I really wanted to like this book. But I just could not connect with the characters, and the story dragged as a result.

Six months after her husband’s death, Laya is still communicating with him through his Facebook page. Micah, who works with Laya’s dad, feels a strong connection to her and begins to respond in person to the things that Laya’s writing about. Bringing her flowers, taking her to her favorite noodle place....

The whole time, I kept hearing the Police song “I’ll Be Watching You” in my mind and thought Micah was more stalker than romantic. And Laya attacking him for random sex in a bar bathroom five minutes after meeting? No thanks. I just could not get behind caring for them as a couple.

The only other R.C. book I’ve read is Blind Kiss, which I thought was phenomenal. And I have friends who devour every R.C. book they get their hands on. I’m hoping that this was just an off read for me. I received an advanced copy via NetGalley and the publisher and voluntarily left a review.

The main character, Laya, unexpectedly loses her husband in a accident when he was performing a stunt. She later meets Micah an architect at her fathers firm. He become completely smitten with her and starts stalking her posts she puts on her husbands Facebook page. While he tries to help her he inadvertently pushes her away.
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Laya has a hard time letting him in and Micah is very patient with her when it comes to giving her space so she can drive. There is a push and pull between them. I really wanted to love this book especially because it had so much potential but I felt like something was missing. I went in thinking that it would be a book that would make incredibly sad but I didn’t feel much. I didn’t hate it but I just wish I would have been able to enjoy it more.
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Thank you to NetGalley and Atria books for my review copy!

Not my favorite Carlino book. I didn't love the story or the characters and had a tough time sticking with this in the middle.

Thanks to Netgalley for the free copy in exchange for an honest review.

“You make me feel alive because there’s nowhere else I’d rather be than right here, talking to you, missing one train after another.”

Novels about grief, overcoming grief and falling in love again are pretty tricky. You never know what route the author will take and if the new beginning will be satisfactory. The Last Post was my first novel by Renée Carlino and I loved it! It was refreshing to have two broken characters find themselves and find love at the same time.

“I just want to know when I’ll stop feeling like a broken tooth walking around with exposed nerves constantly hitting the freezing air.”

Laya Bennet is broken after the loss of her husband. She’s grieving in the way she seems most fit for her and struggling with putting herself back together. Posting on her late husband’s Facebook page is the only way she can feel closer to him. My heart went out to her every single time she posted on Facebook and every time she called his cellphone just to hear his voice on his recorded message. It felt very real, the way the author had us in her head, grieving and trying to get through another day.

“You know those moments where you think, ‘I know I’ve never met you, but we know each other?’ This was one of them.”

Micah Evans is an introvert. He’s awkward and adorable. He’s never had a real romantic relationship in his life, so when he meets Laya and is absolutely taken by her, he has no clue how to react or what to make of his feelings. Watching Micah trying to get closer to Laya was at times cringe-worthy, but in a cute way. He was just so unbelievably clueless and awkward that at times all I could think was “poor baby” and I would literally feel embarrassed for him. Even with that, he was so sweet, transparent, and patient with his feelings that I couldn’t help loving him.

“Scars are a testament to the love and the relationships I had for and with each person. And if the scar is deep, so was the love. So be it. Scars are a testament to life.”

This story shows us how there’s always a light at the end of the tunnel, there’s always another chance at love, and that healing is a process which some people may go through quicker than others. Laya and Micah’s healing processes were for different reasons, but by finding each other they began to slowly heal and find love.

*A huge thanks to Atria Books and Wildfire Marketing Solutions for providing me with a copy of this book for review through NetGalley. All thoughts are my own.*

Heartfelt, emotional story with a touch of head scratching!
This book was a unique and emotional story with some unique twists, that had me scratching my head as I was reading it.
He did that and she did what?
The blurb of this book pulled me in and overall I enjoyed this book. The writing was strong and compelling.
The story begins with a fairytale marriage that endures a tragic moment that changes the course of Laya’s life. As she struggles with her grief she does what many people do now a days...she turned to social media!
What develops as a result, had me creeped out, but I couldn’t not read to discover what happened next. Honestly, this is where a startling new development, made me not find the characters too believable or relatable.
However, I’m glad I kept reading because they redeemed themselves. I was drawn in by these characters and how their story evolved!
I couldn’t put this book down.
Micah has some struggles of his own and how they manifest themselves had me wanting to shut down all my social media accounts.(but I didn’t)
This book truly pulled at my emotions and made me think about what would I do point with a devastating loss.
This is a story of grief overcoming loss and new beginnings.
What happens?
What’s the end result?
Read it and find out!!

I am a huge fan of Renee Carlino - she writes brilliantly and beautifully. This story no different, however, I just did not connect with these characters this time around.

The story starts off with Laya & Cameron - they are young and in their first year of marriage. I adored Cameron - his personality, his adventurous lifestyle and especially the way he loved Laya. I swooned hard over this man. When tragedy strikes - it was tough to swallow, and although I did like Micah - who Laya meets through her dad's business, I was still hung up on her & Cameron.

I did not connect with Laya's character on a level with her being with Micah. I actually loved his relationship with his sister more - it provided comic relief and an upbeat feeling that this book desperately needed to keep going.

Although this was not one of my favorites by Renee Carlino - I am still a loyal fan and will continue to read her books!

Unfortunately, I didn’t finish this book. It had an interesting plot, It had a lot of promise, but it didn’t work well for me. I’m sure other readers will enjoy the ups and downs. I wasn’t connecting with the characters at all. I’m a mood reader, so I’d say give the book a chance see what you think.

I've been a huge fan of Carlino these last few years, so I was really excited when I saw she had a new novel coming out. She always has a way of bringing out all of the emotions in me with her novels, and The Last Post was no exception. It was definitely a lot more emotional than some of her other reads, but in a really good way. I really enjoyed the characters and their relationships and they all seemed complex in their own way. There were a few times where the novel seemed a bit cliche, but it always kept me coming back for more in the end. All in all, it was an entertaining read and I would highly recommend it to readers of romance and women's fiction. Thank you to NetGalley for sending this novel in exchange for an honest review.

Laya thought that she was never going to experience something as soul shattering as losing her mother at the age of three. She built her life around all the things that she could truly count on like her dad and finally finishing her residency. All of that changes the very day that Cameron Bennett lands in her ER.

Cameron is a beautiful star that blazed across her sky and burned out far too quickly. Laya is once again left with only questions and infinite sorrow. Pouring her heart out on his Facebook page is her way of screaming into the void. If only someone could give her the answers…

“Marriage was the last thing on my mind. But then I met Cameron. I thought he would prove me wrong despite all the risks he took. He convinced me he’d always be there. I was dumbstruck in love for just a little while. And then he, too, was gone, and I found myself alone once again, doubting that love could ever possibly be worth the pain.”

Micah Evans is one of the only nice guys left in NYC. At twenty-nine, he’s still drowning in debt from an ivy league education and completely over one-night stands.

It’s just his luck that the girl of his dreams turns out to be his boss’s only daughter and she’s lost in grieving for her dead husband.

He tries everything he knows to pull her out of her never-ending anguish because he can in her see a love worth fighting for. But sometimes even all of the love in the universe just isn’t enough.

“She started to walk away without saying good-bye. I was frozen in place, trying to find the right words that would make her stay. When she made it to the elevator and pressed the button, it occurred to me that I might not get another opportunity to talk to her… to convince her to give me a chance. I walked quickly toward the elevator. As she stepped in and turned around. Our eyes locked. I prevented the door from closing with my arm.
Laya spoke first. “I’m scared.”
“Of what?”
Of everything. I’m scared to let him go. And… I’m scared to fall in love.”
“I’m scared, too.”
She closed her eyes. A tear ran down her cheek. I reached out and wiped it away with my thumb, but she stepped back.
“Go be with your family,” she said.
Stay with me. We can be scared together.
I kept my eyes on her as stared at the floor. Just as the doors closed, she lifted her head, meeting my gaze with a gut-wrenching sadness in her eyes.”

Renée Carlino is one of those authors that I can always count on to deliver an emotional punch with a velvet touch. The Last Post begins in fabulous Carlino fashion, but somehow, its true heart gets lost in a sea of despair.

Laya is mired under so much grief that it was difficult for me, as a reader, to see anything beyond it. But it is Micah that is a light at the end of the tunnel. He is by far my favourite part of the story with his patience, vulnerability and his unforgettable snarky relationship with his twin sister. He deserved a great ending.

And Renée delivers it just in time with poignant style…

Renee Carlino has been a go to author for me since her first book. She has a way telling a story and captivating you with her characters.

Layah is a widow after losing her husband. Cameron was a daredevil and she was the complete opposite. She has no family around to lean on while she’s grieving. Her mother died when she was a young girl and her dad lives on the other side of the Untied States. After hitting rock bottom is now living in the same town as her father and not doing much with her life.

Micah is an architect who works in the Layah’s father’s company. He is a player and does one-night stands. He is trying to change and after meeting Layah he wants to be there for her. He is trying to work his way into her life but she is reluctant because she is still trying to heal.

I enjoyed this book and way Renee Carlino tells the story.

Upon reading the premise of “The Last Post’” I found myself immediately intrigued and quite eager to delve between the pages of Renee Carlino's newest novel. But as much as I wanted to love this story, it ultimately fell short of my high expectations.

While I still liked the overall concept, it was the execution that I had trouble with. Boasting characters that I found un-relatable and annoying, I couldn’t see past their faults to form any true connection or to fully immerse myself in Laya and Micha’s quirky & highly bizarre love story.

Still, “The Last Post is not without its merits. There just aren’t enough of them to boost this story from mediocre to great.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an early review copy for my honest review.

I'm a huge fan of Renee Carlino but The Last Post fell a little short for me. I had a hard time connecting with some of the characters especially Laya and the overall story. With that being said I will always read Renee's work. She is a beautiful story teller... this one just wasn't my cup of tea.

I thought this was a beautifully written story and the premise was really different. I enjoyed the storyline and the idea. However, that being said, I would give this more of a 3.5 stars due to I really struggled with the characters at that time. I didn't quite get that connection. I do adore Renee Carlino's writing though and I am still so excited to see what she has in store next.

3.5 Stars

Laya is struggling with the biggest loss of her life and spiraling out of control. Nothing seems to be bringing her back from the darkness. Wondering if maybe she is some how to blame for all the bad in her life. When someone tries to silently reach out to her to help her move forward.

Micah is a successful architect who seems to have life all together on the outside but is secretly fighting on the inside. When he decides to try and reach out to his bosses daughter to help her with grieving. He never expected to fall in love with her. But he is willing to wait as long as she needs.

Will Laya and Micah find there way to each other? Will she let go of her grief and move forward?

** Advanced copy provided in exchange for an honest review. **

This was my first read by Renee Carlino and have to say I was a. tad bit disappointed :(.

The Last Post was a strange and sad romance to say the least. It definitely had me emotional in this tale but felt the romance was just all over the place and did things backwards. The majority of the story was about the grief and loss which was the ENTIRE book. This was a tad bit too heavy for my liking and just felt a bit more depressing then I wanted it too.

The characterization was weak which I struggled with completely. One of the main characters was borderline stalkerish and lacked boundaries in the entire story. I had a hard time believing the romance between the two and just was disappointing to me.

I can't say that I would read something again by this author.

Thank you to Atria for the arc via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

Publication date: 8/20/19
Published to GR: 8/19/19

2.5 stars for me on this one.

3.5 stars

Laya becomes a young widow when her husband’s daredevil career leads to a tragic accident. She becomes mired in her grief, unable to move through the stages of grief at a pace those around her deem acceptable. Micah works for Laya’s father and finds himself floating through the motions. He has entered a sort of crisis of self as he loses sight of what he wants out of his life and career. A brief meeting with Laya has Micah intrigued and he begins to come back into himself as he pursues her. But she isn’t ready for a relationship, she hasn’t moved on from her last. Micah agrees to a friendship, but can’t help wish he could help her process her grief faster.

Laya’s love for Cameron was all consuming. She doesn’t know how to move on when he’s gone and finds herself using present tense still to describe him. She is fragile and the people around her aren’t sure how to help her grieve.

I struggled with parts of this story. I loved the premise, but there were aspects of Micah’s actions that felt overbearing and as if he was taking advantage of the situation (though he means well in everything he does). I kept reading despite my misgivings, and am glad I did as enjoyed the conclusion.

This was a story full of grief and the consequences of staying in one place for too long. I was prepared for an emotional drain, but I guess I was hoping to feel more of a connection building between the two main characters. They finally hit a point where their chemistry was believable, but I felt like I had to hang on to the story longer than usual to get there.

I received this book from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.

The Last Post by Renee Carlino is about Layla living in denial about her husband Cameron death. Then there is a guy named Micah, who is an architect at Layla’s father firm who sees her facebook posts on Cameron’s page. Micah then tries to connect with Layla by giving her notes and gifts anonymously.

I loved Renee Carlino’s writing in Before We Were Strangers and that has always been my favorite book from her. I was excited to read this book because the synopsis sounded great but once I was like 40% into the reading, I was annoyed with the characters and felt like there was no way these characters could be together.

I tried to get into Layla and Micah but I just felt like it was an overall disaster and there was just a lot of weird stuff. Like Micah mentioning walking in on his sister in bed with his roommate or people being irritated about his beard.

This book was not for me but I will be reading the next book Carlino writes.

*I received an advance review copy of The Last Post from the publisher through NetGalley; all opinions are my own.

It has taken me a few days to try and compile my thoughts into a review that will express exactly how I feel about this book. To be honest, I’m still not sure that I will be able to do it justice. The Last Post was on my must-read list the minute that it was announced. There are certain authors that just seem to have the knack of striking the perfect chord with me, and this author is definitely one of them.

I always feel strange saying how much I enjoyed a book that deals with heavier, grief-filled topics, but The Last Post was delivered in such a thought-provoking, emotional, real, and satisfying way that I was completely riveted to the pages. Was it a happy, easy, everything-is-perfect romance? Absolutely not! With a synopsis like that, how could anyone expect it to be. This story hit me like a punch to the gut, and I felt every single emotion as it was playing out. This is the kind of writing that I have come to expect from this author. She creates compelling characters and storylines that always have a way of making everything feel so personal, as if I’m witnessing it firsthand.

Laya and Micah are both trapped in their own grief and hardships. Laya lost her husband in a horrible accident and feels as though she is paralyzed by her grief. Micah is going through an existential crisis and is bored with the direction of his life. As a reader who tries to put herself in the characters’ shoes, my heart broke for them, especially for Laya. I was completely invested in the characters and their stories. They weren’t perfect, they struggled, made questionable decisions, they were human. Their journey not only had me filled with apprehension and heartache but also with an abundance of hope. I loved that even in the darkest, most painful circumstances, Carlino always managed to let through a sliver of light, courage, healing, and hope for something more.

There is so much to this story. There is nothing rushed or forced about it. Laya and Micah’s story is not instant, it’s unhurried, it takes its time, weaving, growing, and deepening at a realistic pace that I always appreciate.

While there was an overall melancholy feel to this story, there was also enough levity to even everything out. It was difficult not to smile when Micah’s twin sister was around. She brought a good dose of humor to the story with her interactions with her brother, her overall crass nature, and her relationship with her granola-eating boyfriend.

The Last Post was just the book that I was hoping it would be. It was profound, sincere, heartfelt, and utterly unforgettable. It is definitely a favorite for 2019!

*5 Stars

This book was a tough one for me to review. I loved the author's writing and really felt for the character of Laya, but Micah ruined this book for me. He was stalkerish when trying to put Laya "back together" after her loss and it was supposedly ok because he had great intentions. I found it to be a toxic relationship that was romanticized and that was a huge turn off for me.

4 Stars

When you read a Ms. Carlino book, you'll know to expect that the story will be heartbreaking, heartwarming and will make you feel her character's emotion. And again, The Last Post, did all that. Wow is what I expected when I first read the synopsis.

Laya Marston is going through the rough and heartbreaking emotions after losing her husband, Cameron. And the only she seems to cope is by "talking" to him through his Facebook. At first, I thought this was just weird, but the more I thought about it, the more it made sense this day of age. It's just another outlet that is so widely used these days, that posting on a love ones Facebook, it's just another way of feeling close to them.

Micah Evans is a unique character. He's not the typical charming, confident hero in a book and it's the reason why I loved him. Micah is going through his life unsure. He's smart and a talent architect, but he's confused on where he's going. It all changes when he meets his boss' daughter, Laya. He can tell their is sadness in her eyes and when he finds out her story, he's determined to make her live her life again.

Laya and Micah form a unique bond/friendship. Everyone is Laya's life is trying to force her to move on with her life, but Laya can't seem to let Cameron go. But there's something about Micah, that makes her considering living again.

The Last Post is not a fast-paced romance between the two, it develops over throughout the book and keeps you turning the page until these two can find a HEA.