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.

A beautiful YA/Coming of age novel that maturely and eloquently deals with topics such as grief, belonging and finding yourself.
The romance in this was minimal but always lingering beneath the surface. I appreciated this as it made the novel feel so much more like Mia’s. Her story.
I usually dislike time jumps/flashbacks in books but the way this was written just flowed, it felt right and it didn’t feel as though I was jumping between two stories.

I wish I could have read this at 16


thankyou to netgalley and the publisher for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

I heard this was a country music, mamma Mia inspired story for fans of Taylor Swift & Kelsea Ballerini and I said “say less 😍” I really enjoyed this one! It hooked me from the start and I honestly could’ve read it in one sitting if I had time to! The mystery was intriguing and kept me turning the pages, the love and tension between Mia & Britt was so messy and so real, and the emotion at the heart is what I really loved! I loved how each of the pieces of Tori’s story was unraveled and how everything lead to the ending that wrapped everything up very beautifully and realistically. I loved how lyrical the writing was and how easy it was to read! My only complaints were that I wish certain aspects were fleshed out more so that when Mia figured out the clues, it would’ve made a little more sense and just that I think it was super insane that no one would really talk to her about her mom her entire life and expected her to not to feel like she wasn’t enough or deserving of her dreams 🤔 But besides that I think this was really great!! 🥰

Eeeeeeh? This one wasn't for me.

We embark on a journey with young Mia Peters as she delves into the life of her mother, the country music sensation Tori Rose, who passed away years ago. Tori's parting gift to Mia is a graduation surprise—a scavenger hunt comprised of letters. With only five days until her closest friend and love interest, Britt, departs for a Nashville performance, Mia races against time to complete the scavenger hunt before Britt's departure.

The narrative unfolds through alternating perspectives, with Mia navigating her present-day struggles while uncovering revelations about Tori through her past letters. As Mia grapples with her identity and the self-imposed pressure of meeting expectations, she discovers that her mother faced similar insecurities.

I found it disconcerting that anytime Mia or Tori engaged in anything musical, it was described as following or going with the music—an expression that felt awkward and out of place throughout the book.

I was puzzled by the lack of information Mia received from the townsfolk, who supposedly revered her mother. The secrecy surrounding crucial details, such as Tori's illness and the circumstances of her departure, left Mia feeling abandoned and betrayed seemed weird.

The breakneck pace at which events unfolded left little room for reflection on Mia's decisions. The rapid progression, coupled with the abrupt unraveling of Mia and Britt's relationship, required multiple re-readings to fully comprehend.

Lastly, as a personal preference, I tend to skip over extensive lyrics in books, regardless of their significance to the story.