I enjoyed The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth, though at times I wanted a faster pace to the story. I felt so much sympathy for Veronica finding herself in the situation where she essentially was a divorced mother of 3 overnight, and found it appalling that her ex continued to ask her to agree to a reduction in alimony so he could take care of his new wife and child (in utero), though I know this very situation happens often. I enjoyed the will-they-or-won't-they relationship between Veronica and Henry and found it very touching that both Veronica and Henry were like unofficial parents to Mariah. I think the author did a great job at creating characters that were believable, flawed and hopeful!

I loved this book. The settings, the food and the travel in this book are so well written, you feel like you are we the characters as they make this journey. It is a book about taking the chance, seizing the opportunity, not letting fear of change slow you down. This is also a book about healing.

When Veronica and her husband split up she finds herself in a small flat and struggling to make ends meet.
She sees an advertisement for a job as a companion to a woman in a fact finding trip for a new book about cafe culture.
She is delighted when she is offered the job and excited to do some travelling and see some new places.
I really enjoyed this story, it has some lovely characters and descriptions of places I’ve never been to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth is woman’s fiction. The story develops the characters and the settings so well that I felt as if I knew them and wanted to continue on in their travels and lives. I enjoyed reading about their journey and the food in each country was a plus. Veronica and Mariah’s growing friendship was heart warming as they each grew stronger together and in their own lives.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and want to start reading it over again to enjoy it even more. Barbara O’Neal is an excellent writer.

Thank you to Barbara O’Neal, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for allowing me to read this ARC. My review is totally my own opinion.

This was a beautifully written book. I loved how all of the characters showed growth, not just the main characters. I felt the ending was a little rushed but I did enjoy this read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher !

Thank you so much for giving me the chance to read this early book. It was delicious and fantastic and made me think. I did not want it to end! I adored the characters, and have already recommended the book to quite a few friends. I am so happy I was able to enjoy this! Thank you!!!

Good book was a little slow for my taste and not drawing me in until 3/4 of the way through the book.

My first Barbara O'Neal book and definitely not my last!
The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth is a story about two lost women dealing with grief as well as PTSD and divorce.
I had a great time seeing these women on their journey and LOVED all the food descriptions. Overall really enjoyed this book and highly recommend!

I was intrigued by the premise of this book, but it fell flat for me. First it is a slow burn which isn’t my preference, but I’m okay as long as it’s to used develop the characters. I didn’t really connect with the main characters, and they didn’t grow as much as I would have liked.

The trip was organized and planned by Mariah as a way to honor her recently deceased mother; however, she doesn’t seem invested the project. Overall the story focused too much on Veronica and not enough on Mariah. I would have preferred more time given to developing the friendship between Veronica and Mariah and less on the predictable budding romance.

While it took a while to get there, I did find the ending heartwarming and satisfying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

I was initially confused about how the characters would connect in this book. I ended up engrossed anyways and loved the relationships they built. Thank you netgalley for an advanced copy. My opinions are my own.

5 *****

The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth is a contemporary women’s fiction. The characters are revealed, and evolve, throughout the story. The travelogue is beautifully woven in, strong on its own and also developing the story and characters. And the food descriptions! Beautifully done.

The two main female characters both develop tremendously over the course of the story, and contribute to each other’s healing and growth. Their collaboration also supports them both in more pragmatic ways.

I’m a big fan of this author’s books, over many years, and yet they never feel repetitive. Her eye (and voice) for emotion, nature, art, and people’s interconnectedness is spot-on. I always feel like I discover something new about how wonderful people can be for each other, which is a gift I get from every book.

That being said, this book somehow significantly exceeded my always-sky-high expectations of this author. It was somehow richer, deeper, more vast . . . . I wish I could articulate what propelled this book to higher heights, at least for me. Whatever it was, I felt it throughout the reading of the book (which I miraculously managed to spread over almost a treat! Like savoring a dessert in small helpings to you can consume more tomorrow).

I **most** highly recommend this book! And if this is a new author for you, I wish you the joy of devouring all her previous novels as well.

I love Barbara O’neal and I’ll add this book to another of her hits!! I think once this is released it will be best seller, it’s so beautiful!

Mariah Ellsworth is an Olympian, her mother, Rachel Ellsworth is a food writer, both are famous in their own right. When during a visit to a grocery store, Rachel is killed and Mariah’s femur is shattered by a bullet, Mariah has to recover not only physically but emotionally. Urged by her Aunt Jill, Mariah starts working on her mother’s last book, using the outline she left and her letters. However, Mariah is not strong enough physically to do this journey alone so she hires Veronica Barrington as a companion. Veronica has her own healing to do, after an ugly divorce and a police incident, Veronica is ready for a new chapter. Will this trip lead to healing or just more hurt?

Barbara O’Neal’s books to me are art, each chapter a mosaic of brushstrokes, layering on emotions, discoveries, insight and brilliantly revealing the story. The characters, add a layer with their complexity and sentiment. Descriptions of a locale another layer, just enough to intrigue you without overwhelming you. I feel so content after finishing her books and this book is no exception. It makes me want to travel and see out different cultures, food and people. Relish in the wonder of seeing things through the lens of the experience. Such a gratifying read, you will regret not reading this book.

I was asked to review “The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth” by Barbara O'Neal.

O’Neal is a master at creating well developed female characters and their (sometimes dysfunctional) relationships. Her novels often focus on self-exploration and growth. Here, we meet Veronica, who is turning a new leaf, and Mariah, a young athlete who is moving forward after a physical injury that keeps her out of the Olympics. Mariah is seeking a travel companion as she seeks answers about her mother, Rachel. Their journey takes them to London, Paris, Marrakech and India, which O’Neal describes in an evocative way. O’Neal also explores these women inner battles and the different ways they connect.

This is a thoughtful read.

Thanks to Netgalley, the author and publisher for a chance to read this book.

I didn’t want this one to end. Barbara O’Neal shares her intense research abilities and travels with this book. It was interesting, fascinating and a totally enjoyable read. I learned so much about the foods, history and people of the countries that her characters traveled to. It made me want to go.
The three main characters are somewhat diverse and flawed in many ways…and yet you find yourself rooting for them and hoping they all find their way in life.
I think it would be great if a second book came along…just saying….

This was a really good book! It was entertaining, and it gave me a feeling of wanderlust! I wanted to travel and go on these journeys myself! I think this was a well written story, I liked the way everything flowed!

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

I always enjoy Barbara O’Neal books and The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth was no different! I really enjoyed this book. I loved the travel and food aspects and also watching Veronica and Mariah figure out who they want to be after each woman has found themselves at a turning point in life. I would recommend this book! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth is an incredibly touching and immersive read. The way O'Neal describes the settings and emotions made me feel like I was right there with the characters, experiencing their joys, sorrows, and every twist in their journey. The book’s mix of historical elements, mystery, and heartfelt moments made it impossible to put down.

Thank you NetGalley & Lake Union Publishing for sending this book for review consideration.

“The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth” by Barbara O’Neal is a fabulous novel that delicately navigates the terrain of PTSD and trauma. The story revolves around two broken women, one who loses her snowboarding career and mother from a deadly shooting, and the other from the loss of her marriage. We are taken on a powerful and richly descriptive journey across continents as they try to carve a path forward for themselves and finish a book on food on “Parsi Cafes” to honor the young snowboarders deceased mother. I was totally immersed in their heartfelt story and enjoyed every minute of the sights and sounds of Europe, Morocco, and India. This emotional and beautifully written novel will keep you reading way into the night. I loved it!

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth tells the story of two women, Rachel’s daughter Mariah, a twenty something who is adjusting to life after a serious injury abruptly finished her winter Olympic career and Veronica a fifty something woman who’s world is turned upside down with a recent divorce.

The recently deceased Rachel was a food writer and traveller and when Mariah decides to try and complete the last food book she was working on she knew she would have to advertise for a travel companion as she tries to retrace her mothers steps around the worlds cafes. Someone to assist and help her navigate the journey with her injury restricting what she can do.

Veronica, lost without her house and her family and struggling to adjust to life on her own in a rented apartment, sees the advert and takes a leap of faith in applying and getting the position. We follow both as they travel the globe and visit various cafes and find out more about Rachel and indeed themselves.

This was a hugely enjoyable tale of two lost women dealing with different types of grief and trying to use the past to forge new futures and identities for themselves. It’s beautifully told and will have you salivating with all the discussion and consumption of food.

Both women are flawed but ultimately incredibly likeable and of course there is the obvious mother daughter dynamic that is always bubbling under the surface, partly filling holes in both their lives.

I had a blast reading this as I went along with these two on their journeys, both physically and metaphorically as they try to navigate the loss of their familiar and now forever changed lives. Highly recommended

Thanks to the publisher for the ARC through Netgalley.