Best, First, Last, by Amy T. Matthews

Thank you to Kensington Books and NetGalley for an advance reader’s copy of this book.

Bonnie, just turned 70 and having lost her third husband, manages to be the ebullient yet stabilizing center of this family novel, in which three generations of women share their experiences with love and loss. The book has much to recommend it, especially the complex relationships between Bonnie and her daughter, and her grown granddaughter, each of whom has her own reasons for being depressed. Romance and physical love feature prominently, with the women sharing stories of their marriages and relationships as they visit Machu Pichu in Peru. The adventure also traces their journeys to understanding and accepting life’s messiness.

However, the women’s enmeshment with each other, and with some of those they love, lends a neurotic tone to the story. This is especially true with Bonnie’s daughter, Sandy, whose interfering behavior in her own grown daughter’s life is sometimes outrageous, and enraging. That daughter, Heather, also seems stuck in self-defeating patterns, and though she does emerge from them, the trip can seem very long.

This kind of romance/drama is not my kind of book, but it is well-written and could be enjoyed by those who appreciate this genre.

4.5⭐️

Best, First, and Last is a fun journey filled with adventure and emotion. Heather, her mother Sandy, and grandmother Bonnie travel together through both Peru and their pasts. Family dynamics prove more difficult to conquer than Manchu Picchu. Difficult, but not impossible. This story is filled with romance and conflict and humor and family love, and Heather is particularly easy to root for- even when certain others in her life aren’t so much. A great reminder that sometimes traveling well outside your comfort zone can help you find where you belong.

Thank you Amy T. Matthews, Kensington Books, and NetGalley for providing this ARC for review consideration. All opinions expressed are my own.

These 3 women have taught me a lot. I can take one lesson from each.

I have a troublesome relationship with my own mother, and I never had a relationship with my grandmother due to her developped mental illnesses. This book brought forth a complex swarm of relationships, mostly between Bon and Sandra and Heather and Sandra. It felt so good to have a telling of what a normal but not always functional family is.

It's real, sad but full of love in those less happy moments.

This book was funny. I could relate to Heather more, maybe because we are the same age. Her interactions with Romeo 🥰"You're not a serial killer, are you?" Were the best.

Romeo had my heart. He was so patient and understanding, it was everything. Plus, he can be pretty romantic at times.

Bonnie was so wise but carefree at the same time. "When you see people for what they are, not for what they could be to you, then you love them." She is a well of experiences. Bonnie made me laugh the most, I wish I had a grandmother or a woman in my life like her.

Sandra made me sad and one or two times angry. I wish we had more chapters in her pov, I think that would have made a difference in me feeling more for her. Nevertheless I understood her journey and her struggles, just not fully.

Also I expected a substantial part of the book to take place on the trek, and it's mostly leading up to it.

I would recommend this book, for sure. It had me laughing, smiling adorably at Romeo and Juliet, crying at Bon's story-telling in the hotel room and some more I don't want to spoil.


Thank you for the ARC, I appreciate it a lot. And this is my real, honest review. 🙂

Best, First and Last is the story of three generations of women in one family who are all struggling for different reasons. Bonnie (Bon) is grieving the death of her third husband and worried about the rift between her daughter, Sandy, and her granddaughter, Heather. After a conversation with her Arizona neighbour's photojournalist grandson, Bonnie decides to book a trip to Peru for herself, Sandy and Heather to hike the Incan Trail to Machu Picchu as a celebration of her 70th birthday. Sandy is an emotional wreck about the impending divorce from her philandering husband and Heather, who moved across the country to escape the difficult relationship she has with both parents, has recently broken up with a guy who is a bit of a stalker. Most of the narrative takes place in the lead up to and during the trip to Peru but there are also a few flashback chapters that provide the background relating to Sandy and Bonnie's relationships.

I had enjoyed the author's previous book, Someone Else's Bucket List, and was drawn to this one because this Machu Picchu trip is something I would love to do. As the three women embark on this adventure to visit one of the wonders of the world, there is a lot of fighting and tears but as they hike there is also a shedding of the past and the three begin to look forward to the future. There is also a romance storyline for Heather who meets her "Romeo" shortly after arriving in Peru. Bon ,who is carrying around her dead husband's urn, was my favourite character - she is a riot and you never know what's going to come out of her mouth but she loves her daughter and granddaughter deeply and will do anything for them. Best, First and Last is an uplifting, joyful story of family and healing and an enjoyable read!

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for sending a digital ARC of this book for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader copy

I enjoy multigenerational stories and I wanted to like this book more than I actually enjoyed the act of reading it. Long chapters really aren't my thing, which dragged down the pacing for me. Otherwise, some interesting characters.

I really enjoyed this book. The writing was very clean, and the plot had a good pace and flow. The banter between Bonnie and Dale was really fun and cute. I'd read more from this author.

This book is an incredible story of three generations of women all at crossroads in their life.

Although the characters were connected, they were each such unique individuals. I felt as though I was on an adventure right along with these women. This is a testament to the perfectly balanced descriptive nature of Matthews’s writing.

The plot moved along at just the right speed, and I appreciated how entertaining and moving the story was as a whole. I’ll definitely read more of her books!

I loved Somebody Else's Bucket list and this gave me the same vibes. It was sweet, and eye opening. As a mom, daughter and granddaughter it hits you in all those levels of your life.

Best First and Last
Author : Amy. T. Matthews

This is a story of women from three generations .. Bonnie who is widowed three times and aged 70, her daughter Sandra who is separated from her cheating husband and granddaughter Heather who is struggling with her own relationship crises…
When things turn ugly.. Bonnie decides that all three of them should take a trip to Peru and climb Machu Pichu.. But is her daughter and granddaughter willing to go on this trip???
The beginning of the book is hilarious and loved Bonnie for her wittiness and reaction..
but as the story unfolds.. it shows three sides of these women and how they have dealt with their individual relationship challenges over their life.. they have their secrets which uncovers with time and affect all three of them in different ways.. it shows how each one reacts to these challenges and heartbreaks

The question comes down to why women most of the time end up with decisions that lead to heartbreak.. Bonnie who had three marriages but always had her first relationship and husband in her subconscious mind that somehow affected her other two marriages.
Sandra who made the wrong choice and ended up with a man who never loved her truly and she still goes back to that man and constantly regrets over this failed relationship.
Heather who wants to move away from her stalker boyfriend and is in dilemma to try a new relationship. Her relationship with her father too is complicated.

This book is good but I found it never ending.. partially went into reading slump as well but still got back to reading this story as i wanted to know more about each women’s story in the book..

What is it about Amy T. Matthew’s novels that makes me feel like I have been on an adventure right along with the main characters? “Best, First, and Last” is Amy’s second novel. I loved it as much as the first!

Bonnie is newly widowed when her neighbor’s grandson comes to visit. With her 70th birthday on the horizon, the grandson inspires Bonnie to take her family on a journey to the Andes Mountains in Peru. Bonnie, Sandy, Heather, and lots of baggage (both emotional and physical) head to Machu Picchu. As Sandy, the daughter, and Heather, the granddaughter, trek up Machu Picchu, they learn the truth about Bonnie’s life. In those truths, they reframe their own life.

I loved this book for so many reasons - the adventure and unpacking and letting go of what we do not need to keep carrying.

Thank you to NetGalley and Kensington Books for an advanced copy in exchange for sharing my honest opinion.

After the loss of her husband, Bonnie is lonely. Recognising her daughter and granddaughter are also going through a hard time, she blindsides them by organising a trip to Peru to hike the Inca trail. What follows is much more than a physical journey, but one of love, healing, self discovery (fuelled by much snarky banter!).

I loved the witty repartee between these women, and found myself so engrossed in their journey. The story was a beautiful tribute to the healing power of family and travel, and a commentary on the power of the things that are left unsaid. I love books set around a hike, and this story perfectly capture the concept of escaping the world and creating space for reflection. Being able to experience Perth with Heather was an added bonus.

Romance was a central theme throughout the book, but secondary to the relationships of mother daughter and grandmother. I loved Owen with his assertive boundary setting and the respect he showed heather and her family, and the role he played in supporting their growth.

And finally, I loved the cover! It’s not something I normally pay a lot of attention to, but I really enjoyed looking at it on my ereader each time I picked the book up.

Thank you Kensington Books and NetGalley for a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed are my own.

I loved Matthew’s book Someone Else’s Bucket List so when I saw she wrote a new book that involved trekking in Peru, I immediately wanted to read it. This was such a fun story to read. This is mostly women’s fiction, but there is some romance in it. This book covered a lot of topics like the ups and downs of marriage, family dynamics, and grief. There were so many moments that were funny and sad. I enjoyed each women’s personal story and learning more about the events that shaped them into who they are today, and where they went wrong in love. Matthew has such a way with words, and her writing is emotionally gripping. All of the characters in this story were great, despite their flaws, but Bonnie was my favorite. She set this trip in motion to climb Machu Picchu for her 70th birthday. I want to be her when I grow up! I can only hope that I am climbing mountain at that age. I also loved that this book was inspired by the author’s grandmother, which is truly amazing. This is my second book by the author, and I look forward to reading more of her books. I would highly recommend this book.

Read if you enjoy:
✔️Mulitple POV
✔️Long chapters
✔️Multiple timelines
✔️Mother/daughter stories

Thank you NetGalley and Kensington Books for the ARC!

This was my first Amy T. Matthews book and it certainly won't be my last!

What a wonderful adventure of discovery I've been on today with these 3 amazing women.

I laughed and cried along with them, feeling as if I was actually on the trip with them.

I love how we gradually learn more about the early lives of Bon and Sandra, the events that shaped them into the women they are today.

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Books for the digital ARC.

I adore reading about mothers and daughters, so this book was perfect for my tastes. The additional grandmother character was icing on the cake! I lived their banter and the adventure they went on. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC.

This was such a fun story about 3 generations of women who go on a trip together. I loved seeing the evolution of each woman. The cover is very fun!

Read as an ARC - an absolute delight. It was a love story/rom-com, but also dug deep into the highs and lows of love, marriage, children, and taking chances. Grandma Bon drags her daughter Sandy and granddaughter Heather to Peru under the guise of being a thrice widowed septuagenarian, bringing with her the urn of most recent husband, Junior. They meet up with Owen, who Bon hopes to set up with Sandy, but turns out Owen and Heather already had a happenstance hostel love affair when Heather first arrived in Peru. Owen is thrust into this multi-generational fight, where each woman is carrying trauma related to love. When Heather's ex shows up right before their big trek to Macchu Picchu, things get messy.

This book was clear that everyone has a past and baggage - how do we reconcile what we've been through with the life we know we deserve? I went through the whole range of emotions reading this, and I absolutely loved it. The characters were funny, and we slowly got all the background of first and lost loves to see how each woman became who she is. Highly recommend.

“Best First Last” by Amy T. Matthews is nothing short of a literary masterpiece that swept me off my feet and left me utterly breathless. Matthews’ storytelling prowess is like a symphony of emotions, orchestrating a narrative that resonates deep within the soul. This book is a rollercoaster of love, passion, and self-discovery, and every page is a testament to Matthews’ ability to craft a story that transcends the ordinary and becomes an unforgettable journey into the human heart.

The characters in “Best First Last” are not merely ink on paper; they come alive, pulsating with raw, authentic emotions that seep into your very being. Matthews’ writing is a dance of words, weaving a tapestry so rich and vibrant that it’s impossible not to be swept away. This novel is an intoxicating elixir of literary brilliance, leaving an indelible mark on my heart. “Best First Last” is a tour de force, a rare gem that deserves not just five stars but a constellation of praise for its ability to enrapture and elevate the soul. Amy T. Matthews has crafted a masterpiece that will undoubtedly stand the test of time.

The blurb here is pretty detailed, and I was fascinated by the trekking adventure of the 3 ladies - so I picked it up spontaneously. The three women are 25-year-old Heather, her 52-year-old mother Sandy, and Bonnie, the grandmother, who wants to celebrate her 70th birthday in Peru. One could now assume there is a family trio that is close friends - but that's not the three of them. At least not at the beginning. Heather is happy to have put enough miles between herself and her dysfunctional family: her whole life is in the shadow of her mother Sandy's overflowing love for her father Nick - but he is a musician, has always enjoyed touring, and has always enjoyed being unfaithful. Now the divorce is finally pending and Sandy is devastated. Heather's own love life isn't really great either; she's been trying to get rid of her ex-lover Shawn, stalker par excellence, for a while, but keeps giving in. It can't work like that. Bonnie, married three times and newly widowed again, unexpectedly invites her daughter and granddaughter on a trekking trip into the mountains of Peru. She was inspired to do this by Owen - her neighbor's grandson, who constantly goes on trips like this. And whom she spontaneously hired to Peru...

Well, you can already tell that the protagonists all have their own baggage to bear, are all, as Owen says, a little weird, and don't really agree with each other either. They are all shaped by their family history, and Bonnie plans to reveal some family secrets... This could be a heavy, depth-psychological text, but it isn't at all. The author writes quickly and with a lot of humor and a lot of love for all her protagonists. This is really a great story, with a setting in Peru, and with lots of wisdom about life and love. Speaking of Peru: I've never been there before, but a new travel destination woke me up 😊. A hike to Macchu Picchu sounds pretty cool 😊. In most of the chapters in the book we are on our trip to Peru, and then there are a few inserts that shed light on Sandy and Bonnie's past. Very well done. And slowly the three of them are getting closer again...
Oh yes - now I've omitted all of Heather's love story - Juliet and Romeo in Peru - so please read! My conclusion: simply a beautiful story, great characters, and a lot of love. I liked that very much.

#7Netgalley read
This book is coming out in 2024 and when I saw it on Netgalley I couldn't just pass, I had to see what this book entails and I was definitely not expecting this much drama, in Owen's imagined voice " I don't do drama" 😂

So when a grandmother takes her daughter and her granddaughter on a great adventure to Peru, they didn't know that a lot of drama will unfold and their grand adventure will turn to a therapy session. So much secrets! So much crying!! So much drama!!!

Bonnie the grandmother got married 3 times, became a widow 3 times and she is just seventy. Bonnie has a very sad backstory, I felt pity for her but I was happy that everything she ever dreamed of having, she eventually got it.

Sandra the daughter started dating an a$$hole when she was in uni who was constantly cheating on her and using her and she knew but she decided to marry him because she loved him so much. After giving him her all and giving birth to his 2 kids; love definitely wasn't enough to sustain him and even during the marriage he was still cheating and the kids knew that their father was cheating. Very sad too but I didn't feel pity for her because she said she enjoyed the love he showered on her and she doesn't regret being with him😒

Heather the daughter became the emotional dumping ground for her mother's feelings, she wasn't allowed to feel her own feelings (if this sentence is correct) but she was now in charge of consoling and managing her mom who is an adult.
The book was centered on the 3 of them dealing with their transgenerational baggages and I enjoyed every bit of it, because this is an ARC I don't want to include spoilers in this review because this is a very early review

I laughed, cried and reflected throughout this entire book! It really makes you appreciate moms and grandmas! This feels like a love story with some extra self-help thrown in there.
Like any family, the characters make you want to pull your hair out but have you laughing while they do it. The personal and relationship developments were beautiful and it was a joy to witness the characters open their hearts and let go of their pain.
I absolutely loved that this book is set in Peru! Machu Picchu is at the top of my travel list so I thoroughly enjoyed the characters going on my dream trip!
I loved this book even with a little lull in the pacing at about the 70% mark.
Thank you so much to Kensington Books and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book! I absolutely loved it!