Two women experience trauma at the same time, in two different Australian cities. They meet when Lucinda/Hope moves into the apartment complex Abi has begun to manage, and they develop a fast friendship. When tragedy again threatens to strike both women, they prove their friendship can handle anything!

I adored this women's fiction novel. While parts of it felt predictable, I didn't mind - the story wasn't so much a mystery as it was a "women's bond is stronger than anything that gets thrown at it" story. A great read for vacation, beach time, or whenever you just want to curl up with a good book and forget your responsibilities for a minute!

I chose this book for a break in between my thrillers. This is a story of two women making up for their husbands mistakes and moving on to a happier life. Abbi and Lucinda were real and flawed women and I appreciated that. They were strong and stuck to their beliefs.
A little predictable but overall an enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ebook copy.

Thanks NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Louise Guy for an ARC to review.
My second book for the same author, first was The Winning Betrayal which I absolutely loved.
Abi's and Lucinda's life paths cross together after they both face major challenges.
Abi starnded alone after losing almost everything, her husband, her job, her friends her reputation, her house, her money and her son.
Lucinda forced out of her home, running for her life with her 4 years old Max escaping an abusive relationship.
What would their friendship add to their grave situations?
A heartwarming story you wouldn't want to miss.
I absolutely loved it

The funeral was not well attended – it couldn’t be when the man it was for had ripped off most of his friends in a spectacular fashion. But his wife and now widow, Abi, was shattered. She couldn’t believe it of her Eric, the man whom she’d loved for years, the man who’d said he loved her. And their son, sixteen-year-old Hayden, was angry, fully believing Abi knew everything Eric was doing. Would she ever find a way to pay all their friends back? Would Abi have any friends on her side? And would Hayden stop hating her?

Lucinda’s husband Ryan was finally in prison, a place she hoped would hold him for many years to come. But even from prison he controlled her. She and four-year-old Max were persuaded by Lucinda’s mother to leave Queensland and head to Melbourne, get new identities and find a place where Ryan’s minions wouldn’t find them. And as Lucinda found a small apartment for them – old, needing repairs – she gradually felt more comfortable. When Lucinda – whose new name was Hope – and Max met their next-door neighbour, she and Abi felt an immediate kinship.

But both Lucinda and Abi had more than their fair share of problems and they would get worse in the upcoming days and weeks. Both women weren’t sure what their futures would hold and if they’d ever know a measure of peace again…

Her Last Hope by Aussie author Louise Guy was intense! I couldn’t put it down. Filled with suspense, gritty tension and psychological manipulation, Her Last Hope is an excellent, well written novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. Of course, Max was wonderful! A happy little guy who loved everyone, and everyone loved him, as the adults tried to work their way through awful situations. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

This is the first book i have read by Louise Guy and I loved her writing style. It was simple and easy to read with well developed protagonists in Abi and Lucinda that I could not help but only feel empathy towards them.

The narrative alternated between the stories of Lucinda and Abi and the obstacles they face after being betrayed by their husbands and how their friendship gives each other a hope for a better future.
It was an entertaining read although a bit predictable and slow at times, it did not take the enjoyment away. Overall an immersive, gripping plot with strong female protagonists. Definitely give it a try if you are looking for a light summer read.

Thank you @netgalley for providing me with an eARC in return for my honest review.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. I have enjoyed several of Louise Guy's books, so was excited to read this one. It was an easy and enjoyable read, and I was invested in Lucinda and Abi's stories. Whilst predictable in places, the two narratives were woven together well, and Guy creates a lot of empathy for the characters.

Thank-you for the opportunity to read this book, the first of Louise Guy's work I have read and it won't be the last. Her Last Hope draws you in to the lives of Abi and Lucinda, and the events that lead to their lives becoming intertwined. Their stories run seamlessly alongside each other and I couldn't put this book down for wanting to know what happened to each of these strong women. This type of story line has been done before, it did feel fresh in parts but the ending was a little predictable, however, the story really highlights the lengths that people will go to for revenge. Overall, an enjoyable read.

This book takes place in Australia, a place I hope to visit one day! Abi and Lucinda (also known as Hope) develop a true friendship with a lot of obstacles they try to overcome. Several triggers in this book - suicide, kidnapping so just know that going in. It grabbed me from the very first page. A few things I predicted were going to happen actually did happen but that does not deter it from being a good book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

Louise Guy, Her Last Hope, Lake Union Publishing 2021

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this uncorrected proof for review.

Abi and Lucinda are at a crossroads. Although they are unlikely to have met if this were not the case, surprisingly they have other things in common. Both risk losing their sons, they are leaving a familiar life behind and having to adapt to another, and secrets rule their behaviour. They become neighbours in a Melbourne suburb, in a run-down older apartment complex.

Strange neighbours indeed. Abi has left a large architect designed house with grand furnishings and accoutrements, with a wardrobe full of designer clothing, in a salubrious neighbourhood, numerous business and personal friends and a full-time position of authority in a bank. Lucinda has arrived from a much smaller home in Queensland, with a rucksack and case of her and her four-year-old son’s belongings, departing a part time job as a dental assistant. She leaves behind her loving mother and a close friend. Where the women differ is in the reason for their single state: Abi’s home harbours the aftermath of her husband’s suicide; Lucinda’s husband is in gaol.

These are two women whose activities, blossoming friendship and speculations on their futures become quite engrossing. This is astonishingly so, as much of the plot was predictable. Perhaps this is because Louise Guy deals well with developing tension, depicting characters who largely ring true, and has an ability to entice the reader into the women’s lives, predictable or not. I found my wanting avidly to see what happened next quite surprising. However, it is undeniable that although events followed the path that I predicted, I was keen to see the latter come to fruition.

I enjoy the Australian settings of Louise Guy’s novels, and in this one fishing trips in the Kimberly, Moreton Bay Fig trees seen from a lawyer’s office leading to reminisces about picnics in the sunshine and the multitude of parks, and more picnics, around the Melbourne suburbs are evocative – as is the reference to the ever-changing Melbourne weather, and the warmth associated with Queensland and Western Australia.

Recognising the devastating impacts of white-collar crime at the same time as dealing with the more familiar stereotype of a criminal being the tattoo covered drug dealer or man wielding a physical weapon is an excellent feature of this novel. So, too, is the juxtaposition of two women who have been betrayed by their belief in romanticised versions of their husbands, unalike as the men are to the outside world.

Louise Guy has written very readable novel, with engaging main characters, some social comment, and a plot that, while predictable, has enough tension to work well.

My fourth book by this author. Abi's comfortable life in a wealthy suburb of Melbourne comes to an abrupt end when her husband commits suicide. He has been investing client money without consent and lost it all in a property scam. Ostracised by her former friends, made redundant from her job, and estranged from her teenage son, she gets a job as apartment manager for a run down block of apartments in Elsternwick with an apartment on site. The story is gripping and as always with this author I was absorbed in the storytelling until the final page.

3.5 Stars

This is my third book by Louise Guy and I really love the watercolour feel of these covers. This story is a about two women who are trying to make up for their husband's mistakes...and move on to a happier life. I loved the women in this book...they were flawed, real and raw. I found both Abi and Lucinda to be strong of character and true to their beliefs and they showed that you don't have to be blood to be family. The topics covered are very true to life these days and really make you think and I really enjoyed reading about them. My only negative about this story is I found it to be a little predictable, but when you're writing about what could happen in real life, sometimes predictable can be the case.

I really liked the premise of this book but gave up halfway through. I rarely do that. But it spent time too much time going over and over the horrible situation the women were in and the son that walked away from mom so quickly, felt way too over the top for me. He hated her and blamed her for everything? I didn’t buy into that. And I just for the most part did not enjoy the pages that I did read.
However, I can see how a lot of readers would like it.

I’ve read all of Louise Guy’s contemporary novels and have enjoyed them all, Once again featuring realistic characters, in situations that can be imaginable.
Abi suddenly finds herself spurned by all family and friends bar a handful, after her husband invested their money in dodgy investments. Abi was able to rush their loan approvals through her bank, so they believe she knew about the scheme. But it was all a surprise and her life changes drastically.
Hope’s violent partner has gone to jail, so she takes the opportunity to flee to Melbourne with their young son Max, Here she meets Abi, who also lives in the flats and an elderly couple who love to look after Max while Hope works. But all is not as it seems.
I found the characters very relatable, There is an instance in the storyline that I found a little bit hard to get my head around but I’m sure it’s not unfeasible….the underbelly world.
Overall an entertaining read
Thankyou to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read.

Set in Melbourne, this is the story of two women who have been seriously wounded by their husbands. Abi's lost it all- except for her angry son- as a result of her husband's financial doings. He committed suicide and left her aghast at the mess she didn't know he created. Lucinda's husband, a criminal, is in jail for now but she needs to relocate with her son before he gets out and abuses her again. These two meet when Abi rents to Lucinda, they bond, and they heal. Until...... The story is told by both women, which works well. Guy doesn't telegraph her twist, which is a good thing so no spoilers from me! Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

Her Last Hope is an amazing story about friendship and an example how having hope for a better future can help someone overcome destructive and horrific life stages.

Lucinda, her four year old son Max and Abi meet in unusual circumstances. Their lives are filled with secrets and regrets and with no prospect of working out for good. However, we see that if you have hope for a better future and are willing to go through anythig to make it work, there is always a way out.

The story is fast paced and highly entertaining, especially with Max making it fun and it's difficult to not love him. I was so invested that I just couldn't keep the book down. I liked every bit of the story, though I wish it could have had some clarity towards the end and got a bit slow in few instances.

The book is gripping and characters are relatable. I would recommend readers who like suspense and thriller novels, and also novels with strong female protagonist to give this a try.

Thank you netgalley and Louise Guy for the ARC. This is my first book by Louise Guy and I am looking forward to reading The Rival Sisters and Everyday Lies soon.

Three and a half stars.

Two women starting over become friends.

Abi's comfortable life in a wealthy suburb of Melbourne comes to an abrupt end when her husband commits suicide. He has been investing client money without consent and lost it all in a property scam. Ostracised by her former friends, made redundant from her job, and estranged from her teenage son, she gets a job as apartment manager for a run down block of apartments in Elsternwick with an apartment on site.

Lucinda is married to a drug dealer and all-round gangster, when Ryan is jailed for two years for assault she takes her opportunity to vanish without a trace and make a new life in Melbourne with her son Max with a false identity. A chance meeting with a kind, elderly couple at breakfast in the hotel on her first night in Melbourne persuades Lucinda to move to the Elsternwick area of Melbourne. Abi's first job is to get a tenant for an empty apartment and Lucinda seems like the perfect tenant, clean, respectable and able to pay two months rent in advance.

Faced at every turn by fresh evidence of Eric's perfidy (sorry, never used that word before but it just popped into my head) Abi sinks deeper into depression, not helped by her son's cutting remarks. Meanwhile Lucinda and Max are enjoying making a new life away from Ryan's violence, making friends and creating a home. But are all their new friends exactly what they seem?

The trouble with this kind of suspense is that the writer needs to drop enough hints for the reader to realise (as they said on Through The Keyhole) that 'the clues were there' and not so few that the reader is blindsided but not so many that the reader can see things coming a mile off. Unfortunately for me, this fell into the the latter category, I thought the clue dropping was so heavy that Lucinda was a fool to stay in Melbourne and I doubt that anyone on the run from a violent criminal would continue to interact with anyone who gave off an odd vibe.

As always this was a well-written novel with engaging characters, just a little obvious for my tastes.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Her Last Hope is the fifth contemporary fiction novel by Australian author, Louise Guy. The shocks keep coming for Abi Whitmore: after discovering her husband’s suicide, she learns that he has lost five million dollars of their friends’ money on a dodgy property development; many of those friends don’t believe that she knew nothing of Eric’s perfidy.

Worse still, even Hayden, her sixteen-year-old son, is unconvinced of her innocence. Eric’s actions have destroyed her reputation, and she loses her job. Their dream home, car and any luxury goods need to be sold to try to pay back some of what he lost. Abi is grateful for a few loyal friends who give her understanding, work and a place to live.

When Lucinda Manning’s abusive husband goes to prison, she hopes that she and four-year-old Max are finally safe. A visit from his intimidating friend convinces her that she needs to take Max, run and hide. With a new name and a new back-story, Melbourne becomes her new safe place. Soon enough, they are living in a very modest flat in Elsternwick, Lucinda has a waitressing job, and they are, warily, making new friends.

Their close neighbour, Abi seems to have a sad story, but Lucinda is respectful of privacy, and Abi reciprocates. Each faces challenges and offers the other tentative support when needed most. Neither is aware of what is coming, and just how essential that budding friendship will be.

If the story is perhaps a little predictable, Guy more than compensates with her very humanly flawed characters, how they handle the ordeals they are sent, and the wise words and insightful observations of friends and family. What they both face is very realistically depicted, and very topical. A thought-provoking and uplifting read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the opportunity to read this book.

This is the first book I have read by Louise Guy and if Her Last Hope is any reflection on her other work, I can’t wait to read more. Louise has a pleasant, and friendly, writing style which is easy to read. She has created well-rounded and developed protagonists in Abi and Lucinda that the reader can’t help but feel empathy towards.

The narrative alternates between the stories of Abi and Lucinda as events unfurl. Each woman is left to deal with the problems caused by their husband. When her husband commits suicide, Abi is left to deal with his betrayal of friends and family and the revelation that he wasn’t the man she thought she knew. Lucinda, on the other hand tries to start life anew after her husband is sent to prison.
Whilst some of the twists were, in my mind at least, predictable, Louise builds tension in her writing in a way that left me captivated and desperate to know how the story ended. I’ll definitely be recommending it to my book circle as a light and enjoyable read. Ideal summer reading.

i like the book you good read
Abi's life has been turned upside down by her have imagined. With his dodgy business dealings now exposed, gone is her glamorous lifestyle and the trust of family and friends. How could the man who said he loved her have betrayed her so spectacularly?
Adult Women Fiction

Thank you NetGalley / Amazon Publishing UK for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

DRAMA. Betrayal, Friendship. Her Last Hope is the perfect book version of a heart retching Lifetime movie. Abi's husband has committed suicide as the "easy" way out of his fraudulent financial crimes. We're talking millions here. Abi is left behind with an angry teenager and all of her friends who believe she was a part of the scheme. Her life has changed drastically. Lucinda is on the run from her abusive husband sent away to prison and there's no where safe for her and her 4 year old son, Max. These two women who've hit low and dangerous points in their lives cross paths and through their troubles find loyalty, friendship, and love.

TW: suicide, kidnapping, drugs, abuse