3.5

This book gave me the same feeling as a Black Mirror episode. I never knew where it was going and was entertained the entire time.

My main issue with this book is that it felt cheesy and heavy handed at times. The deal with Caz’s dad started to annoy me.

Overall I would recommend. Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Wow, this was SUPER INTENSE and IMPOSSIBLE TO PUT DOWN! This book is hefty at around 450 pages but the chapters are extremely short and most end on cliffhangers making the pages fly. The Last One is horrifying and unbelievable but also somewhat realistic, even familiar at times. I thought I knew where it was headed numerous times, but I WAS VERY WRONG, every single time!

Caz is taking an ocean liner trip with her boyfriend and hopes he may pop the “big question” somewhere between England and New York. They enjoy a wonderful first night aboard the luxury ship so she is deeply disappointed the next morning to discover Pete has left for breakfast without waking her. When she ventures out of their room to find him, she quickly discovers that she is alone….the other 1000 passengers are no longer on the ship. What?! Where is everyone? And what happens now! This story was so unique, so suspenseful, so nail biting, it’s perfect for a vacation read this summer!

Thank you Netgalley, Atria Books and the author for this eARC in exchange for my honest review. This book will be available for purchase on August 8, 2023

Okay, so I seriously enjoyed the first few chapters of this book. When I say I was hooked, I was HOOKED. As someone who is afraid of vast waters, add being stuck alone on a cruise ship to the equation, this was a nightmare come true for me. Of course, I had to keep reading it.

I don't want to give much away, but basically this book follows Caroline ("Caz") and her boyfriend, Pete, getting on a cruise together. Everything is great until she wakes up in the morning and notices Pete isn't next to her. Once out of the cabin, Caz notices the ship is very quiet... too quiet. Everyone is gone, bags included. There is nobody on the ship except her. What happened to all the passengers and where did they go?

Again, I was hooked, but the further I got into the book I became easily bored and I think this has to do more with how unnecessarily long it was. Too much filler words and a whole lot of repetition. I felt so much adrenaline initially but towards the end it all fell flat. I honestly didn't enjoy the twist and I especially did not enjoy the ending - it did nothing for me personally. There was not enough character development from Caz and I got tired of hearing about her father's gambling problems.

This was a pretty creative book and from the beginning I thought I would enjoy it more but it's just an okay read, for me.

Thank you so much Netgalley, Atria Books, and the author for this eARC.
Pub date: 08/08/23

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Wow!! This book! You follow “Caz” as she goes on a cruise with the guy she’s dating. After the first day on the ship Caz wakes up to find out everyone else on the cruise ship has disappeared. I don’t want to say too much more because I don’t want spoil this one! Even reading the synopsis you have no clue what you’re in for and I love that!! And the ending! Like what?! Will there be a sequel?! Lots of twists and turns, definitely a five star! Thank you so much to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read The Last One early! Also thank you to the author Will Dean for writing this amazing book!

As an avid cruiser, I questioned the advisability of trying this title. But given the likelihood of something similar happening to me (she laughed nervously), I forged on. It was well worth my time. The Atlantica, a huge ocean liner, is making a transatlantic crossing. Caroline (“Caz”) and her boyfriend Pete are among the passengers. Caz wakes up the morning after sailing to find that Pete, along with everyone else, is gone-disappeared. She eventually finds three others: Frannie, Daniel and Smith. Together they have to try to survive an increasingly awful situation, made all the worse when they learn they are actually unwitting contestants on a reality show. They’re each given challenges to complete in order to be rewarded with food. I readily admit I was completely fooled by everything; I must be the perfect reader of books like this. I think many others will be too, because of its propulsive plot, sympathetic protagonist and shocking finale. Happily recommended.

Caz wakes up on the first morning of a cruise all alone on the ship. She finds three other passengers. What follows is predictable, confusing, and not very believable.

Wow! It’s a little difficult to review this book without giving anything away and there are so many things I could compare it to but to do so would spoil the main plot. The premise only gives away the first couple chapters and it really takes off from there. But if you are intrigued by survival stories and locked room mysteries, I highly recommend you give this book a try!

What a ride! I really enjoyed this book and the short chapters and quick pace made it easy to fly through the ~450 pages. There were many twists and turns throughout, and even though I predicted some of them along the way, I still enjoyed seeing everything unfold. And that ending! I can see some readers not liking it but I love when a book ends with an omg moment like that. My only complaints were some aspects of the ending I didn’t like and I didn’t really connect with any of the characters. And even though it was a quick read, it still felt a little too long and I think some parts could have been condensed or cut out completely. But overall I highly recommend this book and really enjoyed my reading experience!

*Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for providing an eARC copy for review!*

The Last One by Will Dean is a fast-paced, tension-filled, edge-of-your-seat thrilling read.

Wow what a crazy ride reading "The Last One"!
This was a quick, heart-stopping, exciting psychological thriller that had me reading till early morning hours to scarf this story down!
It pulled me in from the very start, and I just could not stop until I got to the end.
The characters are well developed, interesting and they really pull you into their world.
Deans storytelling is excellent, the story is accompanied with an amazing storyline, and the plots are superbly executed and revealed by the author, making this overall such a pleasant read.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Whoa. What a crazy story. I didn't read any reviews before diving into this one. I just read a quick blurb that hooked me in and away I went. Boy, I am so glad that I knew so little before I started. Things heat up quickly and the reveals pour out on every single page. While I struggled to like most of the characters, by the end I understood why they fit the mould that they each did.
This one is fun and while you may or may not love the main twist, you'll certainly be entertained for the duration of the voyage.

This was so unexpected and I appreciated that the synopsis gave nothing away! I had no idea what this story was actually going to be about, and once I found out what was really going on, I was IN. It was unique and addicting and I couldn’t put it down. The last sentence was BANANAS and I kinda wish it just kept going.

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the digital advanced copy.

When Caz wakes up to find herself alone on a cruise liner, she starts to panic. Where is her boyfriend Pete who she’s on the cruise with? Where is the captain, and other travelers? Where did they all go? As she gets closer to the truth, she’s determined to survive the journey.

I really wanted this to work but it felt like two different stories. It’s explained why it changes genre direction, but it didn’t feel seamless. The first half of the book reminded me so much of the Netflix’s 1899 series, which if you love mind bending science fiction movies you have to watch! The second half of the book felt like a mixture of SAW toned down with Blair Braverman’s Small Game. Our characters felt flat and I never connected to any of them. I didn’t even find myself rooting for anyone in particular.

*Spoilers but not really*

Plotwise I was invested but there are so many things that don’t make sense. Why would anyone just leave their loved one behind on the ship? What exactly is this show? Why did we have to get the actors involved? What the HECK with that is with that ending and is there a second book planned Who greenlighted this show and I hope they have the bunch funding set aside for PTSD claims.

Realistically, I get why people are giving it 5 and 4 stars. It’s unique and it definitely held my attention but then it just tries to do too much. At over 400pages it’s just too long and didn’t stop while it was ahead. For me it worked, until it didn’t, and I just CANNOT with the ending. This has probably been the least helpful review I’ve ever written, as it’s hard to talk about without giving away major plot points. My advice, if you want to give it a go though, get it from the library.


The Last One comes out August 8, 2023. Huge thank you to Atria for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my instagram @speakingof.books.

Picture this: You go on a cruise with your partner, but when you wake up the next morning, they're gone, and you find yourself alone on the cruise. Where is everyone? Who is driving the ship? What's happening?

Prepare for a non-stop, heart-pounding, action-packed thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat. This was a wild ride! The anxiety-inducing plot and short chapters will leave you craving more, making it impossible to put this book down. It's definitely a binge-worthy experience, and I'm genuinely sad that it's over.

One of the best thrillers I've read in a long time, but be prepared for a truly criminal ending. What was that? How could you do that to us, Will Dean?

I can't help but mention that a major plot twist reminded me of one of my favorite Goosebumps books. Even though I doubt anyone else would pick up on it, I couldn't help but see the R.L. Stine vibes throughout the entire book. It's not a complaint because it actually made me scream and toss my Kindle aside. This was an awesome experience to say the least.

Overall, this book is scary summer fun, and Will Dean has gained a fan in me!

Many thanks to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Will Dean for providing this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to Atria and NetGalley for this eARC. “WOW” and “WTF” are all I can really say without giving away more than the book’s description. This is a page turner with short chapters and many twists. It was less mystery and more action packed/survivor oriented than I anticipated, but I enjoyed every bit of it! The Last One by Will Dean comes out on August 8, 2023.

Caz is on the Atlantica, a luxury cruise liner with her new boyfriend. After their first night, Caz wakes up alone. She quickly realizes the entire ship is empty.

This was a very exciting and fast paced read. Once I started it I couldn’t put it down. You definitely want to avoid spoilers for this once because it would be easy to ruin the experience. It’s all a big mystery and you find out a little more and a little more as time goes by. The few last pages were too much for me, which was also my experience with Dean’s last novel, but I was so entertained throughout, I forgive.

“Take away basic comforts and authority figures and it’s not long before people reveal their true personalities.”

The Last One comes out 8/8.

I can’t say I loved this book as it kept me tense every time i was reading it. So i guess I can say it was a good book if you like a good thriller. It did keep me guessing . I was actually on a cruise ship as I was reading it so that added a little more creepiness. I cant imagine waking up and finding myself as the only person on the ship. Im giving it four stars since it did keep me guessing and anticipating outcomes so i was definitely involved with the characters! I am glad it is a story coming from the author’s imagination and not from the reality in a newspaper!!

One trope that I always enjoy is the high-seas murder mystery, a locked room mystery out on the ocean. The Last One by Will Dean is about a woman who is basically abandoned on a ship, the only person on a boat previously occupied. I’ve been on many cruises and cannot begin to fathom what would happen if I woke up to find I was totally alone. Interesting concept, isn’t it?

It’s a suspenseful read as you follow Caz’s journey and the story plays out. I enjoyed the writing style and absolutely loved Will’s book, First Born. I’m looking forward to whatever he writes next.


When Caz steps onboard the exclusive cruise liner RMS Atlantica, it’s the start of a vacation of a lifetime with her new love, Pete. On their first night they explore the ship, eat, dance, make friends, but when Caz wakes the next morning, Pete is missing.

And when she walks out into the corridor, all the cabin doors are open. To her horror, she soon realizes that the ship is completely empty. No passengers, no crew, nobody but her. The Atlantica is steaming into the mid-Atlantic and Caz is the only person on board. But that’s just the beginning of the terrifying journey she finds herself trapped on in this white-knuckled mystery.

Out on August 8.

I liked the premise of this one, but ultimately I felt the execution was just a bit off. Like so many others have said, do not read too much about this one ahead of time. The author had some solid messages about social media and society's obsession with tragedy, but he was a bit heavy handed in his delivery. This one had moments of great tension and page flipping, but much of it was predictable. I HATED the ending!!

What would you do? You and your boyfriend board the luxurious cruise liner Atlantica to start the vacation of a lifetime. You spend your first evening doing mandatory lifeboat drills, exploring fine dining and meeting your fellow passengers. Then, exhausted, you settle into your comfortable bed in a Platinum Cabin and fall soundly asleep. And when you wake up…you are alone. I mean alone. All the rooms are empty. So are the restaurants, the shops, the decks…you are alone. This is what happens to Caz Ripley. And what happens next is what makes The Last One impossible to put down. It is suspenseful and totally unique. I’m a little afraid of what Will Dean will write next. 5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria/Emily Bestler Books and Will Dean for this ARC.

This book started off with a bang right from the start, but then it became very slow going until about 40% of the way through. However, when the action started, it didn’t stop! Every single chapter was full of action and twists and this book literally had me on the edge of my seat wondering what was going to happen next. I really connected with the characters and felt like I was right there with them. The plot of this book was very unique and I would highly recommend this to others! If you feel bored in the beginning, hang in there! It is worth it!

I was immediately drawn into Will R. Dean's new book The Last One simply based on the premise alone. I love a locked-room thriller and I LOVE cruise ships, so this one sounded promising. Thankfully, it delivered on every front. It will be difficult to review because I believe readers should go in knowing next to nothing about this. Actually, I really appreciated how little the synopsis gave away. Nowadays it seems that synopses give away too much about a book's concept, so I was happy with how short The Last One's was.

When I realized Dean set the whole thing up in the first two chapters, I was a little worried about how he would maintain the momentum for another 131 chapters of first-person POV on an abandoned cruise liner. My worries were almost as instantly quelled, though, because I could not put this down. If I hadn't made the mistake of starting it right before going to bed, this would've been a book I could've easily finished in one sitting. The chapters were short, breezy, and almost always ended with a cliffhanger that required me to keep reading.

I don't read mysteries or thrillers with any intention on trying to guess the twists or solve anything. Even still, I didn't see any of it coming. Every few chapters the stakes changed and I was left with whiplash. It takes a lot for me to vocalize my thoughts while reading, but I let out a few "Oh my god"s throughout. May others be able to guess what happens? Surely. I wasn't, so I count that as a win.

We follow Caz's point of view throughout, so we naturally get some background information, especially in regards to her family and their issues. I would say we get information in about 60-75% of the chapters, ranging from a paragraph to two pages. With that much real estate, there were times that I felt her stories to be a bit repetitive, but Dean didn't spend long enough to make me bored or feel the need to skip past a paragraph. I can see how it might be problematic for other readers, though.

With most thrillers, the ending is a true make or break point of the book. For me, I felt Dean (almost entirely) nailed it. It did wrap up very quickly and I do wish we got a little more of the after, but overall I was satisfied.

The Last One wasn't entirely perfect, but I still thoroughly enjoyed my time reading it. With the way my reading has gone this year, I anticipate this showing up in my top reads of 2023 list. I anticipate the publication date so I can interact with other readers and see their takes on this gripping thriller.