2.5 STARS - Mayday, mayday! Unpopular opinion coming in.

I loved Will Dean's Last Thing To Burn so I wasn't surprised to see that this new book was already accruing many 4 and 5 star reviews. Sadly, I am not one of those reviewers and while I appreciate that Dean was trying to do something different this time out, it did not work for me.

The Last One is a locked room mystery aboard a big, fancy cruise ship. Will Dean will do to cruise lines what TJ Newman and her books Falling and Drowning have done for airlines with this chilling story that incorporates travelers' fears and chilling situations on these popular modes of travel.

The story begins with a woman waking up to find that she is the only person on a cruise ship. Ok, Will Dean ... you have my attention. Unfortunately, this is a very slow burn tale that takes about a third of the book for things to get going. I liked the hike in tension from the Hunger Games-esque scenes, but readers will have to suspend disbelief at this point onward.

This book is simply much longer than it had to be and features underdeveloped characters who were hard to connect with - unless you count the poor canines whose inclusion still baffles me. Too much page time is spent on reiterating Caz's family issues and the monotonous hours on the ship.

This is a wild (and wildly unbelievable) ride for readers and despite the interesting premise, the execution was so outside the realm of believability that it was distracting. And the ending was unsatisfying and totally bizarre.

The Last One has some creepy and sadistic scenes, but this is a book where you MUST be willing to suspend disbelief due to the outlandish situations that defy logic, physics, and the abilities of the human body. That said, the societal themes presented could make this a good pick for book clubs to discuss.

Disclaimer: Thanks to Atria Books/Emily Bestler Books for my advanced copy which was provided in exchange for my honest review.

This is the most unexpected book I’ve read so far this year! I absolutely love that the premise gives nothing away. It made the experience of reading this so much more fun. It tells just enough to pique my interest and make me want to read it, while still letting me go into this story totally blind, which is the only way to do it for this book.

When the first major twist happened around 40%, I knew I was still in for a wild ride. Nothing feels quite right, you’re always on the precipice of trying to find out what is really going on. And things just get weirder and weirder.

Will Dean writes in a way that truly transports you into the story. I felt every bit of harrowing tension in this dystopian, survival madness. It’s a whirlwind of unpredictability. With its deeply ominous and unsettling premise, it gives you the chills while you’re reading.

I can’t say I completely understand some of the choices that the characters made at times. (I’m also still not sure I really like any of them even after all this time.) But then again, I think it’s one of those situations where you never really know what you’d do until it happens to you. It is a little long for a thriller, and there were some repetitive parts that I started wanting to skim through. But I was so invested in what the actual f* was happening that I just had to keep going.

This is unlike anything you’ve ever read. I won’t get into too many details because I believe that you, like me, should go in with a blank slate and an open mind. Just buckle up and get ready for this one! You won’t want to put it down. It’s bizarre and shocking and everything you’d want from this kind of thriller.

Wow. What the heck did I just read?! Haha.

This is a book that you are better off not knowing much going in. It is a wild ride and you have no idea what is actually happening—much like the main character. It is a page turner for sure. The ending wasn’t my favorite but I also kind of understand why the author ended it like he did.

If you like thrillers with lots of twists and turns, that keep you on the edge of your seat…this is for you. It’s long but the chapters are quite short so it keeps you turning the pages quickly.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Oh man I’m trying to figure out a way to write this without giving everything away. The twists are really really good but I will say the book was a tad long for the actual story. It could have been a tad shorter but it’s ok it kept my attention. The big twist was good but the beginning plot felt kind of lost. I would recommend it to my friends who love the cliffhanger style chapters as well.

Well, well, well. I was even warned that things are not what they seem in this one and I was still SHOCKED by the turns this book took! Like I legitimately feel sea sick.

Go ahead and read the synopsis on this one because everything described there happens in the first few pages and then the rest of the book is UNCHARTED WATERS (see what I did there?).

This book is going to elicit some STRONG reactions, especially the end! I can't wait to see what people think but wish I would have recorded my reaction to the ending (LOL).

Whatever you expect this book to be.... it won't be!

Bookclubs would have a lot of fun with this one! My instant reaction was to throw the book across the room but now that I've sat on it overnight, I think I love it!

All that to say, add this to your TBR if you dare!

Thanks so much to Atria Books for the ARC. This will be out on August 8th.

The premise in this book is amazing! So mysterious and intriguing without giving anything away. It was this mystery that kept me reading even after I found the dialogue clunky and the writing not great. I didn't connect to any of the characters. But I just had to know what was going on! Unfortunately, when I discovered the reason behind everything I felt it was a bit ridiculous and the decisions by the characters didn't make a whole lot of sense. But for some reason I continued reading, even though for a thriller this is a long book. It just got more and more ridiculous and then the last page arrived. Big eye roll moment! It's the type of ending you expect to find at the end of a horror short story, not a thriller! So dumb!
However, I have seen online that some people seemed to like it, so if the premise intrigues you the way it did me, then go ahead and give it a go. Perhaps it will be more to your liking.

The Last One is a suspenseful story that opens with Caz boarding a cruise with her boyfriend, but the next morning she wakes up and absolutely no one is left on the ship. There isn't much more to explain without getting into spoilers, but Caz has to figure out where everybody went and how to get control back of the ship.

I'm a huge Will Dean fan, and expected to devour this one, but for some reason, the pacing didn't work for me, and the final reveal didn't feel like it warranted a 450 page book. But also, tons of people absolutely loved it, so I think this is one that just divides readers!

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
I found "The Last One" by Will Dean
to be an addictive & interesting twisty thriller that pulled me in right away & didn't let me go until its final page.
The ending looks like a sequel might be coming.
I would love to read another book by Mr. Dean.

3.5

This book gave me the same feeling as a Black Mirror episode. I never knew where it was going and was entertained the entire time.

My main issue with this book is that it felt cheesy and heavy handed at times. The deal with Caz’s dad started to annoy me.

Overall I would recommend. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow, this was SUPER INTENSE and IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN! This book is hefty at around 450 pages but the chapters are extremely short and most end on cliffhangers making the pages fly. The Last One is horrifying and unbelievable but also somewhat realistic, even familiar at times. I thought I knew where it was headed numerous times, but I WAS VERY WRONG, every single time!

Caz is taking an ocean liner trip with her boyfriend and hopes he may pop the “big question” somewhere between England and New York. They enjoy a wonderful first night aboard the luxury ship so she is deeply disappointed the next morning to discover Pete has left for breakfast without waking her. When she ventures out of their room to find him, she quickly discovers that she is alone….the other 1000 passengers are no longer on the ship. What?! Where is everyone? And what happens now! This story was so unique, so suspenseful, so nail biting, it’s perfect for a vacation read this summer!

Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on August 8, 2023

Okay, so I seriously enjoyed the first few chapters of this book. When I say I was hooked, I was HOOKED. As someone who is afraid of vast waters, add being stuck alone on a cruise ship to the equation, this was a nightmare come true for me. Of course, I had to keep reading it.

I don't want to give much away, but basically this book follows Caroline ("Caz") and her boyfriend, Pete, getting on a cruise together. Everything is great until she wakes up in the morning and notices Pete isn't next to her. Once out of the cabin, Caz notices the ship is very quiet... too quiet. Everyone is gone, bags included. There is nobody on the ship except her. What happened to all the passengers and where did they go?

Again, I was hooked, but the further I got into the book I became easily bored and I think this has to do more with how unnecessarily long it was. Too much filler words and a whole lot of repetition. I felt so much adrenaline initially but towards the end it all fell flat. I honestly didn't enjoy the twist and I especially did not enjoy the ending - it did nothing for me personally. There was not enough character development from Caz and I got tired of hearing about her father's gambling problems.

This was a pretty creative book and from the beginning I thought I would enjoy it more but it's just an okay read, for me.

Thank you so much Netgalley, Atria Books, and the author for this eARC.
Pub date: 08/08/23

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Wow!! This book! You follow “Caz” as she goes on a cruise with the guy she’s dating. After the first day on the ship Caz wakes up to find out everyone else on the cruise ship has disappeared. I don’t want to say too much more because I don’t want spoil this one! Even reading the synopsis you have no clue what you’re in for and I love that!! And the ending! Like what?! Will there be a sequel?! Lots of twists and turns, definitely a five star! Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Last One early! Also thank you to the author Will Dean for writing this amazing book!

As an avid cruiser, I questioned the advisability of trying this title. But given the likelihood of something similar happening to me (she laughed nervously), I forged on. It was well worth my time. The Atlantica, a huge ocean liner, is making a transatlantic crossing. Caroline (“Caz”) and her boyfriend Pete are among the passengers. Caz wakes up the morning after sailing to find that Pete, along with everyone else, is gone-disappeared. She eventually finds three others: Frannie, Daniel and Smith. Together they have to try to survive an increasingly awful situation, made all the worse when they learn they are actually unwitting contestants on a reality show. They’re each given challenges to complete in order to be rewarded with food. I readily admit I was completely fooled by everything; I must be the perfect reader of books like this. I think many others will be too, because of its propulsive plot, sympathetic protagonist and shocking finale. Happily recommended.

Caz wakes up on the first morning of a cruise all alone on the ship. She finds three other passengers. What follows is predictable, confusing, and not very believable.

Wow! It’s a little difficult to review this book without giving anything away and there are so many things I could compare it to but to do so would spoil the main plot. The premise only gives away the first couple chapters and it really takes off from there. But if you are intrigued by survival stories and locked room mysteries, I highly recommend you give this book a try!

What a ride! I really enjoyed this book and the short chapters and quick pace made it easy to fly through the ~450 pages. There were many twists and turns throughout, and even though I predicted some of them along the way, I still enjoyed seeing everything unfold. And that ending! I can see some readers not liking it but I love when a book ends with an omg moment like that. My only complaints were some aspects of the ending I didn’t like and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. And even though it was a quick read, it still felt a little too long and I think some parts could have been condensed or cut out completely. But overall I highly recommend this book and really enjoyed my reading experience!

*Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC copy for review!*

The Last One by Will Dean is a fast-paced, tension-filled, edge-of-your-seat thrilling read.

Wow what a crazy ride reading "The Last One"!
This was a quick, heart-stopping, exciting psychological thriller that had me reading till early morning hours to scarf this story down!
It pulled me in from the very start, and I just could not stop until I got to the end.
The characters are well developed, interesting and they really pull you into their world.
Deans storytelling is excellent, the story is accompanied with an amazing storyline, and the plots are superbly executed and revealed by the author, making this overall such a pleasant read.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Whoa. What a crazy story. I didn't read any reviews before diving into this one. I just read a quick blurb that hooked me in and away I went. Boy, I am so glad that I knew so little before I started. Things heat up quickly and the reveals pour out on every single page. While I struggled to like most of the characters, by the end I understood why they fit the mould that they each did.
This one is fun and while you may or may not love the main twist, you'll certainly be entertained for the duration of the voyage.

This was so unexpected and I appreciated that the synopsis gave nothing away! I had no idea what this story was actually going to be about, and once I found out what was really going on, I was IN. It was unique and addicting and I couldn’t put it down. The last sentence was BANANAS and I kinda wish it just kept going.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the digital advanced copy.

When Caz wakes up to find herself alone on a cruise liner, she starts to panic. Where is her boyfriend Pete who she’s on the cruise with? Where is the captain, and other travelers? Where did they all go? As she gets closer to the truth, she’s determined to survive the journey.

I really wanted this to work but it felt like two different stories. It’s explained why it changes genre direction, but it didn’t feel seamless. The first half of the book reminded me so much of the Netflix’s 1899 series, which if you love mind bending science fiction movies you have to watch! The second half of the book felt like a mixture of SAW toned down with Blair Braverman’s Small Game. Our characters felt flat and I never connected to any of them. I didn’t even find myself rooting for anyone in particular.

*Spoilers but not really*

Plotwise I was invested but there are so many things that don’t make sense. Why would anyone just leave their loved one behind on the ship? What exactly is this show? Why did we have to get the actors involved? What the HECK with that is with that ending and is there a second book planned Who greenlighted this show and I hope they have the bunch funding set aside for PTSD claims.

Realistically, I get why people are giving it 5 and 4 stars. It’s unique and it definitely held my attention but then it just tries to do too much. At over 400pages it’s just too long and didn’t stop while it was ahead. For me it worked, until it didn’t, and I just CANNOT with the ending. This has probably been the least helpful review I’ve ever written, as it’s hard to talk about without giving away major plot points. My advice, if you want to give it a go though, get it from the library.


The Last One comes out August 8, 2023. Huge thank you to Atria for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.

Picture this: You go on a cruise with your partner, but when you wake up the next morning, they're gone, and you find yourself alone on the cruise. Where is everyone? Who is driving the ship? What's happening?

Prepare for a non-stop, heart-pounding, action-packed thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This was a wild ride! The anxiety-inducing plot and short chapters will leave you craving more, making it impossible to put this book down. It's definitely a binge-worthy experience, and I'm genuinely sad that it's over.

One of the best thrillers I've read in a long time, but be prepared for a truly criminal ending. What was that? How could you do that to us, Will Dean?

I can't help but mention that a major plot twist reminded me of one of my favorite Goosebumps books. Even though I doubt anyone else would pick up on it, I couldn't help but see the R.L. Stine vibes throughout the entire book. It's not a complaint because it actually made me scream and toss my Kindle aside. This was an awesome experience to say the least.

Overall, this book is scary summer fun, and Will Dean has gained a fan in me!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Will Dean for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.