*Outlier Opinion*!

This book has A LOT of 5 star reviews but every book needs an outlier so, 👋🏻 here I am!!

Caz and her new love, Pete, enjoy a wonderful first evening aboard the luxury cruise liner, the RMS Atlantica, but when she awakens the next morning, Pete is gone.

In fact, as she enters the corridor, she finds that all of the cabin doors are open, and the ship’s crew and its remaining passengers are all missing.

Described as a locked room mystery, I expected an atmospheric tale, which might be Dystopian or perhaps be a reimagining of what might have happened to the real life Merchant ship, the Mary Celeste-found adrift in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean. ( It was in excellent shape, with months of provisions aboard, but no Captain or crew, and they were never seen or heard from again, and it remains an unsolved mystery.)

“I WISH YOU FAIR WINDS AND CALM SEAS”

The book synopsis doesn’t say much more than what I wrote above in the first few sentences, and you won’t learn what is ACTUALLY going on until the 33% point, so, I won’t spoil this for fans of the author who are looking forward to reading this.

But, I will say that it is much more of a “Beat the Odds” kind of survival book, than it is a locked room mystery,(think Hunger Games) - so it didn’t work for my personal tastes.

It wasn’t what I was hoping for or expecting.

I also don’t think ANY book needs to be 448 pages in length-It’s hard to sustain interest for that long!

I am going to play with the title of the U.S. release here and say that THE LAST ONE (as in the last chapter) has been VERY polarizing in the reviews that I have read.

Will you be #TeamLovedIt or #TeamHatedIt?

It’s the ONE part of the book, I actually DID find very CLEVER, so count me in as #TeamLovedIt!
But, unfortunately, it could not save the rest of the book for me.

Find out on August 8, 2023. (U.S. release date)

This title has also been released as “The Last Passenger” in markets abroad.

Thank You to Atria for the gifted ARC, provided through NetGalley. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

I really liked this novel and would highly recommend. I felt it was realistic and so realistic I’m still thinking about it. I liked that it was unpredictable and full of suspense. There’s nothing I would change about the plot or climax. Excellent, engaging writing… I’m hoping for a part two.

I might have liked this book more if the description actually described what this book was really about.

Everything that is in the description is only accurate from chapter 2 until the end of chapter 4. And considering there’s 133 chapters, obviously that’s a very small portion of the book.

I feel like the actual story would appeal to a lot of readers, who may not pick this up because they don’t actually know that that’s what this is about. I don’t want to give spoilers, so I’ll just say that it was just SUCH a different story than I expected / wanted when I read this, that it instantly soured my experience. So I never got on board with it.

Thank you to the publisher & NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book! I voluntarily read this book, and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

This was actually unexpectedly fun and different. Pretty unique for a mystery/thriller.

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/62919433

Thank you NetGalley and Atria Books for the copy of The Last One by Will Dean. I don’t know if I loved this book or hated it, but I know I can’t feel indifferent to it! The writing was as great as I expected, and the story started out so interesting I couldn’t wait to find out what was going on! Then the story took a really unexpected turn and it felt like a horror novel. Horror isn't necessarily bad, I just wasn’t prepared for how dark the story got. I know the characters were stressed but there were some things going on that they should have at least considered some possibilities about what was going on. Then the big reveal happened and it was completely implausible. If you like a big shocking ending you will love this book, but to me it was over the top. It was still a suspenseful, engrossing read! 3.5 stars rounded up to 4.

Ok I absolutely loved this but hated the ending, like the last 5 pages. I don’t fully get it. Is it happening again? Is it leading to another book? I would have given this 5 stars minus the last 5 pages. I liked the plot and characters. Even Mr smith was likable. It was a different plot from other books. I would still recommend even though I didn’t like the very ending.

Wow this was one scary, twisted book that I devoured in one sitting as I couldn’t wait to see what happens next. I felt for CAZ immediately as her fear of traveling and she goes to bed and then wakes up and everyone is gone. My anxiety spiked just reading that and I felt her panic as she desperately searched for people and a clue to what happened.

Somehow she is in a new reality show which is terrifying. The challenges and things they must endure are horrendous. I am not sure which would be worse doing the challenge or being held captive in a locked room knowing only someone else could let you out. Each challenge building and getting more and more outrageous and terrifying.

Daniel, Frannie, CAZ, and Smith try and survive the best they can. This had so many shocks, twists and moments that horrified me that I loved it!

The ending just brilliant!

4.5 rounded up! What an insane ride. I could not have guessed any of the twists with a gun to my head. Yes, some of the logistics behind things made me scratch my head but I was so engrossed in the story that I didn’t even care. The last page (or sentence, really) was almost a little TOO much, though.

SLIGHT SPOILERS AHEAD.


There were too many characters mentioning estranged children for that to not have been connected to the plot whatsoever. I was convinced it would have something to do with why they were chosen but nope, it was never brought up again? Weird move.

This came really highly recommended and I wanted to love it, but I just didn’t. It was just TOO far fetched, TOO much and the ending? Laughable in so many ways.

The writing was good and kept me engaged even though it felt overly repetitive. If you can suspend reality for a bit, you may really like this one!

I had such high hopes for this one because I loved his first thriller, FIRST BORN. THE LAST ONE has an Agatha Christie-vibe and it was good but not awesome. I'll def keep reading his books, though - great writer!

Review: The Last Passenger
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Absolutely terrifying. Will Dean is at the top of his game! The Last Passenger is an absolute masterpiece. It is a true work of perfection. You think you know what's happening until you don't. I love the social commentary that Dean worked in here. I can't even express how much I absolutely love this book because you need to go in blind. Trust me this is the book of the year!! DO NOT MISS THIS!

This book releases in the U.S. as The Last One on August 8, 2023. Thank you Atria Books for the advanced copy

100% recommend if you're looking for a twist-filled thriller. Perfect for a fun beach/pool read! And I guarantee you won't guess the ending.

Book : The Last One
Author : Will Dean
Pub Date : 08 Aug 2023

Thank you NetGalley, Atria/Emily Bestler Books & the author for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Uhhh WHAT did I just read!? This book had me in a griiip! The chilling, creeping & mysterious twists and turns it took me on. I seriously wanted to pace myself with this book but it had other plans. I couldn’t get enough of it.

I tried so many time to figure out what was going to happen or how this book was going to end—nope! Just don’t—you won’t! The author turned this story into the best creepy vacation gone wrong that’ll have you thinking twice about that cruise ship trip.

If you want to read something that absolutely takes you on a trip and makes your heart pump a little faster and your mind race a little more then scoop up this book! You will not be disappointed.

This. Book. Is. Wild.

Honestly one of the best books I've ever read. When Caz and her boyfriend Pete embark on a trip of a lifetime aboard the luxury ocean liner the RMA Atlantica, everything is absolutely perfect. The food is exquisite, the wine is superb, and other than a little seasickness, everything is exactly as it should be. For maybe the first time in her life, Caz feels like she can relax. She drifts off into a peaceful sleep.

When she awakens, the dream turns into a nightmare. There is no one else on the ship. Caz is completely alone. Or is she? Where did everyone else go? Why did they leave their pets and take their belongings? Is she dreaming from the medication or is something more sinister at play?

One thing is for sure. The ending is one you won't see coming and the last line will haunt you long after the book is closed.

This is my first read by this author and it won't be my last. Absolutely 5 stars.

Caz and her partner Pete are spending their first holiday together on the luxurious cruise liner RMS Atlantica. They spend a lovely first night together exploring the ship and enjoying a nice dinner. The next morning, Caz wakes up to an empty bed and not even a note from Pete. As she searches for him, she realizes that the entire ship is empty and all passengers and crew seem to have departed sometime during the night. As things continue to go from bad to worse, Caz departs on the most dangerous journey of her life. Does she have the strength to make it out alive?

Oh my goodness 0_o What did I just read?! This book was extremely fast-paced, full of tension, and kept me on the edge of my seat! The story is told from the perspective of Caz. It took me a bit of time to warm up to her but in the end, I found her to be a very endearing and complex character. She had already been through quite a difficult life, but nothing compares to what she went through on the RMS Atlantica. I did see the ending coming but that didn’t make it any less satisfying. Really twisted but I can also see this happening in real life at some point which is horrifying. Will Dean hit it out of the park with this one! He is a master of tension and I can’t wait to see what he comes up with next :)

Thank you to Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books, and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Caz and her boyfriend enter a luxury ocean liner (a la Titanic) to cross from the UK to US. On the second morning she wakes up to the belief she’s the only passenger. She soon discovers three other passengers who have been left behind. The next week of their journey pushes all physical and mental boundaries.
After finishing this book I’m going to have nightmares and I’m never going to get on a cruise ship! I love thrillers and mysteries but this book crossed into the horror genre (for me anyway) but it was still so good!
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC.

You guys. Excuse my language but, holy sh*t. This book!! This is probably the craziest reading experience I’ve had in a LONG time. It started a little slow but once it gets good, my goodness does it get good. I was questioning reality the entire time and when I finished I’m not kidding, my mouth was literally hanging open. I’ve never read a book by Will but he made me fall in love with the characters, I could picture them in my head like I knew them. I was rooting for them and crying with them. I’m not going to give anything away but trust me when I tell you that if you read any book this year, it needs to be this one. I am in true and utter SHOCK. This book releases August 8 and do not hesitate to pick it up. OMG.

Not at all what I was expecting, but I still enjoyed reading. The premise sounded very intriguing and I went into this thinking it was a thriller. I would say it was more dystopian than anything else. The story did suck me in and I wanted to know what was happening, I just didn't end up liking how it played out. Many people enjoyed the twist of an ending, however I did not. It just angered me and left me with more questions than anything else. It left me hanging which I don't care for.
I did enjoy the characters and watching the "human experiment" play out to see if they would truly help each other or end up every man for themself.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books, Atria/Emily Bestler Books for a digital ARC.

Wow, what a wild ride!

The story starts with our main character Caz boarding a luxury cruise liner. She is sailing with her boyfriend and all seems to be going well until she wakes up in the morning and there is nobody on the ship. It's completely deserted with the cruise liner still going full steam ahead. What an ominous feeling and it continues throughout the whole book! Once you think you have it figured out, the rug is pulled out from under you.

I do wish the story had gone in a different direction for the 2nd half because I had to suspend belief a little too much. I do not want to spoil anything and think it's better to go in blind.

The ending made me audibly say WTF!

3.75 stars but it was a really fun read.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.  


I don't know where to start with this one because I both hated and loved this book.  


Let's start with the negatives.  The synopsis tells you that this book is about a woman who wakes up to find the ocean liner she is on is suddenly completely empty.  Deserted.  And you assume she's going to have to fight to keep the ship on course and navigate the waters to survive on her own while trying to find out what happened to the other passengers and crew.  Very quickly you realize that is completely false.  This book gives nothing of what is advertised.  I wanted to DNF pretty quickly.  


Another negative is the character interactions.  The dialogue is unrealistic, confusing, and bounces all over the place.  Several times while reading the first 60% of the book, it felt like the author thought of a sentence to add to a paragraph and just stuck it in there without reading it over for cohesion.  It was a hot mess to be honest and I was furious.  I cared nothing for the characters and cared even less for the main character's backstory.  I found myself skimming past the constant memories of her life stuck in random places. 1 ⭐ for 60%. 


Then the last 40% happened.  It went from being literally one of the most boring and irritating books I've read in years to one of the BEST endings.  I give 4.5 ⭐ to the last 40%. 


I'm rounding my overall rating of 2.5 ⭐ to 3.