This is not the book you read if you want a fluffy holiday rom-com. I repeat, despite the cover, this is not a sugar plum, fairy dusted romance.

That's not the type of story that Emily Stone provides. See: Always, In December.

That said, One Last Gift is a book about coping with grief and perhaps finding a way forward.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me. All thoughts are my own.

Read if you like:
❤️ Heartfelt Stories
💔 Grief storylines
💜 Character Growth
💘 Some Romance

This one definitely isn’t for the faint of heart or to be read as a light holiday read. This one deals with the death of parents and the grief and hole that that leaves in your life.

This one was so beautifully written and I can see why Emily Stone’s prior book did so well because this one was just so well written and the beauty in the story was unmatched.

If you are looking for something deeper to read, I’d highly recommend digging into this one!

Oh my gosh! This book has gotten me so emotional. Tom and Cassie grew up without parents, they both lost their parents at a very young age. Sam is Tom’s bestest friend and has somehow in his own little way, have provided the warmth and love to surround Tom and Cassie. Many years later, Cassie lost Tom and that in some way has got her disconnected with Sam as well. But, Holidays is for miracles and if this remarkable, emotional and romantic turn of events for Cassie and Sam did not feel you with warmth… I will rest my case.

I think this book is sad, I have teared up a bunch in some parts but I totally get the emotional depth from where the author is getting this from. The writing is beautiful and the feelings that comes with every page is so surreal. It has it’s own completely unique character that separates it from any other rom-com for holidays out there! I enjoyed it and recommends it to you all!

Thank You Dell via Netgalley, PRH Audio for the complimentary audiobook for the Advance Readers Copy in exchanged of my honest review.3.5 Stars!

4.5 stars!

After losing their parents at an early age, siblings Tom and Cassie could not be any closer. Sam, Tom's best friend and Cassie's first crush, has also been there every step of the way. Every Christmas, Cassie looks forward to the scavenger hunt her big brother puts together for her... that is, until Tom unexpectedly passes away. After hearing of his passing, Cassie realizes in a way she's lost Sam too. Then, Cassie discovers Tom had one last scavenger hunt planned for her, leading her to jump out of her comfort zone and ultimately follow her heart.

Emily Stone takes her readers on a journey of friendship, growth, forgiveness, love and loss. I went into this book thinking it would be centered around the scavenger hunt but was surprised at the subplots making this book particularly enjoyable. The characters were multidimensional, my favorites being Cassie's friends, Josh and Hazel. I was touched by Tom and Cassie's siblinghood, the flashbacks, the alternating perspectives between Cassie and Sam, and found myself tearing up as I finished the book. One Last Gift is a quick read that goes a little deeper than the traditional Hallmark-style holiday books.

Favorite quote: "...I think I've figured out that sometimes the best gifts in life are the ones you don't expect."

Thank you to NetGalley, Random House Publishing Group - Ballantine, Dell, and Emily Stone for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

Emily Stone sure knows how to break your heart in half. This book is sweet & hopeful, yet sad and heartbreaking. If you are a fan of deeper romances with themes of grief and overcoming tragedy - this is for you! This was almost more of a coming-of-age contemporary fiction than a romance, but I loved that aspect of it. My biggest complaint is that it felt so slow at times - and pretty repetitive. The miscommuncations got to be way too much for me. Overall, this was a good heartfelt holiday read.

I absolutely loved this book. I thoroughly enjoyed One Day in December, so had high expectations for One Last Gift and this did not disappoint.

One Last Gift is amazing. Emily Stone has created an emotional Christmas story with just the right amount of holiday warmth. The characters are extremely likeable and relatable. The humour is so well placed, as is the hint of steaminess. It’s a great addition to your holiday book pile.

This was a pretty quick read, despite the tough subject matter. There were aspects I liked (friendship, found family, small town charm), and others that fell flat (pacing, off-page plot developments, the romance). I found much of this equally cheesy and unbelievable, which detracted from the emotion and engagement as a reader. Also, there were so many time jumps — I think so the author could have the characters “heal” without actually having to show them work through things and change, however then just led to each character being disconnected from their former selves. Meh. I loved the premise, there were some good bits, and despite the flaws I enjoyed reading it. Also - not really a Christmas book.

Lovely and charming and heartwarming and cozy. A wonderful holiday read that makes you feel good inside. A must read for the holidays!!

There’s nothing like the bond of siblings, sister/brother love. Just when I thought I wouldn’t cry reading a holiday book, Emily Stone pulled out all the stops and I was crying in the end. Not from hurt but from joy. This story is reminiscent of PS I Love You, with the scavenger hunt and learning to move on. It touched on the idea that everyone struggles when moving on from the loss of a loved one and sometimes you need that push from the other side to help you find that path. Sweet, heart-wrenching and poignant.

Thank you to Net Galley, the author, and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

This just felt all over the place. And my investment in both the characters and plot suffered for it.

One Last Gift is a Christmas second-chance romance novel that follows Cassie and her brother's best friend, Sam. With a years-long history between them, we discover that Cassie and Sam have been skirting around their feelings for each other for a long time. However, because of timing - because of maturity - because of the risk it poses to Sam's friendship with Cassie's brother, Tom - they never get the chance to really explore a relationship. The story moves (strangely) through time, moving forward and offering sporadic glimpses into the past. The narrative is told primarily through Cassie's POV (third person), but occasionally shifts to Sam's. As it progresses, we see the two of them deal with a shared loss and grieve in different ways. It is this mutual grief (alongside the pent-up feelings they've neglected to act on) that bring them back together, as they embark on a traditional scavenger hunt planted by Tom.

The pacing/sequencing and inconsistent POV chapters were not my preference. I also didn't feel much for any of the characters. While there was time spent fleshing out the dynamics between them (and building up side-dynamics), no one had a strongly developed personality. I ultimately didn't care, despite there being some sad things that occur throughout.

I preferred Stone's other story, Always, in December. This one just didn't feel memorable to me in the slightest.

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

This is the second book I've read by Emily Stone (Always in December was a favorite last year) and I continue to be impressed by the way she handles grief in her story telling. This book is not a happy ending romance, but a story told over a stretch of time, showcasing family, friendship, heartache, grief, and the journey to find happiness.

I loved it! Emily Stone writes beautiful novels that will tug at your heart. I cried during this one a few times.

The characters and their actions always felt real and raw. Stone doesn’t write these perfect little Hallmark books where nothing goes truly wrong. There is heartache and growth, and mistakes and forgiveness within the pages.

This also made me want to start doing scavenger hunts for my kids because who doesn’t love those?!

If you haven’t read One Last Gift, or her last book Always, in December, you 100% should! They were both wonderful.

Thank you to @netgalley and @penguinrandomhouse for the arc!! 💜

Cassie and her brother Tom lost their parents at a young age. Tom always made a Christmas scavenger hunt for Cassie, and when he is tragically killed, she still gets her clue on Christmas Day. This was an entertaining read. I didn’t like it as much as her first book, but still worth the read.

I just love Emily Stone and her beautiful ability to make me sob. But like, in a festive way. Readers of Always, In December will LOVE this one too. This one starts pretty sad and gets happier — it's the reverse in Always. It's also not *That* christmassy, so definitely one you can pick up any month of the year!

Sweet and deep wish I got a chance to read this one before the holidays it sounded sweet and a little sad

The perfect holiday read! One Last Gift is the perfect combination of a holiday holiday romance with an authentic plot.

Unfolding over the course of a year, Cassie is grieving the sudden loss of her brother, Tom. She and her brother’s best friend, Sam, have always had a connection but his actions have left her heartbroken and wanting nothing to do with him.

Every year, Tom has created a scavenger hunt for Cassie to find her Christmas gift. After his passing, she discovers he has left one last gift for her to find. Can she uncover the toughest challenge yet and will Sam become the man he needs to be?

This one truly was perfect. It has heart, substance, an amazing plot and isn’t cheesy like most holiday books. It’s light enough for the holiday season but really could be read any time during the year!

4/5 stars (5/5 for the holiday genre)

This one really started off with a bang for me. The storyline the plot the characters. It broke my heart but somewhere through the middle I lost a bit of steam. It felt so back and forth between the two characters and their pasts and dragged a bit. I was more interested in the letters / scavenger hunt left behind.

Last year, I choose Emily Stone’s Christmas book, Always in December for our December pick for the Literary Lovelies. I absolutely loved the book despite sobbing during it several times. So I knew that I was just going to love her new book too.

One Last Gift is the story of a brother and sister who live with their auntie after their parents tragically pass away. The siblings are very close and remain this way even as adults. Every year for Christmas, Tom would make a 5 clue scavenger hunt for Cassie as a special gift to her. This year, Tom set up the hunt and then takes a trip to Argentina. He has an accident there and does not survive. However before he passes, he has enlisted friends to help Cassie with the clues and she still continues with the hunt.

There’s so much more to this story, and I just adored it all. There’s a side story about Cassie and Tom’s best friend Sam. I liked that this wasn’t the center plot, but a wonderful side plot. I love how their friends became family; even the local pub owner is like a relative to them both. Tom and Cassie had a lot of tragedy in their lives, but they didn’t let it stop them from living their own lives. It did remind me of PS I Love You which is one of my favorite movies. I also like the reminder that Christmas isn’t always a happy time for everyone.

Thank you so much @randomhouse for my ebook and @tandemcollectiveglobal for my gifted copy. Emily’s books are not to be missed.

5 stars ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I fell in love with Emily Stone’s writing after reading Always, in December. I couldn’t wait to read her next book, and One Last Gift did not disappoint. I love unique stories with emotion and heart, with complex characters and realistic storylines. Cassie and Tom as brother and sister broke my heart. Cassie and Sam as friends to lovers gently picked up the pieces and tenderly put my heart back together. This is a love story that doesn’t start or stop with romance. It’s a love story of family and friends, of the ones we miss and the ones who miss us. It’s a story of allowing grief to change us, and the people we love to walk beside us and stand with us through all our joys and heartbreaks. Emily Stone’s books top my list of favorites for this year, and possibly even next year! Because they will definitely sit on my shelf and they will definitely be reread again and again.
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the eARC to read and review. All opinions are my own.