This was an emotional journey for Mariah and Veronica, who travel from Colorado to Europe and then to India, trying to unravel the clues for a last book from Mariah’s mom Rachel. This last year has been a nightmare for Veronica and Mariah. Veronica’s long-time husband dumps her for another woman- his younger pregnant mistress- and kicks her out of her home and her lovely gardens that she created. And Mariah was in a violent mass shooting where she was almost killed and her mother died beside her. Her leg was shattered along with her career as an Olympic snowboarder. When Mariah decides to follow clues from her mother for her last book, she hires Veronica to help her travel and unravel the story of her mother’s past life and love in India. Mariah’s ‘stepfather’ Henry goes along too as a photographer and helps them figure out what really happened to Rachel so long ago. The trio travel from place to place sampling so much food and tracing Rachel’s footsteps as Veronica tries to figure out how to write Rachel’s last book while she unravels the mystery of a long ago tragedy. During the trip the two women face their pain and learn to trust each other and themselves. This is the story of loss and of growth and of love. I loved the vivid descriptions of the cafés They went to and the exotic foods they sampled. It was amazing watching these two shattered women find themselves and learn to rely on each other and their inner strengths. I loved the ending when Veronica‘s found family gets to meet her friends and children. Throughout the book, it was heartwarming to watch Maria learn to rely on Henry and Veronica… And I loved watching the women grow. This was a thoroughly enchanting novel. Thank you, NetGalley for the digital copy. All opinions are my own.

I enjoyed this book right from the beginning! Several interesting relationships to follow, a mystery to figure out and travel from the US to London, Paris, Morocco and India. I really liked the author’s writing style and look forward to reading more of her books!

Barbara O’Neal is one of my favorite authors – I can always count on her novels to be thoughtful explorations of the complexities of human life. This latest offering is no exception. I was engaged with the storyline and the characters from the first page to the last.

The overarching theme of this novel is the response to trauma – either physical and or emotional. Three people have all suffered a significant loss with varying degrees of healing. Miriah Ellsworth was a world-class snowboarder when she was severely injured and lost her mother in a tragic event. Veronica Barrington, a middle-aged homemaker, is stunned when her professor husband of two decades announces he has fallen in love and abruptly packs his bags. Lastly, Henry, a war photographer, withdrew from conflict zones after seeing too much suffering and receiving a wound himself.

All three embark on a journey to London, Paris, Marrakesh, and India to complete a project begun by Rachel Ellsworth, Mariah’s mother, a renowned food writer. The trip is fraught with challenges primarily arising from Mariah’s unresolved grief and fragile health. Things are further complicated by Veronica’s ex-husband who has unceremoniously stopped her alimony payments and cancelled her access to credit cards. Due to her precarious financial state, she is forced to deal with an eviction back in Colorado with little or no support from her adult children.

Despite all the drama, the character development is solid and realistic as the three forge ahead on their quest. Greater insight is gained by the receipt of Rachel’s letters to her sister Jill – letters that reflect Rachel’s enchantment with India as a college student during a study year abroad. The last letter, as indicated by the book’s title, ties together all the pieces of information gathered through their travels.

While I appreciated the nuances in the developing relationship between Mariah and Veronica, the organic evolution of the bond between Veronica and Henry was the most enjoyable. Another positive aspect of the book was the evocative and colorful descriptions of the cities on their journey. These added a dimension to the storyline that enhanced the overall enjoyment.

My thanks to the author, the publisher, and NetGalley for the privilege of reviewing this book. The opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

This review is being posted immediately to my GoodReads account and will be posted on Amazon upon publication.

This book was an enjoyable and thought-provoking read that offered a rich blend of storytelling, character development, and thematic depth. The author’s writing style is engaging without being overly complicated, striking a good balance between detail . A worthwhile read.

This is my first Barbara O'Neal book but I don't think it'll be my last. Her writing is beautiful and poetic. She covers relationships, trauma, and healing in a way that's relatable and thoughtfully done. I found The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth to be one of those books that weighed heavy on my heart, but I did finished it feeling full of warmth and appreciation for the relationships in my own life.

Thank you Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the arc in exchange for an honest review.

I love Barbara O'Neal's books and this one is no exception. Barbara O’Neal has once again delivered a beautifully written novel that captivates and is filled with so many emotions that I truly recommend.

Thank you lake union and netgalley. All thoughts and opinions are my own and isn't influenced by anyone else

This is my third book by this author. Barbara O'Neal doesn't get enough credit for how beautiful her writing is, imo. This was such an emotional read but then Barbara manages to find a way to mend the heart she just trampled with her poetic words.

Mariah and Veronica come together
to trace Mariah's mother's life journey to try and find some answers to these mysteries surrounding her mother.
You Will feel like you knew these characters and went on this journey with them. The setting is written so beautifully with the scenery.

I loved this book but was left with a couple minor questions so that's why it didn't get a 5 star but it was fantastic, nonetheless. Highly recommend!!


I have a feeling this one will be so good. I loved When We Were Mermaids. Barbara O'Neal had a way with words.

Thanks to Netgalley and Lake Union Publishing for the arc in exchange for my honest review.
Expected publication: July 29,2025

The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth by Barbara O’Neal is a wonderful book about healing,loss and different kinds of trauma. I could not wait to see what was the mystery the main characters were searching for
There are three main characters: Mariah ,Rachel’s daughter who lost her mother and her career as a snowboarder, Veronica, a recently divorced woman who has problems with her exhusband and her children, and Henry a photographer and Rachel’s ex lover and friend and father figure to Mariah.
They embark on a journey looking for the Parsi cafes that Rachel wanted to write about. It takes them to Paris, Marrakech, and India. The author is so descriptive she brings the cities and food to life. I cannot recommend the book enough

I really wanted to like this, but it fell a little flat for me. I liked the concept, but it wasn't executed as well as I feel it could have been. Over halfway through I started losing interest as Veronica's problems started catching up with her and it started to pull me out of the story. Overall, great concept, but not the book for me.

Remarkable story of overcoming trauma and finding friends who become family. Mariah, coping with the recent violent loss of her famous author mom and devastating trauma of her own, hires Veronica to be her travel companion on a trip to complete her mother’s last book. Veronica has her own problems with a recent divorce leaving her financially unsteady and strained relationships with her 3 kids. Veronica and Mariah set off across the world with Henry, a father figure to Mariah and famous photographer, to delve into the world of Parsi cafes and solve the mystery Mariah’s mom left them via letters and addresses. Along the way Veronica, Henry and Mariah each reveal their own traumas and help each other as only a family can. I might have loved a deeper dive into the mystery of Rachel but the story of Mariah, Veronica and Henry kept me turning the pages for sure.

I just finished The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth by Barbara O’Neal, and I’m still thinking about it. It’s such a beautiful story about two women—Veronica, newly divorced and feeling a bit lost, and Mariah, a former athlete recovering from a life-changing injury. They team up for a journey inspired by Mariah’s late mother Rachel’s unfinished travel project, guided by her heartfelt letters.

Their adventure takes them through London, Paris, Morocco, and India, exploring Parsi cafés and uncovering pieces of Rachel’s past. The descriptions of the places and food are so vivid—I felt like I was right there with them. It’s a story about healing, friendship, and finding light after loss.

If you love emotional stories with strong female characters, a touch of mystery, and a dash of romance, this one’s for you. It’s the kind of book that stays with you long after you turn the last page.

I am a sucker for stories about people of different ages coming together, bonding and helping each other through life. They are my favorite kinds of stories to read! This story was just what I needed.

I have read all of Barbara O'Neal's books. I love them all, but this is one of my favorites. The story is very fast pace, and the characters in the book are very interesting.
Great love story is also in the book along with traveling .If you haven't read anything by this author I highly recommend.

thanks for the opportunity to read in advance.

O’Neal has a way of crafting a story that explores the complexities of relationships and their beauty while always celebrating life’s ordinary beauty . Another winner
Thanks to Netgalley and
The publisher for letting me review the book to Netgalley and the publisher

Thank you #NetGalley for the eARC of #TheLastLetterofRachelEllsworth!

Barbara O’Neal has once again delivered a beautifully written novel that wraps you in emotion and vivid detail. The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth is a heartwarming and at times bittersweet story of two women—Veronica, newly divorced and searching for purpose, and Mariah, a former Olympian grieving the loss of her mother and her identity—who find themselves on a journey neither of them expected.

Through the lens of food, travel, and letters left behind by Mariah’s mother, the novel takes readers across London, Paris, Morocco, and India in a vibrant experience. O’Neal’s descriptions are rich, and you can practically smell the spices and hear the hum of the cities. The emotional stakes are just as powerful—grief, PTSD, family tension, and rediscovery are all explored with tenderness and nuance.

Barbara O'Neal's The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth is a poignant tale of healing, self-discovery, and connection. The story follows Veronica Barrington, recently divorced and seeking a fresh start, as she becomes a travel companion to Mariah Ellsworth, a young woman grieving her mother, Rachel—a celebrated food writer. Together, they embark on a journey across continents, retracing Rachel's unfinished project through Parsi cafés in London, Paris, Morocco, and India. Guided by Rachel's letters, the duo uncovers secrets, faces their pasts, and finds light in unexpected places. O'Neal's evocative prose and rich character development make this a deeply moving read, perfect for fans of stories about friendship, family, and rediscovery.

This is my second book by Barbara O'Neal and I throughly enjoyed it.
Veronica is getting divorced and struggling to find herself in her new life, she applies for a job with Mariah and meets Henry along the way.
A lovely story about people coming to terms with loss and new identity from that loss.
Thank you Netgallery for the advance copy

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/221795630

This is the second book by this author that I've read and it was another enjoyable read. I liked how the story really brought the main characters together throughout their journey through the various countries doing research for the book to give closure to Mariah. I thought Veronica did well to carry on living her life far away from her children, especially at Christmas time. I liked how Henry came through when he needed to for both Mariah and Veronica. I thought the 3 main characters were all likeable and I enjoyed how the story ended. Thank you to NetGalley, Lake Union Publishing and Barbara O'Neal for the ARC of this book.

Barbara O’Neal has written a book that will give your senses a workout. The travel that the characters experience is filled with aroma, pinpoint details of India, Paris and other places they travel. The connection that builds between Mariah, Veronica and Henry details how a family begins. A wonderful book that you won’t want it end. Thank you NetGalley for the ARC. It’s a great one!

Thank you net gallery for this arc!

This book follows two woman in very different parts of their lives. They meet during difficult times for both of them and aren’t what either expected the other to be like. Veronica is hired by Mariah to help finish a book her mother had been working on. Through her travels, Jill sends her the letters that Mariah’s mother had written from her travels to help put the pieces together of how the ideas for the book came to be an idea along with bit of a mystery that unravels throughout the book about her mother.

The author did a great job of making you feel like you were with them during all their travels. It was such a deep read hitting on hard topics of grief, ptsd, loss, and complex family dynamics.

The bonds the woman and Henry make together made connecting to the characters so much more enjoyable. The healing journey of these two woman along with all the food discussion will have flipping for more. Highly recommended!