Based on the cover and the description, I was expecting a bit more madcap satire - what I got instead was a look at one person's view at coping and planning for the end of life when affected with an aggressive cancer. Current working in palliative/care hospice (and formerly cancer care), it was an interesting look at how a different sort of counseling/care could have helped this gentleman and his family.

I think the life lessons he was leaving for his son were kind of right on the line between being preachy or not fitting with the rest of the book, but really right on the line. He had some interesting things to share/leave behind and I would probably try to do something similar if I knew I were on my way out.

All in all, I think a nice combo of serious and lighthearted pre-grief and a good read

I really liked the cover of this book and was instantly intrigued. This book is a little out of my comfort zone as far as genres go, but I wanted to give it a chance. It has a very heavy topic but I liked that the author added comedic relief. I thought the writing was really good and I did enjoy this story.

I really loved Will Leitch's last book, The Time Has Come, and I was really to read an early copy of his new one. This one didn't work for me quite as well -- there were parts I really enjoyed and then parts I didn't.

I liked Lloyd, he was a sympathetic character and I really wanted everything to be okay for him. He was a sweet and caring dad, and cared a lot about his work. I enjoyed the side characters, especially those who Lloyd worked with, as well as his doctor.

There is a lot of tension in this book and I felt pretty stressed out for much of it. I didn't love the ending ... I needed a little bit more.

I will still be reading more by Will Leitch in the future -- I do really like his writing and characters.

Thank you to NetGalley for the advanced copy of this book!

I really loved Will Leitch’s book How Lucky and was excited to have an arc of his latest!

Overall, I did enjoy this book. I think the author is a good writer and I will definitely pick up his next one!

However, the pacing was pretty slow at times and the ending was a bit lackluster in my option. I think I wanted more character development of not just Lloyd, but of some of the side characters. I think the book would have benefited by getting to know Lloyd a little bit before he was diagnosed. I just never felt fully invested in the story.

This one is a quick read and good for those that like books that explore heavy topics in a lighthearted way. Overall I would recommend it!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc.

A huge thank you to HarperBooks for the ARC of this quirky, heartfelt, and unexpectedly hilarious novel that hit me right in the feels, especially as someone who lived in Atlanta for eight years.

This book is such a fun, poignant ride. Lloyd, an Atlanta police officer with months to live, embarks on a mission to go out in a blaze of glory to provide for his son, but things don’t exactly go as planned. What follows is a laugh-out-loud, big-hearted story full of unforgettable characters and genuine emotion.

As an Atlanta transplant-turned-lifer-at-heart, this book felt like coming home. From celebrating birthdays at Grindhouse Burgers, to lazy days in Piedmont Park (where we lived across from for years), to working at Georgia State for nearly a decade, Lloyd McNeil’s Last Ride is absolutely packed with Easter eggs that any ATL resident or former local will adore. And as a die-hard soccer fan, the Atlanta United references (we’re founding members and still season ticket holders from afar!) made my heart swell.

This novel is a love letter to a city, to fatherhood, and to the kind of stubborn, hopeful humanity that keeps trying, even when the odds are against you. If you’re looking for something that blends humor, heart, and a whole lot of ATL soul, this is your book.

4.0

Without spoiling anything, I can only say that my rating changed slightly at the very end.

This is a unique, although morbid topic, but, despite that, sort of uplifting and entertaining. This was another example of one that I had put to the bottom of the pile thinking that it would be the hardest to get through. Au contraire! I had almost thought that this was the work of a first time author. Not because the story was lacking so much as it is unique and creative, not unlike other recent works by first-time authors who have been marinating with a certain idea for years and not trying to pull a repeat performance out of a hat. Yes, I sound cynical. Give me a break. I just read a book about a guy who, since he’s dying in a matter of weeks anyway, wants to provide better for his son and, even if misguided, he is trying to get himself killed in the line of duty to be able to provide better for his son since he’s dying in a matter of weeks anyway.

It’s hard to explain and it gets a little frustrating at times. To some extent, you even want him to be successful so that he stops putting himself through another go-around on this roller coaster, especially if he’s not going to tell anyone anyway. I was wondering though how long it would take and who would be the first to really catch on.

This is a heartwarming and entertaining story with just a couple of pitfalls, other than the fact that he, I hope, would actually have been benched long before he really was, based just on his sudden weight loss, fatigue, and bizarre and inattentive behavior. But we’ll let that slide.

Thank you to Will Leitch, NetGalley, and Harper for providing me with a free advanced copy of this book for my unbiased review.

#LloydMcNeilsLastRide #NetGalley #bookreview #ADHDreader #lineofduty #Harper

Another great book from Will Leitch that sees a recently diagnosed brain tumor patient slash police officer determined to kill himself before the tumor can so his young son can inherit his life insurance payoff. This was full of humor, heart and great disability rep. I really enjoyed it. Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an early digital and audio copy in exchange for my honest review.

A lively tale of a cop who, in the wake of a fatal diagnosis, is determined to die in the line of duty to provide for his young son. Though it seems like a recipe for a fraught and sad story, the author handles this crazy premise with strong characters, an equally strong sense of humor, tender moments, and wild action. Though there are sections of over analyzing (a large global warming rant for example), the story is well told, sympathetic, and funny.

Thank you so much to Harper for the gifted book!

Title: Lloyd McNeil's Last Ride
Author: Will Leitch
Pub Date: May 20, 2025

Oh Lloyd!

I really enjoyed this one! This one came after a major reading slump where nothing was grabbing my attention and this one gripped me from the very first chapter!

Lloyd McNeil receives life-changing news that he has a brain tumor and only a short time left to live. Lloyd is heartbroken thinking about leaving behind his young son, especially since he doesn't have the financial means to set him up for success after his death. As a police offer, Lloyd comes up with a brilliant (?) plan: just simply die in the line of duty so he can set his son up for success with his police benefits. Makes perfect sense, right?

Things get even crazier from there!

While so much of this book was fun and crazy, there were also extremely tender portions where we read Lloyd's letters to his son called "The Ten Gentle Edicts of Lloyd McNeil" where he shares his best life tips :( They were so moving to read!

I was surprised by how much I enjoyed this one and can't wait to see what Will does next!

"Lloyd McNeil's Last Ride" is a different book than I have read, but in a good way. Our protagonist, Lloyd McNeil, finds out he only has months to live and decides to get into dangerous situations in the line of duty to make sure his teenage son is provided for (but getting into dangerous situations back fires). It took me a while to get into the story, but once Lloyd takes, action, the story picks up and readers will want to keep going to find out what happens.

Thank you Harper for the ARC in exchange for an honest review. Lloyd McNeil's Last Ride comes out May 20, 2025!

This book will take you on an emotional rollercoaster of heartache and deep joy. The characters stay with you long after you finish it. This was my first book to read by this author but will not be my last! Highly recommend!!!

This was such a heartfelt story of the love of a father for his son. I paired the audio and print versions of this book for an immersive experience and have to say this is the way to go if you are able. The narration really brings the story to life. I love the humor and heart in these pages and found it to be quite a good read.

My thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

This book is definitely a wild ride! If you are skeptical that a book about dying can also be heartwarming and fun ... just read it! It is not just a story about dying; it is a story of living - living well, loving well and appreciating your life. You will definitely find yourself laughing, smiling and rolling your eyes along the way.
In the moments when I thought Lloyd's plan for approaching his death was a bit far-fetched, I remembered ... 1) fiction and 2) the guy's under the influence of a brain tumor and impending death.
Will Leitch is a master storyteller. His writing is beautiful; his characters well developed. This is the third book of his that I have read. They have all been great, each with a unique and thought-provoking storyline.
Thank you to NetGalley for the advance read.

Lloyd McNeil's Last Ride follows a father, Lloyd, who, facing a terminal diagnosis, embarks on a series of dangerous stunts in hopes of dying in the line of duty to secure his son's future. As his reckless acts turn him into a local hero, Lloyd must confront what truly matters—teaching his son and saying goodbye. A mix of suspense, humor, and heart, this novel explores the lengths a father will go for his child.

Lloyd McNeil has learned he only has a few months to live. His main concern is leaving enough money for his teenager son but his job as a cop hasn’t done that. But if he dies in the line of duty, his son will be taken care of. However, as a beat cop in Atlanta, that is harder than one would think.

This was an easy and fast read, but also very meaningful. I loved that the main character was a cop, which I wasn’t sure about, but Lloyd is the cop we wish all cops would be. He has a heart of gold. While the plot is somber in nature, the book does not have a somber tone. It has a lot of humor to it, as well as wise words and wisdom Lloyd is passing down to his son.

“Don’t worry about death. Just live. You won’t regret it.”

Lloyd McNeil’s Last Ride comes out 5/20.

This was a heartwarming book on compassion, and what kind of legacy you want to leave behind. I enjoyed the humor and candid outlook.

Will Leitch is an amazing writer and this may well be his best work. Well written with multi-faceted characters. Don’t miss it!

Gah. 😭

I could just leave that as my entire review, but I’ll elaborate, in case you just need more details. #highmaintenancereaders🙄

This book is beautiful. It’s a man’s love-letter to his son. And probably his father. And maybe just the world. Lloyd is a cop. He’s dying. He’s dying AND he’s trying to teach his son what it really means to LIVE—all at the same time. Lloyd isn’t really anyone in particular (other than a cop), he’s nothing special. But also, he is a beautiful, ordinary, special, precious human. And that’s what I love about this book. It’s about an ordinary amazing human doing every day courageous things because that’s what decent humans do. He wants to be better, and make the world better for the son he loves more than anything else in the world.

The writing is clean, un-frilly, almost journalistic, but with enough poetry in it to make you cry. It’s giving Frederik Backman, but slightly less sob-y. Only slightly…

What an intriguing book about dying.

We follow police officer McNeil who is trying to come to terms with a grim diagnosis and leaving behind his teenage son. We read as he struggles to cope with the situation and find a way to overcome the challenges in leaving the world before he’s ready.

It is funny, the tone is upbeat although the story is bleak. It’s an incredible mix of emotions that kept me level due tot eh way it was written. I felt that some of the things he thinks about or goes on about for pages becomes boring and not worth reading. I felt it was more filler to an anything which is why I took off a star.

I appreciated what appears to be some really decent research in the cop world. My husband retired and a lot of what the author depicts is factual. There were still some things that were off but I didn’t knock if anything for that. Pulled me out of the story though.

Overall, if you’re looking for a light read about a sad thing but are looking for a ride through perspective lane, this was a pretty good one.

Thank you to the author, Harper Publishing and NetGalley for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

This was the third book I read by this author and it's my second favourite now (my top fave still is How Lucky).
It's funny, dark-humoured, heartfelt, sad but not depressing, and enjoyable read to pass the time.
Not very realistic at times, but it doesn't matter. It's a great novel to pass the time, especially if you have read a book by this author before and enjoyed it.
I'd highly recommend it.
Thank you, NetGalley and Harper, for providing me with a free eARC of this novel.