Thanks to @amazonpublishing @strongsargentauthors @sonyasargentstrong for an advanced copy to review.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Last Girl Left was a fast read for me! The premise was intriguing… the final girl left returns to an Island off the coast of Maine to face her demons from five long years ago. I won’t give any spoilers, but let’s just say, I was not expecting THAT! Want to know the best part?! This one just released!

I went into this with fairly low expectations and ended up being happily surprised! The storyline here is becoming a fairly common one so I don't think there are a lot of variations left to be written. Girl survives a bloody massacre then returns to the scene years later and creepy things start happening. So, what set this one apart? Well, Maine for one. I will read pretty much anything that is set in Maine. Five years previous, Tessa rented a beach house there with her friends and ends up being the only survivor after everyone else is killed. She returns later to try and reconcile with the past as she doesn't remember what happened. (Another common trope) Another thing I liked was the writing style. Lots of clues and red herrings to piece together. And the final thing I enjoyed, was our final girl. Tessa. I liked her. After reading several books with a lot of unlikeable characters, I really felt for Tessa. Granted, I have never faced anything near what she goes through, but her story held my attention, and I didn't guess the ending. I will definitely go back and read more from these authors!

Thank you to #NetGalley, A.M. Strong and Sonya Sargent and Thomas & Mercer for this ARC. All opinions are my own.

I will post my review to Amazon, Facebook and other retail and social media sites upon publication.

This was a really good thriller! Tessa was the only girl to survive from a girls weekend that turned into a massacre of her friends. She has always struggled with being the one who survived and her memories of that night. It has been five years and she still cannot hold down a job, sleep regularly or live alone. Her sister has been in saint in allowing Tessa to live however she needs, but after numerous failed therapy sessions and no real effort being shown to move forward, Melissa gives her an ultimatum. Tessa needs to start moving forward in her life and she decides the only way she can do that is to go back to the place where the event occurred and face her fears head on. Booking the place for a month, Tessa heads back to where her nightmare began. As bits and pieces start coming back, Tessa starts to make progress. But there is definately something else going on, and she is not sure if she is losing her mind and falling for the ghost stories surrounding this place or if something more sinister is happening because she is back where it all started. This was such a fast paced read and I loved all the twists, characters and overall storyline. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and awesome book goodies. This review is of my own opinion and accord.

Four friends go on a vacay, only one comes back. The last one left….she has put her life on hold the last 5 years because of the trauma. She decides to go back to the house and write a book about what happened to help her work through it. Little does she know, the killer is coming for her! This was a suspenseful novel! It has short chapters and was easy to follow. It is out now, so go pick it up!

I have been on an absolute ROLL lately with amazing thrillers. I can always tell something is going to be amazing when my friends at @thrillerbookloversthepulse hype a book- and that’s why I’ve read 4 of our Pulse books in a row. This one was absolute 🔥 and contains so many of my favorite things: the final girl trope, the slasher/massacre, the small town setting, and the mind bending twist. So. Much. Awesome. Thank you to @sonyasargentstrong, @strongsargentauthors and @amazonpublishing for this amazing swag box. The gummy lobsters were a big hit with my six year old.

"𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒂𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒉𝒂𝒅 𝒔𝒕𝒐𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒅 𝒔𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒓𝒂𝒍 𝒎𝒊𝒏𝒖𝒕𝒆𝒔 𝒂𝒈𝒐, 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒐𝒓 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒘𝒂𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒏𝒌𝒇𝒖𝒍, 𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒏 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒔𝒉𝒆 𝒌𝒏𝒆𝒘 𝒘𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒔𝒖𝒅𝒅𝒆𝒏 𝒔𝒊𝒍𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒕. 𝑯𝒆𝒓 𝒇𝒓𝒊𝒆𝒏𝒅𝒔 𝒘𝒆𝒓𝒆 𝒅𝒆𝒂𝒅."

Special thanks to @thrillerbookloversthepulse @sonyasargentstrong @amazonpublishing and @brilliancepublishing for the #gifted copy, PR box, and eALC.

➡️ swipe to synopsis 👉🏼

MY REVIEW:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫[4.5 rounded up to 5]

THIS 👏🏼AUDIO 👏🏼IS 👏🏼AMAZING👏🏼!

I was entranced from the first chapter. The chapters are short, which makes it feel like you're flying through the story. The story itself is unique in the viewpoint of the survivor and her pent-up anxiety. The off the wall idea to go back to "cure" herself is great writing material for her book in general, but of course SOMETHING is going to happen.

I had so many theories floating around in my head as I listened. Maybe it was every character on that island at one point, 🤔 [or maybe is the killer really dead?!] .

The ending threw me for a loop cause I swear I pegged someone completely different for all of it.

Do yourself a favor, and order this one asap, you won't be sorry!

PUB DATE:
April 23, 2024

QOTD ❓️⁉️❓️ Have you ever visited a murder house?
Where and what murder?

AOTD - I have not and I'm not sure I'd make it through the night, I'm a scardy cat.

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#mysteryandthrills #thrillerbooklovers #thepulse #pulsepoint #tbrpile #bookbuzz #thrilleraddict #bookaddict #thrillerlover #booklover
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I absolutely loved this story! From the beginning I was drawn in. I couldn’t wait to get home each day and continue reading. The entire story I was rooting for Tessa and just wanted to see her overcome her trauma. The twists in this story was great and left my mouth wide open. Great story!

*Thank you so much to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the chance to review an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.*

Holy Final Girl vibes!!! 😍 I knew this would be right up my alley!! This book had everything I need in a thriller!! Creepy… atmospheric… MURDER?!! I mean… sign this girl up!!! 🙋‍♀️… Right?!! Tessa is… really… The Final Girl… 😳… A beach 🏝 house getaway with four besties 👯‍♀️… ended up in a bloody massacre…😳… with only one lone survivor… our girl Tessa. 🥺

So when Tessa gets a book 📖 offer… to write her story… but ONLY if she writes it from the beach house.. Yes THAT beach house.. 😬.. She is all in… WHAT Tessa??? WHAT?! 😧🫣😳 I mean how creepy would that be??

Things start to bump in the night… Tessa feels like someone is watching her… it’s off season and the town is… very deserted… Tessa!!! It’s like the Geico commercial girl!!! Have you never seen a horror movie? 🍿 Run girl!!! Pack your bags 💼 and get out of dodge!! 🏃‍♀️ 🏃‍♀️ Tessa didn’t… 🤦‍♀️… Let’s just say… things got really crazy… 😳😉

I absolutely loved this book!! The creepy vibes… the murder house… the town… all made for the perfect creeptastic atmosphere… 👏👏 Five stars!! I loved it. 😍 Sign me up for whatever @sonyasargentstrong writes next!! 😍😍

Thank you #thomasmercer for my complimentary copy. Everyone @thrillerbookloversthepulse has been talking about this one!

TERESA, a young college student, is raped and nearly murdered but she somehow survives a night of horror. Her three best friends are not as fortunate. Teresa is later able to identify thekiller, who was apprehended and shot by the local police. Five years later, Teresa, now known as TESSA is still understandably traumatized by that horrible night in a Maine beach house. Desperate to work through her fears, Tessa agrees to a book dealrequiring her to stay in the same beach house in Maine for a month while she writes about her experience.

I always love a Maine setting, and this deserted ocean front house on an island only accessible by ferry once a week is perfect. The story moves quickly and there are lots of chilling events, such as mysterious footsteps, strange phone calls, shadows in the window, and screams in the night. This one is perfect to read if you are alone for the weekend, or better yet, at a deserted beach house!

Five years ago, Tessa Montgomery and her 3 college friends were vacationing on an island off the Maine coast. They were all assaulted, her 3 friends murdered, and Tessa left for dead. She is the last girl left.

She has been living as a shell of herself for the last half decade. Aside from living with her sister, Melissa, she is a veritable recluse. She can’t get past the horrors of that trip no matter how hard she tries. Melissa gives her an ultimatum - seek help to move on or move out.

Tessa does one better: she talks to the editor that first wanted her story and signs a contract stating that she will go back to the place where the murders happened and write a book about everything. While the murderer was killed directly after Tessa identified him, the Cassadanga Island still holds Tessa hostage. She rents the same house she and her friends stayed in to find some closure and write her book. And then unexplainable things start happening while she’s there…

This book got me so good. I blasted my way through it so fast. It made my heart pumping and I didn’t know if it was supernatural or something more sinister. I loved how it all played out and I thought the twist and ending were well done.

Thanks to NetGalley and Thomas Mercer for this eARC. The Last Girl Left is out this week.

She shouldn't still be alive, but for some reason, the killer hesitated. But the mental scars have left Tessa with amnesia about the event and as a result - a total mess. She's been staying with her sister for 5 years, unable to work or even go out. But when her sister gives her an ultimatum, Tessa takes it on herself to return to the scene of the crime - for a whole month!

Everyone assumes she's come to stay in the house as a crime junkie, because who in their right mind would stay in a murder house? But Tessa is has a reason to stay, and despite her therapist and sister's misgivings, and the creepy happenings after her arrival, she's determined to stick it out. Big mistake. Huge.

Guessing who was behind the creepy happenings had me so invested in this book. I predicted and guessed every time something happened, but I was wrong. The only thing I would say is that Tessa was awful brave for someone who was scared of her own shadow for 5 years! But this book stayed with me, made me laugh a couple of times, and scared the heck out of me - always a sign of an engaging read,

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an advance reader's copy from this husband and wife team!

I absolutely loved this book. The authors ability to make your heart rate escalate just by telling a story is always fascinating to me. I loved the plot twist & the eeriness throughout the book. I will be looking for more books by Sonya!

I really enjoyed reading The Last Girl Left. Imagine you’re on a trip to a quaint beach town. And next thing you know your friends are dead and you were saved for last but somehow survived. That’s what Tessa now has to deal with as she returns to said town 5 years after to “face her fears” of that terrible night. This town seems nice but is hosing some deadly secrets. Will she survive the month? Read this book and find out what happens.

Thank you to Netgalley and Thomas and Mercer for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review.

And the biggest thanks to A.M. Strong for this gripping thriller!

Gripping excellent, and exciting read. Had me on the edge of my seat. The characters were relatable. You found yourself rooting for victory. The situation was terrifying. I cannot imagine being in such and surviving such a scenario. I was so deeply immersed in the story and was amazed with how quickly time past. Would definitely read more from this author.

#THELASTGIRLLEFT #NETGALLEY #AMSTRONGANDSONYASTEWART

Another great thriller in this series. When I need a palate cleanser from horror novels, I like to read psychological thrillers. There is just something about an abuse survivor winning out in the end. Even if there is a cliffhanger, I know somehow there will be some vindication for the victim. This book was terrifying in how the author described Tessa’s all encompassing fear. She was fearful of everything, rightfully so. I felt she was nuts for going to stay at the very house where her friends were murdered but hey, I have never been in this situation so I do not know how I would respond to this issue. The twists in this book helped to explain some of the missing memories that Tessa had. Overall, I would give this book ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️.

Title: The Last Girl Left
Authors: A.M. Strong and Sonya Sargent
Pub Date: April 23, 2024

I knew this would be a great read as soon as I received this amazing book box in the mail! It really got all of us @thrillerbookloversthepulse so excited to dive right in!

Five years after surviving a horrific crime that left three of her friends dead, Tessa is still having trouble moving on with her life. She decides that the only way to do this is to face her fears and go back to the scene of the crime, a vacation home on Cassadaga Island. As soon as she arrives, things seem off….But the person who committed these crimes is dead, so what could possibly happen?

I loved the creepy and eerie tone of this book, as it takes place in a beach town on a remote island in the winter. The description of the town made me feel as if I was there with her and painted a clear picture of her experiences. It’s the kind of book that will make you question every little noise you hear when you are home alone! I loved the short chapters and found it to be pretty fast paced and easy to read! There are many suspicious characters, which made it fun trying to figure out what was really going on. I recommend this book to anyone who loves a good thriller, but definitely pick it up and bring it with you if you plan on renting a beach house anytime soon!

Happy publication day to #TheLastGirlLeft by @strongsargentauthors and @sonyasargentstrong 🥳🥳

This book has been going nuts over at @thrillerbookloversthepulse - if you’ve not seen any of the hype, where have you been…? The book swag box they sent out with the arcs was amazing (so jelly I’m in the UK… la sigh…)

Anyway! The first chapter of this book was “squeaky bum” frightening! I’ve never raced through a book quicker. This was a clever take on the final girl trope and I felt it flowed seamlessly. It was unsettling and twisty, as Tessa tried to overcome her demons and trauma of the last 5 years. Would I do what she did to overcome her trauma - erm… nope. Hard pass. I wouldn’t be setting foot in that beach house again. So fair play to her!

With nice short chapters, this was an easy read with great pacing. Nice and creepy, with an action filled ending. I suspected a few characters… I’m not saying if I was right as I don’t want to risk spoilers 😉

Pop this one on your TBR now.

Trauma is the name of the game here. Tessa’s life was shattered when she was the only survivor of a massacre that took her closest friends. Now five years later she still hasn’t gotten over it, still jumps at shadows, still worries someone will be coming for her. How do you finally get over it…why not try confronting it head on by renting the same house where the original massacre occurred? Nothing could possibly go wrong, right? Yeah, you’ll see! This one was a page turner. The opening, where we get a glimpse at Tessa’s experience on that horrible night, really pulled me in. The short chapters and quick pacing make this one of those books where you’ll find yourself repeatedly saying ‘one more chapter’. I’d like to thank Thomas & Mercer and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review an eARC of The Last Girl Left.

https://www.amazon.com/review/R2N3PO4WDHWQAA/ref=pe_1098610_137716200_cm_rv_eml_rv0_rv

A psychological thriller which keeps you on the edge of the seat. Is Tessa so traumatised that she's imagining things that aren't there and jumping at every shadow, or is there more to it? Will she ever get over the horror of what happened to her and her friends five years ago by returning to the beach house, or will it make things worse? A must read. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.