Last Girl Breathing by Court Stevens is one of those books that make you rush through chores so you can be free to read the next chapters and find out what will happen next. I really enjoyed way the story moved along. Many of the characters seemed to be capable of being the guilty party in the story, and I singled out several before settling on the one I thought most guilty. Some of the characters introduced part way through the book turned out to be main characters of the entire story. There was a little too much loss in the book to come away with a satisfied feeling for the story, but all in all I really enjoyed the book and would recommend it to students for sure.

For a young adult thriller, I was expecting something a bit more fast-paced, exciting, and a lot more tension! I had high hopes for this and it just didn’t live up to my expectations.

I thought there was too much telling/exposition, especially for the context of our main character Lucy’s relationships with all of the deceased. I felt like the middle part (40-70%) dragged on a lot, and I was quite literally waiting for something to happen or information to reveal itself, as most YA thrillers do. Some characters, like the private detective Dana, completely disappeared for a bit, and played a much smaller role than I would think? Ultimately, I just struggled a lot with the pacing of this.

Overall, once I got to the resolution/reveal at the very end, I felt this was entertaining enough but there were too many Harry Potter references (why?! JKR is a TERF, & there are so many other fantasy legacies one can add in!)

cw: murder, violence, child death, grief, injury, blackmail, corruption, too many Harry Potter references

I read a book by this author last year and I really enjoyed it! I was happy to see she wrote another and was excited to be able to read it early.

The book is told from one point-of-view and it comes from Lucy Michael. She has had a rough family life since her youngest brother died in a tragic accident. No one has forgotten the dam broke and she can’t let go of the memory of her brother, especially her mother who she feels she has to protect. It’s sad that she had to step into the role of a parent for her own mother. She already didn’t have a father figure until she gained a stepdad. There is a lot that she deals with throughout the book on all fronts like the murder of her stepbrother. She couldn’t catch a break. Lucy is definitely a strong character and has the guts to face the truth no matter the cost.

I don’t think the other characters were as strong in development, but since this is a mystery/thriller I didn’t mind. I liked the investigator Danna (not sure how you spell it since I listened to the audiobook). She was very sweet and wanted to help Lucy in any way. She basically took her under her wing.

The cool thing about this book and the reason I connected to it so well is that I don’t live far from where this author grew up. She does use names of towns/cities that I go to and so it was easy to get swept into the story!

There is a lot that happens in the plot and it is split into three parts. I liked this way of telling the story because we get the aftermath of the murder investigation and what all of the characters were doing after everything settled. Obviously, some have skeletons in their closets that eventually come to haunt them. Small towns can never keep secrets for long. i didn’t guess who had done everything and the plot twists definitely left me in a shock!

Overall, this was an enjoyable mystery! It wraps up well and gave me a nice break from my fantasty binge.

Great story by Court Stevens. “Last Girl Breathing” has the action to keep you reading into the night. I like a book that doesn't drag. The different twists and turns keep you guessing throughout. The characters are believable. Definitely a must-read. Thank you NetGalley and publishers for this e-ARC this is my personal opinion.

First of all, I really love this cover. The font and spooky yellow letters are often used, so that didn't blow me away, but for some reason the art style of the submerged trees really itches my brain. The story was just as good. I was super engaged through the whole thing. I read it in one day because I didn't put it down. I guess I shouldn't recommend it to you if you have a to-do list today, because you won't get anything done besides devouring this book.

Eight years ago, Lucy Michaels' hometown experienced an unprecedented disaster because of weather conditions. Due to the incessant rain, a dam broke, and a number of people lost their lives. While Lucy was part of the rescue effort, she was unable to help her own younger brother, Clay, who was among those lost.

Now, quite some time later, Lucy has rebuilt her life into something that she is reasonably happy with. Living in a family that includes her stepfather and stepbrother, she is preparing to graduate high school and participate in the Olympics.

But when her stepbrother goes missing, and a murder investigation results, long-buried secrets begin to emerge in their small Kentucky town. More murders take place, and it all strikes too close to home for Lucy.

After she decides to investigate matters for herself, and starts making the connections, Lucy realises that what is happening here is linked to earlier events. But who is responsible for this mayhem - and why are they doing it?

This is a fast-paced and engaging story, with relatable protagonist in Lucy. Two things that the writer did particularly well was to deliver some atmospheric story telling based on the small town setting, and to examine the nature of grief with sensitivity in a way that rings true.

The story does come with a few trigger warnings, including narcissistic personalities, gun use and child abuse. Those things aside, the plot twists keep things entertaining, and this is an easy read. It gets 3.5 stars from me.

This was such a good book! It had me from page one! I read it in one day and couldn’t put it down! I would definitely recommend this book!

Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for this book.

I put off reading this book because of the high emotional reviews, but I wish I had read it earlier. Yes, it is full of emotional scenes, but I really, really loved this book.

It is a great mystery story with many twists and turns. The author has great characters, settings, and plot. I love the suspense, mystery, and the past and present collision.

Highly recommend. Thank you Entangled for another great mystery thriller!

"When you're first in love, you don't care if people change. They still fit you. But then little changes add up, and it's like weight gain; one day you go to put on your size fours and discover you're a six. That's shocking when it happens because you're sure you had on those same jeans the day before."

Lucy lives in a small town that was rocked by tragedy. During a torrential downpour, a dam broke and killed her little brother, who was out on a camping trip at the time. Lucy has dealt with the trauma by becoming a 'helper,' taking care of her mother who is fragile and only semi-functional. In a dramatic twist, Lucy's mother remarried to the person whose business built the dam and has become the largest company in town. Lucy is also a riflewoman. Her big goal is to go to the Paris Olympics in 2024. I think that is pretty badass.

This book felt long, even though it's not particularly long. The story took a while to unfold, and the three parts didn't weave together that well for me. Despite a lot of drama and terribly sad things, I never connected with any of the characters and didn't have much emotional response to the events. Toward the end, I started skimming a bit to get ahead--I wanted to know what happened, but I didn't feel the need to read every detail to get there. Maybe some of this will be solved in the final edit?

Overall, this book was just okay for me. I rate it 2.5 stars, but the fact that I was able to finish it and had some curiosity for the story helped me to round up instead of down.

"I am the Guy Fieri of crappy hotels. I actively choose the dumps and dives. The places that need pain and smell of smoke, that sell by the hour and hide their crimes in thin, cheap bedspreads. I don't know why exactly. I leave them feeling worse about the world, but a little better about myself."

Stevens' knack for writing mystery & suspense is ever-growing. On the heels of "We Were Kings" comes "Last Girl Breathing", a striking continuation down the road of suspicion and murder in Stevens' list of titles.

Lucy Michaels has big dreams of achieving olympic success on the U.S. air rifle team. But she is also haunted by the tragic loss of her younger brother Clay in a town tragedy that occurred years before. Many lives were lost when that dam broke. And now another tragedy is striking her home town and Lucy feels a personal responsibility to solve the case before more people she loves are lost in the crossfire.

I received a copy of the novel-in-progress from Court Stevens in January 2023 and a NetGalley arc a handful of months later. I have become an avid fan of Court's work. I count her as a friend, but I also admire her as an artist. This review is given with an eye towards the quality of the work and with gratefulness for the ability to access stories before they are out there in the wider world. Thank you to NetGalley and to Court for the arc.

The story was really meh. It wasn't doing anything for me. I wasn't thrilled to keep on reading. And the characters and their relationships were complicated

Another beautiful book from Court Stevens. I will always love the pictures she paints (whether as Court Stevens, Courtney Stevens, etc :)) Court is quickly becoming one of my favorite, auto-buy authors!

Lucy’s little brother Clay was swept away in a flood when a dam broke. He was never found. Years later her stepbrother is murdered and his sister missing. Could the events be connected?
This was a heart wrenching read that had me hooked from beginning to end. I couldn’t hardly put it down. I hope to read more from Court Stevens. Thanks NetGalley and Thomas Nelson for this ARC that will be published November 7, 2023!

Lucy's life forever changed 8 years ago when the dam broke, killing her little brother and members of a local Boy Scout troop. Now, the town is reeling again with a murder in the same area. As the investigation drags on, more secrets are revealed. Can anyone in the town be trusted?

This was an engaging murder mystery story. I think students will enjoy the suspense, although the stretched timeline was an interesting choice. I'm not fully convinced there was enough evidence for the reveal at the end, but I don't think my teen readers will be as critical.

Last Girl Breathing by Court Stevens is a riveting young adult thriller that dives deep into the complexities of guilt, grief, and redemption. Lucy Michaels, haunted by her younger brother's tragic death, embarks on a journey to protect her loved ones while chasing her Olympic dreams, while navigating her teenage existence. When she becomes caught up in a heinous crime, Lucy becomes entangled in a web of secrets and suspicion.

Stevens' writing is compelling with a slow-burn sense of suspense and unease. Lucy's determination to uncover the truth is both heartening and heartbreaking.

This stand-alone thriller is perfect for fans of suspenseful young adult fiction, with relatable, multi-faceted characters that add to the overall narrative.

Thank you to Thomas Nelson--FICTION, Thomas Nelson for the advanced reader copy via NetGalley for a fair and honest review.

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
The plot of this book is very good, a story that made sense from beginning to end and left no plot holes. It has a good measure of suspense and intrigue. Unfortunately despite how good the story was, almost until the end I could not connect with any of the characters, which made me enjoy the book less. Another point is that I think the book wasn't so much for young adults, and the plot was a bit dark and depressing.

With grit, intrigue, and compassion, Court Stevens will keep you glued to your seat with her new novel Last Girl Breathing.

Lucy just wants to live her dream: to enjoy the relationships she has left, to relax in nature, and to work her way into the Olympics. Instead, every single piece of her normal life is threatened by violence coming from every direction throughout this book, and this high-stakes story will keep you turning every page.

Lucy’s a great leading lady – though she’s not much like the traditional definition of a lady. She’s independent, a potential Olympic sharpshooter, and a truck-driving, nature-loving woman. She’s kind, she’s been hurt, and she’s trying to make the best of her rough heretofore life – when it all tanks.

A disaster from Lucy’s past is coming back to haunt her in violent mystery form – and if she wants to survive, she has to figure out who did it way back then. Stevens writes this story masterfully, though, and each time you think you see where the plot is going, a new disaster shakes up Luke’s present and everything veers off into a new direction.

I thought I had this one figured out – I mean, isn’t that half the fun of a mystery story? To try to solve it before the villain is revealed? I solved this one nearly half a dozen times before finally getting it – right before the big reveal.

Stevens rules at penning the unsolvable crimes. With edgy action and compassionate characters, Last Girl Breathing is the young adult book you’ve been looking for – and you won’t be able to put it down.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

I received an advanced copy of this book through NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I have read most of Court Stevens' books. Her writing and character development are strong and sharp, along with the plot for the most part. I'm not entirely sure of the execution because there were many moving parts and suspicions.

Lucy Michaels is an Olympic hopeful with the air rifle. To be honest, I didn't know it was an Olympic sport. Anyways, she's 18 years old and survived the dam break 8 years ago, but she lost her little brother Clay. Now she's finishing high school and close with her stepbrother Martin. Except until Martin tells her suspicions that tie his dad and Lucy's stepdad to the dam break. Then Martin disappeared. Soon, a search and rescue team is formed, and it's discovered there's 2 more missing people: Deuce, a young cop whose dad is the town sheriff Owl, and Astrid, her ex boyfriend's sister.

The first half of the book is about recovering two bodies, and then someone is arrested. Then, in the second part, Lucy has moved away, and after winning bronze in Paris, she gets a clue that Astrid may be alive. There are many red herrings and only 1 actual truth. I wasn't altogether surprised, but Lucy had made these people her family. So, trusting the wrong person could cost her life.

TW for abuse in the past, kidnapping and control, hunting for sport and murder.

3.5 stars - 11/7/23

i just couldn't get into this. im not a fan of the writing style and the way the timelines are set up were kinda confusing. also i feel like some of the short chapters weren't necessary.

Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this E-arc for my honest review.
Excellent thriller that grabs you from the first chapter. I guessed the “bad guy” relatively quickly but was shocked at the ending!! Very good, fast paced read and highly recommend.