What do you think?
Rate this book
Last Call at the Savoy
Set amongst the glittering backdrop of London's iconic Savoy hotel, Cinnamon Scott is forced to confront her troubled past as she uncovers the story of the hotel’s first female bartender who has been erased from the history books. And like a well-made cocktail, their intertwined stories pack just the right punch.
Six years ago, Cinnamon Scott was a young writer on the rise in New York City. But since the sudden loss of her parents, she's been stuck in place, retreating to a life of endless partying—made possible by the massive fortune she's inherited. Despite their tragic loss, she and her older sister Rosemary have always had each other to lean on. But now, with Rosie living in London and about to give birth to twins, Cinnamon feels more lost than ever.
When Rosie is put on bedrest, Cinnamon flies to her sister's side, where she's temporarily living at The Savoy. Immediately swept away by the beauty and history of the legendary hotel and its famed American Bar, Cinnamon finds ample opportunity to distract herself. When the late shift bartender tells her the story of Ada Coleman, the woman who crafted the cocktail recipes The Savoy popularized in its famous handbook a century ago, Cinnamon is inspired by the bartender's vivid stories of Ada's fearlessness and can't understand why Ada's name is nowhere to be found.
After meeting a handsome historian researching the hotel and realizing that Ada is likely to be once again overlooked, Cinnamon must decide if she can overcome her demons and stand up for Ada's story. And, along the way, she might just save her own story too.
Six years ago, Cinnamon Scott was a young writer on the rise in New York City. But since the sudden loss of her parents, she's been stuck in place, retreating to a life of endless partying—made possible by the massive fortune she's inherited. Despite their tragic loss, she and her older sister Rosemary have always had each other to lean on. But now, with Rosie living in London and about to give birth to twins, Cinnamon feels more lost than ever.
When Rosie is put on bedrest, Cinnamon flies to her sister's side, where she's temporarily living at The Savoy. Immediately swept away by the beauty and history of the legendary hotel and its famed American Bar, Cinnamon finds ample opportunity to distract herself. When the late shift bartender tells her the story of Ada Coleman, the woman who crafted the cocktail recipes The Savoy popularized in its famous handbook a century ago, Cinnamon is inspired by the bartender's vivid stories of Ada's fearlessness and can't understand why Ada's name is nowhere to be found.
After meeting a handsome historian researching the hotel and realizing that Ada is likely to be once again overlooked, Cinnamon must decide if she can overcome her demons and stand up for Ada's story. And, along the way, she might just save her own story too.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published November 4, 2025
100 people are currently reading
11608 people want to read
About the author
Brisa Carleton
1 book68 followersBrisa grew up in the Pacific Northwest before moving to Midtown Manhattan to turn her passion for musicals and "flair for the dramatic" into an award-winning career as a Broadway producer. Three Tony Awards later, she’s worked on numerous productions including Hamilton, Beautiful and Moulin Rouge. In 2019 at the request of HSH Prince Albert of Monaco Brisa joined his foundation to lead philanthropy efforts in theater, dance and film on behalf of his mother, Princess Grace Kelly. Most recently she turned her entrepreneurial spirit to actual “spirits,” launching Literati Spirits, a premium vodka created by book lovers for book lovers. She enjoys spending her days traveling to literary destinations with a martini in one hand and a manuscript in the other, collecting stories with her husband Mark and her chihuahua, Mister Big.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews
November 22, 2025
Check out all my reviews at: https://www.avonnalovesgenres.com
LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY by Brisa Carleton is an engrossing story with two intertwined timelines. The women’s fiction timeline is set in the present featuring two sisters at an emotionally charged moment in their lives and the second timeline is historical fiction set in the early 1900’s featuring the first female bartender in The American Bar in the London Savoy.
Cinnamon Scott is taking a break from her rich New York girl’s party life to fly to London to help her sister, Rosemary, who is on bedrest with a twin pregnancy at the Savoy while her new flat is being renovated. While Rosemary is a successful attorney, Cinnamon has struggled since leaving college early due to a scandal and the death of their parents in a plane crash. While Cinnamon hoped to be a famous writer, the last ten years have been nothing but partying with no writing.
Bored just hanging in their Savoy suite, Cinnamon goes to The American Bar in the hotel. She meets Joe, the older nightshift bartender, who regales her with a new story of the glamorous past of the bar and its first female bartender, Ada “Coley” Coleman, who is responsible for the famous Savoy Cocktail Book. At the same time during her stay, she continues to run into a sexy celebrity historical writer who is researching the Savoy.
Cinnamon becomes entranced with Ada’s story, even as her personal struggles and past demons are coming to a head.
Both timelines were interesting and pulled me into the story to keep me reading and the ending was not what I was expecting but was very satisfying as well as a bit surprising. Cinnamon was a flawed character with terrible coping skills, and she was very immature, but there was also something compelling about her because her sister always believed the best of her. The sisters were forced to deal with many issues, and yet their love for each other always persisted. The historical fiction timeline about Ada’s life was extremely interesting. From famous and inventive mixologist to a not surprising ending, Ada, like most women of her time had her history written by men and that seems to never go well.
This is a compelling read with many interesting historical facts, historical people, and cocktail recipes interwoven throughout the story as well as being an emotional women’s fiction story of sisters.
LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY by Brisa Carleton is an engrossing story with two intertwined timelines. The women’s fiction timeline is set in the present featuring two sisters at an emotionally charged moment in their lives and the second timeline is historical fiction set in the early 1900’s featuring the first female bartender in The American Bar in the London Savoy.
Cinnamon Scott is taking a break from her rich New York girl’s party life to fly to London to help her sister, Rosemary, who is on bedrest with a twin pregnancy at the Savoy while her new flat is being renovated. While Rosemary is a successful attorney, Cinnamon has struggled since leaving college early due to a scandal and the death of their parents in a plane crash. While Cinnamon hoped to be a famous writer, the last ten years have been nothing but partying with no writing.
Bored just hanging in their Savoy suite, Cinnamon goes to The American Bar in the hotel. She meets Joe, the older nightshift bartender, who regales her with a new story of the glamorous past of the bar and its first female bartender, Ada “Coley” Coleman, who is responsible for the famous Savoy Cocktail Book. At the same time during her stay, she continues to run into a sexy celebrity historical writer who is researching the Savoy.
Cinnamon becomes entranced with Ada’s story, even as her personal struggles and past demons are coming to a head.
Both timelines were interesting and pulled me into the story to keep me reading and the ending was not what I was expecting but was very satisfying as well as a bit surprising. Cinnamon was a flawed character with terrible coping skills, and she was very immature, but there was also something compelling about her because her sister always believed the best of her. The sisters were forced to deal with many issues, and yet their love for each other always persisted. The historical fiction timeline about Ada’s life was extremely interesting. From famous and inventive mixologist to a not surprising ending, Ada, like most women of her time had her history written by men and that seems to never go well.
This is a compelling read with many interesting historical facts, historical people, and cocktail recipes interwoven throughout the story as well as being an emotional women’s fiction story of sisters.
October 28, 2025
The history part of this story about Ada Coleman I really enjoyed. I hadn't heard about Ada Coleman before and I found it interesting to learn more about her creations and experiences of being a woman bartender during a time in history where nothing was equal among men and women. The modern portion of the story including the main character, Cinnamon and her friend, Piper however tended to irritate me and I found myself not really caring much about their designer clothes or their future choices in general. I felt more invested in Cinnamon's sister, Rosemary and I think maybe if the story had been told from her point of view it would have held my interest more. The use of a few modern slang terms seemed thrown into conversations and didn't really seem to fit the setting/situation.
**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
**Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to listen to this advance copy in exchange for my honest review.
October 21, 2025
A book about forgotten women of history? Sign me up! This one was so special. I always love niche subjects and unique takes on world events — even when they’re works of fiction that don’t necessarily mirror historical reality.
This story weaves together two timelines, and I honestly can’t decide which one I loved more: Cinnamon and Rosemary with their strong bond, or the fascinating bartending secrets behind The Savoy Cocktail Book. I loved it all.
I especially enjoyed the story of the two sisters and their resilience. Their family is proof that all it takes is standing up for one another and being there when it matters most.
I also adored the narrator — she did a wonderful job bringing the story to life!
Thank you to @HachetteAudio and NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Overall rating: 4 stars
This story weaves together two timelines, and I honestly can’t decide which one I loved more: Cinnamon and Rosemary with their strong bond, or the fascinating bartending secrets behind The Savoy Cocktail Book. I loved it all.
I especially enjoyed the story of the two sisters and their resilience. Their family is proof that all it takes is standing up for one another and being there when it matters most.
I also adored the narrator — she did a wonderful job bringing the story to life!
Thank you to @HachetteAudio and NetGalley for providing me with an audio ARC of this book. All opinions are my own.
Overall rating: 4 stars
September 19, 2025
I thought this was a wonderfully charming debut that mixed historical fiction and women's fiction in creative ways. I could tell that the author has a theatrical and cocktail background in the ways her knowledge shines through the text to add color to the story.
This is a book that shines a spotlight on queer women who get erased from history. Cinnamon Scott is an heiress and failed writer who has drowned her grief over losing her parents to an airplane crash in party girl escapades. In the present day, she is on lockdown at the Savoy hotel in London as she helps out her pregnant sister, who is on bed rest. The names of the sisters, Cinnamon and Rosemary, were a little too precious, but I digress. It didn't bug me too much and their names were mocked frequently in the story.
In the meantime she learns about the storied history of the Savoy and all the colorful characters that made up the rich tapestry of the luxury hotel's history. She also bumps elbows with a celebrity historian who is writing a history of the hotel. I had to laugh at the notion of a sexy celebrity historian always with a hot bimbo on his arm, but I enjoyed their charming, sweet romance to the side of the main story.
Cinnamon finds herself down at the American Bar most nights, where she meets an older bartender working the midnight shift named Joe. At first I was afraid this was going to be a pocket universe or time travel book and I'm glad it didn't go there. The mysterious Joe, who only appears when the bar is empty except for Cinnamon, regales her with stories from the Savoy's past and in particular, a firecracker trailblazer of a bartender named Ada Coleman who invented famous cocktails but never got the credit.
Ada's story is told in snippets that look back at her past exploits, interspersed with contemporary scenes, and the two protagonists both have similar struggles, as Cinnamon is also facing the drama of her creative work being stolen by a man.
At times I wished this book went a little deeper into these characters, showed them as more complex. It was a little surface level. But overall I found this debut charming, unique and entertaining.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
This is a book that shines a spotlight on queer women who get erased from history. Cinnamon Scott is an heiress and failed writer who has drowned her grief over losing her parents to an airplane crash in party girl escapades. In the present day, she is on lockdown at the Savoy hotel in London as she helps out her pregnant sister, who is on bed rest. The names of the sisters, Cinnamon and Rosemary, were a little too precious, but I digress. It didn't bug me too much and their names were mocked frequently in the story.
In the meantime she learns about the storied history of the Savoy and all the colorful characters that made up the rich tapestry of the luxury hotel's history. She also bumps elbows with a celebrity historian who is writing a history of the hotel. I had to laugh at the notion of a sexy celebrity historian always with a hot bimbo on his arm, but I enjoyed their charming, sweet romance to the side of the main story.
Cinnamon finds herself down at the American Bar most nights, where she meets an older bartender working the midnight shift named Joe. At first I was afraid this was going to be a pocket universe or time travel book and I'm glad it didn't go there. The mysterious Joe, who only appears when the bar is empty except for Cinnamon, regales her with stories from the Savoy's past and in particular, a firecracker trailblazer of a bartender named Ada Coleman who invented famous cocktails but never got the credit.
Ada's story is told in snippets that look back at her past exploits, interspersed with contemporary scenes, and the two protagonists both have similar struggles, as Cinnamon is also facing the drama of her creative work being stolen by a man.
At times I wished this book went a little deeper into these characters, showed them as more complex. It was a little surface level. But overall I found this debut charming, unique and entertaining.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance review copy. I am leaving this review voluntarily.
November 10, 2025
Last Call at the Savoy
4/5 stars ⭐️
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Author: Brisa Carleton
ALC Publisher: Hachette Audio
Narrator: Christine Lakin
The audiobook narrator truly brought Cinnamon and her story to life! Spoken with such conviction and clarity, Cinnamon’s connection to Ada is truly felt by the listener and she really brings Cinnamon’s spunk and quirkiness alive!
A fun historical fiction novel that focuses on Cinnamon, a quirky history enthusiast and writer who is staying at the Savoy while accompanying her pregnant sister on her travels who is simultaneously recovering from a physical injury. While staying at the Savoy, Cinnamon discovers a female bartender Ada Coleman who invented all the famous drinks at their establishment but was erased and replaced by the usual “straight white man” in the history books. Harnessing her love for history and writing, Cinnamon makes it her mission to research the history of the Savoy and write Anna Coleman back into history.
While doing so, she crosses path with a famous British history writer Kit Clarke who she herself also adores, having read all his work during her studies. Always playing up the character of the “lost party girl,” Kit sees past this facade and recognizes her true identity- the intelligent writer and historian Cinnamon is.
No longer able to hide her true self, Kit is forced to face the difficult memories associated with the last time she worked as a writer. She’s faced with a choice: continue to run from her true self to avoid facing the traumatic memories, but lose Kit in the process (the only man who she’s ever connected with at a deeper level)? Or face her past and become her true self, but work through her difficult emotions with Kit at her side?
Huge thank you to #NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Grand Central Publishing for the gifted ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinion expressed are my own.
Last Call at the Savoy is an absolute delightful read that mixes historical fiction with romance and deeper questions of identity!
4/5 stars ⭐️
Publisher: Grand Central Publishing
Author: Brisa Carleton
ALC Publisher: Hachette Audio
Narrator: Christine Lakin
The audiobook narrator truly brought Cinnamon and her story to life! Spoken with such conviction and clarity, Cinnamon’s connection to Ada is truly felt by the listener and she really brings Cinnamon’s spunk and quirkiness alive!
A fun historical fiction novel that focuses on Cinnamon, a quirky history enthusiast and writer who is staying at the Savoy while accompanying her pregnant sister on her travels who is simultaneously recovering from a physical injury. While staying at the Savoy, Cinnamon discovers a female bartender Ada Coleman who invented all the famous drinks at their establishment but was erased and replaced by the usual “straight white man” in the history books. Harnessing her love for history and writing, Cinnamon makes it her mission to research the history of the Savoy and write Anna Coleman back into history.
While doing so, she crosses path with a famous British history writer Kit Clarke who she herself also adores, having read all his work during her studies. Always playing up the character of the “lost party girl,” Kit sees past this facade and recognizes her true identity- the intelligent writer and historian Cinnamon is.
No longer able to hide her true self, Kit is forced to face the difficult memories associated with the last time she worked as a writer. She’s faced with a choice: continue to run from her true self to avoid facing the traumatic memories, but lose Kit in the process (the only man who she’s ever connected with at a deeper level)? Or face her past and become her true self, but work through her difficult emotions with Kit at her side?
Huge thank you to #NetGalley, Hachette Audio, and Grand Central Publishing for the gifted ALC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinion expressed are my own.
Last Call at the Savoy is an absolute delightful read that mixes historical fiction with romance and deeper questions of identity!
October 25, 2025
OK. I just have to say that this one was really special!
Cinnamon (no, not kidding, that’s her name) and her sister Rosemary have been very close, forever. They lost their parents several years ago…and Rosie pretty much acted as Mom and Dad for Cinnamon.
But, now they’re all grown up!
Rosie is in London and is a big shot lawyer. She is very pregnant with twins! When her doctor places her on bed rest due to complications, Cinnamon runs right over to help her out… from NYC. Apparently their parents left them a lot of money when they died… and Cinnamon has been using it all on drinks… to numb her pain. But it doesn’t seem to help…
Cinnamon HAD a promising career as a writer before her parents died… but since then she’s lost her way.
BUT, while in London, living at the Savoy with her sister, she goes to the American Bar in the hotel every night when sis goes to sleep. There she meets a famous writer who actually intrigues her AND sparks something inside!
Also, she meets Joe, the late night bartender, who shares stories of the famous first female bartender, Ada, at the Savoy many moons ago…. He tells tales of the ‘Drinks Book’ that she created all these amazing cocktails in… but for some reason, her name is not listed as the creator.
More and more things are bothering Cinnamon about Ada’s story… so she keeps going back to speak to Joe.
And of course, don’t forget about her sister and the twins!!
This was a fabulous story!! But it was also heartbreaking in so many ways…. So many realistic events. A lot of sad stories. But then, we have family…. And love… and friendships… and so… much… more!
And the twists that come will have your head spinning… 😵💫 but in such a GOOD way!
Absolutely adored this one!
All the stars for me!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨✨✨✨💫💫💫💫💫
#LastCallAtTheSavoy by @BrisaCarleton and narrated beautifully by @ChristineLakin (who is one of my favorites!)
This one has NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!! Look 👀 for it on shelves soon, on 11/4/25!
Thanks so much to @NetGalley and @HachetteAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
Cinnamon (no, not kidding, that’s her name) and her sister Rosemary have been very close, forever. They lost their parents several years ago…and Rosie pretty much acted as Mom and Dad for Cinnamon.
But, now they’re all grown up!
Rosie is in London and is a big shot lawyer. She is very pregnant with twins! When her doctor places her on bed rest due to complications, Cinnamon runs right over to help her out… from NYC. Apparently their parents left them a lot of money when they died… and Cinnamon has been using it all on drinks… to numb her pain. But it doesn’t seem to help…
Cinnamon HAD a promising career as a writer before her parents died… but since then she’s lost her way.
BUT, while in London, living at the Savoy with her sister, she goes to the American Bar in the hotel every night when sis goes to sleep. There she meets a famous writer who actually intrigues her AND sparks something inside!
Also, she meets Joe, the late night bartender, who shares stories of the famous first female bartender, Ada, at the Savoy many moons ago…. He tells tales of the ‘Drinks Book’ that she created all these amazing cocktails in… but for some reason, her name is not listed as the creator.
More and more things are bothering Cinnamon about Ada’s story… so she keeps going back to speak to Joe.
And of course, don’t forget about her sister and the twins!!
This was a fabulous story!! But it was also heartbreaking in so many ways…. So many realistic events. A lot of sad stories. But then, we have family…. And love… and friendships… and so… much… more!
And the twists that come will have your head spinning… 😵💫 but in such a GOOD way!
Absolutely adored this one!
All the stars for me!!! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️✨✨✨✨✨💫💫💫💫💫
#LastCallAtTheSavoy by @BrisaCarleton and narrated beautifully by @ChristineLakin (who is one of my favorites!)
This one has NOT BEEN RELEASED YET!! Look 👀 for it on shelves soon, on 11/4/25!
Thanks so much to @NetGalley and @HachetteAudio for an ALC of the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
You can find my reviews on: Goodreads,
Insta @BookReviews_with_emsr and/or
My Facebook Book Club: Book Reviews With Elaine
Thanks so much for reading! And if you ‘liked’ my review, please share with your friends, & click ‘LIKE’ below… And, let me know YOUR thoughts if you read it!! 📚⭐️
October 19, 2025
2.5 stars rounded up.
We get it — the main character is rich. The nonstop designer references got old fast. And while I usually enjoy a flawed protagonist, Cinnamon (a cutesy name that I suspect was meant to make her charming but ended up just being odd in this particular book) was more grating than compelling.
We get it — the main character is rich. The nonstop designer references got old fast. And while I usually enjoy a flawed protagonist, Cinnamon (a cutesy name that I suspect was meant to make her charming but ended up just being odd in this particular book) was more grating than compelling.
November 23, 2025
Overview
Set against the backdrop of London’s iconic Savoy Hotel, Last Call at the Savoy by Brisa Carleton is a heartfelt, glamorous novel about grief, sisterhood, and rediscovering one’s passion — all served with a twist of history and a splash of gin.
This is a book that sparkles with charm, whisking readers into a world where old secrets, forgotten women, and second chances intertwine beneath chandeliers and cocktail shakers.
🍹 The Story
Cinnamon Scott’s life has come to a standstill after the loss of her parents and the unraveling of her once-promising writing career. When her sister Rosemary — pregnant and on bed rest — invites her to stay at London’s luxurious Savoy Hotel, Cinnamon reluctantly accepts.
At the Savoy, she learns about Ada Coleman, the real-life early 20th-century head bartender who made history at the hotel’s American Bar. Intrigued by Ada’s overlooked legacy, Cinnamon starts to dig into her story — and in the process, uncovers her own reason to write again.
Between sisterly bonds, new romance, and the art of storytelling itself, Last Call at the Savoy reminds us that it’s never too late to rewrite our own narrative.
🌷 What I Loved
✨ The Setting
The Savoy leaps off the page — the polished marble floors, the soft glow of the bar, the quiet hum of history lingering in every corner. Carleton captures that rare blend of nostalgia and modern elegance, making the hotel feel like both a haven and a character in its own right.
💞 The Heart of the Story
Cinnamon’s emotional arc is deeply relatable. Her journey through loss, creative burnout, and renewal feels authentic and hopeful. The parallels between her story and Ada Coleman’s bring extra depth and a touch of historical intrigue.
👯 The Sisterhood
While the romance adds warmth, the sisterly relationship between Cinnamon and Rosemary is what really grounds the novel. Their dynamic — loving but imperfect — gives the story a genuine emotional anchor.
☕ Minor Quibbles
Some plot points resolve a bit too conveniently, and a few secondary characters feel more decorative than developed. The pacing leans cinematic — fast and engaging, but occasionally at the expense of depth. Still, these are small trade-offs for such a lush, enjoyable read.
🍸 Final Thoughts
If you love novels that mix history, glamour, and personal growth — think The Paris Library, The Chelsea Girls, or Hotel Portofino — Last Call at the Savoy will be right up your alley. It’s a celebration of storytelling, sisterhood, and the forgotten women who shaped history behind the scenes. Pour yourself a cocktail (preferably Ada Coleman’s legendary Hanky Panky) and enjoy this charming, uplifting read.
Set against the backdrop of London’s iconic Savoy Hotel, Last Call at the Savoy by Brisa Carleton is a heartfelt, glamorous novel about grief, sisterhood, and rediscovering one’s passion — all served with a twist of history and a splash of gin.
This is a book that sparkles with charm, whisking readers into a world where old secrets, forgotten women, and second chances intertwine beneath chandeliers and cocktail shakers.
🍹 The Story
Cinnamon Scott’s life has come to a standstill after the loss of her parents and the unraveling of her once-promising writing career. When her sister Rosemary — pregnant and on bed rest — invites her to stay at London’s luxurious Savoy Hotel, Cinnamon reluctantly accepts.
At the Savoy, she learns about Ada Coleman, the real-life early 20th-century head bartender who made history at the hotel’s American Bar. Intrigued by Ada’s overlooked legacy, Cinnamon starts to dig into her story — and in the process, uncovers her own reason to write again.
Between sisterly bonds, new romance, and the art of storytelling itself, Last Call at the Savoy reminds us that it’s never too late to rewrite our own narrative.
🌷 What I Loved
✨ The Setting
The Savoy leaps off the page — the polished marble floors, the soft glow of the bar, the quiet hum of history lingering in every corner. Carleton captures that rare blend of nostalgia and modern elegance, making the hotel feel like both a haven and a character in its own right.
💞 The Heart of the Story
Cinnamon’s emotional arc is deeply relatable. Her journey through loss, creative burnout, and renewal feels authentic and hopeful. The parallels between her story and Ada Coleman’s bring extra depth and a touch of historical intrigue.
👯 The Sisterhood
While the romance adds warmth, the sisterly relationship between Cinnamon and Rosemary is what really grounds the novel. Their dynamic — loving but imperfect — gives the story a genuine emotional anchor.
☕ Minor Quibbles
Some plot points resolve a bit too conveniently, and a few secondary characters feel more decorative than developed. The pacing leans cinematic — fast and engaging, but occasionally at the expense of depth. Still, these are small trade-offs for such a lush, enjoyable read.
🍸 Final Thoughts
If you love novels that mix history, glamour, and personal growth — think The Paris Library, The Chelsea Girls, or Hotel Portofino — Last Call at the Savoy will be right up your alley. It’s a celebration of storytelling, sisterhood, and the forgotten women who shaped history behind the scenes. Pour yourself a cocktail (preferably Ada Coleman’s legendary Hanky Panky) and enjoy this charming, uplifting read.
December 1, 2025
Last Call at the Savoy completely swept me away. I loved learning about this time period, the history of The Savoy hotel, and especially the bartender & cocktail genius Ada Coleman and her legacy. Every time a historical detail popped up I found myself going down a rabbit hole to learn more (I mean… Gucci started as a bellhop at The Savoy?!).
The present-day storyline was just as compelling. Cinnamon is a wonderfully flawed character, navigating unresolved grief and leaning too heavily on alcohol to cope. Her bond with her sister- who’s on bedrest waiting to deliver twins- is complicated, loyal, and incredibly close, and those scenes ended up being some of my favourites.
Both timelines shine, and together they create a thoughtful, atmospheric story about legacy, loss, resilience, and rewriting history. I loved this one.
The present-day storyline was just as compelling. Cinnamon is a wonderfully flawed character, navigating unresolved grief and leaning too heavily on alcohol to cope. Her bond with her sister- who’s on bedrest waiting to deliver twins- is complicated, loyal, and incredibly close, and those scenes ended up being some of my favourites.
Both timelines shine, and together they create a thoughtful, atmospheric story about legacy, loss, resilience, and rewriting history. I loved this one.
May 5, 2025
Cinnamon Scott is well on her way to being a member of the literati when she is suddenly derailed by a tragic accident and heartbreaking betrayal. Years later she’s coasting through life in an endless stream of parties and cocktails until duty calls. Her pregnant sister summons her from New York to London to help her through bedrest and they settle into the Savoy.
This book was fascinating with its historic details and lush descriptions of the people and decor within the world famous hotel. I’ve stared up at the entrance to the hotel more than once on holiday and wondered what it was like inside and Carleton offers us a glimpse.
Carleton weaves together a riveting tale of messy lives and forgotten personas. It held my attention to the very last page. It paid homage to the cocktails that made the American bar famous, giving a taste of a forgotten time.
Taste being the operative word though. The book only gives a taste of Ada’s story. She appears fully formed and disappears after a few witty vignettes. We only get a taste of Cinnamon’s journey towards healing. She’s broken one moment and stable in the next. We have only a taste of Rosie. How did she end up with Everett? How did she come to terms with a completely new life than the one she expected? We get a taste of Kit. He appears almost one dimensional and never fully gets fleshed out. What was his life like when he wasn’t wandering the halls looking for Cinnamon? And we get only a taste of Joe. Which honestly is perfect. Like a good drink we savor and then finish, the taste we get of Joe is exactly as it should be.
This book had intriguing stories and at times they outshine the characters they belong to but that’s what makes it a great book in my opinion. I do wish we had more to go on but it wrapped up in a way that most of the stories felt complete. This is the kind of book you keep on your shelf and pull out every year for a comfortable reread or that sends you down a rabbit hole of checking out hotel history. Or the kind of book you read with a good drink.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
This book was fascinating with its historic details and lush descriptions of the people and decor within the world famous hotel. I’ve stared up at the entrance to the hotel more than once on holiday and wondered what it was like inside and Carleton offers us a glimpse.
Carleton weaves together a riveting tale of messy lives and forgotten personas. It held my attention to the very last page. It paid homage to the cocktails that made the American bar famous, giving a taste of a forgotten time.
Taste being the operative word though. The book only gives a taste of Ada’s story. She appears fully formed and disappears after a few witty vignettes. We only get a taste of Cinnamon’s journey towards healing. She’s broken one moment and stable in the next. We have only a taste of Rosie. How did she end up with Everett? How did she come to terms with a completely new life than the one she expected? We get a taste of Kit. He appears almost one dimensional and never fully gets fleshed out. What was his life like when he wasn’t wandering the halls looking for Cinnamon? And we get only a taste of Joe. Which honestly is perfect. Like a good drink we savor and then finish, the taste we get of Joe is exactly as it should be.
This book had intriguing stories and at times they outshine the characters they belong to but that’s what makes it a great book in my opinion. I do wish we had more to go on but it wrapped up in a way that most of the stories felt complete. This is the kind of book you keep on your shelf and pull out every year for a comfortable reread or that sends you down a rabbit hole of checking out hotel history. Or the kind of book you read with a good drink.
I received an ARC from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
November 10, 2025
Thank you Grand Central Publishing for my #gifted finished copy and thank you Hachette Audio for my #gifted listening copy of Last Call at the Savoy! #GrandCentralPublishing #GrandCentralPub #hachetteaudio #LastCallAtTheSavoy #BrisaCarleton #ChristineLakin
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐲
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐧
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
4★
Last Call at the Savoy is a wonderful novel that effortlessly intertwines the stories of present day Cinnamon Scott as she faces her troubled past and uncovers the history of Ada Coleman, the first female bartender who was erased from the history books. I really enjoyed Cinnamon’s character as we learned about her past and personal struggles. I loved how the author told this story and while I thought it would have more of a focus in the past, I really like how it all unfolded. It is largely focused in the present day, and I actually liked how the author took that approach, which is different than most historical fiction novels. Ada Coleman’s story was so interesting and I loved learning more about her. In the process, I loved seeing the growth in Cinnamon as she stood up for herself and Ada’s story too.
There’s a lot to love about this book. It blends historical fiction with a hint of romance and a powerful feminist message. Best of all, it will leave you with a smile on your face. This is one you will want to pick up with a cocktail (or mocktail)!
🎧The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Christine Lakin. Listening to this reminded me why I love listening to audiobooks narrated by Lakin. It was flawless! Once I started, I couldn’t stop listening because she just takes the reader to a whole new world and it’s all so effortless. I loved this one on audio and I would definitely recommend this one on audio!
𝐓𝐢𝐭𝐥𝐞: 𝐋𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐯𝐨𝐲
𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐨𝐫: 𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐚 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐧
𝐍𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐫: 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧
𝐏𝐮𝐛 𝐃𝐚𝐭𝐞: 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐦𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟒, 𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟓
4★
Last Call at the Savoy is a wonderful novel that effortlessly intertwines the stories of present day Cinnamon Scott as she faces her troubled past and uncovers the history of Ada Coleman, the first female bartender who was erased from the history books. I really enjoyed Cinnamon’s character as we learned about her past and personal struggles. I loved how the author told this story and while I thought it would have more of a focus in the past, I really like how it all unfolded. It is largely focused in the present day, and I actually liked how the author took that approach, which is different than most historical fiction novels. Ada Coleman’s story was so interesting and I loved learning more about her. In the process, I loved seeing the growth in Cinnamon as she stood up for herself and Ada’s story too.
There’s a lot to love about this book. It blends historical fiction with a hint of romance and a powerful feminist message. Best of all, it will leave you with a smile on your face. This is one you will want to pick up with a cocktail (or mocktail)!
🎧The audiobook was beautifully narrated by Christine Lakin. Listening to this reminded me why I love listening to audiobooks narrated by Lakin. It was flawless! Once I started, I couldn’t stop listening because she just takes the reader to a whole new world and it’s all so effortless. I loved this one on audio and I would definitely recommend this one on audio!
October 25, 2025
This novel is about Cinnamon, a woman in her 20s who is stuck in her life. Then her older sister, who is pregnant with twins, asks her to come stay with her in London where she’s just been put on bedrest - and where they are staying at the Savoy Hotel while her sister’s apartment is under construction. While there, Cinnamon becomes fascinated by the story of Ada Coleman, a female bartender who worked at the Savoy in the 1920s and invented many famous cocktails - but had become forgotten to history. And just maybe Cinnamon will also figure out a way to move past the difficult things in her past that have left her stuck in life - and maybe find a little romance along the way too.
I initially assumed this would be historical fiction or dual timeline, but it really is about 90% set in the present, with just little scenes about Ada as Cinnamon hears about her. I wouldn’t have minded more of the history, but luckily the present day storyline was good! Cinnamon was definitely frustrating early on, but I understood why she was acting that way and was rooting for her to grow up and figure herself out, and loved following her journey. And the Savoy Hotel was such a fun setting - I’ve never been but now I really want to go! Really enjoyed this debut and look forward to seeing what Brisa Carleton writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC (out 11/4/25); all opinions are my own.
I initially assumed this would be historical fiction or dual timeline, but it really is about 90% set in the present, with just little scenes about Ada as Cinnamon hears about her. I wouldn’t have minded more of the history, but luckily the present day storyline was good! Cinnamon was definitely frustrating early on, but I understood why she was acting that way and was rooting for her to grow up and figure herself out, and loved following her journey. And the Savoy Hotel was such a fun setting - I’ve never been but now I really want to go! Really enjoyed this debut and look forward to seeing what Brisa Carleton writes next.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for my e-ARC (out 11/4/25); all opinions are my own.
November 6, 2025
Optimistic, informative, and sincere!
𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐘 is a tender, insightful tale that takes you into the life of Cinnamon, a young woman who is struggling with her grief and self-identity until a trip to the Savoy Hotel to help her sister sparks her imagination and causes her to reevaluate her guilt, choices, and decisions for the past six years since she lost her parents in a tragic accident and she gave up her dream of becoming a writer.
The writing is genuine and sweet. The characters are damaged, heartbroken, and disillusioned with the setting, the Savoy Hotel, being a character itself with its rich history, traditions, glamour, and secrets. And the plot is a touching blend of life, love, grief, guilt, nostalgia, drama, introspection, friendship, special moments, sisterhood, healing, moving on, and second chances.
Overall, 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐘 is a layered, astute, compelling debut by Carleton that does a fabulous job of reminding us to always try to remember and acknowledge all those remarkable, pioneering women whose lives and contributions are often unknown, overlooked, or, unfortunately, long forgotten.
𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐘 is a tender, insightful tale that takes you into the life of Cinnamon, a young woman who is struggling with her grief and self-identity until a trip to the Savoy Hotel to help her sister sparks her imagination and causes her to reevaluate her guilt, choices, and decisions for the past six years since she lost her parents in a tragic accident and she gave up her dream of becoming a writer.
The writing is genuine and sweet. The characters are damaged, heartbroken, and disillusioned with the setting, the Savoy Hotel, being a character itself with its rich history, traditions, glamour, and secrets. And the plot is a touching blend of life, love, grief, guilt, nostalgia, drama, introspection, friendship, special moments, sisterhood, healing, moving on, and second chances.
Overall, 𝐋𝐀𝐒𝐓 𝐂𝐀𝐋𝐋 𝐀𝐓 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐀𝐕𝐎𝐘 is a layered, astute, compelling debut by Carleton that does a fabulous job of reminding us to always try to remember and acknowledge all those remarkable, pioneering women whose lives and contributions are often unknown, overlooked, or, unfortunately, long forgotten.
September 6, 2025
“Last Call at the Savoy” is a very entertaining debut novel by Brisa Carleton. The story has some historical elements about the iconic Savoy Hotel in London, but is much more of a glitzy and bittersweet family drama. The premise revolves around a young woman who is an up and coming author who becomes totally derailed by her parents sudden and tragic death. As she spirals into the world of wild parties, cocktails and excess funded by a huge inheritance, she is summoned to London to help her sister who is forced into full bed rest because of her pregnancy with twins.
Now living in London at the Savoy Hotel caring for her sister, she becomes enchanted with the hotel’s legendary history, specially around the pioneering female bartender whose legacy is completely forgotten. As she obsesses over this woman’s story we are given a glimpse of the opulence of this iconic hotel at its heyday, as well as insight into this woman’s complex journey to tackle her demons.
I found this to be a quick and enjoyable story, but wished there was more details about the history of the female bartender and the numerous famous patrons of the American Bar at the Savoy.
Thank you NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
November 9, 2025
Thank you NetGalley and Hachette Audio for the ARC of this audiobook.
The narrator was fantastic!
I found the constant reference to how rich the characters were to be a tad unnecessary. Rosemary was unnecessarily rude, Cinnamon was an embarrassment and insanely vapid. I just wished every time she complained, that she's just grow up and be an adult and get over her shit.
I felt like there were a lot of stories within this book and that it could go in a number of different directions.
The narrator was fantastic!
I found the constant reference to how rich the characters were to be a tad unnecessary. Rosemary was unnecessarily rude, Cinnamon was an embarrassment and insanely vapid. I just wished every time she complained, that she's just grow up and be an adult and get over her shit.
I felt like there were a lot of stories within this book and that it could go in a number of different directions.
December 13, 2025
Cinnamon uses partying to cover her grief and pain. When her sister goes on bed rest, she steps in to take care of her at the famous Savoy Hotel. While there she learns the story of Ada - a female bartender there from the early 1900’s. As Cinnamon learns her story, she also learns more about herself. Such a great story of grief and redemption. Love and loss. #bookstagram #bookreview #loveyourlibrary #readersgonnaread #booknerd #lastcallatthesavoy #pagesandprimrose
December 18, 2025
This was a fun read with some history of The Savoy hotel in London thrown in. It also focuses on some writers. Cinnamon is called from NYC to stay at the Savoy in London while her lawyer sister waits out her final month of pregnancy with twins on bed rest. Cinnamon learns some stories about the hotel while visiting the bar each night. Lots of drama thrown in including the birth of twin girls.
December 13, 2025
Stunning debut!!!
November 15, 2025
Loved this debut! Thank you to Goodreads for the giveaway. Interesting story that I knew nothing about and wanted to know more and more as I continued reading.
November 27, 2025
“Historical Fiction”
No.
No.
December 15, 2025
4+
Self-discovery spiced with a mix of hanky panky, mystery, history, and sisterhood (London; present-day): Even if you’re not inclined to toast the town with a cocktail on New Year’s Eve or some other celebratory time, you’ll drink up Brisa Carleton’s deliciously entertaining story splashed with a good share of pick-you-ups, served with a twist.
Have you stood in your own way of going after what you’ve always wanted to do?
Could staying a month at one of the world’s grandest (and earliest) 5-star luxury hotels shake things up enough for you? The way it does for sisters Cinnamon and Rosemary who depend on each other in the Last Call at the Savoy.
Carleton’s “flair for the dramatic” neatly sets her page-turning story at London’s The Savoy hotel including its American Bar, a legendary “place of ghosts and magic.” Poured with famous guests such as Winston Churchill, Claude Monet, Mark Twain, J. M. Barrie, Charlie Chaplin, Harry Selfridge, and George Bernard Shaw. (Some suites named for other notables.)
Other characters that enhance with a punch are fictional “sexy historian” who’s a literary sensation Christopher Clarke, and Joe, a barman whose shift comes alive at midnight, infusing cocktail-by-cocktail intrigue about the “world’s first celebrity female mixologist” who stirred things up from 1903 to 1925 with her intoxicating concoctions and attentive, lively personality: Ada Coleman, known as Coley to her spirit followers.
Ada haunts this deftly written historical mystery when younger sister (Cinnamon) discovers Coley’s cocktail recipes recorded in The Savoy Cocktail Book she wrote in 1830, still printed today, and then discovers someone else’s name, Harry Craddock, is credited as the author.
Why was Ada written out of history? How and why was Cinnamon holding a copy of the spirit book in her hand at The Savoy? What brought her and Rosemary from Manhattan to London in the first place? Why do writers have a special place in Cinnamon’s heart? How’s that tied to Brisa Carleton?
Let’s start with “Ada’s tenacity.” “The way she touched so many lives from her perch behind this one, special bar in its most incredible time,” flaming Carleton’s feminist and entrepreneurial streak. Proof is her own brainchild Literati Spirits, a vodka for “book lovers and spirit enthusiasts” with its very own Sipping Society for “barflies and bookworms.”
While the hotel is luxurious, the month the sisters share cooped up in a deluxe suite is far from a vacation – with the exception of escapism in the dark hours of the night.
Rosemary is the one who followed her dreams: became a lawyer, watched over Cinnamon in Manhattan, married, and took a job in London. Then, finds out she’s pregnant with twins, diagnosed in her eighth month with a potentially dangerous condition (preeclampsia), so she’s ordered complete bedrest. Her husband has yet to make it across the pond to be there for her. Feeling lonely, emotional, and scared, she summons Cinnamon in her hungover state knowing she’ll come running.
Cinnamon is there for her, a dramatic role reversal, but she does slip out of their suite when Rosie is finally asleep. She heads downstairs and picks up Ada’s cocktail book on her way to the famous bar, where Joe is on night duty. From there, Ada’s story unravels, drink-by-drink.
Another writer could have crafted this layered novel with far more bitters, since the two sisters are each at a crossroads in their lives having dealt healthily (Rosie) or not with a shared, tragic loss. That doesn’t seem to fit Carleton’s style.
As a Broadway producer, she’s won three Tony Awards for the musicals Hamilton, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Moulin Rouge. For the past five years, at the behest of Prince Albert II of Monaco, she’s been honoring the arts and legacy of one of the most graceful, beloved actresses of the fifties, the prince’s mother, Grace Kelly, through her work on the Princess Grace Foundation – USA.
The easygoing prose, glitzy, sharp bantering, garnished with sexual innuendos and romantic tension might lull you into thinking the novel doesn’t raise some serious issues – grief, guilt, blame, shame, losing your way. The reading is so pleasurable you could gulp down all 300+ pages in one escapist sitting. “I always imagined reaching people,” says Cinnamon reflecting on Ada, “with my words.” Her former bookish self makes its way into the literary cat-and-mouse game she’s playing with dreamy, gentlemanly, and caring Christopher Clarke she stumbles into.
Carleton likes the whimsical. Whether it be naming the two sisters to evoke their parents’ bakery, or featuring some of the names Ada invented for her “delectable” cocktails like Hanky Panky, Ladies’ Blush, Big Boy Cocktail, Damn the Weather, and Whizz Doodle.
A bit of history to better appreciate Ada’s place in history. The Savoy, overlooking the Thames River, was built in 1889. In 2010, its three-year $350 million renovation was completed, staying true to its original Art Deco design with a Lalique glass-looking “black marble” fountain and “stained-glass dome” towering over the elegant dining room. Modern technological necessities were added along with more classic touches.
Come take a look at this birds-eye-view video narrated by hotel archivist Susan Scott. She’s the first person Carleton acknowledges, for her “intrepid” knowledge of Ada’s story:
https://youtu.be/P_QEjMQFHLk
The Savoy sits beside the Savoy Theatre where Gilbert & Sullivan debuted, today featuring musicals like Paddington, Pretty Woman, and Dreamgirls. One man was behind establishing both: theater showman and innovator Richard D’Oyly Carte, who brought his own head-turning, flamboyant flair to the West End of London.
Sufficiently self-aware, the sister who gave up her dreams has harsh words for herself: “vapor girl” translated as partying, drinking, having one night stands. “Witty barbs are pretty much my only occupation,” she admits. Her self-destructive behaviors are aimed at anesthetizing her deep emotional pain. Rosemary sought therapy. We see how two different approaches resulted in two dramatically different outcomes.
Joe, unknowingly or perhaps not, comes to Cinnamon’s rescue, playing a center-stage role in her growing fascination with probing why Ada was shut out of history. The moody prose heightens when Cinnamon searches for Christopher, the best person to hear and do something about what Joe is saying, but mysteriously is nowhere to be found. Spiked by a potent belief that “a man can take everything from you.”
All the luxury in the world, can’t beat the impact of the messaging beneath the swanky façade and alluring cocktails. This literary drink is strong.
Self-discovery spiced with a mix of hanky panky, mystery, history, and sisterhood (London; present-day): Even if you’re not inclined to toast the town with a cocktail on New Year’s Eve or some other celebratory time, you’ll drink up Brisa Carleton’s deliciously entertaining story splashed with a good share of pick-you-ups, served with a twist.
Have you stood in your own way of going after what you’ve always wanted to do?
Could staying a month at one of the world’s grandest (and earliest) 5-star luxury hotels shake things up enough for you? The way it does for sisters Cinnamon and Rosemary who depend on each other in the Last Call at the Savoy.
Carleton’s “flair for the dramatic” neatly sets her page-turning story at London’s The Savoy hotel including its American Bar, a legendary “place of ghosts and magic.” Poured with famous guests such as Winston Churchill, Claude Monet, Mark Twain, J. M. Barrie, Charlie Chaplin, Harry Selfridge, and George Bernard Shaw. (Some suites named for other notables.)
Other characters that enhance with a punch are fictional “sexy historian” who’s a literary sensation Christopher Clarke, and Joe, a barman whose shift comes alive at midnight, infusing cocktail-by-cocktail intrigue about the “world’s first celebrity female mixologist” who stirred things up from 1903 to 1925 with her intoxicating concoctions and attentive, lively personality: Ada Coleman, known as Coley to her spirit followers.
Ada haunts this deftly written historical mystery when younger sister (Cinnamon) discovers Coley’s cocktail recipes recorded in The Savoy Cocktail Book she wrote in 1830, still printed today, and then discovers someone else’s name, Harry Craddock, is credited as the author.
Why was Ada written out of history? How and why was Cinnamon holding a copy of the spirit book in her hand at The Savoy? What brought her and Rosemary from Manhattan to London in the first place? Why do writers have a special place in Cinnamon’s heart? How’s that tied to Brisa Carleton?
Let’s start with “Ada’s tenacity.” “The way she touched so many lives from her perch behind this one, special bar in its most incredible time,” flaming Carleton’s feminist and entrepreneurial streak. Proof is her own brainchild Literati Spirits, a vodka for “book lovers and spirit enthusiasts” with its very own Sipping Society for “barflies and bookworms.”
While the hotel is luxurious, the month the sisters share cooped up in a deluxe suite is far from a vacation – with the exception of escapism in the dark hours of the night.
Rosemary is the one who followed her dreams: became a lawyer, watched over Cinnamon in Manhattan, married, and took a job in London. Then, finds out she’s pregnant with twins, diagnosed in her eighth month with a potentially dangerous condition (preeclampsia), so she’s ordered complete bedrest. Her husband has yet to make it across the pond to be there for her. Feeling lonely, emotional, and scared, she summons Cinnamon in her hungover state knowing she’ll come running.
Cinnamon is there for her, a dramatic role reversal, but she does slip out of their suite when Rosie is finally asleep. She heads downstairs and picks up Ada’s cocktail book on her way to the famous bar, where Joe is on night duty. From there, Ada’s story unravels, drink-by-drink.
Another writer could have crafted this layered novel with far more bitters, since the two sisters are each at a crossroads in their lives having dealt healthily (Rosie) or not with a shared, tragic loss. That doesn’t seem to fit Carleton’s style.
As a Broadway producer, she’s won three Tony Awards for the musicals Hamilton, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and Moulin Rouge. For the past five years, at the behest of Prince Albert II of Monaco, she’s been honoring the arts and legacy of one of the most graceful, beloved actresses of the fifties, the prince’s mother, Grace Kelly, through her work on the Princess Grace Foundation – USA.
The easygoing prose, glitzy, sharp bantering, garnished with sexual innuendos and romantic tension might lull you into thinking the novel doesn’t raise some serious issues – grief, guilt, blame, shame, losing your way. The reading is so pleasurable you could gulp down all 300+ pages in one escapist sitting. “I always imagined reaching people,” says Cinnamon reflecting on Ada, “with my words.” Her former bookish self makes its way into the literary cat-and-mouse game she’s playing with dreamy, gentlemanly, and caring Christopher Clarke she stumbles into.
Carleton likes the whimsical. Whether it be naming the two sisters to evoke their parents’ bakery, or featuring some of the names Ada invented for her “delectable” cocktails like Hanky Panky, Ladies’ Blush, Big Boy Cocktail, Damn the Weather, and Whizz Doodle.
A bit of history to better appreciate Ada’s place in history. The Savoy, overlooking the Thames River, was built in 1889. In 2010, its three-year $350 million renovation was completed, staying true to its original Art Deco design with a Lalique glass-looking “black marble” fountain and “stained-glass dome” towering over the elegant dining room. Modern technological necessities were added along with more classic touches.
Come take a look at this birds-eye-view video narrated by hotel archivist Susan Scott. She’s the first person Carleton acknowledges, for her “intrepid” knowledge of Ada’s story:
https://youtu.be/P_QEjMQFHLk
The Savoy sits beside the Savoy Theatre where Gilbert & Sullivan debuted, today featuring musicals like Paddington, Pretty Woman, and Dreamgirls. One man was behind establishing both: theater showman and innovator Richard D’Oyly Carte, who brought his own head-turning, flamboyant flair to the West End of London.
Sufficiently self-aware, the sister who gave up her dreams has harsh words for herself: “vapor girl” translated as partying, drinking, having one night stands. “Witty barbs are pretty much my only occupation,” she admits. Her self-destructive behaviors are aimed at anesthetizing her deep emotional pain. Rosemary sought therapy. We see how two different approaches resulted in two dramatically different outcomes.
Joe, unknowingly or perhaps not, comes to Cinnamon’s rescue, playing a center-stage role in her growing fascination with probing why Ada was shut out of history. The moody prose heightens when Cinnamon searches for Christopher, the best person to hear and do something about what Joe is saying, but mysteriously is nowhere to be found. Spiked by a potent belief that “a man can take everything from you.”
All the luxury in the world, can’t beat the impact of the messaging beneath the swanky façade and alluring cocktails. This literary drink is strong.
October 17, 2025
Cinnamon Scott was once a promising young writer, but she stopped writing after her parents tragically died—a loss she seems to blame on herself and her writing. In the decade since the accident, she’s been living a directionless, socialite lifestyle. Her older sister, Rosemary, meanwhile, has done what all responsible older sisters do: she’s gone through therapy, graduated from law school, landed a job at a law firm, gotten married, and is now expecting twins while preparing to relocate to her firm’s London office.
While her new apartment isn’t ready, Rosemary stays at the Savoy Hotel—the same place the sisters once stayed with their parents after the family sold their bakery chain and became wealthy, shortly before the tragedy that cut their parents’ lives short. Rosemary, now on bed rest, asks Cinnamon to stay with her until her husband arrives.
During her time at the Savoy, Cinnamon spends long hours at the American Bar, where a charming bartender introduces her to the story of Ada “Coley” Coleman—a pioneering female bartender who worked there for a quarter of a century in the early 20th century. Coley served countless celebrity patrons and created several of the Savoy’s signature cocktails, yet her name is conspicuously missing from The Savoy Cocktail Book. Determined to uncover Coley’s legacy and correct this historical injustice, Cinnamon is also forced to confront her own past, present, and future.
I always applaud historical fiction that shines a light on important women whose legacies deserve to be remembered, and it was fascinating to learn about Ada Coleman. Not much is known about her, but the Savoy’s archivist, Susan Scott (a nice touch, giving her surname to the novel’s protagonist—I noticed!), seems equally passionate about the topic. Women, and especially queer women, have too often been erased from the historical record, and when documentation is scarce, it becomes the novelist’s job to fill in the gaps. Brisa Carleton did her best with the information available, and her background in theatre and in spirits business certainly shines through.
However, there were several reasons the book didn’t work for me. I generally enjoy flawed characters, but Cinnamon rubbed me the wrong way. She wallows in self-pity for over a decade, and even when she comes to help her sister, she spends most of her time either sleeping or sitting at the bar—clearly struggling with a drinking problem. The romance between Cinnamon and Kit also fell flat for me; it felt heavy-handed. I was told what they felt, but I didn’t feel it. Kit himself seemed bland, and I spotted a few red flags.
There were also far too many references to luxury fashion brands. Personally, I don’t care that Cinnamon is wearing a Dior skirt or that her sister owns a designer dress—though I can understand why Gucci was mentioned in the book. At times, certain comments about Brits felt condescending from an overly American perspective.
While this book wasn’t the right fit for me, I can see it appealing to readers who love Broadway and West End theatre, have an interest in cocktails, luxury fashion, and hotel culture, and want to learn about the fascinating history of Ada Coleman.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advance copy — all thoughts and opinions are my own.
While her new apartment isn’t ready, Rosemary stays at the Savoy Hotel—the same place the sisters once stayed with their parents after the family sold their bakery chain and became wealthy, shortly before the tragedy that cut their parents’ lives short. Rosemary, now on bed rest, asks Cinnamon to stay with her until her husband arrives.
During her time at the Savoy, Cinnamon spends long hours at the American Bar, where a charming bartender introduces her to the story of Ada “Coley” Coleman—a pioneering female bartender who worked there for a quarter of a century in the early 20th century. Coley served countless celebrity patrons and created several of the Savoy’s signature cocktails, yet her name is conspicuously missing from The Savoy Cocktail Book. Determined to uncover Coley’s legacy and correct this historical injustice, Cinnamon is also forced to confront her own past, present, and future.
I always applaud historical fiction that shines a light on important women whose legacies deserve to be remembered, and it was fascinating to learn about Ada Coleman. Not much is known about her, but the Savoy’s archivist, Susan Scott (a nice touch, giving her surname to the novel’s protagonist—I noticed!), seems equally passionate about the topic. Women, and especially queer women, have too often been erased from the historical record, and when documentation is scarce, it becomes the novelist’s job to fill in the gaps. Brisa Carleton did her best with the information available, and her background in theatre and in spirits business certainly shines through.
However, there were several reasons the book didn’t work for me. I generally enjoy flawed characters, but Cinnamon rubbed me the wrong way. She wallows in self-pity for over a decade, and even when she comes to help her sister, she spends most of her time either sleeping or sitting at the bar—clearly struggling with a drinking problem. The romance between Cinnamon and Kit also fell flat for me; it felt heavy-handed. I was told what they felt, but I didn’t feel it. Kit himself seemed bland, and I spotted a few red flags.
There were also far too many references to luxury fashion brands. Personally, I don’t care that Cinnamon is wearing a Dior skirt or that her sister owns a designer dress—though I can understand why Gucci was mentioned in the book. At times, certain comments about Brits felt condescending from an overly American perspective.
While this book wasn’t the right fit for me, I can see it appealing to readers who love Broadway and West End theatre, have an interest in cocktails, luxury fashion, and hotel culture, and want to learn about the fascinating history of Ada Coleman.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advance copy — all thoughts and opinions are my own.
November 5, 2025
Last Call at the Savoy lovingly amplifies the little known story of the world's first celebrity female mixologist, Ada Coleman, by making it the inspiration of this tale's protagonist to uncover the truth of the creator of iconic cocktails and perhaps at the same time, rediscover her love of writing once more. This may not go down as a favorite read of the year, but I certainly appreciated its celebration of Ada and how it cleverly places a story within a story.
I truly wish I could say I loved this one, but I do find parts to appreciate. So let's start there! And primarily, let's dive into the story-within-a-story aspect. For years, Cinnamon has been consumed with misplaced guilt over her parents' death. Whilst staying at The Savoy hotel she finds a friendly bartender, Joe, who introduces her to the forgotten history of the world's first mixologist, Ada Coleman. Whenever Joe begins his lessons in lost history the narration at first reads like a flashback to the days of Ada, but it's actually Cinnamon taking what she hears and recreating as a story in her mind. For the last years, Cinnamon has retreated from her passion in writing, and in a way Ada is saving her. Suddenly the words of story form in her mind, yearning to become a written book. We witness Cinnamon's passion reignite and take the first steps back into a world she has tried to forget but she was always meant for.
Cinnamon was initially a tough character to relate and thus sympathize with. Early on there is a short moment where she makes an internal disparaging remark towards a character's appearance, and it's just that sort of thing that can make warming up to a protagonist a bit of a hurdle. If I could describe her as song it would be "Elizabeth Taylor" by Taylor Swift. A beautiful, poignant story of parallel that the singer can relate to, but perhaps not completely the general audience. But eventually, I'd say 60% in, so much changed in that regard. I went from not having the best read on Cinnamon to understanding her; from distant to protective. I wanted those around her pestering with their question of her writing to leave her alone. It may have been year and years since her parents' deaths, but that guilt and grief lingered and froze her when it comes to her passion in writing. She needed to work on herself, but first she needed to acknowledge that help was needed. Much of this journey isn't just her rediscovering her passion she placed under lock and key, it's also about reconciling with her grief and letting go of her guilt. She became a character to truly root for.
I really enjoyed the middle to last acts of this narrative. I locked in completely, but then became a bit lost in its ending. It read a bit too abrupt for me, but I still take with me much I still enjoyed.
This may not have been quite to my taste, but I appreciated very much getting to know the history of Ada Coleman.
Thank you BookSparks, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
____
original immediate post-reading thoughts
Not sure of the rating, it’s either 3 or 3.5, I suppose. It took me quite a while to truly engage with the story, but once I did it all zoomed by. I really liked the final act, minus the abrupt ending. The protagonist was initially difficult to relate to, but eventually I found myself sympathizing with her.
Mixed feelings overall, but it’s a well written work!
Will flesh out my full review and decide on rating then.
I truly wish I could say I loved this one, but I do find parts to appreciate. So let's start there! And primarily, let's dive into the story-within-a-story aspect. For years, Cinnamon has been consumed with misplaced guilt over her parents' death. Whilst staying at The Savoy hotel she finds a friendly bartender, Joe, who introduces her to the forgotten history of the world's first mixologist, Ada Coleman. Whenever Joe begins his lessons in lost history the narration at first reads like a flashback to the days of Ada, but it's actually Cinnamon taking what she hears and recreating as a story in her mind. For the last years, Cinnamon has retreated from her passion in writing, and in a way Ada is saving her. Suddenly the words of story form in her mind, yearning to become a written book. We witness Cinnamon's passion reignite and take the first steps back into a world she has tried to forget but she was always meant for.
Cinnamon was initially a tough character to relate and thus sympathize with. Early on there is a short moment where she makes an internal disparaging remark towards a character's appearance, and it's just that sort of thing that can make warming up to a protagonist a bit of a hurdle. If I could describe her as song it would be "Elizabeth Taylor" by Taylor Swift. A beautiful, poignant story of parallel that the singer can relate to, but perhaps not completely the general audience. But eventually, I'd say 60% in, so much changed in that regard. I went from not having the best read on Cinnamon to understanding her; from distant to protective. I wanted those around her pestering with their question of her writing to leave her alone. It may have been year and years since her parents' deaths, but that guilt and grief lingered and froze her when it comes to her passion in writing. She needed to work on herself, but first she needed to acknowledge that help was needed. Much of this journey isn't just her rediscovering her passion she placed under lock and key, it's also about reconciling with her grief and letting go of her guilt. She became a character to truly root for.
I really enjoyed the middle to last acts of this narrative. I locked in completely, but then became a bit lost in its ending. It read a bit too abrupt for me, but I still take with me much I still enjoyed.
This may not have been quite to my taste, but I appreciated very much getting to know the history of Ada Coleman.
Thank you BookSparks, Grand Central Publishing, and NetGalley for this complimentary eARC, I leave this honest review voluntarily.
____
original immediate post-reading thoughts
Not sure of the rating, it’s either 3 or 3.5, I suppose. It took me quite a while to truly engage with the story, but once I did it all zoomed by. I really liked the final act, minus the abrupt ending. The protagonist was initially difficult to relate to, but eventually I found myself sympathizing with her.
Mixed feelings overall, but it’s a well written work!
Will flesh out my full review and decide on rating then.
November 23, 2025
Cinnamon Scott has issues. She has woken up in someone else’s bed, and a hangover is about to kick in. The more pressing concern is that she is about to miss her flight to London to help her very pregnant sister, who is now on bedrest. As per her usual, Cinnamon gets herself where she needs to be, dragging her problems along like a carry-on that needs to be repaired.
Once Cinnamon and Rosemary --- their parents owned a bakery and sold it for a fortune --- are reunited and checked into London’s glamorous and decadent Savoy Hotel, the settling in begins and Cinnamon becomes restless. While her sister rests, she heads down to get a drink at the hotel’s American Bar, where American-style cocktails are popularized for a London crowd.
As she drinks away her boredom and worries about Rosie, Cinnamon meets a late-night bartender who tells her about the establishment’s first female bartender, Ada Coleman, who crafted many of the cocktails she’s imbibing. An aspiring writer who hasn’t written since the tragic death of her parents --- for which she blames herself --- Cinnamon longs to learn more about Ada and why she’s not mentioned anywhere in the history of the hotel, especially in the famous Savoy Cocktail handbook.
As Rosemary's pregnancy carries on, Cinnamon finds solace not only in the bar but in the company of a handsome historian who is researching the hotel. While Cinnamon might have suppressed her love of writing and literature, others do remember her talent. When an ex-boyfriend and a new author arrives at the Savoy for a book reading and launch, Cinnamon’s world, which has been on the brink for years, finally collapses.
I love that Brisa Carleton’s debut novel takes place at a hotel. It makes you feel as if the characters’ problems, while big, are still in transit and not insurmountable. The sisters are dealing with job changes, relocating to a new country, divorce, unresolved grief and more. There are a few unexplained encounters that offer Cinnamon the courage to finally start dealing with her troubled past and the grief she’s carrying. I like that these experiences go unexplained. It’s as if they’re there to help her find her way, not explain how to get there.
I was fascinated by the history of the Savoy, and especially by Ada Coleman, who made headlines, brought people to the bar, and was a favorite among patrons. Her story, forgotten over time and rewritten by the men with whom she worked, helps Cinnamon focus while wandering around and wondering about her own place in this world. It allows her to begin coping with the massive feelings of loss for her parents, her writing career, and a future that could have been but wasn’t.
LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY is a wonderful book. It’s a lovely story of people finding themselves, leaning on others, and loving those individuals who pull us through when we need them most.
Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski
Once Cinnamon and Rosemary --- their parents owned a bakery and sold it for a fortune --- are reunited and checked into London’s glamorous and decadent Savoy Hotel, the settling in begins and Cinnamon becomes restless. While her sister rests, she heads down to get a drink at the hotel’s American Bar, where American-style cocktails are popularized for a London crowd.
As she drinks away her boredom and worries about Rosie, Cinnamon meets a late-night bartender who tells her about the establishment’s first female bartender, Ada Coleman, who crafted many of the cocktails she’s imbibing. An aspiring writer who hasn’t written since the tragic death of her parents --- for which she blames herself --- Cinnamon longs to learn more about Ada and why she’s not mentioned anywhere in the history of the hotel, especially in the famous Savoy Cocktail handbook.
As Rosemary's pregnancy carries on, Cinnamon finds solace not only in the bar but in the company of a handsome historian who is researching the hotel. While Cinnamon might have suppressed her love of writing and literature, others do remember her talent. When an ex-boyfriend and a new author arrives at the Savoy for a book reading and launch, Cinnamon’s world, which has been on the brink for years, finally collapses.
I love that Brisa Carleton’s debut novel takes place at a hotel. It makes you feel as if the characters’ problems, while big, are still in transit and not insurmountable. The sisters are dealing with job changes, relocating to a new country, divorce, unresolved grief and more. There are a few unexplained encounters that offer Cinnamon the courage to finally start dealing with her troubled past and the grief she’s carrying. I like that these experiences go unexplained. It’s as if they’re there to help her find her way, not explain how to get there.
I was fascinated by the history of the Savoy, and especially by Ada Coleman, who made headlines, brought people to the bar, and was a favorite among patrons. Her story, forgotten over time and rewritten by the men with whom she worked, helps Cinnamon focus while wandering around and wondering about her own place in this world. It allows her to begin coping with the massive feelings of loss for her parents, her writing career, and a future that could have been but wasn’t.
LAST CALL AT THE SAVOY is a wonderful book. It’s a lovely story of people finding themselves, leaning on others, and loving those individuals who pull us through when we need them most.
Reviewed by Amy Gwiazdowski
December 4, 2025
Thank you to BookSparks, Brisa Carleton, and Grand Central Publishing for the gifted copy.
I adore when historical fiction shines a light on women whose stories have been overlooked — and Last Call at the Savoy does exactly that. Brisa Carleton brings to life Ada Coleman, the first female bartender at London’s famed Savoy Hotel, and gives readers a front-row seat to her extraordinary yet forgotten legacy. 🍸✨
🍸 What I Loved
Carleton’s choice to weave Ada’s story into a contemporary narrative was clever and emotional. 🥹 I especially loved the glimpses into early 1900s London society, with real-life cameos from George Bernard Shaw (Pygmalion) and J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan). 🤩
These moments felt rich and cinematic like stepping back into a gilded age filled with wit, resilience, and the quiet rebellion of women breaking barriers. 🔥
🍸 What Didn’t Work for Me
While Ada’s chapters were compelling, the modern storyline didn’t hit the same note. The present-day protagonist, Cinnamon (yes, that’s really her name), often came across as self-centered and distracted. 😬 Luckily, her sister and Ada’s sections provided enough warmth and balance to keep me engaged. 😉
🍸 What to Expect
📖 A dual timeline narrative
🇬🇧 Historic London charm and barroom secrets
📜 Hidden women’s history and perseverance
💔 A tender exploration of grief and self-discovery
☕ Accessible writing with emotional depth
🍸 Romance Factor
The romance subplot was light and secondary, and honestly, not the book’s strongest point. 😓 This story shines more as a tribute to female ambition and the art of reclaiming forgotten histories.
🍸 Do I Recommend It?
Yes, especially if you love historical fiction that spotlights trailblazing women, atmospheric London settings, and stories that blend past and present with emotional nuance. 🖤
🍸 Mood: 🥺 Bittersweet | 💗 Empowering | ☺️ Quietly elegant
🍸 Read if you like: dual timelines, women’s history, bar culture, and redemption arcs
I adore when historical fiction shines a light on women whose stories have been overlooked — and Last Call at the Savoy does exactly that. Brisa Carleton brings to life Ada Coleman, the first female bartender at London’s famed Savoy Hotel, and gives readers a front-row seat to her extraordinary yet forgotten legacy. 🍸✨
🍸 What I Loved
Carleton’s choice to weave Ada’s story into a contemporary narrative was clever and emotional. 🥹 I especially loved the glimpses into early 1900s London society, with real-life cameos from George Bernard Shaw (Pygmalion) and J.M. Barrie (Peter Pan). 🤩
These moments felt rich and cinematic like stepping back into a gilded age filled with wit, resilience, and the quiet rebellion of women breaking barriers. 🔥
🍸 What Didn’t Work for Me
While Ada’s chapters were compelling, the modern storyline didn’t hit the same note. The present-day protagonist, Cinnamon (yes, that’s really her name), often came across as self-centered and distracted. 😬 Luckily, her sister and Ada’s sections provided enough warmth and balance to keep me engaged. 😉
🍸 What to Expect
📖 A dual timeline narrative
🇬🇧 Historic London charm and barroom secrets
📜 Hidden women’s history and perseverance
💔 A tender exploration of grief and self-discovery
☕ Accessible writing with emotional depth
🍸 Romance Factor
The romance subplot was light and secondary, and honestly, not the book’s strongest point. 😓 This story shines more as a tribute to female ambition and the art of reclaiming forgotten histories.
🍸 Do I Recommend It?
Yes, especially if you love historical fiction that spotlights trailblazing women, atmospheric London settings, and stories that blend past and present with emotional nuance. 🖤
🍸 Mood: 🥺 Bittersweet | 💗 Empowering | ☺️ Quietly elegant
🍸 Read if you like: dual timelines, women’s history, bar culture, and redemption arcs
October 20, 2025
I enjoy historical fiction especially when it includes people forgotten or erased through time who made an impact or contributed good things to society. Ada Coleman was the first female head bartender at the Savoy Hotel in London. She created all kinds of unique cocktails which eventually were tabulated and published but under the compiler's name, a man. So when Cinnamon Scott and her sister, Rosemary, who's having a rough pregnancy, show up at the Savory, Cinnamon's natural curiosity and her interest in writing perk up the former New York City party girl who is helping her sister during her difficult pregnancy, It also happens another guess knows about Ada which adds to Cinnamon's leaving her breezy, silly ways and get beyond herself. The story is more character driven though as not much is known about Ada (as the author's note at the end points out), so the themes of sisterly relationships, finding home and following one's heart. As one reviewer noted, the "plots feels a bit contrived" but the author drives action through supporting characters such as "Kit" (a well known author who adds a touch of romance) and Cinnamon's silly New York City friend who calls and visits and adds comic relief. Rosemary prods Cinnamon to achieve lost goals due to an awful event when she was in college that drove her from pursuing writing. And then there's Ada who being written out of history by a man resonates today with DEI on the horizon. This is just an all-around decent book (not top shelf as one review wrote) but very worthy of a read. Don't miss it. Highly recommend. NOTE: I listened to this excellently narrated book. I want to thank NetGalley and Grand Central Publishing for allowing me to listen to this fine book.
November 15, 2025
Thank you, @booksparks, for the gifted ARC and @hachetteaudio for the gifted ALC!
Narrator: Christine Lakin
Rundown:
✨️writer on the rise
✨️tragedy
✨️pregnant sister
✨️legendary hotel
✨️Ada Coleman
✨️famous cocktail recipes
✨️historical fiction/women's fiction
Synopsis ✒️
Cinnamon was an aspiring writer when tragedy strikes. She now fills her days with partying and other distractions. When her sister, pregnant with twins, goes on bedrest, Cinnamon rushes to her side. She stays at The Savoy and fills some of her time by frequenting the American bar there. She befriends the late night bartender who tells her the little known story of Ada Coleman, the woman who crafted the recipes in The Savoy's famous handbook. Cinnamon draws inspiration from her story and a handsome historian and learns to face her demons.
Thoughts 💭
This is my first time listening to Christine Lakin narrating, and she did not disappoint! Her voice was so smooth, and I was so engrossed in the story that it just flew by.
There were so many wonderful things going on in this story, and it's the layers that really appealed to me. I loved all the different characters and their complexities. If we start off with Cinnamon, she has a past that haunts her that she can't move on from. This plays into all her relationships, including the one with her sister. While they are close, Cinnamon is not a fan of her sister's absent husband. We also have the mysterious bar tender, a historian, and Cinnamon's ex. I love learning about Ada Coleman and her forgotten history. All these moving parts are beautifully woven together in a plot that involves the past and present. My favorite stories are the ones that include some history. It was really well done. Add this one to your list of books to read!
Narrator: Christine Lakin
Rundown:
✨️writer on the rise
✨️tragedy
✨️pregnant sister
✨️legendary hotel
✨️Ada Coleman
✨️famous cocktail recipes
✨️historical fiction/women's fiction
Synopsis ✒️
Cinnamon was an aspiring writer when tragedy strikes. She now fills her days with partying and other distractions. When her sister, pregnant with twins, goes on bedrest, Cinnamon rushes to her side. She stays at The Savoy and fills some of her time by frequenting the American bar there. She befriends the late night bartender who tells her the little known story of Ada Coleman, the woman who crafted the recipes in The Savoy's famous handbook. Cinnamon draws inspiration from her story and a handsome historian and learns to face her demons.
Thoughts 💭
This is my first time listening to Christine Lakin narrating, and she did not disappoint! Her voice was so smooth, and I was so engrossed in the story that it just flew by.
There were so many wonderful things going on in this story, and it's the layers that really appealed to me. I loved all the different characters and their complexities. If we start off with Cinnamon, she has a past that haunts her that she can't move on from. This plays into all her relationships, including the one with her sister. While they are close, Cinnamon is not a fan of her sister's absent husband. We also have the mysterious bar tender, a historian, and Cinnamon's ex. I love learning about Ada Coleman and her forgotten history. All these moving parts are beautifully woven together in a plot that involves the past and present. My favorite stories are the ones that include some history. It was really well done. Add this one to your list of books to read!
October 28, 2025
I big thank you to NetGalley and Hatchet Audio for the audio-ARC of this book!
There were things in this book I really enjoyed, but other things that really didn't work for me. Although this book wasn't a perfect, top read for me, I do think there are plenty of people who would enjoy this book.
First what worked for me... the narrator on this was fantastic. Even with the single-narration, this worked wonderfully and was very easy and enjoyable to listen to. I would look for this narrator again on other audio books. I also really enjoyed the concept and the setting for this story. The way the author weaved together the current day Savoy and the stories from history was charming and worked nicely as an easily accessible historical fiction. Joe as the bartender was great. Even though I figured out the ending early on, I liked the way it was all put together.
That said, Cinnamon as the main character didn't work well for me. On the one hand, I understood that she wasn't designed to necessarily be likable. She was a lost soul dealing with some horrible things that happened to her. However, I really wish that we had seen more of the core of who Cinnamon was deep down pre-tragedy. For me, it was somewhat hard to reconcile the vapid party-girl and the way she talked / conducted herself with the person that the book told us she used to be. I wish you had seen more of her true personality shine through her struggles. For the same reasons, I couldn't really buy into the romance with Kit - because from what she was showing, it didn't make sense for him to be so enamored with her.
There were things in this book I really enjoyed, but other things that really didn't work for me. Although this book wasn't a perfect, top read for me, I do think there are plenty of people who would enjoy this book.
First what worked for me... the narrator on this was fantastic. Even with the single-narration, this worked wonderfully and was very easy and enjoyable to listen to. I would look for this narrator again on other audio books. I also really enjoyed the concept and the setting for this story. The way the author weaved together the current day Savoy and the stories from history was charming and worked nicely as an easily accessible historical fiction. Joe as the bartender was great. Even though I figured out the ending early on, I liked the way it was all put together.
That said, Cinnamon as the main character didn't work well for me. On the one hand, I understood that she wasn't designed to necessarily be likable. She was a lost soul dealing with some horrible things that happened to her. However, I really wish that we had seen more of the core of who Cinnamon was deep down pre-tragedy. For me, it was somewhat hard to reconcile the vapid party-girl and the way she talked / conducted herself with the person that the book told us she used to be. I wish you had seen more of her true personality shine through her struggles. For the same reasons, I couldn't really buy into the romance with Kit - because from what she was showing, it didn't make sense for him to be so enamored with her.
November 18, 2025
What a delightful surprise this debut was! Brisa Carleton skillfully intertwines the threads of Cinnamon Scott’s contemporary struggles with her unearthing of Ada Coleman's erased past as the pioneer mixologist.
The historical elements in the book are rich and well-researched. The story is set in the Savoy Hotel in London, a place steeped in history, where Cinnamon flies to care for her pregnant sister. The hotel houses the famous American Bar, where Cinnamon meets the charming, elderly late-shift bartender, who gives her a history lesson on Ada Coleman, the woman who handcrafted the recipes for the Savoy Cocktail Book in the 1920s.
Like a finely mixed drink, there are tastes of sweetness, a slight twist of bitterness, and a lot of boldness to balance it all out in the narrative. The hint of romance was fun, and I loved the suggestion of the paranormal. However, the story primarily focuses on Cinnamon rediscovering her strength and motivation as she overcomes her trauma and self-doubt. Hearing Ada’s story, how her work was stolen by men in history, emboldened her, not only to not let Ada be forgotten but to stand up for herself as well.
🎧 Sharing my reading time with the audiobook was wonderful. Christine Lakin’s narration was excellent. She added British accents and distinct voices to the characters, resulting in a refreshing listening experience. I felt she did an exceptional job with Cinnamon, displaying her resistance at first and then her growth throughout the story.
Thank you @grandcentralpub and @brisacarleton for this #gifted book. Thank you @hachetteaudio for the gifted audiobook via #NetGalley.
December 4, 2025
Last Call at the Savoy was such a delightful read. With its dual timeline, this story takes place in London in the early 1900’s and present day.
Cinnamon Scott dreamed of being a famous writer but after the loss of her parents ten years ago, she has been struggling with guilt and finding her place. Currently living in New York city, she has been spending her time partying. When her sister Rosemary, pregnant with twins, is put on bedrest while her home is being remodeled, Cinnamon leaves her life behind and flies to London where she joins her at the historic Savoy Hotel.
Spending her days couped up inside a hotel room, Cinnamon is getting antsy, so she begins to explore the hotel at night. She comes across The American Bar where she meets the night bartender, Joe. She and Joe develop a kinship as he tells her the story of Ada “Coley” Coleman, the first female bartender and curator the cocktails inside the famous Savoy Cocktail book but whose name is unknown and never got any of the credit.
There are so many pieces that make this story so special. The sisterly bond between Cinnamon and Rosemary, Cinnamon’s bond with Joe and the story of Ada are just a few. I loved that Ada’s portion of the story is based on real life. I love good historical fiction, but I find it even more fascinating when I have the chance to learn about a real-life historical character as well.
Thank you to Hachette Audio and Grand Central Publishing for the ALC of this book. The production was very well done and the narrator, Christine Lakin was phenomenal. The way she read and brough the characters to life, I could have listened to her for days!
Cinnamon Scott dreamed of being a famous writer but after the loss of her parents ten years ago, she has been struggling with guilt and finding her place. Currently living in New York city, she has been spending her time partying. When her sister Rosemary, pregnant with twins, is put on bedrest while her home is being remodeled, Cinnamon leaves her life behind and flies to London where she joins her at the historic Savoy Hotel.
Spending her days couped up inside a hotel room, Cinnamon is getting antsy, so she begins to explore the hotel at night. She comes across The American Bar where she meets the night bartender, Joe. She and Joe develop a kinship as he tells her the story of Ada “Coley” Coleman, the first female bartender and curator the cocktails inside the famous Savoy Cocktail book but whose name is unknown and never got any of the credit.
There are so many pieces that make this story so special. The sisterly bond between Cinnamon and Rosemary, Cinnamon’s bond with Joe and the story of Ada are just a few. I loved that Ada’s portion of the story is based on real life. I love good historical fiction, but I find it even more fascinating when I have the chance to learn about a real-life historical character as well.
Thank you to Hachette Audio and Grand Central Publishing for the ALC of this book. The production was very well done and the narrator, Christine Lakin was phenomenal. The way she read and brough the characters to life, I could have listened to her for days!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 90 reviews