this was compelling but ultimately unsatisfying. i don't really know what i expected, but it was something more.

Really enjoyed this one! It kept me reading and guessing until the end as to what actually happened to Eszter on the island. Really enjoyed the subtle Easter egg about We Were Never Here also. Another good book by Andrea Bartz!

𝚁𝚊𝚝𝚒𝚗𝚐: 4⭐️
𝙶𝚎𝚗𝚛𝚎: mystery/ thriller 📚

𝙼𝚢 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜:
Enjoyed that this one was different than typical thrillers but the pacing was a little off

𝚁𝚎𝚊𝚍 𝚒𝚏 𝚢𝚘𝚞 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎:
Psychological suspense
Isolated island mysteries
Slow burn mystery
Emotion driven thrillers
Unreliable narrator
Heavy themes of grief
Character driven reads

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚕𝚒𝚔𝚎𝚍:
Atmospheric setting
Sapphic romance rep

𝚃𝚑𝚒𝚗𝚐𝚜 𝙸 𝚍𝚒𝚍𝚗’𝚝 𝚌𝚊𝚛𝚎 𝚏𝚘𝚛:
Uneven pacing
Convenient plot twists

my first Andrea bartz boo and I enjoyed this. it was full of mystery and suspense. would recommend this author

🛥️ Book Review: The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz 🌴🌧️

There’s something about a remote island setting that instantly hooks me—and The Last Ferry Out delivered all the eerie, isolated, tropical thriller vibes I was hoping for.

After the tragic death of her fiancée Eszter, Abby travels to Isla Colel, a once-bustling vacation destination now left in ruins after a hurricane. The place is practically abandoned—except for a strange little group of expats who seem far too relaxed for an island where people vanish without explanation.

Abby’s visit is meant to bring her closure, but instead, she uncovers layers of secrets, suspicious behavior, and whispers of what might really have happened to Eszter. When someone on the island claims to know the truth—then disappears—Abby realizes that someone is hiding something big. And they may be willing to kill to keep it buried.

Andrea Bartz nails the atmosphere here. The setting is moody and isolated, creating that creeping dread that builds with each chapter. I’ve read a few of Bartz’s books now, and while this wasn’t my favorite of hers We Were Never Here still takes the top spot for me, The Last Ferry Out is a great pick for those craving a twisty beach read with a darker edge.

The story is told through multiple POVs, which helped build the suspense, though I’ll admit the final twist didn’t totally shock me. I was hoping for a slightly bolder payoff. Still, the journey there was gripping. This one’s less about the big reveal and more about the slow, psychological unraveling of trust, grief, and identity.

Thank you Netgalley and Ballantine Books for a copy of this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Ferry Out is a solid thriller those who appreciate the genre, especially recommended if you're looking for a mysterious beach read with a tropical setting. The pacing was inconsistent and I was not fully invested in most of the characters, however, so it was not one of those thrillers that I was unable to put down. One of the twists did not surprise me, but the one at the very end did and wrapped things up nicely. I'd recommend this book for readers seeking LGBTQ+ female main characters who enjoy a spin on locked-room settings, with this one being a remote island.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an ARC of this novel in exchange for my honest feedback.

This had all the hallmarks of being a great thriller: deserted island, grief-stricken narrator, plenty of suspects to choose from, but it was so slow that I lost interest about a quarter of the way through. It was dragged out to create tension but went on for too long that any tension that could have been built was lost. Add in the superfluous points of view and I couldn’t connect to the story. It could have worked at about half the length. To be fair, I am not a fan of the super slow burn – don’t have the attention span for it – so if you’re into those, this might be the perfect book for you.

Andrea Bartz has written the perfect summer read in The Last Ferry Out. The novel begins with the main character Abby grieving the mysterious death of her fiancée Eszter on a remote island in the Gulf of Mexico. Not only are the circumstances of Eszter’s death suspicious, but one of her last texts to Abby said “I need to tell you something.” Abby travels to the island to see if she can learn how Eszter died as well as the meaning of her cryptic text. As part of her search, she befriends a group of expats, some of whom knew Eszter, but who are also very secretive about themselves and the island.

The story evolves slowly through multiple points of view and timelines, and there are multiple twists and turns as Abby proceeds in her quest for answers. Bartz uses these techniques brilliantly to show how we tell ourselves stories using our own biases to fill in any gaps, which does not necessarily make them true. I also appreciate how Bartz ties the suspenseful aspects of the novel into Abby’s grief journey, and the way in which she uses them to show Abby’s evolving understanding of her relationship with Eszter. 4.0 out of 5.0 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books/Random House for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book.

Wowwww!! This author really brought the mystery with this book. To learning about
Her dead fiancé and going back to where she died and going back into their day to day to figure out their struggles before they died. The suspense and storylines really made this a 5 star read

I wanted to like this book, but the majority of it just didn’t click for me. The writing was clunky and the story itself was too drawn out. The ending wasn’t very well done, with the twist being pretty obvious from a mile away.

The setup of The Last Ferry Out had so much potential: a remote, storm-ravaged island, a mysterious death, and an expat community full of secrets. Unfortunately, for me, the execution just didn’t deliver.

The pacing dragged, especially in the middle, and the twists felt more confusing than shocking. Abby's grief and determination started off compelling, but she quickly became hard to root for. The side characters blurred together, and the atmosphere that should have felt tense and claustrophobic just came off flat.

I kept waiting for that big payoff, but when it finally came, it felt rushed and unearned. I’ve enjoyed Bartz’s earlier work, but this one left me disappointed.

3.25 3.25 This book has some of my favorite thriller tropes so I had some high expectations going into this one but unfortunately this book fell a little short for me. This book mostly follows Abby a woman who’s fiancé passed away on a remote island do to anaphylactic shock. Needing to know what happened to her fiancé Abby try’s to uncover the secrets in this small remote town. This is a slow slow slow burn and the pacing caused me to keep losing interest in this mystery. The characters were fine but were not enough to carry this story, I did also enjoy this authors writing in general. This is my first book from this author but I would definitely pick up another in the future. I would like to thank NetGalley and the publishers for a chance to read this book for an honest review.

I did not find this thrilling and the mystery didn’t feel like it payed off in the end. I liked the main character Abby and the relationship with Eszter. Everyone on the island seemed shady and that came across but nobody felt nefarious. Would have liked more action of some kind.

I really couldn’t get into this book. Thrillers are my favorite genre and usually they take right off for me but this one was slow in my opinion.

I didn’t connect with the characters and I didn’t care to find out what was going on or about to happen.

I will read other books by this author because maybe I just didn’t connect with this one. I think in the hands of the right audience they will really enjoy this book.

This book was not for me. The premise was intriguing even though it’s not terribly original. The pacing was so slow in parts and I felt like the FMC just spoke to the same
People the whole time about her stale romance.

Andrea Bartz’s The Last Ferry Out is a twisty and emotional suspense novel with a fast paced plot that kept me turning the pages.

The main character, Abby, comes to Isla Colel to see where her fiancee died and to try to make sense of the tragedy. Just when one of the expats who she befriended tells Abby he will explain the details of her fiancee's death, he suddenly disappears. As days go by with no sign of him, the tropical paradise becomes a menacing world setting the tone of the novel.

Full of a cast of detailed characters, expats and islanders with dark secrets and shady pasts. Bartz’s twists, building sense of dread and pulse racing ending is sure to thrill readers. A thrilling and addictive read I will highly recommend. Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for the advanced reader’s copy.

4.25 stars

Thanks to NetGalley and Ballantine Books for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Andrea Bartz is quickly becoming a go-to author for me. I loved We Were Never Here, and now after reading The Last Ferry Out, I will definitely be checking out her backlog.

Unlike We Were Never Here, The Last Ferry Out was more of a slow-burning mystery. I loved the atmospheric setting of the island - while beautiful and remote, it still had somewhat creepy/eerie vibe. I felt that way about all the expats too - they were so kind and lovable in their own ways, and yet they harbored secrets that made me not want to trust them completely. The mystery of what happened to Eszter was very intriguing as well - and while (to me) none of the twists were extremely shocking, the way the story and everyone's secrets and involvement were revealed was very well done. It felt like a puzzle slowly being put together, and it was satisfying. The pacing was great as well, maintaining that slow burn throughout, and I didn't feel like the conclusion was explosive or rushed. I even liked the small twist at the very end. I was constantly wanting to know more about these people and this island, and I think the multiple POVs really helped with that as well, along with the flashbacks into Abby and Eszter's relationship. For me, it helped the story flow and really connected the dots over time.

I also really loved Abby and Eszter's story - it was actually very devastating at times, when we learned about their strained relationships with parents and even with each other. I feel like it was a good reminder that all of us are worth more than what we produce and give back to the world - and to be sure to let your loved ones know that they are more than their accomplishments in life, whether that be your significant others or your children. Sometimes we need to sit back, slow down, and learn to enjoy the small moments in life.

This would be a perfect vacation/summer read, if you're in the mood for a complex, slow-burning mystery with multiple POVs.

This gave We Were Never Here vibes with the setting, but it definitely didn't have the fast pace or excitement of that novel. It felt very drawn out and slow, with much of the story taking place entirely in Abby's (very anxious) mind; it got old after a while, and then when we finally find out what happened, because it took so long to get there, I was let down.

I really liked the F/F representation, and the setting is cool, but there was something lacking. With a title like The Last Ferry Out, I expected something that felt more claustrophobic, more ominous or strange, but Abby has a group of English-speaking acquaintances and moves pretty freely about the island, so the feeling of alienation wasn't there for me.

Nice promise however the book was slow and uneven. I struggled to get through it thank you to the author to the publisher and to net Galley for this opportunity.

Get ready folks, because I just devoured The Last Ferry Out by Andrea Bartz, and OH EM GHEE!
You know Andrea Bartz is one of my absolute favorite authors, and she delivered with this one!

My Thoughts (aka, I'm Obsessed)

From the moment Abby steps onto Isla Colel, you just know something is off. She's there to figure out what really happened to her fiancée, Eszter, but this island? It's not the paradise she expected. Think deserted, post-hurricane vibes, with a ferry that barely runs. Already, my spidey senses were tingling!

Then she meets this group of "alluring" expats, and things go from unsettling to full-blown SUSPICIOUS. Someone claims to know the truth about Eszter's death, and before you can even scream "tell me more!", they vanish into thin air. Seriously, who vanishes?! And the way everyone else acts about it? Chillingly casual. Like, WAY too casual.

Andrea Bartz weaves a web of dark secrets, shady pasts, and outright lies that will have you glued to every single page. Abby's quest for the truth spirals deeper and deeper into this tight-knit community, and you'll find yourself frantically trying to figure out who's trustworthy and who's a stone-cold killer. Every time I thought I had it figured out, BAM! Bartz pulls the rug right out from under me.

If you love a thrilling, suspenseful read that keeps you guessing until the very last page, where the atmosphere is thick with unease, and you're questioning everyone's motives, then The Last Ferry Out is your next obsession.

Seriously, don't walk, RUN to get your hands on this one. But maybe don't plan any remote island getaways right after reading it... just a thought.