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The Last Time We Saw Her
A long-buried disappearance and a long-lost treasure both reemerge over a summer in Portugal’s remote Azores in the new thriller from the critically acclaimed author of The Chateau.
Ten years ago, a group of teenage American summer campers came to São Miguel, an island in the lush and isolated Azores archipelago, for a rugged five-week hiking and heritage trip . But on what became the camp’s last summer in São Miguel, a clue surfaced related to a local legend of buried treasure. Lore had it that, along with vast monetary value, the treasure would turn everything in the finder’s life to gold. The summer devolved into a frenzied treasure hunt, and culminated in the disappearance of “it girl” camper, Sydney Azulay. Sydney was never seen again, rumored to have been murdered, and the treasure never found.
Now, a decade later, Sydney’s father is finally hosting a memorial service on São Miguel, and Sydney’s closest circle returns to honor her memory. Those who make the trip are her fellow campers, including Olivia, Sydney’s sister, once deemed the most likely to have been involved in Sydney’s disappearance; the aloof, handsome Aiden, the supervisor of their trip; and Jules, the counselor so close to her campers she was like another best friend. They’ve also all agreed to participate in a documentary probing what really happened to Sydney. But not everyone has innocent motives for returning to the island all these years later.
The group reunites in paradise and retraces their old haunts, hiking along crater lakes, strolling the town’s charming cobblestone streets, and submerging in thermal hot springs. But amidst the reunion, there are eerie sightings of a woman on the island who looks just like Sydney. And when the documentary filming reveals new, explosive truths, and fresh hints resurrect the tantalizing treasure hunt, the group begins to implode. Old feuds and betrayals reignite—and then one of them turns up dead.
Which means that a murderer has surfaced…again.
Ten years ago, a group of teenage American summer campers came to São Miguel, an island in the lush and isolated Azores archipelago, for a rugged five-week hiking and heritage trip . But on what became the camp’s last summer in São Miguel, a clue surfaced related to a local legend of buried treasure. Lore had it that, along with vast monetary value, the treasure would turn everything in the finder’s life to gold. The summer devolved into a frenzied treasure hunt, and culminated in the disappearance of “it girl” camper, Sydney Azulay. Sydney was never seen again, rumored to have been murdered, and the treasure never found.
Now, a decade later, Sydney’s father is finally hosting a memorial service on São Miguel, and Sydney’s closest circle returns to honor her memory. Those who make the trip are her fellow campers, including Olivia, Sydney’s sister, once deemed the most likely to have been involved in Sydney’s disappearance; the aloof, handsome Aiden, the supervisor of their trip; and Jules, the counselor so close to her campers she was like another best friend. They’ve also all agreed to participate in a documentary probing what really happened to Sydney. But not everyone has innocent motives for returning to the island all these years later.
The group reunites in paradise and retraces their old haunts, hiking along crater lakes, strolling the town’s charming cobblestone streets, and submerging in thermal hot springs. But amidst the reunion, there are eerie sightings of a woman on the island who looks just like Sydney. And when the documentary filming reveals new, explosive truths, and fresh hints resurrect the tantalizing treasure hunt, the group begins to implode. Old feuds and betrayals reignite—and then one of them turns up dead.
Which means that a murderer has surfaced…again.
368 pages, Paperback
Published June 16, 2026
About the author
Jaclyn Goldis
5 books492 followersJaclyn Goldis is a graduate of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, and NYU Law. She practiced estate planning law at a large Chicago firm for seven years before leaving her job to travel the world and write novels. Follow her on Instagram and Twitter @jaclyngoldis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 204 reviews
April 17, 2026
Murders, decades apart. How are the connected? Classic tale of an unsolved case coming back full throttle when someone decides it's high time to investigate again. Overall, I've enjoyed Jaclyn Goldis books in the past. For some reason, the characters in this was did not impress me, and I found myself eager to skim pages or look ahead for more action. There were some suspenseful moments and interesting blended family dynamics, which usually keep me eager to read... but it was a mix this time. I'll still pick up her next book as I enjoy the writing style and plots.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
A summer camp on an island where the kids go on daring hikes and push themselves in rough waters and camping, one girl goes missing. Now, years later believing she's dead, the kids come back as adults to remember the one they lost. But one of them is also starting a podcast and secrets are starting to be revealed. Will they figure out what happened so long ago?
This mystery had me right from the start. I loved the podcast parts and digging into the previous mystery. I loved the X marks the spot silly song and their carefree teenage days. But I struggled to keep all the characters straight, I think we get 7 or 8 POV, and none of them were clearly distinct so I kept having to flip back to the start of the chapter to see who the narrator was and remind myself over and over to keep it all straight.
However, the mystery was so good and I was so hooked it was worth the flipping back and forth. I did like that we got many of the POV because it really gave all the layers of the dirty secrets and just how it all went down. Surprise after surprise kept me hooked. I liked this one.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
This mystery had me right from the start. I loved the podcast parts and digging into the previous mystery. I loved the X marks the spot silly song and their carefree teenage days. But I struggled to keep all the characters straight, I think we get 7 or 8 POV, and none of them were clearly distinct so I kept having to flip back to the start of the chapter to see who the narrator was and remind myself over and over to keep it all straight.
However, the mystery was so good and I was so hooked it was worth the flipping back and forth. I did like that we got many of the POV because it really gave all the layers of the dirty secrets and just how it all went down. Surprise after surprise kept me hooked. I liked this one.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
January 12, 2026
Imagining myself on a warm tropical beach in Portugal while it’s in reality freezing outside 😅 probably my favourite thing about this book.
The plot sounded interesting, a beach.. a mystery.. lost treasure .. and it does live up to the intrigue, just be prepared for a slow start to the book, once you are introduced to the characters the plot and pacing will kick up and take you on an adventure.
The plot sounded interesting, a beach.. a mystery.. lost treasure .. and it does live up to the intrigue, just be prepared for a slow start to the book, once you are introduced to the characters the plot and pacing will kick up and take you on an adventure.
June 24, 2026
2.75 ⭐️
1 🔪
The atmosphere and physical setting of the novel are fantastic, and the premise is interesting. There were several characters, and we get to hear from most of their POVs. It almost felt like too many, or at least like none of the voices felt distinct from one another. The plot was a bit outlandish and not always rooted in facts, but it was still a fun adventure overall. Most of these things I can look past when reading a thriller.
The main reason I can’t rate this any higher is because the book felt unfinished. I’m so unsatisfied and frustrated that I don’t know what happened to the remaining characters. I’m so curious why that was the ending choice. It didn’t read like a cliffhanger or something uncanny to me…it felt like the story just stopped.
As a reader, that lack of closure left me genuinely upset.
1 🔪
The atmosphere and physical setting of the novel are fantastic, and the premise is interesting. There were several characters, and we get to hear from most of their POVs. It almost felt like too many, or at least like none of the voices felt distinct from one another. The plot was a bit outlandish and not always rooted in facts, but it was still a fun adventure overall. Most of these things I can look past when reading a thriller.
The main reason I can’t rate this any higher is because the book felt unfinished. I’m so unsatisfied and frustrated that I don’t know what happened to the remaining characters. I’m so curious why that was the ending choice. It didn’t read like a cliffhanger or something uncanny to me…it felt like the story just stopped.
As a reader, that lack of closure left me genuinely upset.
May 8, 2026
ARC review
This was a really rough one to get through. If you’re able to stick with it beyond the 60% read spot you get slightly rewarded with a bit of a pick up and unraveling of an interesting who-dunnit
This is set in an island town, and the author gives us a lot of history and culture describing the island, as well as much information on Jewish culture and history in this particular Portuguese island. That was the most fascinating part of the first half of the book for me, because we’ve though the novel opened really strong , it quickly lost its momentum A group of young adults come back to the island to have a memorial for a murdered girl that 10 years prior was part of a summer camp, and the many characters we meet are both disappointing and self absorbed. There are a few bright lights, which makes you hold on as a reader, but over all the struggle to get invested just wasn’t worth it.
This was a really rough one to get through. If you’re able to stick with it beyond the 60% read spot you get slightly rewarded with a bit of a pick up and unraveling of an interesting who-dunnit
This is set in an island town, and the author gives us a lot of history and culture describing the island, as well as much information on Jewish culture and history in this particular Portuguese island. That was the most fascinating part of the first half of the book for me, because we’ve though the novel opened really strong , it quickly lost its momentum A group of young adults come back to the island to have a memorial for a murdered girl that 10 years prior was part of a summer camp, and the many characters we meet are both disappointing and self absorbed. There are a few bright lights, which makes you hold on as a reader, but over all the struggle to get invested just wasn’t worth it.
June 11, 2026
⭐⭐⭐⭐
Omggg this book had me SAT. The twists were unhinged in the best way and everyone was suspicious for no reason 😭
I thought I cracked it like 5 times… I did not. At all.
Dark, twisty, chaotic fun camp story.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc.
Omggg this book had me SAT. The twists were unhinged in the best way and everyone was suspicious for no reason 😭
I thought I cracked it like 5 times… I did not. At all.
Dark, twisty, chaotic fun camp story.
Thank you NetGalley for this arc.
May 22, 2026
This one had everything I usually love, but it fizzled out.
A cold case disappearance, a locked-room setup, and an island I'll never get to visit in real life.
Let me start by saying this is going to work for a lot of you, and I want to be upfront about that. It just didn't fully click for me, and after 20 years of handing books to readers I've learned that "not for me" and "not good" aren't the same thing.
Here's the setup. Ten years ago a teenage summer camper named Sydney vanished on São Miguel, a remote island in the Azores, while chasing a rumored treasure. Now her family and friends are back on the island for a memorial weekend marking the anniversary, and a documentary crew is poking at the case. Everyone's together again, and all the secrets and lies they've been sitting on for a decade start surfacing.
What pulled me in: the location. The Azores are completely exotic to me and I loved being dropped somewhere I'll probably never go. The setting is genuinely atmospheric, and I'm a sucker for a cold case plus a locked-room vibe. The multiple POVs and the timeline shifts back to Sydney's disappearance kept things moving structurally.
Where it lost me: the pace. It's a slow burn, which is fine, but I needed more tension to fill that space and it just wasn't there for me. The bigger issue was the characters. They felt bland and broadly drawn, and I never connected with anyone enough to care who was hiding what. That's a shame, because the bones of a much sharper, twistier thriller are right there. And the ending? One thing in particular had me shaking my head going "there's no way that's possible." No spoilers, but you'll know it when you hit it.
If you love a slow-burn thriller heavy on family and friend drama, multiple POVs, and a strong sense of place, this could absolutely be your kind of book. I really wanted to love it more than I did, and I have zero doubt it'll land just right for plenty of readers.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC. Out June 16.
A cold case disappearance, a locked-room setup, and an island I'll never get to visit in real life.
Let me start by saying this is going to work for a lot of you, and I want to be upfront about that. It just didn't fully click for me, and after 20 years of handing books to readers I've learned that "not for me" and "not good" aren't the same thing.
Here's the setup. Ten years ago a teenage summer camper named Sydney vanished on São Miguel, a remote island in the Azores, while chasing a rumored treasure. Now her family and friends are back on the island for a memorial weekend marking the anniversary, and a documentary crew is poking at the case. Everyone's together again, and all the secrets and lies they've been sitting on for a decade start surfacing.
What pulled me in: the location. The Azores are completely exotic to me and I loved being dropped somewhere I'll probably never go. The setting is genuinely atmospheric, and I'm a sucker for a cold case plus a locked-room vibe. The multiple POVs and the timeline shifts back to Sydney's disappearance kept things moving structurally.
Where it lost me: the pace. It's a slow burn, which is fine, but I needed more tension to fill that space and it just wasn't there for me. The bigger issue was the characters. They felt bland and broadly drawn, and I never connected with anyone enough to care who was hiding what. That's a shame, because the bones of a much sharper, twistier thriller are right there. And the ending? One thing in particular had me shaking my head going "there's no way that's possible." No spoilers, but you'll know it when you hit it.
If you love a slow-burn thriller heavy on family and friend drama, multiple POVs, and a strong sense of place, this could absolutely be your kind of book. I really wanted to love it more than I did, and I have zero doubt it'll land just right for plenty of readers.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley for the digital ARC. Out June 16.
June 23, 2026
1.5 stars!!!
This book solidified that I don't want to read anything from this author again. I feel like my enjoyment of her novels has decreased significantly after every book I read. I had to fight my way through this book because I genuinely did not enjoy it. If I wasn't reading this as an advance copy, I would've DNF'd this book pretty early on because I think this is just a poorly written book. I guessed who killed Sydney (which was the entire plot) as soon as we met the character and honestly, finding out if I was right was the main driving factor for me finishing this novel. I did end up guessing correctly and the big reveal at the end felt so corny. The main reason why I disliked this book so much was because the whole thing was super corny. You want me to believe that these kids were using modern day slang 10 years ago? And not to mention that I've noticed in Jaclyn Goldis' books the characters aren't just unlikable, they're actually all horrible people with no redeeming qualities. This will be my last book written by Goldis because while this might work for the general masses, I need my thrillers to be actually well written and thoughtful.
Thank you to Atria and Emily Bestler Books for providing me with an eBook copy to review on NetGalley.
This book solidified that I don't want to read anything from this author again. I feel like my enjoyment of her novels has decreased significantly after every book I read. I had to fight my way through this book because I genuinely did not enjoy it. If I wasn't reading this as an advance copy, I would've DNF'd this book pretty early on because I think this is just a poorly written book. I guessed who killed Sydney (which was the entire plot) as soon as we met the character and honestly, finding out if I was right was the main driving factor for me finishing this novel. I did end up guessing correctly and the big reveal at the end felt so corny. The main reason why I disliked this book so much was because the whole thing was super corny. You want me to believe that these kids were using modern day slang 10 years ago? And not to mention that I've noticed in Jaclyn Goldis' books the characters aren't just unlikable, they're actually all horrible people with no redeeming qualities. This will be my last book written by Goldis because while this might work for the general masses, I need my thrillers to be actually well written and thoughtful.
Thank you to Atria and Emily Bestler Books for providing me with an eBook copy to review on NetGalley.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
The Last Time We Saw Her had an excellent start that had me expecting a story that I would not be able to put down until the final page was read. Instead I found the first few and last couple of chapters incredible and the in-between more family drama filler without much suspense. I just wanted the suspense back.
The podcast seemed a way for the author to tell the reader what the multiple POVs were up to ten years previous, but in doing that it seemed like new information not only for those of us reading but also the characters that actually lived it. They just talked as if they had no recollection of their actions. It really broke up the flow of the story in my opinion. Sadly this was overall a miss for me but I can see where a mystery reader that likes their mystery with more family drama, would for sure enjoy this.
Thank you to @atriabooks for the gifted eARC.
The podcast seemed a way for the author to tell the reader what the multiple POVs were up to ten years previous, but in doing that it seemed like new information not only for those of us reading but also the characters that actually lived it. They just talked as if they had no recollection of their actions. It really broke up the flow of the story in my opinion. Sadly this was overall a miss for me but I can see where a mystery reader that likes their mystery with more family drama, would for sure enjoy this.
Thank you to @atriabooks for the gifted eARC.
Read
May 21, 2026thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for the ARC!
DNF at 40%. I realized I was not enjoying any of this at all - it is completely lacking in suspense or tension, there are too many characters and none of them are interesting or even all that distinguishable, and nothing had happened - and bailed. I hate to DNF ARCs but it is what it is!
(also it's an ARC so I'm not holding it against the book but it did have the sentence "I turn then and flea," which is one of the funniest homophone errors I've ever seen.)
DNF at 40%. I realized I was not enjoying any of this at all - it is completely lacking in suspense or tension, there are too many characters and none of them are interesting or even all that distinguishable, and nothing had happened - and bailed. I hate to DNF ARCs but it is what it is!
(also it's an ARC so I'm not holding it against the book but it did have the sentence "I turn then and flea," which is one of the funniest homophone errors I've ever seen.)
June 19, 2026
This one was a (very) slow burn thriller, about a (large) group of friends who meet up again on the 10th anniversary of the disappearance of one of them. Secrets abound, and if you can manage to stick with it til the end, there is a fun payoff. But there are really too many characters with convoluted connections and not enough happening to keep me fully invested.
Thank you to @atriabooks for my advanced copy.
Thank you to @atriabooks for my advanced copy.
June 12, 2026
How well can you trust your friends and family?
This story takes you on a roller coaster ride of a group of friends who, ten years ago at summer camp in the Azores, last saw their friend Sydney. All these years later, they’ve come back together to help their friend film a documentary to potentially finally get to the bottom of what happened to Sydney.
This story started out very strong. It changed perspectives and sometimes timeline every chapter, which gets you to become attached and want to know what happens. The pacing was going well and then the end came extremely quickly.
It was fun to piece a little more together after each chapter and made me want to visit the Azores, but some of it felt a little over the top. Still curious to read this author’s other work!
Thank you so much to the author, Jaclyn Goldis, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an eARC of The Last Time We Saw Her!
This story takes you on a roller coaster ride of a group of friends who, ten years ago at summer camp in the Azores, last saw their friend Sydney. All these years later, they’ve come back together to help their friend film a documentary to potentially finally get to the bottom of what happened to Sydney.
This story started out very strong. It changed perspectives and sometimes timeline every chapter, which gets you to become attached and want to know what happens. The pacing was going well and then the end came extremely quickly.
It was fun to piece a little more together after each chapter and made me want to visit the Azores, but some of it felt a little over the top. Still curious to read this author’s other work!
Thank you so much to the author, Jaclyn Goldis, Atria Books, and NetGalley for an eARC of The Last Time We Saw Her!
June 15, 2026
Hey, Siri, Alexa, Grok, ChatGPT —
“What's the name of the book where a girl disappears or dies during summer camp or on vacation and years later most of the people who were there reunite at the same place and solve the mystery of her death or disappearance?”
Thinking, thinking, thinking…..
“The Last Time I Lied” by Riley Sager
“The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore
“The Note” by Alifair Burke
“The Woods” by Harlan Coben
“In a Dark, Dark Wood” by Ruth Ware
“One of Us is Lying” by Karen M. McManus
and…”The Last Time We Saw Her” by Jaclyn Goldis! (Kudos to Grok for including the Goldis book!)
I have absolutely loved Goldis’ last three 5 star thrillers, “The Safari,” “The Main Character,” and “The Chateau.” That makes her books an auto-buy for me, but getting into her latest was definitely “I’ve heard this storyline before…..” After looking at the list above, I also realized I loved all of them, so I shouldn’t dismiss this book because it seems familiar, and neither should you.
Author Goldis sets her tales with a central character/victim and then populates an Agatha Christie-like crime scene with multiple suspects. I know that often creates a hesitation to dive into a novel of many unreliable narrators, but, trust me, this author is a master at developing each introduced character and keeping their stories intertwined, but easily separated.
Set on São Miguel, an island in the archipelago of the Portuguese Azores in the middle Atlantic Ocean, our group was at a five week Jewish heritage adventure camp and were actually chasing mythical buried treasure, when Sydney went missing. Ten years later, they’re back for a memorial set up by her father and potentially the truth, never mind that Sydney’s doppelgänger is living the island life right there. We also have a documentary crew doing a “what really happened to…” segment on the decade old tragedy.
The multiple narrators and camp attendees:
Sydney — the missing girl
Olivia — her sister, considered “most likely to have disposed of Sydney,” but also a successful YA author who has set her novels in São Miguel
Lexa — now married to Eli, part owner of a hotel empire, but also Sydney’s last boyfriend
Jules — former camp counselor along with Aiden; she was 23 to Olivia’s 17 back then, now the filmmaker
Reuben and Cass — now step- siblings to Sydney and Olivia, mom is their dad’s plastic trophy wife
Goldis has a clever way of unfolding the mystery via multiple narrators. The story is also infused with the fascinating history of Jews who fled the Portuguese Inquisition in the 15th century for the Azores, some becoming “crypto-Jews” who seemingly practiced Catholicism, but secretly maintained their Judaic customs. Some of the current Azoreans are descendants of the people forced to convert and have integrated Jewish traditions into their modern day culture. This historic gem is woven into the thriller and it’s the unique piece that makes “The Last Time We Saw Her” more than just a summer camp tragic reunion trope. 4.5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Olivia has sage green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO We do get a sense of the island horticulture with elephant ear plants and camellia japonica trees.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
“What's the name of the book where a girl disappears or dies during summer camp or on vacation and years later most of the people who were there reunite at the same place and solve the mystery of her death or disappearance?”
Thinking, thinking, thinking…..
“The Last Time I Lied” by Riley Sager
“The God of the Woods” by Liz Moore
“The Note” by Alifair Burke
“The Woods” by Harlan Coben
“In a Dark, Dark Wood” by Ruth Ware
“One of Us is Lying” by Karen M. McManus
and…”The Last Time We Saw Her” by Jaclyn Goldis! (Kudos to Grok for including the Goldis book!)
I have absolutely loved Goldis’ last three 5 star thrillers, “The Safari,” “The Main Character,” and “The Chateau.” That makes her books an auto-buy for me, but getting into her latest was definitely “I’ve heard this storyline before…..” After looking at the list above, I also realized I loved all of them, so I shouldn’t dismiss this book because it seems familiar, and neither should you.
Author Goldis sets her tales with a central character/victim and then populates an Agatha Christie-like crime scene with multiple suspects. I know that often creates a hesitation to dive into a novel of many unreliable narrators, but, trust me, this author is a master at developing each introduced character and keeping their stories intertwined, but easily separated.
Set on São Miguel, an island in the archipelago of the Portuguese Azores in the middle Atlantic Ocean, our group was at a five week Jewish heritage adventure camp and were actually chasing mythical buried treasure, when Sydney went missing. Ten years later, they’re back for a memorial set up by her father and potentially the truth, never mind that Sydney’s doppelgänger is living the island life right there. We also have a documentary crew doing a “what really happened to…” segment on the decade old tragedy.
The multiple narrators and camp attendees:
Sydney — the missing girl
Olivia — her sister, considered “most likely to have disposed of Sydney,” but also a successful YA author who has set her novels in São Miguel
Lexa — now married to Eli, part owner of a hotel empire, but also Sydney’s last boyfriend
Jules — former camp counselor along with Aiden; she was 23 to Olivia’s 17 back then, now the filmmaker
Reuben and Cass — now step- siblings to Sydney and Olivia, mom is their dad’s plastic trophy wife
Goldis has a clever way of unfolding the mystery via multiple narrators. The story is also infused with the fascinating history of Jews who fled the Portuguese Inquisition in the 15th century for the Azores, some becoming “crypto-Jews” who seemingly practiced Catholicism, but secretly maintained their Judaic customs. Some of the current Azoreans are descendants of the people forced to convert and have integrated Jewish traditions into their modern day culture. This historic gem is woven into the thriller and it’s the unique piece that makes “The Last Time We Saw Her” more than just a summer camp tragic reunion trope. 4.5 stars!
Literary Pet Peeve Checklist:
Green Eyes (only 2% of the real world, yet it seems like 90% of all fictional females): YES Olivia has sage green eyes.
Horticultural Faux Pas (plants out of season or growing zones, like daffodils in autumn or bougainvillea in Alaska): NO We do get a sense of the island horticulture with elephant ear plants and camellia japonica trees.
Thank you to Atria/Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for an advanced reader copy!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
▹TL;DR Review: While the ending left me wanting, I enjoyed the journey this thriller took me on. I appreciated the “ensemble” POVs.
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★.75 out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: A group of teens head out on a heritage journey in the Azores, but one doesn’t make it back. 10 years later, they reunite for a memorial and documentary to discuss what they think went down. Was it the sister? The best friend? The counselor? Is the victim really dead at all? What lengths would you go to to keep your loved ones safe?
– Location: São Miguel, Azores (Portugal)
– POV: Multiple third-person (including transcripts from a documentary)
– Spice: Not a romance. At most there is kissing or innuendo
– Tropes: reunion of friends/campers, documentary investigation, murder/mystery, treasure hunt, teens to adults (10 year gap between events)
– Content warning: chronic kidney disease, anxiety, fear of being outed, friend/family going missing, betrayal, murder, complex family situations, gaslighting, violence, financial struggles, drug-related crimes (no on- or off-page use), tense family secrets, blackmailing, grief (family member died by off-page suicide), memory issues due to medication/PTSD
– Representation: Sephardic Jews, LGBTQ+ main character
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: Treasure Hunt (Children’s song)
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★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★
➼ This reminded me of a mix of The White Lotus and Yellowjackets (minus the paranormal aspect)
➼ Books like The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware, Becoming Marlow Finn by Ellen Won Steil, Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera, and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven—————✧——————Plot Driven
Light/Fluffy———————✧————Heavy/Emotional
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
I had a great time reading this book! From the very first page, the story had me theorizing, tracking red herrings, and watching the entire cast closely. The ensemble structure worked especially well here—multiple POVs without overwhelming the narrative—and the pacing felt intentional and well-balanced throughout.
I’m always drawn to mysteries that make me want to pull out a pencil and start mapping clues, and while this book definitely delivered on intrigue, I found myself wishing the breadcrumb trail had been pushed just a bit further. That said, I still appreciated the bold, slightly unhinged direction the story ultimately took. The ending wasn’t quite a hit for me personally, but it was an interesting take.
Alongside the central mystery, the novel weaves in a touch of romance, a family-healing subplot, and layers of long-buried secrets, all set against a beautifully remote tropical backdrop. (Did I look up flights to the Azores? Yes. Do I want to cross paths with these characters there? Absolutely not—they seem busy enough creating chaos on their own.)
Would I Recommend?: Yes! I would say this is a fun book if you’re in the mood for a thriller/murder mystery and want a palette cleanser.
▹My ⭐ Rating: ★★★.75 out of 5
▹Format: 📱 eReader
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
─────────────────────────
○★○ What to Expect from This Book: ○★○
– About: A group of teens head out on a heritage journey in the Azores, but one doesn’t make it back. 10 years later, they reunite for a memorial and documentary to discuss what they think went down. Was it the sister? The best friend? The counselor? Is the victim really dead at all? What lengths would you go to to keep your loved ones safe?
– Location: São Miguel, Azores (Portugal)
– POV: Multiple third-person (including transcripts from a documentary)
– Spice: Not a romance. At most there is kissing or innuendo
– Tropes: reunion of friends/campers, documentary investigation, murder/mystery, treasure hunt, teens to adults (10 year gap between events)
– Content warning: chronic kidney disease, anxiety, fear of being outed, friend/family going missing, betrayal, murder, complex family situations, gaslighting, violence, financial struggles, drug-related crimes (no on- or off-page use), tense family secrets, blackmailing, grief (family member died by off-page suicide), memory issues due to medication/PTSD
– Representation: Sephardic Jews, LGBTQ+ main character
─────────────────────────
↻ ◁ || ▷ ↺ 1:00 ──ㅇ────── 4:12
Now Playing: Treasure Hunt (Children’s song)
╰┈➤ ❝We’re going on a treasure hunt, x marks the spot…❞
─────────────────────────
★○ If You Like the Following, You Might Like This Book ○★
➼ This reminded me of a mix of The White Lotus and Yellowjackets (minus the paranormal aspect)
➼ Books like The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware, Becoming Marlow Finn by Ellen Won Steil, Listen for the Lie by Amy Tintera, and Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn
─────────────────────────
⍟»This or That«⍟
Character Driven—————✧——————Plot Driven
Light/Fluffy———————✧————Heavy/Emotional
─────────────────────────
🎯 My Thoughts:
I had a great time reading this book! From the very first page, the story had me theorizing, tracking red herrings, and watching the entire cast closely. The ensemble structure worked especially well here—multiple POVs without overwhelming the narrative—and the pacing felt intentional and well-balanced throughout.
I’m always drawn to mysteries that make me want to pull out a pencil and start mapping clues, and while this book definitely delivered on intrigue, I found myself wishing the breadcrumb trail had been pushed just a bit further. That said, I still appreciated the bold, slightly unhinged direction the story ultimately took. The ending wasn’t quite a hit for me personally, but it was an interesting take.
Alongside the central mystery, the novel weaves in a touch of romance, a family-healing subplot, and layers of long-buried secrets, all set against a beautifully remote tropical backdrop. (Did I look up flights to the Azores? Yes. Do I want to cross paths with these characters there? Absolutely not—they seem busy enough creating chaos on their own.)
Would I Recommend?: Yes! I would say this is a fun book if you’re in the mood for a thriller/murder mystery and want a palette cleanser.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
There’s a very specific thriller trope that seems to be everywhere lately: a group of deeply unlikable friends reunites years after a tragedy, all carrying secrets, grudges, and unresolved romantic baggage while slowly turning on one another. To be honest, I’m getting a little bored with the trope, and unfortunately, The Last Time We Saw Her by Jaclyn Goldis doesn’t really do much to elevate that formula beyond what we’ve already seen many times before.
Ten years after a camper named Sydney vanished during a treasure hunt on an island in the Azores, her old friend group reunites to participate in a documentary about what happened. Naturally, everyone has something to hide, everyone distrusts everyone else, and absolutely none of these people seem emotionally capable of moving on with their lives. Some are still obsessed with old relationships, some are married within the friend group for reasons that never entirely make sense, and nearly all of them seem trapped in the emotional mindset of that long-ago summer.
The novel rotates through multiple POV characters, which at least gives readers insight into everyone’s paranoia and self-justifications. Every character insists they aren’t responsible for Sydney’s disappearance, yet all of them feel unreliable in one way or another. That part works well enough for a while. The bigger problem is that spending hundreds of pages inside the heads of people this irritating becomes exhausting.
The documentary transcript sections are especially rough. I genuinely couldn’t decide whether the documentary filmmaker, Jules, was intentionally supposed to be terrible at her job or whether the writing itself simply doesn’t understand how documentaries or interviews work. Jules constantly asks leading questions, struggles to control group interviews, and makes bafflingly amateur decisions despite supposedly dreaming of a filmmaking career for years. Instead of interviewing people individually and comparing inconsistencies later, she gathers everyone together at once and somehow expects meaningful truth to emerge from chaos. The whole thing feels less like a real documentary process and more like a plot device forcing characters to blurt out exposition.
And honestly, after someone’s life is threatened and the police start circling again, the fact that these people continue happily participating on camera makes them all seem unbelievably stupid. At some point, common sense should kick in. I mean, come on people—lawyer up already!
The ending also spirals into something so convoluted and over-the-top that it borders on ridiculous. By the time all the reveals arrive, the story feels less shocking than desperately tangled.
That said, I did genuinely enjoy the setting. The Azores atmosphere is easily the strongest part of the novel. The volcanic lakes, thermal springs, and isolated island backdrop create an immersive environment that made me want to visit even more than I already did. If you love destination thrillers and you still enjoy the “toxic friend reunion after tragedy” setup, you may have a better time with this than I did. But for me, this felt like a very familiar thriller populated almost entirely by frustrating people making baffling decisions.
An advance reader copy of this book (ARC) was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
Ten years after a camper named Sydney vanished during a treasure hunt on an island in the Azores, her old friend group reunites to participate in a documentary about what happened. Naturally, everyone has something to hide, everyone distrusts everyone else, and absolutely none of these people seem emotionally capable of moving on with their lives. Some are still obsessed with old relationships, some are married within the friend group for reasons that never entirely make sense, and nearly all of them seem trapped in the emotional mindset of that long-ago summer.
The novel rotates through multiple POV characters, which at least gives readers insight into everyone’s paranoia and self-justifications. Every character insists they aren’t responsible for Sydney’s disappearance, yet all of them feel unreliable in one way or another. That part works well enough for a while. The bigger problem is that spending hundreds of pages inside the heads of people this irritating becomes exhausting.
The documentary transcript sections are especially rough. I genuinely couldn’t decide whether the documentary filmmaker, Jules, was intentionally supposed to be terrible at her job or whether the writing itself simply doesn’t understand how documentaries or interviews work. Jules constantly asks leading questions, struggles to control group interviews, and makes bafflingly amateur decisions despite supposedly dreaming of a filmmaking career for years. Instead of interviewing people individually and comparing inconsistencies later, she gathers everyone together at once and somehow expects meaningful truth to emerge from chaos. The whole thing feels less like a real documentary process and more like a plot device forcing characters to blurt out exposition.
And honestly, after someone’s life is threatened and the police start circling again, the fact that these people continue happily participating on camera makes them all seem unbelievably stupid. At some point, common sense should kick in. I mean, come on people—lawyer up already!
The ending also spirals into something so convoluted and over-the-top that it borders on ridiculous. By the time all the reveals arrive, the story feels less shocking than desperately tangled.
That said, I did genuinely enjoy the setting. The Azores atmosphere is easily the strongest part of the novel. The volcanic lakes, thermal springs, and isolated island backdrop create an immersive environment that made me want to visit even more than I already did. If you love destination thrillers and you still enjoy the “toxic friend reunion after tragedy” setup, you may have a better time with this than I did. But for me, this felt like a very familiar thriller populated almost entirely by frustrating people making baffling decisions.
An advance reader copy of this book (ARC) was provided to me by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.
June 22, 2026
The Last Time We Saw Her is an ambitious thriller that blends a stuck-on-an-island reunion mystery with family drama, historical intrigue, and moral reckoning. The story unfolds through the viewpoints of all the principal characters—the former campers and counselors who have gathered ten years after a fellow camper, Sydney, disappeared during their last summer together. The novel also employs multiple timelines, alternating between the present-day reunion and nonlinear memories of the past, allowing each narrator to gradually reveal pieces of the truth.
The first half of the novel is largely devoted to introducing the characters and establishing motives. Each former camper harbors secrets, often involving another member of the group, and the narrative works hard to make every character seem like a plausible suspect in Sydney’s disappearance. Unfortunately, this section moves slowly. While the mystery is intriguing, I found myself wondering whether I would finish the book. It doesn’t help that nearly every character is somewhat unlikable. Olivia is perhaps the most sympathetic of the group, but even she is not presented as substantially more innocent than the others.
By the halfway point, however, the pace accelerates considerably. The novel sheds most of its character-study weight and embraces its identity as a murder mystery thriller. New revelations arrive more frequently, tensions rise, and the story becomes engaging. I correctly guessed the culprit fairly early on, but I still enjoyed having my assumptions challenged as fresh information emerged and complicated the picture.
One of the most interesting characters is Isaac, the father of Sydney and Olivia. Although his role appears secondary for much of the story, he proves pivotal to several major plot twists. Isaac and his wife, Daniella, are among the novel’s least admirable characters, and their choices inadvertently set in motion much of the family’s downfall. Their storyline lends the book an almost biblical quality, with themes of sin, consequences, secrets, and generational fallout woven throughout the narrative.
Another strength is the inclusion of Jewish history, particularly the lesser-known history of Jewish communities in the Azores. These historical details enrich the novel and provide welcome depth beyond the central mystery.
As for the ending, it requires a certain suspension of disbelief. Readers who spend too much time dissecting its improbabilities may find it frustrating. But if you’re willing to go along for the ride, the finale is delicious—dramatic, satisfying, and entertaining in exactly the way a thriller’s conclusion should be.
Overall, The Last Time We Saw Her is a slow-burning mystery that takes its time getting started but ultimately rewards patient readers with compelling twists and layered family drama, making it difficult to put down. While the uneven pacing and largely unlikable cast kept it from reaching its full potential for me, the second half and memorable conclusion make it a worthwhile read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
The first half of the novel is largely devoted to introducing the characters and establishing motives. Each former camper harbors secrets, often involving another member of the group, and the narrative works hard to make every character seem like a plausible suspect in Sydney’s disappearance. Unfortunately, this section moves slowly. While the mystery is intriguing, I found myself wondering whether I would finish the book. It doesn’t help that nearly every character is somewhat unlikable. Olivia is perhaps the most sympathetic of the group, but even she is not presented as substantially more innocent than the others.
By the halfway point, however, the pace accelerates considerably. The novel sheds most of its character-study weight and embraces its identity as a murder mystery thriller. New revelations arrive more frequently, tensions rise, and the story becomes engaging. I correctly guessed the culprit fairly early on, but I still enjoyed having my assumptions challenged as fresh information emerged and complicated the picture.
One of the most interesting characters is Isaac, the father of Sydney and Olivia. Although his role appears secondary for much of the story, he proves pivotal to several major plot twists. Isaac and his wife, Daniella, are among the novel’s least admirable characters, and their choices inadvertently set in motion much of the family’s downfall. Their storyline lends the book an almost biblical quality, with themes of sin, consequences, secrets, and generational fallout woven throughout the narrative.
Another strength is the inclusion of Jewish history, particularly the lesser-known history of Jewish communities in the Azores. These historical details enrich the novel and provide welcome depth beyond the central mystery.
As for the ending, it requires a certain suspension of disbelief. Readers who spend too much time dissecting its improbabilities may find it frustrating. But if you’re willing to go along for the ride, the finale is delicious—dramatic, satisfying, and entertaining in exactly the way a thriller’s conclusion should be.
Overall, The Last Time We Saw Her is a slow-burning mystery that takes its time getting started but ultimately rewards patient readers with compelling twists and layered family drama, making it difficult to put down. While the uneven pacing and largely unlikable cast kept it from reaching its full potential for me, the second half and memorable conclusion make it a worthwhile read.
I received a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. For more reading recommendations, visit Book Junkie Reviews at www.abookjunkiereviews.wordpress.com
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
⭐⭐⭐
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the ARC.
📖 **Summary**
Ten years after popular camper Sydney Azulay vanished during a summer camp trip in the Azores, her friends and fellow campers return to the island for a memorial service and documentary exploring what really happened. As old memories resurface and new clues emerge, the group finds themselves pulled back into the mystery that changed their lives forever. When another death occurs, it becomes clear that some secrets refuse to stay buried.
💭 **Review**
The Last Time We Saw Her had such a fantastic premise that I immediately wanted to dive in. A missing girl, a rumored hidden treasure, a remote island setting, and a group of former campers returning years later to uncover the truth? Sign me up.
One of the strongest parts of this novel was definitely the setting. The Azores felt atmospheric, beautiful, and mysterious. The descriptions of the island, hiking trails, crater lakes, thermal springs, and small towns created a vivid backdrop for the story. I found myself wanting to visit despite all the murder and secrets.
This is very much a character driven mystery with a large cast and multiple points of view. The story moves between different characters as they revisit their memories of that final summer. While this approach allowed readers to see many sides of the mystery, it was also where I struggled the most. There were times when I had to stop and remind myself who was who and how everyone connected to the larger story. The constant shifting perspectives occasionally pulled me out of the narrative and made the mystery feel more complicated than it needed to be.
That said, I was still invested enough to keep turning pages. I wanted answers. I wanted to know what happened to Sydney. I wanted to understand the relationships, betrayals, and secrets that continued to haunt this group ten years later. The documentary angle added an interesting layer, and I enjoyed watching long buried tensions resurface as the story unfolded.
The treasure hunt element was also intriguing. It gave the mystery an almost adventure-like feel at times and added another layer of suspense to the narrative. Everyone seemed to be hiding something, which kept me questioning motives and second guessing my theories throughout the book.
While I enjoyed the overall experience, I never felt completely immersed because I spent so much time trying to keep track of the various characters and timelines. For me, the mystery was interesting, but the emotional connections to the characters weren't always as strong as I wanted them to be.
Still, the combination of a missing persons case, old secrets, buried treasure, and a gorgeous island setting made this an entertaining read that mystery fans will likely enjoy.
❓ **Would I Recommend?**
Yes. If you enjoy mysteries with multiple perspectives, long buried secrets, destination settings, and slow unraveling twists, this is worth checking out. Just be prepared to pay close attention to the cast of characters as the story unfolds.
Thank you to NetGalley and Atria/Emily Bestler Books for the ARC.
📖 **Summary**
Ten years after popular camper Sydney Azulay vanished during a summer camp trip in the Azores, her friends and fellow campers return to the island for a memorial service and documentary exploring what really happened. As old memories resurface and new clues emerge, the group finds themselves pulled back into the mystery that changed their lives forever. When another death occurs, it becomes clear that some secrets refuse to stay buried.
💭 **Review**
The Last Time We Saw Her had such a fantastic premise that I immediately wanted to dive in. A missing girl, a rumored hidden treasure, a remote island setting, and a group of former campers returning years later to uncover the truth? Sign me up.
One of the strongest parts of this novel was definitely the setting. The Azores felt atmospheric, beautiful, and mysterious. The descriptions of the island, hiking trails, crater lakes, thermal springs, and small towns created a vivid backdrop for the story. I found myself wanting to visit despite all the murder and secrets.
This is very much a character driven mystery with a large cast and multiple points of view. The story moves between different characters as they revisit their memories of that final summer. While this approach allowed readers to see many sides of the mystery, it was also where I struggled the most. There were times when I had to stop and remind myself who was who and how everyone connected to the larger story. The constant shifting perspectives occasionally pulled me out of the narrative and made the mystery feel more complicated than it needed to be.
That said, I was still invested enough to keep turning pages. I wanted answers. I wanted to know what happened to Sydney. I wanted to understand the relationships, betrayals, and secrets that continued to haunt this group ten years later. The documentary angle added an interesting layer, and I enjoyed watching long buried tensions resurface as the story unfolded.
The treasure hunt element was also intriguing. It gave the mystery an almost adventure-like feel at times and added another layer of suspense to the narrative. Everyone seemed to be hiding something, which kept me questioning motives and second guessing my theories throughout the book.
While I enjoyed the overall experience, I never felt completely immersed because I spent so much time trying to keep track of the various characters and timelines. For me, the mystery was interesting, but the emotional connections to the characters weren't always as strong as I wanted them to be.
Still, the combination of a missing persons case, old secrets, buried treasure, and a gorgeous island setting made this an entertaining read that mystery fans will likely enjoy.
❓ **Would I Recommend?**
Yes. If you enjoy mysteries with multiple perspectives, long buried secrets, destination settings, and slow unraveling twists, this is worth checking out. Just be prepared to pay close attention to the cast of characters as the story unfolds.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
3.8/5
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!
The Last Time We Saw Her is a good mystery that keeps you guessing due to the high amount of suspects.
It follows Olivia, who was the main suspect in her sister, Sydney's, disappearance ten years ago at summer camp in Portugal. Now, she returns to the camp for both a memorial in her sister's name and a documentary seeking to find the real source of Sydney's disappearance, since Olivia was never officially charged. With the whole summer camp gang back together, surprising new information comes to light about that summer and the unspoken tension comes to a head when one of the members of the group turns up dead.
The Last Time We Saw Her took quite a while to really pick up and grab my interest. While on paper, it's all the things that normally intrigue me, I think the sheer amount of characters overwhelmed me a little bit and prevented me from really connecting with any specific one of them. Since there were so many people in the group from that summer, you find yourself really trying to latch onto any detail that separates one character from another. This is good at the same time, though, because it provides a long list of suspects once things turn deadly.
I do wish that Olivia's perspective had been included a little more in the book because, while she's the main character, I never really felt like I knew her or what she was thinking. You mainly hear about Olivia from other people, usually calling her quiet or suspicious. I think just a couple more chapters early in the book would have made me connect with her a little better.
I like that Sydney is kind of painted to be an unlikable person - like, she's popular, but she has a dark side and gets a lot of attention because of her illness. It complicates things and makes you more suspicious of everyone in the group because they basically all had a motive.
Jules' character is probably the most relatable. She's not filthy rich like a lot of the other characters and is also more of a grounded human than the others, like Lexa or Eli. While Lexa married into the money, she still seems to have blinders on and just thinks money can fix everything. And then Eli might be the most clueless person alive. He seems like he's a genuine person, though.
Other characters each end up having unique stories and pasts that you read enough about to eventually be able to separate them from each other and I found myself to be invested somehow in basically everyone by the end of the book.
I will say that the culprit took me by surprise. They build a lot of suspicion around everyone, but I still didn't see that one coming. So good job, Jaclyn Goldis because that was a good twist!
I wish a little more clues had been presented in Sydney's case. Like, just a couple more chapters leading up to her death that would have hinted at the culprit just a tiny more. But honestly, I'm nitpicking.
Overall, this is a good mystery with a lot of suspects that you definitely need to pay attention to if you want to guess who the bad guy is.
Thank you to Netgalley for the advanced reader copy!
The Last Time We Saw Her is a good mystery that keeps you guessing due to the high amount of suspects.
It follows Olivia, who was the main suspect in her sister, Sydney's, disappearance ten years ago at summer camp in Portugal. Now, she returns to the camp for both a memorial in her sister's name and a documentary seeking to find the real source of Sydney's disappearance, since Olivia was never officially charged. With the whole summer camp gang back together, surprising new information comes to light about that summer and the unspoken tension comes to a head when one of the members of the group turns up dead.
The Last Time We Saw Her took quite a while to really pick up and grab my interest. While on paper, it's all the things that normally intrigue me, I think the sheer amount of characters overwhelmed me a little bit and prevented me from really connecting with any specific one of them. Since there were so many people in the group from that summer, you find yourself really trying to latch onto any detail that separates one character from another. This is good at the same time, though, because it provides a long list of suspects once things turn deadly.
I do wish that Olivia's perspective had been included a little more in the book because, while she's the main character, I never really felt like I knew her or what she was thinking. You mainly hear about Olivia from other people, usually calling her quiet or suspicious. I think just a couple more chapters early in the book would have made me connect with her a little better.
I like that Sydney is kind of painted to be an unlikable person - like, she's popular, but she has a dark side and gets a lot of attention because of her illness. It complicates things and makes you more suspicious of everyone in the group because they basically all had a motive.
Jules' character is probably the most relatable. She's not filthy rich like a lot of the other characters and is also more of a grounded human than the others, like Lexa or Eli. While Lexa married into the money, she still seems to have blinders on and just thinks money can fix everything. And then Eli might be the most clueless person alive. He seems like he's a genuine person, though.
Other characters each end up having unique stories and pasts that you read enough about to eventually be able to separate them from each other and I found myself to be invested somehow in basically everyone by the end of the book.
I will say that the culprit took me by surprise. They build a lot of suspicion around everyone, but I still didn't see that one coming. So good job, Jaclyn Goldis because that was a good twist!
I wish a little more clues had been presented in Sydney's case. Like, just a couple more chapters leading up to her death that would have hinted at the culprit just a tiny more. But honestly, I'm nitpicking.
Overall, this is a good mystery with a lot of suspects that you definitely need to pay attention to if you want to guess who the bad guy is.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
One-word review: Frustrating
Emojis: 🏕️🧐😬
Rating: 3 🌟s
My thoughts:
The Last Time We Saw Her started with such an intriguing premise: a Jewish Portuguese summer camp-based murder mystery, a long-lost treasure, a disappearance that still haunts everyone involved, and a reunion in the stunning Azores. Truly, on paper, this had so many elements I usually love. A remote island setting? Yes. A twisty multi-perspective thriller? Also yes. A group of people returning to the scene of old secrets? My nosy little reader heart was ready.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the Sephardic Jewish history and education woven throughout the story. It felt naturally incorporated instead of dropped in like a history lesson wearing a fake mustache. I really appreciated that aspect, and it gave the story a richer cultural layer that stood out to me. I also loved the setting. The Azores came alive through the crater lakes, cobblestone streets, thermal hot springs, and overall lush, isolated atmosphere. It gave the book a strong sense of place, and at times, that setting was doing some serious heavy lifting.
Where this one lost me was with the characters. Each character frustrated me in a very specific “please just say the thing already” kind of way. Everyone seemed to be hinting that they knew something, hiding something, remembering something, or avoiding something, but it happened so often that it became more exhausting than suspenseful. I got the sense early on that they were all unreliable narrators, which can work beautifully in a thriller, but here I needed more setup and more emotional investment before being asked to distrust everyone.
The first half was also very slow for me. The premise was strong, but the pacing took too long to build momentum, and because the characters felt a bit flat, I had a hard time caring as much as I wanted to. I wanted to be pulled into their old friendships, jealousies, betrayals, and guilt, but instead I felt like I was watching from the outside while everyone dramatically clutched their secrets to their chests.
And then there was the ending. Whew. The ending was so unhinged that it bordered on cringe for me. I do love a wild thriller ending when it feels earned, but this one went a little too far over the cliff in a tiny treasure-hunting clown car. The ChatGPT-related part of the plot especially did not work for me and honestly lost the book a star. It pulled me out of the story at the exact moment I wanted to be most invested.
Overall, The Last Time We Saw Her had a fascinating premise, a gorgeous setting, and cultural details I genuinely loved, but the slow first half, frustrating characters, and over-the-top ending kept it from fully working for me. Still, if you enjoy twisty multi-POV thrillers with unreliable narrators, buried secrets, and destination mystery vibes, this may work better for you than it did for me.
Emojis: 🏕️🧐😬
Rating: 3 🌟s
My thoughts:
The Last Time We Saw Her started with such an intriguing premise: a Jewish Portuguese summer camp-based murder mystery, a long-lost treasure, a disappearance that still haunts everyone involved, and a reunion in the stunning Azores. Truly, on paper, this had so many elements I usually love. A remote island setting? Yes. A twisty multi-perspective thriller? Also yes. A group of people returning to the scene of old secrets? My nosy little reader heart was ready.
One of my favorite parts of the book was the Sephardic Jewish history and education woven throughout the story. It felt naturally incorporated instead of dropped in like a history lesson wearing a fake mustache. I really appreciated that aspect, and it gave the story a richer cultural layer that stood out to me. I also loved the setting. The Azores came alive through the crater lakes, cobblestone streets, thermal hot springs, and overall lush, isolated atmosphere. It gave the book a strong sense of place, and at times, that setting was doing some serious heavy lifting.
Where this one lost me was with the characters. Each character frustrated me in a very specific “please just say the thing already” kind of way. Everyone seemed to be hinting that they knew something, hiding something, remembering something, or avoiding something, but it happened so often that it became more exhausting than suspenseful. I got the sense early on that they were all unreliable narrators, which can work beautifully in a thriller, but here I needed more setup and more emotional investment before being asked to distrust everyone.
The first half was also very slow for me. The premise was strong, but the pacing took too long to build momentum, and because the characters felt a bit flat, I had a hard time caring as much as I wanted to. I wanted to be pulled into their old friendships, jealousies, betrayals, and guilt, but instead I felt like I was watching from the outside while everyone dramatically clutched their secrets to their chests.
And then there was the ending. Whew. The ending was so unhinged that it bordered on cringe for me. I do love a wild thriller ending when it feels earned, but this one went a little too far over the cliff in a tiny treasure-hunting clown car. The ChatGPT-related part of the plot especially did not work for me and honestly lost the book a star. It pulled me out of the story at the exact moment I wanted to be most invested.
Overall, The Last Time We Saw Her had a fascinating premise, a gorgeous setting, and cultural details I genuinely loved, but the slow first half, frustrating characters, and over-the-top ending kept it from fully working for me. Still, if you enjoy twisty multi-POV thrillers with unreliable narrators, buried secrets, and destination mystery vibes, this may work better for you than it did for me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 16, 2026
At a summer camp in the Azores, a group of teenagers participate in the camp’s tradition of “Survival Day”, where they spend the night outdoors, alone, and find their way back to the camp in the morning. Except one camper, Sydney, didn’t return and island police began to investigate the disappearance as a murder. Now, ten years later, the group reunite for a farewell ceremony, and to help out with a documentary that one of their friends is filming about the disappearance. Although the documentary is meant to find out the truth, what it uncovers is secrets, secrets that lead to more deaths. Now, it is clear that the murderer is one of them- and they aren’t going to stop.
Jaclyn Goldis takes on the summer camp thriller genre with her new novel, “The Last Time We Saw Her: A Novel”. The novel is narrated by all of the campers (or those close to them) from ten years ago, in the present day, although there are a few chapters where we hear from the perspective of the murdered girl on the night she disappeared ten years ago. The mystery of what happened to Sydney ten years ago is quickly compounded when another one of their group, Reuben, is also found murdered. It is obvious there is a connection, and readers are left guessing.
“Time” is full of twists and turns, suspicious characters and deep, dark secrets and in fact, Goldis provides so many that it is not only difficult to determine the murderer, but it can be a challenge to keep all the characters straight and follow their intricate and complicated relationships. However, each character starts to develop a clear, recognizable personality as the novel goes on, so it’s easier for readers to keep up.
There are some weaker plot details (such as one of the characters conveniently having memory loss the night Sydney went missing), but in general, the “who dunnit” itself was intriguing and unexpected. Goldis reveals the murderer, and even then, doesn’t let up, as the pulse-pounding suspense keeps readers on the edge of their seat right up to the final sentence.
“Time” is a locked-room mystery of sorts, where a group of young people from varied backgrounds come together for a reunion and to try and solve a murder. Somehow, Goldis has taken an overdone, derivative plot and made it her own, bringing a unique angle to the genre and I think her new novel will be on many summer reading lists.
Expected publication date: June 16, 2026
At a summer camp in the Azores, a group of teenagers participate in the camp’s tradition of “Survival Day”, where they spend the night outdoors, alone, and find their way back to the camp in the morning. Except one camper, Sydney, didn’t return and island police began to investigate the disappearance as a murder. Now, ten years later, the group reunite for a farewell ceremony, and to help out with a documentary that one of their friends is filming about the disappearance. Although the documentary is meant to find out the truth, what it uncovers is secrets, secrets that lead to more deaths. Now, it is clear that the murderer is one of them- and they aren’t going to stop.
Jaclyn Goldis takes on the summer camp thriller genre with her new novel, “The Last Time We Saw Her: A Novel”. The novel is narrated by all of the campers (or those close to them) from ten years ago, in the present day, although there are a few chapters where we hear from the perspective of the murdered girl on the night she disappeared ten years ago. The mystery of what happened to Sydney ten years ago is quickly compounded when another one of their group, Reuben, is also found murdered. It is obvious there is a connection, and readers are left guessing.
“Time” is full of twists and turns, suspicious characters and deep, dark secrets and in fact, Goldis provides so many that it is not only difficult to determine the murderer, but it can be a challenge to keep all the characters straight and follow their intricate and complicated relationships. However, each character starts to develop a clear, recognizable personality as the novel goes on, so it’s easier for readers to keep up.
There are some weaker plot details (such as one of the characters conveniently having memory loss the night Sydney went missing), but in general, the “who dunnit” itself was intriguing and unexpected. Goldis reveals the murderer, and even then, doesn’t let up, as the pulse-pounding suspense keeps readers on the edge of their seat right up to the final sentence.
“Time” is a locked-room mystery of sorts, where a group of young people from varied backgrounds come together for a reunion and to try and solve a murder. Somehow, Goldis has taken an overdone, derivative plot and made it her own, bringing a unique angle to the genre and I think her new novel will be on many summer reading lists.
June 22, 2026
Ten years ago, a group of teenage American summer campers came to São Miguel in Portugal's remote Azores archipelago for a rugged hiking trip that devolved into a frenzied treasure hunt and ended with the disappearance of "it girl" camper Sydney Azulay. Now, a decade later, Sydney's closest circle returns to the island for a memorial service and to participate in a documentary probing what really happened. But when eerie sightings of a woman who looks just like Sydney surface and the documentary filming reveals explosive new truths, old feuds reignite and then one of them turns up dead.
I wanted to like this one more than I actually did. The premise drew me right in and I was genuinely captivated by the first few chapters: a remote Portuguese island, a decade-old disappearance, buried treasure, and a documentary bringing everyone back together? That's a setup I'm absolutely here for. But after the initial 25% things fizzled out and it ended up not being the edge-of-your-seat page turner I was expecting.
Goldis did a great job with the setting and atmosphere. The Azores came alive on the page and I loved the vibes: the crater lakes, the cobblestone streets, the thermal hot springs. She nailed the location. But the story itself felt flat. There are quite a few characters and none of them particularly stood out to me. They all felt much younger than they actually were, which made it hard to connect with them as adults dealing with something this serious.
My biggest frustration was the secrets. Secrets in a thriller can be great when they're building toward something explosive, but in this case they just gave me a lot of frustration. I kept wanting to scream "just TALK to each other." The miscommunication trope is my least favorite in romances and I felt the same energy here. So much of the tension relied on people just not saying things and it wore on me. The narration jumps between all our characters including back in time to before the disappearance, and it also mixes in documentary recording segments which could have been an amazing addition but the characters' responses felt forced rather than natural.
The pacing was slow, the book felt long, and I didn't love the way it all played out. There were just too many plot devices and too many threads that didn't end up flowing together the way I wanted them to. By the end I felt like the story was trying to do too much without doing any one thing really well.
I'd say this is still an interesting read if the premise appeals to you and you're looking for something atmospheric with a unique setting. But if you read a lot of thrillers this one probably won't blow you away. The bones of a great story were there, I just wish the execution had matched the promise of that incredible setup.
The Last Time We Saw Her is out now . Huge thank you to Atria Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
Tiktok @speakingof.books
I wanted to like this one more than I actually did. The premise drew me right in and I was genuinely captivated by the first few chapters: a remote Portuguese island, a decade-old disappearance, buried treasure, and a documentary bringing everyone back together? That's a setup I'm absolutely here for. But after the initial 25% things fizzled out and it ended up not being the edge-of-your-seat page turner I was expecting.
Goldis did a great job with the setting and atmosphere. The Azores came alive on the page and I loved the vibes: the crater lakes, the cobblestone streets, the thermal hot springs. She nailed the location. But the story itself felt flat. There are quite a few characters and none of them particularly stood out to me. They all felt much younger than they actually were, which made it hard to connect with them as adults dealing with something this serious.
My biggest frustration was the secrets. Secrets in a thriller can be great when they're building toward something explosive, but in this case they just gave me a lot of frustration. I kept wanting to scream "just TALK to each other." The miscommunication trope is my least favorite in romances and I felt the same energy here. So much of the tension relied on people just not saying things and it wore on me. The narration jumps between all our characters including back in time to before the disappearance, and it also mixes in documentary recording segments which could have been an amazing addition but the characters' responses felt forced rather than natural.
The pacing was slow, the book felt long, and I didn't love the way it all played out. There were just too many plot devices and too many threads that didn't end up flowing together the way I wanted them to. By the end I felt like the story was trying to do too much without doing any one thing really well.
I'd say this is still an interesting read if the premise appeals to you and you're looking for something atmospheric with a unique setting. But if you read a lot of thrillers this one probably won't blow you away. The bones of a great story were there, I just wish the execution had matched the promise of that incredible setup.
The Last Time We Saw Her is out now . Huge thank you to Atria Books for my advanced copy in exchange for my honest opinion. If you liked this review, please let me know either by commenting below or by visiting my Instagram @speakingof.books.
Tiktok @speakingof.books
March 9, 2026
Ten years ago a group of campers lost one of their own and none of them has been the same. Love interests, career choices and loyalties have changed but now, a memorial will bring them back to the island paradise that started the nightmare. Will the truth be revealed or will another of their group be lost in order to keep the secrets buried?
A thriller/mystery for young adults with so many twisting paths and possible endings, all kept tightly held until the end.
With its setting of a beautiful island in the Azores, The Last Time We Saw Her screams, “Summer read!” The young adults from 10 years ago, Jules, Lexa, Eli, Olivia, Reuben, and Aiden are now in their late 20s/early 30s and a memorial for Sydney, the girl who disappeared, plus a documentary surrounding her disappearance and probably death is supposed to solve the mystery once and for all. But everyone seems to have a secret. Told from the perspective of all of them means readers will see into the thoughts and deceptions of each one but so many points of view leads to some confusion while reading. The voices have such similarities in tone and experiences, despite the author’s attempt to make them distinctly different, that it may take plenty of rechecks of chapter headings to remember who is doing the narrating. However, their entwined lives and the mystery of what happened during the last big event of the group’s camping trip will keep those pages turning in order to see how it will all play out. The resolution is absolutely satisfying with most big reveals being fairly unexpected with just a few bits being suspected before the end.
*Target age: new adult through adult, although with the lack of sexual spice could conceivably work in some high school collections if frequent Fbombs are not a problem
*Profanity: frequent F-bombs and a moderately heavy sprinkling of other milder cursing
*Violence: murder and mysterious disappearance are key to the book’s plot but very little blood or graphic descriptions
*Sexual content: references to making out, implied sex between married and unmarried couples and characters’ wilder youth included but no graphic descriptions; very low to no spice
*Representation: All the main characters are White but their economic and experiences are diverse. Family configurations are quite different as well with some raised in multigenerational homes, plenty of step parents and siblings present and some whose families are never really defined. Olivia is a lesbian and the rest of the group is heterosexual; Jewish heritage is a significant aspect in the main characters’ lives.
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss and Atria Publishing.
A thriller/mystery for young adults with so many twisting paths and possible endings, all kept tightly held until the end.
With its setting of a beautiful island in the Azores, The Last Time We Saw Her screams, “Summer read!” The young adults from 10 years ago, Jules, Lexa, Eli, Olivia, Reuben, and Aiden are now in their late 20s/early 30s and a memorial for Sydney, the girl who disappeared, plus a documentary surrounding her disappearance and probably death is supposed to solve the mystery once and for all. But everyone seems to have a secret. Told from the perspective of all of them means readers will see into the thoughts and deceptions of each one but so many points of view leads to some confusion while reading. The voices have such similarities in tone and experiences, despite the author’s attempt to make them distinctly different, that it may take plenty of rechecks of chapter headings to remember who is doing the narrating. However, their entwined lives and the mystery of what happened during the last big event of the group’s camping trip will keep those pages turning in order to see how it will all play out. The resolution is absolutely satisfying with most big reveals being fairly unexpected with just a few bits being suspected before the end.
*Target age: new adult through adult, although with the lack of sexual spice could conceivably work in some high school collections if frequent Fbombs are not a problem
*Profanity: frequent F-bombs and a moderately heavy sprinkling of other milder cursing
*Violence: murder and mysterious disappearance are key to the book’s plot but very little blood or graphic descriptions
*Sexual content: references to making out, implied sex between married and unmarried couples and characters’ wilder youth included but no graphic descriptions; very low to no spice
*Representation: All the main characters are White but their economic and experiences are diverse. Family configurations are quite different as well with some raised in multigenerational homes, plenty of step parents and siblings present and some whose families are never really defined. Olivia is a lesbian and the rest of the group is heterosexual; Jewish heritage is a significant aspect in the main characters’ lives.
Thanks for the eARC, Edelweiss and Atria Publishing.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
White Lotus-y Vibes
A review of the NetGalley ARC eBook released in advance of the Atria / Emily Bestler paperback/eBook/audiobook (expected June 16, 2026)
I'm not actually a fan of the White Lotus TV-series. I understand it as involving a group of mostly unlikeable spoiled characters vacationing in some exotic location with events culminating in murder. That was the vibe I got from this novel which might mean it will have wide appeal as I understand that White Lotus has a large group of dedicated fans. It was more hit and miss for me.
The positives here for me were the descriptive backgrounds and settings of the Azores island group, set far off in the Atlantic Ocean from its Portuguese roots. The history of its first colonization and evolving history were all fascinating tidbits that the author spread throughout.
The multiple POVs of the unlikeable characters was more of a downside though. Although we are supposedly included in their innermost thoughts, they never reveal the secrets that they are hiding until the reveals come along late in the book. That is of course necessary to make for a book of novel length but when it involves a rotating cast of so many people it becomes a bit wearisome.
That makes for the reveals to be even crazier than you would otherwise expect with a most unlikely culprit finally brought to light. There was a final downside with one of my not-so-favorite tricks, the reader having to write their own ending. The twists and reveals are taken up to the brink of a final confrontation at a culminating moment and there it ends. You can then write your own ending in which the villains are suitably punished, the innocents are finally rewarded, etc. For me those kinds of endings lack the payoff owed to a reader for their investment of time.
It was still a 3-star Like for the atmosphere and historical background setting, and a few (very few) likeable characters.
My thanks to Atria / Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance ARC copy for which I provide this honest review.
Trivia and Links
Author Jaclyn Goldis is a former estate planning lawyer who turned to writing novels, often set in exotic locales and settings. Her most popular novel (based on current GR reviews and ratings) is The Chateau (2023).
A review of the NetGalley ARC eBook released in advance of the Atria / Emily Bestler paperback/eBook/audiobook (expected June 16, 2026)
I'm not actually a fan of the White Lotus TV-series. I understand it as involving a group of mostly unlikeable spoiled characters vacationing in some exotic location with events culminating in murder. That was the vibe I got from this novel which might mean it will have wide appeal as I understand that White Lotus has a large group of dedicated fans. It was more hit and miss for me.
The positives here for me were the descriptive backgrounds and settings of the Azores island group, set far off in the Atlantic Ocean from its Portuguese roots. The history of its first colonization and evolving history were all fascinating tidbits that the author spread throughout.
The multiple POVs of the unlikeable characters was more of a downside though. Although we are supposedly included in their innermost thoughts, they never reveal the secrets that they are hiding until the reveals come along late in the book. That is of course necessary to make for a book of novel length but when it involves a rotating cast of so many people it becomes a bit wearisome.
That makes for the reveals to be even crazier than you would otherwise expect with a most unlikely culprit finally brought to light. There was a final downside with one of my not-so-favorite tricks, the reader having to write their own ending. The twists and reveals are taken up to the brink of a final confrontation at a culminating moment and there it ends. You can then write your own ending in which the villains are suitably punished, the innocents are finally rewarded, etc. For me those kinds of endings lack the payoff owed to a reader for their investment of time.
It was still a 3-star Like for the atmosphere and historical background setting, and a few (very few) likeable characters.
My thanks to Atria / Emily Bestler Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this advance ARC copy for which I provide this honest review.
Trivia and Links
Author Jaclyn Goldis is a former estate planning lawyer who turned to writing novels, often set in exotic locales and settings. Her most popular novel (based on current GR reviews and ratings) is The Chateau (2023).
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
A fun, slightly over-the-top ride of tangled relationships and dark family secrets, The Last Time We Saw Her was quite the original twist on a destination thriller. Blending a reunion-gone-wrong premise with a cold case breaking true-crime documentary investigation, it was quite the combo of my two favorite tropes. Not only that, but as soon as the main facts were established and the creeping sense of dread was laid down, things began to go off the rails in the best possible way. Filled with devious schemes, murderous intrigue, and a few old feuds waiting to blow, it was a deliciously unhinged trip into Ms. Goldis’s talented mind. I mean, not only was every single character beyond suspicious, but the layers upon layers of secrets kept my fingers flying through the pages at speed once things really got going.
A solid locked-room whodunnit despite the slow-burning first half, I do have to say that my favorite piece to this murder mystery was the messy group dynamic. Taking a handful of complex individuals and adding grudges, jealousies, and secrets, the explosion was both inevitable and deeply satisfying for this thriller lover. That being said, between the various perspectives and the somewhat flat documentary transcripts, I had a hard time becoming immersed in this story initially. About halfway through, though, I found myself utterly riveted. Action-packed, propulsive, and impossible to predict, the wild rollercoaster ride feel took over in full. Paired with the cat-and-mouse games, treasure-hunting antics, and toxic friendship vibes, and I was ultimately head over heels for this binge-worthy read. Rating of 4 stars.
Try this one if you love:
- A reunion gone wrong
- Complex plotting
- Books by Lucy Foley of Lucy Clarke
- A sense of claustrophobia
- Exotic settings
- New murders linked to old crimes
- Hidden motives
- Inclusion of Jewish heritage
- Long-buried secrets
SYNOPSIS:
Ten years ago, a group of American teenage summer campers went to a lush and isolated Azores island for a hiking and heritage trip. But when a clue to a local legend of buried treasure emerged, the summer devolved into a frenzied hunt and culminated in the disappearance—and rumored murder—of “it girl” camper, Sydney. She was never seen again and the treasure never found.
Now, a decade later, Sydney’s closest circle returns to honor her memory: Sydney’s sister and fellow camper, Olivia; a group of childhood camp friends; and their beloved counselors. They’ve all agreed to participate in a documentary probing what really happened to Sydney.
The group reunites in paradise and retraces their old haunts, hiking along crater lakes and submerging in thermal hot springs. But not everyone has innocent motives for returning to the island. And when the documentary filming reveals explosive truths and fresh hints resurrect the tantalizing treasure hunt, the group begins to implode. Old feuds reignite—and then one of them turns up dead.
Which means that a murderer has surfaced...again.
Thank you Jaclyn Goldis and Atria Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 16, 2026
Content warning: murder, chronic illness, gaslighting, gun violence, blackmail, toxic friendships, mention of: anxiety disorder, suicide, death of a parent, drug trafficking, pregnancy, infidelity
A solid locked-room whodunnit despite the slow-burning first half, I do have to say that my favorite piece to this murder mystery was the messy group dynamic. Taking a handful of complex individuals and adding grudges, jealousies, and secrets, the explosion was both inevitable and deeply satisfying for this thriller lover. That being said, between the various perspectives and the somewhat flat documentary transcripts, I had a hard time becoming immersed in this story initially. About halfway through, though, I found myself utterly riveted. Action-packed, propulsive, and impossible to predict, the wild rollercoaster ride feel took over in full. Paired with the cat-and-mouse games, treasure-hunting antics, and toxic friendship vibes, and I was ultimately head over heels for this binge-worthy read. Rating of 4 stars.
Try this one if you love:
- A reunion gone wrong
- Complex plotting
- Books by Lucy Foley of Lucy Clarke
- A sense of claustrophobia
- Exotic settings
- New murders linked to old crimes
- Hidden motives
- Inclusion of Jewish heritage
- Long-buried secrets
SYNOPSIS:
Ten years ago, a group of American teenage summer campers went to a lush and isolated Azores island for a hiking and heritage trip. But when a clue to a local legend of buried treasure emerged, the summer devolved into a frenzied hunt and culminated in the disappearance—and rumored murder—of “it girl” camper, Sydney. She was never seen again and the treasure never found.
Now, a decade later, Sydney’s closest circle returns to honor her memory: Sydney’s sister and fellow camper, Olivia; a group of childhood camp friends; and their beloved counselors. They’ve all agreed to participate in a documentary probing what really happened to Sydney.
The group reunites in paradise and retraces their old haunts, hiking along crater lakes and submerging in thermal hot springs. But not everyone has innocent motives for returning to the island. And when the documentary filming reveals explosive truths and fresh hints resurrect the tantalizing treasure hunt, the group begins to implode. Old feuds reignite—and then one of them turns up dead.
Which means that a murderer has surfaced...again.
Thank you Jaclyn Goldis and Atria Books for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.
PUB DATE: January 16, 2026
Content warning: murder, chronic illness, gaslighting, gun violence, blackmail, toxic friendships, mention of: anxiety disorder, suicide, death of a parent, drug trafficking, pregnancy, infidelity
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books, and Jaclyn Goldis for the ARC.
I’ve really enjoyed Jaclyn Goldis’s destination thrillers in the past, so I was excited to pick up The Last Time We Saw Her. The premise immediately grabbed me: a group of former campers reunite on a remote island ten years after one of their friends vanished during a treasure hunt that ended in tragedy. Add in a documentary revisiting the case, old secrets, and plenty of unresolved tension, and it sounded like exactly the kind of mystery I love. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite work for me. The book starts strong and pulled me in right away. I wanted answers about what happened to Sydney, and I was intrigued by the mix of past and present timelines. However, as the story progressed, I found the pacing much slower than I expected. A large portion of the novel focuses on the characters revisiting old events, relationships, and family drama, and I kept waiting for the mystery itself to move forward.
The multiple POVs helped provide different perspectives, but there were so many shifts that it sometimes felt difficult to stay connected to any one character. I also struggled to form much attachment to the cast. By the end, I didn't feel particularly invested in most of them, which made it harder to care about the outcome. That said, the setting and overall premise remained compelling. The idea of returning to the island where a friend disappeared years ago is inherently unsettling, and there were enough secrets and suspicious behavior to keep me turning pages. The final third of the book definitely picked up, with more twists, revelations, and tension. I found myself changing my theories several times once the story finally gained momentum.
My biggest issue was that it took too long to get there. For much of the book, I felt like I was hearing the same conversations and revisiting the same questions without learning much new information. While some of the twists were effective, others felt predictable, and the ending left me wanting a little more closure. Overall, this wasn't a bad read, but it wasn't my favorite from this author. Readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with plenty of family drama and relationship dynamics may connect with it more than I did. For me, I wanted a stronger focus on the suspense and mystery from the start.
I’ve really enjoyed Jaclyn Goldis’s destination thrillers in the past, so I was excited to pick up The Last Time We Saw Her. The premise immediately grabbed me: a group of former campers reunite on a remote island ten years after one of their friends vanished during a treasure hunt that ended in tragedy. Add in a documentary revisiting the case, old secrets, and plenty of unresolved tension, and it sounded like exactly the kind of mystery I love. Unfortunately, this one didn't quite work for me. The book starts strong and pulled me in right away. I wanted answers about what happened to Sydney, and I was intrigued by the mix of past and present timelines. However, as the story progressed, I found the pacing much slower than I expected. A large portion of the novel focuses on the characters revisiting old events, relationships, and family drama, and I kept waiting for the mystery itself to move forward.
The multiple POVs helped provide different perspectives, but there were so many shifts that it sometimes felt difficult to stay connected to any one character. I also struggled to form much attachment to the cast. By the end, I didn't feel particularly invested in most of them, which made it harder to care about the outcome. That said, the setting and overall premise remained compelling. The idea of returning to the island where a friend disappeared years ago is inherently unsettling, and there were enough secrets and suspicious behavior to keep me turning pages. The final third of the book definitely picked up, with more twists, revelations, and tension. I found myself changing my theories several times once the story finally gained momentum.
My biggest issue was that it took too long to get there. For much of the book, I felt like I was hearing the same conversations and revisiting the same questions without learning much new information. While some of the twists were effective, others felt predictable, and the ending left me wanting a little more closure. Overall, this wasn't a bad read, but it wasn't my favorite from this author. Readers who enjoy character-driven mysteries with plenty of family drama and relationship dynamics may connect with it more than I did. For me, I wanted a stronger focus on the suspense and mystery from the start.
January 16, 2026
The Last Time We Saw Her isn’t Goldis’ best. It reads a little YA (could be due to the fact that it is about a group of 20-somethings but reminisces heavily on their teen years) and the characters have stereotyped personas. Also, the ending is way too crazy, wrapped up, and left on too much of a cliffhanger all at once. In true Goldis fashion, she takes us to an exotic location—this time the Azores, an island off Portugal. The setting was one of the strong points of the book.
Plot: Sydney Azulay was murdered 10 years ago during a camp trip to the Azores—or was she? Her body was never found, could she just be missing? Her sister and fellow camp mates are determined to get to the bottom of this mystery as they reconvene on the island for her memorial and to film a documentary about the events that led to Sydney’s disappearance. Olivia, dubbed the “sister killer,” wants to set the record straight—however, she has turned quite a profit by writing fiction books based off of real life events from camp. Lexa was Sydney’s bff then ended up marrying her boyfriend at the time, Eli Da Costa. Eli’s a rick kid who’s a little oblivious and sweet to everyone—bottom of the suspect list. Reuben was Lexa’s camp boyfriend and is not Olivia’s stepbrother; keeping up with this crazy cast? Jules was a camp counselor and really needs the documentary to go well in order to get her big break in filmmaking. Aiden was their other counselor and camp heartthrob. When this bunch gets together they don’t all make it out alive. Who among them is a murderer and is the treasure that has been af the heart of camp lore real?
Boy oh boy did this story take a hard right turn there at about 80%. The twist was a little tooooo much for me and was crazier than it needed to be. Gotta keep this extremely vague but I needed more details on Jules at the end. Side note, Isaac Azulay is the worst. Basically everyone related to anyone at this camp is kinda crazy. The multiple POVs were fun because there were a lot of cliffhangers through the book and just as you thought you were figuring out one situation, it would switch to another. Fans of outlandish teen drama will enjoy this one.
Thank you so much to Atria Books, Jaclyn Goldis, and NetGalley for the ARC of The Last Time We Saw Her.
Plot: Sydney Azulay was murdered 10 years ago during a camp trip to the Azores—or was she? Her body was never found, could she just be missing? Her sister and fellow camp mates are determined to get to the bottom of this mystery as they reconvene on the island for her memorial and to film a documentary about the events that led to Sydney’s disappearance. Olivia, dubbed the “sister killer,” wants to set the record straight—however, she has turned quite a profit by writing fiction books based off of real life events from camp. Lexa was Sydney’s bff then ended up marrying her boyfriend at the time, Eli Da Costa. Eli’s a rick kid who’s a little oblivious and sweet to everyone—bottom of the suspect list. Reuben was Lexa’s camp boyfriend and is not Olivia’s stepbrother; keeping up with this crazy cast? Jules was a camp counselor and really needs the documentary to go well in order to get her big break in filmmaking. Aiden was their other counselor and camp heartthrob. When this bunch gets together they don’t all make it out alive. Who among them is a murderer and is the treasure that has been af the heart of camp lore real?
Boy oh boy did this story take a hard right turn there at about 80%. The twist was a little tooooo much for me and was crazier than it needed to be. Gotta keep this extremely vague but I needed more details on Jules at the end. Side note, Isaac Azulay is the worst. Basically everyone related to anyone at this camp is kinda crazy. The multiple POVs were fun because there were a lot of cliffhangers through the book and just as you thought you were figuring out one situation, it would switch to another. Fans of outlandish teen drama will enjoy this one.
Thank you so much to Atria Books, Jaclyn Goldis, and NetGalley for the ARC of The Last Time We Saw Her.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
The Last Time We Saw Her is a mystery thriller set on a Portuguese Island. Ten years earlier during a Heritage Trip, teenager Sydney disappears and is presumed dead; the mystery is never solved. In the present day, her fellow campers and their counselors have reunited for a memorial and to help make a documentary about Sydney's disappearance. Her sister, Olivia, whom everyone suspected; her best friend, Lexa, who is now married to Sydney's ex-boyfriend; handsome playboy Reuben; and former camp counselors Jules and Aidan. Everyone is suspicious, everyone carried motives, and things might finally come to a head as they gather again for the first time since losing Sydney.
This is a bit of a slow burn mystery. Author Jaclyn Goldis takes her time setting up the characters and establishing their private suspicions and potential hidden motives. Each chapter is told from a different character's point of view, so certain mysteries and threads dangle at the ends of chapters before the POV changes--this was definitely a fun element that had me cursing because I wanted answers, but enjoying the mystery as I committed to reading more chapters.
And once the action picks up, it barrels forward toward a resolution that I did not see coming. Sometimes in a mystery I can guess at a few elements, if not solve the whole thing, but this time around I was completely in the dark. Goldis weaves a subplot involving a hidden treasure into the mystery about Sydney, and both mysteries had such surprising plot twists that I was completely taken off guard. The reveals were fun and will definitely appeal to readers who enjoy surprises that leave them floored.
I also really enjoyed the setting. I knew nothing of the Azores or their rather remarkable history, so learning a bit more about the islands and their own heritage was fascinating and made for a very cool background for this story. It definitely made me want to learn more, and book a plane ticket!
This was a twisty mystery that definitely kept me guessing, perfect for fans of Freida McFadden or Alice Feeney.
*I received an advanced copy of the book from the publisher, Atria Books, via NetGalley; this review is entirely my own opinion.
This is a bit of a slow burn mystery. Author Jaclyn Goldis takes her time setting up the characters and establishing their private suspicions and potential hidden motives. Each chapter is told from a different character's point of view, so certain mysteries and threads dangle at the ends of chapters before the POV changes--this was definitely a fun element that had me cursing because I wanted answers, but enjoying the mystery as I committed to reading more chapters.
And once the action picks up, it barrels forward toward a resolution that I did not see coming. Sometimes in a mystery I can guess at a few elements, if not solve the whole thing, but this time around I was completely in the dark. Goldis weaves a subplot involving a hidden treasure into the mystery about Sydney, and both mysteries had such surprising plot twists that I was completely taken off guard. The reveals were fun and will definitely appeal to readers who enjoy surprises that leave them floored.
I also really enjoyed the setting. I knew nothing of the Azores or their rather remarkable history, so learning a bit more about the islands and their own heritage was fascinating and made for a very cool background for this story. It definitely made me want to learn more, and book a plane ticket!
This was a twisty mystery that definitely kept me guessing, perfect for fans of Freida McFadden or Alice Feeney.
*I received an advanced copy of the book from the publisher, Atria Books, via NetGalley; this review is entirely my own opinion.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐
Genre: Mystery Thriller
A decade ago, Sydney disappeared on a remote island while being among teenagers who went for a summer camp trip. This happened during a mysterious treasure hunt. Now the same group is returning to the island for a reunion to revisit the past and participate in a documentary.
The premise of the book is something I was very interested in, and I thought I’d enjoy it a lot. The idea of a long-buried secret that resurfaces and haunts the involved parties is also compelling. To be fair, the book succeeded in creating that dreadful, uneasy atmosphere. That tension keeps increasing as you progress in the reading. I had that feeling that every single character was hiding something.
One of the strengths of the book is its neat structure. Yes, there are multiple points of view, and the shift between past and present timelines made things somewhat confusing. However, the author clearly put thought into how the story unfolds. The pieces do come together in the end, giving you the bigger picture, even if getting there wasn’t as smooth as I would’ve liked.
The biggest issue for me, though, was the pacing. This isn’t a particularly long book, yet it felt much longer than it actually is. Many scenes felt stretched more than needed. I feel a tighter edit would have made a huge difference, and a faster pace would have made the story more engaging.
In terms of the characters, in general, the author did a decent job with them—especially when it comes to their history as a group of teenagers during the past. However, not all the characters are fully developed. This could be intentional, so the book won’t get longer. I might be mistaken.
The book is decent but not particularly memorable. The revelations and twists do bring some kind of closure and might give you some surprise moments, but they don’t quite elevate the tale into something special and unforgettable. In other words, that lasting impact is not as strong as I’d hoped for.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.
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Genre: Mystery Thriller
A decade ago, Sydney disappeared on a remote island while being among teenagers who went for a summer camp trip. This happened during a mysterious treasure hunt. Now the same group is returning to the island for a reunion to revisit the past and participate in a documentary.
The premise of the book is something I was very interested in, and I thought I’d enjoy it a lot. The idea of a long-buried secret that resurfaces and haunts the involved parties is also compelling. To be fair, the book succeeded in creating that dreadful, uneasy atmosphere. That tension keeps increasing as you progress in the reading. I had that feeling that every single character was hiding something.
One of the strengths of the book is its neat structure. Yes, there are multiple points of view, and the shift between past and present timelines made things somewhat confusing. However, the author clearly put thought into how the story unfolds. The pieces do come together in the end, giving you the bigger picture, even if getting there wasn’t as smooth as I would’ve liked.
The biggest issue for me, though, was the pacing. This isn’t a particularly long book, yet it felt much longer than it actually is. Many scenes felt stretched more than needed. I feel a tighter edit would have made a huge difference, and a faster pace would have made the story more engaging.
In terms of the characters, in general, the author did a decent job with them—especially when it comes to their history as a group of teenagers during the past. However, not all the characters are fully developed. This could be intentional, so the book won’t get longer. I might be mistaken.
The book is decent but not particularly memorable. The revelations and twists do bring some kind of closure and might give you some surprise moments, but they don’t quite elevate the tale into something special and unforgettable. In other words, that lasting impact is not as strong as I’d hoped for.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC of this book.
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Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I was intrigued by this premise, and the Azores locale was one of the highlights of this book, though I have to be honest that this was technically a DNF for me because I skimmed roughly the last 20% (only to regret doing so because seriously?). The characters are highly unlikable, and I wasn’t rooting for anyone at all, which tends to doom a book for me.
More than that, the writing style made the book feel unbearably long, with lots of extended scenes that could have been described with far fewer words. The prose also contained a boatload of sentence-level grammatical errors, the most egregious being the unfettered use of sentence fragments and the author’s refusal to combine sentences properly with connectors or commas. I suppose that this was intentional because of the age/generation of the characters, but it made them all sound like airheads, and caused my attention to snag on the errors because I constantly thought I had accidentally skipped some text. (Seriously, once you notice how frequently the author starts sentences with And, But, Like, So, Even though, etc instead of just writing complete sentences, the process of reading this book is just painful.)
Some random samples that could have used an editor’s touch:
“But the sight of Lexa now, in this scene, has me jumpy, almost as if Sydney’s about to pop out. Even though I know better. Just, those two were the best of friends, but decidedly different.”
“But suddenly I am keenly anxious to escape that interaction. Get my thoughts straight before I confront Lexa about what I heard last night.”
“But they have to fear me too. Even more. They made a huge mistake today by failing at their plan. Showing themselves in the open. Leveling up this whole thing. And for that, I intend to extract a heavier price.”
In short, this has the makings of a decent mystery with a great setting (hence the two stars, not just one), but the writing is tedious, the ending frustrated me, and I’m sorry I wasted my time reading.
In any case, thanks go to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and share my honest feedback on this ARC!
More than that, the writing style made the book feel unbearably long, with lots of extended scenes that could have been described with far fewer words. The prose also contained a boatload of sentence-level grammatical errors, the most egregious being the unfettered use of sentence fragments and the author’s refusal to combine sentences properly with connectors or commas. I suppose that this was intentional because of the age/generation of the characters, but it made them all sound like airheads, and caused my attention to snag on the errors because I constantly thought I had accidentally skipped some text. (Seriously, once you notice how frequently the author starts sentences with And, But, Like, So, Even though, etc instead of just writing complete sentences, the process of reading this book is just painful.)
Some random samples that could have used an editor’s touch:
“But the sight of Lexa now, in this scene, has me jumpy, almost as if Sydney’s about to pop out. Even though I know better. Just, those two were the best of friends, but decidedly different.”
“But suddenly I am keenly anxious to escape that interaction. Get my thoughts straight before I confront Lexa about what I heard last night.”
“But they have to fear me too. Even more. They made a huge mistake today by failing at their plan. Showing themselves in the open. Leveling up this whole thing. And for that, I intend to extract a heavier price.”
In short, this has the makings of a decent mystery with a great setting (hence the two stars, not just one), but the writing is tedious, the ending frustrated me, and I’m sorry I wasted my time reading.
In any case, thanks go to NetGalley and Atria Books for the opportunity to read and share my honest feedback on this ARC!
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
The Last Time We Saw Her grabbed my attention with a description boasting a decade-old disappearance, an isolated setting, and a group of friends returning to the scene, both to memorialize and confront what happened that summer. Based on those details alone this book should have worked for me, so I was eager to jump in. Unfortunately, this one wasn't what I had hoped and wasn't right for me- but that's okay! Let's talk about it anyway, because it might be right for you!
A few things in this book that I did love:
• The prologue grabbed immediate attention.
• I always enjoy when a book has multiple viewpoints and timelines included to deepen the story.
What didn't work for me:
Mostly, I struggled with the writing. There was a lot of repetition, and not repetition used as a way to advance the plot but moreso multiple characters having the same thought in nearly identical wording, small phrases used multiple times in rapid succession, etc. Please note that this could just be a me thing, but it took me out of the story and made the writing feel robotic. Dialogue also felt very unnatural throughout the story, with the interactions between characters coming off forced and uncomfortable, even between characters who should have an easy rapport. Overall, things felt very disjointed and kept the story from evoking the responses it should.
Pacing is something we should also discuss. I am someone who typically enjoys a slow burn, but I definitely understand that a slow burn would not work well given the timeframe our characters were working in. Even noting that, the pacing here didn't make sense and resulted in a book that felt very forced without much payoff.
I do think this book would work well for those who love fast-paced pacing, short chapters, and messy soap-opera style characters. If that's you, then this book may be one you enjoy more than I did- I know its audience is out there!
((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Atria Books, & Jaclyn Goldis for this complimentary copy.))
A few things in this book that I did love:
• The prologue grabbed immediate attention.
• I always enjoy when a book has multiple viewpoints and timelines included to deepen the story.
What didn't work for me:
Mostly, I struggled with the writing. There was a lot of repetition, and not repetition used as a way to advance the plot but moreso multiple characters having the same thought in nearly identical wording, small phrases used multiple times in rapid succession, etc. Please note that this could just be a me thing, but it took me out of the story and made the writing feel robotic. Dialogue also felt very unnatural throughout the story, with the interactions between characters coming off forced and uncomfortable, even between characters who should have an easy rapport. Overall, things felt very disjointed and kept the story from evoking the responses it should.
Pacing is something we should also discuss. I am someone who typically enjoys a slow burn, but I definitely understand that a slow burn would not work well given the timeframe our characters were working in. Even noting that, the pacing here didn't make sense and resulted in a book that felt very forced without much payoff.
I do think this book would work well for those who love fast-paced pacing, short chapters, and messy soap-opera style characters. If that's you, then this book may be one you enjoy more than I did- I know its audience is out there!
((While the viewpoints shared are my own, I want to thank NetGalley, Atria Books, & Jaclyn Goldis for this complimentary copy.))
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