The characters in this book fell flat for me. I never felt a real connection between them and definitely didn’t get a sense of any passion between them. The quick switch from enemies to lovers was almost jarring and didn’t really make sense. Overall it felt like the characters were underdeveloped.

I did love the setting and the descriptions of Spain and the food and culture.

since i haven't read an anna todd book since 'after' was on wattpad, i was excited to pick this one up and see how her writing style and strength have evolved since then.

i think the premise of this was a solid one — a flirty summer fling while on vacation in spain between a sheltered, chronically-ill woman and a charming spaniard. it had all the trappings of a fun summer romance - gorgeous cover included! — plus the weight of a heavy, emotionally-charged coming-of-age storyline.

i appreciate the nuanced take anna took on a first-love romance! the storyline was full of depth, the plot heartwarming and flirty, and the characters engaging. this was a story about all those pivotal moments in life that shape us and our love.

where this book fell flat for me was the insta-love aspect. it made it hard for me to buy their romance, though i understand ry falling for julian so easily given how sheltered she was. i also just feel like the gravity of their romance and the heartfelt aspects of the storyline were overshadowed, in my opinion, by how immature ry was.

aside from that, this book was a fun escape from the real world! i think it would make for a great beach or poolside read!

⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️

I started this off really enjoying it. I loved the representation of chronic illness and LGBTQIA+ characters; it felt refreshing and meaningful. The way Oriah and Julian met was super sweet and had me hooked early on. And my favorite character, Amara, never let me down with her silly behavior.

There’s definitely a lot of emotional depth in the story, especially with Oriah’s relationship with her mom. And her medical struggles. The sense of distance and emotional unavailability from her mother really hit me. It was raw and relatable, and I really felt Oriah’s pain.

But as the story went on, things started to slide a bit. Some of the drama felt kind of forced, like it was there just to stir things up rather than move the story forward naturally. And the ending felt rushed, like everything wrapped up too quickly without the payoff I was hoping for.

In the end, while there was a lot I liked, especially early on, it just didn’t fully hold together for me. But I would still highly recommend this one, especially if you want an emotional summer read.

This book was just not for me. I’m giving this a 2.5, rounding down to 2. This story had so much potential but just terrible writing and poor character execution.

I felt like Ry was incredibly immature given her age and her condition. Her first meet with Juliàn was incredibly far fetched and the “enemies to lovers” angst was pretty nonexistent. And they fell in love after 3 days after “hating” each other?

This felt incredibly rushed and the miscommunication was wild,
it was at least 2 or 3 fights they got in over this. Also Ry knew about Juliàns depression yet when he had an episode she was banging on his door calling him names?

I didn’t relate to the characters at all, their progression was choppy and confusing, the story didn’t evoke enough emotion out of me and the writing was juvenile. Also, tons of typos and grammatical errors.

Thank you to Netgalley, Gallery Books, and Hambright PR for the physical and e-book ARC.

This is a beautiful love story and the writing was spectacular. The beachy descriptions Majorca were so vivid and had me craving the beach. I love a romantic summer love story and this one just grabbed me. I also thought the author did a great job handling the mental health and chronic illness issues. It was heartbreaking to read about Rys health problems and being so young. Ugh, just so sad. These characters start out their relationship in a not so “perfect” way. They have a lot of growing throughout the book and I was really rooting for them as a couple. Everyone has their flaws and these characters definitely did, but I loved the way the author developed their relationship. I thought this was a fantastic romance.

Arc Review for The Last Sunrise 4.5 stars

“What’s the point of anything in life? If you only think of the ending, you’re unable to take in the present, the point of living.”

I really liked this book a lot. I felt like I was watching A Walk To Remember but with a happy ending, older characters and the magic of Spain. I loved how the relationship between Oriah and Julián developed and progressed through it all. This is my first book by author Anna Todd and after hearing so much about her, I’m happy to have had such a great introduction to her writing. The book’s setting felt dreamy and perfect of summer flings. Definitely recommend!!

Thank you so much to author Anna Todd and Hambright PR for this advanced readers copy and the opportunity to read and review.

While I’ve watched all of the After movies, this is the first book I’ve read by Anna Todd—and it hit fairly close to home.

As someone who has grown up most of her life with a chronic illness, this book highlights some of the biggest challenges: the struggle of medications that don’t really make you better, the frustration of not having much to look forward to, the reality of everyone in your life becoming more of a caretaker than a loved one, the expectation that everyone will leave you when they find out, and the fear of what loving you might do to their life as you continue to get worse.

Anna manages to capture all of this and so much more in this new adult story where Ry is struggling with her own health but is determined to finally live her life while on vacation in Majorca while her mom is working. The last thing she expects though is to fall for the mysterious local who hates tourists. And while they might butt heads for a while at first, there’s an unexplainable pull between them that just means they can’t stay away from one another.

But both Ry and Julián are struggling in their own ways—afraid to let others in…to let others see them at their lowest points.

This story is heartbreaking but beautifully and poetically written, and the audiobook will capture your attention and throw you into the summer whirlwind vacation that you wish you could be on right now.

For me, parts of this felt incredibly slow, and despite the fact that I connected with the characters more than most, I still found myself struggling at times to pick it up and work through it. Once we finally learn more about what they’re both struggling with though, the story picked up for me.

Tropes:
- Chronic illness representation
- Sheltered FMC
- Vacation romance
- Opposites attract
- Enemies to lovers
- Summer vibes
- Island setting

I absolutely loved this book.

My heart shattered more times than I can count. The banter between each character was perfect.

I honestly don’t want to give away too much about what this book is about, because I need you to experience it for yourself. Just trust me: add The Last Sunrise to your TBR right now. The way this story is written is nothing short of magical. You will feel every emotion, every moment. It’s a beautiful, raw, and deeply moving story of resilience, love, and the harsh realities of living with a chronic illness, not just for the person experiencing it, but also for the people who love them.

This story meant everything to me. It made me cry, laugh, smile, and even feel angry. I felt it all page after page. But nothing could have prepared me for that ending. My heart shattered into a thousand pieces… and yet, somehow, it was stitched back together by the final words. If I could give this book 10 stars, I would. It’s an unforgettable emotional ride.

Anna Todd wrote Oriah (Ry) and Julian’s story so beautifully. Their bond, their pain, their love, it all felt so real. I adored their chemistry. Their connection started with a spark and quickly grew into a whirlwind summer romance, full of depth, challenges, and the kind of love that doesn’t give up. Even their banter, sometimes playful, sometimes heartbreaking, made them feel alive and real. They faced everything together, never letting each other go through anything alone.

And the setting? Absolutely stunning. I felt like I was walking the streets of Majorca, listening to the waves, smelling the local food, and watching the sun dip into the sea. Anna Todd brought the island to life in such a vivid and enchanting way.

Even Oriah’s mom, the one character I struggled with, was written with such nuance. I didn’t always agree with her, but I felt her pain and began to understand her actions. That’s how layered and human these characters are.

This book isn’t just a story. It’s an experience. One I’ll never forget!

Thank you so much to the author @annatodd and @hambright_pr for the advance copy of The Last Sunrise!

The Last Sunrise is an emotional story that leans more on healing than heat—though there’s still plenty of heart. It follows a woman navigating deep grief who finds herself in a quiet small town, where unexpected friendships and one very grumpy (but low-key soft) local slowly pull her back to life.

Loved these tropes of: Enemies To Lovers, Second Chance, Ticking Clock, Opposites Attract, Close Proximity / Single POV

2.75/5

I was really hoping to enjoy this book more than I did.

I did not feel any connection to the characters and didn't feel the chemistry very much between them. I was also confused by part of the story line. There was a mention of her losing a friend, but I feel like it didn't feel like a natural part of the story even though we eventually learn about that.

There were things I did like about this story. I liked the setting; I don't read books that often take place outside of the US. I appreciate the mental health rep and the chronic health issues rep.

Overall, I just don't think this story was for me.

Thank you to Netgalley, Gallery Books, and Hambright PR for the physical and e-book ARC.

⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

I don’t think this book was for me… I’m sorry 🫣
Which is really disappointing cause I was looking forward to reading it. You see words like “Bestselling Author,” and it gets you excited. I had also heard good things about her other series, After.
But I’m sorry to say, I did not enjoy this book.

By biggest complaint was that the characters were extremely moody. Their drastic mood swings (sometimes literally one paragraph to the next), was giving we whiplash. It made the scenarios seem unrealistic, and the characters immature.

I also struggled with the pacing. It started out strong…. But then dragged quite a bit in the middle.
And then the ending seemed rushed. 🥴😵‍💫
It was a bit all over the place, and I often struggled to see what direction the author was trying to go….

This story was emotional and beautifully written, and it truly stayed with me. Ry, a young woman living with chronic illness, spends her summer in Majorca, finally learning to embrace her own life. Her journey of self-discovery, first love, and the courage to break free from her overprotective mother was both heartfelt and inspiring. Julián, the local fisherman she encounters, is both infuriating and irresistible, and the chemistry between them is simply electric. The setting was absolutely breathtaking; Todd made Majorca feel vibrantly alive. I truly loved how the book approached themes like illness, mental health, and identity with such honesty and care. It serves as a touching reminder to live fully and love deeply, even when times of uncertainty arise. It’s a genuinely moving summer read.

Tender, sun-kissed, and achingly real — this summer romance is more than just a love story. It's about finding your voice, your freedom, and the courage to live life on your own terms. Ry’s journey from sheltered to self-assured is raw and beautifully written, and her chemistry with Julian is the kind that lingers. With rich girl x local boy charm, a backdrop straight out of a daydream, and heartfelt representation of chronic illness and mental health, this story captures both the sweetness and the ache of first love. A perfect read for those who crave romance with depth and emotional pull.

The Last Sunrise was a heartwarming summer romance which delivers on the feels. The story is told in dual pov and follows the MCs, Oriah (Ry) and Julian. Their relationship reminds me of a warhead where it starts off sour and gradually becomes sweeter as time progresses.These two didn't start off on the best of terms but eventually get to know one another after a series of run-ins. This book was well written with an entertaining storyline. I appreciated the relationship development, the medical representation, the strained mother- daughter dynamic, and of course the romance. These two had some swoony moments. The last few chapters put my emotions through the ringer, but the ending was worth it. This is the first book that I’ve read by this author and I can’t wait to read more of her work.

Themes & Tropes:
🩷Summer Romance
💛Medical Condition Representation
🩵Rich Girl & Poor Poor
🩷Enemies to Lovers
💛First Love
🩵Mental Health Representation
🩷Complicated Mother- Daughter Relationship

Overall, liked this read.

Thank you to Anna Todd, NetGalley and Hambright PR for this ARC!

I’ve been an Anna Todd girlie since her Wattpad days (IYKYK) and I loved her After series. Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me and that’s okay!

Not every book is going to be for everyone and that’s the beautiful thing about reading: it’s so subjective and everyone perceives their own reading experience differently.

For me, I felt like I was really engaged with reading this one. I didn’t feel a connection to the main couple or supporting characters. I did, however, really enjoy the setting of Mallorca and Ry’s background.

"What's the point of anything in life? If you only think of the ending, you're unable to take in the present, the point of living."

Ry and Julien aren't meant to be together; everything from fate to family to finances work to keep them apart, but they continue to gravitate toward each other and hope for a future together.

This book really grew on me as it went along, and I truly ended up enjoying and appreciating it. I loved the story arc that Ry's mother experiences most of all, I think.

I think the slow start for me really came from wanting to know more about Ry and, even more, Julien as individuals before uniting them as a couple. For me, learning the background and layered stories of the characters would have made for a deeper connection and earlier buy-in with the book.

One thing I truly did like about this story is the frankness with which Todd dealt with Julien's depression. There were some powerful images described in these pages, and I very much appreciate her advocacy for his mental health and treatment.

Finally, I loved the beautiful scenery and hotel setting described in this book, and I wanted to pack my bags and book a trip to Spain the second I finished. The gorgeous cover design is awfully dreamy, too!

This book definitely got me in the mood for some summer reads, and I'm eager to make my summer TBR now!

Have you ever had a summer romance?

☀️summer romance
🩷chronic illness/mental health
☀️rich girl/working class boy
🩷ticking clock
☀️enemies to lovers
🩷insta love
☀️coming of age
🩷wish fullfillment

I stayed up way to late finishing this book, but I could not stop! This was a rollercoaster of emotions but in the best way. Anna did a beautiful job discussing mental health/chronic illness and the way it not only affects one owns body but the others in your life.

There was also past familial trauma that came to light and talking about how it can get passed from one generation to the next. So bringing to light talking and recognizing and giving grace.

The emotions I felt through this book from giggling, swooning, love, sadness, anger, frustrations, and some tears were shed.

I loved the side character Amara and her spirit! Such a ray of sunshine and she was so welcoming to Ry as soon as she met her and pulled her into her circle of friends.

This is the first book from Anna Todd that I have read and I loved it! When I feel all the feels it is a ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ and I would give it 🌶️🌶️🌶️ there was definitely some spicy scenes.

This was honestly such a perfect summer read. Oriah is in Mallorca for the summer with her mom on a business trip. They have a privileged life but her life is anything but smooth. Oriah decides this is the summer she is going to live her life because it might be her last. She's only 23 and has been diagnosed with tuberous sclerosis. She decides to explore the city on her own; that's when she runs into a grumpy local, Julian. They hate each other at first and then slowly we learn more about them and how they are so perfect for eachother. This wasn’t just a romance, it was an emotional ride.

4.25 stars out of 5 (rounded down) | Heartbreaking yet heartwarming, nostalgic yet hopeful, emotional yet traumatic - this book truly had every feeling you could ever ask for and it is the perfect summer read! The setting of Majorca is the perfect backdrop for Ry to have the summer of her lifetime and makes it the greatest vacation read.

I knew I loved Anna Todd's writing but this book took that to a new level for me. The way she wrote these characters had me envisioning everything so clearly every step of the way! This book is perfect for those that love the light vacation read while still wanting to feel every emotion!