"Her Last Affair" by John Searles presents a compelling premise with its exploration of love, betrayal, and the complexities of human relationships. Searles demonstrates a talent for crafting vivid characters and immersive settings that draw the reader into the story.

However, the execution of the novel falls short in several areas. The pacing is uneven, with moments of intense drama interspersed with slower, more mundane scenes that disrupt the flow of the narrative. Additionally, some plot twists feel forced or contrived, diminishing their impact and leaving the reader feeling underwhelmed.

While the themes explored in "Her Last Affair" are undeniably intriguing, the novel ultimately fails to deliver a truly gripping or memorable reading experience. Despite its potential, it falls victim to clichés and lacks the depth and nuance needed to elevate it to greatness.

The cover of this was intriguing and I’d heard good things about his other book so I requested this on NetGalley. It took me a long time to get to it. I wanted to love it but did not. I’m always a bit annoyed by books that have nurses as the main character especially as a crazy/homicidal/pathological main character. This was a bit confusing and I just couldn’t connect with the characters at all.

**Thanks to the author and publisher for the e-arc I received via NetGalley.**=

So. I ended up not finishing this ONE BUT unusually, I'm giving it three stars. I couldn't keep anything or anyone straight - BUT I did really like the writing style. I DNF'ed around 28%. But I will say I think it was more me and not the book.

"Her Last Affair" by John Searles is a gripping and atmospheric novel that explores the secrets, regrets, and desires hidden within the confines of three interconnected lives. With its blend of mystery, nostalgia, and insight into human relationships, Searles delivers a compelling and emotionally charged story.

The narrative follows Skyla, a woman grappling with the loss of her husband Hollis and the regrets that haunt her. Living alone near the now-defunct drive-in movie theater they once operated, Skyla's solace is disrupted when she rents a cottage on the property to Teddy Cornwell, a charming British man who brings unexpected changes to her quiet existence.

Meanwhile, Linelle, approaching her fiftieth birthday, finds herself disillusioned with her marriage and seeking solace in an online affair with Teddy Cornwell, a man from her past whom she hasn't seen in decades. As these characters navigate their own personal struggles, their lives become entangled, leading to unexpected revelations and the chance to confront long-buried emotions.

John Searles expertly weaves together multiple perspectives in "Her Last Affair," immersing readers in the complex inner worlds of Skyla, Linelle, and Jeremy. The author's atmospheric writing style and attention to detail evoke a sense of nostalgia while also capturing the tensions and desires that drive these characters.

The exploration of love, regret, and the complexities of human connections is a strength of the novel. Searles delves into the nuances of relationships, highlighting the impact of past choices and the enduring power of old flames. The characters' quests for redemption and fulfillment make them relatable and their journeys engaging.

While the book incorporates elements of a psychological thriller and film noir, it is primarily a character-driven domestic drama. The suspenseful elements heighten intrigue, but the focus remains on the exploration of the human heart, its vulnerabilities, and the pursuit of personal fulfillment.

In conclusion, "Her Last Affair" is a captivating and emotionally charged novel that showcases John Searles' ability to create complex characters and navigate the depths of human emotions. With its blend of mystery, nostalgia, and insight into human relationships, this book is recommended for readers who enjoy character-driven stories that delve into the secrets and desires of the human heart.

Unfortunately, this one didn't work out for me. I was getting really confused with what was happening and I had to go back a few times to reread. I read about 40% before I DNFed.

*Thank you @williammorrowbooks for the copy in exchange for an honest review. Review not posted to Amazon/Goodreads because less than 4 stars or DNF.*

A woman grieving a husband who wasn't faithful, a wife in a loveless marriage grieving her first love, a man escaping his dark past. All three lives collided; who will survive?

This was a tense book full of atmosphere. I loved how the story came together.

Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow and Custom House, Mariner Books for the the review copy of this book.

Full of twists and turns, multiple viewpoints, and unreliable narrators, this book will definitely keep you wondering what on earth is going on and what is going to happen next. However, I found it to be slightly confusing at times and none of the characters were likable so it was hard to connect there. I still enjoyed it and would read more from this author.

This DNF hurt.

I was very invested for the first 50-100 pages, but it just seem so.. confusing. It almost felt like it was trying too hard to be odd or edgy that it came off as confusing and dull.

I was hoping for something with a little more oddity that was more gripping and not as confusing, so here’s to the next one.

Thank you for the gifted copy!

This book is filled with twists and turns. It’ll keep you on the edge of your seat. I couldn’t put it down. Pick it up!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced reader copy. This is my honest review.

This book was equal parts quirky and equal parts dark. There were times when I got lost on the story and other times when I couldn’t follow. However John is a fabulous author and I will continue to root for him and read everything he writes

Thank you for my copy in exchange for an honest review. This book was a little slow in the beginning and took quite a bit to get into. Once I did, it kept up the pace and I wasn’t able to easily predict the ending. I did enjoy the multiple storylines and how all of the characters were connected, but they were all so unlikeable. It was hard to really form a connection to the book. I just think this story didn’t work well for me, but I would definitely like to try more by this author.

A clever tale of suspense but not the traditional kind, which I found very refreshing. The multiple POVs will keep you engaged as the story slowly unfolds among the characters. This was a compelling read.

I can’t begin to describe this book. It is a weird, Stephen Kingish, Alfred Hitchcockish, story of misfit characters which I alternately hated, then felt sorry for. I was enthralled, yet so creeped out. It kept me trying to figure out the bad guy(s) until the very end and I’m still unsure if there were any good guys. Unpredictable. Would make a great movie..

Marriages with secrets and a familiar stranger. Just who is Teddy? I loved this juicy domestic thriller tale! Everyone was harboring secrets and it was fun each secret reading as they unraveled. There were so many twists I didn’t see coming.

On the other end of wedding bells and my upcoming wedding day is Her Last Affair by @johnsearles. It’s all about balance right?? 🤣🤣🤣 Thank you Tandem Literary and @marinerbooks for the advance copy. This book is on shelves now!

Every marriage has its secrets….

Skyla lives alone in the shadow of the defunct drive-in movie theater that she and her husband ran for nearly fifty years. Ever since Hollis’s death in a freak accident the year before, Skyla spends her nights ruminating about the regrets and deceptions in her long marriage. That is, until she rents a cottage on the property to a charming British man, Teddy Cornwell….

A thousand miles away, Linelle is about to turn fifty. Bored by her spouse and fired from her job when a questionable photo from her youth surfaces on social media, her only source of joy is an on-line affair with her very first love, a man she’s not seen in nearly thirty years, Teddy Cornwell…

While in New York City, Jeremy, a failed and bitter writer, accepts an assignment to review a new restaurant in Providence. Years ago, Providence was the site of his first great love and first great heartbreak—and maybe, just maybe, he’ll look her up when he’s back in town…

Part page-turning thriller, part homage to film noir, and dazzling in its insight into the often desperate desires of the human heart, Her Last Affair is a tense and atmospheric novel of love lost and found again.

This psychological thriller is told from the points of view of three unreliable narrators. Skyla, a lonely elderly widow, rents her extra cottage to Teddy Cornwall, who reconnects with his long- lost first love Linelle online. She is in an unsatisfactory marriage and decides to drive a thousand mile to reconnect with Teddy. Jeremy is a failed writer who goes to Providence to write a restaurant review and hope to meet up with Maryanne, his first great love. These stories seem disconnected but eventually are tied together leading to a surprise ending. The threads of the various characters are hard to follow and their lives seem lonely and desperate, although there are moments of humor thrown in. I did enjoy learning how it all came together.

Sadly, this book does not live up to my expectations. I was unable to relate to the main character or her husband.

I just Love John Searles! I haven't read one of his books yet that I was able to put down. Her Last Affair is no different.
Buy it.
Read it.

I’m thankful that the publishers allowed me the opportunity to read and review this book. While it took me a while to get into it, once I did it ended up being an interesting, twisty read! I felt like there weren’t enough little connections between the characters and story lines throughout the book and I was having a hard time connecting it all. But those last three chapters…what a great way to pull it all together in the end. I was going to give it 3 stars until the analogy to the movie projector rewinding back to the beginning…that earned it 4! It was a weirdly beautiful way to end a really messed up story…very clever!

A fascinating psychological novel with noir influences, Her Last Affair focuses on the connections between four complex characters: Skyla, an elderly widow who lives alone on the periphery of the defunct drive-in she ran with her husband; Teddy, her tenant; his first love, Linelle; and Jeremy, a travel writer in NYC who decides to reconnect with his own first love. The connections between the characters are unexpected, surprising, and, in some cases, deliciously twisted. This book really worked for me.

I wouldn't necessary classify this as a psychological thriller. It's certainly suspenseful, but the suspense is of the more cerebral variety, seen more in the characters' motivations and unreliability rather than in the plot itself. Her Last Affair is definitely character-driven, delving deeply into the psyches of these characters and exploring the ways their pasts have affected them, and the secrets they are keeping from others and themselves. They are fascinating and flawed and vaguely sinister. I love characters like this, who just feel somehow off in a way you can't quite describe.

John Searles weaves the threads of his plot in a way that is nothing short of genius, timing the book's big reveals for maximum narrative impact. He has definite noir influences which come into play both with his characters and plotting and I was here for it. He's not afraid to make the reader uncomfortable or confused, and he even works in some sly humor. Each chapter begins with a quote from a movie shown at the drive-in, and I loved how those quotes applied to the chapters.

I found Her Last Affair to be an incredibly satisfying and unique reading experience. Recommended for fans of Peter Swanson and Megan Abbott.