“Best First Last” by Amy T. Matthews is nothing short of a literary masterpiece that swept me off my feet and left me utterly breathless. Matthews’ storytelling prowess is like a symphony of emotions, orchestrating a narrative that resonates deep within the soul. This book is a rollercoaster of love, passion, and self-discovery, and every page is a testament to Matthews’ ability to craft a story that transcends the ordinary and becomes an unforgettable journey into the human heart.

The characters in “Best First Last” are not merely ink on paper; they come alive, pulsating with raw, authentic emotions that seep into your very being. Matthews’ writing is a dance of words, weaving a tapestry so rich and vibrant that it’s impossible not to be swept away. This novel is an intoxicating elixir of literary brilliance, leaving an indelible mark on my heart. “Best First Last” is a tour de force, a rare gem that deserves not just five stars but a constellation of praise for its ability to enrapture and elevate the soul. Amy T. Matthews has crafted a masterpiece that will undoubtedly stand the test of time.

The blurb here is pretty detailed, and I was fascinated by the trekking adventure of the 3 ladies - so I picked it up spontaneously. The three women are 25-year-old Heather, her 52-year-old mother Sandy, and Bonnie, the grandmother, who wants to celebrate her 70th birthday in Peru. One could now assume there is a family trio that is close friends - but that's not the three of them. At least not at the beginning. Heather is happy to have put enough miles between herself and her dysfunctional family: her whole life is in the shadow of her mother Sandy's overflowing love for her father Nick - but he is a musician, has always enjoyed touring, and has always enjoyed being unfaithful. Now the divorce is finally pending and Sandy is devastated. Heather's own love life isn't really great either; she's been trying to get rid of her ex-lover Shawn, stalker par excellence, for a while, but keeps giving in. It can't work like that. Bonnie, married three times and newly widowed again, unexpectedly invites her daughter and granddaughter on a trekking trip into the mountains of Peru. She was inspired to do this by Owen - her neighbor's grandson, who constantly goes on trips like this. And whom she spontaneously hired to Peru...

Well, you can already tell that the protagonists all have their own baggage to bear, are all, as Owen says, a little weird, and don't really agree with each other either. They are all shaped by their family history, and Bonnie plans to reveal some family secrets... This could be a heavy, depth-psychological text, but it isn't at all. The author writes quickly and with a lot of humor and a lot of love for all her protagonists. This is really a great story, with a setting in Peru, and with lots of wisdom about life and love. Speaking of Peru: I've never been there before, but a new travel destination woke me up 😊. A hike to Macchu Picchu sounds pretty cool 😊. In most of the chapters in the book we are on our trip to Peru, and then there are a few inserts that shed light on Sandy and Bonnie's past. Very well done. And slowly the three of them are getting closer again...
Oh yes - now I've omitted all of Heather's love story - Juliet and Romeo in Peru - so please read! My conclusion: simply a beautiful story, great characters, and a lot of love. I liked that very much.

This had a great concept overall and I enjoyed that we got to know three generations of women in this family. I enjoyed getting to read this story and go on these adventures. It had everything that I was looking for and enjoyed from other books in this genre. Amy T. Matthews has a great writing style that I enjoyed a lot.

#7Netgalley read
This book is coming out in 2024 and when I saw it on Netgalley I couldn't just pass, I had to see what this book entails and I was definitely not expecting this much drama, in Owen's imagined voice " I don't do drama" 😂

So when a grandmother takes her daughter and her granddaughter on a great adventure to Peru, they didn't know that a lot of drama will unfold and their grand adventure will turn to a therapy session. So much secrets! So much crying!! So much drama!!!

Bonnie the grandmother got married 3 times, became a widow 3 times and she is just seventy. Bonnie has a very sad backstory, I felt pity for her but I was happy that everything she ever dreamed of having, she eventually got it.

Sandra the daughter started dating an a$$hole when she was in uni who was constantly cheating on her and using her and she knew but she decided to marry him because she loved him so much. After giving him her all and giving birth to his 2 kids; love definitely wasn't enough to sustain him and even during the marriage he was still cheating and the kids knew that their father was cheating. Very sad too but I didn't feel pity for her because she said she enjoyed the love he showered on her and she doesn't regret being with him😒

Heather the daughter became the emotional dumping ground for her mother's feelings, she wasn't allowed to feel her own feelings (if this sentence is correct) but she was now in charge of consoling and managing her mom who is an adult.
The book was centered on the 3 of them dealing with their transgenerational baggages and I enjoyed every bit of it, because this is an ARC I don't want to include spoilers in this review because this is a very early review

I laughed, cried and reflected throughout this entire book! It really makes you appreciate moms and grandmas! This feels like a love story with some extra self-help thrown in there.
Like any family, the characters make you want to pull your hair out but have you laughing while they do it. The personal and relationship developments were beautiful and it was a joy to witness the characters open their hearts and let go of their pain.
I absolutely loved that this book is set in Peru! Machu Picchu is at the top of my travel list so I thoroughly enjoyed the characters going on my dream trip!
I loved this book even with a little lull in the pacing at about the 70% mark.
Thank you so much to Kensington Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book! I absolutely loved it!

Best, First, and Last is a scoff-out-loud, cry-and-reflect novel that makes you appreciate the moms and grandmas in your life. I spent a few days getting through the first 30 pages and then a day reading the 300 or so, that's how enjoyable I thought this book was. A trip to Machu Picchu for a daughter, mom, and grandma leads to hilarious experiences and painful memories that unravel the deepest and darkest secrets they keep from themselves and each other. It flows like a love story and reads like a bit of a self-help book in my opinion (one of my favorite quotes from the book was "...there are no wrong people. Or right people. There are just people.")
The characters may have you wanting to pull out your hair at first, but there is beautiful personal and relationship development between Heather, Sandy, and Bonnie as they go from stop to stop.

Such a lovely read! Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an ARC copy in exchange for my honest review.

“I’m not sure I’ve ever felt such a simple, strong love since. It just was, and it was good. Nothing’s ever the same as your first real love, but when your first love is lightning…well, it’s a hard act to follow”
Best, First and Last Amy T. Matthews

This is the story of 3 generations of women all at a crossroads. Bon has just turned 70 and lost her 3rd husband, Sandra is going through a divorce and Heather a breakup. In an attempt to help her daughter, Sandra, Bon comes up with a birthday wish to hike the Incan Trail to Machu Picchu. In Peru, secrets of the past are revealed and the trek up the mountain becomes so much more than a hike.

This is my first book by Amy Matthews and it will not be my last!! I enjoyed all the characters. I laughed and cried.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Kensington Books for providing me with a digital review copy of this amazing book in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Best, First, and Last by Amy T. Matthews hit me right in the heart, and I can't wait for this to come out next summer to share with my book club and the other ladies in my life.

Heather, her mom, Sandy, and her grandma, Bonnie, go on an adventure for Bonnie's 70th birthday. Bonnie convinces them they need to hike the Incan Trail to Machu Picchu. As they go on their grand adventure, they share their heartaches, stories, and secrets (as the blurb says) and get to know each other better. By opening their hearts, and letting go of the pain, they set themselves up for happiness to come.

I laughed and cried while reading this book and wish so very much that my mom was still alive to go on this type of adventure, or at the very least read and love this book the way I did. All of the characters are relatable, likeable, and have something worthwhile to share with us.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for letting me have this ARC for an honest opinion. All thoughts are my own.