Thank you to NetGalley, Brilliance Publishing/Brilliance Audio, A.M. Strong & Sonya Sargent for an audio galley of The Last Girl Left in exchange for an honest review.

Oy Vey – this one was not great. Basically, Tessa is the sole survivor of a massacre she and her friends were renting. Five years later, she has been unable to cope with life, so she decides to face her demons & rent out the same house & stay there for a month to write a book regarding her demons.

The pacing was quick & the story was just so-so, but what killed it completely was absolute predictability. The “bad guy” or rather 2nd “bad guy” is EXACTLY who you think it is. The red herring of trying to make it look like the friend was not believable AT ALL.

This was just an average book at best, but with the complete predictability, I wouldn’t rate it anything above 2-stars.

✨This was a solid thriller with a final girl theme that really kept me on my toes to the very end.
✨I love it when a thriller is so scary it has me peeking over my shoulder. This is that book!
✨Everyone is a suspect; no one can be trusted – and the twists are intense!

I definitely recommend this one, friends.

🌿Read if you like:
✨Final girl stories
✨Isolated settings
✨Maine settings
✨Psychological thrillers

🎧Here’s where my review takes a turn. I’m sorry to say I didn’t love the narration. But I also have to clarify that a big reason why I didn’t is that the narrator’s voice was very monotone and flat in places – and I have to think this was intentional due to the internal life of the character. It just didn’t work for me, but this could just be personal preference. Despite this, I very much enjoyed the audiobook.

Tessa can't forget how her three friends were killed, especially because she was the lone survivor of said beach house massacre. When she is presented with a ton of money, which she desperately needs, to revisit the house to face her fears, she decides to take the task on. When she arrives, things don't seem right and it becomes apparent that someone is watching her. Can she last the month to get the job done?

This was such an entertaining read. I listened to the audiobook and the eeriness was portrayed so well. It would be my absolute nightmare to be in a haunted house so I sympathised with Tessa, feeling goosebumps at times. Fast paced, this was a fantastic thriller that I would recommend to anyone who likes a bit of scare factor in their books.

My friends at Thriller Lover: The Pulse and I have been talking nonstop about this book - it is just SO good!!

Five years ago, Tessa Chamberlain was vacationing with four of her closest friends at a beach in Maine. She had no idea that a man they would meet there would come back to their house and brutally murder her friends. Tessa was the only one left alive, after being viciously attacked and scarred. She has been a shell of her former self, barely surviving so when her sister gives her an ultimatum, she decides to finally face the past. Tessa returns to the beach house where her friends lost their lives, retracing her steps to write a book about being the sole survivor. Soon after arriving, she begins hearing strange sounds on the porch and coming from the attic. Tessa begins to wonder if she made the wrong decision to come back to this place.

WOW!! This book absolutely blew me away! It started off with a bang and did not let up even for a minute. The pacing was quick and the story flowed so perfectly, with bits and pieces of Tessa’s past coming to light as she struggled to remember the specifics from the night that changed her life forever. I was immediately immersed in Tessa’s world and thought I had an idea where the story was headed but I wasn't even close! As I was reading, I had to remind myself that this wasn’t based on real events because it was just SO lifelike and chilling. Thank goodness I had the audio for this book, because I could not stop listening to it!

If you love fast-paced thrillers that will keep you fully engaged til the end, don’t miss this one! Thank you to Thomas & Mercer for the ARC! “The Last Girl Left” releases April 23, 2024! This review will be shared to my instagram blog (@books_by_the_bottle) shortly :)

I seem to be on a 'Last Girl' trend at the moment. Let me tell you, this one did not disappoint either! This book was so good! I had book the eBook and audiobook so I would alternate between the 2 depending on my situation at the time. I want to start by saying the narrator was awesome! She gave just the right amount of infliction so that you would actually feel the emotions that the characters are having. The book was very gripping. I didn’t want to put it down. And honestly, the only reason it took as long as it did to read it was because of tax season! I loved that this book was told in short chapters so it was easy to get in 'just one more chapter" and not overdo it, even though I wanted to read it all in one sitting.
Tessa is the sole survivor of a beach house murder 5 years ago. Since then, she has yet to overcome her demons and move on. But who could blame her!? With everything that went on! Everything she listened to as she hid and tried to survive! This is told from Tessa's point of view only. There are instances where she gets flashbacks to the night of the murders. She doesn't remember any of it so little by little, she is learning what really happened.
The ending was NOT what I expected at all! Part of it was, but the other part?!?! OMG, threw me for a loop! Did not see that coming at all. The epilogue was a nice little tidy up chapter.
While the ending of this book is good, I was hoping for a little more. Not sure what exactly but something more. Maybe a little more detail of the night of the murders or a little more insight to the culprit, little more info on previous crimes that the were commented on in the end. Even with that being said, this book is a strong 4 stars! Kind of waffling between 4 and 4.5. Great, compelling, bingeable read! Idk I would recommend this to. Everyone probably!

The Last Girl Left by A.M Strong, Sonya Sargent
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Pub April 23, 2024

Tessa was the sole surviving woman in a massacre where she listened to her three closest friends get butchered and Tessa herself was left for dead.
5 years later she decides her therapy isn't going well and she needs to return to the scene of the crime to overcome her phobias.

This book was so Haunting and I loved the writing. The entire thing was so easy to read. I switched back and forth between listening and reading when it was most convenient for me. And both options were pleasantly easy and just as eerie as the other choice.

If you're looking for an unsettling and twisted story that includes a few triggers such as r@pe, m*rder, and stalking. Then look no further than the last girl left.

Thank you to @thrillerbookloversthepulse and @sonyasargentstrong for hooking me up with audio and the wonderful book box (see previous reel)

For the past five years, Tessa has lived in a constant state of fear following the massacre of her friends, in which she was the only survivor. When dealing with Tessa’s fears and anxiety become too much for her sister, Tessa is forced to face her fears alone. She returns to the beach house on a secluded island where it all happened, and finds more than she bargained for.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗳𝘁 was impossible to tear myself away from. I felt it all for Tessa, the fear, anxiety, loneliness, skepticism about everyone in the town. I thought I knew where it was heading but I was wrong and the ending twist was well done. I listened to this one on audio and thoroughly enjoyed it. It vaguely reminded me of the University of Idaho murders, but not completely. Thanks to the publisher for my gifted copy. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗚𝗶𝗿𝗹 𝗟𝗲𝗳𝘁 will be published 4/23.

Oh Em Gee! Look at this amazing package that was sent from #thepulse #pulsepoint Everyone at @thrillerbookloversthepulse is screaming from the rooftops about this one!

What it’s about:
Five years ago, Tessa witnessed THE most horrific experience of her life. Away on a girls trip in the perfect beach house her girlfriends were all murdered at the hands of a complete stranger. She happened to be the sole survivor however she’s been left with crippling anxiety and fear. When her actions hit an all time low she decides she absolutely must make a change to move on from her dark past. Strapped for cash she agrees to go back to the scene of the crime and write a tell all book about her experience and how she feels living in the house for the next month. The moment she arrives she senses someone is watching her and things aren’t right with her return.

💭The beginning scene in this one gave off major “Taken” vibes and was simply terrifying! Naturally this cold dead heart loved it! 🖤 I could feel the sheer terror poor Tessa felt and the anxiety and results of the attack. If you need a book that starts out with a bang to suck you in…this book is that! The writing is engaging, there is not one slow moment and I found myself looking under my bed before I dove back in to read this one! This one is an ultimate stressful thriller that you will not want to miss!

Thank you @amazonpublishing @sonyasargentstrong @strongsargentauthors for the gifted copy!

Thank you Netgalley and Brilliance Publishing for the ALC!

Synopsis: Tessa is consumed with half forgotten memories from her traumatic past. In an effort to move forward with her life, she decides to pack up and go back to the place that took everything from her. Footsteps on the porch, creaks from the second floor, and an unsettling feeling of being watched has Tessa wondering if she has made a terrible mistake.

My thoughts: Put together the final girl trope + everyone’s a suspect and you have the makings of a great thriller. The Last Girl Left is set in Maine on an island cottage with a horrific history. I’d highly highly recommend the audiobook! Hallie Ricardo brings the chilling atmosphere to life in her narration. 10/10!! This is a darker story revolving around a beach house massacre so prepare yourself to be spooked! I found this to be bingeable, fast-paced, and twisty - perfect for those of us who have read one too many slow-burn stories and want something different.

THE LAST GIRL LEFT is a gripping thriller with well-placed twists that kept me guessing until the end. It has friendship, a hopeful character arc for the protagonist, and some good vibes to finish - quite uplifting for a serial killer thriller!

Premise - Tessa is the sole survivor of a brutal night at an island beach house that ends in the deaths of her three best friends. Even after she recovers physically from the devastating injuries of the night, she's far from recovered physically. After a rock bottom moment where she almost kills a sweet dog (by accident, the pooch comes out unscathed!) she realizes something has to change. Her solution? She'll go back to the infamous beach house and spend a month facing her fears in the very place where the horrors happened.

OKAY, Tess, you're crazy. Her decision making is incredibly poor at the beginning of the novel, but it's justified by her trauma and very believable, so I wasn't bothered by her TSTL syndrome. After that initial horrible judgment call, she behaves quite rationally - even when it seems the dormant serial killer (assumed dead!) has returned. Now Tess is trapped on the island, at the scene of the crime, and she has to figure out what she's forgotten if she wants any hope of survival.

Read this if you like:
- Amnesia trope
- Locked room mysteries
- The mind-f*ck of (some) female friendship(s)
- A steady-paced thriller, not too fast and not too slow
- 3rd person limited narration

I'll read more from A.M. Strong!

Thanks, NetGalley and Thomas & Mercer, for the gifted ARC in exchange for an honest review.

𝗠𝘆 𝗿𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴: 4 ½ ✨⭐️
THE LAST GIRL LEFT 🎧
🤍𝗚𝗲𝗻𝗿𝗲: thriller
📖 331 pages
𝗘𝗺𝗼𝗷𝗶𝘀: 🏡🏖️😱🔪🚔✍🏼🏏🦞
𝗣𝘂𝗯 𝗱𝗮𝘁𝗲: 4/23/2024

💛𝗿𝗲𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄 𝘁𝗶𝗺𝗲💛

This book is getting a lot of buzz around @thrillerbookloversthepulse & you’ll for sure want to snag a copy on pub day, 4/23/24!! Thank you @sonyasargentstrong for the #gifted copy!

THE LAST GIRL LEFT is a gripping page turner! The opening chapter, with the MC, Tessa, narrowly escaping a killer, is spine-chilling & instantly captivating. Filled with suspense & a cast of dubious characters, it kept me on edge throughout. It sure sucks you in instantly!

I listened to the audiobook & found it immersive; I couldn’t wait to put my AirPods back in! The vivid setting & Tessa's insightful flashbacks/memories added depth to the story. This is a must read for thriller fans!

𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗶𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲:
◽️ isolated settings
◽️ unsolved crimes
◽️ endless suspense & twists
◽️ creepy houses

𝗣𝗹𝗼𝘁: Tessa Chamberlain, the lone survivor of a beach house massacre 5 years ago, returns to the scene of the tragedy on Cassadaga Island. She rents the same beach house, hoping to confront her fears & move on. However, as winter descends & the island empties, Tessa's dread intensifies with eerie sounds & the sensation of being watched 👀. Despite her fears, no one believes her, & the horrors she thought were over begin anew. Now, trapped & isolated, Tessa fears she may not survive this time

What an explosive thriller!! This book was so Disturbing in the best way possible! This is the first book I’ve read by these authors and will certainly not be the last

This one was super twisty and kept me guessing! It’s about a lone survivor of an attack many years ago, that left all of her friends dead. Her life has been lonely, depressed and full of fear and anxiety since the attack. Finally, she decides to face her fear and return to the home where it happened 👀

As I listened to this I must admit I thought, yikes what the heck is she thinking!! You hole yourself away for years and then when you do decide to change your life, you go back to a murder scene where your life was spared. What?!?!?!

Potentially unreliable narrator - check. Trapped and can’t leave - check. Creepy setting - check. It has all the makings of a creepy thriller.

While all the action happens in the last quarter, it did such a good job of providing the creep factor through the entire book. Hearing footsteps or shadows outside, kept me a little unsettled as I listened.

There are a lot of suspects and I read a lot of thrillers, so I wasn’t far off in my guess for what happened. But even so, I wasn’t sure until the end and enjoyed the read.

I think my enjoyment partially stems from the narration of Hallie Ricardo. She set the tone and really pulled me into the story. Her voice fit with Tessa and brought the right amount of tension. Once I started listening, I used any excuse to find another moment to continue.

From the gripping first page to the heart-pounding conclusion, The Last Girl Left’ by A.M. Strong and Sonja Sargent delivers an electrifying tale of courage, resilience, and the power of confronting one’s darkest fears. Tessa Chamberlain’s journey from survivor to heroine is both haunting and inspiring, as she navigates the shadows of her past to unravel the truth behind the beach house massacre. With masterful storytelling and relentless suspense, Strong and Sargent craft a mesmerizing narrative that keeps readers on the edge of their seats until the very last page. A must-read for fans of psychological thrillers and unforgettable protagonists.”

This one got me with the twist! 👀

I enjoyed this well thought out thriller, and is so deserving of all the hype it’s getting around @thrillerbookloversthepulse !!

If you’re a thriller fan, you’ll definitely want to check this one out!

★ 4.5 Stars ★ Rounding Up
If you read my reviews, you'll see that I love audiobooks. This particular audiobook is exceptional! The narrator's performance is outstanding, focusing on individual voices and creating the right atmosphere. If you enjoy audiobooks, this one is a must. The first chapter is gripping and will keep you hooked. However, be warned that the book contains sensitive content that may trigger some readers.

The story revolves around Tessa, who had an earth-shattering experience that left me feeling heartbroken. She lives with her sister, and even after years of therapy, she is unable to move on from the trauma, which has also affected her sister's life. Tessa decides to confront her demons and heads back to the remote island where the incident happened, planning to stay in the same house for a month.

While I could predict a few twists, the storytelling is incredibly creepy and haunting. I highly recommend the audiobook. Hallie Ricardo has made my favorite narrator list.

Thanks to the amazing authors, publishers, and Thriller Book Lovers - The Pulse for providing this book through NetGalley. As always, all opinions are my own and left voluntarily.

I needed a good mystery, and this one delivered. This was my first A.M. Strong and Sonya Sargent novel, and they know how to write a carefully constructed thriller!! This book gripped me from the very beginning. The authors kept me guessing until the very end. I loved the twists, and the overall story. Take the day off work on April 23, because you're going to read this in one sitting!

The only feedback I'd give for the audio, is the narrator made it very obvious who the antagonist was. I won't give examples to avoid spoilers, but I was able to pick up on it pretty quickly.

The book is creepy, unsettling and twisted. This is a fast paced suspense thriller. The characters were mysterious. The setting was so dark and creepy. Something was so mysterious about the island and the people’s disappearances. I don’t know how the author did it but I was on the edge throughout the entire book and I was hoping Tessa makes the right decisions.

Five years ago, the unfortunate thing that happened with Tessa not only broke her but gave her a trauma for lifetime. Back then she went with her friends on vacation to Cassadaga Island and rented a beach house for them. It upended her life and the bad memories have become nightmares now. Everytime she close her eyes, she finds herself at the beach house and see the face of the man who is responsible for all that happened with her. But to get rid of those memories, she must face the demons of her past. The worst she can do with herself is going back there to heal herself.

Despite all the unsettling and frightening memories, she go back there, rent the same house and book it for a month. The atmosphere feels heavy and she gets swamped by the memories of the past. All the unexpected happenings consumes her mind. She is not able to decide if the things she is seeing, hearing and feeling are delusional or real or in the worst case, someone is trying to spook her up. She not only face the demons of her past but the secrets and truth knocks her down and she can either give up or finish what shattered her life.

The plot twists were shocking and heart pounding. The revelations at the end were jaw dropping. This was such an unsettling, creepy and mind blowing book. I couldn’t put it down.

About the Narrator:
The Narrator did an excellent job. Hallie captured the vibe of the book and added the unsettling feeling to the characters individual voices as well and the narration kept me on the edge. I felt everything that was happening with the characters and how Tessa’s character came out. The suspense, mystery and unthinkable happenings have been narrated so well.


Many Thanks to the Narrator, Author, Publisher and Netgalley.

Thanks to #NetGalley and #BrillancePublishing for the book #TheLastGirlLeft by #AMStrong and #SonyaSargent. This book about an attack five years ago leaving three dead and one survivor, left me speechless. Tessa, the only survivor decides to go back to that house and write a book about that night to help her move on. Strange sounds and events start happening which leads Tessa to think someone is still after her. Who is behind all of this and is the killer still alive?