3.5 ⭐️

An unsolved murder of two teens unfolds when two friends uncover its mystery. I liked it but wasn’t super sold on how the story was told only because I had a hard time following character names. Maybe it was me and just my overall attention span because it was a busy time when I picked it up. But I did start this on audio but 30% in had to switch to reading. Overall, I thought it would translate well on screen.

I loved this author's first book Dark and Shallow Lies, and then went on to hate Secrets So Deep. I am very happy to say this felt more like reading dark and shallow lies! It was also sapphic which I wasn't expecting! The setting being in Florida and diving was interesting, as well as the reincarnated thriller plot line.

Content Warning: death, alcoholism, violence

This was an interesting read with a few twists in the story but it is a slow burn of a mystery. I felt like the first half was so slow but I did feel the setting was pretty immersive. I could feel that Florida humidity and mosquito bites just from the descriptions. It’s definitely a summer vibe kind of book and does take place before Tru is supposed to go off to college. Tru comes from a broken home, her father is a deadbeat, her mom is grieving and dealing with it through alcohol and her older sister, Dani was killed years ago in a hit and run.

Tru does have a bit of a awakening as she is steadfast in love with her best friend since forever, East, but then meets a girl Rio who intrigues her. There is a twist to their attraction though.

And throughout this story this town is the place where murders that happened years ago that people are obsessed with, including Tru. When Rio comes along, the both of them do some digging and find out the truth. I think I caught on quick who was the suspect and I was right. There is a lot that happens in the second half of the book which is what helped hold my attention. Also I don’t know that the paranormal aspect of the story worked for me

My Thoughts:

Overall, this one was too slow for me but the ending is where most of the action happens. I thought the twists were interesting but I didn’t quite vibe with the paranormal stuff going on. I think if you love mysteries you will really enjoy this one but for me it was just okay.

A sinister thriller set in a haunted, small Florida town.

One Last Breath is set in a small town famous for a brutal murder of two young girls twenty years ago. The story follows Tru during her summer vacation before starting university in the fall. She spends her hot, humid days organizing the newspaper archives and diving 100-feet deep in a spring in the woods. Tru is obsessed with one of the dead girls—Bailey—and with the anniversary of their deaths comes a lot of true crime fanatics into her town. She meets Rio, fellow diver and intriguing girl hell-bent on figuring out Bailey and Celeste’s murder. Tru and Rio dig deeper into the murder when someone starts stalking and threatening them. The girls believe it’s the murderer from twenty years ago and have to outwit the killer or end up like Bailey and Celeste.

Overall, I had fun with this book. The vibes were immaculate and I’d definitely recommend reading it during summer. I loved the eerie vibes of the Florida wilderness and small town. And most of all, I loved the diving scenes! They were claustrophobic and enticing and added a nice layer to the scenes.

I really liked Tru and Rio. They were both clever, confident, and steadfast in solving the murder. Tru’s arc was nice to read out about as she figured out who she was and what she wanted and then being confident enough to voice it. Rio was a good love interest and suspect as she had a lot of secrets. I enjoyed the progression of their relationship.

I didn’t guess who the killer was which makes this a great mystery in my book! I had some suspicions, some partially right and most wrong. It’s definitely crafted well to keep you guessing until the end!
The reason this isn’t rated higher is because of one of the twists. Not the big twist at the end—I enjoyed that! But there’s another twist I don’t want to spoil that didn’t do it for me. It’s one of those plot devices that I’ve never really liked. I tried to keep an open mind but it took over the story too much for me.

Overall, a fun, enjoyable supernatural thriller I’d recommend checking out!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC in exchange for am honest review.

This book started out as a slow burn thriller but I have loved all of Sain’s books so I knew it would pay off in the end! Sain never disappoints and this book was no exception!! I love that the main characters just felt drawn to each other and to the mystery of the girls’ murders.

I've never read a book quite like this one before. One girl's obsession with a brutal unsolved murder that happened in her town leads her down a dangerous pat that ends with her uncovering secrets about herself and those that she considers family. I was just so fascinated by everything about this story. Tru is at that point in her life where she is figuring out that what everyone wants for her is not what she wants for herself. I've never read a book that features free diving, so that was really cool and different. I loved Tru's connection to the water and the bond of trust diving created between her and the other characters.

The supernatural element to this story was really unique. Figuring things out as Tru is sorting through memories that are both her and not hers was really fun and I loved the theme of people who are meant to be together will find each other even in death. This was such a good story about how small towns often hide the biggest secrets and that people you think you know can turn out to be someone completely different. This one was so good!

I don’t often find myself in a reading slump but I think I might after finishing One Last Breath. It’s going to be difficult to find a book that will rival the way Ginny Myers Sain has yet again left me feeling about her writing, and I can confidently say that she is one of my favorite YA writers I’ve come across in years.

In her newest book, we are drawn in to the life of recent high school graduate Trulee, a small-town girl who is haunted by the secrets and death that seems to permeate the small Florida town she lives in. Years ago, two young girls were murdered in a small area near the springs that attract tourists and locals, and although Trulee wasn’t born yet, the murders have always fascinated her. No one was ever arrested or found guilty, and the twentieth anniversary of their death is coming up, which means the stories and rumors about what happened that night are surfacing again. And then there’s the other murders in nearby towns that have never been solved, making Tru wonder if there’s a serial killer who’s still out there.

Trulee has close ties with the town of Mount Orange, and although her life certainly hasn’t been easy, it’s all she knows. Her best friend and boyfriend, East, has been a constant in her life, helping her stay steady under all sorts of circumstances. I’ll admit that I’m not much for romance, so their lovey-dovey-kiss-at-every-opportunity relationship was a bit tough to get past at times, but it’s a common theme in YA so I get it.

I loved reading about how simple yet difficult Trulee’s life was. She’s a young girl who has been through multiple losses of loved ones. Her sister was killed years ago in an unsolved hit and run, she doesn’t have any idea about where her dad is, and although her mom is still with her, she’s slowly slipping into her habit of drinking much more than she should. In some ways, Tru has grown up parenting herself, but she’s always had people around to help her along the way and they all hold very important places in her life.

Tru loves her home and the fresh springs that she is enamored with free diving in, but she knows it can’t last forever. Someday soon she’s expected to go to college with her boyfriend and probably get married and settle down, but she’s just not there yet mentally. But then Rio shows up out of nowhere and knows way too much about Tru and the entire town’s past and yet no one knows anything about Rio. One thing that Rio and Trulee have in common is their love for free diving in the springs, and that’s where they begin to get closer and form a friendship that feels different from any that Tru has ever had. Rio seems to be able to look into her eyes and just know things. And she’s fearless- offering to help Trulee look further into the murders that occurred years ago. The appearance of Rio is like getting something you didn’t ask for or know you needed; they just click and understand each other in ways Tru has never experienced. Good things can never last, especially in books that are part mystery. From the first page to the last, I wasn’t sure what would happen. I almost laughed out loud at a few of the twists just because they were so cliché and yet still fit in with the story so well.

If you’re looking for an easy-to-read book that is hard to put down, with characters that seem like they could be your best friend themselves, then I’d recommend you pick up One Last Breath. And when you’re finished, you’ll be pleased to know that the author has two previously published books you can run to, because I’m pretty sure you’re going to be left wanting more. Ginny’s books are just that good.

Review of a Digital Advance Reading Copy from Penguin Young Readers Group

I was super excited to open One Last Breath by Ginny Myers Sain. And I truly enjoyed reading it.
Ginny Myers Sain weaves an atmospheric Southern Gothic paranormal mystery that’s well-written, with complex and intriguing characters, a strong and imaginative plot, and loads of atmosphere.
I could not put this book down. I loved it. Page after page, I got sucked in and read it in one setting!
This book was absolutely fantastic. It sucked me in and did not disappoint.

Thank You NetGalley and G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

Mount Orange, Florida, is famous for two things: Cerulean freshwater springs, ideal for free divers who aren't afraid of lurking gators. And the gruesome cold case murder of best friends, Bailey and Celeste, twenty years ago.

Bailey and Celeste's murders cast a permanent darkness over sunny Mount Orange. Tru has always lived in that shadow. Now she's supposed to head to FSU in the fall with her boyfriend, but those unsolved murders -- and the death of her own sister -- invade her every thought. It’s only in the shadowy deep of Hidden Glen Springs that she can breathe.

When a strange girl named Rio rolls into town, hell-bent on figuring out who killed Bailey and Celeste, Tru can't resist entangling herself in the thrill of solving the decades old mystery any more than she can resist her familiar, aching attraction to Rio.

As the summer heat ignites, so does the spark between Tru and Rio...along with their other-worldy connection to Bailey and Celeste. But when someone begins stalking them, the girls become convinced the killer is back in town. And if they keep digging into the past, Tru and Rio know this time, it could be their blood that makes the springs run red.

*Thank you to NetGalley and Penguin Group for the arc copy in exchange for an honest review*

I really enjoyed this. I’ve got a soft spot for the teenage detective books, and this one had an interesting twist to it.

It was kind of a slow burn plot. There wasn’t a lot of sitting on the edge of my seat until near the end of the book when everything started to unravel.

Most of the characters weren’t very well developed. The two main characters are the only ones you really get much info about. My favorite character was East, Tru’s boyfriend.

It was kind of twisty. Once we thought we knew who the killer was, we’d find something else out and the suspect would change. This is one of those books where you can’t count anyone out.

I enjoyed the author’s writing style. There was enough description to feel immersed, but not too much that it took away from the story.

I can’t wait to read some of the author’s books. They’re definitely on my TBR now.

Woah y’all! This one had me on the edge of my seat.

Briefly this is a chilling supernatural thriller filled with murder, romance, and a decades long mystery that haunts a small Florida town.

I love it when a book is able to transport you! The writing here made me feel like I was at a swimming hole in with friends enjoying summer until a stranger with a secret shows up. 😱 I was truly invested in the murders of Bailey and Celeste. Did I mention the creepy factor was off the charts here?!?! It literally had me closing my eyes. 🙈 If you love true crime with a bit of paranormal you have to pick up One Last Breath!

A story that feels like it was written like a made for tv movie, Tru’s small town in Florida has a claim to fame: the unsolved murder of two teenage girls from 20 years ago like a true crime podcast. The author paints the scenery lovely as well as describing the details of Tru’s real passion, deep diving. A passion she shares with the new to town mysterious Rio. Unfortunately I predicted this story in about 20 pages in, from the mystery to the supernatural elements in it that I wish I had just put it down. The main character’s sister’s own unsolved murder feels like an afterthought and unnecessary for most of the plot. And being they were teens, please expect some lack of common sense to dismiss. This could be a good story if you are new to the mystery genre but I wouldn’t recommend it to someone who is a heavy mystery/thriller reader.

One Last Breath is another great supernatural thriller by Ginny Meyers Sain. The writing is so immersive you could feel the Flordia heat and the peacefulness of free diving.
This was a fun and fast read that kept me on the edge of my seat until the end. I loved the characters including a lot of the secondary ones. I loved the cold case aspect, and how Tru was so completely obsessed. I was immenditalty sucked into the story and flew through this in just a couple of hours. Ginny Meyers Sain is one of my favorite authors and I can't wait to see what she is going to come out with next!

One Last Breath was a fun, quick read.

I loved Tru and she grabbed my heart and wouldn’t let go.

Love that that covers a 20 year old unsolved murder in a small Florida town.
Love the paranormal aspect too and it felt relatable. The diving portion was also a good addition and the atmosphere was dark and enchanting here.

I don’t want to give things away but I did figure out the killer here. I still really enjoyed the read and this author is an auto buy for me. Dark and Shallow Lies is def my fave but this one is a close second.

Thanks for my early copy here.

One More Breath by Ginny Sain is incredibly atmospheric from beginning to end, giving me that underwater feeling like when they're free diving in the story. This also kept the intensity strong and the pages flipping. You can imagine that I did not want to put this one down.

All the teens felt much older than their chronological years, especially Tru and Rio, who teamed up to solve an unsolved murder from 20 years prior. I loved all the small details, the red herrings and misdirections, and the shocking twists and turns. It worked seamlessly to keep me on the edge of my seat, not knowing what to expect.

The setting is just perfect, too, with all its natural dangers as well as the unnatural ones. Just the thought of alligators in the water gives me cold chills, and their presence just notched up what was already at a fever pitch - not to mention the oppressive heat and humidity of a Florida summer.

I don't want to say anymore because this story is one of those that the less you know, the better your reading experience. So, I'll end it by saying everything about this story is artfully chosen to create a murder mystery that had me reading long into the night and left me shocked and dumbfounded at the conclusion.

I was really excited to read this one, but unfortunately it really felt like a copy and paste of the author's early titles. I was hoping for a little more branching out. Don't get me wrong, it was entertaining enough, but it just felt like been there done that.

As a fan of thrillers, I had a feeling this one going to be for me. Ginny Myers Sain isn’t a new author to me and I’ve very much enjoyed her books in the past. I expected no less from this one and oh, how I really enjoyed this book.

Ginny Myers Sain has this ability to write an involved and engrossing story. I was sucked in by the first chapter and I absolutely devoured this one. I loved the contemporary feel to the book, but the paranormal element really added something new. The plot was original and like nothing I’ve read before. It kept me guessing right up the end, which I never saw coming. I wish it had been a little more clear, but I still enjoyed the twisting and slight misunderstanding of it.

The characters were well written for the most part, but I found the love stories to be a little shallow and underdeveloped. I’m not a big fan of instalove plots and this one was a little heavy on it, despite this past Tru and Rio have. Probably a me thing. I enjoyed the feel of Tru’s relationship with East and how it’s explained in the book. So the difference in the two were a little startling. The dynamic of the characters, even with side characters, was really well developed. The characters themselves are well written, Tru especially. As the reader, you can feel her curiosity and grief. I would have liked a little more from Rio though.

This is such a good book, I cannot recommend it enough.

One Last Breath follows Tru, a young girl who lives in a Florida town that is haunted by an unsolved murder 20 years ago. This happened before Tru was even born but it is still unsolved so the town is haunted by it. When a new girl rolls into town, Tru feels a connection to her and they try to solve the murder. There are aspects of the supernatural in here as well as a lot about diving and swimming.

I didn't quite connect with this book but I'll start with the positives. I liked the Florida setting and how everything was described. It felt like you could feel the heat that was described. The diving scenes were also described great and it felt like you were under water. The first part was interesting and kept me engaged.

I don't feel like the romance was needed at all. It really annoyed me actually and it took away from my enjoyment of the book. I also feel like the second half dragged on forever. I guessed the killer early on but the characters took forever to figure it out. I also didn't really like the paranormal aspect and I don't think it added much to the story.

Unfortunately, this book did not work for me. I know many others have loved it so it might just be me. Thanks so much to netgalley and PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers for the arc of this book in exchange for an honest review!

When I first read the description of this book I thought I was going to be reading a familiar plot and that I would. know exactly what was going o happen, but how wrong I was! This kept me guessing right up until the end, and I didnt predict the ending at all! Thank you for giving me chancer to read this I really enjoyed it.

I was hooked on this the second I picked it up. Spending time obsessing over a 20 year old cold case is something my friends and I would have done, would still do. I love the characters and the setting.
I don't want to ruin anything but pick this up if you love easy reads, mysteries, and weird stuff. Also if you like creepy things. That underwater scene kept me up for a while.