I honestly don't have enough words to describe how wonderful this book was. The title alone gives you some indication about the plot, but it is so much more. Make sure you have a box of tissues, because you will need them, but you won't want put the book down until you find out what will happen between Beckett and Ella.
The letters that they write each other are placed so perfectly at the beginning of the chapters that you feel as if you are experiencing the beginning of their relationship right along with them. This book will rip your heart out, sew it up, tear it open again and then sew it up again.
Ella was probably one of the strongest female characters I have read in a long time. Not only did life give her lemons, but they were rotten lemons. Not only did she lose her parents, grandparents and her brother, but she gets some horrific news about one of her children. She fights as hard as she can to have a happy outcome for her child, but just when she thinks everything will be ok, life throws her the cruelest curveball yet.
Beckett is best friends with Ella's brother, and her pen pal, Chaos. When her brother, Ryan, dies in combat, he feels guilty (that story is ridiculously sad) and stops conversing with Ella. She thinks that both Ryan and Chaos died. When he finally opens Ryan's Last Letter, he goes to his hometown to help Ella in any way that she will let him. The man who had no family growing up is suddenly realizing what it is to have family, even if it is on borrowed time.
The twists and turns turns this story takes, not only with Beckett and Ella's relationship, but with his relationship with the kids and his final decision to stay or go back to the military; as well as, how he helps Ella take care of her child/children will leave you wanting your own Beckett. What happens at the end of the book was so heartbreaking, yet she wrapped up the emotions they all were experiencing so well that it felt like your heart was healing. I only wish that there was one more chapter from Beckett's point of view at the end, but that might be because I have a little crush on him.
I highly recommend this book and can't wait to read whatever Ms. Yarros writes next.
I received an ARC in exchange for an honest, voluntary review.

The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros is as much a heartbreaking as it is heartwarming contemporary romance. For anyone not familiar what the title, The Last Letter, is referring to the book is about a soldier who was killed in duty leaving a letter to be read after his death.

Beckett and Ryan were best friends serving together in the military with both men not having much in the way of family. Ryan did have his sister back home though and seeing Beckett with no one to communicate with he set up Ella and Beckett as pen pals. When Ryan was killed in active duty he left his last letter to his best friend asking him to take care of Ella.

Ella is a single mother to twins, a boy and a girl that she lives her life for and would do anything to protect. Having been left alone and pregnant and her only family left in her brother that joined the military Ella has had to fight to get where she is in life. Now Ella is also fighting for her daughter’s life when she’s diagnosed with cancer.

The story in this one actually begins with briefly showing Beckett and Ryan serving and the letters to Ella beginning but then heads to Beckett’s arrival in Telluride in the present time. As the chapters begin happening in the present readers still get to read the letters written in the past between the chapters to get the backstory of how Beckett, Ryan and Ella all came to know one another.

The title alone hints of this being an emotional story but even with that hint I wasn’t prepared for just how emotional it really was. Needless to say a box of tissues needs to be on hand while reading this book and each time you think the roller coaster of emotions is going to end it heads back up the hill to come crashing down yet again. I was hooked on every single page of this one and would highly recommend buckling up for the emotional ride.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

Really enjoyed this book. I would most definitely recommend. Would like to read more by the same author, thank you Net galley for letting me read this book.

Wow.. im not sure i can do a review that will do justice for this beautifully emotional written book! Beckett has pretty much scooted any of this author's other men characters out of the top spot. Beckett, gosh i loved his character. He is such a true friend to Ryan and keeping his promises and that dog of his Havoc. Gosh she was a hoot.. loved her. Reminded me a simdge of my dog but my dog doesn't follow commands that well. But she's fiercely protective. 😂🤷‍♀️ Ella was such a strong character despite everything life was hitting her with. I loved how she never gave up she just kept fighting and fighting, refusing to be defeated. I can't not bring up the kiddos, Colt and Maisie.. These two were the sweetest and funniest children ever. They made me laugh so much but they also made me so proud because despite everything they were so well mannered.. This book wrecked me in the best way. I sobbed a few times. Totally worth any tears i shed. I really enjoyed how this book turned out and how the author put everything together. I can without a doubt can't wait for another book by her.

Oh boy this story pulls at all your heartstrings. Ella wants a pen pal, just someone to tell her stories to so her brother Ryan gave her letter to a pal of his Chaos who could use one. Ryan and Chaos are in Special Forces and they don’t get attached to anyone because they never know when it would be their last day but Chaos reads Ella’s letter and decides to write her back. An easy friendship develops and Ella explains her children to Chaos and he tells her about his childhood. When Ella is told her brother Ryan is killed in action and she doesn’t hear from Chaos she assumes the worst, that they both had been killed and Chaos can’t bring himself to read her following letters knowing it’s his fault Ryan is dead. When Beckett shows up at her B & B and pays to stay for seven months she is very attracted to him but she has so much going on in her life she doesn’t dare get involved but Beckett is determined to win her over even though he is hiding a lot of secrets. Ella hates lies and Beckett is full of them but not how he feels about her and I think you will love this story as much as I did.

What an amazing read! I was completely grabbed from the beginning. Such a beautiful story about friendship, love, strength and forgiveness. The chemistry was palpable and their connection unique and everlasting. I highly recommend this book.

This is hands down the best book I've read this year.
I am currently processing, but I feel it deserves an immediate review. I was crying at the beginning and I just finished crying at the end.
I'm not even sure I can put into words how I feel about this story. My words can't do these words justice. Yarros is so good at giving you real. Real love, real heartbreak, real life.
Sure, there's a love story, sure there's great chemistry, but it's not even about that. This story is so big in so many ways.

You'll fall fast and hard for all of these characters. If you have kids, you'll strive to be more like Ella. I loved Beckett and the twins were perfection. Let's not forget Havoc, the dog.
This story is real and raw and I hope you love it as much as I did. I hope you'll read it and appreciate all the things you take for granted daily.

"Love - when it was right - was enough to save you."

This story will be on my mind for days to come.

A compelling, heartbreaking story of loss, enduring hardships and finding love. This book will rip your heart out and you will need tissues! But it’s beautifully written and the relationships between the characters are well developed and realistic. Overall, a great read.

I can't believe I'm giving a "chick lit" book 5 stars, but that's exactly what I'm doing. Holy mother of God, what an amazing book! It's an ugly cry kind of book, with more emotion packed into it than should be legal. Rebecca Yarros managed to take every possible tragedy and weave it into something beautiful. It took all of 30 seconds to suck me in and get me entirely invested in each and every character. I honestly couldn't get enough of any of them, and I am desperate for their stories to continue. I have never wanted a book to keep on going forever more than this one. If you can stand to experience every emotion imaginable, then have your heart ripped out and stomped on with combat boots, you have to read this book. You won't regret it!

**I received a copy of The Last Letter from Entangled Amara and Net Galley in exchange for a voluntary and honest review**

The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros will have you in tears, laughter and your heart will be full of love and happiness for Ella, Maisie, Colt, Beckett, Ryan (who brings them all together), Havoc, Ada, Larry and Emma who Colt protects to the very end. If you read one book this year make it The Last Letter and grab your tissues because you'll need them. Hopefully Hailey who is truly Ella's right hand will get her story in the future.

Ella Mackenzie offers to write pen pal letters to one of the men in her brother Ryan's platoon. She's raising five year old twins by herself all while running a luxury year round resort in Telluride, CO. Little does she realize that she'll bring love, laughter and the one thing that Beckett "Chaos" Gentry a family. But will the truth he withholds cause Ella to push him away when she will need him the most? Maisie has Neuroblastoma and needs a very expensive treatment that Beckett can pay for if he gives her his insurance and I love how Ms. Yarros gave Colt the ability to keep Maisie's spirits up throughout all of her treatments but will he give her the ultimate sacrifice?

Beckett Gentry grew up in foster homes and it's where he earned his nickname of Chaos as trouble seems to follow him. He yearned for a permanent family which he'll find in the Army special ops with his Lab Havoc when Ryan tells him that his sister is willing to write him he'll take awhile to finally write back. It will these letters that will give both of them the support they both need to get through the loss of Ryan and cancer treatments that Maisie will go through. He'll also help out with Havoc with the Telluride Search and Rescue but the hardest one he'll go to may also be the worst.

READ this book please and then re-read again because I plan too and I thank Entangled Amara and Ms. Yarros for writing a wonderful book.

Damn, I wanted her. Wanted every aspect of her—her laughter, her tears, her kids, her body, her heart. I wanted everything.

Wow. This definitely wasn’t the first Rebecca Yarros book to pummel my heart but I think it’s earned top honors in that regard. When the thing that’s “tearing her family apart”, as mentioned in the blurb, is revealed in the first few chapters, I was like oh no. I honestly wasn’t sure if I even wanted to read the rest. Some things are just too sad and that particular topic is definitely one of them. But I soldiered on and even though that journey was heart-wrenching, there were a lot of really great moments. If you’re looking to swoon, Beckett Gentry will totally melt you. He was fantastic, I 100% loved him and was completely blown away with his dedication and love for Ella and her family. His steadfast support and the way he was just always there for them was truly wonderful, it helped make the sad parts a little more bearable even knowing that Beckett was carrying a secret that had the potential to destroy everything good he’d found. If it had just been that, I could have handled it no problem. Love conquers all, right? I knew things would be ok in that regard. But then there was one more twist near the end that completely blindsided me and I almost felt it was too much. There had already been so much sadness and tragedy, I couldn’t believe that these poor characters had to endure even more. Rebecca Yarros did not pull any punches when it came to this story, and it’s a long one, clocking in at well over 400 pages. Even though the story was almost too sad at times, the writing itself was brilliant. Every emotion was portrayed in its rawest, purest form and it certainly leaves an impact. I think for many, this will be an ugly cry, and if not, it’s certainly one that’ll grip your heart and probably leave it slightly more broken than before you started. I hope I haven’t scared you off, technically speaking there is a (relatively) happy ending but if you’re looking for an honest portrayal of one family’s struggle with all that life can throw at it, I think this book may fit that bill.

Your words saved me. You reached into the darkness and pulled me out with your kindness and your strength. You did the impossible and touched my soul.

Well this book was definitely not what I was expecting, it's clearly a romance and based on the blurb I knew it was gonna have some tough moments but I didn't imagine it was going to be such a rollercoaster of emotions; this is a very emotional story and I'd advise to have some tissues at hand when reading it.

I still don't think I can truly describe this book; as I said the romance is there and it was very sweet and the characters had great chemistry, I do admit that there were some times where I wasn't too happy with the attitude of certain characters and I wasn't a fan of something that happens toward thtr end, but I guess this proves there's more going on in "The Last Letter", the story is raw, heartwrenching, and tough to read at times. Mostly the reason of my rate is based on the fact that I'm not used to stories so emotionally charged, I find it too painful, but this is a personal opinion and it doesn't have anything to do with the actual book.
Rebecca Yarro's writing was very good and if you're looking for an emotional charged story, this is definitely it.

It has been a few days since I finished reading this book and I still don't feel like I can adequately put into words how amazing this story is. This story left me raw, and open, and an emotional mess, but it was worth every single second!

<b>"In case no one ever told you-- you're worthy. Of love. Of family. Of home."</b>

I really don't want to spoil anything so I will simply shout READ THIS BOOK! It has skyrocketed into my top 5 all time reads!

It will make you laugh, it will make you cry, and it will make you swoon! I highly recommend not reading it around others because the ugly cry is not a pretty look at work (not that I know this from personal experience or anything!). Honestly, I came off of break at work in tears and my co-workers are asking why I would read something that causes me to cry like that and I simply said because it makes me feel. This story has all the feels. All. The Feels. And then some. Please do yourself a favor and experience the feels - trust me, it is soooo worth it! (6 stars)

WOW! This book was completely captivating, gut-wrenching and so beautiful! It was a book that left me with a hangover and will stay with me for a long time. I don't want to say too much and ruin this story for you. However, I knew by reading the synopsis, that it would probably make me cry. I think it's a testament to Rebecca's writing that she sucked me into this story and I cried (the first time) at only 9% into the book. Now, don't let that warn you away from the book. This story is powerful and moving. I think it's one everyone needs to read. But, let me warn you, you might not want to read this entire book in public. *cue tears* I felt every emotion and every high and low this book had. It embedded under my skin and even days later writing this review, it doesn't want to let me go. I can't tell you how much I recommend this read, other than GO GET IT!!

Gah! This book!. Rebecca Yarros always knows how to tear out your heart with her beautiful stories.

Ella is a single mom and has started a pen pal relationship with an unknown soldier whom is overseas and friends with her brother Ryan.

During these letters she starts to open up to her new pen pal, named Chaos. And at the same time starts to fall for him once he finally returns her letters and opens up in return.

As the letters start to progress, Ella's life starts to come apart then all of a sudden after a tragedy her letters from Chaos stop.

The only thing that was keeping Beckett going was his letters from Ella, but he can't keep writing her when he's the reason for her pain. But he has a promise to keep for Ryan and he's determined to do it, the only way he can.

Here are some of the examples of why I fell for this book:

~ Because somewhere between letter number one and letter number twenty-four, I'd fallen in love with her.~

"I'd forgotten what this felt like." "Being hugged?" My voice was sandpaper-rough. "Being held together."

"You have to fight for what you know to be right. Stand up for the people who need your protection. Never let anyone tell you that you're anything less than a warrior because you're a girl. Because in my experience, girls are the strongest warriors. Maybe that's why all the boys try to keep them out of battle. They're scared they'll shown up."

"It's a good thing, though. Missing him. Grief means you had someone worth grieving."

" ... We are imperfect people made that way by an imperfect world, and we don't always get a say in what shapes us. . ."

"We figure it out together. And if you can't breathe, I'll do it for you. One morning at a time. Minute by minute if we have to."


And here are some examples of why Ella frustrated me at times:

"He's not your father. He's not Ryan. He's not Jeff. You have got to stop convicting him of their crimes."

"My brother. All of this was for my brother? Did you sleep with me for him, too? Just to keep me close?" (so irrational her thoughts)

While Beckett helps out Ella and her family I fell in love with him and his heart. Ella's kids were fantastic and so loveable. There was so much depth and heart to this story, I absolutely loved it.

For me this would have been a 5 out of 5 but the reason that that didn't happen was Ella's stubbornness on not seeing what Beckett wanted which was her. That grew a bit tiring throughout the story until she got her head out of her ass and saw what was actually happening. As well to punish the kids when she learned the truth was low and unfortunately this is more of a reality when emotions get involved. I know I'm looking at this part of the story line from a logical POV when it's a purely emotional concept, however it still gets to me.

4 Emotional stars!

~ 3.5 - 4 Heartbreaking Stars ~

Well I don’t really know how to review this book.

The Last Letter was such and emotional and heart wrenching story. I kind of expected this to be a story that would be sad, just from reading the blurb, but I couldn’t have expected this. My heart literally hurts after reading this book.

If you are a fan of the “ugly cry”, then this is the book for you!!! I couldn’t stop the flow of tears that ran down my face. When reading this story make sure you have tissues next to you.

The one question that kept running through my mind while reading this book was, how much pain can one woman suffer and live to talk about it? This question will make sense if you read this book.

I will say that I did like this book, even though it tore my heart apart. I was happy to see that it was sort of put back together by the end. I say sort of because yes there is a HEA to this story, but something happens towards the end that truly broke me. This just wasn’t the HEA I was hoping for while reading this book.

I would recommend this book to many readers. Although I am not sure it is truly a romance novel in the true sense of the meaning. Yes there is a love story built into this book, but it really is more about a friendship and family, then anything else.

There were many things that I loved about this book and that is why I gave it 4 stars. I loved the characters. Ella, Beckett, Maisie and Colt were awesome characters. I loved how the author incorporated the letters between Beckett and Ella. I loved falling in love with them through those letters. This book will definitely suck you in and you won’t be able to put it down until the end.

But with that said, there were some things I didn’t like about the story and that is why the mixed rating of 3.5 -4 stars. I thought the length of the book was a little on the long side which in my opinion slowed the story down. There was some filler I thought could’ve been left out without effecting the main point of the story. The only other thing I didn’t like was what I mentioned earlier in the review. The part that happens towards the end of the story. I personally didn’t think it was necessary to be in there. There is a point when there is just too much grief that pushes a reader over the edge. It kind of took away from the HEA that did happen.

Even with saying that, I would recommend this book to anyone who is looking for an emotional, cry your eyes out story. This story truly is a story about love, loss, forgiveness and family.

I struggled with how to rate this book, so at least for now I'm leaving it unrated. The Last Letter was the definition of an emotional rollercoaster ride. Although there were certain storyline aspects and character attitudes that I didn't care for, there is no doubt that Rebecca Yarros knows how to tell one hell of a story.

This is a tough read. One of those romances that’s all too real. The writing is beautiful though and the relationships within these pages are both heartwarming and heartbreaking. I loved the letters, seeing how two people could fall in love with each other just through words. Beckett was an exceptional hero and Ella mirrored that in her heroine. I think for all the things they lived through and dealt with, they were a perfect match. Only they could understand each other. I also really enjoyed Colt and Maisie’s unique twin relationship. Havoc was just icing on the cake. This story comes with a hard fought HEA. There is heartbreak and tragedy, but also living and a lot of love. This story won’t be for everyone, but I loved it.

Review posted on Les Romantiques – le forum du site
Reviewed by Rinou
Review copy by the publisher

Be careful this review contains spoilers!!

Let’s begin with a rant. I read romances for the certainty that it will end well, and if I can accept a lot of things to get there, there are a few things I don’t want to read about. So when at only 10% of the book the heroine learns her 5yo daughter has an advanced stage of cancer with only 10 percent chance of surviving the year, I can say I was very tempted to close the book, when I can count on the fingers of one hand the books I didn’t read entirely. So yes it exist in reality, even with younger kids, and yes we’re in a romance so I was almost sure everything would be alright, but I read to relax, not to feel depress. I also think to all those who have gone through this or are currently going through this, I don’t think they want to read about the same ordeal. Some warning in the synopsis would be a good thing.

Second point that I didn’t like: it’s written in the first person POV, and those who know me know that I don’t like that. Here we alternate between the hero and the heroine, at a rate of one chapter each in general, with one of the letters they exchanged during the months before their meeting as a chapter opening. The name of the character who’s going to speak may be written as a chapter header, I took me several lines to determine who was “I”.

There are a lot of repetitions in the main characters’ thoughts. Bennett feels guilty for Ella’s brother’s death, and he often thinks if she learns who he is and what he’s done she would send him away and he couldn’t help her anymore. Ella as for her thinks he will go at the first opportunity like all the men in her life (that is her father, her ex-husband and her brother, not a flock of guys). She tells him the same several times.

Both seem likeable, but I must admit I missed out on their love story. I was more interested in the relationship between him and the twins, and mostly my attention was monopolized but the little girl’s illness. It has to be said that the author doesn’t spare us anything: diverse medical examinations, chemotherapy, hair lost, vomiting, general infection, surgery… not to forget awkward reaction by random people. I hope for the author her knowledge comes only from research.

When things progress between them, there’s fort Ella discovering Bennett is the one she wrote to for months, so she ditches him after saying he lied to her and she will never trust him again, when he’s been bending over backward for months for her and her kids. It takes six months for him to gain her trust again, but we only know about it through a chapter header reading “6 months later” and two or three sentences summing up what happened. To see the couple’s evolution it’s tough.
And most of all, when everything seems to get better for the couple and for the little girl’s health, the author decides to have them live the most horrible ordeal by killing Ella’s second kid in an accident. WHY? What’s the point of this? Didn’t they suffer enough? It’s a gratuitous death and that made me rage (after I finished crying my eyes out).

So as I said at the beginning, I read novels to relax, and especially I read Romance for its promise of a happy end. The Last Letter doesn’t keep its promises, I will avoid this author from now on and I don’t recommend this book to anyone.

One star is too much for what I feel.

I had a hard time rating this book. It was emotional and good and angsty and romantic. Until it wasn’t. Then it was HORRIBLE. I’m sorry. I won’t say what happens but I’m over here devastated and crying and I can’t believe this happened. I can’t even think of the book without instantly thinking of the end. No matter what happened before, it’s overshadowed by the end.