Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for providing an eARC in exchange for an honest review.
Release Date: November 5th, 2019
205 Pages
Synopsis: It all started out as a game.
Just a way to have fun. We figured as long as we had rules, it wouldn’t be a problem.
Rule #1: Only break into one another’s houses.
Rule #2: Only take stuff that can be replaced.
It worked for a while. Whoever’s turn it was to break in got a rush, and the rest of us got a laugh over the trophies they brought back. But then someone went too far. Lives got ruined. Someone is dead.
And I might be next.
The Last to Die is one of those books that I dread reviewing because while it’s not a stellar read, neither is it so horrible that I can vent by ranting. No, it falls somewhere in the middle and has me feeling a bit frustrated.
My first issue is with the characters who I couldn’t relate to at all. I know what you’re thinking. “But Kim. These are teens and aren’t you in your 50s?” Okay. First, thanks for the reminder of my advancing years. Second, as most of you know I read and review a fair few of YA novels and there have been plenty where I related to the characters. With this story I tried. I really, really, REALLY tried. But alas, despite my best efforts I couldn’t sum up any strong feelings toward these teens except for extreme dislike. Harper and the others are cookie cutter characters who display the worst personality traits that many adults attribute to teenagers. While I don’t have to like a character(s) to enjoy a book, these are completely bland and shallow with no intriguing layers or depths to them. There is one exception and that’s Harper’s younger sister Maggie, who’s deaf. I loved her, but unfortunately she’s a minor character.
I did find the plot interesting, which is what saved the book for me. The mystery is a tad predictable, as is the final outcome, but I still enjoyed the way events unfolded. The pacing is consistently fast and this coupled with the book’s short length, makes this an easy and quick read.
Overall, I don’t think The Last to Die quite lived up to its potential. However, this is the debut by author Kelly Garrett, and I did enjoy it enough that I will most likely check out her next book.
By Hook Or By Book 
Ah well, can’t win them all I suppose. 😕 at least I don’t have to put this on my list 😃
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You can safely miss this Fraggle.
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Looking up to you. I signed up for NetGalley 🤭 and this was the first book i saw. Thank God
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You saved me from disaster. I accidentally pressed the send button. Butterfingers😤, now all I need to do is read my first ever online book. Suggest me a good one, please. If I try, it will end up being a disaster and then I will uninstall my kindle acc and back to the old world.
Sorry, you didn’t like the book. Hope the next one turns out amazing. 🙂✌💙
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I enjoyed Only Mostly Devastated, Foul is Fair and The Fowl Twins, and they’re all still available for request on NetGalley.
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Awesome thank you, Kimmy. See now you have started inspiring people like me. 🙂✌💙💙
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This has received from positive reviews on Goodreads but for me the story wasn’t quite enough to overcome the lack of character development.
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Looks like this story turned out a headache for you. That reminds me how are you?? Is your health okay??
Haven’t checked it on good reads yet but I will soon. I am not fond of any weird stories like this too. Dw next one will be amazing. You will forget the migraine this one gave you. 🙂✌💙😜
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It was aggravating because it had the potential to be a spectacular read. But c’est la vie. You can’t have everything be perfect. I’m doing okay. Just nursing an autumn cold. How about you? Are you all recovered?
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Some books turn up like that. I had a horror novel go bad. It was called Almost Dark. I expected so much from it and ended up wasting $ 1.78 on that garbage. I have reviewed it. if you want to know how it went check out my blog.
Ahhh cold. The disastrous thing that makes you talk like a worm. I hate it. I hope you feel good soon. You should try some cinnamon tea it feels pretty good down the throat. I am not yet fully recovered that’s why i am putting up stupid and weird posts. 😤ruining my blog😠😔🧐
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I was initially attracted by the comment on the book cover, ‘A twisty puzzle of a mystery’, as you know I do love a twist.
However, given your fair review, I will definitely not bother.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Beyond it being a YA novel, I have a feeling you’d be frustrated by the character development as well Pete.
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I agree with you! Anyone can be relatable. We’re all human beings. But, when characters are written in an almost stock fashion or as a compilation of only annoying traits… It’s hard to like them!
I’m glad that you at least liked the book enough to give the author another chance!
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Thanks Nicole. There was just enough about the story that I liked, that I’ll give her another shot.
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I feel like “You just can’t relate to there characters because they’re X and you’re not” is a bit of a cop out critique of your critique. A skilled writer can make any character relatable because there are ubiquitous things that nearly everyone can latch onto. One of my favorite series is An Ember in the Ashes, which is a YA, not to mention Hunger Games. It sounds like this book used stereotypical teens instead of legit characters, so of course they’re going to be hard to relate to.
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Thankfully that was a bit of tongue-in-cheek on my part, because so far no one has actually said that in response to one of my reviews.
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