"One Last Breath" by Ginny Myers Sain is a gripping dive into the murky waters of a small town's haunting past. Set against the backdrop of Mount Orange, Florida, where freshwater springs conceal more than just serene depths, Sain weaves a tale that intertwines love, loss, and a chilling mystery that refuses to stay buried.

At the heart of the story is Tru, a young woman tethered to the shadows cast by the unsolved murders of her sister and her sister's best friend, Bailey and Celeste. Tru's life is overshadowed by these tragedies, her every breath haunted by unanswered questions. Yet amidst the darkness, she finds solace in the depths of Hidden Glen Springs, where the secrets of the past seem to whisper in the currents.

Enter Rio, a mysterious stranger with a determination to unravel the decades-old mystery shrouding Mount Orange. Drawn together by fate, Tru and Rio embark on a journey that ignites not only the spark of romance but also a connection to Bailey and Celeste that transcends the boundaries of the living.

Sain masterfully builds tension as the summer heat rises, mirroring the simmering passion between Tru and Rio. But as they delve deeper into the past, they awaken a dormant danger that threatens to consume them both. With each revelation, the stakes escalate, and the line between past and present blurs until they find themselves in the crosshairs of a vengeful force determined to keep the truth submerged.

"One Last Breath" is a mesmerizing blend of mystery, romance, and supernatural intrigue that will leave readers breathless until the final page. Sain's evocative prose and deft storytelling transport us to the heart of Mount Orange, where the waters run deep with secrets and the past refuses to stay buried. With its compelling characters and pulse-pounding plot, this novel is sure to leave an indelible mark on fans of suspense and supernatural fiction alike.

4/5 Stars. A big thanks to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for an advanced copy to review.

ONE LAST BREATH was a surprisingly refreshing and inventive story, with a supernatural thriller plot and twists and turns along the way. Really enjoyed this one and will keep an eye out for future reads from this author.

Thanks to NetGalley and Penguin Books for the opportunity to read and review ONE LAST BREATH.

this low key came out of nowhere as an absolutely mach speed fast paced and fun paranormal ya thriller! I could not put it down, and I must say it’s rare for me to finish 2 books within 24 hours but I did it with this one as my 2nd. The characters were interesting and the twists just kept coming, I was literally guessing and on the edge of my seat until the very last pages which I feel so rarely happens. Also what a perfect time to read it on the heels of Taylor swifts TTPD Florida!!! Because this is the most Florida!!! Vibes of anything ever - like running away from something Florida crime vibes, murder, ok hello here it is ‼️ so overall, a great read and I thank #OneLastBreath #NetGalley out now!!

There is a small town in Florida called Mount Orange that is making money off the murders of Bailey and Celeste with their morbid and grim town shops. It seems to have become a tourist attraction.

The main character Tru, is the sister of Bailey. She has nonstop dreams of her and how she may have died. Rio is a podcaster who comes into town to try and solve this long-unsolved mystery.

Tru feels this pull toward Rio so she joins her on this search to get to the bottom of the murder. They believe it is The Reaper who did the killings but Tru's boss John Boy says it had to be an amateur. However, you can tell that he knows more about the situation since he keeps trying to veer Rio and Tru off the right path.

East is Tru's boyfriend whom she has known since they were in the third grade. They should be going off to college but Tru never filled out the FSU application. I did like East, I thought he was always looking out for her but you can tell that Tru wasn't happy with her life, she wanted more and wanted to try and figure it out.

Could Rio and Tru really be Bailey and Celeste reincarnated? Rio has had a very vivid memory since she was born.

This is a good mystery with many twists and some paranormal elements to it.

Thank you to NetGalley Penguin Group Young Readers for an eARC in exchange for my honest review.

I had high hopes for this one but unfortunately it just completely missed the mark. I guess who the killer was pretty quickly and the romance and paranormal aspects just didn’t really add anything to the story. I feel like the book could have been about 100 pages shorter because it was just so slow and didn’t feel like a thriller until about 70% into the book. Also, East was the only tolerable character and he just deserved so much more which really solidified the 2 star rating.

Loved this story of reborn girls and a town haunted but never willing to deal with it. Great characters. Great ending.

I am a huge fan of Ginny Myers Sain now. This was just as good as her last book. I preferred the main character in her other book more, but this was just as deliciously atmospheric.

One Last Breath

3/5 ⭐️

You will like this book if you enjoy;
•frenemies to lovers
•slow burn
•closed door spice

Firstly, thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Random House for the eARC opportunity to read this book!

This FMC was hard to connect with, she was dense, felt a little self absorbed, and unrelatable. Horrible communication until the end —- but I’m glad I pushed through to see MMC get the HEA he deserves, I did not leave this story feeling satisfied with how it went down. It fell flat, and felt like it was glorifying poor communication and treating your partner badly.

This is a quick, shorter read that has no explicit or raunchy scenes. But please check your triggers - CW include; death, grief, drug use, gun violence, child death, alcoholism, etc.

I liked this book and I flew through it but I'm not gunna lie - I was confused LOL
Like the book was really good but when we started talking about the plot twist in the story I was like "wait what howww???" which I've later learned is a theme GMS injects in her stories. despite that, I really enjoyed the storytelling and the writing. Fast paced and thrilling with enough speculation to keep you flipping the pages quickly.

-paranormal element
-fast paced
-murder mystery
-queer romance

Totally enjoyed this book and I'll be reading more from this author!
Thank you Penguin Teen for this ARC!!!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this book.

Tru has lived in the same small town for all of her life. The town is marked by tragedy, as 20 years before, two teen girls were found murdered. Tru has suffered personal loss as well with the death of her older sister. When a strange girl shows up during the 20th anniversary of the deaths of Bailey and Celeste, Tru feels an immediate bond with the mysterious Rio. Can they solve the murders and bring peace to the memory of the girls?


I liked this book but it was very predictable. I had all the twists and turns pinned from the beginning. I also found the book to be a little repetitive. I also wished that some things, like the link between Celeste and Bailey and Rio and Tru were explored more. LIke, were Tru's feelings her own or something else? That could have made the book stronger if that had been more fleshed out.

The twists in this book constantly kept me guessing and at the edge of my seat at all times! It was so enthralling to get to know Tru throughout the book as she also to know herself better and I loved her and Rio’s relationship and how their souls are intertwined throughout every universe. Such a beautiful book with a fantastic plot, highly recommend.

I did enjoy reading this book. I thought it was creepy and interesting. I really liked the mystery of it. I did want some more of the supernatural elements though. What kept it from being a 4 star read was the fact that I guessed who did it very early on. It seemed very obvious to me.

Not my first, and certainly not my last book by this author! Her books are incredibly descriptive and atmospheric. The setting is its own character. Definitely recommend!

Synopsis:
Tru grew up in Mount Orange, Florida under the shadow of the unsolved murder of Bailey and Celeste that took place twenty years ago. Tru is supposed to go away to college in the fall with her boyfriend. But, this summer could change everything with the arrival of Rio. Rio is new, she also has the pull to dive below the surface and the pull towards solving the murders of Bailey and Celeste. Soon, things take on an almost other-worldly quality to them and nobody is quite who they claim to be. Will Tru find out the truth or will she get loose everything in her quest for the truth?

Read this if you like:
• Unsolved mysteries
•atmospheric settings
• small town mysteries
•sapphic romance
• supernatural elements

This mystery will keep you guessing until the very last page! I was pulled in and could feel the Florida heat as I read this! I love a good mystery that keeps my turning the page long into the night! This is a fun, scary, bingable read! This is a must read for all thriller/mystery lovers
Thank you to @penguinteen for this book!

Just when I thought I knew who the killer was.. phew! I really need to brush up on some murder mysteries because I’m losing my touch 😂. I won’t lie, I’m not a huge fan of paranormal books or mysteries unless they’re vampires and such 👀 but I did end up really enjoying the little paranormal ✨flair✨ aspect of this story, it definitely added a interesting layer to the story.

Honestly, One Last Breath kept me guessing until the bitter end lol. The twists just kept on coming lol. I really enjoyed the swampy, alligator infested Florida setting.. is it me or do serial killers love Florida or warmer states?? So I felt like this setting was truly perfect for the story. I could feel like claustrophobic heat and the need to be in the springs every second of every day. It was really a well written story.

Overall, I enjoyed this one. It’s the perfect kind of thriller for a hot summer day! There’s serial killers, mystery, romance wish a dash of paranormal. It truly has a little bit of everything it seems!

This was exciting and terrifying all at once. I loved the way we kept getting more pieces of the connection between Tru and Rio, and Bailey and Celeste. This was a good one.

This was very different than I expected. There were a couple elements I wasn’t expecting that have clouded my overall enjoyment. But there were a lot of great aspects too! I think the author did a fantastic job depicting high school struggles and lifestyle, as well as the tension that comes from upcoming change and uncertainty. The setting was also very vivid and captivating. There were several moments where this book felt like the gang from Outer Banks and I think a lot of young adults readers will enjoy this story.

Rating: 4.25⭐️

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Ginny Meyers Sain is so great at immersing the reader fully into the story, making you feel like you’re standing alongside the characters. This murder mystery keeps you guessing the entire time and has insane twists throughout the entire book. Following Tru as she works to uncover the truth about two teenage girls who murdered 20 years prior. She doesn’t know why but she feels as it is her duty to learn the truth.
I really liked the characters in this one and that all of them played big roles throughout the story. I liked the supernatural twist, too. I think it fit well with the story.

Overall this was a fun YA thriller that’s perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen M. McManus.

Rating: 4.25⭐️

Thank you to the publisher for gifting me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

Ginny Meyers Sain is so great at immersing the reader fully into the story, making you feel like you’re standing alongside the characters. This murder mystery keeps you guessing the entire time and has insane twists throughout the entire book. Following Tru as she works to uncover the truth about two teenage girls who murdered 20 years prior. She doesn’t know why but she feels as it is her duty to learn the truth.
I really liked the characters in this one and that all of them played big roles throughout the story. I liked the supernatural twist, too. I think it fit well with the story.

Overall this was a fun YA thriller that’s perfect for fans of Holly Jackson and Karen M. McManus.

This book surprised me. Looking at the GR rating and a couple of reviews I read, I was expecting to have a hard time getting through it. I definitely did not.

The author has a way of writing that lulls the reader into a false sense of security. Everything feels beautiful and romantic despite the fact that there have been murders. Somehow, it is comfortable and lyrical with mystery and suspense woven in.

The ending, however, ripped away that comfort and security. The twists were plentiful, and the emotions and suspense ran high. I was left with some reading whiplash and a small amount of confusion. But, I'm ok with it.

I listened to the audiobook while reading the advanced ebook copy that Netgalley and the publisher kindly granted me in exchange for an honest review. The audiobook made it even more enjoyable,
and the narrator was fantastic!
4.5 stars rounded up to 5⭐️