Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone Publishing for this ARC!

3.5 rounded up to 4

First things first: YA bi rep that has somewhat healthy wlw? Hell yeah.

The Last Love Song was sweet. I can definitely see the Mamma Mia! comps, but doesn't feel like I'm reading a rehash of that story. To me the most interesting parts were from Tori's point of view, too, which I think most Mamma Mia fans would say Donna is the draw over Sophie (they made a whole movie about teenage Donna, after all). I found myself wanting more of her chapters than Mia's, not because Mia was boring but because it felt like Mia's story completely revolved around Tori but we weren't getting enough. I just cared more about Tori's journey than Mia's.

I think in general I cared more about everyone than Mia except maybe Britt. These were truly fantastic side characters, including the town of Sunset Cove itself. I wanted to know more about them, too, and while I think this is a great stand alone I secretly hope Holford explores it further. It gives me such vivid, specific images of small coastal towns I've been to and love dearly. The details Mia's grandmothers, Linnea, and Edie provided drew me in and made me read a little more closely when I found myself skimming.

And I did skim. A lot. I think the one thing The Last Love Song suffers from, for me, is the song lyrics, because so much emphasis was put on chords and melodies that just having the lyrics there fell really flat. It wasn't clear to me what Mia's nor The Lost Girls' preferred genre was - should I be trying to come up with a more country sound in my head, like The Highwomen? Or are they kind of folksy rock, like Boygenius? Is Fate's Travelers a Fleetwood Mac allusion? I know there's no way to make the music sound like music in a book, but I really had a hard time with the long passages of lyrics. I think even additions like describing the tone of their voices or musical elements, like mentioning a heavy tambourine or a mournful piano solo, would make a huge difference. It's a book about songs with no sound to it.

Overall, I would recommend it, though! Especially for the rep. It's a quick read with a lot of heart even if it wasn't my favorite thing I've ever read.

If you’re the kind of person who gets lost in the melodies of Mamma Mia, swoons over Taylor Swift’s heartfelt lyrics, and adores a good scavenger hunt, then ‘The Last Love Song’ is your next must-read! Kalie Holford has crafted a tale that’s as enchanting as it is engaging, with a rhythm that keeps the pages turning. The story takes us on a lyrical journey of love, self-discovery, and the magic of finding connections in the most unexpected places.

The cover is so cute, echoing the book’s vibe with its adorable design that you’ll just want to show off on your shelf! Inside, the writing is simply wonderful, whisking you away with its constant forward motion and a plot that dances along. The characters are utterly lovable and relatable! They’re sketched with such clarity and purpose, and their motivations are as vivid as their personalities. The queer representation is EVERYTHING – it’s not just there, it’s woven into the very fabric of the story, giving life to the story’s atmosphere.

And the song lyrics! They’re like little treasures sprinkled throughout the book, tying into the storyline in the most creative ways. Plus, get ready for all the feels – Holford delivers those warm, fuzzy moments that make your heart do a little happy dance, and scenes that’ll have you reaching for the tissues.

The book is available on April 9, so grab a copy, find a cozy nook, and dive into Mia’s story! It’s a love ballad in the form of a book, and you’re going to be singing its praises when you’re done! 🎶💕

A big thanks to Blackstone Publishing for making this eARC available through NetGalley!!

Thank you blackstone publishing for the arc!

The last love song is a queer YA romance inspired by Mamma Mia with a dash of Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes, the story follows Mia Peters (daughter of a late country superstar) who wrestles with leaving home, first love, and her true ambitions-all while following clues on a journey through her celebrity mother's hidden past.

Mia: Daughter of late country superstar Tori Rose, whose only solace is songwriting.

Britt: Member of a band called The Lost Girls and Mia’s best friend.

Tori Rose: Country superstar and Mia’s mom.

I would like to begin with that this book’s plot is compelling; you would not like to put The Last Love Song down. I was really into Tori Rose’s story- How she rose to the top? Who was Mia’s dad? How did her story end?

Mia and Britt’s story was filled with angst and adorableness. I really liked how they loved each other, but that didn’t influence their opinions. The parallels between Tori and Britt that showcased how they were born to be stars were really clever.

Mia’s grandmothers or Tori’s moms need to be mentioned because they were the cutest, and I LOVE THEM.

To conclude, this is a gorgeous debut that makes me want to look forward to author‘s future works.

This is a really cute book. The main character Mia just graduated and is sent on a scavenger hunt by her late mother to discover the truth about her life as a famous singer. With the help of her best friend they explore their small town to find clues her mother left for her before her death.

I gave this book 3 stars. It seemed like it dragged on in certain parts but overall a decent book.

I received a copy of The Last Love Song as an ARC in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.

This was a cute little story and I am glad I had the chance to read it before its publication.
The love for music bled into the pages of this book and it was hard not to feel my favorite lyrics and beats rumbling inside me as I read this story.
However, I must admit that I was much more interested in Tori's story than Mia's search for the truth about her mother, mostly because I had a little trouble believing the hunt considering how long it had passed since her mother passed away. I can see why so many say it has Mamma Mia vibes, although, for me personally, that is stretching a little unless the vibe comes from the whole "Who is my daddy". I know this wasn't the intention of the book, but I do find it sad that Mia's grandmothers refused to talk to her about her mother and knew all this time who her father was without telling her, using the excuse "It's too hard for us to talk about her" to justify. Perhaps if they did talk about their feelings this poor girl wouldn't be so indecisive about her own feelings and wouldn't hurt the people she cared about along the way.
BUT...
This is a young adult story, meant to be heartwarming and charming, and considering the book does reach that goal I am willing to let go of the characters' flaws along the way.
Follow your dreams is the best advice this book can give us in the end, because after all, we are the ones who are stuck living them for better or worse.
P.S.: How cute were Mia and Britt? Seriously, Britt was an arrogant little teen, but hey, if you aren't arrogant at eighteen thinking you can conquer the world, you are not living your youth right!

The Last Love Song is a queer YA novel that entwines Mamma Mia! with a twist of Maureen Johnson. Mia Peters, after graduating from high school, faces a summer filled with farewells. Songwriting becomes her refuge as she navigates the painful transitions. With everyone around her moving forward, including her supportive yet somewhat romantic friend Britt, Mia feels trapped in her small town of Sunset Cove. She resists the urge to pursue her dreams, fearing she'll end up like her mother, Tori Rose, a country music star who abandoned her family to chase fame. However, when Mia discovers a series of mysterious letters from her mother's past, addressed to her, she embarks on a scavenger hunt that unveils secrets about her mother and her destiny.

"The Last Love Song" is a poignant and heartfelt coming-of-age story that beautifully captures the complexities of self-discovery, love, and loss. Kalie Holford weaves together themes of identity, family, and ambition in a compelling narrative that will resonate with readers of all ages. Mia is a relatable and compelling protagonist whose journey of self-exploration is both moving and inspiring. Holford skillfully explores Mia's internal struggles and growth, allowing readers to empathize with her as she grapples with her mother's legacy, her romantic feelings for Britt, and her own dreams for the future.

The scavenger hunt element adds an intriguing layer to the story, providing a sense of adventure and mystery that keeps the reader engaged. Each new clue leads Mia deeper into her mother's past, unravelling secrets and truths that challenge her perceptions of herself and her family. One of the highlights of the novel is its vibrant portrayal of Sunset Cove, a small town brimming with character and charm. Holford brings the setting to life with vivid descriptions and atmospheric details, immersing the reader in Mia's world and evoking a strong sense of nostalgia.

It is a captivating and emotionally resonant read that celebrates the power of love, music, and self-discovery.

After graduating high school, Mia faces a summer of goodbyes. With her friend Britt urging her to chase bigger dreams, Mia uncovers a series of mysterious letters from her late mother, a country music star. Each letter leads Mia on a journey through her hometown, revealing secrets about her mother's past. With time running out before Britt leaves, Mia must decide whether to stay in her comfort zone or embrace the unknown and forge her own path.
In a way, this book felt like a mix of Mamma Mia meets Daisy Jones and the Six and the vibes were really engaging overall. If you’re looking for a fun, quick read (and are willing to suspend your disbelief a time or ten) then Mia’s journey to find out about her mother’s life will surely appeal to you.
The story has a lot going for it - we have an adorable queer pair of grandmothers taking care of Mia, a set of small-town secondary characters that are charismatic and intriguing and we have a romance that keeps you guessing. Oh, and loads of lyrics that tug at your heartstrings!
While I adored the premise of this book, the execution felt a tad strenuous at times. Maybe it was the concept of the whole book but to me it would have translated a lot better onto the screen rather than a page - and that comes down in part to the writing.
Especially when it came to emotions, the prose often fell into the dreaded telling instead of showing - especially when it came to trying to explain emotions with cliches that were then just explained right afterward with bland statements like “I felt sad”, which was a bit nonsensical. Also, at one point, the reader gets told in every chapter that Mia is sad, that she feels torn, that she can’t get what she wants in almost the same words as before but we’re rarely shown that. Over and over we have this repeated thought cycle without any sort of change (not so much in the emotions themselves but the words to describe them). Mia and Britt’s relationship especially suffers from this and it takes a bit of the magic out of the will-they-won’t-they struggle. All that being said, though, I still found myself rooting for them to find a way to be together, no matter whether physical distance was going to be an issue or not.
By far my favorite part and the one where the prose truly shines is the exploration of Mia and her late mother’s relationship. With the help of the scavenger hunt of clues, Mia unearths so much about her mother that she didn’t know and learns that after all this time, a lot of people she might not have spent a lot of time with in her hometown (felt a bit sus considering it’s a small town where everyone is supposedly a tight-knit community but we’ll deal with it), had the puzzle to the mystery that was her mother’s death all along.
Tori Rose was a strong character whose true voice shone through the lyrics that are included in this book. I could imagine myself listening to her on the radio and (like a lot of individuals in this book were willing to) wanting to follow her around the world. In that regard, the book was truly immersive and made me crave the chapters from her point of view. I guess that’s always a possibility with alternate timelines that one is more intriguing than the other.
While the big plot twist is quite predictable, I still had a fun time watching Mia try to piece together the clues her mom left her and the way it brought her and Britt closer together.

If you’re in the mood for a quick, summer-y story about a girl torn between her mother’s unresolved past and her own fears of the uncharted future, paired with a dash of heartfelt country music lyrics and a small town setting to steal your heart, then The Last Love Song’s the book for you!

This is an ARC And actually a 3.5 stars.
Is very easy to follow with the story and the characters. I ask for this because the plot was so good and also because the whole thing screams Mamma Mia, and am here for it.
I really like that the book is written in the two points of view, so we get to know the past and the present at the same time. It was a enjoyable book, so fun and fresh.

3stars.
Oh this was sweet! A cute coming of age story that has a sentimental vibe. The scavenger hunt left by the mom was the driving force of this book for me. I enjoyed the characters and some of them are definitely a crowd favorite. I can’t say I love it but I definitely enjoyed the ride.

I thought this was such a sweet coming of age story, and had a lot of fun with Mia following the clues and scavenger hunt left behind by her late mom (singer Tori Rose). I loved the sapphic romantic subplot with her best friend Britt, and thought these were such lovely characters/POVs to follow. I think folks will eat this one up, and it'd be such a cute Freeform made-for-tv movie!

This book is SO GOOD! I loved it from the first page to the last. This author’s voice is so clear and present throughout this novel. I loved her characterization and found this book very well developed. She’s now an auto buy author for me!

🦇 The Last Love Song Book Review 🦇

Rating: ⭐⭐⭐

❓ #QOTD What's your favorite love song?❓

🦇 After graduating, Mia Peters is given a letter from her late mother, country music star Tori Rose — the woman who left the small town of Sunset Cove to pursue her dream. That first letter sends her on a scavenger hunt across town to find more, each one like a puzzle piece, adding to the hazy image Mia has of the woman behind hit albums and fame. Each letter brings Mia closer to her mother, but further away from her best friend and sort-of-girlfriend Britt, who is leaving in a few days to pursue the same dream. Can Mia unravel her mother's past, face her present, and decide on a future outside of Sunset Cove? Or will the truth leave her disappointed and trapped in the small town her mother left behind?

💜 Kalie Holford does a stunning job at sparking vivacious life into Tori Rose through letters and journal entries. You experience the magnetism everyone in Sunset Cove once did, and understand why the entire town reveres her. Readers are bound to connect and empathize with both Tori and her daughter Mia in this dual POV/dual timeline story. Reading it, I was instantly tugged back to 2005, at the memory of reading Maureen Johnson's 13 Little Blue Envelopes. There's such exquisite balance between the past and present in this story, Tori's puzzle-pieced past simultaneously soothing Mia's concerns about leaving Sunset Cove while adding to them — a reminder that your choices and mistakes MUST be your own.

💜 That beautiful balance creates parallels between Mia's story and her mother's. We even see parallels between Mia and her unknown father. Both run away, fear being brave or taking a risk, and it holds them back from their true potential. Mia is so eager NOT to repeat her mother's history that she second-guesses herself constantly, afraid to make her own mistakes. Mia not only learns from her mother's journal entries, but also the lives she touched — proving the domino effect we can have on another person's lives. At the end, though...it's also a story about regret. We aren't our mistakes, but what we learn from them. It's a story about growth after the fact.

💜 "I will never regret chasing my dream. I regret the people I hurt. I regret the bridges I burned. I regret losing who I was in an attempt to find someone else in everyone else and within me."

💜 The lyrics from Mia's music AND her mothers add an extra layer to this story. For the record, I did cry (reading the story's literal Last Long Song), so if you're sappy like me, have tissues at the ready.

💙 Holford beautifully encapsulates that pivitol "coming-of-age" moment that empowers any YA story. The best friends to lovers aspect is messy, realistic, and pure; a series of stolen, secret kisses, failed relationships with others in between, the fear of either ruining or losing an unspoken love story. You'll root for Mia and Britt, cry at Mia's side, and feel full of hope by the end of it all. Also, Mia's grandmothers? They are everything.

🦇 This is a powerful, atmospheric debut that's bursting with heart and soul. Recommended for fans of Sadie, 13 Little Blue Envelopes, and Mama Mia. And, beyond a doubt, all you Swifties.

✨ The Vibes ✨
🎵 Bisexual FMC
🎶 Sapphic Romance / Best Friends to Lovers
🎵 Lyrics
🎶 Mother/Daughter
🎵 Dual POV
🎶 Dual Timeline
🎵 Grief & Self-Discovery
🎶 Contemporary YA
🎵 Debut

🦇 Major thanks to the author @kalieholford and publisher @blackstonepublishing for providing an ARC of this book via Netgalley. 🥰 This does not affect my opinion regarding the book. #OneLastWord

💬 Quotes
❝ All my life I’ve collected pieces of Tori Rose like breadcrumbs, lyrics like talismans, stories like safety nets. ❞
❝ "Really think about it without the fear and the lies and the telling yourself you can’t have it.” ❞
❝ “You’re going to be a star, you know that, right?” She shakes her head. “Stars burn out. I want to be my own goddamn galaxy.” ❞
❝ She’s the personification of a love song, and I can’t get her out of my head. ❞
❝ The world raises girls to be competitors not constellations. ❞
❝ We burst and we break. We are dichotomies and paradoxes and lies and happily never afters. We are an ending that wants to be a beginning and a beginning that never got to start quite right. We are everything and she is everything and only I know that I truly wish I could go with her. ❞

A story of reconciliation, The Last Love Song follows Mia as she figures out what she truly wants for herself. After she is left a scavenger hunt by her late mother as a graduation gift, Mia and Britt, her best friend, follows the trail of clues to uncover Mia’s past and family history.

Mia’s POV captures the same drama and whimsy of Mamma Mia while Tori Rose’s POV gives off Daisy Jones and the Six vibes. I loved the dual timelines and how it paralleled Mia and Tori’s dilemmas and decisions. We witness Mia reconcile with her mother (albeit through the scavenger hunt) and her past, as well as her relationship with Britt and her love for music and songwriting.

I do feel like this would have been fleshed out more if it was just a bit longer, but I’m quite satisfied with the way things turned out. So heartfelt and (literally) lyrical.

Thank you to Netgalley and Blackstone Publishing for the ARC! :>

This book is absolutely perfection!!! Insta favorite of this year!!! And I can't wait to reread it again!

It's summertime in Sunset Cove, and Mia Peters is facing a major case of the post-graduation blues. She's saying goodbye to everything she's ever known, including her kind-of-sort-of girlfriend, Britt. But Mia's not ready to let go of her small-town life or follow in her mom's footsteps as a country music star. Like, can you blame her? Who wants to be abandoned like that, right?

But then, out of nowhere, Mia starts getting these mysterious letters from her mom's past, and suddenly, she's on this epic scavenger hunt through Sunset Cove, discovering secrets she never knew existed. And let me tell you, the feels are REAL, people! Like, I was legit on the edge of my seat, dying to know what Mia would uncover next.

And the romance? UGH, don't even get me started! Mia and Britt's relationship had me swooning so hard, I thought I might pass out. It's like, you can feel the chemistry jumping off the page, and you just KNOW these two are meant to be together. Plus, the way Kalie Holford writes about love is seriously magical. I mean, I'm still thinking about it days later!

But what really got me was how relatable Mia's journey was. Like, who hasn't struggled with their identity or felt the pressure to live up to family expectations? Mia's story is all about finding yourself and chasing your dreams, no matter how scary it might seem. And TBH, I think we could all use a little inspo like that in our lives.

So, if you're looking for a book that's equal parts heartwarming, swoon-worthy, and totally addictive, "The Last Love Song" is where it's at, my friends. Trust me, you won't regret diving into this beautiful world of love, family, and self-discovery. It's the kind of story that'll stay with you long after you've turned the last page! Highly, highly recommend!!!

{3,5}

This was such a sweet read! I almost finished it in one-sitting thanks to the simple writing style and ideas. I was really intrigued by the whole story, and it caught my attention until the very end.

I loved how unique the storytelling was. We have the POV of a daughter for most chapters, but then we also have the POV of a mother. However, I didn't really get the Mamma Mia vibes. Sure, the whole "Who's my dad?" thing was part of it, but other than that, there wasn't anything else that would indicate any Mamma Mia vibes.

I felt for Mia, and I really did like seeing her start to understand herself and her mother. I also really liked the way music was used in this book. The lyrics of all the songs embedded tell vivid stories. Plus, I was glad the mother's POV was actually hers, not just Mia reading was her mother was going through. I thought that added a nice touch to the characters and everything.

Apart from that, I liked the idea of the hunt Mia's Mother prepared for her. However, sometimes it felt extremely random or hard, like there was no way Mia could have figured them out.

I would recommend this to book to everyone who loves music. Or their mothers :)<3

Thank you so much to NetGalley and also North Star Edition for giving me the opportunity to read this great book in advance!

thank you so much netgalley for the ARC!!

I literally loved this book so much. I don’t usually get emotional when reading but I found myself wiping tears at the end. This is a sapphic YA mix of Mamma Mia & Daisy Jones and the Six and I ate it UP! I cannot recommend it enough. Seriously so beautifully written and such a fun story to follow.

This book gives all the vibes!! I felt like it was a mix of Mamma Mia and Paper Towns. Mia goes on a scavenger hunt to get to know her mother, a country music star who passed in Mia's youth. Throughout this, she looks for a sign of what to do, who she is, and what choices to make. But her mom can't choose those for her and she must decide her own fate. This book made me sob, fall in love, and learn more about myself. This is everything a young adult book should be and have and wow oh wow was it so so good. Especially for a debut novel, Kalie did an amazing job and I cannot wait to see this book take over booktok.

Tropes:
-seaside small town
-queer
-finding yourself / coming of age
-dual timeline
-mother / daughter relationship focus
-scavenger hunt
-childhood best friends to lovers
-country music w/ original lyrics
-young adult

i went into this book blindly and i thought it's about britt and mia entirely but man i was wrong, this was a whole 'nother story centered about mia and her mother (with a side of britt i love her) i couldn't help but to be deeply immersed in the story and how the rest unfolded. the songs are insanely good & THE PLOT was interesting alone even if it solely focused on mia and her mother without the love interest, but of course, an added love interest is always a good idea!

thank you katie holford and the publisher for allowing me to read this book this early, i was totally moved by this book and gods i wish i could read this for the first time again <3 kudos, author!

✨4.5 but rounded up to 5✨
yall this book 😭😭😭 this book was so cute and everything i wanted and more. this book follows mia’s story as she goes on a hunt to learn more about her mom’s story. this book was SO well written and i loved how different this dual POV was compared to others i have read! overall this was such a cute and fun read.
thank you to netgalley and the author for the arc in exchange for an honest review❣️

Let me just say that The Last Love Song is an absolute masterpiece! From the moment I started reading, I was completely captivated by the story and the characters. It's one of those books that grabs hold of your heart and doesn't let go until the very last page. It’s such a cute romance book and the songs are so so good, I loved reading the lyrics.

The way the author weaves together romance, emotion, and a touch of mystery is truly remarkable. The characters feel so real and relatable, and their journey of love, heartbreak, and self-discovery is both heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. You'll find yourself rooting for them and celebrating their triumphs. It’s literally so damn cute, it’s a queer romance and I LOVEDDD it.

The writing style is absolutely beautiful. The descriptions are so vivid and evocative, transporting you right into the heart of the story. The way she crafts the dialogue is also spot-on, making you feel like you're right there in the middle of the conversations, experiencing every emotion alongside the characters.

It's a rollercoaster of emotions, and you won't be able to put the book down until you find out how it all unfolds.

Overall, The Last Love Song is a must-read for anyone who enjoys a beautifully written, emotionally charged love story. It will make you laugh, tear up and feel all the feels. Trust me, you won't be disappointed! You HAVE to get this on release day.