The Last Poem: A Novel

by Courtney Peppernell

From international bestselling author Courtney Peppernell comes The Last Poem , a heartfelt exploration of grief that follows celebrated poet Wren Paisley as she escapes to a new town where no one knows the life she is running from as she hopes to grieve the unexpected loss of her fiancee, find healing, and maybe even learn to love again.

Bestselling poet B.W. Paisley is grief-stricken and lost when her sun-kissed life is turned upside down by the unexpected loss of her fiancee, Lucy, in a fatal car crash that left a young bystander paralyzed. Unable to escape the media frenzy that swarms the brownstone they once shared, she drives across the country until she hits Everston, Colorado, a town she's never visited but feels unexplainably pulled to. Everston is charming, the people are kind, and, most importantly, no one knows who she is. Deciding to start anew, she changes her name, cuts her hair, and takes up residence in a crumbling old Victorian house, determined to renovate both the house and herself from the ground up.

It feels fortuitous – and a little dangerous – when she learns that the local library holds a weekly grief support group that reads, of all things, poetry. Hesitantly, she joins and slowly begins to build community with the other members, including Henry, a librarian mourning the loss of his brother, Emerson; a young woman recovering from a traumatic accident; and Olivia, a grieving reporter who gives her butterflies. Finally, she can breathe again.

But not for long.
 
As she grows closer to new friends and a possible new love, her past comes barreling back into focus. How long can she keep her old life in the rearview? Will she be able to build a new life in Everston, or will it all come crashing down when the truth finally comes to light?

Genres: Romance

400 pages, Paperback

Expected publication March 3, 2026

About the author

Courtney Peppernell is an acclaimed best-selling author from Australia, celebrated for her inspirational poetry collections, including the beloved Pillow Thoughts series, Watering the Soul, I Hope You Stay, Time Will Tell and more. With over two million sales worldwide, she continues to lead the forefront of today’s poetry genre. Courtney spends her days writing and working on many projects with her beloved dogs and chickens in tow. She hopes to continue exploring expression and the art of healing through stories, novels and poetry for years to come. Stay tuned for the latest releases from Courtney and her team!

Reviews

[Lucy · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Poem is a moving story which explores grief, in all its shapes and forms, and learning to love again.

Written from multiple character perspectives, to begin with I struggled to get into the story. However, by the end I was gripped and did two long sittings to finish the book! Equally heart warming and heart-breaking, I would highly recommend this book to everyone! The ending... very wholesome. I look forward to explore more of Courtney Peppernell's work.

Thank you to author, publisher and NetGalley for the copy of this book!

[Paradox · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the privilege of receiving an ARC for this book. I rate it 5 stars.

Some readers may find the theme of this book confronting and triggering. So, please proceed with caution. It is about loss and how it comes in different sizes and shapes. It is about grief and how it comes in waves, in different forms and in different moments. This book is about the perspectives of very different people and how they handle their loss and their grief in their own ways.

More importantly, this book is about found family and healing. On finding your way after the pain and gathering the broken pieces together. Of rising from the ashes.

The narration was easy to understand, making this book a straightforward read. The descriptive writing allowed me to recreate the town, people and scenarios in my head. The characters are ordinary people who could be a neighbour, a friend or someone you meet at the bus stop while you wait for the next bus. Ordinary people with ordinary lives, handling their grief and their guilt as best as they can with the help of people who understand their pain.

The overall progression of the story was slow and smooth, although I found the last few chapters more fast-paced in comparison. The buildup of the conclusion felt somewhat rushed before returning to the slower pace at the end.

This is a book that should be in your TBR list, even if you have yet to experience loss and grief, because it gives readers a perspective on the journey to healing and acceptance.

Thank you, Courtney, for this beautiful and heartfelt literature. This is something that will stay with me for a very long time.

[A.M.Bookaholic]

Thank you to the publisher for the opportunity to read The Last Poem. I DNF’d at 41%. The writing style didn’t fully connect with me — there was more telling than showing, which made it hard for me to become immersed in the characters. The multiple POV structure also didn’t work for me personally. With so many perspectives, the emotional connection felt spread thin, and I struggled to be fully invested in the characters’ journeys. The frequent narrator shifts interrupted the pacing and made the story feel a bit scattered, especially with such heavy themes of grief. Because the voices weren’t very distinct, the perspectives blended together rather than standing out in meaningful ways.
That said, I appreciated the different explorations of grief and the intention behind giving each character their own outlook on loss. While this book wasn’t the right fit for me, I believe readers who enjoy multi-POV stories centered on grief may connect with it more deeply.

[Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC of this upcoming novel, The Last Poem, and just now, I finished it. To say that I have no words is an understatement; to say that I want to say all the words is an understatement as well. I lost my dad two years ago this September. I feel his loss every day. I talk to my mom twice a day - when I get off work and then again before I go to bed. It’s a habit I started when I came home after staying with her for 5 days after dad left, and I just haven’t stopped doing it. I say all that to say this: I felt seen while reading this book. I could see and hear my mom reflected in these pages. While I have no siblings, I can imagine someone who has lost a sibling, whether to death or the chemical processes of their own brain, would also see themselves. Books are meant to be so much to so many people. That could be an escape, a hope, a mirror, and more.
I feel like I’m rambling. I loved this book. This book is a gift. Thank you for the opportunity to read it.

[readingatwork · Rating 4 out of 5]

This story beautifully explores the complexity of grief, the fear of losing the life before, and allowing space for growth and change after loss. The Last Poem showcases the randomness of life through complex characters that are easily understood. They are all attempting to find the new version of themself after suffering a loss in their lives and they lean on each other.

Courtney Peppernell weaves a compelling story that kept me interested even though it isn’t one of the genres usually read. I was sad when the story ended but loved the way it concluded.

Received from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[Skirmantė · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thanks to NetGalley for providing me with an e-ARC in exchange for an honest review!

The Last Poem explores grief and the journey of learning to love again, focusing on how new connections can help you navigate life after losing someone or something deeply important.

The story is told through multiple POVs, and the beginning was slow and difficult to get into. For me, the first third of the book was the most challenging to get into, while the final third was the most gripping and emotionally engaging.

Overall, the story felt bittersweet, both heartbreaking and heartwarming at the same time, and ultimately became a very wholesome and rewarding read.

[Nadia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I wasn’t expecting something like this when they sent me the book. I have just finished and I am I tears. Happy tears. For a person like me that have known grief very closely, it was a pleasure to read and see how the author show the raw of it. Grief is never easy but this book shows it all: the good, the bad, the hope.
To the author: congrats, it’s the first time I read a book that shows so clearly something sometimes complex.
To readers: be ready to connect with great characters and keep some tissues near.. just in case you get emotional like me.

[Jess Kitching · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully crafted novel about life, loss and finding love again, The Last Poem is the kind of book that both breaks your heart and heals it at the same time. I loved it! The writing is stunning, the pacing is poignant and the characters stay with you long after you finish it.

Brilliant!

[Literary Redhead · Rating 4 out of 5]

A poignant novel about loss, grief, and healing, set in a small Colorado mountain town. I love the characters, the story, and the spot-on depiction of how hard it is to grieve. A gem!

[Claire Teale · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book.

The story was like a warm hug when I most needed it. The characters were diverse and yet relatable and I truly enjoyed every moment I got to read this book. Easily 5 stars