Wow, yes. At the risk of sounding like Stefon, this book has everything: a brilliant and inventive concept, rotating perspectives that entice you for justonemorechapter, two fascinating female leads, and mysteries that keep you guessing until the very end. With so many mystery-thrillers that have been flops to me, this was a refreshingly addictive read that satisfied my thriller craving.

Claire Cook, wife of philanthropist and political golden boy Rory Cook, seems to have a perfect life. But underneath the facade of happiness, Claire suffers from Rory's emotional and physical abuse - for the past year, she's been planning an elaborate, detailed scheme to disappear without a trace. But when, at the last minute, Rory changes her plans and sets himself up to find out Claire's deceit, Claire finds herself sitting at a bar in JFK, waiting to board a flight to Puerto Rico, dreading Rory's wrath when he learns what Claire was planning on doing. But another young woman approaches Claire at the bar. Her name is Eva James, and she tells Claire about how Eva is in serious trouble - her husband had terminal cancer, and Eva, well, killed him without telling anyone else. Now people are starting to ask questions. She wishes that she could just disappear without a trace.

Claire's curiosity is piqued - she realizes that she and Eva are in similar situations and could benefit from each other's pain. They decide to switch tickets with each other - Eva going to Puerto Rico in Claire's stead, and Claire going to Oakland in Eva's place. They switch suitcases and all personal belongings, and have no plan for what will happen next. Rory will look for Claire in Puerto Rico and find no trace that she went to Oakland, and that will be that. It seems like the perfect plan.

But when Claire touches down in Oakland, she hears the news: the flight to Puerto Rico, the flight she was supposed to be on, crashed in the Atlantic. No survivors. Now, Claire's face is plastered all over the news, and Rory is fielding press interviews about her. To make matters worse, Claire goes back to Eva's house and finds little evidence of the store that Eva told her. Claire has to piece together what Eva was running from, and work on saving herself at the same time.

This book is brilliantly written, and Clark's slow reveals of each character's backstory make it impossible to put the book down. Clark makes you think about difficult situations that women often find themselves in, reflecting on abuse, trauma, and freedom. Somewhat of a cross between Gone Girl and the Girl on the Train, I'm sure The Last Flight is going to be made into some sort of film/TV adaptation, and I'm excited to see others' reactions to this as well. Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark for the ARC!

This one felt like the best blend of WF and thriller combined, it had the fast paced, anxious and suspenseful feeling of a thriller and the gut punching emotional trauma that WF sometimes has. It also had an incredibly strong premise, great characterization and awesome pacing that kept me engaged throughout.

I mentioned the characterization earlier and I wanted to elaborate on that a bit more, I think many of us avid thriller fans are sick and tired of reading books where the female characters are weak. It was SO refreshing to read about not just one, but two women who are strong and determined and I found myself easily rooting for both of them. It flips between Claire in present day and Eva in the past and I was very caught up and interested in both of their stories. A super solid mystery and definitely a great addition to your summer TBR!

Two women--both in dangerous situations that lead them to try and disappear. They happen to meet at an airport bar and through a VERY brief conversation, switch identities, and plane tickets. While the premise is far-fetched, the plot is fascinating and riveting. Told in alternation chapters between the two women, the reader discovers the path that led them to the airport and the reasoning behind their hasty decisions. I love a book told in alternating chapters. It keeps the story fresh and compelling. I found both women's stories to be equally interesting and kept me reading to discover more. A good thrill ride that many readers will be drawn to read. Thank you to Netgalley for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Gobbled this down in one day - the tension and pacing were A+. Literally could not stop reading until I finished. Loved it.

Buckle your seatbelt and enjoy the ride! This thrilling book about two women in dire straits that exchange plane tickets at the airport—then disappear—is riveting and brilliant. I love the the way the author alternated between Eva and Claire while unraveling both of their stories. Although the ending came to a surprising yet satisfying resolution, I still have questions that I wish were answered. Maybe that was the author’s intent, for us to fill in the blanks as we choose. I highly recommend this book to readers who enjoy a good suspense novel. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this amazing book in exchange for an honest review.

Two strangers, both running from lives they want desperately to change, make a last minute airport decision to switch identities and take each other’s place on their respective flights. What happens next is anything but predictable, and Julie Clark keeps us guessing until the final page. I absolutely loved the unique plot of the Last Flight and its relatable, believable characters. The pacing is interesting and fast, making it a perfect book to take on your summer travels!

This book is the thriller all thriller lovers want and NEED right now. We're all tired of the trope of helpless, useless woman being taken advantage of and ends up crazy in the end. This book was the exact opposite and everything I've wanted in a thriller lately. I was late for work because I just had to finish this book.

Claire Cook has the perfect life on the outside - the loving husband, money, a beautiful house and everything she could ask for. Things aren't always as perfect as they seem and behind closed doors, Claire is living her actual nightmare with an abusive husband, controlling assistant and no life of her own. Claire has fabricated the perfect plan to disappear and start her life over, until a huge wrench in her plans changes her flight from Detroit to Puerto Rico. Enter Eva - another woman who needs to become someone unknown. A casual conversation turns into trading clothes in the bathroom and they both believe their lives have just changed for the best - but what they don't plan for is an unexpected plane crash. Claire takes over Eva's life, living in her home, wearing her clothes and using her cellphone. How long can this work out?

Claire was the narrator I've been waiting for all year. She was badass and fearless, taking her life into her own hands and doing something about it without relying on others to do it for her. She's brilliant, crafty and determined to do whatever she needs to. She takes total control and makes her life hers. The supporting characters were all a joy to read about as well, other than obviously her husband Rory. Eva was a character I somewhat struggled with as I felt like she was slipping into the 'poor me' attitude of characters I don't overly enjoy, but she proved me wrong by doing her best to sort her life out the only way she could figure out on her own. Without giving away any spoilers of the twists and turns this book takes, I couldn't get enough of Claire taking life and all the wrong-doings she was dealt and righting wrongs. The ending wasn't really what I was expecting but I felt it was necessary. I applaud Julie Clark for this incredible novel and highly suggest it to anyone looking for a riveting thriller to keep them on the edge of their seat!

Thank you so much @BookMarked & @NetGalley for giving me this eARC in exchange for my honest and unbiased review (Release Date | 23 June 2020)

SYNOPSIS | Claire Cook has a seemingly perfect life married to a politician except he has a temper and demands that she meets his impossibly high standards. Claire has been planning her escape for months, except her schedule is altered at the last minute so she comes up with a Plan B.

WHAT I LIKED:
- the ending (vague because no spoilers, but 10/10)
- this was suspenseful from page 1. It has been a while since I was this invested in the outcome of a thriller.
- alternating perspectives between Eva & Claire as well as alternating timelines

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE:
- some loose ends that I wanted to be wrapped up

I liked this one a lot - more of a slow burn than a thriller, it keeps you on the edge of your seat to the very end. My library ordered multiple copies of this one!

Wow.  This was the un-put-downable thriller I've been waiting for all summer.  The book that keeps you up late at night and finds you reading with one hand while you feed the baby with the other.

This is the story of Claire and Eva.  They're both running away from something big.  Can they swap places and escape what they're running from while not getting trapped in the other woman's trouble?  Or is it true that the only way out of trouble is through?  Read this book and find out.

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.

Two women spontaneously trade airplane tickets at the airport, one to Puerto Rico, one to California. Eva and Claire are both women with good reasons for wanting to escape their lives. We learn early on that the plane to Puerto Rico crashes with no survivors. Did Eva manage to escape before she got on the plane? Did Claire Cook, abused wife of a Senate hopeful, manage to get away?

As befits a thriller, there are some surprises, but for me the best part of the book is the believable, relatable women involved. Neither Claire nor Eva are caricatures, but real women with real problems. I felt their terror and anxiety as the story progressed. If you are looking for a page-turning thriller with heart and substance, look no further than The Last Flight.

Thank you to Julie Clark, Sourcebooks and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Claire Cook and Eva James. Two very different women, each with a desire to escape from her life for a different reason. They each have a plane ticket and decide to swap in order to create a fresh start. Will it work? Or will their past catch up to them?⁣
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Told from alternating perspectives, we quickly see their stories unfold and learn the reasons why they are on the run. I really enjoyed both narratives and truly felt for each character. I loved watching the friendship form between Eva and Liz. ⁣
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The ending was a surprise for me. This was a quick and entertaining suspense novel with deeper themes of friendship, wealth, power, and what it means to be a woman in today’s world. ⁣
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Thank you to the publisher for my gifted copy.⁣ All opinions are my own

4.5/5 stars

Claire Cook has a picturesque life. She has married into a political dynasty, resides in a sprawling Manhattan townhouse equipped with a staff, and wants for nothing. Behind closed doors Claire lives in fear of her husband’s temper. Any wrong move could bring on a fit of rage from Rory. Claire has made plans to finally escape from Rory, but in order to do so, she must vanish. A chance meeting at the airport connects Claire with a woman named Eva who is equally as desperate to disappear. The women swap plane tickets for a chance at new lives and fresh beginnings. When Claire’s original flight crashes and news of her death hits the media she must scramble for a way to escape this new threat.

THE LAST FLIGHT is the story of one decision changing the lives of two women forever. Claire and Eva are both on the run from lives that they no longer can stay living. While the motivations behind their need to escape may be different, these women are a lot more similar than meets the eye. Clark has created two strong female characters, who truly shine with strength that guides them through a series of hardships they have each encountered over the years and in the present day.

I love when I find a thriller/crime fiction book filled with strong female characters. Far too often this genre relies on an unreliable narrator, which often turns out to be a female struggling with alcohol or drug issues. These storylines don’t do anything for the female population of the world and what we need more of are characters like Claire and Eva. I love that Clark gives the reader every aspect of these women. We learn what makes them tick, what drives them, what scares them. Most importantly we learn how strong they are.

Julie Clark clearly has an ability to craft excellent characters, as seen with Claire, Eva, and a series of important secondary characters. Shining through in this book is also Clark’s ability to captivate an audience. I was hooked literally from the first few pages of this book! What an opener! Clark immediately pulls the reader into this book with a grand reveal from the beginning, which draws the reader’s interest to find out more. From here Clark weaves together two narratives, each following Claire and Eva respectively. These narratives also have differing timelines, which allows the reader to learn about both past and present.

THE LAST FLIGHT is a thrilling journey in Claire and Eva’s lives and their desperate attempts to find better lives for themselves. This book is the perfect thriller with a timely nod to the #metoo movement. For readers looking for a bingeable summer read, this book is a perfect choice!

A huge thank you to Sourcebooks for my gifted copy!

Claire has a seemingly perfect life. She’s wealthy, successful, and married to a beloved politician. But behind closed doors, things are anything but perfect. She is physically and emotionally abused by her husband, and every last second of her life is under his control. She carefully constructs a scheme to escape, but the plans are foiled at the last minute, and she thinks she has lost her chance. Then, while leaving for a business trip, she meets a woman at the airport who also seems to be in distress. The two make a split-second decision to switch airline tickets—and lives. But one of the planes crashes—and the other woman (assumed dead in the crash) must start a new life, as someone else. This book is a heart-stopping, smartly-written thriller that will definitely keep you on the edge of your seat. I read it so quickly (couldn’t put it down!). Such a perfect beach read.

Readers of "domestic suspense" style books are going to want their hands on this right away. My reading life has been so distracted lately, but I read this one in about 2 sittings over 24 hours and was looking longingly at it when I couldn't be reading- it's that engrossing. I've seen a lot of positive reviews for this book, and it deserves the hype! I was intrigued by this story of two women meeting in an airport, both wanting to escape their lives and switching flights and what happens next. This is fast paced and tension filled, just the way I like my books, and there were plenty of surprises. I'll include the synopsis below, but I highly recommend this one for your summer reading! This is the time of year that I want something that steals all my attention and keeps me reading into the night and this was exactly what I wanted it to be.

The Last Flight is a read I could not put down from the very beginning. Prepare for a rocking roller coaster ride with secrets and suspense woven throughout the novel!

I am fascinated with Claire from her first scenes in The Last Flight, with her fabulous public life and her dark secrets. In the very beginning of the novel, we meet Claire as she is meeting her childhood friend, Petra and preparing to leave her life behind and become someone entirely new. She has this massive plan that has taken months of planning and everything is turned upside down when her husband changes plans last minute.

So instead of flying toward the comfy cushion of a new fake identity, credit card and a stash of cash, Claire decides to go to Puerto Rico.

Only she meets Eva- who is also on the run. They decide to switch tickets as a way of giving them a breather from their lives while they figure out what their next steps will be.

What I love about this book is how believable the characters are. The story flows so quickly and has so much going on, but it is these two women who have such strength and courage to switch tickets and start new lives free from fear that got to me. Tons of suspense and action, this book shifts from Eva and Claire's first person narrative. Author Julie Clark handles the narrative perfectly. Seriously love this book and Julie Clark is now one of my favorite authors!!!

I requested a temporary, digital advance reader copy from NetGalley to read and enjoy and my review is voluntary offered. As always, my opinions are my own.

After hearing rave early reviews, I was incredibly excited to pick up The Last Flight by Julie Clark. Claire and Eva have a chance airport meeting where they decide to switch tickets - and therefore lives to an extent, expecting that this swap will give each of them a head start on running away. Of course, if things were that simple, we wouldn't have a book. The Last Flight was literally giving me heart palpitations by Chapter Three and as I neared the end, I was clamoring to know how things were going to turn out, the hallmark of a great thriller for me!

I love a suspense/thriller novel but so many seem to have become a bit too similar recently, with the unreliable female narrator seemingly top of the pile. If you are looking for something a bit different, well written and still full of twists and turns, I suggest you pick up this book immediately - it had me gripped from the start and I flew through it. Put it in your TBR list now!

Two women, living very different lives, both want to run away from their current lives - they meet by chance at an airport bar and a split second decision has life-changing consequences. Told from alternating points of view, Clark's character development is fantastic, as we get to know two strong women, very different but both trying to make the best of life in difficult circumstances, who you can't help but root for despite their flaws, and Clark cleverly weaves one present time narrative with one leading up to the point at which they meet. The tension builds slowly, with plenty of twists that I did not see coming, leading to an ending that is weirdly both unexpected and unsurprising, but more importantly so well written that it absolutely gets you in the gut.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advance copy in exchange for an honest review.

This is a great domestic thriller, which i loves because it is different from most thrillers these days with unreliable female narrators. It has strong female characters and is perfect for the #metoo era.

Book Review: Last Flight by Julie Clark

“Everything you ever wanted is on the other side of fear.” (Last Flight by Julie Clark).

Two women, each with their own ticketed destinations and personal reasons for needing to disappear from their current lives, serendipitously come together at JFK Airport where they switch boarding passes and alter the course of their lives. Julie Clark weaves together the lives of these women through alternating narratives; one filling in the past and the other progressing in present time. I found myself identifying with each of the women in different ways and rooting for each to succeed! Last Flight is well written and clever and might appeal to fans of the suspenseful novels of Karin Slaughter or Ruth Ware. I did not want to put down and can’t wait to see what Julie Clark writes next!

Thank you to Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the ARC!