This book was a definite departure from the escapism I prefer and enjoy. This story was not afraid to grab your heartstrings and yank pretty hard. Forewarned is forearmed, so I dived into knowing what I was getting into,

I found this book beautifully written. It did a great job exploring grief in several tragic situations. Where I think it excelled was in its depictions of mental illness. The author did a great job exploring these themes. Keep in mind this is a general fiction book. I am really glad some publishers are learning to label their books correctly, as it is quite annoying to expect a romance and find 99% fiction and 1% on a "romance" book.

If I were to describe this very complex book, I would say it's a beautiful story about connection, family, life, and life after loss. About what's irreparably broken and what can be repaired.

This was a raw, real look at human nature and its resilience. I feel this book will stay with me for a long time.

It is a five-star #RogueRecommends in the general fiction genre that will fill your heart with hope.

Rating: 4.5 Stars

It had been more than three years since she lost her husband, but Anna still had a Spencer-sized hole in her life. As her friends and family pushed her to start "getting out there", Anna was secretly dialing Spencer's phone to hear his voice message. Then one day, she called and someone answered. She forged a connection with this stranger, who has also suffered a significant loss, but would they be able to move on from the past?

This isn't the first time I have seen this plot device used, but I loved what Lucas did with it, because it was Anna's first step towards healing. When I first met Anna, I immediately felt the depth of her sadness and loss. Lucas did a beautiful job helping me understand the relationship she shared with her husband and the magnitude of their love by sharing some really wonderful bits of Anna's past. Because of that, I understood her pain. At the same time, I wanted her to be able to find some healing and comfort and was overjoyed when fate stepped in.

Anna's instant connection to Brody was no accident. I think the universe meant to bring them together. Both experienced loss and were weighed down by guilt. They could see and sense things in one another that many others could not. Their friendship was bumpy, but watching it grow brought me great joy and satisfaction.

I seem to be a sucker for stories that tackle grief, loss, and the need for connection. I thought Lucas deftly handled all those elements, and the feels! These two oozed pain, and my heart ached. But you know what? I also got to feel their elation and delight. I sobbed and shed all sort of tears, but in the end, my heart was left full of warmth, hope, and happiness.

Overall: Touching and heartwarming with an ending that had me walking on rainbows.

Told through the dual narratives of Anna and Brody, this novel explored grief and loss and how each person’s process and timeline can be different. I liked how the author brought awareness to anxiety and panic attacks by weaving it into the story and exploring how the narrator dealt with it. I found it easy to read and well written even though the subject matter could be considered difficult to some readers. Add this to your to read list.

This beautiful story opens three years after Anna has devastatingly lost her husband, Spencer, in a freak accident. Unfortunately and not at all surprisingly, Anna can't find the tools or motivation to move forward. She has supportive friends and family, but without going through the same experience, they can't fully understand her grief and resistance to let go. Through a random twist of fate, Anna meets someone through a phone call who does understand her grief as he has been through a similar experience. So begins a supportive and healing relationship where the two are able to share their struggles with understanding and no judgement.

A heartbreakingly poignant story that walks the reader through Anna's grief, mother-in-law struggles, friendships, revelations, self-doubt, attempts to "re-enter" the dating world, family discord, aha moments, fears and finding the courage to open her heart once again. I found myself frustrated with some of the choices made by the characters in the book. Then I took a step back and considered the challenges they were forced to "look" through.

As sad as the subject is in this book, it is still filled with love, resilience and hope. Thank you to NetGalley, Book Club Girls and William Morrow/Custom House for the advance copy to read and review. Pub date: 6/8/21.

Definitely recommend!

I received an ARC of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This book is about grief, hope, and acceptance, especially in the wake of tragedy. This story broke me and remade me in all the best ways. I was drawn into Anna's mind right from the first pages, her grief so real and palpable on the page. And Brody. His characterizarion was superb.

This book made me cry more than once. I cared for these characters and the journey they went on together. I loved the way they ended up, that the journey was the focus and not necessarily the romance. This book was fantastic, so poignant and full of heart.

This was such a powerful story! Two strangers who were dealing with personal loses. Because of a chance phone call, Build a friendship that helps both of them work through their emotions, anxiety and loss they are suffering with over the years. Empowering each other to become stronger, and be able to pick up with their lives again, and eventually find love again.

How do you really say goodbye to someone you loved?

Anna's husband, Simon, died tragically and unexpectedly three years ago. Despite her friend's efforts to help her move on from her grief by making her sign up for things such as salsa classes, Anna still struggles. She still has lunch with Simon's family every other week. She still calls Simon's phone just to hear his voice and to talk to him.

It is on one of these calls that Anna made on New Year's Eve that the phone picks up, and we meet Brody, who has just been given Simon's phone number. Over the next few months, Anna continues to call and speak with Brody. Brody has also lost someone dear to him, and their calls become a source of healing for both of them.

The book started off a little slow-moving, but the story and characters are compelling and do keep you reading. It's almost like you trudge through the grief with them at the beginning, and then, as things move forward, the plot picks up and keeps going at a faster pace. The first several chapters are all told from Anna's perspective, but then you start to get chapters from Brody's perspective. It was nice to have that intimate portrayal of grief from two points of view. Though the theme of this book is a tough one, I didn't think the book got bogged down in the tragedy. The author was able to create a story that was poignant without being dreadful.

What a lovely book. Thank you to William Morrow and Custom House for the advance reader's copy through NetGalley.

The premise of The Last Goodbye drew me in.

CW: death of a husband, death of a child, anxiety, social anxiety

It is a story about loss, grief, anxiety, and second chances. On New Year’s Eve, Anna dials her husbands number to hear his voice and is surprised when someone answers because her husband died three years ago. Anna calls back and as she forms a relationship with Brody, the man on the phone. Brody’s grief is different than Anna’s, can they still help each other through their grief?

This was a heartbreaking novel about healing and grief.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review

Within this short novel, Fiona Lucas was able to take my heart, break it into two, and put it back together again.

Anna's husband has been deceased for 3 years now. Caught up in the past on New Years Eve and needing to hear his voice again, she calls his phone to listen to his voicemail only to have a stranger answer.

This was such a beautiful story about grief, moving on, and learning to love again. Anna and Brody's individual characters and relationship were masterfully created as their stories wove together. Although there were numerous parts that I teared up, this wasn't a sad story. It truly was encouraging and hopeful.

If you've experienced loss of any sort, I highly recommend reading this book, but tread carefully. All feelings of grief will resurface.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book in return for an honest review!
•
Overall: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️(4)/5

Ugh, my heart! This book is so emotionally deep and beautifully written. I would consider it closer to a 4.5 for me!

Anna is grieving the loss of her husband and decides to call his phone number, just to hear his voice, when another man answers. Brody, the man on the other end, and Anna continue to connect and together they navigate through their own pain, with each other's help.

This book is slower-paced, but I think necessarily so. It provides a depth that this story and these characters need, one that I personally enjoyed. Author Fiona Lucas masterfully reveals details, specifically about Brody, that leave you guessing and suspecting a bit, with the storyline developing literally to the very last page.

I also had the privilege of being able to listen to the audio of this and the narration by Antonia Beamish was a wonderful experience. She provided warmth to the story that I really enjoyed.

Thank you to NetGalley, Avon Books and Harper Audio for an advanced copy of this and the opportunity to share my honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A story about survival, loss, grief, anxiety, and second chances. Anna and Brody connect when Anna dials her dead husband's number to hear his voice and is shocked when someone else picks up. They help each other through difficult times.

Charming romance set in Britian without a fight or much snogging. Delightful read.

If you are a fan of P.S. I Love You this is the book for you.

A story of love, loss, grief and finding your way back to moving forward with your life. Three years after the loss of the love her life, Anna is still trying to move in with her life. On New Year’s Eve Anna calls his phone just to hear his voice. To her surprise someone answers the phone. What follows is Anna slowly finding her way back to living her life.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Publish Date 6/8/21

#NetGalley #TheLastGoodbye #reading #bookstagram #2021reads #bookstagrammer #bookish #booknerd #NewRelease #readinginohio

3.5 stars
The Last Goodbye by Fiona Lucas is a sweet, sometimes sad love story. Anna is depressed and grieving her husband’s sudden death three years before, the victim of a drunk driver. Her friends try to interest her in dating without much success. Serendipitously, she connects with a noted children’s author Brody, who has inherited Spencer’s phone number. Their friendship develops, and as they fall in love, Brody has to make a decision whether he will reveal his secrets and personal loss to Anna.
This was a nicely written book with good character development and plot movement. The story felt real and held my interest. At times, I visualized the story as a Hallmark movie. This is a good choice for readers who like to see two nice but damaged individuals find each other and move toward a future together.
Thank you to William Morrow/NetGalley for the ARC. This is my honest review.

Anna hasn't been able to move on--at all--almost 3 years after her husband, Spencer, was killed in a car accident. Despite urging from her best friend Gabi to take on some social interactions, she can't see herself with anyone but Spencer, ever. Sometimes she calls Spencer's cell phone just to hear his recorded greeting, and to "talk" with him. But one time . . . someone talks back.

It's a man named Brody who has inherited Spencer's phone number, and he has his own tragedy he's trying to overcome. They strike up a tentative conversation, and over time they become friends and mutual supporters, although Brody is not at all forthcoming with Anna about his life. And we don't know any details about his tragedy until very late in the book.

This is a simple story about two people trying to come to terms with sadness in their lives, played out over many months. As readers we get to see what's happening to Anna with regard to her social life and career, as well as glimpses into Spencer's agonizing attempts to overcome panic attacks, agoraphobia, and his abandonment of a career that once meant the world to him.. It is a debut novel, and I believe the author shows a lot of promise. It's a quick read, with some tear-inducing moments and a satisfying conclusion.

3.5 stars.
This book is well written and a quick read but something just didn't do it for me.
I never felt like I truly connected with any of the characters. Anna got on my nerves at times, Brody didn't have enough depth and Gabby going from a fun having party girl to falling head over heels for a guy so quickly didn't ring true to me.
I like that this book dealt with so many issues (anxiety, depression, grief, crazy mother-in-laws) but felt many of the issues were dealt with in wrong ways. Somehow Brody gets over his anxiety in three months, Anna doesn't want to "deal" with her mother-in-law but is forced, etc.
Thank you to Netgalley for giving me this book for an honest opinion.

Three years ago, Anna lost her husband in a tragic accident. She has not been able to move on and she is barely getting through her life. One night, she calls Spencer's phone number so that she can hear his voice in his voicemail greeting. But instead of a greeting, a man answers. Anna can't help but continue to call the line, slowly opening up to Brody, the stranger on the other line. He seems to know exactly how she is feeling and he makes her feel seen. Over the course of a year, Anna and Brody support each other through these phone calls and begin to fall for one another.

This book paints a very detailed picture of some mental health struggles. On Anna's side, she lives day in and day out with an all-consuming grief. On Brody's side, he suffers from a social anxiety that is debilitating. I like books that talk about emotional struggles and how they are real and they make us human. Anna and Brody both do the work to challenge themselves and to turn a corner in their lives. Their journey of finding coping strategies that work for them is important to talk about.

Brody is the perfect supportive friend to Anna, providing her with wisdom and insight about her grief. The mysterious nature of his history was what really kept me tuned into the story. I wanted to know what happened to him and how he got here.

Although this book had a good storyline, it lacked a bit in execution. The book dragged through most of the book and could have been about a hundred pages shorter. Overall, it was a thought-provoking read for those who enjoy books about mental health.

Steam level: 🔥
⚠️: death of a spouse, agoraphobia, panic attacks

The Last Goodbye is a novel about grief and find the strength forward after experiencing the loss of a cherished loved one. It is also a love story of old love and new love. Although, the topic may be depressing, the plot was captivating, I felt the need to keep reading to see what was going to happen next. Thank you NetGalley and The Book Club Girls of Facebook for the ARC!

I’m not crying, you’re crying. Unfortunately the lovely Anna is also crying. Her husband died three years ago, and she’s still grieving. On New Years Eve, she calls her husband’s old phone number to hear the voicemail message, but finds the number was inherited by Brody, who has been dealing with his own grief and loss. The story is their journey forward. Beautiful, messy, and all consuming.

Anna Barry unexpectedly lost her husband Spencer, the love of her life, nearly three years ago and is still struggling with debilitating grief of her loss. Her well-meaning best friend Gabi tries to set her up with the perfect man for Anna, but given she's not ready, this seemingly harmless act thrusts Anna deeper into her sadness. So much so that in a low moment, Anna dials Spencer's old number for the comfort of his voice in his outgoing mail message. Except a man answers instead.... what follows is a captivating story of love, loss, growth, grief, and forgiveness.

I loved this book so much. Women's fiction is not generally a genre I gravitate to as I'm not a huge fan of fluffy romance. This was not that at all and I was more than pleasntly surprised. I connected with these characters and felt I was part of their unique story. I loved watching the mystery of Brody unfold. He was by far my favorite character and I very much enjoyed grtting to know him. I was often annoyed with Anna and some of her actions, but learned to understand why. I would highly recommend this if you enjoy characters creating deep connections and coping with loss.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this in exchange for my honest review.

I really enjoyed the slow pace of this book and I thought the pacing worked well to show the stages of grief as well as the development of friendship/love. This is a well-written book that brought the characters of Anna and Brody to life. The details of Anna and Spencer's relationship were also just right to both display their relationship to the reader and to provide some key points for plot progression (with the phone call and expected response). I appreciated the way in which Brody's fears were depicted - he is a character with a complicated past. Fiona Lucas is clever in her use of dialogue and timing. This is a touching, sweet story and I would highly recommend it!