This thriller had me captivated right from the start. I might have anticipated some aspects of the conclusion, but that did not diminish my enjoyment.

The narrative unfolds across dual timelines and perspectives. 'Then' presents the chilling account of Chloe, who went missing 25 years ago after a harrowing incident that left her two best friends dead. Her haunting story details her experiences while held captive. In contrast, 'Now' is told from the viewpoint of Frankie, her cousin who feels more like a sister. Frankie has clung to Chloe’s memory over the years and is overjoyed when Chloe finally returns home. However, it becomes evident that Chloe harbors dark secrets that threaten to unravel everything for both of them.

Overall, this was a fast-paced, twisty thriller that made for an engaging read. While I did find some elements predictable, the swift narrative kept me invested. I would rate it around mid-tier in my personal rankings. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you Steph Nelson ( @stephnelsonauthor ), Ticking Clock Press, and NetGalley ( @netgalley ) for allowing me to read Last One Out: A Thriller early (out May 1, 2025).

This thriller had me hooked from the first page. I did guess part of the ending, but wasn’t at all disappointed. l, in fact, I was glad that I had prepared myself and found the end to be fitting.

This book was written in dual timelines and points of view. “Then” is narrated by Chloe, the girl who went missing 25 years ago after being ambushed with her two best friends (they were killed). She explains what happened to her while being held captive. “Now” is narrated by her cousin (more like a sister) Frankie. Frankie has held on to Chloe’s memory and is elated when Chloe returns home. Only in the end does Frankie realize that Chloe is holding onto secrets that could destroy them both.

From the author’s notes—TW: violence, coarse language, off page child trafficking, and non-explicit references to pedophilia.

#LastOneOutAThriller #NetGalley #StephNelson #TickingClockPress

Last One Out by Steph Nelson is a twisted and heart-braking thriller full of secrets, suspense and dark events with an end that will skyrocket your blood pressure! This was just something!
The book starts strong and sparks interest in the first chapter. I was so invested in finding out what was happening and what would happen.
The story is told in the present with chapters from the past that will slowly build the picture with devastating events 25 years ago. The end twist came out of nowhere and took me absolutely by surprise. Oh my, oh my!

25 years ago, Chloe disappeared, and her two friends were found dead. There is no witness, and no one knows what happened in that dark August night.
Chloe's cousin, Frankie, never gave up looking for Chloe. She believes Chloe is somewhere out there.
When Chloe unexpectedly appears in her own annual memorial event, Frankie hopes she will finally get answers about what happened 25 years ago, but unfortunately, Chloe suffers from amnesia and has more questions than answers.
Someone out there has answers, but who? Someone is responsible for the horrific events, but who? Can Frankie get answers before it's too late?

This is a heavy read, but so good!
Many dark events could trigger some readers, so I would advise checking them out.

Steph Nelson's latest thriller reads like a stereotypical disappearance thriller, following many of the same twists and turns that we've seen in other novels. It's still a unique setting and setup, but unfortunately falls into many of the same tropes that other thrillers fall into. It's an engaging read, but one that I found myself guessing exactly what was going to happen as I read. I still found it to be a fine read, just one that wasn't as satisfying as I was hoping it would be.

This book grabbed me from the first page and didn’t let go. Last One Out is a thriller that’s sharp, gritty, and emotionally tense in all the right ways. It’s one of those stories where you know something terrible is coming, but you can’t stop turning the pages.

Steph Nelson does a great job balancing suspense with character depth. The protagonist is flawed and complex, which makes the stakes feel that much higher. You’re not just watching the plot unfold—you’re feeling it with them. And while the twists are solid (and yes, I gasped out loud at one point), what really stuck with me was the atmosphere: dark, tense, and just a little bit haunting.

If you’re into thrillers with emotional weight, layered characters, and a plot that keeps you guessing right up to the end, this one should definitely be on your radar.

Okay, I absolutely loved this book: I loved the writing, the POV, the plot, the story. This was so hard to put down I couldn’t stop turning pages. I had never heard of the author but the beautiful cover drew me in. This book is amazing. Thank you for the opportunity to read an early copy.

4.5 Stars This thriller grabs you from page one and doesn’t let go until the very end. Nelson crafts a chilling, claustrophobic atmosphere as a devastating fire traps a group of strangers inside an upscale high-rise.
Nelson does a fantastic job of balancing suspense with emotional depth, making you care who survives and why. The chapters are brisk, often ending with cliffhangers that make it impossible not to read "just one more."
The plot twists come fast and hard. The pacing is relentless — perfect for readers who love breathless, edge-of-your-seat action.

When I first received this ARC, I was so excited! I’ve heard so many amazing things about this author, and the premise of this book intrigued me instantly, and the story most definitely lived up to my expectations! This story was phenomenal, and so wonderfully written. I really love when books go back and forth between the present and the past, so that was an element of this book that I really enjoyed.

There are a few trigger warnings that I would suggest looking into before reading this book, and parts of this story were definitely hard to read. I found myself getting emotional particularly at the scenes in the past with Chloe, who was such an inspiring character who went through so much. I also loved hearing Frankie’s perspective, who was also an incredible character!

I have so much to say about this book, but I don’t want to go into too much detail to avoid spoilers. What I will say is that this is the kind of book that sucks you in from the very first page, and I literally could not put it down when I started reading. I wouldn’t recommend reading this before bed, because I guarantee you won’t be able to put it down!

There was also a surprise at the end with a bonus chapter, which was a lovely surprise, although it was definitely an emotional read. It was a great way to end an incredible story.

Thank you to NetGalley and to the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you NetGalley for an advance copy of this novel in exchange for an honest review.

4.25 stars.

This is my second book by this author and it definitely did not disappoint. The novel flips between two POV: One Then- set in 1999 when a girl is abducted, and one Now- set in current times.

This explored some hard topics but not in a way that made you want to turn away in disgust. It was delicately written and very easy to read. I flew through this book. I rated it 4.25 mainly because I was able to figure out the big twist very early on but it was still a fun read. Can not wait to read more by this author.

An excellent read for any and all readers! Author comes at you with both barrels and knocks you out of your shoes! Great job fleshing out all the characters. I give this book FIVE stars! Definitely recommend!

I was gifted an ARC of this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Wow, what a gripping read! From the very first chapter, I was hooked on the mystery of Chloe Webster’s disappearance—and her shocking return. Twenty-five years after vanishing without a trace on the night two of her friends were murdered, Chloe’s sudden reappearance at her own memorial event is chilling, emotional, and instantly raises a thousand questions.

The author did an incredible job building tension and layering the story with twists that kept me guessing. I especially loved Frankie’s character—her loyalty, heartbreak, and growing doubt felt so real and relatable. Watching her struggle between wanting to believe in her cousin and needing to uncover the truth made for a really compelling emotional core.

Chloe’s memory loss (or is it something more?) added a great psychological edge, and the cryptic messages sprinkled throughout had me flipping pages late into the night. The pacing was mostly excellent, although I found a few parts in the middle slowed down a bit with repetitive reflections. However, the payoff at the end made it worth it.

If you love twisty family dramas with dark secrets and a strong emotional pull, this book is definitely one to add to your TBR. I’ll absolutely be watching for more from this author!

Thank you, Steph Nelson, and Netgalley for this great opportunity.

First of all, this is a dual timeline narrative so paying attention to little details is key in my opinion.

The story follows Chloe Webster and her cousin Frankie.
Chloe mysteriously vanishes on the night of her two friends were brutally murdered at some isolated hot spring back in 1999, where they had wondered off into the woods.
Honestly everyone believed she was dead except for her cousin Frankie who deeply believed that, that wasn't true.
Chloe suddenly appears at her very own memorial event with absolutely no recollection of the night she disappeared or her life beforehand.
Frankie on the other hand is completely determined to seek the truth about what had happened to Chloe, as she glad to have Chloe back but things change when Frankie starts receiving messages hinting that Chloe may know a lot more than she's letting on.
Frankie ends up concerned that the truth may be more terrifying than she would care to imagine.
Their relationship is one based off love and the shared trauma that changed them that fateful night.

The novel truly has a good balance of suspense and emotional depth.
It's genuinely a compelling read as it questions the reliability of memory and just how far someone is willing to go to get closure.

Two teen girls are found dead and one remains missing. 25 years later a woman who claims to be the missing girl, Chloe, reappears but she doesn’t remember what her life was like before. Her cousin Frankie tries to help recover her memory by taking her to places and telling her stories of their childhood / teenage years. The story is told through the POVs of Frankie and Chloe and alternates between the past while Chloe was held captive and the present. I really enjoyed being able to read in both of their perspective’s.

I’ve read all of Steph Nelson’s books and have loved the majority of them. This one did not disappoint and is my favorite she’s written. It includes dark themes and at times it’s difficult to read through all the heartbreaking and inhuman things some of the characters confess having done in the past.

Even though the majority of plot twist were predictable very early on in the story I still really liked this book. I felt so much sadness for Chloe having to go through everything she went through including watching her best friends die and being pregnant while being kidnapped. It was heart wrenching but beautiful to see how much determination and grit to survive Chloe got from her baby.

The confessions of “Bill” and one of the other person that worked with “Bill” were all very gruesome, heinous, and not easy to read about. This particular character and “Bill” were both equally disgusting. It’s scary how long they were able to get away with what they had done for so long. I hated both of them.

Chloe and Frankie were my favorite characters. I didn’t like Jensen due to the way he treated Frankie but I started to like his character towards the very end of the book.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book is very tense and compelling. While I had one part of the "twist" figured out almost from the beginning, I definitely didn't know all of it and I was shocked and surprised. I was surprised that after 25 years Frankie (Chloe's cousin) was still seemingly obsessed with Chloe's disappearance and presumed death. Not that I think you should ever stop looking for a loved but Frankie went so far as to buy the house Chloe once lived in and it seemed weird and a little over the top to me.

While parts of this book felt YA, there are definitely parts that didn't and I suggest that readers check trigger warnings before checking this one out. I enjoyed this book and read it rather quickly. For me it had a satisfying ending and I'll definitely look forward to more from this author in the future.

Thank you to NetGalley and Ticking Clock Press for access to the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was fortunate to get the ARC copy from the publisher and it did not disappoint.

When Chloe goes missing and two of her friends are killed, Frankie is beside herself. But then Chloe shows up at her own memorial event years later..

Told from multiple view points, this is a classic twisty thriller that keeps you guessing. The pacing is really good to draw you in but keep the plot interesting.

I couldn't give it 5 stars because I was a bit disappointed in how naive Frankie is especially when she's a grown woman. I believe the author wants us to see Frankie as in being in denial and overly hopefully but for me it was annoying.

This book jumps between Chloe and her cousin Frankie. With Chloe off to a secluded pool with 2 friends, and Frankie many years later . Frankie hasn’t been able to move on from Chloe’s disappearance.
What starts as a predictable missing girl story twists and turns towards a satisfying ending.
For me it felt a little short, and what is a really good story seemed rushed at times hence the 3 stars.

This was a fast paced twisty thriller. It made for a pretty quick read. It was, however, a little bit predictable. I would say that places this around mid-tier for me personally.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Incredible read!!

Major trigger warning for those sensitive to abuse, rape, etc.

This book took off on page one and didn't stop til the very end! I enjoyed the multiple perspectives from the characters and the plot twists just didn't stop!!

Must read!!

Thank you NetGalley for early access!

I don’t know why I’m hesitant to write this review, I genuinely love Steph Nelson’s writing and her stray from the “usual” storylines. I wasn’t even expecting a new one from Nelson and I was excited when I saw it up for review! I don’t want to say I’m “disappointed”, only that “The Last One Out” didn’t live up to the quality I’ve read in her other stories. I would’ve loved to see this story expanded on in the beginning, but nonetheless.

The Last One Out follows cousins, Frankie and Chloe, who- despite the age difference, are close friends. This dual timeline, dual POV centers on the disappearance of Chloe 25 years ago and Frankie’s persistence to keep her memory alive in hopes she’ll find her and/or closure.

The pacing was fine, the switching POVs was easy to follow, I just felt like there were too many details explained by the narrator versus subtly mentioned. It interrupted the flow- but I’m not an author and can’t imagine how hard it is to add the details without an immediate explanation. The story requires the reader to suspend belief and immerse themself in the story being told and not the distance from reality. I would give this 3.5 stars, rounded down for GR. Overall, I’m thankful to NetGalley and Ticking Clock Press for the ARC.

Three girls are out in a very isolated place, two of them get killed, one of them gets kidnapped. No one knows what happened to Chloe, but her cousin Frankie won’t give up. 25 years later, Chloe suddenly reappears at her own memorial, or does she?

I’m going to be honest, without the second part, I probably would have hated this book, but I realise now that all those things that were driving me insane were actually here on purpose. Chloe was kind of a walking red flag; when we meet her again, you can’t help but wonder a few things :

- Total amnesia is very convenient when you want to make sure you don’t make mistakes like not remembering something or someone you should.
- Chloe or the police not looking for missing persons for that long to try to find out who she is was a bit infuriating and unbelievable.
- We have POVs from Chloe from the past, but not from the present; everything is through Frankie’s POV.

The second part does have moments when you need to suspend belief (but that’s often the case in thrillers), but it works anyway. I did see who the bad guy (well, one of them really) was from the start because when you have a teenager in Chloe’s situation at the beginning of the book? That guy was the most likely option. I liked the twist because it turns the thriller into a very touching revenge story. Chloe and Frankie are family; they love each other a lot, and that’s something you see throughout the whole book.

One thing that could have been better? The secondary characters. Jensen is absolutely useless; he doesn’t really serve any purpose in the story. The two girls who were killed? They don’t really get fleshed out; they only exist to make the case even more gruesome.

Overall, super entertaining with touching main characters. I also appreciate that the very triggering topics (which you can find at the beginning of the book) are handled in such a good way, proof that you don’t need graphic details to make your story heartbreaking and believable.