Thank you, NetGalley and Saint Martin’s press for this ARC. I have to start by saying I am obsessed with any books that have vampires in their story. This book was refreshing and I was thoroughly obsessed with the character William, who is a vampire that wakes and learns to find out that he is the last of his kind. I love his relationship to Lorena. The characters were amazing. The plot twist was awesome. I loved the atmospheric Gothic vibes throughout thus book! If you were a fan of Twilight or Crave, I think you will thoroughly enjoy this book because I certainly did!!

I absolutely love the cover, the story not so much. It started out well and just fell apart for me. Nothing new storywise by kind of icky with the girl / vampire age gap. Thanks to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book

This book was so much fun to read. I am an OG twilight fan (buying the next book the day it came out, reading it in one sitting, that kind of obsessed) and I feel like this was Twilight but BETTER.

Didn't really care for this one. I'm usually a sucker (no pun intended, LOL) for vampire novels, but this one didn't do it for me. I enjoyed seeing Lorena and Salma's friendship, but Lorena's romance, if it can be called that, with the vampire really fell flat to me. The fact that she spent half the novel fearing he would kill her didn't really make it a romance I wanted to root for.

Thank you to NetGalley for the free review copy.

Thank you Netgalley and Wednesday Books for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Romina Garber’s “The Last Vampire” is a gothic, dark academia-inspired paranormal romance that breathes new life into the well-trodden vampire genre. Equal parts haunting, introspective, and romantic, this YA book follows Lorena Navarro as she navigates the pressures of a controlling, influencer mother, an unraveling friendship, and a dangerously charming vampire who just might be the last of his kind.

The story begins when Lorena and her best friend Salma arrive at a prestigious boarding school housed in a sprawling Victorian manor. What begins as a teenage act of rebellion quickly spirals into the extraordinary: they stumble upon a coffin hidden in a restricted wing of the school and accidentally awaken William Pride, a centuries-old vampire who’s been in a death-sleep for hundreds of years. Hungry, disoriented, and completely unfamiliar with the modern world, William latches onto Lorena, both literally and emotionally, as she becomes his reluctant guide to 21st-century life.

At first glance, “The Last Vampire” may seem like just another teen vampire romance, but Garber makes some thoughtful choices that sidestep the ickier tropes of the genre. William may be centuries old, but he’s biologically 19 and spent most of his undead years asleep, avoiding the unsettling dynamic of a 500-year-old stalking high school girls. His relationship with Lorena feels more balanced, evolving from wary alliance to reluctant trust to slow-burn romance, with a delightful enemies-to-lovers spark that calls to mind classic literary dynamics—though comparisons to Pride and Prejudice may be a bit of a stretch.

Lorena is the standout here. She’s complex, flawed, and emotionally rich—a teenager wrestling with identity, independence, and public scrutiny thanks to her mother’s social media fame. Garber uses her character to explore real and relevant issues: toxic online culture, parental overreach, and the struggle to assert your own voice in the noise. Lorena’s growth is one of the book’s greatest strengths. William’s arc is less compelling in comparison; while his fish-out-of-water perspective is charming, his development feels static next to Lorena’s evolution.

The book’s atmosphere is a major selling point. The gothic setting, complete with crumbling architecture, hidden libraries, and mysterious portraits, pairs beautifully with the slow, suspenseful tone. Fans of dark academia romances will feel right at home here. However, the pacing is a mixed bag. The first half drags with repetitive interactions and underdeveloped side plots, while the second half races toward a dramatic conclusion, leaving some character arcs and worldbuilding feeling rushed or underbaked.

The supporting cast is hit-or-miss. Lorena’s best friend Salma has some strong moments, but their relationship is strained and not always believable. Tiffany, their roommate, is especially grating and adds more drama than depth. Fortunately, the romance between Lorena and William carries enough emotional weight to ground the story, even when some side characters fall flat.

At its core, “The Last Vampire” is about loneliness, identity, and finding connection in a world that seems intent on keeping you isolated. It’s a vampire story, yes, but it’s also a coming-of-age tale about two people—one undead, one emotionally stifled—learning how to live.

While “The Last Vampire” isn’t without its flaws, namely uneven pacing and some lackluster side characters, it succeeds in offering a refreshing take on the vampire romance genre. With a richly atmospheric setting, a thoughtful protagonist, and a surprisingly tender romance, this book will resonate with readers who crave emotion-driven storytelling with a gothic twist. If you’ve ever had a Twilight phase or enjoy academic rivals-to-lovers drama with a supernatural edge, “The Last Vampire” is worth sinking your teeth into.

*Thank you to St. Martin's Press, the author and Netgalley for providing me with a E-ARC of "The Last Vampire" in exchange for an honest review *

This was mood and gothic and lovely.

Before even starting The Last Vampire, I saw some reviews saying this book was on the slower side when it came to pacing, so I went in with mixed expectations. And, after reading it myself, the slow pacing was unfortunately one of my biggest takeaways as well. Much of this story takes place over just a few months, but with everything going on with our main characters, it felt like those few months should have been years.

I did end up enjoying this story; it’s billed as Pride & Prejudice meets Crave, and while I would say the Tracy Wolff series is a heavier influence on this book, I can definitely see how both books influenced The Last Vampire. As someone who usually prefers my vampire romances on the adult (read: explicit) side, I still found a lot of reasons to love the chemistry between Lore and William. This romance was all fade-to-black/off page, but Garber gives readers a good tease to keep us turning the page. The real strength in Lorena and William’s relationship stemmed from their antagonistic behavior towards each other throughout most of their time together. I loved their back and forth, their taunting that slowly morphed into flirtation. Both main characters were on a journey that took them out of the shadows; for Lore, that meant finding her own path instead of defining her life by her friend’s choices and her mother’s notoriety. For William, that meant learning how to be a modern-day vampire in a world where you feel utterly alone.

As much as I thought the pacing dragged, I did love the message beyond the surface characterizations. Lorena faced a lot of challenges: public scrutiny, parental disapproval, losing the closeness she once had with her best friend. Of course life threw a vampire her way, someone who felt just as out of place and alone in their shared reality. Lorena definitely had the stronger character development here; even as William went from indifferent to Lorena, using her as a means to an end, to caring for her deeply, I found very little different about his personality. Lore, though, grew as her allegiances changed and she found her own footing as a young adult.

The Last Vampire was a tale about finding your own footing when you feel alone in a strange world. While the pacing lagged a bit, I loved the overall message and the journey Lorena and William went on. William’s character could easily stand in for any archetype that’s ever been ostracized from their home, only to find community when they were at their loneliest. A lot of readers will find relatable parts in both William and Lorena, even if the story takes a little bit longer than necessary to get to that happy ending.

Unfortunately, The Last Vampire just didn’t work for me. I went in really excited because the concept sounded right up my alley: vampires, mystery, and a potentially rich paranormal world. But in the end, it felt like the story never quite found its footing.

The pacing dragged in some places and then jumped ahead in others, which made it hard to stay grounded. I had a tough time connecting with the main character. Their decisions often felt inconsistent or emotionally flat. The dialogue also didn’t feel natural at times, which pulled me out of the story.

I really wanted to love this, but it just didn’t click for me. That said, I do think it will appeal to readers who enjoy more introspective or philosophical takes on vampire lore.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. All opinions are my own.

The Last Vampire by Romina Garber is a thrilling, high-stakes, gothic romance, and I absolutely adored it!

The story follows Lorena Navarro as she enters a newly opened victorian-mansion-turned-boarding-school. While exploring with her friends, she finds an old coffin, and accidentally awakens the world's last vampire, William Pride.

After waking up from centuries of sleep, William wants to find out if there are any other vampires left, but he is clueless about the modern world. He blackmails Lorena into giving him blood, and teaching him how to fit in and navigate the new world he's found himself in.

Soon, they unravel a terrible secret---William is the last hope for his species, and will have to choose between fulfilling his destiny or saving the humans around him.

Lorena and William both felt like interesting characters, although I would have liked to hear a bit more about William's life before he was turned. Lorena, on the other hand, was exactly what I want my main characters to be like---fun, likable, and complex.

There were a few issues with the pacing and the writing style of this book. The entire first half felt unbelievably slow, whereas the second half absolutely FLEW by. The change in pace was so dramatic that I almost got whiplash. When I picked the book back up, it felt like a whole new story.
In addition to this, the friendships in this novel, specifically the ones between Lorena, Salma, and Tiffany, were unhealthy and unlikable. I feel like a lot of the pacing issues could have been solved by removing all this drama. I also have to mention the fact that the school itself felt two-dimensional and flaky, like it was only there so that all the characters could all be in the same place.

Don't think that these issues took anything away from the book! It is a testament to how good the story is that I found myself not caring about the pacing or the unrealistic school. If you've had a Twilight phase, chances are this book will be right up your alley.

This book was ok it gave me twilight vibes. I didn't realize it was YA which I don't really read. I would recommend this for vampire lovers

Thank you to NetGalley and St Martins Press for an ARC of this book, I do love a good Vampire story and am of the Twilight era, so was super excited to read this. I do think it’s aimed at a slightly younger audience, but I still enjoyed it. The start of the book is a little slower, picks up pace around the middle of the book and overall, has a good premise that will keep you entertained. I personally enjoyed the gothic, paranormal and humor of this book and found it to be a quick read.

If I read The Last Vampire at the same age I became fixated on Twilight, I would’ve read this one even more times than that iconic series. It really captures a nice twist on classic vampire stories while also bringing a captivating romance. It delivers exactly what I’d expect for this subgenre and for that reason I loved it. The writing was good, plot intriguing, and it kept me so interested I finished it in one sitting.

Deducting a few points for the friendships in this one. The relationships between Lorena, Salma, and Tiffany felt immature and at times volatile. It didn’t feel healthy and it distracted a lot from the overall story.

I like like this story. It was an interesting vampire romance. A group go into the place that they can't and find a secret place with a coffin. I like that the human girl and vampire do not fall in love quickly. He keeps trying to kill her and she is scared with a real reaction. They fall in love and it was nice to see it happen slow. It's a nice story.

I definitely had my Twilight phase as a young teen (I mean, didn’t we all?). So going into this academy-setting vampire book, I was expecting something very Twilight-esque. I was pleasantly surprised by how much better this was.

Let’s be real—I read romantasy for three reasons:
1. I want to feel for the characters.
Whether I’m laughing or crying, I need to be emotionally invested. And I definitely got attached to Lorena and William as they fought against their feelings. I was almost brought to tears by the decision Lorena makes at the end—and then actually brought to tears by what William does with it.

2. I want to be immersed in a fantasy world.
Even though this book takes place in the human world, the deep vampire history added a rich, otherworldly layer. I appreciated how the story explored themes like how history can be rewritten or erased. The depth of the vampire community gave me the fantasy element I craved, even outside a traditional fantasy setting.

3. I need a swoon-worthy romance.
I want a couple that makes me believe they’ll last beyond the final page (because let’s be honest, not all of them do). Lorena and William were so cute, and I loved how their personalities balanced each other. Their Shakespeare club and literature class debates? Absolute gold.
The plot itself was solid, though I’ll admit it got a little too twisty at times. There was a lot going on, and it could be hard to keep track of everything. But overall, it didn’t take away too much from my enjoyment.


This book had everything I want in a romantasy: emotional tension, unique worldbuilding, a compelling romance, and bonus—dual POVs (my favorite!). 4/5 stars to The Last Vampire—and I’ll definitely be picking up whatever Romina Garber writes next.

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for this arc in exchange for an honest review.

I enjoyed this one! There were times when the pacing felt a little off but overall, it was a nice read. I loved the concept of William missing out on things and needing to learn all that had happened since he was last awake and the vampire x human girl definitely took me back to my beloved teen days where we were all obsessed with TVD and twilight. I also think the intertwining of teen issues and just real life ones was well done in this story and authentic. I’m not sure if this is supposed to be a standalone or series but I’m really hoping the latter, as I’d love to have more.

What a fun gothic read! I love all things vampire, gothic, and academia. Thank you netgalley for this unique e-arc!

This was a pretty good. I read it found it was different and fun and also unique. I enjoyed the vampire human aspect of the book. Thanks for letting me read this book.

The Last Vampire takes place in a boarding school that feels more like an eerie, brooding manor—steeped in gothic romance and mystery. Only a select few students are invited to attend, and the school operates under strict rules, isolation, and an abundance of forbidden places. Our main character, Lorena, arrives with her best friend, who’s basically Wednesday Addams reincarnated. They’re roomed with a snarky, Barbie-like classmate, and the three quickly form a friend group with two boys—five teens who clearly aren’t going to follow the rules. But Lorena soon finds herself singled out, and what she uncovers is far more than she expected.

We also follow William, the male lead, who wakes up in a world he doesn't understand with a burning need for blood. He’s confused, alone, and completely unprepared for what the world he's suddenly found himself in.

I was really excited for this book—I grew up loving vampire stories and feel like there just aren’t enough quality ones out there anymore. At first, I was really enjoying it. It was fun, a bit cute, and I found myself eager to see what would unfold between the main characters. The tone did feel a little immature at times, but I reminded myself it’s targeted at a younger audience. I think younger me would’ve enjoyed this more.

That said, the pacing eventually started to lose its grip. What began as a compelling premise started to feel diluted with unexpected plot turns that didn’t always feel necessary. I think if the story had slowed down a bit and focused more on the romance, it really could have shined.

Also worth noting: it gets a bit spicy. As much as I’d love to recommend this to middle school readers, I wouldn’t feel comfortable doing so. A version without the spice would’ve made it a much stronger fit for that age group.

Thanks to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review!

*Thank you to NetGalley for the digital ARC of this book*

It's definitely a modern-day Gothic read. Lorena comes across as an average 18 year old for the most part, but some parts of the book feel a bit Mary Sue. I absolutely loved the book as a whole, I could not stop reading until the end, but I feel like her Castle of the Cursed comes off as a stronger read

Thank you for the opportunity to read this book early!

I loved the premise of this book, (Pride and prejudice meets Crave) but I have some mixed feelings about it. I didn't get a lot of the Pride and Prejudice vibes. I really thought the world was interesting- the idea that vampires were a known part of our world that were pretty much erased from history. I thought the school/academy setting was very cool with the gothic vibes. The characters were pretty well developed, and I was interested in Lorena and her relationships.

A lot of the storytelling veered on cringe to me (dialog especially). The romantic scenes didn't work for me but overall, I did enjoy reading and I was interested in the overall story arc.

As for the Crave aspect I did get those vibes and Twilight vibes, but this one was nearly as fast paced to me as those other reads. It did have the fun high school vibes.

I would read more in this world, and I was interested in the story just some of the aspects didn't work for me (but I do think a younger audience would like it more?)