Thanks to NetGalley and Random House-Ballantine for the advanced reader copy.

I really enjoyed Andrea Bartz's other novels, so I was excited to see she had a new one out. Abby heads to a tiny island near Cancun, Mexico, to learn more about the death of her fiancee, Eszter, who supposedly died from an allergic reaction. When she gets to the island and befriends some of the ex-pats that Eszter got to know, Abby finds that her fiancee was hiding several secrets, one of which may have gotten her killed--and perhaps by one of the expats Abby has gotten to know.

THE LAST FERRY OUT had the same queasy atmospheric quality that Bartz's other novels have, but the story didn't hang together as well as the previous novels. The secrets Eszter hides, and Abby's investigation into them got too convoluted for me to maintain interest in. I'll still look forward to the next novel from this author, though.

The Last Ferry Out is out on May 20, 2025

Thank you, NetGalley, for this uncorrected ebook ARC of 'The Last Ferry Out'  by Andrea Bartz - expected release date 05/20/2025

ARC was provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

I've read a few of Bartz's previous books. Her writing is solid and very descriptive (sometimes overly so). I loved the way she described Isla Colel though, I could picture the creepy, desolate island, and felt like I was a witness to Abby's foreboding first impression. I felt dumb not knowing what 'expat' meant, I had to look it up, Bartz used that word A LOT. Overall, the plot was eh, the characters were eh, I didn't really connect with the book. It seemed like a lot was happening but it was a lot of fluff that led up to multiple weird twists regarding how Eszter died and how it was handled. I didn't expect anything that came out about her death by I wasn't overly impressed by any of it either. Bartz waited too long to present what really happened (Epilogue). Rating a 3 because her writing really is good, even if the plotlines aren't the most exciting.

The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz just wasn't my cup of tea. I can't say there was anything bad about it. The plot was perfectly fine; the characters were fine. I just didn't get pulled into the story and didn't find the characters or the plot compelling enough to care what happened next. Reading it was a bit of a slog for me.

I truly enjoyed reading this mystery! Set in Isla Colel (where everyone there is hiding something). I really liked following Abby on her journey as she connects with Eszter’s friends trying to figure out her last days. It kept me guessing the whole time! 📚✨ #TheLastFerryOut #BookReview #AndreaBartz

Again, Andrea Bartz shows she's a master of this form. One of my favorite things about her writing is how the setting becomes, in a way, a character, creating unique twists and eccentricities that end up being vital and require absolute attention - not that it's hard to pay attention when you have a book like this, where every character jumps off the page and feels full, and a compelling, twisty, interpersonal mystery that feels so, so real.

Does she even have the capacity to write a less than stellar book? I doubt it.

Abby receives devastating news.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Abby travels to where the tragedy occurs in search of answers.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Abby encounters a mysterious yet engaging group of individuals and discovers that the answers she finds only lead to more troubling questions.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Will Abby find the truth she so desperately needs or will it remain forever hidden behind the clouds of secrecy surrounding Isla Colel?⁣⁣
⁣⁣
If you're looking for a captivating read that expertly weaves mystery and human emotion, "The Last Ferry Out" is a must-add to your bookshelf. From the very first page, you’ll be drawn into Abby’s journey as she seeks answers in a place shrouded in secrets.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
What sets this book apart is its relatable characters. You’ll find yourself empathizing with Abby and her newfound companions, rooting for them as they navigate their own personal struggles. The author’s skillful crafting of each character invites you into their lives, allowing them to linger in your thoughts long after you’ve turned the final page.⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Overall, this book was a quick, enjoyable read and I look forward to reading more from Andrea Bartz in the future. ⁣⁣
⁣⁣
Thank you to @andreabartz, @ballantinebooks, and @netgalley for providing me with this advanced readers copy to read and review.

I found this book really disappointing. It had an interesting premise, but the pace was all over the place. I also found the main characters to be quite irritating the more she was featured. I found her to be selfish and annoying, as well as unrelatable

Flew through this book so quickly! Love the setting of the island and all of the characters individually. Was so excited all the way through the book, and was sad for it to end. Definitely a 5 star read for me!

A quick, solid, and entertaining read, with a unique cast of characters and a mystery that continues to unfold until the final pages.

Overall I liked the book but at times it seemed to drag on. I liked the last half of the book the best.

Thank you Netgalley, Andrea Bartz, and Penguin Random House.

This story is about a woman, Abby, who travels to Isla Colel, an island in Mexico, to try and find answers about her fiancée Eszter's death.

As Abby befriends a group of expats, who Eszter also knew, she becomes more and more suspicious about Eszter's death, especially after one of her new friends claims to know more about Eszter's tragic passing, but then disappears. Abby knows people are lying to her, but she's not sure who's lying and who she can trust.

There were a few slow paced parts, but overall I enjoyed this book. It kept me guessing and wanting to know the outcome of what really happened to Eszter.

Started slow but really picked up once the reveals started happening! Really enjoyed the second half!

Thanks to the publisher and netgalley for an e-arc.

I'm a big fan of Andrea Bartz's writing, so I was very excited to get an advanced copy of The Last Ferry Out. This one has the suspense and layered plots of her previous books, set on a beautiful island and with a broad cast of interesting characters — each of whom could be guilty. Multiple POVs are normally a really, really hard sell for me — and a book with this many perspectives is usually a DNF — but Bartz makes it work. Each perspective is purposeful and although there are a lot, it was easy to follow them. Unsurprisingly, I tore through this book and am already excited for her next one (hint, hint, Random House).

This was my first Andra Bartz novel and it will not be my last. I loved the setting and side characters. Abby trying to find out some answers about her fiance after she died. I wanted answers too! There were some twists in the book that were good and I thought the book was pretty engaging. I really liked the ending of the story.

Abby goes Tsla colel the island where her fiance died, she wants to retrace his last days. but she begins to suspect his death was not an accident.

Thank you, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books, for sending me over this ARC. The expected publication day is May 20, 2025.

This was just what I needed. This book pulled me right in. I loved the atmosphere and setting on a tropical island. Throw in a murder and a few twists, and this one surely had me hooked. The ending was top-notch and the perfect curveball. If you love a good twist thriller, add this one to your TBR. Four stars. ✨

On a trip to the tropical paradise where her fiancée died, a young woman begins to suspect the
death was no accident — and the killer’s still on the island.

What to expect:

🏝️mystery/suspense
🏝️multiple points of view
🏝️various timelines
🏝️murder?!
🏝️eerie isolated island
🏝️family drama
🏝️secrets

As always, all thoughts are my own. ✨🖤

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine | Ballantine Books for this ARC for review. I have read many books by Andrea Bartz after being introduced to this author from Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine book club. So of course seeing her releasing another thriller for 2025, I wanted to get my hands on it as this author is on my automatic read/buy list. This book is no different. Abby comes to Isle Colel to find some answers as her fiancé, Eszter, was here visiting when she died unexpectedly. Sure, Eszter had a severe allergy, but there’s no reason she should have died. The island is nothing at all what Abby expects and as she meets the people Eszter was spending time with, nothing more as her fiancé made it seem. What was going on here?? This was a fast read and kept me guessing to the end.

The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz is such a fun read! The characters are so well done—flawed, funny, and totally relatable. They felt like real people I could hang out with. Bartz nails the dialogue, making it sharp and snappy with the perfect balance of humor and suspense, and the pacing kept me turning pages without even realizing it.

Her writing style is super easy to get lost in—light but still thoughtful, pulling you into the story without feeling heavy. The setting is also a big win, giving the book a cool sense of place that you can practically feel. Overall, I had a blast reading this! The twists were great, but it was really the characters that made the book so enjoyable!

Andrea Bartz masterfully crafts a suspenseful, atmospheric thriller brimming with tension, intrigue, and danger.

Loved this book from start to finish (and definitely don't want to visit any islands right now though!!)

A suspenseful read, and compelling characters made this an entertaining and engaging read. Sorry it’s over!