Member Reviews

As with all the books that I have read by author Rebecca Yarros, The Last Letter was done so well and the story was just beautiful!
This book was more of a journey than a story. It grabbed my heart and although it was broken in parts of the book, it also warmed my heart as well!

I can't recommend this book enough!

Was this review helpful?

I don't even know where to start with this book. It is hands-down one of the best books I've read this year. The story is so well-written, I was captivated from the very beginning. I didn't want to put this down, I was so emotionally involved in this story and these characters. It made me laugh at the twins' antics, while the ending made me cry. This is such a beautiful story, do yourself a favor and read it!

Ella has been through so much tragedy in her young life, but she's a fighter and she just keeps moving forward. Beckett has been in the military with Ella's older brother for years. He joined right as he was graduating high school because he was aging out of the foster system and didn't have a connection to anyone to keep him there. When Ryan, Ella's brother, hooks the two up as pen pals, they end up falling in love through their letters. When tragedy strikes Ella's life again though, will her and Beckett, call sign Chaos, be able to make it through the other side together - especially after she realizes he's been lying to her?

Was this review helpful?

How can there be beauty in heartache? How can there be smiles through tears? How can your heart beat faster while at the same time it feels like it’s stopped completely? I’ll tell you how…through the words of Rebecca Yarros! This book…oh gosh, this book! I finished it a couple of weeks ago and I still don’t have the right word to express my love for this story. What I can tell you is that my eyes still water when I think about it and my heart still aches when it crosses my mind. It’s amazing how just a few short pages can have such an impact, but they certainly did on me.

I’m not going to tell you much about this book because you need to experience it for yourself. Just know that I loved Ella and Beckett’s story beyond compare. Nothing I can say will do justice to the emotions and the truth that’s held between those two covers. This story touches every important relationship in life…family, friendship, parenthood and, while doing so, it fully explores the elation and devastation possible with each. The highest highs and the lowest lows, the sweetest romance and the toughest heartbreak, living, dying, and wishing you were dead…Ms. Yarros leaves no emotion unaccounted for and I, for one, respect her all the more for the courage to take me to places I didn’t want to go and for the kindness of bringing me back.

This is a story that will stay with me for a very long time. I’m not ready to read it again, my heart is still too fagile. But I’ll return to it in the future because a story like this is not meant to sit on the shelf…it’s meant to be experienced over and over again and to remind you that in life the heartache and tragedy can truly lead to healing and happiness.

Was this review helpful?

This book was an emotional experience like no other! It gripped me from the beginning until the very last page and left a lasting impression. It is a beautifully written masterpiece!!

Was this review helpful?

5++ Phenomenal Stars!

The Last Letter is a poignant love story about fate, forgiveness, and family. It’s about enjoying the happy times and holding on through the bad. Finding solace in believing that everything happens for a reason despite our greatest fears and our highest hopes.

I can’t even remember the last time I cried so hard for a character. I was so heartbroken, then I was angry, and left even more heartbroken. Rebecca Yarros touched my soul with this story. A real story set in a fictional world. It was so easy to fall in love with and become emotionally invested in the characters. Ella, a single mother of Maisie and Colt, was fierce, devoted, and a survivor. Time and time again, life came crashing down on her, yet she clicked her armor together and rose above it all. Maisie... so sweet and innocent, but yet incredibly brave and resilient... a true fighter. Colt... wise beyond his years. So full of life and love....a born protector. Then there was Beckett... guarded, intense, broken... forever loyal. He is the true definition of a hero!

Everything about this story was outstanding. The writing, the storyline, the character development... it was simply flawless. The way the author seamlessly placed the letters within the chapters was brilliant and added so much insight on who Beckett and Ella truly were. Between those letters and the events of the story, I felt every emotion: anticipation, fear, despair, hope, happiness, love, and heartache. Only an exceptionally talented author can take you through all those emotions and somehow bring you out of it feeling enlightened.

The Last Letter is so much more than it’s synopsis. It’s EVERYTHING!

♥ Review by Lys

Was this review helpful?

Ms. Yarros, there are no words that I could say or write that would do justice in regards to this novel. There are books that stay with you once you've close the cover and this is one of those novels. I wish I could award more than 5 stars cause this book truly deserves more. Beautiful, emotional are just a few. Reader beware tissues a must! You will laugh, be angry, and you will be cry brought to tears. A must read!!! Kudos Ms. Yarros kudos!

Was this review helpful?

This book is so very beautiful and I guarantee it will leave its mark on your soul. This is definitely one of the best books I have read in my lifetime! I blubbered away through most of it as it rips through your emotions. It has its painful moments too. I cannot say more than this because it is a reading experience I want no one to miss. It has elements of deep love, family commitment, forgiveness and infinite and unselfish giving of oneself to one’s love and one’s children. This is one not to miss!

Was this review helpful?

Rated 4.5 Stars

The Last Letter is an emotional rollercoaster. It's beautiful too and heartbreaking. This story broke me into so many pieces that I won't ever be the same again but I don't regret this experience at all even though it brought me to tears. I know that this journey that these characters went on and the characters themselves will live within me forever. I highly recommend this to those who love emotion heavy stories with a side of my fave trope, best friend's younger sister. Be warned that you will no be the same after reading this book.

Was this review helpful?

#TheLastLetter #NetGalley

publisher synopsis: Beckett,
If you’re reading this, well, you know the last-letter drill. You made it. I didn’t. Get off the guilt train, because I know if there was any chance you could have saved me, you would have.

I need one thing from you: get out of the army and get to Telluride.

My little sister Ella’s raising the twins alone. She’s too independent and won’t accept help easily, but she has lost our grandmother, our parents, and now me. It’s too much for anyone to endure. It’s not fair.

And here’s the kicker: there’s something else you don’t know that’s tearing her family apart. She’s going to need help.

So if I’m gone, that means I can’t be there for Ella. I can’t help them through this. But you can. So I’m begging you, as my best friend, go take care of my sister, my family.

Please don’t make her go through it alone.

Ryan

This has to be, hands down, one of the most wonderfully emotional books I have ever read. You feel as if you are going through everything with the characters and you experience such a range of emotions. This book is well written, completely unpredictable and full of heartache and hope.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Entangled Publishing, LLC. through NetGalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

Was this review helpful?

This book touched my heart. It broke my heart as well. It is absolutely breathtaking and the writing is just stunning. I love how the writing and letter are incorporated. The storyline is captivating. The characters are complex and beautiful and well developed. This is definitely a story that will not leave me soon. I am still an emotional wreck after reading. It is not an easy read, but it is definitely one that I highly recommend. One of my favorites this year.

Was this review helpful?

ARC provided by Netgalley and the Publisher.

My heart. My poor bleeding, bruised, broken, battered heart. I was initially interested in this because I like books that bring an epistolary element. And I read a metric crap-ton of romance and while I am not particularly interested in military/soldier romance (because they generally have PTSD storylines that aren't always done so well), I was pleasantly surprised with this one. This story is nicely balanced with the thens-and-nows juxtaposition with each constantly moving the story forward. The characters are complex and round with each having their own stories woven throughout. This was my first book by Yarros and I am excited to read more of her work!

This gave me all the right read-a-like vibes. A little Dear John/The Lucky one by Nicolas Sparks, a little Dear Aaron by Mariana Zapata, and a little illness kick in the shins that bringth the tears that likens to the YA stylings of John Green or Lurlene McDaniel. This would work in a library PB collection (since those are so heavily dominated by romance readers) but I also think this would work in a general adult fit collection too ... especially since it has a very circ worthy cover.

Was this review helpful?

I knew that after reading the blur I would cry reading this book and I must say that I did and it broke my heart. This is the book that I will remember as something that touches my heart and in the deepest possible way. I am a mother too and I can not imagine going through all that Ella and Becket went trough. It broke my heart that we see Ella going through all the pain and losing their family members. But the story is not all about sorrow it is also about finding love, the other half that support you and makes pain tolerable. Beckett makes a mistake that Ella can't forgive him very easy and they lose some very special time together. I liked that the story was unpredictable and keeps you on the toes. It is a story that shows you not to give up and that sometimes something bad must happen to make a place for something new, different and make us stronger in process. Really great read, highly recommended. And don't forget tissues!
I volunteered to review an ARC of this book for Netgelly

Was this review helpful?

I enjoyed this book immensely. Her brother is in the military and he has a friend that needs a pen pal. Through their letters, they got to know each other. Without giving to much away, this is a story about a woman that has lost more than her share of loved ones and a man who doesn't believe he deserves love. Obstacle after obstacle is put in front of them as individuals and as a duo but how much can people overcome? I usually don't go for books like this because they can be a little to cutesy, starry eyed and predictable. Thank you Rebecca Yarros for writing something out of the ordinary without the predictability and that was truly a pleasure to read.
Thank you NetGalley and Entangled Publishing for the opportunity to read and review The Last Letter.

Was this review helpful?

I’m not good at writing reviews so if I botch this, please still read this book. You will not be disappointed. You do not want to miss out on Beckett, Ella, Colt, Masie and Havoc! All the feels! Definitely one of my favorite read of 2018!

Was this review helpful?

I cried real tears reading The Last Letter. Not just a pretty single tear, but full on ugly cried with snot running down my face. Not cool, Rebecca Yarros.

Ella has lost everyone she has ever loved. Her husband left her when she realized she was pregnant with twins, her parents, her grandmother and her brother all died tragically and now she's at risk of losing her five year-old daughter to an aggressive form of cancer. She's twenty-five, owns her own business and has nothing left to give. The only thing she has that's all her own is her special ops pen pal, but when he stops responding to her letters after he brother is KIA, she really is all alone.

Beckett is an elite soldier who fulfill's his best friend's dying wish by moving to Colorado to care for his sister. That sister is Ella, but unbeknownst to her, he's her missing pen pal.

The Last Letter is an emotional roller coaster. I was head-over-heels in love with it until the final arc which felt like tragedy porn to me. If this book had ended just a few chapters earlier it would have been perfect.

Was this review helpful?

I received this book "The Last Letter" from NetGalley and all opinions expressed are my own. What a story! Hard to put down and I looked forward to reading it each day. The characters were amazing and you really felt like you were right there with them. Get the tissues out for this book! Although some parts I kept saying - why why why! I guess it had to be done for the story - I'm talking about Colt - I didn't like what happened to him. This was a beautiful story and the words really did flow nicely. I really need to remove one star because there is one scene that is quite graphic and I feel that the author did not have to go into great detail with Ella and Beckett in kitchen tearing their clothes off - well if you read the book you will know exactly what was happening - too graphic for this book. A softer approach would have been much better - we don't need the details.

Was this review helpful?

The Last Letter told such a gripping story that it was hard to put down. At times I felt there were too many tragedies. But at the end I realized the story would not have come together without them. If you like a good tearjerker, this is the book for you. I received a copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

Oh, my! Last Letter is a novel not to miss! It is deeper than touching; it reaches into your heart and holds it to the very end. There is sadness and joy throughout the chapters as both main characters, Ella McKenzie and Beckett Gentry, form a relationship as they live through Ella’s daughter, Maisie’s, neuroblastoma treatment journey. Maisie’s twin, Colt brings light into the dark journey. As the story progresses, Ella, Maisie and Colt crack the hard barrier around Beckett’s heart, formed by a very rough foster care childhood and the ravages of Special Op duty.

Was this review helpful?

Can ya'll believe this is only my first Rebecca Yarros ARC? I have some of her books on my TBR-shelf but I've just never gotten to start one. My TBR pile just keeps on adding up everyday and the next thing you know you have about 300 books waiting to be read... but I'm so happy to be granted the opportunity to this particular ARC. ARC's meant there is a due date thus making me start on it as soon as I can even though this book doesn't release until next year.

Like I said I haven't read any of her books before so I didnt know what to expect... I've read some of the reviews and I got anxious... I didn't want to read something that'll gut me, and those reviews basically said to prepare myself because its coming...

So I steeled myself and forged on... At the back of my mind I thought I'd be fine since I'm already anticipating the fact that there will be something tragic in the midst... then only a couple of chapters in and I was already crying...

I was mess. I even thought I wont be able to stop crying at one point. The whole story is just so beautiful—painful and gut-wrenchingly beautiful. I was blown away by its entirety... the way the author wrote the story evokes so much feelings... every tear, every smile, every frustration, every fear... you just feel everything as you turn page after page.

This story will teach you how to hold on when life blows through you like a hurricane... this will teach you about compassion and understanding... and acceptance... about faith and fate. There are just so many lessons you can learn as you read through Ella and Beckett's journey.

Honestly my heart still hurt like why did it have to happen? There are so many "whys" but like in real life, we don't have all the answers...

The last time I cried so hard was in 2013 when I read Falling Into You by Jasinda Wilder... it took me a couple of days to be myself again... Yeah sure, I've teared-up on other books but I never thought I'd cry as much like how I did five years ago... this book will always stay with me because it's memorable...

Was this review helpful?

I. Am. A. Wreck! Literally. A blubbering mess. It’s been exactly 6 hours since I finished ‘The Last Letter’ and I’m still struggling to compose myself. How to review a book like this, with so many different facets, a book that made me feel so, so emotional. How can I review without giving away the story, and still give the book the credit it deserves? What a wonderful story, I loved this family as if they were my own, no wonder Beckett was drawn in so deep. The twins were just adorable, which only makes the story all the more emotional. Cute kids, a devoted military dog and two people learning to love and trust each other. Beckett is fighting his demons, Ella is struggling to share the load. How can one woman take so much heartache? A story full of love, loss and family. I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Was this review helpful?