5 stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

It’s not uncommon to skim the synopsis of a book and think that it sounds “pretty good”. But it’s not everyday that you start reading that book and instantly fall in love with everything about it.

Best, First, and Last was a fantastic book that had me hooked beginning to end. I fell in love with every character, their stories, and their relationships more & more as the book progressed.

The author did an amazing job at making you feel immersed in the setting whether you were in Peru or Shitsville, Az. I felt like I was there with each character, feeling their pain, their love, and their laughter.

I absolutely loved the way she went about telling the main story as well as each background story. Especially when she went back in time to 1969 and completely changed the tone, slang, etc to better immerse us in the setting. She did a great job making it feel like I was reading a completely different story while staying true to what was happening in the main plot line.

If you can’t tell, I’m obsessed with this book and I can’t wait for this to release and share it with friends!

Relationships can be complicated. Mother/Daughter relationships are almost always complicated, at least for part of the time, especially the time that daughters want to act grown before their time. Sometimes the relationship remains a rollercoaster well into the adult years. That is the case in this story. Truths not told, misunderstandings, self-doubt, guilt and remorse all combined into a web that even the strongest spider could not weave, and surely mere mortals cannot escape from, unless the old hurts come to the surface and then healing can begin.

I truly love this extremely emotional tale. I had tissues handy, and I suggest that you do also. It centers around a grandmother, her daughter, and her granddaughter. The author wrote a believable story that I was drawn into immediately and held captive until the final page. The characters are wonderfully created, perfect for their roles in the plot.

There is a romance also intertwined in the pages and to me, the situations surrounding it was absolutely believable also. Living in what is often called the biggest, small city, I often have situations where I meet someone, then see them again, and again, and then find out all the people that we both know, as if it were fate driving us together (as it is in this story).

I highly recommend this fantastic book and hope you will enjoy it as much as I did.

Thanks to Kensington Publishing and NetGalley for giving me the pleasure of reading this amazing book. I will be telling all my reader friends to grab this book and begin reading it at once after it is released on June 25th!

Best, First, and Last by Amy T. Matthews is a heartwarming and relatable romp, filled with humour and drama that revolves around three generations of women in the same family.
The characters range from the immediately endearing Bonnie, mother and grandmother to heart-broken and bitter Sandy, and harassed and introverted Heather respectively. Each woman is dealing with her own troubles, and some of those troubles can be traced right back to the other two. Throw in a plethora of secrets on Bonnie's part, a philandering ex-husband on Sandy's, and a new, surprise love interest on Heather's, and the entire situation deteriorates hilariously as the book progresses.
Yet there are serious lessons to be learned for each of the three women, and by proxy for the reader as well.
This is a well-written and entertaining page-turner that leaves you feeling good once you reach the end. I've definitely put this author on my watch list!
I am happy to have received an ARC of #BestFirstandLast from #NetGalley.

I thought this was really well written and I look forward to reading more from this author in the future. I think it will find readers at our library, so we will definitely be purchasing for the collection.

Best, First, Last, by Amy T. Matthews

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book.

Bonnie, just turned 70 and having lost her third husband, manages to be the ebullient yet stabilizing center of this family novel, in which three generations of women share their experiences with love and loss. The book has much to recommend it, especially the complex relationships between Bonnie and her daughter, and her grown granddaughter, each of whom has her own reasons for being depressed. Romance and physical love feature prominently, with the women sharing stories of their marriages and relationships as they visit Machu Pichu in Peru. The adventure also traces their journeys to understanding and accepting life’s messiness.

However, the women’s enmeshment with each other, and with some of those they love, lends a neurotic tone to the story. This is especially true with Bonnie’s daughter, Sandy, whose interfering behavior in her own grown daughter’s life is sometimes outrageous, and enraging. That daughter, Heather, also seems stuck in self-defeating patterns, and though she does emerge from them, the trip can seem very long.

This kind of romance/drama is not my kind of book, but it is well-written and could be enjoyed by those who appreciate this genre.

4.5⭐️

Best, First, and Last is a fun journey filled with adventure and emotion. Heather, her mother Sandy, and grandmother Bonnie travel together through both Peru and their pasts. Family dynamics prove more difficult to conquer than Manchu Picchu. Difficult, but not impossible. This story is filled with romance and conflict and humor and family love, and Heather is particularly easy to root for- even when certain others in her life aren’t so much. A great reminder that sometimes traveling well outside your comfort zone can help you find where you belong.

Thank you Amy T. Matthews, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

These 3 women have taught me a lot. I can take one lesson from each.

I have a troublesome relationship with my own mother, and I never had a relationship with my grandmother due to her developped mental illnesses. This book brought forth a complex swarm of relationships, mostly between Bon and Sandra and Heather and Sandra. It felt so good to have a telling of what a normal but not always functional family is.

It's real, sad but full of love in those less happy moments.

This book was funny. I could relate to Heather more, maybe because we are the same age. Her interactions with Romeo 🥰"You're not a serial killer, are you?" Were the best.

Romeo had my heart. He was so patient and understanding, it was everything. Plus, he can be pretty romantic at times.

Bonnie was so wise but carefree at the same time. "When you see people for what they are, not for what they could be to you, then you love them." She is a well of experiences. Bonnie made me laugh the most, I wish I had a grandmother or a woman in my life like her.

Sandra made me sad and one or two times angry. I wish we had more chapters in her pov, I think that would have made a difference in me feeling more for her. Nevertheless I understood her journey and her struggles, just not fully.

Also I expected a substantial part of the book to take place on the trek, and it's mostly leading up to it.

I would recommend this book, for sure. It had me laughing, smiling adorably at Romeo and Juliet, crying at Bon's story-telling in the hotel room and some more I don't want to spoil.


Thank you for the ARC, I appreciate it a lot. And this is my real, honest review. 🙂

Best, First and Last is the story of three generations of women in one family who are all struggling for different reasons. Bonnie (Bon) is grieving the death of her third husband and worried about the rift between her daughter, Sandy, and her granddaughter, Heather. After a conversation with her Arizona neighbour's photojournalist grandson, Bonnie decides to book a trip to Peru for herself, Sandy and Heather to hike the Incan Trail to Machu Picchu as a celebration of her 70th birthday. Sandy is an emotional wreck about the impending divorce from her philandering husband and Heather, who moved across the country to escape the difficult relationship she has with both parents, has recently broken up with a guy who is a bit of a stalker. Most of the narrative takes place in the lead up to and during the trip to Peru but there are also a few flashback chapters that provide the background relating to Sandy and Bonnie's relationships.

I had enjoyed the author's previous book, Someone Else's Bucket List, and was drawn to this one because this Machu Picchu trip is something I would love to do. As the three women embark on this adventure to visit one of the wonders of the world, there is a lot of fighting and tears but as they hike there is also a shedding of the past and the three begin to look forward to the future. There is also a romance storyline for Heather who meets her "Romeo" shortly after arriving in Peru. Bon ,who is carrying around her dead husband's urn, was my favourite character - she is a riot and you never know what's going to come out of her mouth but she loves her daughter and granddaughter deeply and will do anything for them. Best, First and Last is an uplifting, joyful story of family and healing and an enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy

I enjoy multigenerational stories and I wanted to like this book more than I actually enjoyed the act of reading it. Long chapters really aren't my thing, which dragged down the pacing for me. Otherwise, some interesting characters.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing was very clean, and the plot had a good pace and flow. The banter between Bonnie and Dale was really fun and cute. I'd read more from this author.

This book is an incredible story of three generations of women all at crossroads in their life.

Although the characters were connected, they were each such unique individuals. I felt as though I was on an adventure right along with these women. This is a testament to the perfectly balanced descriptive nature of Matthews’s writing.

The plot moved along at just the right speed, and I appreciated how entertaining and moving the story was as a whole. I’ll definitely read more of her books!

I loved Somebody Else's Bucket list and this gave me the same vibes. It was sweet, and eye opening. As a mom, daughter and granddaughter it hits you in all those levels of your life.

Best First and Last
Author : Amy. T. Matthews

This is a story of women from three generations .. Bonnie who is widowed three times and aged 70, her daughter Sandra who is separated from her cheating husband and granddaughter Heather who is struggling with her own relationship crises…
When things turn ugly.. Bonnie decides that all three of them should take a trip to Peru and climb Machu Pichu.. But is her daughter and granddaughter willing to go on this trip???
The beginning of the book is hilarious and loved Bonnie for her wittiness and reaction..
but as the story unfolds.. it shows three sides of these women and how they have dealt with their individual relationship challenges over their life.. they have their secrets which uncovers with time and affect all three of them in different ways.. it shows how each one reacts to these challenges and heartbreaks

The question comes down to why women most of the time end up with decisions that lead to heartbreak.. Bonnie who had three marriages but always had her first relationship and husband in her subconscious mind that somehow affected her other two marriages.
Sandra who made the wrong choice and ended up with a man who never loved her truly and she still goes back to that man and constantly regrets over this failed relationship.
Heather who wants to move away from her stalker boyfriend and is in dilemma to try a new relationship. Her relationship with her father too is complicated.

This book is good but I found it never ending.. partially went into reading slump as well but still got back to reading this story as i wanted to know more about each women’s story in the book..

What is it about Amy T. Matthew’s novels that makes me feel like I have been on an adventure right along with the main characters? “Best, First, and Last” is Amy’s second novel. I loved it as much as the first!

Bonnie is newly widowed when her neighbor’s grandson comes to visit. With her 70th birthday on the horizon, the grandson inspires Bonnie to take her family on a journey to the Andes Mountains in Peru. Bonnie, Sandy, Heather, and lots of baggage (both emotional and physical) head to Machu Picchu. As Sandy, the daughter, and Heather, the granddaughter, trek up Machu Picchu, they learn the truth about Bonnie’s life. In those truths, they reframe their own life.

I loved this book for so many reasons - the adventure and unpacking and letting go of what we do not need to keep carrying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advanced copy in exchange for sharing my honest opinion.

After the loss of her husband, Bonnie is lonely. Recognising her daughter and granddaughter are also going through a hard time, she blindsides them by organising a trip to Peru to hike the Inca trail. What follows is much more than a physical journey, but one of love, healing, self discovery (fuelled by much snarky banter!).

I loved the witty repartee between these women, and found myself so engrossed in their journey. The story was a beautiful tribute to the healing power of family and travel, and a commentary on the power of the things that are left unsaid. I love books set around a hike, and this story perfectly capture the concept of escaping the world and creating space for reflection. Being able to experience Perth with Heather was an added bonus.

Romance was a central theme throughout the book, but secondary to the relationships of mother daughter and grandmother. I loved Owen with his assertive boundary setting and the respect he showed heather and her family, and the role he played in supporting their growth.

And finally, I loved the cover! It’s not something I normally pay a lot of attention to, but I really enjoyed looking at it on my ereader each time I picked the book up.

Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

I loved Matthew’s book Someone Else’s Bucket List so when I saw she wrote a new book that involved trekking in Peru, I immediately wanted to read it. This was such a fun story to read. This is mostly women’s fiction, but there is some romance in it. This book covered a lot of topics like the ups and downs of marriage, family dynamics, and grief. There were so many moments that were funny and sad. I enjoyed each women’s personal story and learning more about the events that shaped them into who they are today, and where they went wrong in love. Matthew has such a way with words, and her writing is emotionally gripping. All of the characters in this story were great, despite their flaws, but Bonnie was my favorite. She set this trip in motion to climb Machu Picchu for her 70th birthday. I want to be her when I grow up! I can only hope that I am climbing mountain at that age. I also loved that this book was inspired by the author’s grandmother, which is truly amazing. This is my second book by the author, and I look forward to reading more of her books. I would highly recommend this book.

Read if you enjoy:
✔️Mulitple POV
✔️Long chapters
✔️Multiple timelines
✔️Mother/daughter stories

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC!

This was my first Amy T. Matthews book and it certainly won't be my last!

What a wonderful adventure of discovery I've been on today with these 3 amazing women.

I laughed and cried along with them, feeling as if I was actually on the trip with them.

I love how we gradually learn more about the early lives of Bon and Sandra, the events that shaped them into the women they are today.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the digital ARC.

I adore reading about mothers and daughters, so this book was perfect for my tastes. The additional grandmother character was icing on the cake! I lived their banter and the adventure they went on. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was such a fun story about 3 generations of women who go on a trip together. I loved seeing the evolution of each woman. The cover is very fun!

Read as an ARC - an absolute delight. It was a love story/rom-com, but also dug deep into the highs and lows of love, marriage, children, and taking chances. Grandma Bon drags her daughter Sandy and granddaughter Heather to Peru under the guise of being a thrice widowed septuagenarian, bringing with her the urn of most recent husband, Junior. They meet up with Owen, who Bon hopes to set up with Sandy, but turns out Owen and Heather already had a happenstance hostel love affair when Heather first arrived in Peru. Owen is thrust into this multi-generational fight, where each woman is carrying trauma related to love. When Heather's ex shows up right before their big trek to Macchu Picchu, things get messy.

This book was clear that everyone has a past and baggage - how do we reconcile what we've been through with the life we know we deserve? I went through the whole range of emotions reading this, and I absolutely loved it. The characters were funny, and we slowly got all the background of first and lost loves to see how each woman became who she is. Highly recommend.