Though this book mainly centers around the holidays, it focuses more on the characters and their emotional journey. Cassie’s story was both heartbreaking and moving. I love how the author used the magic of the holidays as a way of healing rather than a whimsical romance. This was a well written book that deals with grief and how to navigate a life that seems lost.

I went in thinking that this was a romance book, but I think this is more of a women's fiction with some romance. With the heavy theme, I didn’t have the right mindset and because of that there were brief moments in the book where the story felt slow to me and focused on Cassie and Sam’s individual journey. The beginning was so focused on them and their connection, but as the book went on, it lacked that initial tension and chemistry that pulled me in at the beginning. I think this is a good book to check out but know that if you are looking for a primarily romance book, I don’t think this is your book. Thank you to Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine and NetGalley for this ARC

Thank you to Netgalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine for the e-arc. This book had all the feels and I am here for it. Stone made me love the main characters, then they annoyed me and then they made me sob like if I was back to being a teenager and it was not a pretty sight since I have allergies at the moment. I read this book in a 24 hr window while still adulting and motherhood so yeah I was really into it.

This was a lovely lighthearted yet serious story. Lots for the main characters to work through to find their way back to each other. Lots of puzzles which I loved!

I received a complimentary copy of this book "One Last Gift" and all opinions expressed are my own. I really liked Always, In December by this author. The blurb about One Last Gift got me interested, but the book did not hold my interest. I like the idea of this book but I could not get into the story or the characters.

Unfortunately, this book was another case of an amazing premise that couldn't quite deliver.

My biggest problem with this book was the pacing--there were 7 time jumps in this book, some spanning months, some spanning even years--and each time jump made me more frustrated than the last because they were so unnecessary. Adding time jumps can't be a shortcut for characterization--seeing the characters actually change and grow would've been so much more satisfying.

In my opinion, this book would've been best served in a format where the chapters alternated between the present, with Cassie completing this scavenger hunt in the wake of Tom's death, and the past, with relevant flashbacks/Cassie completing a scavenger hunt when Tom was alive. Instead, we started the book with backstory that really was only necessary for the writer to know and not as much for the readers (for example: what was the point of an extensive skiing scene, where Cassie was afraid the whole time, only for this scavenger hunt to revolve around Cassie facing her fears and never once going back to retry skiing?) and then jumped forward five years.

With that story structure, there could've been more relevant flashbacks that would've aided in each character's development, without needing to jump months or years into the future, and we could've gotten to know Tom better, which would've made his passing that much more emotional for the reader.

In the end, I unfortunately wouldn't recommend reading this book.

Thank you to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Having devoured and loved Emily Stone's debut, Always, In December, I was eagerly awaiting One Last Gift. And much like Always, this one is filled with emotion.

Cassie and Tom lost their parents when they were quite young, so they always counted on each other for support. But twenty years later, Cassie's lost Tom as well. Until she finds a note for her in his messy handwriting. She knows what it is: her annual Christmas scavenger hunt, which her brother has always lovingly crafted. She's eager to get to work, to feel close to him once more, but also weary, because what is waiting for her at the end, when the connection between them is severed forever?

I always count a book that can make me cry as a five-star. I love the emotional pull of books that have the ability to wrench your saddest emotions just from their words. And I'm not ashamed to admit that while reading in bed I had to move to the bathroom so I wouldn't wake my husband from crying.

This is an endearing cast, led by Cassie (and Sam--loved both their voices), flaws and all. It's one of those couldn't-put-it-down novels as you race to the end to follow Cassie's journey, to find out whether she's brave enough to follow both her heart and her professional goals. And I know I'll be coming back for Emily Stone's next book.

Thanks so much to Random House Publishing Group/Ballantine/Dell for allowing me a copy of this ARC in exchange for a review through NetGalley.

Cassie and Tom lost their parents when they were young. Their mother’s sister took them in but had a hard time being the mother they needed so it was Cassie and Tom against the world. Sam was Tom’s best friend and the three of them spent much of their time together. As the years went by Cassie had a crush on Sam but he did not return her affection. Now Sam is a high paid lawyer, Tom is trying to find his place, and Cassie works hard at a job she loves but a boss who makes her life miserable. Tom has always given Cassie a treasure hunt for her Christmas gift. Tom was always trying to get Cassie to be more brave. She sets out on her last treasure hunt and finds she can do the activities that frighten her with the knowledge that Tom would be proud.
I loved Cassie’s friends who supported her and gave her strength. The antics with Tom and Sam were so much fun. It was good to see how Cassie made the effort to do what she wanted to do with the encouragement of her friends. When you lose someone important to you your life changes. I thought this book did a wonderful job of showing the grief and the importance of moving forward. People grieve differently and it takes time to wrestle with the feelings. It was a fun adventure to go along with Tom, Sam, and Cassie on their trips and see the resolve many of the hurts they harbored. Great book!

A sweet, Christmas romance about love and loss, and an epic Christmas scavenger hunt her brother set up before he passed away. Will it bring Cassie and Sam back together?

3.5
This is the second Stone book and I'm still not sure what category I would put them in.

While I like the love story spattered in, it tries to be maybe too much. Personal growth, grief, sibling love, treasure hunt, love story, secondary character story lines....
If the love story was the focus I would have liked a little more in the main storyline vs mostly background and separate lives, also more open door steam.
But I didn't dislike each of the elements on there own.

Overall a good read.

Cassie, Tom, Sam and Hazel grew up together and didn't know life without one another. Cassie and Tom, siblings, had lost their parents tragically when the kids were young. Their maternal aunt raised them and offered them a safe place to grow up together but being so young herself along with the grief from losing her best friend and sister, did not know how to comfort the children.

Present day, Tom and Sam plan a trip to Argentina right before Christmas. The night before, Sam is reckless with alcohol and ends up drunk and missing their flight the next day. Tom goes without Sam. Sadly, Tom's rock climbing equipment has a malfunction and Tom dies. Cassie, Sam, and Hazel are crushed but especially Cassie is adrift without her brother and strongest supporter

Growing up, Tom would create a scavenger hunt for Cassie every Christmas. It was the one thing she looked forward to. Tom, not knowing of his untimely death, had left one final scavenger hunt for his sister.

Stone takes the reader on an emotional journey as Cassie goes on this scavenger hunt that Tom left for her. The book brought all the emotions. I was rooting for Cassie the entire way. I will definitely be watching for future releases by Stone.

Trigger warnings: Sudden or unexpected loss, loss of a parent, loss of a sibling

I had not read Emily Stone's debut book so I was not sure what to expect.

I received an ARC of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts & opinions are my own.

This book is about Cassie finding the courage to follow her dreams. Although it set at Christmas, it is not really a Christmas romance. It is about grief, expectations, friendships, loss and courage. A delightful read.

One Last Gift by Emily Stone

One Last Gift is a sweet story of friendship taking place in a small town atmosphere. The characters are lovely and the Christmas setting puts you in the holiday spirit. Stone explores a range of emotions in the book including love, grief, anger and forgiveness.

One Last Gift is a slow burn with romance woven in. Keep the Kleenex close by as they may come in handy while reading this touching book. This novel would make a wonderful Hallmark movie. In fact, parts of it remind me of the show Virgin River. The author left room for a sequel so my fingers are crossed.

One Last Gift by Emily Stone is available on October 11th.

Thank you, NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, for sharing this heartfelt book with me. Your kindness is appreciated.

First off, thank you NetGalley for the ARC of One Last Gift.

I love a good tearjerker, and One Last Gift ticked all the boxes for me. Cassie, Tom and Sam are all strong characters, and the slow burn of Cassie and Sam’s relationship is very well written. Balance that with the heartbreaking connection between Cassie and Tom, and her relationships with the town that raised her, and you’ve got a winner.

I was excited to receive this ARC from netgalley as I really enjoyed Emily Stone's last book. I really loved One Last Gift. I knew ahead of time that this was probably going to be a tearjerker. I love when a book can bring so much emotion out of me through the storytelling. This is the story of Cassie and all of her loss, but also of hope and love. It was beautifully written and well worth reading.

This novel about love, grief, and forgiveness had me engaged from the beginning. The relationship between Cassie and her brother Tom was touching, and the last treasure hunt he set up for her was a lot of fun to follow. The second-chance love story with Sam was also well-depicted, and his character arc was satisfyingly believable. The triggers in the book (bereavement, grief, anxiety) are handled with a fairly light touch, but Cassie's experience of them nevertheless rings true.
The pacing was generally good, although it lost steam in a few parts and some of the sentences lacked clarity. Hopefully, these faults will be addressed in the final edits. All in all, this is an engaging novel with some depth in the relationships and should appeal to women's fiction lovers.

Very sweet book. It was a bit slow in the beginning for me but quickly picked up and I was looking forward to seeing where all these characters ended up. I love the friends to lovers to enemies to lovers story. I loved Cassie and Tom’s relationship, I loved the happy ending. Such a nice read and it’ll be perfect when it’s published in October, perfect for the winter! Cozy read!

I have also shared this review to my goodreads!

This was a fun book which gave us a bit of everything, from romance, sorrow, friendships, misunderstandings, you name it.
The characters are really well developed and I got right in to the story and was hooked.
Cassie and her brother Tom had lost their parents at a young age and they became each others support system, always looking after one another, along with Tom's best friend Sam who was always around, sometimes to Cassie's dismay, but then things changed as she saw him in another light.
Tom at Christmas would always set up a scavenger hunt for Cassie, to find her present, and after a tragedy occurred, Cassie was sadly sent on her last hunt.
This story contained much more than I am giving you, as far as people, events and all of the mix ups that go along with it.
I also read the authors first book and enjoyed it very much as well.
I would like to thank NetGalley and Random House Publishing Group -
Ballantine for a copy of this book

4.5/5 stars

This is Stone’s second novel (following Always, in December) and another hanky-alert story as well.

I won’t go into much detail here because I don’t want to spoil things, but it spotlights Tom and Cassie (a brother and sister who lost both parents as young children) and Sam, Tom’s best friend. It’s a love story...of siblings, close friends and the romantic variety and involves all of the angst, frustrations, and joy inherent in those relationships.

I did enjoy this one, but maybe not quite as much as her debut. A turn in both Tom’s character (toward the end of the book) and Sam’s (around 20% into the book) left me with a bit of 180-degree whiplash and quite frankly a bit of disbelief. Everything I had thought and pieced together about both Tom’s and Sam’s nature was called into question, although it was later to be resolved/explained. And even though I realize now that those things needed to happen to Tom and Sam for the advancement of the story, it still managed to leave a little sourness behind for me.

There are some issues (childhood abandonment, learning to trust oneself and others, etc. as well as bravery in tackling those things that scare us) that are well done and heart wrenching at times. The relationship between Cassie and Tom made the book for me, and the yearly Christmas treasure hunt was the cherry on top. The writing was beautiful, the secondary characters (especially Hazel, Cassie’s best friend and Linda, a supportive maternal figure) who were stellar and added much to the lives of Tom and Cassie.

I definitely recommend this book and look forward to more from the gifted Stone. And just as an aside, the cover goes so perfectly with the story.

My sincere thanks to the author, NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine/Dell for providing the early arc of One Last Gift for review. The opinions are strictly my own.

This is my first read by this author. I’ll admit, after reading the blurb, I knew this would be more of an emotional read for me. I expected that. And that’s what I got. I enjoyed the characters, the story and the way in which this story unfolded. It was really well told and one I went in pretty blindly. Although it has a holiday vibe to it, it really is a year-round read.

Description: When a young woman finds herself lost and at a crossroads, one last gift from her brother just might give her another chance at life and at love in this epic holiday romance from the author of Always, in December.
** Sometimes the best gifts in life are the ones you don’t expect. **

I enjoy this author and was excited to get this story! It was a little different than traditional stories as it focuses on family, loss, friendships and finding yourself before the romance (which is a good thing!)

I am grateful for a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review! Thank you to Netgalley, the author, and publisher for the opportunity!