After graduating high school, Mia faces a summer of goodbyes. With her friend Britt urging her to chase bigger dreams, Mia uncovers a series of mysterious letters from her late mother, a country music star. Each letter leads Mia on a journey through her hometown, revealing secrets about her mother’s past. With time running out before Britt leaves, Mia must decide whether to stay in her comfort zone or embrace the unknown and forge her own path.

In a way, this book felt like a mix of Mamma Mia meets Daisy Jones and the Six and the vibes were really engaging overall. If you’re looking for a fun, quick read (and are willing to suspend your disbelief for a time) then Mia’s journey to find out about her mother’s life will surely appeal to you.

The story has a lot going for it—we have an adorable queer pair of grandmothers taking care of Mia, a set of small-town secondary characters that are charismatic and intriguing, and we have a romance that keeps you guessing. Oh, and loads of lyrics that tug at your heartstrings!

While I adored the premise of this book, the execution felt a tad strenuous at times. Maybe it was the concept of the whole book but to me it would have translated a lot better onto the screen rather than a page—and that comes down in part to the writing.

As an example, when it came to emotions, the prose often fell into the dreaded telling instead of showing—especially when it came to trying to explain emotions with clichés that were then just explained right afterward with bland statements like “I felt sad”, which was a bit nonsensical. Also, at one point, the reader gets told in every chapter that Mia is sad, that she feels torn, that she can’t get what she wants in almost the same words as before but we’re rarely shown that. Over and over we have this repeated thought cycle without any sort of change (not so much in the emotions themselves but the words to describe them). Mia and Britt’s relationship especially suffers from this and it takes a bit of the magic out of the will-they-won’t-they struggle. All that being said, though, I still found myself rooting for them to find a way to be together, no matter whether physical distance was going to be an issue or not.

By far my favourite part and the one where the prose truly shines is the exploration of Mia and her late mother’s relationship. With the help of the scavenger hunt of clues, Mia unearths so much about her mother that she didn’t know and learns that after all this time, a lot of people she might not have spent a lot of time with in her hometown (felt a bit suss considering it’s a small town where everyone is supposedly a tight-knit community but we’ll deal with it), had the puzzle to the mystery that was her mother’s death all along.

Tori Rose was a strong character whose true voice shone through the lyrics that are included in this book. I could imagine myself listening to her on the radio and (like a lot of individuals in this book were willing to) wanting to follow her around the world. In that regard, the book was truly immersive and made me crave the chapters from her point of view. I guess that’s always a possibility with alternate timelines that one is more intriguing than the other.

While the big plot twist is quite predictable, I still had a fun time watching Mia try to piece together the clues her mother left her and the way it brought her and Britt closer together.

If you’re in the mood for a quick, summer-y story about a girl torn between her mother’s unresolved past and her own fears of the uncharted future, paired with a dash of heartfelt country music lyrics and a small town setting to steal your heart, then The Last Love Song’s the book for you!

This was a really good young adult novel!

There is an underlying romance to it lingering on the surface, but it is about so much more than just a romance- it is about a daughter connecting with her mom who has passed away and it is also about finding yourself especially at such a pivotal time at age 18 and starting your life.

I really liked the two timelines- Mia’s story in present day and then her mom’s story from the past. I loved how the timelines intertwined so well with the set-up of the scavenger hunt and letters her mom left her.

What a great debut! Such a quick and easy read- recommend checking it out!🩷

I swear everyone in this book has an insufferable boner for the vague concept of music, and are every single one of them are some of the most selfish people I've been forced to care about. That is saying something given how most of the central characters are women, and no one more selfish than the central characters, especially Tori who EVERYONE is in love with, despite how much she has screwed over everyone. I feel like the author would be better off as a songwriter for country music, because that ethos expanded over a queer teen story was just so SO frustratingly pretentious. For what was a relatively short novel, it dragged so much, every twist and turn of the plot and the scavenger hunt was so cringe and contrived. The way people talked to each other, especially Mia just felt so stilted and unrealistic. Literally the only people I could stand were the lesbian grandmas (would much rather have read their story) and sometimes Britt, who reflects my own frustration at being caught up in this mess. So one star for them, and one star for entirely too many songs in this that would be of far greater emotional impact in a Taylor Swift album.

**I received a free ebook from the publisher on Netgalley for review purposes.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced copy of The Last Love Song in exchange for an honest review.

Mia Peters has just graduated high school and is at a crossroads in life. She loves songwriting and making music but is afraid of following in the footsteps of her famous country music star mother, Tori Rose. Mia has been raised by her two grandmothers and knows next to nothing about her mother's life and why she abandoned her family to pursue her dream of music. After graduation, her grandmothers hand over a gift that Tori Rose left for Mia to open upon graduating high school. Inside this gift is a letter from her mother that leads Mia on a wild scavenger hunt through her town, with every discovery filling in a piece of the puzzle as to who her mother really was.

I loved the idea of this book:
+ sapphic romance
+ a scavenger hunt
+ mix of romance, self-discovery, and mystery

However, this just didn't work for me, personally. The characters fell flat and I felt like I didn't really get to know them; there was a lot of telling and not a lot of showing. I had to just take things as they were with regard to the farfetched scavenger hunt Tori designed for Mia; I didn't really understand how Mia was putting together some clues and had to disbelief most of the time. I found myself rolling my eyes and groaning at some of the dialogue, though maybe I just wasn't the right audience.

My biggest gripe with the book is the fact that Mia knew so little about her mom yet lived in a town with restaurants, clubs, tours, etc. devoted to her mega-celebrity mom. I just cannot accept that she wouldn't have found out *something* about her mom in 18 years and think it was cruel of her grandmothers and others in the town to literally share nothing with her.

Again, others seem to love this, but it sadly was a disappointment for me.

I liked this book! I enjoyed that it didn’t feel choppy and flowed well and the characters were likable and had noticeable enjoyable flaws and perks :) 3.5 stars

🌟:4.5/5
Calling all Mamma Mia fans! This book combines a young woman's journey to know more about her mom's past with a wonderful sapphic love story to create an emotional and romantic debut.

My favorite part of this story was absolutely the back and forth between the two timelines. I loved getting insight into Mia's mom's past by reading chapters from her perspective when she was growing up, and it was integrated so seamlessly, which I appreciated. Being able to read from Tori's perspective made me feel that much more connected to her (and that much more heartbroken over the fact that Mia never got to know her it's fine I'm fine... I'm not fine but I still loved it).

Mia goes on a profound emotional journey throughout the book as she learns more of her mom's history. This book was an emotional rollercoaster, from reconnecting with Tori's band members, to the secrets that get unveiled with each of her mother's journal entries. This story is bound to tug on your heartstrings the more Mia feels connected with her mother all the way to the bittersweet ending, knowing the truth behind Tori's regrets. I loved seeing Mia find strength in her mom's story and ultimately coming to pursue her dreams because of it.

Mia and Britt's relationship was undoubtedly the highlight of the book. You all know I'm a sucker for a friends to lovers story, and these two had such a wonderful dynamic. I enjoyed the angst of Britt's imminent departure, and how the scavenger hunt brought them together for "one last hurrah" that ultimately leads to them deciding they want more. Britt and Mia also had wonderful chemistry, and I was living for all the little moments of their relationship.

If you're looking for an emotional and unputdownable coming of age story with a wonderful romantic subplot woven throughout, then this is a book that needs to be on your tbr!

A charming story about stardom and the importance of friends and family, The Last Love Song explores how grief and regret can plague us, altering the course of our lives forever. While I enjoyed many of the conversations that arose in this book -- especially the ones concerning the falling in and out of each other's lives -- most were too surface-level to really make an impact. The characters themselves fell very flat, and the mystery seemed to be added as an afterthought. There really wasn't enough detail in the clues for me to understand how Mia was able to solve them, and I often found myself suspending belief when she came to conclusions that were far-fetched. Still, this was a cute story, and I really enjoyed what it had to say.

Thank you to NetGalley, Blackstone Publishing, and the author for sending me an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

Actual rating: 4.5/5 stars

This book is perfect for anyone who loves Mamma Mia, Taylor Swift, queer girls, and messy teenagers acting like messy teenagers! It's also a look at just how complicated grief can be - especially for someone you've never known, but everyone else around you thinks they do.

The writing style is romantic and poetic and even tragic at times. An absolutely perfect book for summer if you can handle the heavier topics regarding grief, loss/death of a parent, and abandonment. I would've liked to see maybe a discussion of the main character Mia receiving some counseling or having a plan for how to deal with her mental health journey with professional outside help - especially because it does affect her life and is acknowledged somewhat by her loved ones, but I understand this is a YA book and that may not be within the scope of what to expect for the genre.

It was missing that special something that prevented me from giving it the full five stars, but this was still an enjoyable read, and the first book I've finished in a while, which should count for something.

This book? It's like a whirlwind that swept me off my feet and left me reeling! I'm talking full-on emotional rollercoaster here! And let me tell you, trying to put into words how it made me feel is like trying to catch lightning in a bottle—impossible! All I can manage to blurt out is: WOW.

This was such a cute, quick read! I really enjoyed the story, the characters, the pov’s from Mia and Tori and the music aspect. I recommend this book if you want to read a YA, friends to lovers, small town romance!

Thank you Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for this arc.

Such a cute, queer YA story reminiscent of Mama Mia with a unique spin on love, loss, music, and regrets.

What I loved:
The lyrics! I was in awe of how this author wrote both a story and basically an entire album at the same time.
The chapters in Tori's perspective. It was so easy to hear the distinction in the narrative between her and Mia, and I appreciated that it gave us a chance to see them as different people.
The love between Mia and Britt. Having the opportunity to watch friends melt into tender lovers was heartwarming.
The portrayal of grief and experiencing it alongside Mia. It really did feel like the waves that were referenced in so many songs. Mia had moments where she was excited to be finding out more about her mom while grappling with the fact that she was gone and never coming back and that when the hunt ended, that meant the time with her mom would be gone for good. The acceptance she had at the end when she got closure from both Patrick and David and how she chose her own path with Britt was everything I hoped it would be!

Mia Peters mom was a famous country star, Tori Rose. Mia has grown up in her shadow without really knowing anything about her. Her grandmothers' have been grieving their daughter. Mia thinks Tori abandoned them and her. Britt is her best friend and is in a band. She wants Mia to join them on their tour. Tori Rose created a scavenger hunt with lyrics and clues around their hometown Sunset Cove.

I'm so impressed that this is the author's debut. It is written so well. I loved it. The relationships between Mia and her mother brought tears to my eyes. I really enjoyed this book and I can't wait to see what the author writes next.

"The Last Love Song" was fantastic. Mia is such a raw and vulnerable character and I just wanted to hug her and tell her that she is loved and valued...and to follow her dreams! Britt is a loveable and authentic friend/partner. I highly recommend this book. Thank you to Blackstone and Netgalley for an advanced reading copy (ARC) of this book in exchange for an honest review! 4/5 stars.

I was so excited for this one, that cover and the story, but I just could not connect with the story or the characters. I am definitely in the minority with this one and it will appeal to a majority of the audience.

i think i will never be the same person again after reading this book to be honest. it left me bawling me eyes out and in the best way possible. the raw emotions i felt seeping out of the characters are also so amazingly written. happy release day to the author and thank you so much for allowing me to read this amazing book of yours. thank you as well to NetGalley for always catering such wonderful reads!

everyone should read this for real ! GRAB A COPY NOW !

“That's the funny thing about loss, you know? You wish you'd never had to feel a hurt that deep, but you
knew that person and you wouldn't have had it any other way. For however long they were there, they meant something, and that is forever. That's what that word means.”

“…if you can hold on to the magic of the moment while chasing whatever your dreams are, you'll wind up so much better off than me.”

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Pages: 286
Genre: YA
Tropes: friends to lovers and love triangle.

First of all, I´m going to say that I loved that it was narrated by both Mia during the present, and by Tori (Mia's mother) during the past, I always felt like I was traveling in time with her.

From the beginning, the book forces you not to put it down, since Mia is given a gift by her mother, which is a letter inviting her to look for a series of clues full of her past outside of Sunset Cove and the person who was in life. So, from that moment, you become Mia's companion, in this bittersweet adventure to find out who her mother was, who her father is and what decisions she will make after knowing all of this.

Personally, there came a point where I was more interested in Tori's story than Mia's, I would have loved to read more about her life after creating Fate's travelers, I could even read an entire book about Tori Rose, she is a character with a lot of light, desire to live, to follow her dreams, etc., and although she made mistakes, I found the reflection she gives at the end to her daughter is really important, definitely as someone who loves her mother a lot, the last chapters had me crying and crying, but they were the ones I liked the most. The resolution of the story itself made me feel very satisfied, why Mia goes through certain events during the hunt makes perfect sense.

One of the details that made me fall in love more with this story were the fragments of the song lyrics written by the protagonists themselves, which made the music gain more strength within the development of the story.

"'ll promise we'll last forever in a way I know
we won't,
We're our whispered oaths, our borrowed time,
and a lost love letter,
But tonight we're flying, no looking down, maybe tomorrow we'll be better."

Now, talking about the relationship between Britt and Mia, I thought it was cute, but I didn't connect with it so much, I liked that Britt was the person who accompanied Mia during this journey of knowing what her mother wanted to tell her, so that she too could achieve find herself. But, in the last conflict that the two have, I didn't like Britt's attitude towards Mia, I understand that she was angry, but to the point of not wanting to talk to her anymore, I see it a little bit dramatic.

Overall i enjoyed this book, the main point is the relationship between a mother and a daughter, finding yourself, chasing your dreams and always, always love your loved ones, and expressing what you feel towards them. So, if you like these themes, Mamma Mia, music and maybe you have read and like Daisy Jones, this book is for you.

Thanks to Netgalley, Blackstone Publishing and the author for this ARC in exchange of a honest review.

The Last Love Song is a beautiful, lyrical story about all kinds of love for others and yourself! This is the kind of book in which you get exactly what you expect in the very best way. Perfect for readers of YA romance!

Happy Publication Day to The Last Love Song by Kalie Holford!

5/5 Longs Songs

If you’re looking for a dynamic story with LGBTQ+ representation about friendship, love, grief, mother/daughter relationships, and navigating how to determine your own dreams this one’s for you!

This story follows Mia as she is finally given the chance to get to know her late superstar mother through a series of journal entries scattered through town that can only be found through clues in her mothers song lyrics, works to figure out what her dreams are for herself and her future once she graduates high school. This book was absolutely amazing! I picked it up based in the cover alone and was blown away by the story.

This story is beautiful and messy in all the right ways and made me cry multiple times, which does not happen often! It tells of the many versions of grief that come when you lose someone close to you. The difficulty of growing up without your parents (especially if they are famous) and the journey of finding yourself on your own terms. There are strong female friendships, loving relationships, great LGBT+ representation across multiple relationship dynamics.

Something that also got to me was how atmospheric the story telling was without over doing it in the details which I very much appreciated! There are parts in the book when you can almost feel the ocean breeze at a seaside town and hear the music flowing through Music City, USA.

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Thank you NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing Inc for a copy of the book in exchange for an honest review.

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This book was really fun to read. The description says its for fans of mamma mia, but I dont think I agree with that. The book gives more paper towns vibes as it follows a freshly graduated Mia Peters through her journey of discovering her moms story. Her mom is a Sunset Cove country music star and left mia a diary with multiple letters to decode once she turned 18. The hunt was really fun to follow and even had me trying to guess how it would end. This book was a cute read with some summertime nostalgia. I would recommend this book if you like musical storylines. The Author did a great job painting the pictures in the book, I felt like I was right there in sunset cove discovering Tori Rose too. The queer storyline is not the main focus, but it is still woven in there and adds some much appreciated sapphic-ness to the book.

I received an ARC from NetGalley.

The Last Love Song is a beautifully written small town big dreams romance packed with charm, young queer love, and a little mystery.
Kalie Holford has absolutely out done herself in her debut novel. We have queer grandparents, country music superstars, homey small town feels, and a young couple with so many hopes and dreams stretched out before them. I truly enjoyed her main character, Mia, and her complicated feelings of moving forward with her life while still dealing with the loss of her mother, years after her death. The adventure of finding out more about Tori Rose through first hand accounts in her chapters, exploring memorable places through Mia’s perspective, as well as the lyrics of her music was truly unique. I especially liked the Mamma Mia moment when it came to not knowing Mia’s father. It is very evident in Holford's writing that she carefully chooses her words to get specific emotions and physical descriptions to come through the page. The balance of romance, mystery, and young adult coming of age elements was perfectly achieved. I look forward to Holford's future works and her success as a writer.