I have read several “final girl” novels and I’m pretty sure this one is my favorite. Right when you think you know what’s going on, I can’t 100% tell you that you are wrong. Shock factor 5/5.

Thank you so much to NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for access to an eARC in exchange for my honest review!!

what's it about? ⬇️

It's been five years since that awful night on Cassadaga Island. Five years since Tessa's life changed forever...and for the worst. Five years spent hiding behind locked doors with a weapon handy just in case the monster from the massacre comes back to finish what he started.

Even knowing that the man who killed all of her friends and nearly killed her, too is gone, Tessa hasn't been able to heal and find peace in the wake of her trauma, hasn't been able to keep a job, hasn't been able to move out of her sister's spare room... But after things almost go horribly wrong one night, Tessa knows that she has to do something. She has to make a change. She has to take her life back and give her sister back her life, too.

And what better way to get over her trauma than to dive in head first, go back to the place where it all began, and write a tell-all book about the massacre?

Going back to that beautiful house on Cassadaga Island is terrifying, and of course Tessa is careful to lock doors and not go out at night, but even with her added layers of caution, things on the island seem off. It's the off season for tourism, most of the rental properties have been closed down for the year, and the locals are a somewhat odd bunch. And when increasingly concerning things start happening, Tessa has to wonder...is it really all just in her head like people say, or is her past coming back to finish her off once and for all?

my thoughts? ⬇️

I loved the concept for this story so much, and so many of the ideas were so solid and would have made for an excellent book, but unfortunately, I think the execution just fell a little flat for me personally. Tessa was one of those characters who you want so badly to root for as a final girl, but who repeatedly makes poor decisions because she just doesn't have the knowledge base you would expect her to have. Of course, some of this could be attributed to her years spent in near-isolation, so I mostly gave it a pass.

I think the biggest struggle I had with this book was connecting to the trauma Tessa went through and the friends she lost. Sure, there were flashes of memories here and there, but I thought there might be a bit more to connect us emotionally to that place in her memory considering how stuck she was in it.

However, all in all this was a story of healing and resilience and determination even when the world seems like it's against you, and I had a good time with it despite my issues. I think I'd try another book by the authors to see if this one was just a dud for me.

based on you other likes? ⬇️

If you liked any of these, this one might be for you, or vice versa.

🔪 Final Girls by Riley Sager
🔪 On a Clear Day, You Can See Block Island by Gage Greenwood
🔪 What Lies in the Woods by Kate Alice Marshall
🔪 Two Sides to Every Murder by Danielle Valentine


trigger warnings ⬇️

rape, mental illness, panic attacks, blood, gore, murder, death, grief, gaslighting, stalking, harassment.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read and review an advanced copy of this novel. I highly enjoyed it and will be recommending it to others.

Literally did not put this down until I devoured it! Even as my heart pounded out of my chest with every turn of the page. I will definitely be recommending this to all of my fellow readers!

I read the prologue to this thriller and quickly realized this was not a book that I could read at night. Starting off with a scene that is one out of nightmares this thriller is filled with twists that will keep you guessing. The eerie island setting adds to the sense of foreboding and fear and the short chapters keep the pages turning as the action and the need to know increases. The ending played out like a scene from a movie and I was wishing I had something to hide behind, but that doesn't work when reading so I was brave and carried on till the very satisfactory last page.

Interesting story of a survivor of a killer who goes back to the site of the killings to try to deal with her anxiety. Great story, with unexpected twist in who the murderer actually was and their circumstances.

When a woman returns to the scene of the horrific mass murder that shattered her life, the nightmare begins again in a chilling novel of psychological suspense. Sounds very interesting and yes it was. Tessa Chamberlain was the only survivor of a massacrer which happened at a beach house which saw three of her friends dead.

Now Tessa returns to the same beach house to face her fears, so what will happen and will she find and will she be able to get past that past! This is a bit of a scary, creepy book that is well paced an not at all predictable. The pace does slow a bit in the middle but as it is a fairly short book you can get past that quickly. All in all a good book and 3 1/2 starts from me.

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer for giving me the opportunity to read and review this book.

I liked this a lot! I don't read a lot of thrillers so I was pleasantly surprised. The tension was pretty nonstop - at the halfway point I felt like so much creepy shit had already happened. I also did not guess who had dunnit and it was a good twist that didn't feel too far fetched (#nospoilers). I was intrigued by Patrick's brother and wished he had been in the book more. 4.5/5 ⭐

This one sounded soo good but sadly I just didn't vibe with the writing style. Because of that, the characters and the ending meant nothing to me.
Thank you to the publisher for the copy in exchange for an honest review.

Book Review of The Last Girl Left by A.M. Strong

Rating: 3.5 Stars

I recently dove into The Last Girl Left by A.M. Strong, and it was quite the entertaining ride! This psychological thriller follows Tessa Chamberlain, who is returning to the beach house where a tragic massacre took place five years ago—one that left her as the sole survivor. With the haunting memories still fresh in her mind, Tessa decides to confront her past head-on by renting the same house on Cassadaga Island, Maine, during the eerie winter months when the island is a ghost of its summer self.

First off, can we take a moment to appreciate the book cover? It’s absolutely captivating and sets the mood perfectly for the kind of suspense that awaits inside. The initial half of the book had me hooked; I was flipping pages like crazy, completely engrossed in Tessa’s journey back to the scene of her trauma. The atmosphere was so evocative, with all the creepy vibes you’d expect from a murder house. There were some intense moments sprinkled throughout that really ramped up the tension, and I loved the feeling of déjà vu that kept me guessing—and second-guessing—what might happen next.

However, I have to admit that my excitement started to wane in the latter half. While I was hoping for a shocking twist or an unexpected reveal that would leave me reeling, the resolution felt a bit too convenient for my taste. I had already pieced together much of the mystery early on, which dampened the thrilling experience I was expecting. It was almost like I was waiting for that “aha!” moment that never came.

That said, The Last Girl Left is still an easy read with plenty of entertainment value. It’s perfect for anyone looking for a chilling tale that won’t require too much heavy lifting. If you’re in the mood for some psychological suspense with a compelling premise, you might find this book hits the spot—even if it doesn’t quite deliver that jaw-dropping finale I was hoping for.

⚠️This review was written based on personal opinions and experiences with the book. Individual preferences may vary⚠️

Five years ago, Tessa was the only survivor of a brutal murder spree. The culprit was killed in the hunt to arrest him, but she is still haunted by him. In an effort to finally heal, she decides to go spend a month back at the house where she was attacked. When she gets there, she starts to notice what sounds like footprints and strange voices in the middle of the night. No one believes her and she does not know who to trust.

This was a pretty good thriller! It was really fast-paced and had a lot of intrigue that kept me wanting to know what happened next. I do think the setup feels a little unrealistic - a woman going back to an isolated murder house when she is afraid of most things? Despite that, it was still really enjoyable to read and I do think while the whodunit was maybe not radical, there was still a good twist to tie it in more.

I received my copy from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

This is the perfect atmospheric psychological thriller about a girl who survived a traumatic experience but returns to the location to move past and recount the events in a house on an isolated island in Maine. There are creepy haunted house vibes, short chapters with lots of twists, and a main character that I found was easy to root for on her journey. Don't sleep on this fast-paced thriller with Final Girls vibes!

Tessa, the lone survivor of a beach house massacre, returns to the same house five years later to face her fears and write a book. As she revisits the scene, eerie events unfold, making her question her sanity and safety.

I loved this book! The suspense and atmosphere were gripping, and Tessa's character was well-developed. The mystery was perfectly balanced—not too predictable or far-fetched. The setting on a creepy island in the off-season added to the tension. The twists kept me on edge, and the shorter chapters made it a quick, engaging read.

Highly recommend for fans of thrillers, mysteries, and horror movies!

Thanks to Netgalley, Thomas & Mercer, A.M. Strong and Sonya Sargent for the chance to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

WOW!!! I absolutely LOVED this book! It had everything I love in a psychological thriller: Brilliant writing, lovable characters, short chapters, suspense and great twists.
I was hooked right from the start, I just couldn't put it down, I read it in one sitting.

Tessa was a great main character. She was strong but still vulnerable, charismatic and complex.
I thought all the characters were well thought out. The writing was excellent. I haven't read any other books by this writing duo before, but I'll definitely be on the lookout for more.

The book was very atmospheric, it had me on the edge of my seat most of the way through. At one stage I thought I had it all figured out, but I was completely wrong. The twists were great, I didn't see them coming at all.

I very highly recommend. 5 stars from me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The writing is quite interesting and I would say there’s not a boring moment. The chapters are short and the characters stand out. I would say the plot twist would not make your jaw drop but expect very nasty twists and scenes. The ending is good!
I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Tessa is a survivor. Years ago she and some friends travelled to a beautiful rental on the beach in hopes of having the time of their lives, and they did, until they met a man who would forever change Tessa's life. One fateful night all of Tessa's friends were brutally murdered; the killer thought they killed Tessa too but she survived and identified him. She soon found out that the police chief killed this man at his home when he resisted arrest. Tessa now lives with her sister but is struggling really bad. When the tragedy first happened she was offered a book deal but declined. Now, her sister is at her wit's end with Tessa and threatens to kick her out. Tessa decides she's had enough of not living a full life and takes up the offer to write a book. The only catch? She has to return to the island and beach house where the events took place to really get a feel for the atmosphere for her book and to hopefully heal. However, soon after arriving, weird things start to happen and she fears the nightmare from five years ago isn't over just yet.

The book starts off a little slow, but I think it was to gain a full understanding of Tessa's personality and feelings. I liked Tessa a lot and found myself really hoping she heals. The atmosphere of the book was good; it was a little creepy at times and definitely thrilling. I figured out one twist (sort of) but it turned out to only be a small part of an even larger twist. The location description was really well done; I could really picture the layout of the island. The characters were likeable (some not so much, for obvious reasons) and the shorter chapters really kept me interested.

I really enjoyed this, It was a quick read with a lot of great twists. I would recommend this and would like to read more from this author.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author and publisher for allowing me to read this book for free. This was my honest review.

I loved the beginning of this book. Excellent story idea, with a well liked main character.
I figured out the twists by the halfway point, if not earlier. It just wasn't believable to be anyone else.
Overall I'd rate this book as a 3.5. I'll round it up on Amazon and Netgalley.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this ARC

Great story line about a traumatic experience survivor taking back her life and fighting her demons. However, I feel like I’m more reading about her feelings and what’s happening to her rather than feeling it or being invested in the story.

The MC is hard to like because he’s remakes very dumb decisions all the time.

3 stars and glad I read it!

Thank you NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for this eArc of The Last Girl Left.

Let’s start out by saying this book definitely gave me “Final Girl” vibes. Do I dare say I actually enjoyed this one a bit more?

This story was creepy, atmospheric, and thrilling. This one is definitely a slow burn, but then you get to a certain point and it moves very quickly. The chapters were short and very intense. I was absolutely creeped out most of the book and wasn’t sure which characters I could trust. There were things I wasn’t sure were real or not and I was on the edge of my seat for a lot of the book.

When I had to put this down, I definitely wanted to pick it back up. I absolutely want to check out more books by authors!

This is a quick (both well paced and short) read. I read it on a medium long flight and it’s good plane reading. I think it’s trying to make interesting points about the true crime “craze” but it misses the mark a bit. I also think it doesn’t deliver on the suspect of the first chapter. If you pick it up in the airport bookstore, so you have something for a flight, you’ll enjoy it. If you’re picking it off your shelf of other options, it might sit for a while.

I received an advance copy from NetGalley and the publisher to review.