The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas is a powerful love story tinged by grief and mental illness. Anna had lost her husband, Spencer, to a drunk driver nearly three years earlier. She had kept his cell phone account active and occasionally she would call the number simply to listen to his voice on the message. This New Year's Eve she called and someone answered. She said, "I love you," and he answered, "I beg your pardon," which had been part of the game they played. She was shocked and hung up. Upon some research, she discovered that she had neglected to update her credit card, and account had been closed. She, at least, wasn't crazy. She called again and emptied her heart, and he listened. This phone relationship grew for over a year. Eventually it became a conversation, not just Anna pouring out her grief. She knew very little about him, Brody, but he knew everything about her. Eventually it became almost nightly, the call. Brody seldom left his cabin in the wilderness and certainly never came in contact with other people. Slowly he began to realize this was no longer working and tried to correct it. He determined he couldn't do it without professional help, so he got it, never mentioning any of it to Anna. Meanwhile, Anne was healing, finally. She even started to date. She kept Brody informed and little by little his heart broke for what he couldn't have.

This is the modern version on a classic theme. Now it's the phone, not letters. Anna was afraid of letting go. It was eating her up and making her daily life somewhat a misery. Bolstered by Brody's friendship, she started the process. It was time-consuming, but it was happening. Life, however, didn't stop. She had to continue relationships: her best friend, Gabi, her in-laws, Spencer's family, her own parents. Brody had no one. He had broken off all relationships. Gabi figured out who he really was: an author. Slowly, Anna read his books, which gave her insight into her friend. She told him she knew, and asked him questions and the read got the inside track on this remarkable friendship. It was beyond moving, and hopeful. It was a heart-breaking story in so many ways and yet, they both moved forward emotionally, as well as physically. It was challenging. It was brilliant. It was powerful. Read it!

I was invited to read a free e-ARC of The Last Goodbye by Netgalley, the Book Club Girls group in Facebook, and William Morrow. All thoughts and opinions are mine. #netgalley #thelastgoodbye

The Last Goodbye tells the story of Anna, a widow in her 30s, and her life on hold since the accidental death of her husband, Spencer, two years before. She is sleep walking through life, taking an unchallenging job as an administrative assistant in a plumbing company, and avoiding all suggestions and set ups of her best friend. She gets together weekly with her husbands late family, to eat and reminisce about Spencer. She also frequently calls Spencer’s phone, just to hear his voice. On one such occasion, when she’s really missing him, she calls and to her surprise and horror, someone picks up! From there, Anna’s life takes a series of unexpected, and sometimes unwanted twists, while she tries to find herself again.

Overall, this book is easily related to and the character of Anna is SO real. Her feelings and issues are some that are so easily felt by the reader, whether or not you have had that kind of loss before. The book is true to real life, without becoming too far fetched or unrealistic. I loved the characters and the premise, and this is a perfect book for those who like romantic dramas, like JoJo Moyes books. This is perfect for fans of hers.

Overall, this is a five start book for me. It was easily engaged in, and I had no problem getting to know the characters and relating to them. The book was a fast read, that was so easy to read— I kept saying “just one more chapter!”

Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Anna’s husband, Spencer, was killed by a drunk driver nearly 3 years ago. She has struggled with her grief all this time which has just overtaken her. Her good friend, Gabi, has done all she can to try and help Anna get back into life and perhaps even go on a date with someone, but Anna just cannot do it. Gabi finally gets her to go with her to take salsa lessons. There, she meets a man named Jeremy and Gabi wants her to go out with him, but she is simply not ready.

On New Year’s Eve, Anna dials Spencer’s phone number just to hear his message. But, the number has been given to someone else. Shocked, Anna starts talking to the man who answers. Slowly, they have phone conversations where she just calls herself Anna and he is Brody. As time goes on, Anna comes to rely on talking to Brody and telling him of her grief. He listens and is comforting to her. However, Brody has his own problems that he is dealing with.

The utter grief described in this book is heart wrenching. Anyone who has lost someone can understand Anna’s pain. Everyone has a time period when grief starts to ease, but I sincerely believe that for some there will always be that empty hole in their heart.

I liked Gabi. What a good friend she is to Anna. Anna’s sister-in-law, Teresa, is a wise woman. I need to add that Brody’s dog, Lewis, grabbed me too because his presence was such a comfort to Brody. This book was difficult at times simply because the grief was so deep, but I’m glad I read it. Hope readers enjoy it too.

Copy provided by NetGalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

A story of loss, grief, friendship and second chances at love and happiness.

Ana lost her husband, Spencer, and is having a hard time moving on, past her grief. One night she dials his old number, wanting to hear his voicemail, and someone answers the phone. So begins, little by little a friendship with Brody, the new owner of Spencer's old phone number.

Anna and Brody are both crippled by sorrow from the mourning of a lost loved one. Their conversations, give way to a friendship as they find understanding and solace in each other. I loved their friendship and how they each encouraged each other to take the steps necessary to heal with unconditional support and understanding.

Fiona Lucas wrote this story with sensitivity and compassion for grief and loss and that shines through. It's an emotional story and not one to go into expecting a typical, romcom style love story. This is more about the healing and the emotional connection the characters form with each other, than a typical second chance romance. If you go into it with that in mind, you won't be disappointed.

The Last Goodbye is not at all what I expected it to be. Something about the description and the cover made me think it would be a lighter look at a widow finding love again but it's an emotional exploration of grief and mourning. The overwhelming sense of loss Anna feels makes the book heavy at times (I had to push through the first third) but once it gets in its groove, it also inspires hope. I loved Brody as a character and the revelation of his background caught me completely off guard. Lucas does a marvelous job of making the characters feel like friends and I wanted both Anna and Brody to find not only happiness but also peace.

If you're looking for a book that's both heartbreaking and heartwarming, give this one a try.

Thanks to William Morrow, Custom House and NetGalley for a copy to review.

It's such a beautifully written book that demonstrates how people deal with grief and loss. In my opinion, it's quite a realistic depiction.

Thank you for this ARC! I absolutely loved The Last Goodbye. It's hard to find "up-lit" that isn't cheesy, and this was one of the best fictional books on grief and human connection. I loved every single character in this book, and I never felt bored or unsure of my thoughts on a storyline. This story will stay with me for a long time, and I found myself smiling so much just as Anna and Brody talked.

Thank you again for the ARC! 5-star read for me!

The Last Goodbye is a gripping novel by Fiona Lucas.

This is a story of heartache and grief. This is a story of pain, loss, and healing. This is a story of two people who each lost a member of their family, and suffered greatly as a result.

It's thought provoking and extremely emotional. It takes the reader on one hell of a journey.

I definitely recommend this novel.

BUT, if death of a spouse or family member is a trigger for you, SKIP this one. It's a tough read for sure.

In the end, it's a great hurt/comfort romance that is full of learning to move forward after loss. It's wonderfully done.

The Last Goodbye is riveting from the start. Fiona Lucas brings the reader through all the emotions in this stellar read. I am highly impressed.

The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas is a poignant story about friendship & loss. Ana cannot get over the loss of a loved one and is afraid to move on.
Ana’s husband Spencer was the love of her life and when he was killed in an accident all her hopes and dreams were lost with him. She cannot get over him, and her best friend keeps trying to get her to meet other men, but Ana wants nothing to do with it.
Out of devastating grief on New Year’s Eve, Ana dials her husbands phone number, and unexpectedly a man answers… This phone call will change her life, as the man, Brody is a wonderful listener and becomes a friend who never judges. Brody commiserates with Ana and though him, she learns to be happy again. Brady holds a secret that could change everything and changes Ana’s life as well.
I thoroughly enjoyed this emotional novel and would recommend it to anyone who enjoys unexpected surprises in a story and does not mind shedding a few tears. Thank you to William Morrow and Custom House, NetGalley and Good Reads for this ARC.

Harlequin Junkie Top Pick!

The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas: As Anna counts the months and days since her beloved husband Spencer was cruelly taken from her, she struggles to find any joy beyond the safety of her doona and the walls she has built around herself. Despite genuine attempts by her best friend Gabi to get her out and living again, Anna wants nothing more then to wrap herself in her grief and exist in her tormented world of dead hopes and dead dreams. Against her will, Gabi drags her out on New Year’s Eve and in a cutsie way introduces her to Jeremy, a hot single guy who momentarily captures Anna’s imagination before her grief crashes in and erupts epically in Gabi’s face.

Fleeing to the safety of her home, Anna’s broken heart takes the wheel and manipulates her into dialling Spencer’s number knowing she would hear his voice on the message bank – except of course, someone answers and answers her desperate ‘I love you’ with a ‘I beg your pardon’ – the same line her and Spencer shared from the beginning of their relationship.

Scared, confused and drunk, Anna passes out fitfully in her spare bedroom and the following night, surmises that she needs to call the number again knowing she may well be entirely insane. Thankfully she isn’t, and Brody answers with the reasonable explanation that the phone company has now passed on Spencer’s number. And irrespective of the bitter disappointment Anna feels, Brody and their phone calls quickly become a survival habit given he too is suffering in a dark world punctuated by grief and self-hatred.

Interestingly, Lucas explored the complexity of family, particularly the pitfalls of trying to maintain a relationship in the milieu of emotion that sits around being the daughter in-law and therefore, to a certain extent, bonded by, yet separate to, the familys’ experience of losing their brother or son as opposed to a husband. The natural questions of ‘what if’ and the dark demons that dangle the ‘should ofs’ at whim, to compound the grief all the more were well orchestrated, along with the human tendency to blame ourselves when we survive because we never feel truly entitled to live in the absence of the other, and most definitely not feel any joy or happiness. In this sense, Anna was simply likeable, honest, raw, trying. And similarly, Brody was the same; wise, patient and unable to live his life beyond the confines of his isolated cottage as he simply didn’t believe he deserved to be amongst people. And together they provided more for each other than simply a voice at the end of a phone line.

Beautifully written, well constructed, and well paced, this is a gorgeous romance that dives into the depths of darkness to tackle the suffocating nature of grief and the world that is navigated when it simply hurts to breathe. And whilst it was always likely going to head in the one direction, there was something powerful about the potential for two people to find each other in such unlikely ways and yet become the architecture for their individual healing and happiness. Simply, The Last Goodbye will resonate with anyone who has loved and survived, and likewise provide deep insight and empathy for those fortunate enough to have not experienced it.

I am not a typically a fan of what I am starting to call grief romances. I like to read for escapism and that subject is always a little too close to home. However, this one had a different feel then others I have read and I really enjoyed this one. Anna has been dealing with the loss of her husband for the past three years and everyday is a struggle for her. On New Years Eve Anna calls his voicemail just to hear is voice and for the first time in 3 years someone else picks up. Brody has been living a life of solitude with just his dog out on the moors till one night a random phone call sets him on a new path. I loved the friendship that Anna and Brody shared, both dealing with grief that two lean on each other for support when others do not understand. While this book does deal with grief there was also such a sense of hope to it and I really enjoyed that. Thank you William Marrow and Netgalley for my gifted copy for review.

The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas was an emotional and touching story about grief and loss to life. Anna is still grieving the husband she lost tragically. Moving on seems impossible. To hear his voice once again, she calls his old number to hear his voice and is shocked when someone actually answers. Before she knows it, she is sharing things with Brody she never expected. They are both suffering from heartbreak and sorrow. Their friendship begins over long conversations that seems to bring the something they never expected.

Happy reading!

Thoughts: Grab your tissues and buckle up for an emotional ride. Fiona Lucas writes such a poignant story of grief, love, and loss that readers will feel it on every page. Anna and Brody are at two different stages of their grief but their friendship comes along at the perfect time for both of them. Anna is struggling to move forward after the loss of her husband over two years prior, and Brody's grief has left him agoraphobic, living in a small cottage in the middle of nowhere with his dog Lewis. This story has total 90's vibes in that Anna and Brody get to know one another via phone chats, and their journey from friendship to something more is incredibly sweet. But prepare yourselves for a very slow burn with this one, and I definitely could've used an epilogue. Totally worth the ride, though -- this is a beautiful story of two people forging a judgement-free friendship grounded in grief and the healing process.

Happy Pub Day to The Last Goodbye!⁣
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“Grief is a funny thing,” he began slowly, “people think of it as sadness, but it’s much more complex than that . It has so many layers, so many tangled emotions - including anger.” ⁣
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After I finished The Last Goodbye, I just felt, complete, complacent, happy. There’s just something about realistic healing that I just appreciate. Someone dies, you don’t just get over them. But, they also tell you to not let it consume your life. How can you not let it consume you if the person consumed your life before death? ⁣
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I thought the premise was so interesting and different, but again, real! I know so many people who have saved voicemails or videos they listen to over and over again to hear their loved one. I really wanted to slap her MIL, Gayle. I did enjoy her little arc at the end and her reasonings or behaving the way she did. I felt like I got good closure like it’s my life instead of Anna and this was wrapped up in a neat little bow.⁣
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Thank you so much @harperaudio and @williammorrowbooks for the gifted copy. The Last Goodbye is a refreshing and realistic look at love and loss, and it’s worth it. Out today!

Anna’s husband Spencer died tragically in an accident three years ago and she has been unable to move on with her life. On New Year’s Eve she calls his number to hear his voicemail recording. Instead someone else answers, having been reassigned the number. They tentatively begin a series of phone conversations. Brody has also suffered a loss, and Anna feels he is the only one who can understand her grief. Brody is hesitant to reveal anything about his past, but the longer they talk, the more is revealed. These believable characters show that everyone grieves differently, but can come to terms with loss through forgiveness and emotional connection. Highly recommended emotional journey.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

Anna’s husband Spencer died tragically and suddenly when he was hit by a car. She is still grieving when two years later, she calls his old cell number just to hear his voice. But instead of getting Spencer’s voicemail, she gets Brody, who is navigating his own grief. The two find a friendship through a series of phone calls, and help each other through their pain.

This was a heavy read from beginning to end. It was a beautiful journey of grief and healing, but don’t go in expecting a lighthearted read. That being said, this was a powerful story. I could feel Anna’s pain and seeing her navigate her grief and open herself up to new beginnings was beautiful. I loved that it showed that not everyone grieves in the same way. This one will really touch all of your emotions, so have the tissues ready.

Thank you to William Morrow Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. This book will be released tomorrow.

Thank you to William Morrow and Custom House for an advanced copy of The Last Goodbye!

A touching story about moving on after a great loss, The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas is a emotional read. Even after more than two years, Anna is still grieving the sudden loss of her husband, Spencer. One night, after a particularly difficult evening of missing him, she dials his phone number to hear his voice on the greeting. After hearing the phone click over, she pours all her feelings out to what she thinks is dead air, only to hear a male voice respond. Shocked, she hangs up, but several weeks later she calls back to hear the voice again. The man on the other end is Brody, who she finds is a wonderful listener and also grieving in his own way. Over the next year, they develop a deep and meaningful relationship, strictly over the phone, while helping each other to finally move forward with their lives.

The story was well-written. Anna’s story was heart-wrenching—I could definitely feel the emotion as I was reading. I enjoyed how we were kept hanging on Brody’s story until the end of the book—it kept me wanting to read but I still felt his grief in the writing. I liked all the characters and how the complex family dynamic was included in the story. Overall, this was a good book and I would recommend it to readers who enjoy emotional, realistic stories.

THE LAST GOODBYE – Fiona Lucas
William Morrow
ISBN: 978-0-06-303638-3
June 8, 2021
Contemporary Fiction

England – Present Day

What if you called the phone number belonging to your late love and someone else answers?

It’s been three years since Anna lost her beloved husband, Spencer. To hear his voice, from time to time she has called his cell phone and let it go to his voice mail. Feeling lonely on New Year’s Eve, she calls his number…and a strange voice answers. Rather than hang up, Anna begins to talk to the stranger. She learns that his name is Brody and that he recently acquired Spencer’s old number. Brody has a sympathetic ear for Anna as she talks about losing Spencer and how miserable she has been. She also tells him about her strained relationship with her mother-in-law and how Anna doesn’t know whether she can get past her grief. Brody tells her that he has suffered his own grief but doesn’t reveal the details. Anna is soon placing more calls to Brody, who has now become her sounding board. How much in common do Anna and Brody have? Is he leading her on in hopes of catfishing her?

THE LAST GOODBYE is a haunting, emotional read as Anna—and Brody—deal with their grief through talking with each other. We don’t learn at first about his loss, as the author slowly builds that up until the dramatic reveal late in the book. But Anna’s loss is front and center of this tale. She feels like she could’ve prevented Spencer’s death and that regret has its grip on her. She is consumed by grief, and it is not helped by her mother-in-law, who seems bent on removing Anna out of the family’s memory of Spencer. Instead of talking to each other, the two women are at silent odds against each other, with occasional outbursts. Anna wants to maintain peace with her mother-in-law, but how can she tolerate the hurt that’s inflicted by the other woman?

Brody lives a solitary life out in the middle of nowhere. He is afraid of crowds and when forced to go into places like a grocery store, he invariably suffers a panic attack. Readers will wonder what drove him to his solitary existence and his social anxiety issues. As the months go on and Brody and Anna continue to talk over the phone, a connection develops between them. Will they ever meet face to face? Can Anna—and Brody—get past their grief and get on with a life that is happy?

Readers will be pulled to the characters of Anna and Brody in THE LAST GOODBYE. Their pain is palpable, and it is going to be difficult for them to move past their grief. But hopefully, they will help and heal each other. Getting there is likely going to rip off the bandages they have put on their hearts. A beautiful and touching tale, don’t miss THE LAST GOODBYE.

Patti Fischer
Romance Reviews Today

THE LAST GOODBYE is a standalone novel by Fiona Lucas. This story is told from alternating perspectives. At the opening of this book, Anna has been a widow for a few years, but she is having trouble letting go of her grief. Her BFF Gabi tries to get her excited about a hobby and into the dating game again. Her mother-in-law wants to exercise control over how her son Spencer should be grieved. At a particularly low point, she dials her late husband’s number expecting to her his voice on his voicemail message. Instead, she finds Brody – the new owner of that phone number. What follows is a touching story about two strangers who connect with each other, when they’ve disconnected from almost everyone and everything else in so many ways and find romance as they help each other emotionally.

There is a very sweet and poignant romance in THE LAST GOODBYE, but this book will appeal to readers who enjoy character-driven and emotionally powerful stories, even if they don’t normally read books in the romance genre. The struggle for the main characters is not just facing the reality of death, but the epic tragedy of sudden and completely unexpected death. The author successfully conveys a sense of being cheated, a fear of trusting, and the anger that comes with that. Anna is the main character the reader is first introduced to, and it is made perfectly clear why she is grieving. Brody is introduced later, and it’s hinted at, but the nature of his loss isn’t fully revealed until almost the end. I like the way Fiona Lucas has the characters slowly connect with the reader as they connect with each other. You can’t help feeling like you know them personally, and root for their victories both small and huge. The phone conversations between Anna and Brody seem very natural and the relationship evolves very organically. There is enough charm to balance out the tragedy.

THE LAST GOODBYE is a charming romance bundled in a compelling story about how to deal with grief. The relationship between Amma and her mother-in-law is very messy but very raw and real. I appreciated the contrast between Anna’s relationship with her parents and the one with her in-laws. True to real life, not every character got a neat happy ending, but I wouldn’t mind reading about Anna’s friend Gabi in a future book to see if things took a turn for the better in her love life. I hope to read more stories by Fiona Lucas in the future.