Cover Image: The Last Laugh

The Last Laugh

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Member Reviews

Mindy McGinnis is one of my very favorites. Every single one of her books is beautifully dark and gothic, with flawed and complicated characters that you can’t help but want the best for, and THE LAST LAUGH is certainly no exception.

Picking up right where The Initial Insult left off, the story of family secrets, betrayal, murder, missing people, and toxic relationships continued to surprise and delight me. And also confound me, because there were some hefty twists and turns this time around. I thought for sure that I knew where this story was going and I can only say that I was completely wrong. Not even close.

This series reads like a gorgeous love letter to Edgar Allen Poe with its many nods to his various works including The Fall of the House of Usher, The Tell-Tale Heart, and The Cask of Amontillado, among others. Every time I finish one of Mindy’s books, I’m convinced that that particular one is my *very* favorite. I guess I’ll have to make this series my *very very* favorite, because it ticked so many boxes for me and made my goth, Poe-loving heart so happy. 5 stars, and I can’t wait to see what Mindy graces us with next.

*eARC received courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher.

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I downloaded this book because I wanted to see if my issues with The initial Insult would be addressed in this book. They were not and I would even say that they got worse. Full of ableism.

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Well… that was 🦇 💩 crazy!!!
And I loved every minute of it.
If you haven‘t read this book and it‘s predecessor, The Initial Insult, I suggest you do. You‘ll be in for a bananas good time. Thank you to #netgalley for an advance copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.
McGinnis is a new must read author for me.

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This has to be one of the weirdest books I've ever read, and I have read some weird books. That said, it's good, in typical McGinnis semi gory fashion. Tress has always been an interesting character, and the end of The Initial Insult left a LOT of things unresolved. I felt a little lost still through a good chunk of this book, but the insanity was enough to keep me interested, and by the end everything was fairly well tied up. A solid conclusion to this duology!

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The only negative thing about Mindy McGinnis books is that we only get one like once a year. Because she's a human, and writing takes time. It isn't her fault she's not a cyborg. But man, do I get excited when the time for one is here! The thing I love most about her books (in a long list of things I love) is that they're simply unlike any other books out there. There's always something unique and fresh feeling about them, for me. And this series has nailed that.

I absolutely devoured The Initial Insult last year, and was kind of giddy for this sequel/finale. And it delivered! I don't want to give away much, because you should really read this series, but if you thought everyone in book one was messed up? You haven't seen anything yet! This town is full of the Who's Who of Human Crap (heh, Friends reference that I finally have a reason to use), with many, many folks sinking to new, vile lows. Like, yes, Tress is a mess, but Tress owns that she's a mess. Plus, her backstory is rough, so you can definitely see why she makes some terrible life choices. In this sequel, we also get the POV of her cousin, Ribbit. Ribbit is... he sucks, okay? His chapters will probably infuriate you, but they're great for the story overall.

I could not put this one down, much like its predecessor. And I kind of wanted to pace myself, because like I said, we only get one Mindy McGinnis book a year! But alas, I was too invested in the story, too pulled in by the darkness and debauchery of this town, to do anything but absolutely fly through the pages. If you loved the first book like I did, know that this book will give you a very satisfying conclusion. And if you've yet to read the first book... what the heck are you waiting for?!

Bottom Line: Nobody does messed up and wildly entertaining as well as Mindy McGinnis.

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While I didn't like this one as much as the first book, I had to know the end of the story! A suspenseful, gory, and twisted finale. Readers who enjoyed book #1 will want to read it.

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This was really great. I loved how The Last Laugh built upon the story of The Initial Insult. These dark and twisted teens are super entertaining. Oh, and I was pleasantly surprised by how gruesome the body horror got.

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I was provided with a complimentary copy of this book so I could give an honest review. The opinions are entirely my own, and any quotes are taken from the ARC and may be different in the final published copy.

The Last Laugh by Mindy McGinnis continues where The Initial Insult ended. It is Saturday, the day after the infamous party at the Allan house. Felicity is missing. Tress is injured. Ribbit wants revenge. The cat is loose.

Tess is still looking for answers. She thought Felicity knew what happened to her parents, but Felicity cannot answer any more of Tess's questions. Ribbit knows the secret Tess wants to know, but he promised his mother not to help Tess. Besides, he is tired of being the butt of everyone's jokes and is ready to get his revenge on them, revenge on all of them.

For at least a year, the Initial Insult was on my "to-be-read" list. To give The Last Laugh an honest review, I read The Initial Insult. Both books grabbed my attention right from the beginning. To fully understand and appreciate The Last Laugh, you need to read The Initial Insult.

The series did not disappoint. The story is full of dark humor. While the characters are not the most likable, they are well-formed and memorable. The novel wraps everything up so there will probably not be a third novel.

McGinnis is now on my author-to-read list.

This 200-word review was published on Philomathinphila.com

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This was a great conclusion to the duology. If you haven't read The Initial Insult, you'll want to read that book first.

These books have so many parts of Edgar Allan Poe's stories. The first book played on the ideas found in The Cask of Amontillado (tricking someone for revenge and then leaving them to be bricked into a wall). This one is heavy on The Tell-Tale Heart and Fall of the House of Usher. Even the character names are familiar from Poe's different stories and poems. Annabelle, Lenore, and even Felicity Turnado (who name is based on the character Fortunado from Poe's The Cask of Amontillado). It's fun for Poe fans to recognize these subtle hints in the story.

This book takes place right after the end The Initial Insult (Book 1). The entire town is looking for Felicity Turnado, who has been missing since the party. Tress knows where Felicity is, but she doesn't want to admit it to anyone because she doesn't want to be labeled a murderer. And, what if they find her before Felicity actually dies? Instead, Tress helps in the search parties for Felicity, knowing that they're not going to find her.

The panther from Tress's grandfather's roadside animal attraction is still on the loose and she knows she can't report this fact without causing a lot of trouble at home (the panther had escaped its enclosure prior to the party in the last book). The panther took a swipe at her arm, which is now starting to get infected. Tress knows she can't go to a doctor for treatment without folks asking too many questions. It's just one big mess.

A great book that will keep you reading until the very end.



.

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An amazing sequel! Stories are often reimagined, and Mindy McGinnis does Poe the best way. A great way to get students into the genre!

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More things are sinister and rotting in Amontillado, Ohio beyond the infection ravaging Tess’s injury and the guilt tearing at her mind. So many threats have always surrounded her. More are added as long time betrayals are revealed. Featuring new dueling narrations, and a new animal perspective. Can money salvage the reputations of traditional names tarnished by selfish bad decisions, revenge and cruelty?

Rich and heavy with emotional tension from page 1. Readers who love twisted, small town thrillers full of secrets and hidden dangers will love this conclusion to The Initial Insult #duology. Full of characters who tread the line between victim and villain roughly smudging the boundary as they go about the business of survival. Perfect for readers who enjoy complex, unpredictable characters and fans of Karen McManus. Fans of McGinnis already pre-ordered this newest gem. This is an invitation to those unfamiliar with her work to start right now with the Initial Insult and feast your way through both volumes.

Thanks to #netgalley @harperkids for the opportunity to preview this title.

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"You can only swallow so much of your own blood before it turns your gut black, tinting everything inside you darkly."

This is one of my favorite duologies and I couldn’t ask for a better conclusion! The Initial Insult was one of my favorite books last year and I will admit, I felt done dirty by the cliffhanger McGinnis left me with but The Last Laugh makes up for it. All is forgiven!

If you’ve read the first book, you’ll know that this series is based in part on Poe’s The Cask of Amontillado and The Fall of the House of Usher – plus a few other references to some of his other works. The Last Laugh picks up immediately after The Initial Insult and the town of Amontillado is in an uproar looking for the missing Felicity Turnado while Tress Montor is barely hanging on by a thread, literally. Ribbit Usher has really done it now, ensuring that Amontillado in all its entirety has seen his humiliating shenanigans.

The characters are so freaking emotive and I was so invested in them that I was having anxiety as events unfolded. And believe me, there’s an unfolding of motives and events that is so mind blowingly deep and heavy that it’s easy to be taken off guard. Between Tress and Ribbit’s dual narrative, it’s easy to see how the molding of an unstable mind takes place. This is not a book for the faint of heart, there is gore and disgustingness and I loved every single word.

Will I be recommending this series? Hell. Freaking. Yeah! My thanks to Harper Collins Books for this gifted copy.

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It’s not the first time I’ve mentioned this – McGinnis is an auto-buy author for me. Each of her books is vastly different, but all that I’ve read are bizarre, unpredictable, and will take you to places you never imagined.

This sequel picks up immediately after the events of The Initial Insult. Felicity Turnado never came home from the party the night before, and everyone is looking for her. Tess Montor, who murdered Felicity, is dealing with a severely infected arm after being clawed by her escaped panther and is still unsure of what happened to her parents after their disappearance seven years ago. Ribbit Usher is the star of a viral video after humiliating himself at the party the night before while intoxicated. Time is running out for him to follow through on the morbid promise he made to his mother many years ago.

It’s difficult to write this review without spoilers, but I’ll say what I can. McGinnis mentioned this series was inspired by Poe, and The Tell-Tale Heart strongly influenced this sequel. The story moves along quickly with surprises waiting to ambush you. Starting around the 80% mark, trust me when I say you won’t want to be interrupted until you’ve finished reading. Weird and perilous events occur at a rapid fire pace – not everyone survives. Flood gates are opened and long held secrets come surging out. You may utter expletives in shock. I certainly did.

An incredibly dysfunctional family (seriously, I can’t emphasize this enough), an escaped black panther, an orangatan who signs, maggots (you’ll need a strong stomach), revenge – all are present in this phenomenal sequel. If you haven’t ready any of this author’s books, you’re seriously depriving yourself. Correct that as soon as possible.

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

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I am obsessed with this series! The Initial Insult ended on such a fantastic cliffhanger, and The Last Laugh picks right up and does not stop until the very end. I read this book in one sitting, which I rarely do. Tress is such a complex character and I love rooting for her despite her morally grey elements. This was a very satisfying ending to the story and I can't wait to share it with my students!

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Felicity Turnado is dead. Tress Montor succeeded in getting her revenge, but not without consequences. Attacked by the escaped panther, Tress's arm is currently being held together with duct tape. As the infection from her wound starts to spread, Tress swears she can hear a heartbeat from the best friend necklace she shared with Felicity.

Ribbit Usher has always been pushed around his entire life. But he's finally been pushed over the edge. Now, he's going to save Felicity so they can finally be together. In order to do that, he's decided to exact revenge on everyone who has ever wronged him. Which includes his cousin Tress.

Thanks to HarperCollins and NetGalley for an advanced copy of this to review! In all honesty, this kind of horror isn't necessarily my favorite genre. But, I read The Initial Insult last year and had to know how this story ended. In true Mindy McGinnis style, you're in for an absolutely wild ride.

This book picks up immediately where the first one leaves off, with no interruption in the events happening. What I found useful in this book is McGinnis includes the days everything is happening, becuase it would be easy to forget how much time is passing. Especially becuase for parts of the story, Tress is in a state of delirium. As she unravels the complete story, you'll figure out the mystery right along with her. Needing to know why all of this is happening in this town.

Did the ending seem a little far-fetched? Yes, but also so does the rest of the story. So, it kind of fits. I will say, if you get queasy at descriptions of gore or infected wounds, you might want to avoid this one. Because there are some very gruesome descriptions in this book. Like, I had to skip a few sections because I just couldn't do it.

I know the first book was a Poe story re-telling (I don't remember which one), but there are a lot of nods to Poe in general throughout this book. If you are an Edgar Allen Poe fan, I'm sure you would have a great time trying to find all the Easter eggs. Those are masterfully done!

Honestly, I feel like if you know Mindy McGinnis, you know what you're getting into when you pick up this book. She manages to keep the reader on their toes, and this is a dark, gruesome book that should definitely make it on your YA horror lists!

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Thank you to Netgalley and HarperCollins (Katherine Tegen Books) for an eBook ARC of The Last Laugh.

I liked The Initial Insult so I was excited to see how the story concluded with The Last Laugh. If a reader has not read The Initial Insult, The Last Laugh will likely not make a whole lot of sense so definitely make sure they (or you) have read the first one. There isn't a lot of detail/explanation of past plot points that would make what happens in TLL make sense and there is definitely an assumption that the reader has TII backstory.

The Initial Insult left with some huge cliffhangers, and TLL picks up right where we left off, within hours of the conclusion of the first book. Tress is once again a narrator, but we have two new narrators that offer unique perspectives on what is transpiring in Amontillado.

The Edgar Allan Poe connections are a bit heavy handed, but overall this is a satisfying conclusion to the suspense of the first book. It's a wild, twisty story. There are a few gross parts, if you are squeamish at all. But overall, I really enjoyed this book and will definitely keep an eye out for more by Mindy McGinnis in the future.

3.5/5 stars (rounded up)

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When I read The Initial Insult by Mindy McGinnis I was overwhelmed. I was in awe at the story this author crafted. It's a story that kept me guessing and kept me in amazement entirely. The way she was about to capture Edgar Allen Poe's famous short stories into a completely contemporary, compelling, and seamless fashion was something to be applauded. When I saw there would be a sequel I was beside myself with anticipation.

I raced through this book. The Last Laugh was almost too much. I'm still reeling from the intricacies of the story and the gruesome nature of the plot. I was enraptured from first word to last. I cannot sing enough praise for this book and its predecessor. You don't have to be a Poe fan to devour this book. You don't have to like YA, you don't have to like horror, you don't have to like gore, all you have to do is appreciate glorious writing and you'll like this book. It is on the gory side, so if you have a weak stomach, prepare yourself for that. I'll rave about this book for ages.

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Wow! I didn't think it was possible, but this sequel was even more dark than the first one. I'm not extremely well versed in Poe's works, but I knew enough to recognize the stories that were present in the book. I really enjoyed that aspect of both books in the series. Even the animal POV was well executed and never felt weird. It made me laugh out loud and even shed a tear at times for how much I hurt for Tress. I LOVE Mindy McGinnis

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This was a wholly satisfying end to McGinnis's Edgar Allan Poe inspired THE INITIAL INSULT Duology, in which we get an updated THE CASK OF AMONTILLADO (and many other Poe works) with teenagers in a small town. When we left off Tress had left Felicity to die in a coal chute, not having gotten the truth about her parents disappearance, while a teenage party had ended with her cousin Ribbit humiliated and with her mauled by the escaped panther from her grandfather's animal sideshow. Now she is feeling the guilt of killing her friend, so much so that she is hallucinating that her BFF heart necklace is beating against her skin. Guilt, infection, or both? Meanwhile Ribbit is plotting his own revenge against those who wronged him. So this time out we have Tress's POV as well as Ribbit's, and I liked how McGinnis brought a whole new threat that still tied into the initial storyline. It also felt like this time around we weren't as soaked in Poe references, though that is probably partially because she had set it all up in the previous book so it wasn't as obvious. In terms of characters we don't really get much new insight into Tress, but we do get a whole now look into Ribbit's mind, as well as a look into just how corrupt and rotted the town of Amontillado is, as well as many of the inhabitants are. There are plenty of high tension moments, as well as a lot of gore that will make your stomach curdle, but in ways that feel like it fits into what we are seeing.

Like in many Poe stories, there are few happy endings in THE LAST LAUGH. But overall I found it to be wholly satisfying.

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This book has all the hallmarks of a good Mindy McGinnis book: terrible characters that are so well-developed that you can't help but to love reading about them, absolutely disgusting scenes that will make most people squirm, and a solid plot with just enough turns. It's quite the satisfying read!

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