Thanks to NetGalley and Simon and Schuster for an early copy of this book.
This book was an easy five stars. I loved following the relationship between Heather and her family. I loved that they were not perfect and at times deeply flawed but the love they had for each other was evident.
There were some intense emotional moments but also parts where I literally laughed out loud!
The journey through Peru and Machu Picchu was beautifully described and made me feel like I was there.
The story was not predictable in the slightest and I really enjoyed the twists throughout.
There was great character growth from all characters and I could have easily read another hundred pages of this story.
I can’t wait to see what Amy puts out next.

Thank you net galley for providing me with this ARC.
This book took me a little bit to get into. The characters confused me a little at first. It’s a heartwarming, drama filled story. It delves into 3 generations of women dealing with their generations of family baggage.
I enjoyed it but it wasn’t really a book for me, so I didn’t fall in love with it instantly and have it captivate me and thirsty to finish it off.

This is not my usual genre. I usually read crime novels, but I love travel, so this appealed to me. Several years ago, I travelled in Tanzania with a close friend, along with her mother and daughter, so that also appealed - thankfully our trip was much less dramatic!
I found this to be a very easy read. I enjoyed the flashbacks filling in the backstory of each character. Sandra wasn't particularly likeable until I knew her story. Bon was great and a strong character, and as her story came out you could see how that had impacted Sandra. Heather's story is really just starting.
I would have liked more time spent on the hike itself, and more descriptions of it.
Thank you to Netgalley for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.

Best, First and Last is a story of three generations of women who set out on an adventure in Peru to Machu Picchu - one of the natural wonders of the world.

The trek is initiated by Bonnie (Grandmother) - who suggests it as a great way to celebrate her 70th birthday. Bonnie is grieving her deceased and third husband Junior who has accompanied her on the trip in a small wooden box. Sandra (daughter) is a social worker going through a divorce. Heather (Granddaughter) has just broken up with her boyfriend and is miserable.

All three women carry with them some emotional baggage. Secrets are revealed, family squabbles and bickering are persistent throughout and there may even be a touch of romance.

This book made me want to research Machu Picchu more. Thanks to Netgalley & Kensington Books for the opportunity to read and review this book.

Best, First and Last is a beautifully written story that includes generational points of life with Grandmother (Bonnie/Bon Bon), Mother (Sandra) and daughter (Heather). You're first introduced to newly re-widowed Bonbon, and through her to her Granddaughter to Sandra. The story is mostly told through Heather but as they do group up, you still get a little of everyone.

In my opinion, the characters are so easy to see yourself in. Each woman is traveling through their own chapter in their book of life, and it was entertaining and beautiful to see them interact with each other as they try to find healing in Peru together. Of course, nothing goes as planned, and I feel the ending was really well done.

I definitely recommend this book for the style of writing (super easy to read and get sucked away) as well as the humor perfectly sprinkled through. It really felt like the author was drawing from some personal experiences!

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for the ARC.

Family dynamics through the generations and the underlying feeling of regret (or not) in past relationships, play out as grandma, mum and Heather head to Peru to spend a BIG birthday together.
Bonnie is treating them to a fancy but physical trek in Peru. Explosive emotions threaten the whole trip as the past collides with the future for Heather and Bonnie and Sandra find some space to evaluate their life and loves so far. Some rash decisions have been made through the years. But is it better to have loved and lost or never loved at all?
I did find some passages of this in depth analysis a bit tedious. And sometimes I just wanted to scream at the characters!!! Honesty is always the best policy. 
The story is told mostly from Heather’s viewpoint, with a small number of chapters narrated by Bonnie and Sandra, where I loved hearing the stories of their past lives and the men they shared it with. I also loved the banter between "Romeo and Juliet" - so real, it reminded me of my own experience.
I usually prefer historical fiction, so this book was a bit out of my wheel house and possibly is reflected in my rating. But if you love a modern chick lit type feel, you will devour "Best, First and Last" by Amy Matthews. Sprinkled with humour throughout and emotional revelations, there is something for everyone. I personally have found this book very thought provoking.
In her acknowledgments the author revealed her inspiration was drawn from her grandmother’s trek to Machu Picchu. Such an intimate share. Thank you Amy Matthews, Simon & Schuster Australia, and NetGalley for my copy.

Best, First and Last is a contemporary dramedy by an Australian author, about a widow from Arizona who decides to walk the Inca trail with her daughter and granddaughter. I was invited to request an ARC by the publisher and liked the sound of a travel story about Peru, a place I visited years ago. This explores the lives, loves and secrets of three very different women from the same family.

Bonnie makes a rash decision to take her divorced daughter Sandra, unhappy granddaughter Heather and the ashes of her recently deceased husband, Junior, on her bucket list trip to Peru to celebrate her 70th birthday. Things don’t quite go to plan when Heather, trying to extricate herself from a relationship with a man she doesn’t love, meets a handsome stranger on her first night, while Sandra can’t let go of the her philandering ex who keeps breaking her heart. Can three damaged women find healing in the Andes when they can barely stop bickering long enough to draw breath?

This was sometimes moving, and sometimes funny. I enjoyed the varied characters and the relationships between them, even if I would hate to go on holiday with any of them! It’s well written and brought back happy memories of a beautiful and unique country. I found the flashback scenes slowed the pace down a bit, but they were actually essential to understand each of the women’s motivations and behaviour, and I liked the way it ended.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for the ARC. Best, First and Last is available now.

Three generations of women travel to Peru together to hike Machu Picchu and, in the process, discover a lot about each other, themselves, and the men who have been part of their lives. Secrets are revealed, tensions flare, love blossoms, and understandings are reached. It's a bit of an emotional ride, but I enjoyed the banter (for the most part), the writing style and humour, the complexities of the relationships, the travel setting, and the different viewpoints from different characters.

The book explores all different kinds of love, from those intoxicating ones of our youths to the steadier ones when we're older. I think the author did a great job of tying everything together, and as much as there were parts that I didn't like, overall I enjoyed the book. Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster (Australia) for allowing me to read and review it.

Bonnie or Bon-Bon, just widowed and in her seventies, arranges a trip for herself, her daughter Sandy and grandaughter Heather to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru. Once they all get there, they manage to bicker and whinge their way to the summit. Yes, it's a romance, but that's almost second place to this exploration of family and female relationships.

There's secrets (plenty!), drama, regret and recriminations - but it's great fun. I can feel their discomfort - and prickly as they were (especially Sandy) I warmed to them all. Soooo many shenanigans. The travel is excellent, and how they held onto their ideas was insightful. You might say they got what they deserved from their adventure - recommended!

Thank you Amy Matthews, Simon & Schuster Australia, and NetGalley for the ARC. Opinions are my own.

I've seen some good reviews for this book but I stopped at the 3/4 mark. As soon as Shawn showed up on the holiday I couldn't read any more. Too much toxicity that was being dragged out and it was too frustrating. This is a shame because I was really enjoying the first half or so.

“Because life is a contact sport”

Unfolding against a Peruvian backdrop, Best, First and Last is brilliantly moving story of family secrets and relationships and how those influence the future generations. We follow Heather, mum Sandy and grandmother Bon, where Bon plans a girls trip to hike the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in the hope of stopping the girls moping. I was laughing out loud in the first pages, in tears by the end and absolutely adored Bon. What a firecracker! The banter between the women was spot on and Owen was true book boyfriend vibes.

Let’s also have a moment for this gorge cover illustration. Perfection.

Another gem to add to your stack; what a time for Aussie authors! Thank you so much to Simon & Schuster for this advanced copy!

This is a rom com with a difference.

Bon who is grieving the loss of her husband embarks on a transformative trip to Peru for her 70th birthday. Accompanied by her daughter Sandy who is separating from her husband and her hot mess of a granddaughter Heather, they visit some of the key sights and end up on a trek to the breathtaking Machu Picchu, all while navigating the complexities of their familial bonds.

The trip brings an unexpected and passionate romance to Heather which later becomes problematic when her on-again, off-again boyfriend plans a surprise visit.

As the trip unfolds we learn about the lives and losses of all three women and the intricate ties that connect them. As they share their painful pasts, Bon, Sandra, and Heather release their grief and find a path toward healing and understanding, ultimately strengthening their relationships.

Matthews painted Peru and the Inca trail to Machu Picchu so beautifully that I now want to travel there.

This was a heartwarming read. 💕

In her acknowledgments the author revealed her inspiration was drawn from her grandmother’s trek to Machu Picchu, which shone through in the heartfelt moments throughout the narrative.

Thank you to @amy_t_matthews @netgalley and @simonschusterau for an advanced reader copy.

Best, First and Last - family, grief, adventure and drama. This book was filled with emotions, it made me laughed, cry and smile.
I really enjoyed reading this and I did like the characters.

Thank you NetGalley and to the publisher Simon and Schuster Australia for the ARC

This book is an absolute delight. I smiling from the moment I met Bonnie as she chatted with her dead husband’s ashes and from that point on I travelled through the pages on a roller coaster of emotions. Her daughter, Sandy, and granddaughter, Heather, join Bonnie on a trek to Machu Picchu as well as a journey through their family history which has them revealing secrets, challenges, heartbreak along with the unwavering love they have for each other. Amy Matthew’s has created a heartfelt story of three generations of women finding their way through their lives where falling in love doesn’t always end happily or predictably.. A must read book in 2025. Thank you NetGalley and the publishers to read this arc.

Nostalgic, Reflective & Relatable.

Heather is dragged along on a trek to Machu Picchu with her grandma and mum unsuspectingly. Years of secrets, lies and family drama unfold along the journey.

My best friend is Peruvian and it is my hope to one day experience this beautiful country with her. I enjoyed getting to discover some glimpses of the landscape through tourists eyes. I wish there was more of the travel included but I know that this wasn’t the main part of this story.

The family dynamics were somewhat frustrating at times, and Sandra and SHAWN were just annoying at most moments. I didn’t connect with them at all, and particularly Shawn was a kin of unnecessary addition and element to this story. I was mostly interested in Heather and felt I connected best with her character, so found myself somewhat disinterested in certain other parts of the story and the past timelines, although I do get why they were relevant to overall plot and point of this book which is actually centred around Bon.

The Romeo and Juliet meeting between Owen and Heather was everything. I adored them, their banter and chemistry and sincerely hope there is a sequel focused on them and future travels!

Overall a heartwarming, cozy contemporary fiction with some great humour and beautiful writing. I will certainly be reading more by Amy T. Matthews

Thank you to NetGalley, Amy T. Matthews and Simon&Shustet (Australia) for the opportunity to enjoy this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

This is not a genre (romance, family drama) that I usually read, but it was an interesting quick, undemanding read that I mostly enjoyed. The romance wasn’t too schmalzy, there were no bad descriptions of sex and there was a tinge of humour and an occasional sense of fun.

Grandmother Bonnie lost her third husband Junior, just before her 70th birthday and missed out on celebrating that milestone, so now she has invited her daughter Sandy and granddaughter Heather to go on vacation with her to hike to Machu Picchu in Peru. Sandy’s cheating husband has recently left her and has announced via Facebook that he’s marrying his mistress and she is taking it very hard indeed, wallowing in her misery. Heather is also annoyed that her Dad seems to have forgotten he has a daughter and is also trying to shake of an ex-boyfriend who firmly believes they were meant to be together, even though she’s told him otherwise. She’s also lucky and brave enough to meet a gorgeous man and have a holiday fling in Peru on her way to meet up with Sandy and Bonnie. Which is just as well because Sandy has organised a horrific surprise for her when she arrives at their hotel.

On the trip the three talk about their various relationships with Bonnie revealing a long kept secret to Sandy and Heather. She is the most upbeat of the three of them and has a lot of life lessons to pass on as they journey through Peru to Machu Picchu. I would have liked a bit less bickering and a bit more Machu Picchu, but the end of the trip the dynamics amongst the three have changed and everyone is happier and looking towards the future. Recommended for those who enjoy family dramas with a side of romance.

Would I actually like to visit Macchu Picchu? Absolutely, sign me up. Would I like to do the trip with my mother? Absolutely not.

Do not expect Best, First and Last to be about hiking. Macchu Picchu is the destination but the journey is the story.

This is an intergenerational “road trip” with a difference. Through non-linear storytelling, Heather, Sandra and Bonnie, explore family dynamics, grief and unload long held secrets, truths and hurts.

I think this has reminded me the power in story and how the generations before us mould us unconsciously.

Very importantly to each woman is the idea that how we are in relationships is learned by observation and experience. For example, a good husband to his wife, a good dad to his daughter; this is the example a daughter uses when measuring or selecting her partner. Through each generation of women there are examples of not sharing the truth which is damaging to this process.

Bonnie’s voice was the strongest and I would have liked to have even more of the story told through her.
I do love that Bonnie could articulate how each of her husbands was a love. Each one met her needs at that time.

The romance between Heather and Owen is gentle and all consuming (on page kisses). Owen is a keeper having walked in on the shit-tonne of crap these ladies are carrying. His lack of complexity provided a nice balance to the crying and arguing that was taking place in the second half of the book.

First, Best and Last by Amy T. Matthews is a great story to entertain on a plane or commuting. You could stick with it or put it down and the drama will still be there.
3.5-4*

With thanks to the author, Amy T. Matthews, Simon & Shuster (Australia) and Netgalley for a copy to read. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Big thanks to Simon & Schuster for a copy on Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Three generations of women come together for a holiday in Peru where healing and long time secrets are shared.
Best, First And Last is a delightful and enjoyable family saga that will warm the heart.
Grandmother Bonnie, after the loss of her third husband Junior, has decided to take a trip.
Hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu.
Added to the guest list is her daughter Sandy, who is going through a divorce from a man who is a womaniser and Heather, her granddaughter, who has no love life and works all the time.
The trio of women begin a journey of self discovery, mending, bonding with a splash of romance as well.
A little bit holiday romcom, a little bit contemporary drama and a whole lot of fun.
The witty banter and group dynamics between the three ladies was humorous, lively and cheeky.
Amongst all the storyline the reader gets beautiful descriptions of the location.
A drama in the mountains where opening old wounds could cause chaos…….

Best, First and Last held so much feeling. I loved going on that crazy journey with Bon, Sandra and Heather. It was at times, light, heavy, witty and insightful. The ebbs and flows of life were masterfully represented and it felt like you really were on the learning journey with them.
Heather was relatable and sweet, Sandra was frustrating yet lovable, and Bon was witty and forthright. And their relationships with each other were complex, but you could feel the love between them.
A wonderful read!

I absolutely adored "Best, First and Last"! Normally, I'm not a big fan of romance novels, but this book completely won me over. The characters were so well-developed and relatable, making it easy to become emotionally invested in their journeys.  I found myself laughing, crying, and even gasping out loud at certain moments. The author's writing style was engaging and beautifully descriptive, painting vivid pictures in my mind with every turn of the page. Overall, "Best, First and Last" was a wonderfully captivating read that I would highly recommend to anyone looking for a heartwarming story with just the right amount of romance.