Thank you Netgalley and Scholastic for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Francisco X. Stork’s latest novel, "One Last Chance to Live," is a compelling exploration of hope, despair, and the search for meaning in the face of life's relentless challenges. The story revolves around Nico, an aspiring teen writer grappling with the recent death of his close friend, Rosario, while also facing personal and familial crises. This is a book I would recommend for anyone looking for a coming-of-age story, especially from a teenage boy perspective that felt realistic and authentic. I personally found it a bit difficult to connect with Nico as a woman in my 20s, but I think younger YA readers (especially males interested in writing) would absolutely love this book.

Nico’s journey is deeply emotional and resonant. As he becomes obsessed with uncovering the truth behind Rosario’s death, you are drawn into his personal world of dreams, aspirations, and profound grief through Nico’s unique perspective. The book is written through Nico’s journal entries, so he may not be a completely reliable narrator, but his words are absolutely overflowing with emotion and introspection. Stork masterfully crafts Nico's inner turmoil, particularly his struggle with self-doubt as a writer; this introspection adds depth to Nico’s character, making him very relatable for anyone who enjoys writing and has potentially experienced imposter syndrome as a writer. These struggles made him an extremely relatable character.

The novel's pacing is one of its strengths. It’s fast-paced and engaging, making it hard to put down. The urgency of Nico’s need to find answers about Rosario’s death parallels the real-life pressures he faces: his mother’s battle with cancer and his younger brother’s entanglement with a local gang. These parallel storylines are woven together so well, highlighting Nico's determination to keep his family together while navigating his own fears and uncertainties. I found that I couldn’t put this book down as I was reading because I was so invested in Nico’s story, and his writing through the journal entries made the story even more engaging. The emotional depth of "One Last Chance to Live" is also a strength of the book. Stork captures the heart-wrenching moments of Nico’s life with authenticity and sensitivity. The scenes towards the end, where Nico and his family are doing everything they can to support his ailing mother, are particularly moving and made me tear up a bit as I was reading.

Overall, Stork’s writing is both beautiful and impactful, providing a searingly hopeful message despite the heavy themes. "One Last Chance to Live" is not just about coping with loss but also about embracing the flawed life we are given and finding meaning in our actions, no matter how small they may seem.

This book was SO GOOD. There was so much emotion, and the plot was so interesting!! I could not put it down. Every part of it was so good, but I really loved the part towards the end when his mother is not doing well and they're doing everything they can to help her. Overall, AMAZING book, and I would definitely recommend!