The Last Charm is the first book by Ella Allbright that I've read. Watching Leila and Jake's relationship unfold was such a delight. A moving, heartwarming story - this was such a beautiful and engaging read!

The Last Charm is the love story of Lelia and Jake. Its a sweet story of loss and love and fills us with hope. I loved this book and recommend it.

This was a story about love, loss and hope, full of twists and turns and told over a number of years.

I really loved Jake, as I think anyone who reads this book will. After having a rough start in life, he matures into a loving, caring young man who will do anything for those around him. It was a joy to see him develop throughout the book and his connection to the charms was really touching.

Leila had her own issues throughout the story and it was interesting to watch her confront them and grow as a character. I liked the balance of her sensitivity and creativity with her spikier side that came from her fear of being abandoned. Both she and Jake were well-rounded characters with flaws and issues that felt very real to read.

The ending was so sad! My heart broke and was put back together again by the lovely final chapter and, of course, The Last Charm.

Leila Jones has very few material things she couldn't live without but her charm bracelet is one of them; so when she loses it she's devastated. Of course, when one is found she has to prove it's hers but how? As each charm has a story behind it gradually Leila recalls the memories and replays them for a stranger so it can finally be returned to its its rightful owner.

This is a beautiful story, heartbreaking and hopeful in equal measure and I'm not ashamed to say I finished it in tears. It isn't only the story of Leila and Jake however, but also of how our past shapes our future, and connections forged early can last a lifetime. In different ways Jake and Leila were denied what should be everyone's by right, a carefree childhood, but with a little help from others both discover nothing is as insurmountable as it first appears.

My only problem with this book was, unfortunately, Leila. She was, due to circumstance, as damaged a soul as Jake, but for all her internal reasoning and ready apologies she never truly grasped what she had right there in front of her. Jake, on the other hand, leapt off the page, stole every scene, and although, even with hindsight but no spoilers, I can now see the reasons for some of that I would have liked to have 'felt' Leila a little more.

I was able to read an advanced copy of this book thanks to NetGalley and the publishers in exchange for an unbiased review and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys an emotional rollercoaster of a romantic read. Be warned though, keep tissues handy.

I don’t even know where to begin. I adored this story and how it was told, from page 1 I was sucked in to Leila & Jake’s story. From how they met, to how they kept meeting, their rough childhoods and always somehow finding each other along the way...it left me breathless. I do not want to give away anything, but the ending had me in tears as I read into the night. The only reason I gave it 4 stars was because I thought at parts it dragged on and the fighting during some of their meet ups had me annoyed. I would love for this to become a movie one day...so good!!!!

I was first drawn to this book by the beautiful cover – so simple, yet so elegant. This book tells us the story of Leila and Jake, and begins many years before the present day when they were teenagers. Both of them have their own issues and continue to do so throughout the years. They both meet when Leila and her dad leave their home to move in with her granddad a few doors away. Leila’s mum has left them, with no clue as to her whereabouts, leaving her a charm bracelet as a parting gift. Jake moves into Leila’s old house with his abusive father and abused mother. They become friends, of sorts, with Jake appearing to value their friendship more than Leila does, but their friendship is always rocky with one or the other always managing to say the wrong thing every time they meet. The story continues from that first meeting, alternating chapters from Leila and Jake’s point of view, telling their stories every few years. They both turn from troubled teenagers to adults, still not able to ever admit how they really feel about each other.

I love Jake’s character right from the beginning. A troubled boy, for obvious reasons, you just want to take Jake home and give him the kind of love he deserves. He is a classic example of an abused child not letting his childhood hold him back for the rest of his life. I have to be honest and say I didn’t like Leila’s character until very late into the book. She continually knocked back Jake’s attempts to be friends (or more!) and really didn’t come across as a very nice person, certainly not one who deserved a friend like Jake. Of course, as the story move on, Leila learns valuable life lessons, and eventually redeems herself by the end of the book.

Overall, this is a beautiful and heart-breaking love story. It’s not a romantic comedy, although there are some laughs along the way, but it is most definitely a journey of self-discovery. I will admit it did have me in tears at several points throughout the story, but it also left me with a heart-warming feeling by the end of the book. Highly emotional, filled with lots of important moments you may experience over life, I couldn’t put this book down until I had finished it! My first book by this author, but I will definitely be keeping my eyes open for more!

Really enjoyed the storyline in this book. Have had a reading slump recently and this got me going again. Look forward to reading more from this author

Leila tells us about her Charm bracelet, the story behind each charm and her relationship with Jake.
A slow burning love story about these two characters and all the ups and downs that happen in their lives.
Thank you to NetGalley and Harper Collins UK - One More Chapter for my e- copy in exchange for an honest review.

A slow burn, but a lovely story about love. It's a gentle read with a lot of ups and downs, lots of sadness as well as joy. Will keep you hooked.

I remember when my mother gave me her charm bracelet as a teenager. It is a piece that I treasure. Every bracelet is unique and I am always fascinated to hear the reasons why a particular charm adorns a bracelet. Due to this fascination, I was pulled in right away by the title The Last Charm and eagerly requested a copy for review.

The cover is simple but gave me a simple, comtemporary, rom-com vibe. I expected to like it.

This book is so much more. It's simple in that it explores the life of Leila and the major events that have shaped her. And while there are funny moments, this is no light-hearted rom-com. It is a delve into the big and small things that shape our choices and our character. It examines relationship and the impact it has on our lives. It is full of devotion, selfishness, love and hope.
I didn't like this book - I LOVED this book.

I don't want to give away any of the story - it was such an enjoyable read - even the hard parts were handled so beautifully - I kept waiting to see what the next charm was going to be.

Read this book.

I was provided a dARC by the publisher via NetGalley. This is my honest review.

Wonderful idea for a tale, what a story the charms on a bracelet can weave. I was hooked from the first page.

The last Charm by Ella Allbright is a beautifully, moving story about first love between Leila and Jake.
Leila’s mother left home after splitting with her dad. But before she left, she gave Leila a charm bracelet and every year Leila believes that her mother sends her charms to her each year with a little story behind each one.
Jake a few years older than Leila moves in a house three doors down which used to be Leila’s old house. Staying in her old room. Where Leila has painted doors on her walls to magical kingdoms. Jake is amazed by this. They soon become friends, but they have their ups and downs and their own lives with their families are not always rosy throughout the years. But, against all odds they put their differences aside and they become a couple.
Thank you, Harper Collins, one more chapter and the author for a copy of this book for an honest review. I loved the premise of this story and the stories behind each individual charm. I thought they were lovely. I was just a bit annoyed with Leila what ever Jake did for her she still gave him sometimes a hard time. 4 stars from me.

Jake moves into Layla's house after she and her dad have been abandoned by her mum and stay instead with her granddad a couple doors away.



As Jake suffers at the hands of his dad and his mum can't fight back, he gets to know Layla and her granddad becomes his role model and a much better and loving father figure.



He sends Layla charms each special time something happens only a misunderstanding means she always thinks they're from her mum who left her behind.



As the years to on, Jake and Layla stay in touch and are friends of sorts however it takes a long time for Layla to realise just what she wants in a guy after a string of bad relationships and a heartbreaking situation too.



My word this book broke me, it was a stunning story and the twists and turns especially towards the end took my breath away in a good way it was such a fantastic read showing how relationships change over time and raising awareness of serious issues so trigger warning of you are sensitive to the subjects of miscarriage and domestic abuse.



Many thanks to the publishers for allowing me to review this book for them!

A lovely story I throughly enjoyed it.
Ella Albright has wrote a little gem of a romance here that spans time over a decade and leaves you feeling sad when its finished.
The story is based around Leila who we see from the age of ten growing up with the sadness that her Mum left home without warning, her Dad and Granddad cant explain why, because they don't know the reason.
The only clue Mum left behind is a charm bracelet and one small heart charm which Leila adores and never takes off.
As the novel continues Leila explains at each chapter how a secret benefactor seems to gift her a charm that is relevant to what is happening to her in her life. The highlights and low times are all marked by a charm arriving.
Jake who is Leila's neighbour has his own problems too. His Father is violent and abusive and terrorises his Mother. They bond and become friends and over time their friendship is challenged in lots of different ways.
Both characters tell their story set in Dorset with descriptions of the stunning coastline incorporating Durdle Door.
Lots of gentle reading which came for me at the right time during isolation. Lots of ups and downs from all the character, Leila's almost like a sweet and sour character. Sometimes loving her and often she leaves a bitter taste. Jakes character is adorable and the positivity and resilience shine through.
I was hooked to this story and throughly enjoyed it. I didn't think for a minute that I could be so impressed but the story developed nicely and I will look forward to reading more of Ella Allbright in the future.

This was an enjoyable read but I had one problem with it. The heroine behaved in an awful way throughout. It spoilt the whole romance for me. Otherwise it was written and worth a read for a light, fun read.

I had no pre-conceptions about this story, and even as I was reading, wasn't completely sure what direction it would ultimately take. For which I'm delighted and think its the best way to go into this story - so that you can experience it fully, without any hints of the specifics in advance.

And in saying that, it makes writing this review a whole lot harder!

This is the story of Leila and her charm bracelet. She is recounting exactly how each charm came into her life, and so we see her grow up from age 10, up to present day. We go through highs and lows with her, and although we are only getting snapshots of her at various ages and points in her life, you feel like you get to know her incredibly well.

I love how this isn't flashbacks interspersed with present day - there is a short intro which is a valid way of explaining why we are getting the story of each charm, and then that isn't referred to again, until it is relevant towards the end.

So it really is watching Leila and her friends and family grow up. There are characters that appear in most chapters, and there is one particular person who is very present in this book besides Leila. And it is the parallel of both of their stories and seeing how they both develop that fascinated me.

I found this to be a really gentle read, it was a book I was always delighted when I could pick it back up, and lose myself within the next instalment of Leila's life. I'm very impressed that a book about a charm bracelet could develop the way it did, and I absolutely adored everything about this story.

There are ups and downs, definitely some emotional bits but also some sections that will make you smile. I don't want to say much more other than this book is very well written, it had me completely engaged with it, and I'm very much looking forward to Ella Allbright's next book as I know I need to read more by her.

Thank you to One More Chapter and Netgalley for this copy which I have reviewed honestly and voluntarily.

The Last Charm is a beautifully written romance that draws you in and creeps in to your heart, with it's original story and relatable characters that are so well written you feel as if they are your friends.

Beautifully written and interestingly structured. A deeply emotional tale, almost too real to read, dealing with raw and realistic issues.

A beautifully told, heartwarming yet heartwrenching epic love story that took me on a rollercoaster of emotions! I’m in love with Jake as much as Leila is, if not a little more! This is such a gorgeous, compelling read that I couldn't get enough of.

Not the story I thought it would be . A pleasant story. The two main characters were hard to warm too. I know they both had major issues,which were covered well, The ending was not what I expected. An ok read.