Her Last Hope

Thank You Netgalley, Amazon Publishing UK|Lake Union Publishing and Louise for this amazing advanced ebook copy of Her Last Hope!
I read Everyday Lies a while back and enjoyed the heck outta that novel!
But haven't read the ones after that so here we are with her latest novel!
Which now I have to go back and read them. 😊

Her Last Hope was spectacular!
This is only my second by this author, but I’ll be looking at her back titles now!
Well-written characters, she creates realistic complex characters and puts them in situations.
Her writing is wonderful. Absolutely loved the flow of things here. Outstanding, cleverly and masterfully written!

Again thank you sincerely for the opportunity to read this powerful book!
Now off to read her other two!

Thank you Netgalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the eARC.
Two women are starting new lives: one is hiding from her husband who she's terrified of, the other's husband has committed suicide after his spectacular business failure causes friends and family to lose millions of dollars. She's lost her home, her son, and is also hated by just about everybody in her life. They think she was in on the financial disaster.
The story was ok, I didn't really bond with any of the characters though, which is a problem for me. The whole book felt a little over the top and not very realistic, but I enjoyed it enough to keep reading till the end.

Lately I have been in a reading slump that I just haven’t been able to get out of. Even at the best of times, it can usually take me a few chapters to get to the point where I can be bothered to read. So I was pleasantly surprised to find myself actually wanting to continue after the first chapter.

I had never read any of Louise’s books before but I will definitely be taking a look at some others. Her writing style works for me. The correct emotions were evoked by each character and I was able to empathise with both of the lead characters. It’s a style that doesn’t require too much concentration but I found that the more I read, the more I wanted to concentrate on what I was reading.

Her Last Hope tells the story of two women whose lives have been turned upside down. Abi lived a happy life. She had a husband that she loved, a son that they both adored, the ‘dream house’ they had built, and a comfortable job at a bank. Until she didn’t.
Her husband’s suicide is the catalyst to Abi losing everything. Her home, her job, her friends and her son. We follow Abi as she tries to make amends for the decisions of the man she thought she had known.

Lucinda decides that she and her four year old son, Max, need to flee when her abusive, career criminal husband is sent to prison. Paranoid and alone, she leaves her entire life and assumes a new identity in Melbourne. Lucinda and max start to settle in after a few months and Lucinda is grateful to have met so many generous people who she came to consider friends.

I was disappointed to find that my predictions early on came to fruition towards the end. I feel the ‘twist’ was extremely predictable. With that being said, somewhere between predicting the future events and them actually happening, I become hooked. So I think it would be fair to say that the predictability didn’t impact my reading experience too negatively.

Overall, I enjoyed it quite a lot. It’s not the best book I’ve read but it absolutely caught, and kept, my attention. An easy read with an enjoyable, if a little predictable, storyline.

Rating: 3.5

Thank you NetGalley / Amazon Publishing UK for this eARC in exchange for my honest review.

DRAMA. Betrayal, Friendship. Her Last Hope is the perfect book version of a heart retching Lifetime movie. Abi's husband has committed suicide as the "easy" way out of his fraudulent financial crimes. We're talking millions here. Abi is left behind with an angry teenager and all of her friends who believe she was a part of the scheme. Her life has changed drastically. Lucinda is on the run from her abusive husband sent away to prison and there's no where safe for her and her 4 year old son, Max. These two women who've hit low and dangerous points in their lives cross paths and through their troubles find loyalty, friendship, and love.

TW: suicide, kidnapping, drugs, abuse

This book was provided to me compliments of #NetGalley for my honest opinion.

This was a well written book I throughly enjoyed.

i like the book you good read
Abi's life has been turned upside down by her have imagined. With his dodgy business dealings now exposed, gone is her glamorous lifestyle and the trust of family and friends. How could the man who said he loved her have betrayed her so spectacularly?
Adult Women Fiction

Thank you NetGalley and Amazon Publishing UK for the opportunity to read this book.

This is the first book I have read by Louise Guy and if Her Last Hope is any reflection on her other work, I can’t wait to read more. Louise has a pleasant, and friendly, writing style which is easy to read. She has created well-rounded and developed protagonists in Abi and Lucinda that the reader can’t help but feel empathy towards.

The narrative alternates between the stories of Abi and Lucinda as events unfurl. Each woman is left to deal with the problems caused by their husband. When her husband commits suicide, Abi is left to deal with his betrayal of friends and family and the revelation that he wasn’t the man she thought she knew. Lucinda, on the other hand tries to start life anew after her husband is sent to prison.
Whilst some of the twists were, in my mind at least, predictable, Louise builds tension in her writing in a way that left me captivated and desperate to know how the story ended. I’ll definitely be recommending it to my book circle as a light and enjoyable read. Ideal summer reading.

Her Last Hope is the fifth contemporary fiction novel by Australian author, Louise Guy. The shocks keep coming for Abi Whitmore: after discovering her husband’s suicide, she learns that he has lost five million dollars of their friends’ money on a dodgy property development; many of those friends don’t believe that she knew nothing of Eric’s perfidy.

Worse still, even Hayden, her sixteen-year-old son, is unconvinced of her innocence. Eric’s actions have destroyed her reputation, and she loses her job. Their dream home, car and any luxury goods need to be sold to try to pay back some of what he lost. Abi is grateful for a few loyal friends who give her understanding, work and a place to live.

When Lucinda Manning’s abusive husband goes to prison, she hopes that she and four-year-old Max are finally safe. A visit from his intimidating friend convinces her that she needs to take Max, run and hide. With a new name and a new back-story, Melbourne becomes her new safe place. Soon enough, they are living in a very modest flat in Elsternwick, Lucinda has a waitressing job, and they are, warily, making new friends.

Their close neighbour, Abi seems to have a sad story, but Lucinda is respectful of privacy, and Abi reciprocates. Each faces challenges and offers the other tentative support when needed most. Neither is aware of what is coming, and just how essential that budding friendship will be.

If the story is perhaps a little predictable, Guy more than compensates with her very humanly flawed characters, how they handle the ordeals they are sent, and the wise words and insightful observations of friends and family. What they both face is very realistically depicted, and very topical. A thought-provoking and uplifting read.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing

Three and a half stars.

Two women starting over become friends.

Abi's comfortable life in a wealthy suburb of Melbourne comes to an abrupt end when her husband commits suicide. He has been investing client money without consent and lost it all in a property scam. Ostracised by her former friends, made redundant from her job, and estranged from her teenage son, she gets a job as apartment manager for a run down block of apartments in Elsternwick with an apartment on site.

Lucinda is married to a drug dealer and all-round gangster, when Ryan is jailed for two years for assault she takes her opportunity to vanish without a trace and make a new life in Melbourne with her son Max with a false identity. A chance meeting with a kind, elderly couple at breakfast in the hotel on her first night in Melbourne persuades Lucinda to move to the Elsternwick area of Melbourne. Abi's first job is to get a tenant for an empty apartment and Lucinda seems like the perfect tenant, clean, respectable and able to pay two months rent in advance.

Faced at every turn by fresh evidence of Eric's perfidy (sorry, never used that word before but it just popped into my head) Abi sinks deeper into depression, not helped by her son's cutting remarks. Meanwhile Lucinda and Max are enjoying making a new life away from Ryan's violence, making friends and creating a home. But are all their new friends exactly what they seem?

The trouble with this kind of suspense is that the writer needs to drop enough hints for the reader to realise (as they said on Through The Keyhole) that 'the clues were there' and not so few that the reader is blindsided but not so many that the reader can see things coming a mile off. Unfortunately for me, this fell into the the latter category, I thought the clue dropping was so heavy that Lucinda was a fool to stay in Melbourne and I doubt that anyone on the run from a violent criminal would continue to interact with anyone who gave off an odd vibe.

As always this was a well-written novel with engaging characters, just a little obvious for my tastes.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher via NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Her Last Hope is an amazing story about friendship and an example how having hope for a better future can help someone overcome destructive and horrific life stages.

Lucinda, her four year old son Max and Abi meet in unusual circumstances. Their lives are filled with secrets and regrets and with no prospect of working out for good. However, we see that if you have hope for a better future and are willing to go through anythig to make it work, there is always a way out.

The story is fast paced and highly entertaining, especially with Max making it fun and it's difficult to not love him. I was so invested that I just couldn't keep the book down. I liked every bit of the story, though I wish it could have had some clarity towards the end and got a bit slow in few instances.

The book is gripping and characters are relatable. I would recommend readers who like suspense and thriller novels, and also novels with strong female protagonist to give this a try.

Thank you netgalley and Louise Guy for the ARC. This is my first book by Louise Guy and I am looking forward to reading The Rival Sisters and Everyday Lies soon.

Set in Melbourne, this is the story of two women who have been seriously wounded by their husbands. Abi's lost it all- except for her angry son- as a result of her husband's financial doings. He committed suicide and left her aghast at the mess she didn't know he created. Lucinda's husband, a criminal, is in jail for now but she needs to relocate with her son before he gets out and abuses her again. These two meet when Abi rents to Lucinda, they bond, and they heal. Until...... The story is told by both women, which works well. Guy doesn't telegraph her twist, which is a good thing so no spoilers from me! Thanks to netgalley for the ARC. A very good read.

I’ve read all of Louise Guy’s contemporary novels and have enjoyed them all, Once again featuring realistic characters, in situations that can be imaginable.
Abi suddenly finds herself spurned by all family and friends bar a handful, after her husband invested their money in dodgy investments. Abi was able to rush their loan approvals through her bank, so they believe she knew about the scheme. But it was all a surprise and her life changes drastically.
Hope’s violent partner has gone to jail, so she takes the opportunity to flee to Melbourne with their young son Max, Here she meets Abi, who also lives in the flats and an elderly couple who love to look after Max while Hope works. But all is not as it seems.
I found the characters very relatable, There is an instance in the storyline that I found a little bit hard to get my head around but I’m sure it’s not unfeasible….the underbelly world.
Overall an entertaining read
Thankyou to Netgalley and the Publisher for a copy to read.

3.5 Stars

This is my third book by Louise Guy and I really love the watercolour feel of these covers. This story is a about two women who are trying to make up for their husband's mistakes...and move on to a happier life. I loved the women in this book...they were flawed, real and raw. I found both Abi and Lucinda to be strong of character and true to their beliefs and they showed that you don't have to be blood to be family. The topics covered are very true to life these days and really make you think and I really enjoyed reading about them. My only negative about this story is I found it to be a little predictable, but when you're writing about what could happen in real life, sometimes predictable can be the case.

I really liked the premise of this book but gave up halfway through. I rarely do that. But it spent time too much time going over and over the horrible situation the women were in and the son that walked away from mom so quickly, felt way too over the top for me. He hated her and blamed her for everything? I didn’t buy into that. And I just for the most part did not enjoy the pages that I did read.
However, I can see how a lot of readers would like it.

This book takes place in Australia, a place I hope to visit one day! Abi and Lucinda (also known as Hope) develop a true friendship with a lot of obstacles they try to overcome. Several triggers in this book - suicide, kidnapping so just know that going in. It grabbed me from the very first page. A few things I predicted were going to happen actually did happen but that does not deter it from being a good book. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release in exchange for my honest review.

Louise Guy, Her Last Hope, Lake Union Publishing 2021

Thank you NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for this uncorrected proof for review.

Abi and Lucinda are at a crossroads. Although they are unlikely to have met if this were not the case, surprisingly they have other things in common. Both risk losing their sons, they are leaving a familiar life behind and having to adapt to another, and secrets rule their behaviour. They become neighbours in a Melbourne suburb, in a run-down older apartment complex.

Strange neighbours indeed. Abi has left a large architect designed house with grand furnishings and accoutrements, with a wardrobe full of designer clothing, in a salubrious neighbourhood, numerous business and personal friends and a full-time position of authority in a bank. Lucinda has arrived from a much smaller home in Queensland, with a rucksack and case of her and her four-year-old son’s belongings, departing a part time job as a dental assistant. She leaves behind her loving mother and a close friend. Where the women differ is in the reason for their single state: Abi’s home harbours the aftermath of her husband’s suicide; Lucinda’s husband is in gaol.

These are two women whose activities, blossoming friendship and speculations on their futures become quite engrossing. This is astonishingly so, as much of the plot was predictable. Perhaps this is because Louise Guy deals well with developing tension, depicting characters who largely ring true, and has an ability to entice the reader into the women’s lives, predictable or not. I found my wanting avidly to see what happened next quite surprising. However, it is undeniable that although events followed the path that I predicted, I was keen to see the latter come to fruition.

I enjoy the Australian settings of Louise Guy’s novels, and in this one fishing trips in the Kimberly, Moreton Bay Fig trees seen from a lawyer’s office leading to reminisces about picnics in the sunshine and the multitude of parks, and more picnics, around the Melbourne suburbs are evocative – as is the reference to the ever-changing Melbourne weather, and the warmth associated with Queensland and Western Australia.

Recognising the devastating impacts of white-collar crime at the same time as dealing with the more familiar stereotype of a criminal being the tattoo covered drug dealer or man wielding a physical weapon is an excellent feature of this novel. So, too, is the juxtaposition of two women who have been betrayed by their belief in romanticised versions of their husbands, unalike as the men are to the outside world.

Louise Guy has written very readable novel, with engaging main characters, some social comment, and a plot that, while predictable, has enough tension to work well.

My fourth book by this author. Abi's comfortable life in a wealthy suburb of Melbourne comes to an abrupt end when her husband commits suicide. He has been investing client money without consent and lost it all in a property scam. Ostracised by her former friends, made redundant from her job, and estranged from her teenage son, she gets a job as apartment manager for a run down block of apartments in Elsternwick with an apartment on site. The story is gripping and as always with this author I was absorbed in the storytelling until the final page.

Thank-you for the opportunity to read this book, the first of Louise Guy's work I have read and it won't be the last. Her Last Hope draws you in to the lives of Abi and Lucinda, and the events that lead to their lives becoming intertwined. Their stories run seamlessly alongside each other and I couldn't put this book down for wanting to know what happened to each of these strong women. This type of story line has been done before, it did feel fresh in parts but the ending was a little predictable, however, the story really highlights the lengths that people will go to for revenge. Overall, an enjoyable read.

Read and reviewed in exchange for a free copy from NetGalley. I have enjoyed several of Louise Guy's books, so was excited to read this one. It was an easy and enjoyable read, and I was invested in Lucinda and Abi's stories. Whilst predictable in places, the two narratives were woven together well, and Guy creates a lot of empathy for the characters.

This is the first book i have read by Louise Guy and I loved her writing style. It was simple and easy to read with well developed protagonists in Abi and Lucinda that I could not help but only feel empathy towards them.

The narrative alternated between the stories of Lucinda and Abi and the obstacles they face after being betrayed by their husbands and how their friendship gives each other a hope for a better future.
It was an entertaining read although a bit predictable and slow at times, it did not take the enjoyment away. Overall an immersive, gripping plot with strong female protagonists. Definitely give it a try if you are looking for a light summer read.

Thank you @netgalley for providing me with an eARC in return for my honest review.

The funeral was not well attended – it couldn’t be when the man it was for had ripped off most of his friends in a spectacular fashion. But his wife and now widow, Abi, was shattered. She couldn’t believe it of her Eric, the man whom she’d loved for years, the man who’d said he loved her. And their son, sixteen-year-old Hayden, was angry, fully believing Abi knew everything Eric was doing. Would she ever find a way to pay all their friends back? Would Abi have any friends on her side? And would Hayden stop hating her?

Lucinda’s husband Ryan was finally in prison, a place she hoped would hold him for many years to come. But even from prison he controlled her. She and four-year-old Max were persuaded by Lucinda’s mother to leave Queensland and head to Melbourne, get new identities and find a place where Ryan’s minions wouldn’t find them. And as Lucinda found a small apartment for them – old, needing repairs – she gradually felt more comfortable. When Lucinda – whose new name was Hope – and Max met their next-door neighbour, she and Abi felt an immediate kinship.

But both Lucinda and Abi had more than their fair share of problems and they would get worse in the upcoming days and weeks. Both women weren’t sure what their futures would hold and if they’d ever know a measure of peace again…

Her Last Hope by Aussie author Louise Guy was intense! I couldn’t put it down. Filled with suspense, gritty tension and psychological manipulation, Her Last Hope is an excellent, well written novel which I thoroughly enjoyed. Of course, Max was wonderful! A happy little guy who loved everyone, and everyone loved him, as the adults tried to work their way through awful situations. Highly recommended.

With thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my digital ARC to read in exchange for an honest review.

I chose this book for a break in between my thrillers. This is a story of two women making up for their husbands mistakes and moving on to a happier life. Abbi and Lucinda were real and flawed women and I appreciated that. They were strong and stuck to their beliefs.
A little predictable but overall an enjoyable read.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ebook copy.

Thanks NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and Louise Guy for an ARC to review.
My second book for the same author, first was The Winning Betrayal which I absolutely loved.
Abi's and Lucinda's life paths cross together after they both face major challenges.
Abi starnded alone after losing almost everything, her husband, her job, her friends her reputation, her house, her money and her son.
Lucinda forced out of her home, running for her life with her 4 years old Max escaping an abusive relationship.
What would their friendship add to their grave situations?
A heartwarming story you wouldn't want to miss.
I absolutely loved it

Two women experience trauma at the same time, in two different Australian cities. They meet when Lucinda/Hope moves into the apartment complex Abi has begun to manage, and they develop a fast friendship. When tragedy again threatens to strike both women, they prove their friendship can handle anything!

I adored this women's fiction novel. While parts of it felt predictable, I didn't mind - the story wasn't so much a mystery as it was a "women's bond is stronger than anything that gets thrown at it" story. A great read for vacation, beach time, or whenever you just want to curl up with a good book and forget your responsibilities for a minute!

This book was sent to me on Kindle by Netgalley for review. It is the story of two women going through two different horrendous life experiences…they meet…become friends…this story is bittersweet…the good and the bad with the good becoming bad…it is sad…at times, unbelievable…and then believable again…husbands who abuse their wives…emotionally…leave them to pick of the pieces…family members shielding loved ones…other family members turning against loved ones…a little boy who has too many secrets to try to keep…the ending is predictable with many hints along the way.

In HER LAST HOPE by Louise Guy, Hope and Abi are two very different women from very different lives. Normally, they would not meet or even live in the same apartment building. However, betrayals by their husbands have shredded their lives and left them financially strapped and struggling to find new identities for themselves. Their friendship and the kindness of others helps them make it past the destruction of all they ever loved or believed to be trustworthy as well as thrive in new identities as strong, independent women living free, proud, and confident in lives they've made for themselves. The twists and turns, difficulties and fresh betrayals are well done and totally believable, making this story as much a cathartic and educational experience as an enjoyable read from an accomplished, wonderful writer. I received an advance copy of this book in exchange for my unbiased review.

Her Last Hope is my first book I've read by Louise Guy. Abi has just lost her husband to suicide and soon discovers he made some really bad choices with their friend's money. And she didn't know anything about it. Lucinda - and her adorable son Max - have just escaped an abusive relationship. She doesn't feel safe so moves away and starts over. An unlikely friendship between Abi and Lucinda forms slowly as both discover they have more in common than they would first believe to be true. A great story about friendship in even the worst of times. I really enjoyed this book!

Oof these one has some serious and tough (potentially triggering) themes. That said, Guy writes such beautifully flawed characters that really add to this story. While predictable at times, I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Thanks for my ARC!

As the title implies, this is a story of hope. Hope can bloom in the difficult parts of our life and help us overcome some tough circumstances. I enjoyed the storyline and the characters. The emotions evoked were very real. Seeing the friendships forged in the hard places made me think of my friends that I wouldn’t have without the trials I have endured.

I enjoyed the way the story was about two women who are both in disasterous but very different situations which were brought on by the men in their lives.
Unfortunately I found them both too good to be true with other characters in the book also falling into a goodie or baddy camp.

Very enjoyable book even if some of the events were a little predictable. Loved the two women in the story and how strong they were as they worked through some challenging life events. Max was super cute. Not sure if it’s because I read a lot of suspense and thrillers or not but from pretty early on I was convinced Jonesy was working for Ryan and that Mary somehow linked as well. If it was meant to be suspenseful, the hints were too obvious. If it was meant to show how sometimes it is hard to see things with a clear eye when you are going through big challenges and you question yourself when things don’t feel right because your emotions are so heightened, then the book achieved that. Despite the potential flaws, the book was a quick read that I enjoyed and the characters were well developed.

ARC received from Netgalley and author/publisher in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed are my own and have not been influenced in any way

Her Last Hope by Louise Guy is a contemporary fiction novel about friendship and coming back together after hitting rock bottom.
Abi is left reeling from the betrayal of her husband of 20 years. She's left all alone, without the support of her family and friends, even her teenage son Hayden is angry at her.
Lucinda and her 5 year old son Max are running from their violent and miserable past.
Both women are struggling to get back on their feet after their tragedies and I was so proud of Abi for overcoming everything
I am still mad at everyone for treating her like that, but i also understand why her family reacted the way they did. I particularly disliked her son Hayden, but he comes around in the end too!
Lucinda's character was really strong,albeit a little naive, because i could see the plot coming from a mile away. Regardless i loved the premise of the book and Abi's friendship with Lucinda was really sweet.
I enjoyed their interactions, particularly of max and abi!!
This is a good book and I'll definitely read more from this author!

What a great read, love every book Louise has written and this one again didn't disappoint, a great story told well with charecters it was easy to get to know, roll on for the next one

I really enjoyed this read i didn't know what to expect reading this book but my goodness this book was so amazing and sucked me in from the first sentence till the end
I loved the friendships and strengths that came from our main characters and would definitely recommend this book to anyone looking for their next read

I started reading this author last year and her books have become a firm favorite and this one is no exception. Abi is left devastated when her husband kills himself, leaving her broke and having to face the wrath of family and friends. Hope is starting a new life after escaping a violent relationship and is always looking over her shoulder. The two women meet when they move into the same apartment complex in Melbourne to start their new lives. Both have sons and just when things are starting to look up, a curve ball for each brings them even closer together. A brilliant story that I had trouble putting down.

This author has created a friendship that defies expectation. Abi and "Hope" are at points in their life where they are alone and left with large, potentially life-ending issues. In the rubble, they find a friendship that saves and restores them both when they are at their lowest. I really liked how fleshed out this book was and how well developed the main characters were. I liked the mystery behind what was going on with Max, yet felt that this was a little obvious about who was behind everything. I definitely want to read more from this author and found this to be enjoyable. Thanks for the ARC, NetGalley.

WARNING: This book portrays abusive relationships which could lead to reader distress. Following two different families, of very different backgrounds, we learn of heart wrenching situations of which there seems no escape from. Swapping between both Abi's and Lucinda's perspective we hear how their stories unfold often with further heartbreak and life-changing events. I found myself looking forward to the Abi chapters more than Lucinda's.
Thank you Netgalley for this ARC.

Two women that are hurting form a friendship and are supportive of each other. The characters are flawed and realistic and I especially loved Max. There are notes of scandal, violence and secrets. Very well written.
Many thanks to Amazon Publishing UK and to NetGalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.