OUR LAST WILD DAYS is all heart and edges, both grace and grit. It’s a book about forgiveness and about the unforgivable. It’s clever and deeply moving and brilliantly written.

Loyal May is coming home to rural Louisiana to care for her ailing mother. She left Jacknife a decade ago to forget the crumbling of her closest friendship with local rebel Cutter Labasque. Her homecoming is marked by the discovery of that best friend, facedown and drowned in the polluted water. Loyal can’t shake her need to make things right with her old friend - her name is fitting, it turns out - and she sets out to find out what happened.

Anna Bailey’s writing is a kind of gothic poetry. Their ability to create a real sense of place and people with words is something to behold. You can feel the damp of the bayou on your neck, feel the weight of the humidity. And these characters - oof. They put all of themselves into creating these full, flawed, beautiful human beings. (“Cutter is a crowbar of a woman”, they write, and I immediately knew this character entirely.)

To put it simply, this book is why we read. To feel things. To go somewhere else, places that are unfamiliar and yet still feel like they could be home. To see the people we know, and sometimes ourselves, reflected back to us in fiction and to remember something about being human.

And just to say, “a nazi ain’t a man” was precisely the proclamation I needed from a book right now.

Thank you to Atria Books for the advance copy. All opinions are entirely my own.

Our Last Wild Days is a haunting, slow-burn Southern gothic that pulled me in from the first page. Set in the steamy, decaying swamps of Jackknife, Louisiana, the novel follows Loyal May—a woman returning to her deeply flawed hometown after years away. When she discovers the body of her estranged childhood friend Cutter Labasque in the bayou, what appears to be a suicide quickly begins to feel like something more sinister. As Loyal digs into Cutter’s mysterious death, she finds herself tangled in the dark secrets, corruption, and long-held grudges of a town that never really let her go.

Anna Bailey’s writing is atmospheric and beautifully raw, immersing you in the oppressive heat, guilt, and grief that saturate every scene. The characters are flawed and painfully real—especially Loyal, whose complicated sense of guilt and quiet strength make her impossible to forget. While this isn’t a fast-paced thriller, its emotional depth and eerie tension make for an unforgettable read that lingers long after the final page.

Special thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for this advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

📚 Pub Week Review 📚

All the thanks to @atriabooks #partner @atriathrillers for my #gifted arc copy and to @scaredstraightreads for my gorgeous hardback copy giveaway win! #scaredstraightreads

Our Last Wild Days by Anna Bailey
Publisher- @atriabooks
Out Now

Loyal May (awesome name btw) has returned to her hometown of Jacknife, Louisiana, a place she fled a decade earlier after a falling-out with her best friend, Cutter Labasque.

Days after Loyal arrives, Cutter is found face down in the muddy bayou. The police call it a drowning, but Loyal doesn’t believe them.

An atmospheric and smoldering suspense, Our Last Wild Days is an urgent examination of the secrets we keep and our fealty - to our communities, to our families, and to ourselves.

My mother’s family is from Louisiana and I could vividly picture the descriptions of the swamps and landscapes. The writing is done really well with stunning prose. What I didn’t enjoy was the pacing of the story. It honestly moved at a snails pace for me. I do enjoy slow burn mysteries, don’t get me wrong. However, it was hard to stay engaged. I didn’t feel a connection to any of the characters.

Our Last Wild Days is perfect for fans of Where The Crawdads Sing, slow burn thrillers with an atmospheric setting. Small town vibes filled with secrets. So, please check out other reviews as many have loved it.

3.5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️

This book is set in Louisiana in a small town where everyone knows everyone's business.
The description of the bayou and vegetation there is well written.
I enjoyed reading the murder mystery and trying to find out who killed Cutter, the victim whose death was at first ruled a suicide.
The poverty of the region is sad, but the story is positive in nature when we learn how family members look out for each other.
Secrets were kept that should have been shared with family members.

Our Last Wild Days is a beautifully written, atmospheric story that pulls you into the heat and hush of the Louisiana swamplands. This was my first book by Anna Bailey, and I was immediately drawn in by the moody setting, layered characters, and slow-burning mystery.

The story follows Loyal May as she returns home to care for her mother and gets caught up in the unraveling of a friend's mysterious death. The emotional weight is real, and the writing does a great job of capturing the tension and quiet heartache of a town full of secrets.

While the pace is on the slower side, I appreciated the way it allowed the story to breathe and unfold naturally. Bailey’s style is rich and thoughtful—I'm definitely interested in reading more from her.

Big thanks to the author, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the e-ARC. A strong, evocative read that stayed with me after the final page.

There's a darkness on the edge of town...

"Human beings weren't made to carry this much absence inside them, she thinks. There is no way to reason it out, how so much nothing can be so heavy."

Set against the sweltering, haunting backdrop of the swamps and bayous of the Atchafalaya Basin, "Our Last Wild Days" is a luminous, slow-burn Southern noir- a story of grief, guilt, and redemption wrapped in prose so rich it lingers long after the final page.

Loyal May left her fictional hometown of Jacknife, Louisiana, at eighteen to pursue a career in journalism, determined never to return. But a decade later, she finds herself reluctantly back in town to care for her ailing mother. No sooner has she taken a job at the struggling local newspaper than her estranged childhood friend, Cutter Labasque, is found dead in the water. Though the death is ruled a suicide, Loyal suspects there’s more to the story. As she digs deeper - aided by a ragtag crew of misfit colleagues that become friends - she seeks justice for her friend and redemption from her own betrayal ten years earlier.

In the wake of Cutter's death, the novel evolves into a haunting exploration of loyalty, memory, and the weight of unfinished histories, set against small-town America. The slow-burning suspense is expertly paced and simmers throughout, but what elevates this novel far beyond a standard mystery is the author’s evocative, lyrical writing. You don’t just *read* about Jacknife - you *feel* it. You sweat beneath its heavy skies, hear the cry of its egrets, and taste the humid air that settles like a second skin. The rural Louisiana setting is conjured with such intimacy and precision that it becomes a character in its own right - alive, merciless, and unforgettable.

Each character, no matter how minor, feels vividly drawn and full of depth and contradiction. Sasha is a standout, and Loyal herself proves a fascinating protagonist - flawed, sharp, and achingly human. Her struggle with belonging, forgiveness, and the weight of memory is as poignant as it is relatable, lingering long after the final page.

The ending felt a bit rushed; around the 80% mark, I could not imagine how every single strand of narrative would be resolved, yet somehow they all were, albeit a bit too neatly at times. Still, the swift resolution doesn’t undercut the story's emotional payoff. If anything, it echoes one of the novel’s quieter truths: that life rarely offers clean endings, even when stories try to.

"Our Last Wild Days" is an atmospheric, gripping, haunting, and heartbreakingly beautiful read, and one of my favorite books so far this year. That a writer from Gloucestershire, UK, now living in Bordeaux, France, could write captivating Southern Gothic with this much soul, texture, and authenticity is nothing short of remarkable, and a testament to their immense talent. Though I hadn’t read Anna Bailey's debut novel prior to this, I added it to my list the moment I finished "Our Last Wild Days". And wherever Bailey goes next, I’ll be following.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Atria Books for the free copy in exchange for my honest review.

"Our Last Wild Days" was published on May 20, 2025, and is now available.

“𝘍𝘶𝘯𝘯𝘺, 𝘴𝘩𝘦 𝘵𝘩𝘪𝘯𝘬𝘴, 𝘩𝘰𝘸 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘣𝘰𝘥𝘺 𝘤𝘢𝘯 𝘧𝘰𝘳𝘨𝘦𝘵 𝘱𝘩𝘺𝘴𝘪𝘤𝘢𝘭 𝘱𝘢𝘪𝘯 𝘧𝘢𝘴𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘵𝘩𝘢𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳 𝘬𝘪𝘯𝘥𝘴 𝘰𝘧 𝘩𝘶𝘳𝘵 𝘸𝘦 𝘪𝘯𝘧𝘭𝘪𝘤𝘵 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘶𝘳𝘴𝘦𝘭𝘷𝘦𝘴, 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘰𝘯 𝘰𝘯𝘦 𝘢𝘯𝘰𝘵𝘩𝘦𝘳.”

Set in the sweltering, murky depths of the Louisiana bayou, 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘴 is a tense, atmospheric novel that blends mystery, Southern Gothic mystique, and raw emotional storytelling. The fictional town of Jacknife pulses with life and decay—its gator-infested waters, revival tents, and lingering folklore shaping not just the setting, but the people trapped within it.

At the center of the novel are those who live on the margins: the Labasques—Dewall, Cutter, and Beau—misunderstood, poverty-stricken, and scarred by addiction; Loyal, whose weight marks her as different in a world obsessed with conformity; and Sasha, who challenges the town’s rigid norms through queerness and unapologetic self-expression. Bailey writes these characters with deep empathy and complexity, never reducing them to archetypes. Instead, they are fully human—flawed, hurting, and struggling to find their place.

Running beneath the surface is a story of guilt and reckoning, as Loyal tries to make amends for the cruel things said when she was nothing more than a child, words that cost her the only real connection she had. There’s also a strong thread of suspense: police corruption, a murder, and the painful process of uncovering the truth in a place that resists change and buries its secrets deep.

Thematically rich and emotionally resonant, 𝘖𝘶𝘳 𝘓𝘢𝘴𝘵 𝘞𝘪𝘭𝘥 𝘋𝘢𝘺𝘴 explores otherness, shame, redemption, and the cost of silence. But what lingers most is the setting itself—thick as the heat, steeped in folklore, and alive with the ghosts of history. Jacknife isn’t just a backdrop—it’s a living, breathing force in the novel.

Anna Bailey’s prose is immersive and lyrical, with a rhythm that matches the slow churn of Southern summer and the steady, simmering tension of lives on the edge. If you enjoy novels that balance grit with grace and stories that don’t flinch from hard truths, this is one to read!

This book is a slow burn, character driven masterpiece. It's one of those books you wish you could experience for the first time again and again. Absolutely beautiful writing. Set deep in gator and swamp country it examines how society sets up certain people as outcasts and how outcasts either willingly step into that role or spend their lives trying to fight against it. It's a book about friendship, unforgivable mistakes, murder, and redemption.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
A raw, lyrical, and haunting Southern Gothic triumph.

Our Last Wild Days is a darkly poetic, deeply atmospheric novel that gripped me from the first page. Anna Bailey masterfully weaves a tale of loss, resilience, and fractured relationships against the haunting backdrop of a decaying swamp town.

The writing is both brutal and beautiful—every sentence pulses with emotion and imagery. Bailey captures the tension and tenderness of family and the weight of buried secrets with unflinching honesty. I was completely drawn into the lives of these characters, their trauma, their longing, and their quiet rebellions. The setting becomes a character in itself: eerie, lush, and oppressive in all the right ways.

This book wrecked me in the best way. If you love Southern Gothic with emotional depth, complicated characters, and a story that lingers long after the final page, this one’s for you.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC—I’ll be thinking about this one for a long time.

Thanks to NetGalley, Anna Bailey, and Atria Books for the eARC. Our Last Wild Days was a gripping and emotional read. It’s heavy at times, but the story really pulls you in with its raw look at small-town corruption and buried secrets. Dark, powerful, and thought-provoking.

Thank you to Atria and Anna Bailey for this ARC.

There’s always something emotional and nostalgic about reading a book set in a place that shaped you. I grew up in a nowhere, swampy community in Southern Louisiana, so when I started Our Last Wild Days, it felt like going home. 💚

🐊 What did you love the most?
Bailey has an incredible talent for capturing the spirit of Southern Louisiana, its culture, scenery, and folklore. From rougarou legends to alligator hunts, everything felt authentic and vivid. It was like stepping back into my childhood.

The plot? Deliciously slow-burn. No one in this small town is quite what they seem, and the tension simmers until it explodes. It’s a true “who can you trust?” thriller. 👀

🐊 What to expect:
😬 Dysfunctional family dynamics
🛶 Evocative Southern LA setting
👥 Multiple POV storytelling
🔍 Twisty whodunit

🐊 How was the pace?
It builds slowly, layering tension and character depth until you’re fully hooked. Once it hits the midpoint, things unravel fast, and you won’t be able to look away.

🐊 Do you recommend this book?
Absolutely. If you love richly atmospheric thrillers rooted in place, with secrets, lies, and long-buried guilt, this one will pull you into the bayou and keep you there.

🐊 Perfect for fans of:
📚 Where the Crawdads Sing
📚 The Marsh King’s Daughter
📚 Sharp Objects

🐊 Mood: 🐊 Haunting | 🌫️ Atmospheric | 🔥 Simmering tension

🐊 Read if you like:
🛶 Southern Gothic vibes
🤫 Small towns with big secrets
📖 Literary thrillers with emotional weight
🧩 Slow-burn mysteries with strong settings

4.5/5.0 Stars

OUR LAST WILD DAYS – by Anna Bailey

‘The Labasques aren’t like other families.’

‘Living in a shack out in the swamps, they made do by hunting down alligators and other animals. To the good people of Jacknife, Louisiana, they are troublemakers and outcasts, the kind of people you wouldn’t want in your community.’

‘“They say you can tell the health of a place by its wilderness,” her mother says. “Well, I say something’s not right out there.”’

That was an engaging whodunit—Loved The Ending! Recommend!

Thank you, NetGalley and Atria Books (Simon & Schuster Publishing), for providing me with an eBook of OUR LAST WILD DAYS at the request of an honest review.

When trying to describe this book, the words haunting and atmospheric come to mind. The author sucks you right into rural Louisiana, into the backwoods where anything goes and a gator might be around any corner. This is a slow burn thriller about friendship, heartbreak, and murder.

Thank you Atria Books for my #gifted copy of Our Last Wild Days! #OurLastWildDays #atriabooks #AtriaInfluencer #AnnaBailey

𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐎𝐮𝐫 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐃𝐚𝐲𝐬
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐀𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐲
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐌𝐚𝐲 𝟐𝟎, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓

𝟰.𝟱★

Wow! Talk about an atmospheric read! Anna Bailey had me hooked from the start with this one, set in Jackknife, Louisiana. Loyal May has recently returned home to care for her mother and her childhood friend, Cutter Labasque has been found face down in a muddy swamp. No one seams to care. Ruled a suicide, the only person who seems to question it, is Loyal, who is determined to find out really happened to Cutter. When Loyal left town years ago, she betrayed Cutter, and while it may be too late to apologize now, she is determined to find out the truth.

This was such a vivid read and I loved the setting and small town vibes. The author did such an amazing job capturing the rural Louisiana vibes and I would definitely recommend this one if you love atmospheric thrillers!

🐊Atmospheric
🐊Small Town
🐊Secrets
🐊Flawed Characters
🐊Gothic Vibes

Posted on Goodreads on May 24, 2025: https://www.goodreads.com/user/show/144922955?ref=nav_profile_l
**Posted on Instagram - Full Review- on or around May 24, 2025: http://www.instagram.com/nobookmark_noproblem
**Posted on Amazon on May 24, 2025
**-will post on designated date

🐊 Book review! 🐊

Our Last Wild Days
By Anna Bailey
Published: 5/20/25
Genre: mystery/thriller

I really enjoyed reading this book even more than I expected to! There were a lot of layers to the story. It had hometown and family drama in spades. Characters wrestle with their failures and desires in addition to a few alligators. This Louisiana swamp is thick with corruption and mystery. It’s a page turner!

Thank you @netgalley and @atriabooks for the opportunity to read the digital arc of this novel!
I’ll be watching out for @annabaileywrites next book!

#ourlastwilddays #louisianabook #bayousetting #swampsetting #mysterybooks #thrillerbooks #newbook #arcreview #bookreview #bookrecommendation #newlyreleasedbook #atriabooks #netgalley #bookstagram #readthisbook

"OUR LAST WILD DAYS"
BY: ANNA BAILEY

IF EVER A NOVEL WRITTEN IN THE MYSTERY--THRILLER GENRE DESERVED ONE HUNDRED STARS THIS WOULD BE IT!

I took longer reading this because the writing was so GORGEOUS, which I wasn't anticipating since this is my first time reading Author, ANNA BAILEY'S, beautifully written novels. I LOVED IT! I had read a couple of reviews in which at least one reviewer said that this is what she referred to as a kind of slow burn mystery. I respect other reviewers opinions, so while that may have been the case for her, that wasn't my experience, but a few others also said it starts out slow. Since this feedback, mixed with the content had me dreading reading it, I have to say that this turned out to be over the span of my lifetime reading experiences as far as the mystery--thriller genre category the most SPECTACULAR one that I've ever encountered. I don't read this genre often since I prefer feeling swept away by well written novels that makes me feel emotionally moved by an author who can craft memorable passages that bring realism, with well developed character studies that are in depth which Anna Bailey, accomplished that criteria, and so much more in, "OUR LAST WILD DAYS." The mystery-thriller, genre usually is filled with over the top plots and characters that rely on me having to suspend disbelief in which most of them are lacking the kind of electrifying writing that I experienced within this second novel, that I'm almost speechless trying to describe how rare I've encountered such outstanding talent in this genre. Maybe never before, ever, have I been so impressed by an unknown author, (to me) to surprise me within a mystery-thriller novel, been shocked by this type of high quality talent. Anna Bailey's prowess with her command of language that deserves my highest praise since nothing prepared me for how achingly, raw this author has managed to create out of writing about poverty, corruption, social isolation, familial instability, oppressive heat, swamp infested, dangerously inhabited with alligators and snakes, cancer causing pollution industry, gossiping judgmental community, drug trafficking, addiction, murder, violence, small town suburbs, with such authenticity that I would end up not only avoiding for the bleak, and depressing setting and I can't explain only that the writing was so breathtaking that captured my attention has produced in me to my utter amazement was one that left me feeling stunningly uplifted and hopeful with this unique, one of a kind masterpiece.

I actually am very aware of the masterful character development that counterbalances the darker themed, misunderstood Labasque family brothers who are the surviving family outcasts by this community full of judgmental disdain for their reputations of the eldest brother known for fighting. The youngest brother Beau, is addicted to drugs. The novel begins with their sister Marianne, who is referred to being called, "Cutter," is discovered lying face down caught up tangled by the vegetation as having what the Sheriff deems "accidental" drowning. Later it is also referred as Cutter's cause of death being a suicide. She is being poked at with a stick by most of the Sheriff's Deputies except for the one who leaked the drowning to his friend Sasha whose Great Uncle owns the small town newspaper in Jacknife, Louisiana which is how Cutter's estranged best friend, Loyal May who has just returned home from her job as a Journalist in Houston, Texas because of her mother having developed early onset Dementia. Loyal is with Sasha at the crime scene when the two of them hear about a drowning, and they are both there to write a story for the small town, newspaper which Sasha is trying to update the paper to an online publication. Loyal has been away for ten years, and she's working there since she wrote articles for Sasha's Great Uncle while still in high school, and they were surprised that nobody seems to care about Cutter's death including her two brothers. These two do want to find out how it happened, and why.

I really loved Loyal as a main character for her wonderful, caring personality who is very sad to find out that the dead woman was her childhood best friend who she and Sasha were both relatable and decent people who are very disturbed to see that the deputies are poking at Cutter's body with sticks. I think that they are what kept this from getting so depressing since they both were not willing to accept that Cutter would drown since she was experienced at navigating the water and swamp since she had her own small red boat that Loyal remembered them spending many hours on the water in that boat. Sasha is interesting as a main character since his sister Kaylee owns the diner which is a popular place in this tiny community and he has dyed pink hair that looks stapled. Loyal was described as being heavier in terms of physical appearance they both weren't totally always without being teased in their childhoods for being different which gave them the much needed layers to explain how they weren't average which I thought made them more empathetic as adults. They both were extremely kind, that I felt comes from them both building resilience from overcoming their unconventional different reasons for not fitting in on the surface, but managing to develop an inner beauty in the way that really is the most important attribute. I loved how they were so compatible and they were the main reason that they kept me interested since they were both so realistic as having their doubts about Cutter drowning being accidental as the Sheriff ruled. They both had kept following up on investigating what really happened with the coroner ruling Cutter's death a murder.

The way that Author, Anna Bailey described the landscape as untamed was the other aspect that makes this soar to being incredibly atmospheric. In the way she wrote this was to engage me so I could feel like she kept my interest by taking a dangerous place by the flawless job she did with her powerfully engaged me by her making the setting so sensuous that she made use of the heat being so relentless. She constantly used descriptive sounds that the insects made, the moss and Cypress trees, the alligator infested water and swamps always present in how they were an undercurrent theme lurking around in the town surrounded by water. The woods and decay of the Labasques shack they inhabited, located in the center of a swamp. Cutter was the one to cause the Sheriff his lost scholarship and loss of his dream of playing football, since she bit off a couple of his fingers so that he couldn't catch another football. He lost his chance of leaving for College, escaping the deteriorating town. Cutter caused a naive Loyal's deformed hand by tricking her it was safe to put it inside Beau's baby alligators pen that he kept inside a building they were in. What kind of best friend would encourage her childhood best friend to place her hand where it wasn't safe, that resulted in a trusting Loyal having a chunk of her hand getting chomped off when one of the alligators bit Loyal's hand. Loyal got even by using her gift as a writer that alienated the community from the Labasques, which she regrets. Cutter was feral, but Loyal always thought they would mend their friendship, is that what makes her spend all of her time trying to solve what happened to Cutter, by placing her life in jeopardy?

The characters were so heart wrenching and I loved how the plot was fast paced with short chapters that had even a scene about the Albino Female Alligator being rare. Cutter used to go with her older brother to wrangle alligators that the idea of him with Sasha on the boat where he tells Sasha he would love to see her, but it was against regulations to hunt it. Sasha tells the older Labasque brother that he didn't see him as a guy who followed regulations. Cutter's older brother replied that he's used to seeing things in life he wants, but he is also used to not having the things he wants. That is a beautiful scene that shows the humanity that both the Author and by her including that scene proves that we all are people who are more complex. The older brother who was shunned for him being an alligator hunter and one who is known for brawls, that he has layers also. He is satisfied to just admire the beautiful White Albino Alligator from afar. Just seeing her is enough to bring him joy. It's enough to have the chance at another glimpse of her. He knows that the Albino alligator would free them from poverty since it would end their hardship from their extremely tough way of how he earns his money with risking his life just to exist, but he won't harm a female that's nesting. I'll never forget that scene. It's about those who risk their lives on a daily basis by keeping the water safe. Not choosing greed and the easiest solution to get rich enough to end your money problems quickly. Ending your poverty but losing your integrity, self respect, by destroying a rare, beautiful, creature who has just as much a right to inhabit this world you both share together.

I think that the character development, plot, and the atmospheric setting with profound feasts for engaging the senses make this novel, "OUR LAST WILD DAYS," the most dazzling mystery-thriller that I've ever read. I think it's hauntingly realistic that I'll never forget it. Everywhere there is decay, rot, deterioration that's rife with corruption, poverty, social isolation, addiction, drug trafficking, violence, familial instability, swamp infested with alligators and snakes, blazing hot temperatures, cancer causing pollution industry, judgmental gossiping community, violence, murder, small minded thinking is achingly raw, is written with such authenticity that is counterbalanced with the main characters so full of inner beauty is a majestic piece of artistic ability that sings with the breathtaking prose. It is a brilliant achievement that I was amazed with how Haunting, and Unforgettable this novel left me with a feeling of hope. I was so addicted to this author's ability to immerse me with her rare writing style that it soars with her striking sensuous atmospheric attention to detail. I would give this one-hundred stars if I could. Again, I can't recommend this high enough, and I'm looking forward to reading her first novel, and I will be thinking about this since I think it deserves to reach as wide of an audience as possible. A MASTERPIECE THAT HAS ORIGINALITY WITH IT'S GENRE

Publication Date: May 20, 2025! AVAILABLE NOW FOR PURCHASE! I KNOW THAT I'M LOOKING TO BUY MY OWN PHYSICAL HARDCOVER FIRST EDITION, THAT'S SIGNED BY THE AUTHOR! THIS WAS ONE THAT I WAS DREADING, BUT IT'S MY FAVORITE NOVEL THAT I HAVE READ, AND THIS IS NOT MY USUAL CONTENT! I'M SO SAD TO HAVE FINISHED IT!

Thank you to Net Galley, Anna Bailey, and Atria Books for generously providing me with my SPECTACULAR ARC, in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own, as always.

#OurLastWildDays #AnnaBailey #AtriaBooks #NetGalley

I was hooked from the beginning!!
It was amazing and engaging.
I was instantly sucked in by the atmosphere and writing style.
The characters were all very well developed .
The writing is exceptional and I was hooked after the first sentence.

This was a dark and atmospheric small town mystery. I liked this one! A slow read but interesting. Reminded me a bit of True Detective Season 1 with a dash of Where the Crawdads Sing.

Thank you Simon and Schuster, Net Galley, and Anna Bailey for this ARC.

Haunting, lyrical, and southern gothic!
This novel is a slow burn character study, a meditation of guilt, grief, and the messy business of making amends.
The Labasques aren’t like anyone else in this town. They are outcasts who survive off the land by hunting alligators. Loyal comes back to town after leaving at 18 when her estranged best friend apparently dies by suicide.
Loyal is determined to find out what happened to her friend but the local police department want it to stay shut as a shoved case, but loyal cannot accept that.
This story crawls under your skin, it’s short paced but relentless!

Thank you Atria for my gifted copy!

"’They say you can tell the health of a place by its wilderness,’ her
mother says. ‘Well, I say something's not right out there.’”

“We’re living in our last wild days, boy.”

Every once in a while, a book comes around that shatters the glass ceiling. Once There Were Wolves, All the Colors of the Dark, Betty, Razorblade Tears, Our Last Wild Days.

This book is full of so many beautiful sentences. Anna Bailey has such a stunning and artful way with words. “A fingernail of moon scratches at the bellies of clouds above.” It doesn’t get any better than that. Anna Bailey’s words are art.

I was in awe for the entirety of this book. It was just ethereal in all of its swampy, gothic glory. I have been craving something like Our Last Wild Days for too long. Something that filled my heart and soul with longing for a place I’ve never been, but have always wished to visit. And it really felt like I got to visit because of Anna Bailey’s words. They are one of the most talented writers I’ve encountered.

I was truly surprised to find out the author is not from the Louisiana bayou, because the atmosphere seemed so accurate and poignant, like it was coded into their DNA. Bailey managed to bring to life this three-dimensional character that is this half made up swampy town in Louisiana, riddled with trauma and flood lines. This was more than a book about a murder. It was a love letter to the suffering of the people the country neglected. There is scrappiness, resilience, seclusion, and distrust all throughout this cast of characters, and it brings this book into life in such a big way.

I wish I could sum up how I feel about this book. I can’t. I seem to only ramble. But know it was beautiful. It was tragic. It was heart wrenching. And I really was to press it tightly to my chest so that it leaves an indent and never leaves my mind.