This was not what I had hoped for. A small part of it was about wilderness survival; but it was mostly about a wife and mom, and her bi-polar disorder that ravaged both her, her husband, and her family. Which is not to say it wasn’t well written, because it was. To the point where it had my own mental health reacting to the words of the story. My anxiety spiked multiple times during this story; not because of the cold, winter, or avalanche; instead it was because of the intensity of Mom’s actions, thoughts, and struggles.

I don’t know why this is marketed the way it is. The Last Winter is NOT a story about a town or avalanche at its core. It’s actually about a little girl and her bi-polar mother, and amazing father. It’s about how hard it is to keep a family together when one person is unstable, unpredictable, and hard to manage. And it’s sooo incredibly intense because the author herself is bi-polar.
I love that this is written by a Canadian queer woman with a mental health issue (which is awfully close to what my own bio could say…). I just wish I’d known more of what I was going into in advance.

It’s possible I’d give this 3-stars in another situation, just for being other than expected, but I can’t imagine doing so given how much this book affected me. The writing is brilliant AND (most importantly to this Canadian) it’s an actual reflection of how dangerous snow and cold actually are!! I cannot emphasize how important it is that hypothermia, frostbite, dehydration (even when surrounded by snow) and other cold ailments are properly portrayed. If for no other reason than because I live in a cold and sometimes dangerously cold place, I think it’s important people remember that Mother Nature has always been able to beat our species.

While I’m so glad to have read this, I’m also glad to put it behind me and move on. It was just too intense in ways I wasn’t ready for.
Please note: I received an eARC of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is an honest and unbiased review.

Last Winter is the story of Gus, Fiona, and their daughter Ruby in the days leading up to and following a tragic event.

This book was very real, and often hard to read at times. Fiona was bipolar, and it made her a very hard character to like. But I appreciate how real her character was. Carrie Mac stated in the blurb about her that she was bipolar, and that brings a lot more rawness to the story.

Overall all, I became very attached to the characters and wanted to see where the story would take them. While I don’t think this is a boon for everyone, as there is a lot of graphic details of bodily functions that I feel would turn a lot of people off. Additionally there were some scenes that I also feel could polarize readers as well. I felt it was a glimpse into what living and parenting with bipolar and other mental illnesses would be like.

If you like real and gritty stories, this is the read for you!

After seeing that this book was compared to two of my all time favourite books, Beartown and The Great Alone, I was really excited to read this story set in my home province of BC.

Unfortunately, I feel deeply misled by the blurb and comparison to other books which this one holds no similarity. This is a very hard book to read, typically I am not easily turned off by the content matter of a book. However this one was so graphic and gruesome at times I had to physically put the book down to escape the icky feeling.

This was not a book for me, I did not enjoy the characters, or any of the many horrible things that happen in this story. I was so hoping this would hit the mark for me but it really just ended up falling flat.

I found this book to be quite confusing and understanding what was real was difficult. Perhaps this is what being in the mind of a bipolar individual is like but as a reader it was hard to know what was actually happening and what was happening in the character’s head. It kept my interest and I wanted to know what would happen.

The story was engaging and difficult to read at times. While the central theme of a family in crisis was done well, the stereotypical portrayal of bipolar disorder left something to be desired. All in all a decent read but I wanted more from this story.

I tried with this one. I really did. I tried about 5 different times but just couldn’t get in to this book. What I did read was well written, but I really struggled with keeping the timeline straight and I struggled to understand what was going on when it came to the mother. I’m sure that was the point and was intentional, but it all just made this a very difficult read for me and I was not able to finish it myself.

I absolutely loved this book!! I couldn’t put it down.
I just loved all the characters. I highly recommend this book.

Synopsis:

Fiona & Gus's marriage is on the rocks, with her mental health shaky at best. Gus, a pro snowboarder turned backcountry guide is exhausted by Fiona's mood swings and the impact her erratic behaviour has on their 8 y/o daughter, Ruby. Gus takes Ruby’s class on an overnight trip into the wilderness, where Ruby is one of only two children to survive the avalanche that kills the others, including her beloved father. After the recovery operation ends with no sign of her father, Ruby uses her survival skills he taught her to go on a search by herself. Her trek back into the snow sets off events that stretches her own resourcefulness and her mother's fragile coping skills to the breaking point.

Review:

This was a devastating story about the potential impact of unstable mental health on a family. I think it's so important that such storylines be discussed because it is humanizing and eye-opening for readers and likely relatable for some. I would be so curious to hear from someone who can relate to the main character to see if it was written in a fair, realistic way. The book could have done without the oversexualization of the children in the book - not sure that it added much to the plot so I had to remove stars for that.

Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the eGalley!

A great novel with a great if very cold setting and a sad storyline. An interesting look into having bipolar disorder and the challenges of parenthood , the characters are both likeable and frustrating .

A very poignant, insightful book that delves into grief, mental health and tragedy. Although disturbing and difficult to read I was left with hope at the book’s conclusion.

This was an interesting read, but ultimately not my favourite.  The characters were interesting, but I had a hard time reading from the mother's perspective rather understandably.  I also found the timeline a little bit confusing.  There were bits that I skipped because it was just hard to read through.  It was a well written book, and I loved the fact that it was set in British Columbia, but it just wasn't for me in the long run.  This was another one of my eARCs, so thanks to the publsihers for this opportunity/

Gritty and real. Set in a small mountain town in BC during Avalanche season. Tackles the toll living with mental health issues can have on a family,especially during stressful life events. Some topics explored may not be to everyone's liking, but they enhance the story and make it incredibly realistic. The story alternates between Ruby's point of view, an 8 year old with selective mutism, and her mother's, a woman who struggles with self care and staying on her medication for bi-polar disorder.
It's broken down into three main parts. Before, where we get to know the family and they're closest family friends. During, which starts just a few hours before the Avalanche and covers the Avalanche itself. Followed by After, dealing with the grief and heartache of such staggering loss in a small community. I absolutely recommend this novel, and am looking forward to reading more by Carrie Mac.

Last Winter by Carrie Mac is a captivating and haunting novel that has received widespread acclaim from readers and critics alike. Here are some reasons why I think it deserves a five-star rating:
1. Gripping Storyline: The novel follows the journey of a young woman named Ruby as she navigates her way through the aftermath of a traumatic event. The plot is beautifully written and keeps the reader engaged from start to finish.
2. Well-developed Characters: The characters in "Last Winter" are complex and multi-dimensional, making them feel like real people rather than mere fictional constructs. Ruby, in particular, is a relatable and sympathetic protagonist who readers will root for throughout the novel.
3. Stunning Prose: Carrie Mac's writing style is elegant and evocative, creating a vivid sense of atmosphere and setting. Her descriptions of the wintry Canadian landscape are especially breathtaking, making the setting almost a character in its own right.
4. Powerful Themes: "Last Winter" explores themes of trauma, grief, and the importance of human connection. The novel is a poignant reminder of the power of love and empathy in healing the wounds of the past.
5. Critical Acclaim: "Last Winter" has been highly praised by both readers and critics, with many noting its masterful storytelling and poignant themes. It has been recognized with several literary awards, including the Canadian Library Association's Young Adult Book Award.
Overall, "Last Winter" is an exceptional novel that is well worth reading. Its beautiful prose, well-developed characters, and powerful themes make it a standout work of literature that will stay with readers long after they finish the last page.

This book was amazing….told from each member of the family’s view….talking about the mental health issues of bipolar depression. It illustrated some of the possible inner workings of a person with this issue and how other people try to cope with it, including husband and a child who has had to develop her own coping skills. A tragedy accelerates the anxiety, and stress and is described in an extremely well, thoughtful, sympathetic manner.

Read if you like: complex characters.
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This book is hard to review so I am going to try my best to just share my overall thoughts. I am not going to share my opinion on the portrayal of Bipolar Disorder as it is not my place to comment.
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The book is about Fiona, Gus, and Ruby. After an avalanche that Ruby survives but Gus doesn't, Fiona and Ruby are shaken by this loss and struggle to cope. The first part of the book seemed very slow and I struggled to get into it. It felt a bit disjointed and there were some weird decisions made by the characters. But during/after the avalanche I couldn't stop reading and was completely engaged.
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Overall an interesting read and if you like literary fiction with different characters, then this might be for you! It was long but might be worth trudging through the beginning!
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Thank you to Penguin Random House Canada for the copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Due to unforeseen circumstances, I was unable to read and review this novel before the publishing date, and I will not be providing feedback on this title at this time.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishing house and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. I did enjoy this one, I enjoyed the writing and the story line. I was pleasantly surprised

Last Winter is the story of a young girl, Ruby, and her mother Fiona. Ruby and her father Gus are inseparable, and together they enjoy facing the great outdoors, Ruby's father having taught her important survival skills. Ruby and her mother, however, often misunderstand each other. Fiona and Gus similarly have a very strained relationship and a separation is looming.

But one day, when Gus takes a group of school children, including his own daughter, on a trip to the mountains, an avalanche strikes, burying many of the children, as well as Gus, alive under the snow. Ruby is among the few lucky survivors, but the rescue mission quickly becomes a recovery mission.

When Gus's body still isn't found, Ruby, struck by grief yet also hope, sets off on her own to find her father. Her mother, largely oblivious to her daughter's grief, spirals into the dark hole of her mental illness, unsure how to react to the tragedy.

This was a very slow-paced story, with little plot until at least 200 pages in. I was quite disappointed overall, as this book was said to be one for the fans of Beartown by Fredrik Backman. I was fond of Mac's writing style and voice, but this book was much too long considering the "action" itself took up less than one third of the book.

⚠️ Potential Trigger Warnings: mental illness, trauma, death of family member, nudity, sexual abuse, strained family relationships, infidelity (may not be an exhaustive list)

🙏 Thank you @netgalley and @penguinrandomca for the gifted e-copy of Last Winter in exchange for an honest review.

Last Winter released on January 24, 2023 and is now available in bookstores and online

This is the story of a fatal avalanche in a small town in the mountains. I wanted to read this book because it was compared to Fredrik Backman's Beartown series but I don't think the comparison was a good one. Beartown is a heartwarming story about community and Last Winter is a much darker story. The author does a great job of realistically portraying mental illness. While I didn't necessarily love the book, I did think about the story for a long time after I was finished, which is a lot more than can be said about most books!

I really didn't enjoy this book. It's very dark, depressing and disturbing. Lots of trigger warnings. Mother is bipolar and off her meds, father is missing and presumed dead as a result of an avalanche during a school trip. It really bothered me the situations that they put the daughter in and that no one really seemed to care or be watching out for the daughter. The portrayal of the mother's bipolar illness is likely very realistic as I believe the author is bipolar. But overall I really didn't like the book.