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.

The killings of Bailey and Celeste covered sunny Mount Orange in a lasting darkness. Tru can't help but become engrossed in the excitement of cracking the decades-old mystery when a mysterious girl named Rio shows up in town. She can't help but feel an intense attraction to Rio as well as the pleasure of solving Bailey and Celeste's deaths. I got shivers from this book because it was so wonderful. With all of the nuanced characters in this novel, I was astounded by Ginny Myers-Sain's writing and how she created such an extraordinary "what's going to happen next" book.

Thank you netgalley and penguin group penguin young readers group

I love thrillers and this one drew me in right from the start. The synopsis and the cover had me really intrigued and I really enjoyed Ginny’s previous book Dark and Shallow Lies. This story follows Tru and Rio as they attempt to uncover the truth behind the unsolved brutal murders of two local girls. They both seem strangely connected to each other and to Bailey and Celeste the girls who were killed years ago.

This was definitely more of a slow burn type thriller. There were also some creepy paranormal aspects that added to the eerie feelings while reading this book. The pacing was a little slower than I expected and it was around the halfway point that the plot finally starting building the suspense. Tru and Rio were both interesting characters and this story wasn’t just about solving the murders but was about self discovery and figuring out what we want in life and that it’s okay to break away from our expectations. There is also exploring grief and learning how to overcome guilt and death. The romance plot was cute and felt like a star crossed lovers romance. It helped lighten the story and make you want to root for the characters. The last part of the story really flew by. Every time I thought I knew what was happening we would get another twist. I would have loved to see an epilogue but that is just a personal preference.

Overall this was a good creepy sapphic YA thriller. I think if you’re fans of Ginny’s previous books or just a thriller fan in general I’d recommend One Last Breath.

I really enjoyed Ginny Myers Sain's last book, Secrets So Deep, so I was excited to read this book. One Last Breath has the same weird, ominous, spooky vibe that I loved about Secrets So Deep! In this book, we follow Tru and Rio, two teenage girls who become obsessed with solving a murder that happened 20 years ago.

Thank you to PENGUIN GROUP Penguin Young Readers Group, G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and NetGalley for an ARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Wow… I read this book in two sittings today because I could not put it down!!! This story was part murder mystery, part thriller, and part romance. And also has a twinge of spirituality/reincarnation. The way the author vividly describes the Florida town of Mount Orange and the Springs of Hidden Glenn had me missing my home state so much. So much detail and attention went into her descriptions of the setting, and I could see it all perfectly in my mind while reading. And the setting really played an important part of the story. I loved how the book centered around a 20 year old murder mystery, but had the element of romance for the main character, and also all parts of a pulse pounding thriller when danger begins chasing Tru as she looks for answers to solve the old murder. I do wish the last chapter and epilogue had been a little bit longer because it felt like everything happened so fast. I would have liked to see the fallout of the ending in a bit more detail, but that is my only critique.

Simply put if you are a fan of True Crime and Thriller books you 1000% have to add this to your TBR because you will be obsessed.

Tru lives in central FL where her small town has been plagued with the tragic murder of two teenagers 20 years ago. Celeste and Bailey were brutally murdered in the woods outside of the springs in Hidden Glenn’s. The town has been fascinated with their gruesome murder, and at one point it was thought that it could possibly be the work of FL most notorious serial killer the Glades Reaper.

Tru has always felt a weird pull to the murdered girls and their story, but never understood why. Out of nowhere another girl named Rio shows up in town and starts asking a lot of questions. Eventually her and Tru strike up a friendship and begin to discover so many dark memories and connections to their past. But as they work together to try and solve the murder, someone is hot on their heels trying to get them to stop. Full of nail biting chases, lots of detective sleuthing, and tons of stakeouts Tru and Bailey finally arrive at the truth. And let me tell you, it is totally shocking.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this e-arc. I really enjoyed the supernatural elements of the story. It took me a bit to get into the story but once I did, it flowed better than expected. I will sure be checking out more by this author.
3 stars

I loved this book, definitely a page turner and had me wondering how everything would play out in the end. I loved the paranormal aspect also. Thank you to penguin teen for the arc!