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The Last Verse
Nashville, 1977: A broken heart. A terrible crime. A song the world would sing. When aspiring musician Twyla Finch arrives in Nashville, Tennessee, in 1977, the nineteen-year-old Texan is dazzled by the fringe-and-rhinestones country music scene. Live music flows from bars, open mic nights tempt with the chance of stardom, and record label execs seek the next hot new act. As Twyla finds her way in this vibrant town, she soon falls for Chet Wilton, country music hopeful and son of blue-blooded Nashvillians. When a night out with Chet goes terribly wrong, Twyla finds herself involved in a shocking crime. Hoping to process what happened that fateful night, she composes a haunting ballad that she performs only once in an empty bar. But weeks later, when she turns on the radio, she hears another woman singing her song. Twyla must decide whether to claim her ballad, securing the fame she’s always wanted—but implicating her in the terrible crime she’s desperate to put in the past. Seductive and bold, tense and unflinching, The Last Verse is the story of a woman’s ambitions, obsessions, and the harrowing road to claiming her voice.
368 pages, Hardcover
First published March 5, 2024
37 people are currently reading
7659 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 184 reviews
March 3, 2024
And that was what drew her to music of any kind, the raw will behind it. The shattered feeling that pressed against the artist's heart, begging, Please, don't let me stay broken. Make me beautiful.
Nineteen-year-old Twyla Higgins lives in Fort Worth, Texas, with her extremely religious mother and stepfather. Stifled by her mother's strict rules and expectations, Twyla longs for a life like that of her deceased father, a bluegrass musician: a life of writing songs, performing those songs, and breathing music with every breath. But it isn't until the death of her idol, Elvis, that Twyla has the courage to leave home, heading for Nashville to try to make it as a singer/songwriter in the 1970s country music scene. After being involved in a shocking crime, Twyla finally writes a song she knows would be hit -- but because the song implicates her in that crime, she is resigned to performing it only once, in an empty bar. But then, weeks later, she hears another woman singing her song on the radio...
The Last Verse is an engrossing combination of crime fiction and historical drama, but is mostly a coming-of-age character study about a naive, sheltered young woman trying to make her way in the world. Twyla is one of those characters that gets under your skin, that you feel the urge to protect and nurture as she makes one poor choice after another before she at last realizes her power and potential. Caroline Frost sets Twyla's story against the backdrop of 1970s Nashville, THE era of country music, and it's so atmospheric and immersive. Frost drew me completely into the world of the book, with the songs and the clothes and the famous Nashville locales.
Frost's writing is simple on the surface, but there's a luminosity to it that's so beautiful and hard to describe. It's emotional and urgent and hypnotic, delving into themes of self-discovery, sexuality, found family, the price of fame, ambition, atonement, and redemption. I'm always drawn to books about music and musicians, but some authors are definitely more successful at telling that kind of story than others. Frost is very successful at telling this kind of story. The Last Verse includes several sets of song lyrics, and it would be a missed opportunity if the audio production didn't include the actual songs. I'd also love to see this book as a limited series or movie -- the potential is definitely there!
The Last Verse is an affecting, nostalgic read -- my first book by Caroline Frost, but definitely not my last. Thank you to William Morrow for the early reading opportunity.
March 29, 2024
Oh Twyla, how I fell in love with you! I'll be honest, country music is not a topic that I naturally relate to, so I didn't expect to be so deeply entertained by a story of a rising musician. I absolutely adored Shadows of Pecan Hollow so I knew I wanted to get my hands on this one, but as soon as it came up in my library holds, I worried that I wouldn't be able to connect to it. No need for concern, though, because Caroline Frost's writing talent once again swept me away from beginning to end. The Last Verse should be a big hit with both crime fiction and historical drama lovers alike.
Twyla is a nineteen-year-old aspiring musician, living with her strict mother and stepfather. Buckling under the weight of her mother's religious expectations, and pining for the connection she had with her deceased father, who was a musician himself, Twyla decides to head to Nashville with little but the guitar on her back. After paying homage at the funeral of her idol, Elvis, Twyla is swept up into a crime and circumstances wholly outside of her nature. Working to process the trauma, she writes a song and sings it to what she thinks is an empty bar. Weeks later, though, she hears another woman performing it on the radio — and it's an instant hit.
I loved the echoes of this book, which reverberate across three distinctly different women, each seeking to prove and redeem themselves in a world stacked against them — Twyla, the woman who stole her song, and the female detective who circles around them both. While their life circumstances are unique and they’re fundamentally at odds with each other, I found something deeply universal about the female experience in each of their stories. While it was impossible for them all to "win" when their needs were opposing, I related to each so much that I found I would be equally content with a number of different endings. It was this theme of female struggle and empowerment that spoke most loudly to me, though you'll also see themes of love, sexuality, self discovery, self esteem, and redemption.
I listened to this book on audio, and I'll say that Joy Nash's narration was exceptionally well done. She created an immersive experience that blended in with Frost's work seamlessly.
This is a great choice for readers who enjoy historical fiction, coming of age, cat-and-mouse mysteries, and a good heartwarming redemption story. With a second home run for me, Frost has now firmly found a place on my must-read list.
Twyla is a nineteen-year-old aspiring musician, living with her strict mother and stepfather. Buckling under the weight of her mother's religious expectations, and pining for the connection she had with her deceased father, who was a musician himself, Twyla decides to head to Nashville with little but the guitar on her back. After paying homage at the funeral of her idol, Elvis, Twyla is swept up into a crime and circumstances wholly outside of her nature. Working to process the trauma, she writes a song and sings it to what she thinks is an empty bar. Weeks later, though, she hears another woman performing it on the radio — and it's an instant hit.
I loved the echoes of this book, which reverberate across three distinctly different women, each seeking to prove and redeem themselves in a world stacked against them — Twyla, the woman who stole her song, and the female detective who circles around them both. While their life circumstances are unique and they’re fundamentally at odds with each other, I found something deeply universal about the female experience in each of their stories. While it was impossible for them all to "win" when their needs were opposing, I related to each so much that I found I would be equally content with a number of different endings. It was this theme of female struggle and empowerment that spoke most loudly to me, though you'll also see themes of love, sexuality, self discovery, self esteem, and redemption.
I listened to this book on audio, and I'll say that Joy Nash's narration was exceptionally well done. She created an immersive experience that blended in with Frost's work seamlessly.
This is a great choice for readers who enjoy historical fiction, coming of age, cat-and-mouse mysteries, and a good heartwarming redemption story. With a second home run for me, Frost has now firmly found a place on my must-read list.
March 7, 2024
4 1/2
Hmm. First note. Never trust a book’s blurb. 😏 I was about to take Twyla’s last name from the blurb when I thought to myself: “That isn’t right. I’m sure it was Higgins.” Haha It is Higgins (or at least in my edition).
The King of Rock and Roll is dead. It’s 1977. Twyla Higgins, an aspiring singer-songwriter, is devastated. Impulsively, she decides to travel to Memphis for the funeral. Her religiously zealous mother will be upset, of course, but she will come right back. Except, Twyla ends up in Music City, Nashville where she falls under the city’s spell of music and Chet Wilton, a would-be musician. When a late-night excursion with Chet goes south, Twyla’s world is transformed. Nothing will ever be the same, especially Twyla in Caroline Frost’s compelling The Last Verse.
My expectations when I began reading were of a fluffier novel, a simpler mystery where the main character rises above everything in a glitzy fashion to become the next big thing in country music. The Last Verse is not that. Instead, what I read was a thoughtful book of multi-faceted characters who make mistakes and bad decisions but have the fortitude to continue on, even when the odds are against them.
Since the death of Twyla’s beloved father, Mickey, a musician, Twyla’s mother has changed her name from Betty to Faith and immersed herself in religion. Her reasons aren’t clear to Twyla but what is clear is that Twyla will also become immersed whether she wants to or not. It’s from this background of being sheltered by religion that Twyla ventures out into the world, curious about everything she’s never been permitted to experience. Being sheltered doesn’t mean she’s dumb though. And, although Twyla considers her mother manipulative, she is also, though on a less problematic scale. The most frustrating character trait of Twyla’s was allowing herself to be taken advantage of, to be treated badly, and never want better for herself despite deserving more. Those traits were bestowed from her upbringing, assuredly.
About midway through the novel, we are introduced to another interesting character (and chapter pov) in T. Lynne Struthers, a Private Investigator who was once a successful Nashville Police Detective until she decided to mold a situation to an outcome she felt was justified. Struthers is larger than life, the way many male characters would be with their cocky swagger and intuitive certainty. The amusing thing to me is that because she is a woman, she is considered disgusting or [insert your own derogatory adjective (mostly assigned to females)]. While she is, as some like to say, a hot mess, she is going through her own stuff and trying to do better especially regarding her former department partner and her son from whom she is estranged. She is colorful and an interesting choice of character. As I considered why she was here and a seeming opposite to Twyla, I realized that they shared one important trait. Both characters are doing or trying to do the thing that they love most, the thing that drives them, and the thing that could make them divisive.
If there is one thing that I am vacillating over, it’s the ending, but I’m positive that’s on me. I understand the need for The Last Verse to end the way that it does, I’m just not sure I like it. Or, rather, I would have preferred a fluffier ending to match my once fluffy expectations of the novel. Ah, well, we humans are never satisfied.
Frost’s writing is immersive and her ability to draw characters expert. She employs foreshadowing and startling plot twists. All in all an excellent read. I missed her first book, but I will certainly seek it out and anything she writes in the future.
Many thanks to William Morrow for sending me a copy.
Hmm. First note. Never trust a book’s blurb. 😏 I was about to take Twyla’s last name from the blurb when I thought to myself: “That isn’t right. I’m sure it was Higgins.” Haha It is Higgins (or at least in my edition).
The King of Rock and Roll is dead. It’s 1977. Twyla Higgins, an aspiring singer-songwriter, is devastated. Impulsively, she decides to travel to Memphis for the funeral. Her religiously zealous mother will be upset, of course, but she will come right back. Except, Twyla ends up in Music City, Nashville where she falls under the city’s spell of music and Chet Wilton, a would-be musician. When a late-night excursion with Chet goes south, Twyla’s world is transformed. Nothing will ever be the same, especially Twyla in Caroline Frost’s compelling The Last Verse.
My expectations when I began reading were of a fluffier novel, a simpler mystery where the main character rises above everything in a glitzy fashion to become the next big thing in country music. The Last Verse is not that. Instead, what I read was a thoughtful book of multi-faceted characters who make mistakes and bad decisions but have the fortitude to continue on, even when the odds are against them.
Since the death of Twyla’s beloved father, Mickey, a musician, Twyla’s mother has changed her name from Betty to Faith and immersed herself in religion. Her reasons aren’t clear to Twyla but what is clear is that Twyla will also become immersed whether she wants to or not. It’s from this background of being sheltered by religion that Twyla ventures out into the world, curious about everything she’s never been permitted to experience. Being sheltered doesn’t mean she’s dumb though. And, although Twyla considers her mother manipulative, she is also, though on a less problematic scale. The most frustrating character trait of Twyla’s was allowing herself to be taken advantage of, to be treated badly, and never want better for herself despite deserving more. Those traits were bestowed from her upbringing, assuredly.
About midway through the novel, we are introduced to another interesting character (and chapter pov) in T. Lynne Struthers, a Private Investigator who was once a successful Nashville Police Detective until she decided to mold a situation to an outcome she felt was justified. Struthers is larger than life, the way many male characters would be with their cocky swagger and intuitive certainty. The amusing thing to me is that because she is a woman, she is considered disgusting or [insert your own derogatory adjective (mostly assigned to females)]. While she is, as some like to say, a hot mess, she is going through her own stuff and trying to do better especially regarding her former department partner and her son from whom she is estranged. She is colorful and an interesting choice of character. As I considered why she was here and a seeming opposite to Twyla, I realized that they shared one important trait. Both characters are doing or trying to do the thing that they love most, the thing that drives them, and the thing that could make them divisive.
If there is one thing that I am vacillating over, it’s the ending, but I’m positive that’s on me. I understand the need for The Last Verse to end the way that it does, I’m just not sure I like it. Or, rather, I would have preferred a fluffier ending to match my once fluffy expectations of the novel. Ah, well, we humans are never satisfied.
Frost’s writing is immersive and her ability to draw characters expert. She employs foreshadowing and startling plot twists. All in all an excellent read. I missed her first book, but I will certainly seek it out and anything she writes in the future.
Many thanks to William Morrow for sending me a copy.
March 17, 2024
Well this one threw me. I expected the story to be one thing and it went completely in the opposite direction. Normally I would say this was a good thing. However, in this instance I was hoping for the story to have stayed the course that I wanted. The beginning was great. Twyla is a young woman who was raised in a very religious household in Texas. She has hopes for something more...something along the lines of following in her father's footsteps and becoming a musician/songwriter. In order to do that she must escape her crazy mother, and she does this, taking a bus to travel to Nashville.
Here is where her life begins right? She meets a guy that seems amazing and finds a job that can help her get to the songwriting nights at clubs. But she must do the hard work, from the bottom, something she has no trouble realizing. And no, I wasn't so blind that I didn't see the blurb saying there was going to be a crime. I was so invested at this point, I was ravenously reading, needing to know how she was going to get past this and make her way in the world. But that doesn't happen. This takes such a drastic turn that I couldn't stop shaking my head at the horrible situation Twyla gets herself into. And then it goes even darker and deeper.
This is very well written, and doesn't really slow to the point of boredom, however I was frustrated by the path of this story. And the ending was even more frustrating. How could Twyla choose the direction she does? She seems to think that she owed something and that she needed to pay for the sins she committed. But in a sense she was paying for her sins since the day she was born. The crime wasn't something she chose to do. Yes there is a type of redemption in the end but this doesn't carry any weight for her when she comes to her finale. She doesn't ever feel worthy of anything and this, to me, was the saddest part. So grateful to the publisher for the chance to read this!
Here is where her life begins right? She meets a guy that seems amazing and finds a job that can help her get to the songwriting nights at clubs. But she must do the hard work, from the bottom, something she has no trouble realizing. And no, I wasn't so blind that I didn't see the blurb saying there was going to be a crime. I was so invested at this point, I was ravenously reading, needing to know how she was going to get past this and make her way in the world. But that doesn't happen. This takes such a drastic turn that I couldn't stop shaking my head at the horrible situation Twyla gets herself into. And then it goes even darker and deeper.
This is very well written, and doesn't really slow to the point of boredom, however I was frustrated by the path of this story. And the ending was even more frustrating. How could Twyla choose the direction she does? She seems to think that she owed something and that she needed to pay for the sins she committed. But in a sense she was paying for her sins since the day she was born. The crime wasn't something she chose to do. Yes there is a type of redemption in the end but this doesn't carry any weight for her when she comes to her finale. She doesn't ever feel worthy of anything and this, to me, was the saddest part. So grateful to the publisher for the chance to read this!
March 19, 2024
3.5 stars rounded up
Unexpected twist on talented girl goes to Nashville and either makes it or doesn't. Twyla's father was a bluegrass musician who died. Mother remarried to a decent man. Twyla's urge to play music doesn't set well with her mother's fundamentalist beliefs. So she packs up her father's guitar and her meager savings and runs away to attend Elvis Presley's funeral. After the funeral, she makes her way to Nashville. One horrific night ends up being the pivot point of her life. The last half deals with the aftermath.
The story has pathos, depth and redemption. Yet, I was never able to connect with any of the characters. I was watching them from a ways back, not seeing or feeling through their eyes. This could have been a me problem, and not the author's. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
Unexpected twist on talented girl goes to Nashville and either makes it or doesn't. Twyla's father was a bluegrass musician who died. Mother remarried to a decent man. Twyla's urge to play music doesn't set well with her mother's fundamentalist beliefs. So she packs up her father's guitar and her meager savings and runs away to attend Elvis Presley's funeral. After the funeral, she makes her way to Nashville. One horrific night ends up being the pivot point of her life. The last half deals with the aftermath.
The story has pathos, depth and redemption. Yet, I was never able to connect with any of the characters. I was watching them from a ways back, not seeing or feeling through their eyes. This could have been a me problem, and not the author's. Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
February 20, 2024
I read Caroline Frost’s debut, Shadows of Pecan Hollow a few years ago, and was absolutely blown away by her storytelling. Frost excels at creating the most memorable and intriguing characters that will stick with you. In her forthcoming novel, The Last Verse, we are introduced to Twyla Higgins, a nineteen-year-old living with her extremely religious mother and stepfather in Texas. Twyla loves country music and has aspirations of becoming a singer/songwriter, but can’t achieve her hopes and dreams under her mother’s strict rule. The reader follows Twyla on an unforgettable journey full of adventure, heartbreak, excitement, suspense, twists, turns, and SO many ups and downs. Twyla is a character that you will root for. She will quickly work her way into your heart. Sure, she’s young, naive, perhaps a little simpleminded, and doesn’t always make the best decisions, but I quickly felt a pull towards her. Almost like a sense of protection for this fictional little sister that I wanted to guide, put my arms around, and let her know that everything would be okay. That’s some brilliant character development right there.
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- 1970s timeline
- Historical fiction
- Nashville country music scene
- Singer/songwriter storyline
- Slow-burning plots
- Character studies
- Sad girl vibes
- Coming-of-age stories
- Twists, turns, and mystery
- Police investigations
There’s absolutely no doubt about it…I’ll read anything that Caroline Frost writes. I highly recommend both of her novels. The Last Verse is out on March 5th, and I give it 4.5/5 stars!
READ THIS IF YOU ENJOY:
- 1970s timeline
- Historical fiction
- Nashville country music scene
- Singer/songwriter storyline
- Slow-burning plots
- Character studies
- Sad girl vibes
- Coming-of-age stories
- Twists, turns, and mystery
- Police investigations
There’s absolutely no doubt about it…I’ll read anything that Caroline Frost writes. I highly recommend both of her novels. The Last Verse is out on March 5th, and I give it 4.5/5 stars!
February 23, 2024
Part coming-of-age, part crime fiction, this literary novel set mostly in 1970s Nashville is an utterly engrossing read. Twyla Higgins is a 19 y.o. talented aspiring songwriter who comes to Nashville on a whim, following the death of her idol, Elvis. She’s got music in her blood: her late father was a musician. Finally free of her mother’s religious zealotry and tight clutches, Twyla finds herself experiencing life on a whole new level: falling in love, dipping her toes into open mic nights, and making her own way, money and friends. But only when a tragedy occurs does Twyla finally unlock her full musical potential. Yet that tragedy—and her role in it—forces her to make impossible decisions. I completely devoured this, and highly recommend it! It is SO good, the type of novel that lingers in you long after you're done reading.
December 26, 2023
My book of the year for 2022 was @carolinefrostwriter’s SHADOWS OF PECAN HOLLOW, and I’ve been anxiously awaiting her next book ever since. The minute I saw her cover reveal for THE LAST VERSE, I immediately began my efforts to get my hands on an early copy. When it arrived on my doorstep, I stopped everything and devoured it.
All that build up, and I’m sure you’re wondering if it lived up to my expectations. The answer is a resounding YES! 100% yes!
🌿 What It’s About
A young struggling musician in the world of 70s country music writes a hit song that promises her fame and fortune while also implicating her in a murder. Her dreams for the future and the secrets of her past collide into a narrative fit for a hit country song.
🌿 My Thoughts
I grew up in the 70s in small town Texas where country was king, so all of the musical references here took me right back to my childhood and the country music that was the backdrop for my life. The author captured the music scene of the time with absolute perfection, and that’s no small feat.
The immersive setting combined with the suspenseful and expertly layered plot, the theme of redemption and the outstanding cast of characters made this a hugely satisfying read.
I absolutely recommend this one! Don’t miss it.
My thanks to @williammorrowbooks for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.
All that build up, and I’m sure you’re wondering if it lived up to my expectations. The answer is a resounding YES! 100% yes!
🌿 What It’s About
A young struggling musician in the world of 70s country music writes a hit song that promises her fame and fortune while also implicating her in a murder. Her dreams for the future and the secrets of her past collide into a narrative fit for a hit country song.
🌿 My Thoughts
I grew up in the 70s in small town Texas where country was king, so all of the musical references here took me right back to my childhood and the country music that was the backdrop for my life. The author captured the music scene of the time with absolute perfection, and that’s no small feat.
The immersive setting combined with the suspenseful and expertly layered plot, the theme of redemption and the outstanding cast of characters made this a hugely satisfying read.
I absolutely recommend this one! Don’t miss it.
My thanks to @williammorrowbooks for the opportunity to read and review this book before its publication date.
February 15, 2024
My thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins Publishing for the ARC of "The Last Verse" in exchange for an honest review.
Can't express enough how much I enjoyed this book, an addictive, immersive read that makes you lose yourself in the high drama of its lead character. Even better, it also performs an expert tightrope walk between the heartrending elements while functioning as a suspenseful thriller to you keep riveted as to what happens next.
It's 1977. 19 year old Twyla Finch, shy, innocent and living under the domineering thumb of her Evangelical mother, impulsively breaks free. Upon hearing of Elvis Presley's death, she boards a bus to Memphis, joining the grief stricken crowds at Graceland. A gifted fledgling singer-songwriter (as was her late father), Twyla meets Chet Wilton. He's the son of weathy Nashville uppercrusts who've indulged his futile, untalented efforts to front his own country band.
Like countless others, Twyla moves on to Nashville to pursue her dreams of singer-songwriter stardom. But when she crosses paths with Chet again, all of her life's ambitions and hopes become upended in catastrophic ways she could never imagine. (and which I'll not go into any detail here so as not to spoil the experience of the book's many twists and turns. )
What does come out of Twylan's travails is a remarkable, stunning song......but it's a song that not only reveals her innate amazing talents, it also uncovers an agonizing, crushing guilt that she can barely contain. And what's worse for her, she's not alone in knowing where the song's inspiration came from.
I loved how this book seized my attention immediately and had me rooting and worrying for Twyla from the first chapter on. The story gives off definite Nicholas Sparks vibes, in that it keeps your heart breaking and aching as her small triumphs and terrible troubles escalate . And if that isn't enough, the story throws in all the suspense of a procedural thriller.
And those last epilogue chapters, I should warn, are expertly crafted to put readers through an emotional wringer ......meaning I didn't have to think twice about giving "The Last Verse" 5 stars. This one stands as one of my favorite 2024 reads so far.
(and please check out my other reviews at www.thesandyquill.blogspot.com)
Can't express enough how much I enjoyed this book, an addictive, immersive read that makes you lose yourself in the high drama of its lead character. Even better, it also performs an expert tightrope walk between the heartrending elements while functioning as a suspenseful thriller to you keep riveted as to what happens next.
It's 1977. 19 year old Twyla Finch, shy, innocent and living under the domineering thumb of her Evangelical mother, impulsively breaks free. Upon hearing of Elvis Presley's death, she boards a bus to Memphis, joining the grief stricken crowds at Graceland. A gifted fledgling singer-songwriter (as was her late father), Twyla meets Chet Wilton. He's the son of weathy Nashville uppercrusts who've indulged his futile, untalented efforts to front his own country band.
Like countless others, Twyla moves on to Nashville to pursue her dreams of singer-songwriter stardom. But when she crosses paths with Chet again, all of her life's ambitions and hopes become upended in catastrophic ways she could never imagine. (and which I'll not go into any detail here so as not to spoil the experience of the book's many twists and turns. )
What does come out of Twylan's travails is a remarkable, stunning song......but it's a song that not only reveals her innate amazing talents, it also uncovers an agonizing, crushing guilt that she can barely contain. And what's worse for her, she's not alone in knowing where the song's inspiration came from.
I loved how this book seized my attention immediately and had me rooting and worrying for Twyla from the first chapter on. The story gives off definite Nicholas Sparks vibes, in that it keeps your heart breaking and aching as her small triumphs and terrible troubles escalate . And if that isn't enough, the story throws in all the suspense of a procedural thriller.
And those last epilogue chapters, I should warn, are expertly crafted to put readers through an emotional wringer ......meaning I didn't have to think twice about giving "The Last Verse" 5 stars. This one stands as one of my favorite 2024 reads so far.
(and please check out my other reviews at www.thesandyquill.blogspot.com)
February 7, 2024
4⭐️ Why have I waited until now to read a book by Caroline Frost!?
First things first, I highly recommend skipping the synopsis for this one as it gives way too much information away (in my humble opinion)!
Here’s what (I think) you need to know:
Set in the 1970s, The Last Verse follows a naïve 19-year-old woman who leaves her sheltered small town life behind to follow her dreams in Nashville. She eventually writes a song that has all the makings of a massive hit but it could also implicate her in a heinous crime.
This is a bit of a character-driven/coming-of-age story mixed with plenty of drama, suspense and tension. I really enjoyed the complex characters and themes at the heart of the book but I also loved the atmospheric setting. Frost’s writing is truly beautiful and I felt like she transported me to a different time and place.
The main thing holding me back from loving this book is my frustration with the ending. I also could have done without hearing all about the PI’s bathroom troubles.
Overall, a great book that I think most music lovers and many historical fiction fans will enjoy!
Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader! All opinions are my own.
First things first, I highly recommend skipping the synopsis for this one as it gives way too much information away (in my humble opinion)!
Here’s what (I think) you need to know:
Set in the 1970s, The Last Verse follows a naïve 19-year-old woman who leaves her sheltered small town life behind to follow her dreams in Nashville. She eventually writes a song that has all the makings of a massive hit but it could also implicate her in a heinous crime.
This is a bit of a character-driven/coming-of-age story mixed with plenty of drama, suspense and tension. I really enjoyed the complex characters and themes at the heart of the book but I also loved the atmospheric setting. Frost’s writing is truly beautiful and I felt like she transported me to a different time and place.
The main thing holding me back from loving this book is my frustration with the ending. I also could have done without hearing all about the PI’s bathroom troubles.
Overall, a great book that I think most music lovers and many historical fiction fans will enjoy!
Thanks to the publisher for allowing me to be an early reader! All opinions are my own.
February 3, 2024
This is marketed as a thriller but it’s so much more than that. It’s a coming of age story, a mystery, a romance (sort of, lol.) this was very entertaining and i was truly sucked into this book, feeling as if I was transported into 1970s Nashville
i’d recommend this to anyone who is in a reading slump! it’s a perfect blend of different genres that keep you turning the page
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
i’d recommend this to anyone who is in a reading slump! it’s a perfect blend of different genres that keep you turning the page
Thank you NetGalley and HarperCollins for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.
March 3, 2024
This one just wasn't for me. I was thinking we were getting a mystery and there isn't mystery in this one. We know who did what the whole time (and who is searching for answers).
But it's still a story about a woman trying to make it in the music industry. She strikes out on her own and gets wrapped up in other people's want for fame. So if that sounds good to you, then you might just roll over to those other 4 and 5 star reviews and maybe give this one a try.
I found the PI so distasteful that she ruined most of the story for me. Once she entered the story, I found her crass quips and brash behavior so uncomfortable.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
But it's still a story about a woman trying to make it in the music industry. She strikes out on her own and gets wrapped up in other people's want for fame. So if that sounds good to you, then you might just roll over to those other 4 and 5 star reviews and maybe give this one a try.
I found the PI so distasteful that she ruined most of the story for me. Once she entered the story, I found her crass quips and brash behavior so uncomfortable.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
January 24, 2024
This book is perfection. The characters, the plot, the atmosphere, and the pacing were all flawless honestly. This is up there with one of the best books I’ve read recently. I will say if you think this is a thriller you’ll be disappointed but there is definitely an element of suspense and dread and I felt like the ending was done so well.
January 27, 2024
I think this is going to end up being one of those books that I appreciate more as time goes on. Parts of it were too slow and parts of it were too fast, but it was a haunting story, beautifully written. The book is heavy, from start to finish. I’m not sure how I didn’t realize that going in. I think I expected something more along the lines of a book version of A Star Is Born. I could not have been more wrong. This was far deeper and darker than that. On a side note, this book would make an incredible movie. 1970s Nashville with a plethora of quirky, likably-unlikable characters. I think I will stick with four stars for now, but this may end up being 5 stars after I process for a while. A huge thank you to NetGalley for the ARC. It’s definitely a book you should put on your “to read” list for 2024.
May 6, 2024
It took me a bit to get into this one, but once I did, I was invested. I don't know how to explain it, but I was simultaneously rooting for the murderer and Detective Struthers 🤷🏻♀️ This book kinda had some Yellowface vibes, but with stealing music instead of manuscripts.
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the eARC!
Thanks to NetGalley and Harper Collins for the eARC!
March 25, 2024
Vibes:
➤ 70s Song Writing
➤ Religious Trauma
➤ Murder Story
➤ Female Rage
Thoughts:
The Last Verse is a medium paced crime thriller with a 1970s Nashville backdrop. Our main character is an aspiring singer and song writer who is haunted by the demons of her past. I enjoyed that this crime thriller had a surprisingly deep and dark character arc from our main character, however, I do wish the 70s Nashville setting would have been a bit more pronounced. Overall this was an enjoyable audiobook for me and I’d recommend to anyone looking for a Where the Crawdads Sing vibe, minus the romance, add music and make it darker.
Highlights:
➤ How the FMCs song lyrics played an active role in the storytelling.
➤ Characters who are on the darker side of morally grey
➤ Steady moving plot - although the story wasn’t what I expected (but should have been considering the description lays it all out) the plot moved at a pace that never felt boring or slow.
➤ 70s Song Writing
➤ Religious Trauma
➤ Murder Story
➤ Female Rage
Thoughts:
The Last Verse is a medium paced crime thriller with a 1970s Nashville backdrop. Our main character is an aspiring singer and song writer who is haunted by the demons of her past. I enjoyed that this crime thriller had a surprisingly deep and dark character arc from our main character, however, I do wish the 70s Nashville setting would have been a bit more pronounced. Overall this was an enjoyable audiobook for me and I’d recommend to anyone looking for a Where the Crawdads Sing vibe, minus the romance, add music and make it darker.
Highlights:
➤ How the FMCs song lyrics played an active role in the storytelling.
➤ Characters who are on the darker side of morally grey
➤ Steady moving plot - although the story wasn’t what I expected (but should have been considering the description lays it all out) the plot moved at a pace that never felt boring or slow.
April 1, 2024
2.5 stars.
May 6, 2024
I loved Shadows of Pecan Hollow. This one was just not for me. I didn't really feel invested or connected to any of the characters.
March 13, 2024
Twyla, Twyla, Twyla. What a read!!! Between being in her brain and Struthers, I felt increasingly frustrated and had to fight the urge so many times to just skip to the end to see how it all shaked out. Which shows what a great writer Caroline Frost is by creating all these emotions and taking the reader on a ride of a few ups and many downs. In a way it was reminiscent of Where the Crawdads Sing, but in 1970s Texas and Tennessee and so much more. I can’t say much else without giving anything away, but wow.
*Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest reviews.
*Kindly received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest reviews.
March 21, 2024
This was an interesting historical fiction meets mystery/thriller that was enjoyable and entertaining. It begins at the time of Elvis’s death where we are introduced to Twyla, a sheltered teenager from Texas with a love of music and an overprotective, religious mother. She leaves home, only to find herself in a bit of trouble.
Overall. I really enjoyed the storyline, but I found parts of it a little drawn out and wordy. I never found myself connecting with the characters, though I was always rooting for Twyla’s character. I also felt like the Struthers character was maybe a little too prominent.
3.5 rounded up to 4 ⭐️.
Overall. I really enjoyed the storyline, but I found parts of it a little drawn out and wordy. I never found myself connecting with the characters, though I was always rooting for Twyla’s character. I also felt like the Struthers character was maybe a little too prominent.
3.5 rounded up to 4 ⭐️.
February 14, 2024
I enjoyed this journey that Twyla took me on. From her feeling imprisoned at home growing up, to leaving it all behind to pursue her passion to write and perform country music. The ups and downs…the writing gives you all the feels, as Twyla just can’t seem to ever come out on top. And then a murder is thrown in. I loved Twyla taking responsibility for herself, her life and her actions (not giving out spoilers!) and the ending was just poetic justice.
This book leaves you thinking about it days after reading. Obviously I LOVED it! Thank you to Caroline for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and not biased by receiving a free copy of this book. I mean y’all know I’m a tough critic, so to receive 5 stars from me, means the book is damn good!
This book leaves you thinking about it days after reading. Obviously I LOVED it! Thank you to Caroline for the ARC of this book. All thoughts and opinions are 100% my own and not biased by receiving a free copy of this book. I mean y’all know I’m a tough critic, so to receive 5 stars from me, means the book is damn good!
January 30, 2024
This book is great. It's not one you want to pass up. It's thrilling. It had me wondering what I would do in Twlya's shoes. It's a book that I'll read again and see if I have a different perspective. That's how good it is. I love how it's written. Will definitely read more by this very talented author.
March 3, 2024
Thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
I think I might have liked this more if it was truly a mystery, but I knew who did what the entire story. I also thought that the PI was over all a terrible character and don't see any reason why she had to be so terrible.
I think I might have liked this more if it was truly a mystery, but I knew who did what the entire story. I also thought that the PI was over all a terrible character and don't see any reason why she had to be so terrible.
February 20, 2024
I’m not sure I was the right target audience for this one. I thought I would give it a shot because the premise sounded interesting and unlike what I would normally read, but this missed the mark for me. I’ll likely be the outlier here, but I just couldn’t get past the way Christians were portrayed and how Jesus was represented. The MC got on my nerves with her immaturity and naivety and I didn’t connect with her obsession over idolizing musicians. I never read or had interest in reading Daisy Jones and the Six, but I feel like based on what I’ve heard, I think fans of that would enjoy this one!
I did like her writing style, the pacing, and the time period set in the 1970s 🌼🍯📀
Thank you #netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
I did like her writing style, the pacing, and the time period set in the 1970s 🌼🍯📀
Thank you #netgalley for this eARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 8, 2023
I received an early copy of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
I read this author's debut novel, Shadows of Pecan Hollow, and I loved the story so much I became an instant fan. So, when I saw this new release, I had to read it and I was not disappointed. This author knows how to turn a phrase and puts the reader smack into the middle of the story.
First and foremost, I love the setting for the story. Nashville, Tennessee in the seventies, was the mecca, the launching pad for any new aspiring artist, and home of the country music industry. The author depicted each location in the historical setting with detailed accuracy.
Twyla Higgins is a character I could immediately relate to. She is nineteen and stifled by her mother, who has turned into a religious zealot. But there is such an interesting backstory about Twyla's father, who passed away when she was ten. He was a professional musician and songwriter, and he taught young Twyla things she embraced and never forgot. She adored her father. Twyla is a writer. It's embedded in her DNA. I love the author's description of how Twyla would sing in the church choir, all the while composing an entirely new song in her head. That is true talent and dedication.
This quote from the book describes it perfectly: "She was scared if she didn't write them (songs) down, she would lose them forever. Daddy had often said every song is like a soul that wants to be born. If one came to her and she didn't bear it forth, it would just go visit someone else."
She loved everything about music and had lots of musical heroes, including Elvis Presley. It was the shocking news of his death that spurred Twyla into action. She had to get to Memphis to celebrate the King's life. And she did. The way the story unfolds one delicious layer at a time shows Twyla's naivete and innocence and her determination to break free from her mother's strangling hold and experience life.
From Memphis to Nashville, her journey gets rocky and hair-raising and even includes her first taste of love and a murder. I will not leave any spoilers here. I will say I was completely 100% invested in Twyla and her story. I wanted so desperately for her to succeed. Does she, or does she, wind up in a deeper hole than the one she left behind in Fort Worth, Texas? I won't tell you. You'll have to read the story to find out.
The author writes in such a descriptive way. Here's an example that struck me as almost poetic: "...It never ceased to amaze her how money hung in the air here like a scent. In the flamboyant azaleas, the geometric boxwoods, the football field lawns and rambling driveways, and absence of eyesores—dumpsters, billboards, litter—reserved for the rest of humanity. Was the air cleaner here? She'd wager it was."
I loved all the flawed characters in this story. Each one deals with their own deep psychological issues and all are intertwined with Twyla and her fate. It's such a good story and I highly recommend it. The novel is set for release on March 5, 2024.
I read this author's debut novel, Shadows of Pecan Hollow, and I loved the story so much I became an instant fan. So, when I saw this new release, I had to read it and I was not disappointed. This author knows how to turn a phrase and puts the reader smack into the middle of the story.
First and foremost, I love the setting for the story. Nashville, Tennessee in the seventies, was the mecca, the launching pad for any new aspiring artist, and home of the country music industry. The author depicted each location in the historical setting with detailed accuracy.
Twyla Higgins is a character I could immediately relate to. She is nineteen and stifled by her mother, who has turned into a religious zealot. But there is such an interesting backstory about Twyla's father, who passed away when she was ten. He was a professional musician and songwriter, and he taught young Twyla things she embraced and never forgot. She adored her father. Twyla is a writer. It's embedded in her DNA. I love the author's description of how Twyla would sing in the church choir, all the while composing an entirely new song in her head. That is true talent and dedication.
This quote from the book describes it perfectly: "She was scared if she didn't write them (songs) down, she would lose them forever. Daddy had often said every song is like a soul that wants to be born. If one came to her and she didn't bear it forth, it would just go visit someone else."
She loved everything about music and had lots of musical heroes, including Elvis Presley. It was the shocking news of his death that spurred Twyla into action. She had to get to Memphis to celebrate the King's life. And she did. The way the story unfolds one delicious layer at a time shows Twyla's naivete and innocence and her determination to break free from her mother's strangling hold and experience life.
From Memphis to Nashville, her journey gets rocky and hair-raising and even includes her first taste of love and a murder. I will not leave any spoilers here. I will say I was completely 100% invested in Twyla and her story. I wanted so desperately for her to succeed. Does she, or does she, wind up in a deeper hole than the one she left behind in Fort Worth, Texas? I won't tell you. You'll have to read the story to find out.
The author writes in such a descriptive way. Here's an example that struck me as almost poetic: "...It never ceased to amaze her how money hung in the air here like a scent. In the flamboyant azaleas, the geometric boxwoods, the football field lawns and rambling driveways, and absence of eyesores—dumpsters, billboards, litter—reserved for the rest of humanity. Was the air cleaner here? She'd wager it was."
I loved all the flawed characters in this story. Each one deals with their own deep psychological issues and all are intertwined with Twyla and her fate. It's such a good story and I highly recommend it. The novel is set for release on March 5, 2024.
March 5, 2024
All songs tell a story….but the writer of this one doesn’t dare for it to be heard.
Living in Fort Worth TX in the 1970’s with her church-going mother and stepfather makes Twyla feel fenced in. Her father was a bluegrass musician and Twyla has inherited his gift for writing music, but her mother has decreed that pursuing that calling will lead only to temptation and sin. But in August of 1977 something happens that prompts Twyla to sneak out and hop a bus….one of her musical idols, Elvis Presley, has died and she feels compelled to travel to Graceland and pay her respects. With just a little money and Pearl, the guitar she inherited from her father, the sheltered young woman soon finds herself in Nashville with nowhere to live, no job, and almost no money left. She finds a way to eke out an existence, falls in love with a handsome singer, and tries to create the music she has wanted to write. A tragic night inspires a song which she performs just once, in a nearly empty bar…but somehow it is recorded by someone else and becomes a huge hit. To claim the song would likely lead to big trouble for Twyla, but she may not be able to sit back and see someone else take credit for her creation.
Beautifully written, and with thoughtfully drawn if imperfect characters, The Last Verse is the story of a young woman spreading her wings and pursuing a dream, with a crime story woven in along the way. I was pulled right in to Twyla’s journey: I winced at her mistakes, wanted to steer her away from people who were just no darn good, and pulled for her talents to be recognized and celebrated. With hints of Daisy Jones and the Six and the best of the “he done her wrong” country songs to which we’ve all tapped our feet, The Last Verse will appeal to readers of Joshilyn Jackson, Adriana Trigiani and Elizabeth Berg. It offers a peek into the life of struggling musicians in the world of country music, with settings so vivid you can smell the smoke wafting through the bar and feel the cold bottle of beer pressed into your hand. Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for allowing me early access to this delightful novel.
Living in Fort Worth TX in the 1970’s with her church-going mother and stepfather makes Twyla feel fenced in. Her father was a bluegrass musician and Twyla has inherited his gift for writing music, but her mother has decreed that pursuing that calling will lead only to temptation and sin. But in August of 1977 something happens that prompts Twyla to sneak out and hop a bus….one of her musical idols, Elvis Presley, has died and she feels compelled to travel to Graceland and pay her respects. With just a little money and Pearl, the guitar she inherited from her father, the sheltered young woman soon finds herself in Nashville with nowhere to live, no job, and almost no money left. She finds a way to eke out an existence, falls in love with a handsome singer, and tries to create the music she has wanted to write. A tragic night inspires a song which she performs just once, in a nearly empty bar…but somehow it is recorded by someone else and becomes a huge hit. To claim the song would likely lead to big trouble for Twyla, but she may not be able to sit back and see someone else take credit for her creation.
Beautifully written, and with thoughtfully drawn if imperfect characters, The Last Verse is the story of a young woman spreading her wings and pursuing a dream, with a crime story woven in along the way. I was pulled right in to Twyla’s journey: I winced at her mistakes, wanted to steer her away from people who were just no darn good, and pulled for her talents to be recognized and celebrated. With hints of Daisy Jones and the Six and the best of the “he done her wrong” country songs to which we’ve all tapped our feet, The Last Verse will appeal to readers of Joshilyn Jackson, Adriana Trigiani and Elizabeth Berg. It offers a peek into the life of struggling musicians in the world of country music, with settings so vivid you can smell the smoke wafting through the bar and feel the cold bottle of beer pressed into your hand. Many thanks to NetGalley and William Morrow for allowing me early access to this delightful novel.
February 2, 2024
Twyla Higgins misses her dad. A somewhat successful bluegrass guitarist, he died leaving Twyla with her mother, new stepfather, and a whole lot of Jesus. After her father passes, her mother found new life at the Tabernacle Church in Fort Worth and wants nothing but for her daughter to be the star of the church choir. Twyla, working at a daycare center, isn’t sure what she wants to do, but she knows she wants to get out from under her mother’s thumb. After secretly saving for weeks, she decides to dip into her savings and make the pilgrimage to Graceland after hearing of her beloved Elvis Presley’s death.
What starts as a trip to honor the King in Memphis, ends up with Twyla hitchhiking to Nashville and starting the next phase of her life. Just like a sad country song, Twyla’s experience is tough and more often than not heartbreaking. Her naivety is borderline unbelievable, but Caroline Frost does a delicate dance keeping Twyla teetering on the edge of naivety and what feels like willful ignorance. When you think you’ve got Twyla’s number figured out Frost pivots again and the last several chapters are unexpected and yet work perfectly.
As a girl raised in Texas on country, the musical references were spot on. The secondary characters were flawed with depth and played perfect complement on Twyla’s journey. The only one I felt was “too much” (especially her introductory scene) was the female private investigator. Other, than her character, I really enjoyed this book. Twyla is one you feel sorry for, you root for, and ultimately you pray for.
Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and of course the author Caroline Frost for the advanced copy of the book. The Last Verse is out on March 5th. All opinions are my own.
Http://www.instagram.com/passionforprose
What starts as a trip to honor the King in Memphis, ends up with Twyla hitchhiking to Nashville and starting the next phase of her life. Just like a sad country song, Twyla’s experience is tough and more often than not heartbreaking. Her naivety is borderline unbelievable, but Caroline Frost does a delicate dance keeping Twyla teetering on the edge of naivety and what feels like willful ignorance. When you think you’ve got Twyla’s number figured out Frost pivots again and the last several chapters are unexpected and yet work perfectly.
As a girl raised in Texas on country, the musical references were spot on. The secondary characters were flawed with depth and played perfect complement on Twyla’s journey. The only one I felt was “too much” (especially her introductory scene) was the female private investigator. Other, than her character, I really enjoyed this book. Twyla is one you feel sorry for, you root for, and ultimately you pray for.
Thank you to NetGalley, William Morrow, and of course the author Caroline Frost for the advanced copy of the book. The Last Verse is out on March 5th. All opinions are my own.
Http://www.instagram.com/passionforprose
January 28, 2024
Not really a mystery, but a very complex drama. This is the sad story of a very talented songwriter - blessed in talent but little else. I found the story almost depressing. Each time that Twyla advanced, she was knocked back again. Not saying that this is something completely unrealistic, but I kept waiting for the fireworks moment. Twyla is a memorable character; she is realistic, humble, persistent and inspired. She takes on life's challenges despite her odds. You learn of Twyla's backstory as she does, as so much is kept from her as she is growing up. Although I appreciated the ending as somewhat realistic , I was hoping for an alternative conclusion. I take issue with the liberties taken with the actual charges against Twyla and the consequences of Lorelei's involvement (I found those things not believable). I still found the characters to be authentic and the story to be as haunting and real as a sad country ballad!
May 8, 2024
This was such a great book! I had randomly found a Caroline Frost book walking out of my library a few years ago. The book was Shadows Of Pecan Hollow. And I loved it. So when I found out about The Last Verse, I knew I had to read it. This is a story unlike anything I have ever read. The country music, taking place in Nashville, was really interesting to read about. It takes place in 1977 and I love reading anything set in a different time. Caroline Frost is such a descriptive author. I could feel and hear the music. I could imagine myself in a smoke filled bar, lights shining down on whoever takes the stage. I felt completely immersed in the music and the lifestyle. I just loved everything about this. Twyla is a top favorite FMC. Following her journey was so incredible. This book really blew me away. I cant wait to see what Caroline Frost comes up with next!
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