Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me a copy of this book to review.

This was a great thriller novel, and I enjoyed it a lot. I am looking forward to reading more by this author.

Reading and finishing this book was an absolute torture. The only reason I didn’t DNF is because it’s an ARC and I felt obligated to read it and review it. The book is described as a moody, atmospheric, slow burn thriller. For me this was a dragged out, barely any substance thriller. I absolutely couldn’t stand the main character. Her actions just didn’t make sense. She went from trusting each character to thinking they were guilty extremely quickly. She jumped from trusting everyone to no one way too quickly. I know grief can make people so unbearable things, but this was just too much. The “villains” in the story were supposed to be all not really evil and their characters were supposed to be morally gray, but in the end I just didn’t care why they did what they did. At 60% the story finally started to pick up, but by then it was too little too late. Even with all the twists in the end, and there were a lot, the character’s’ motivations just didn’t make it any better or more interesting. Eszter’s flashbacks were the highlights of the book, but most of Abby’s made the book slow down and pointless.
Thank you NetGally for this advanced copy.
Thank you NetGally for this advanced copy.

📚: The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz
⭐️: 3/5

Abby is searching for peace. After her fiancé, Eszter, tragically dies in Isla Colel, Abby sets off to the island to find answers — and to connect with those that she connected with. There, she meets a whole group of expats who aren’t completely what meets the eye.

This book landed as an average thriller for me. A few pacing issues had this story feel slow in spots, and a predictable twist. But the biggest issue I found was a glaring hole in the twist reveal that was a loose thread and will drive me crazy for days.

Thank you to Random House - Ballantine via @netgalley for the digital ARC in exchange for an honest review. The Last Ferry Out is out now.

This was my first Andrea Bartz book and I had such high hopes going into it - a remote island where the mysterious death of the main character's fiance took place, sign me up!

However, the first fifty pages or so almost made me DNF the book. Abby's thought processes and conversations basically chased their tail in circles over and over, and it was a little annoying. I spent pages 50-100 going back and forth about DNFing. By that point, I was so engrossed in the story, I was willing to forget the rocky start.

And I'm glad I did.

Bartz did an incredible job bringing the island to life and I love how it acted as a character in its own right. The characters all annoyed me in their own ways, but I think their unlikability helped to cast suspicion on everyone and keep the reader on their toes. I was honestly shocked by the ultimate truth that came out.

The last hundred pages of the novel worked really well for me. I thought they were perfectly paced and that Abby really came to life. One of the twists was so realistic through Abby's eyes that I could truly picture myself there and was SHOCKEDDDD by the outcome.

All in all, the book had its ups and its downs, but the good parts outweighed the bad and I had a pretty good time reading this and would honestly recommend it!

Thank you to Ballantine Books, Andrea Bartz, and Netgalley for my eARC!

Thank you to NetGalley, the author, and publisher for the digital ARC of ”The Last Ferry Out” in exchange for my honest opinion. This story starts very close to the action. Several characters are introduced quite quickly, but the reader doesn’t have time to get to know them well enough to really care about or connect with them. The plot seemed to stick at points and was fairly predictable. The chapters that went back in time weren’t super helpful in keeping the plot moving. I would teach my students to “show and not tell” in their writing, but there was so much telling in this book that it just didn’t keep my interest. I found myself wanting to finish so I could move on to my next book.

Andrea Bartz delivers another knockout with The Last Ferry Out—a suspenseful, emotionally charged thriller set on a crumbling island paradise that’s as eerie as beautiful. From the moment Abby steps onto Isla Colel to uncover the truth behind her fiancée Eszter’s mysterious death, the tension is palpable, and the stakes only rise.

Bartz masterfully builds a sense of isolation and dread, using the island’s decaying charm and the elusive expat community to create a setting that feels both dreamlike and dangerous. The mystery unfolds with precision, each twist more chilling than the last, and Abby’s emotional journey adds real depth to the suspense.

What I loved most was how Bartz blends psychological insight with gripping storytelling. The characters are complex, the pacing is tight, and the final reveal is shocking and satisfying. It’s a story about grief, obsession, and the lengths we go to for closure—and it’s unputdownable.

If you’re a fan of intelligent, atmospheric thrillers with a strong female lead and a setting that feels like a character in itself, The Last Ferry Out is a must-read.

Thank you to NetGalley, Andrea Bartz, and Ballantine Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I think I’ve found my favorite thriller of the year so far!! I have loved all of Andrea’s books, but this one is just stellar in every way! The plot and different characters/timelines flow seamlessly, weaving into a twisty mystery that kept me guessing until the very end. I loved that the main character felt relatable and each move she made felt logical. The atmosphere was so well crafted and I loved the mix of characters and their narratives. Such an incredible book!

The Last Ferry Out
By Andrea Bartz

I need to tell you something” are the last words Abby’s fiancé Eszter says to her
before she dies from anaphylactic shock. Abby is devastated by this and decides to
travel to the secluded island where it happened. determined to retrace the final
days leading up to her fiancés death.Everyone on this island is hiding a past that
they’d rather forget. A community of expats, they don’t care what you did in your
past. The characters are very fleshed out. The first 20 or so percent of the book is
full of back stories and character introductions. As Abby tries to get more
information about what happened, she meets her Easter's friend group and begins
to feel a real sense of menace.
Set on a remote island in the Mexican Caribbean, Isal Colel is known for amazing
sunsets and wildlife until a hurricane destroyed their tourism. Now sparsely
populated with eccentric expats. The emptiness and lack of regular transport lend
a very Atmospheric and descriptive story. a great deal of time is spent describing
the tropical island topography.
Another slow paced suspenseful destination thriller with tons of twists and turns.
Told through multiple alternating timelines and POV’s there is a driving sense of
Dred that makes you want to figure out what happened.

This book was everything I hoped for and so much more. A twisty thriller. A group of complex and dynamic characters. A palpable representation of grief and its stages.

My heart broke so many times for Abby on her journey to find peace about her fiancee Eszter’s death and I was shocked when the events of that night were revealed. You will continue being shocked right until the end!

This one succeeds at being an incredibly atmospheric story with its remote island setting and secretive cast of characters. The plotline is a little muddy with the back and forth between characters and time, and I didn't feel like Abby and Eszter's voices were differentiated well. The ending satisfies, though.

HOLY COW! I finished this book in one day. Well, I finished it in one sitting to be exact. I. devoured this book. This is Bartz at her best! It’s a fast paced, thriller that you just can't put down. Her characters are very relatable and the book has an even pace. I will recommend this book to all of my colleagues and blog followers! I am so excited that my book club picked this book to be June's book!

🥜🥜🥜 / 5

THE LAST FERRY OUT by Andrea Bartz

thank you to @netgalley and @ballantinebooks for early access to the e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

quick thoughts:
⭐️ 3/5
🕵🏻‍♀️ woman visits the place where her fiancé mysteriously died to find out what happened
🎢 suspense thriller
✍🏼 multiple POVs, short chapters
🏝️ set on an island in Mexico
🤷🏻‍♀️ others might enjoy it more

i was so excited about this one because i loved WE WERE NEVER HERE but somehow haven’t picked up another by her until now

🎶 “i should’ve given you more kisses and hugs whenever i could” (translated)

i hate to say that this one was just okay for me. i thought it had so much potential with an intriguing set up, but it unfortunately fell flat. i didn’t find myself shocked by any of the twists, the pacing felt off, and it was kind of difficult to follow at times with so many characters and POVs to keep track of. i might’ve enjoyed this one more if i were just getting into the genre, but that’s sadly not the case

i did enjoy that this story touched on love, loss, and grief, and i love andi’s writing, so i absolutely will read more of her work! this one publishes tomorrow, so please let me know if you end up reading and enjoying it!

4.0 stars
A twisty tropical thriller, The Last Ferry Out was a fun adventure where everyone on the island has secrets and their is one way on and off the island. Abby is visiting Isla Colel four months after her fiancee was found dead on the island. Abby is struggling to move on and wants answers about Eszter's death. Soon after Abby arrives on the secluded island she finds the expats that Eszter befriended and things go sideways from there.
I loved descriptions of the island and felt like I was transported there. The book explores relationships and how well you know your partner which I enjoyed. The story also explores how far would you go to protect a place that allows you to have a clean slate and enjoy an island unspoiled by tourism.
I love thrillers where all the characters are suspects and the The Last Ferry Out fit the bill.
This thriller was a little slower burn than I like but overall 4 stars.

Thank you Random House Publishing Group-Ballentine and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I thought this would be the perfect book to keep me company for some house chores. I love the premise of Abby investigating her fiancée’s suspicious death on an island. Unfortunately, this wasn’t the fast paced thriller I expected from the description - this is much more of a slow paced suspense. I ended up deciding to dnf. Thank you to the publisher for the free ebook.

This book had all the ingredients I usually love…a secluded island, an exclusive retreat, and the promise of a slow-burning mystery. But unfortunately, it just didn’t come together for me.

The story starts off very slow, and I found it hard to stay engaged. There were a lot of interactions between characters for the first 20% of the book, but not much actually happened, which made the first half drag on. I kept waiting for something to happen or for the suspense to build, but it took too long to get going.

The concept really intrigued me, and I was hopeful it would pick up, but even when things finally started to unfold, I never felt fully invested in the characters or the plot. I wanted more tension, more urgency, something to pull me in. Sadly, it just didn’t deliver the thrill I was hoping for.
2⭐️

Thank you NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for allowing me to read and review this book.I finished this book in a day. It’s a fast paced, edge-of-your-seat thriller that you won’t be able to put down.

The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz is a thriller that will have you questioning how well you really know your partner.

Abby was supposed to have joined her fiancèe Eszter on the island of Isla Colel. Instead, Abby is on the island alone, trying to process the tragic death of Eszter, who died of anaphylactic shock mere feet away from her EpiPen. Abby finds this manner of death suspicious because Easter was vigilant about keeping her EpiPen near her at all times. Now on the island, Abby is trying to retrace Eszter's last days and find the group of expats that Eszter was close to, Abby finds herself with more questions than answers. The more Abby digs into the expats and the island, the more secrets she finds and realizes some secrets should stay silent.

This was definitely one of those slow burn reads with a cast of suspicious characters. Bartz’s description of the settings was well crafted and had me believing that I could be on the island too. The characters are well written and feel realistic. Overall, this book was a great mystery with emotional depths that pull you in. I highly recommend this books.

Tense, atmospheric, and full of suspense, The Last Ferry Out brings Andrea Bartz back to her thriller roots with a gripping tale of love, loss, and secrets on a remote island. If you loved We Were Never Here, this one delivers that same immersive feel—set against a storm-battered, isolated backdrop that adds layers of tension to every chapter.

Told in dual timelines with multiple points of view, the story is expertly woven, gradually building into a twisting, page-turning ride. The island setting was a standout for me—it felt claustrophobic and eerie, the perfect stage for a slow-burning mystery. Bartz crafts an atmosphere of unease that seeps into every scene, matching the stormy weather and emotional turmoil of the characters.

While the plot was strong and the pacing picked up in the second half, I did find the beginning a bit slow and the ending slightly underwhelming compared to the explosive climax. Still, the LGBTQ+ romance added emotional depth, and the final twist brought the perfect, satisfying surprise.

This is classic Bartz: unsettling, smart, and packed with secrets. If you enjoy slow-burn thrillers with rich settings and layered storytelling, The Last Ferry Out is well worth the read.

A big thank you to NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this book! It was a little slow in the middle but I did enjoy the characters and the setting. Learning about why her fiancée disappeared kept my interest. I did guess one twist but the others were surprising. I can always count on her books to get me reading! 3.75 stars!

I knew I wanted to read this one based on the locked-room style setting, the promise of suspicious characters and a woman on the hunt for answers after her fiance's death. All of those things are right up my thriller-reader alley.

What I wasn't expecting - but LOVED - was just how much I found myself wrapped up in the story. I think this was a “right book at the right time” moment for me, I finished it in a matter of hours while on vacation and am pretty sure I gave my sister dirty looks anytime she tried to talk to me (to the point that she read it immediately after I finished). Be warned, it is quite the flow burn, but I found it drew me in so much that it became very bingeable.

The promise of suspicious characters completely paid off, as sooo many of the people on the island came there looking for fresh starts from their pasts. Combined with the locals, who have mixed feelings about the expats and tourism, I never felt like there was anyone I could trust. Abby is a character who makes bold, and somewhat questionable decisions, but what I liked is that that was a core part of who she was and how she was experiencing her grief, so her sometimes crazy decisions didn't feel completely out of nowhere.

The ending has stuck with me long after I finished this one. Just when it seemed like everything was all wrapped up, more clever twists kept coming.. and, to me, the twists felt grounded in the plot and left me with that satisfying feeling that, if I looked back through the book, I would find all the breadcrumbs leading to the ending.