Linelle, is in a stale marriage with a daughter that just left for a music school in Berlin. Having recently lost her teaching job under disgraceful circumstances she is adrift and lonely that is until her first love reaches out to her after all these years....

Meanwhile in NYC there is Jeremy, a failed writer, that's making a living being paid scraps to write restaurant reviews (A job I would love to have, btw) when he is asked to review a new restaurant in Providence, RI. This is where he met Maryanne. The most wonderful and beautiful woman he has ever met. They were once best of friends but have lost touch for reasons unknown and he is wondering if this is his chance to reconnect with her after all these years.

This book was a legit page-turner for this reader. What's surprising is that I had such little expectations for it. The reviews so far hadn't been all that promising but for whatever reason this baby worked for me. I found every single character fascinating. I love a book where a character is telling you a story and boy did Skyla have story to tell. I couldn't get enough. There is some real humor sprinkled throughout too. One scene where a show poodle meets an unruly mutt made me giggle so much and there are wisecracks sprinkled throughout to bring the book some levity because, I'm not going to lie, the topics are heavy. I truly enjoyed the ending and felt it brought the proper closure for this book and it's characters.

I'm not sure where John Searles has been all my life but you better believe I will be checking out his backlist and I look forward to any of his future endeavors. 5 stars!

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom House for my complimentary copy.

Her Last Affair had several aspects that I liked - quirky characters, movie quotes, and a surprising twist. In general, however, I found it challenging to get into. The majority of the book is devoted to Skylar, Linelle, and Jeremy's backstories. About 70% of the way through the story, the relationship between these seemingly unrelated characters is finally revealed. By then, my interest had waned. Although I enjoyed the last part of the book, the languid pace was too much for me.

Those who prefer slower-paced stories with well-developed characters will enjoy Her Last Affair.

I received an early copy of this book.

sorry- posted review for a different book! my bad - the covers are too similar ;). back soon with an actual review,

Skyla lives alone on the old, run-down drive in movie theater with her matching houses. Growing old, suffering from macular degeneration is taking its toll on her, forcing her to rent out one of her houses on the property. And just like that Teddy appears to save the day, renting the house from Skyla. He takes a liking to the older lady and all her quirks. While Skyla spend time reminiscing about her past marriage and life, Teddy starts doing the same.
Linelle is bored as could be. Her daughter is off at a music camp for the rest of her high school career. Linelle has nothing to look forward to, especially with her husband who just works. And that brings her back to her first love, Teddy. Contacting an old friend, what could happen......
Then we meet Jeremy, who is looking for a break in life and a chance at finally being happy. Jeremy finds himself dog sitting his ex's poodle while getting reacquainted with MaryAnne, his love from a long time ago.
In Her Last Affair by John Searles, you find all these sad tales of love lost and rekindled (in some instances) and just what happens when you aren't looking. And do we really remember the past correctly? or is it what we imagined in our own minds?
I really enjoyed seeing how these stories eventually came together and had several great twists thrown in there too! Specail thanks to NetGalley, John Searles, and William Morrow and Custom House, Mariner Books Publishing for the advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest opinion. 4 stars for me!
#HerLastAffair #NetGalley

This book had many good bits of quirkiness and humor, or what I would call good "turn of phrase". However, the story fell a little bit flat for me along the multiple narrators/storylines. While I knew the paths would eventually line up, I felt like it took a long time to get there. I will say that the descriptions of Jeremy and Maryanne were good enough that I could picture the characters that would play them. The only character I liked it in the book was Teddy, who turned out to be....well, you'll have to read the book to find out :-)

I would not call this a thriller; it had a bit of mystery, but seemed to border on satire for me. 2.5 stars rounded up to 3 for the writing style.

Thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom House for an advance reader's copy.

I enjoyed this suspenseful book. I found this book to be well written and has characters that brought the twists and turns to a new level. I enjoyed how the author's writing style and attention to details made the story realistic. The characters pulled me into the story from the beginning. They made the story engaging and easy to read. They had me coming back for more. They are well rounded characters that kept me turning pages but also are supportive of each other. This is a story that is full of action and hard to put down. A story about the past comes to the present which could turn deadly and is there a second chance at romance in the future. This story had great plot growth as well as the growth of the characters throughout the story. A really great story that you dont want to miss. I highly recommend this book.

Huge thank you to Mariner Books and NetGalley for a chance to read this advanced copy.

While I loved the premise of this book, it fell flat quite a few times. Each chapter is a different characters point of view, but it doesn’t tell you which character is taking until a page or two in. By then, I have to go back and re-read just to make sure I understand what I just read. I thought the author wrapped up the ending nicely and would definitely recommend! For me, there were just so many different perspectives going it was hard to keep track.

Thank you #netgalley for an ARC of this book. It was a slow build of suspense but it does capture your attention and keeps it throughout the entirety of the book. While there are only a few chapters throughout the book, each chapter is a different point of view. Every character has a secret and there are lots of unexpected plot turns. On top of that, it has a surprise ending that is remarkably clever.

This is one of the most enthralling, books I've read in a long time. The characters come alive, warts and all, and their stories caught and held me throughout. As told from the perspectives of the three main characters, it expertly depicts their lives, both past and present.. It intertwines all of the characters to form a novel that begs the reader to see their humanness in an understanding light.

Skyla, an elderly widow is angry about how her life turned out. Her marriage was a sham, her career as a nurse ended abruptly and macular degeneration has left her blind. Enter Teddy, a British chap who rents her next-door cottage, charms her, and shows her how to live her life again.

Linelle is having a midlife crisis. Her career as an art teacher is over, her daughter is studying abroad and her loveless marriage is on the rocks. Then she is contacted online by her long ago lover, Teddy, and they rekindle their relationship.

Jeremy has anger management issues and a poor perception of himself. His latest girlfriend has just broken up with him when his work takes him back to the city where he grew up and had his first serious crush, Maryanne.. On a whim, he tracks down Maryanne, now divorced and living alone, and they end up reminiscing about the good old days and he wonders if perhaps the relationship will turn out differently this time around.

This is a terrific study of the foilbles of relationships and how these characters dealt with love, loss and life. It is a suspenseful read that holds the reader from start to finish. It is beautifully written with plausible plot twists and flawed characters that I found myself rooting for.

Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow Custom House Mariner Books for an advance copy of this book. The publication date is March 22, 2022.

Skyla is an aging, blind, widow who decides to rent out her extra cottage to a man, in hopes that he will assist her in chores. She starts having a growing infatuation with her tenant and starts to rely on him more frequently. Her vision loss skews the way she perceives her reality and she does not realize all that has been happening in front of her.
Her Last Affair is incredibly slow to start and the characters are not likeable at all. This makes the book difficult to read. The two major plot twists are surprising but they do not make the story any more interesting. I didn't particularly enjoy the story but it wasn't awful either. If you are a fan of unreliable narrators and in depth characterization, you will enjoy this. If you like slow paced character driven novels with a slight twist, you may also like this. It just wasn't my cup of tea.
Thank you to Netgalley, William Morrow, and the Scene of the Crime Early Reads for the advanced copy of the book. The opinions are my own.

I received this as an advanced reader kindle book from NetGalley

This is the story of Skyla who is a former nurse and widow. She is losing her eyesight, and decides after her husband died that she needs to rent the cottage that is on her property. Enter Teddy a single charming man. He rents the cottage and they start having dinner together and talk about their past. Teddy talks ab0ut his old flame that he misses and she encourages him to contact her.

It is an interesting story and sometimes you wonder where it is going. All in all I did enjoy the book and I would recommend it to others.