I loved her book Always in December last year, even though the ending ripped my heart out. This one wasn’t as sad, but it definitely wasn’t a lighthearted holiday read. Her writing is beautiful and I loved the character development. I also love the trope of being in love with your brother’s best friend. I liked the Christmas scavenger hunt that was central to this story. Cassie and Tom loose their parents at a young age and grow up with their aunt. Sam who is Tom’s best friend is always there too. Cassie has always been in love with Sam, but does he feel the same way? I loved the relationship between them, it seemed very authentic. The characters were likable and even though a lot of the book is centered on grief it still brought a smile to my face at the end.

Genre: Holiday Romance

Format: Audio/Ebook

4.25 stars - I enjoyed it!

Thank you @prhaudio for the complimentary audiobook, @netgalley for the digital copy, and to @penguinrandomhouse for the #gifted copy!

I loved @emstonewrites’s book Always, in December last year and was so excited to get to this one this year!

There is something about a British holiday read! It’s exactly the type of book I’m looking for this time of year. This book centers around grief, moving on, forgiveness, and feels like a cozy Christmas Day. It’s tender, heartfelt, sad, and hopeful.

I loved the connection of the siblings Cassie and Tom, their annual scavenger hunt, and how that brought Sam and Cassie together throughout the story.

Overall a beautiful and emotional Christmas romance that will tug on your heart strings!

I requested this book as I absolutely loved Emily Stone's last novel and the premise of her latest book sounded fantastic. Unfortunately, this book fell flat for me. I could not connect with the characters or the writing. I am not a huge fan of female MC's that do not have a back bone and I do realize that this MC had been through quite a bit in her life already but I just failed to connect.

Also a head's up to readers that this is not a sweet/fun holiday romance. Enter this book knowing that it emphasizes heavily on death.

Thank you to NetGalley and Random House/Ballantine Books for allowing me to read an early copy of this book.

Another great Christmas read from Emily Stone. She manages to tug at the heart strings yet bring all the warmth and comfort of the holidays!

Emily Stone’s books always end up being more emotional and deeper than you’d think at first glance and this one is no different. “One Last Gift” was a solid read that I liked, but just was not one of my faves. However, there were thought-provoking moments that made me think and for that, I’m rounding up from 3.5 stars up to 4. Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the advanced copy for review.

This was such a heartfelt Holiday read. It took a different turn than so many Holiday reads with a. Little heartbreak but so much love throughout the whole story.

Appropriately, One Last Gift was my last holiday read of the season. I use the term holiday here lightly, however, as this book has Christmas scenes, but really takes place over the course of a few years.

In this story we meet Cassie and Tom, brother and sister who have always been super close, in large part due to the loss of their parents at an early age. Together with Tom’s best friend, Sam “no relation to Cheers” Malone, the trio has weathered many a storm. Secretly, Cassie has harbored feelings for the womanizing Sam for awhile. One night, the unrequited love is requited with a kiss. With stars in her eyes, Cassie thinks this will move their relationship to the next level, but feet planted firmly on the ground Sam wants to move on, no real explanation given.

Most women would get over it, but Cassie’s devastation at being rejected lives on, morphing over the years into pure hatred. Sam seems to be ok with this and Tom never questions a thing. Tom and Sam, however, remain close, so
Cassie is often forced to grin and bear it.

Then a trip the two men are set to go on doesn’t go as planned. Tom ends up going, while Sam ends up staying. This sets off a chain of events that will forever change the course of their lives, Tom dying in a freak accident while away. But wait, there’s more! Before Tom left, he set up his latest elaborate scavenger hunt, resulting in what he couldn’t know would be the ultimate final present to his sister and his friend.

The rollout of the last gift in One Last Gift spans months, taking Cassie on journeys to new places, forcing her to do things outside her comfort zone. Some might say that was always the plan. Instead, I felt the concept that Cassie would discover the right clues at just the right times (despite her brother’s day to day involvement) to be rather far fetched. In short, the message here is her brother knew her better than she knew herself. The only problem is the reader barely knew Tom either. Also, a chaste kiss years prior doesn’t really serve as a proper backdrop for a grand love story between Cassie and Sam who otherwise, rarely interact through most of the book. All in all, One Last Gift didn’t really leave a lasting impression on this reader.

Emily Stone has done it again! This is the perfect holiday read if you’re looking to take a emotional step aside from the Hallmark rom-coms and want a tale of loss, grief and second chances!

I loved this story, and it certainly had me tearing up in the first 50 pages! I immediately was invested in the relationships between Hazel, Cassie, Sam and Tom - loving their development over the years and then being with them for a while before tragedy struck.

The scavenger hunts were creative and light - and were a great exploration of grief and still living one’s life. All around a great story!

While this was released. around the holiday season, it is not a Christmas book. It actually is very emotional as a woman loses her brother but continues a long tradition of a scavenger hunt for a final present. Though I did tear up at parts I really did enjoy this story. It's sweet and quiet and makes you want to hug the ones you love. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Such a charming romance! So glad I read this during the holidays. Make sure you add it to your TBR pile this holiday season!

Emily Stone has almost done it again. I would not call this a Christmas book but more of a dealing with grief and how to forgive book. Just a bit to much of poor me and he is a jackass. If the book had been 100 pages shorter might have been a 4 star.

I love Emily Stone. Her books remain some of my favorite holiday books. Always In December crushed me with the ending last year. But I still loved the book. I was so happy when I was approved for One Last Gift. I couldn't relate to losing your parents at a young age. Or having a brother. But I enjoyed this story. It was another one that left me a little sad at parts. I enjoyed watching Cassie's journey through the countryside to rediscover herself.

One Last Gift by Emily Stone - thank you to NetGalley & Random House Publishing for the e-ARC

This is my second book by Emily Stone and I am a big fan. This book was perfect to read over the holiday. In the same vein as her first book Always In December, this book is emotional. It has depth and it addresses grief, loss and healing. It for sure made me have some big feelings.

The main character, Cassie and her brother Tom lost their parents when they were young. Many years later Cassie also loses Tom. The story follows Cassie’s first year without him. As she learns to trust herself, and also grieve her loss.

I could identify with some of the experiences that Cassie went through. I lost my own brother 10 years ago. Although it was not in the same sudden way as Tom, I could still identify with the grief and the sadness of losing someone in your life, and thinking about what kind of person they may have been in the years to come. I think that’s what I appreciated most about the writing, was that it addressed grief in a beautiful way, and acknowledged that it’s a part of so many peoples daily life.

I’m looking forward to reading whatever Emily writes next.

One Last Gift is my favorite holiday romance I read this season. It's deep and heart wrenching and beautiful. The characters deal with loss, grief and heartbreak. We get to see them grow into themselves and find eachother again when they are ready. This one definitely broke my heart and put it back together again. Get the tissues ready.

Cassie and her older brother Tom lost their parents at a young age. Tom along with his best friend Sam have always looked out for Cassie. Tom creates a special scavenger hunt for her the Christmas after their parents pass away and continues the tradition year after year. Now, twenty years later Cassie has lost Tom as well. She has never felt more alone until the scavenger hunt envelopes with Tom's handwriting start showing up again. Tom had promised her that this would be the grandest Scavenger Hunt yet. Tom's clues set Cassie on a beautiful journey of self discovery where she overcomes personal obstacles and finds love again. With the final clue at hand, will Cassie be strong enough to accept the gift her brother has left for her?

A special thank you to @netgalley @randomhouse
and @emstonewrites for my ARC in exchange for my honest review.

One last gift
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Short synopsis: Cassie and her brother Tom lost their parents at a young age, when Tom dies unexpectedly he left Cassie with a last annual Christmas scavenger hunt.

My thoughts: This has elements of women’s fiction and a little piece of romance, with finding oneself mixed in.

There’s definitely slow burn romance with a childhood friend, and brothers best friend. This was done very well and liked how the relationship wasn’t rushed. Both Cassie and Sam had a lot of things to go through before they could be emotionally stable enough for each other.

There is also lots of talk of grief, death of loved ones, and ultimately moving on.

It reminded me somewhat of the movie P.S. I Love you, where a loved one dies unexpectedly but leaves messages and clues for after.

Read if you love:
* Emotional reads
* Friends to lovers/brothers best friend
* Stepping outside of comfort zones
* Scavenger hunts
* Amazing best friends
* Books dealing with grief

Thank you Dell- Random House for the gifted book! This is out now!
While the majority of this is set around the Christmas holidays I think you could appreciate it Year round.

This book was just too slow for me. I saved it for Christmas and yet the book never really grabbed me.

I read Emily Stone's debut, Always, in December, last year and even though it left me sobbing, I knew I wanted to read this novel too. While this one didn't leave me sobbing, I did shed some tears once again.

This story starts with a teenage Cassie crushing hard on her brother Tom's best friend, Sam. After they share a few kisses while on vacation, Cassie thinks it's finally the time for her and Sam to be together. But Sam doesn't see it that way, and after making that clear to Cassie, their friendship is essentially over. Fast forward 5 years, and the two are still pretty much estranged, except for when Tom brings them together. But when Tom tragically passes away, both Cassie and Sam are left reeling.

For years, Tom created Christmas scavenger hunts for Cassie and after he passes away, Cassie finds the first clue for that years' hunt. It takes her a few months to finally start, but Tom ends up leading her on quite the adventure. It's through those clues, and some sneakiness from Sam, that her and Sam begin to reconnect. But are these two really going to be able to overcome their past and create a real future for themselves?

While this book does explore grief through a lot of the story, there are still sweet and light-hearted moments as well. It is also not super Christmas-y, so if you're in the mood for a wintery read, this one might fit the bill for you!

This one is gut wrenching, yet so beautiful. Cassie and Tom lost their parents when they were young but they had each other and a group of friends, but when Cassie also loses Tom she feels so alone.. When an envelope appears she knows immediately that it is Tom's writing on the envelope. It's his famous Christmas scavenger hunt. She is unsure if she even wants to open it but she does and sets off on a journey that is going to change her entire life.
Beautifully written but be sure to have tissue nearby while reading this.

Thank you #RandomHouse and #NetGalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

sucha. cute and sweet holiday romance that was perfect for the cold weather, Thank you to Putnamfor the advanced copy

Initial Review 09 Oct 2022:
This one was a DNF for me. It wasn't that the story was bad but rather that the plot was slow to develop. The emotions were so strong from the start of the book but I had a hard time staying interested with the jumping time line and constant let downs for our heroine.

Updated Review 28 Dec 2022:
I’m definitely a mood reader. When I initially tried to read One Last Gift I couldn’t get through it, this time around the audiobook had me hooked.

As a reader you need to be ready for the emotional content the author throws your way. Trying to read a book about coming to terms with the grief of losing a loved one, while your baby is in the NICU wasn’t the best idea. Thankfully he’s home and thriving, and I can now binge this book and fully enjoy it ❤️

That being said, this book is a beautiful exploration of processing the grief of losing a sibling and having the courage to take chances in life.