The Last Special Thing

by Alyssa K. Burns

Illusion, Reality, Love, Identity

Amelia Cox has lived a charmed life of open credit cards, little parental oversight, and the perfect future mapped out for her. That is, until she gets unexpectedly dumped by her high school sweetheart right before they graduate. Now, with her plans in disarray, she's determined to have an unforgettable summer before she begins college at UCLA.

When Amelia meets Art Anderson, a charming chaos junkie whose bedroom has only a drum set and an air mattress, she believes she’s found the right person to provide her with some adventure. Her relationship with Art is intoxicating, and between late nights, personalized playlists, and effortless connection, Amelia knows their connection is something special.

Art tests every boundary Amelia has set for herself, and as they embark on a summer doing drugs and breaking laws, the line between adventure and destruction becomes razor thin. Amelia must choose between the privileged life she had planned and the guy who makes her heart race, for better or for worse.

296 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 1, 2026

About the author

Alyssa K. Burns is a journalist and author. She earned her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from California State University, East Bay, and her Master of Business Administration from California State University, San Marcos. An elder emo, iced coffee enthusiast, and wife and mother, Alyssa enjoys dancing in the kitchen and creating messy fiction for young adults.

AlyssaKBurns.com

Reviews

[tara · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Alyssa K. Burns for trusting me to be an ARC reader!

The characterization was excellent! These characters jumped off the page with real flaws and nuances without compromising their likability.
It was hard not to root for both Weston and Art and I loved the constant grey areas between each dynamic as they shifted.
I’m impressed by the way the heavy subject matter was handled with realism and care and I was pleased with the way Amelia’s journey ended!
A timely, steamy summer read as we had head into the warmer months!

[Jenna Quoss]

I did not finish this book at 20%. The writing was not my style. The story was too young for me and I didn’t care for the characters.

[Pattie Fore · Rating 3 out of 5]

More like 3.75

First, thank you so much to Alyssa K. Burns and Beyond the Books PR for the opportunity to read this free eARC!

Going into this, I was honestly a little worried I wouldn’t connect with the characters. I’m about twice their age and come from a very different financial background, so at first, there felt like a noticeable disconnect.

But as the story unfolded, I started to see small pieces of myself reflected in both Amelia and Art. Like Amelia, I remember spending so much of my high school years focused on the future instead of living in the moment, constantly striving to feel special, especially in the eyes of my mother. And like Art, I come from a more humble background, where love and security sometimes felt tied to deeper insecurities.

That said, it did take me about 45–50% of the book to really feel invested. The first half was a bit of a struggle for me in terms of connection and engagement. But once things picked up, I found myself genuinely intrigued and wanting to see how everything would play out.

A note for readers: this book does include underage drinking and drug use, so I’d definitely recommend being mindful if considering it for younger teens.

Where this book lost me a bit was the ending. The climax comes very late, and then it’s just over. I was left wanting more resolution, more of a come down after everything that built up. It felt abrupt, and I found that frustrating especially after the slower pacing earlier in the story.

Overall, this was a solid read with moments that really resonated, but the initial disconnect, heavy themes, and rushed ending kept it from being a standout for me.

[Belinda Smith · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really wanted to love The Last Special Thing, but it just didn’t click for me 💔

This story followed Amelia, a girl who had her whole life perfectly planned—until a breakup right before graduation completely threw her off course. What was supposed to be a controlled, privileged future turned into a reckless, chaotic summer when she met Art, a thrill-seeking musician who lived fully in the moment. Their connection was intense, filled with late nights, music, bad decisions, and blurred lines between freedom and self-destruction 🎧✨

And honestly… I could see what the book was trying to do. The themes of identity, illusion vs reality, and first love were all there. But I just couldn’t emotionally connect 😞

None of the characters really worked for me. They felt bratty, impulsive, and hard to root for. I kept waiting to feel something deeper—some growth, some vulnerability—but it never fully landed. Even Amelia’s internal conflict between her old life and this new reckless version of herself didn’t hit as strongly as I hoped 💭

The pacing also made it harder. It felt slow for most of the book, very slice-of-life, almost drifting along… and then suddenly the climax arrived so late and wrapped up so quickly 😕

That ending really frustrated me. After all that build-up, I expected more emotional payoff. More resolution. More time to sit with everything that happened. Instead, it just… ended. Abruptly. And I was left feeling unsatisfied 😩

✨ This might work for you if you like:
💔 messy, complicated first love
🎶 music + playlist vibes
🔥 reckless summer / bad decisions era
🌪️ chaos romance
🧠 coming-of-age with identity struggles
⚖️ privilege vs self-destruction themes

Even though it wasn’t for me, I can see how others might connect with its raw, chaotic energy and emotional exploration 💫

Thank you to the author and Beyond the Books PR for the ARC opportunity 💌

[nikki · Rating 5 out of 5]

what a debut!!!!!!! alyssa’s characters truly jump off the page, they’re so well-written. I felt like I was there doing drugs with them 🤣🤪

this story was so intriguing!!! I’ve never read anything like it, and I was hooked from the start.

all of the different character dynamics were perfection. I was simultaneously rooting for art & weston and hating them both. I loved her dynamic with madisson! even max had his moments. but overall, I loved following amelia’s journey and being inside her head!! she was such a relatable character I was rooting for from the start.

can’t wait to read more from alyssa!!

[Lexi · Rating 5 out of 5]

I am so glad I got to be an ARC reader on this novel! This contemporary coming of age story encompasses the desire to forge your own experiences when everything in your life is already mapped out for you, even if that means putting your carefully planned future at risk. As someone who rebelled quite a bit against my strict parents in my late high school/early college years, I found that aspect of the story very relatable. Acting out at that age is a way to take claim over your own your life, and Amelia's angsty, defiant character was a great depiction of this.

Another thing I really loved about this novel is that it was not all sunshine and rainbows because so few things in life actually are. The characters were all flawed, yet none of them were fully unlikeable because the author did a great job of depicting their positive qualities in balance with their negative ones. She also shed light on their back stories, creating a sense of empathy for why they do the things they do. This made the characters and their struggles more relatable.

The drug experimentation was a lot of fun to read too. I love that the author went there because let's be so for real. A lot more people have experimented with drugs than they may willfully admit lol I liked that we got to see the range of how different drugs affect different people, both physically and psychologically. Amelia was definitely going through the growing pains of entering adulthood and struggling with the difficult transition between high school and college, but she still had a loving family at home who would always be there to support her and help her out if she screwed up. Art, on the other hand, did not. The way they both view and react to drugs was a strong reflection of who they are and what they've been through. When Amelia comes back to reality after coming down from a high, she comes back to warm bed, family to put her through college, and endless spending limit. When Art comes back down, his reality is a lot more bleak.

This book really raised the question of what it actually means to be free. While Amelia views Art as free because he doesn't have parents meddling in his life, he is also trapped in his own way by his past and both the financial and emotional struggles that come with it. Amelia may feel trapped under her parents' thumb, but having wealthy parents does grant her financial freedom. She's too young to fully understand that money is power in this world, and she will always have more opportunities available to her and more doors open for her than Art ever will. At the end of the day, freedom is as much a state of mind as it is a measurable external circumstance.

I can't write this review without lastly highlighting all of the nostalgic emo music sprinkled in throughout. I'm a huge music lover and an elder emo, so I very much appreciated the mentions of A Day to Remember, Blink 182, and other bands that made up the soundtrack to my own high school/early college experience. I fear I too would have fallen for the hot emo drummer feeding me drugs and getting me into trouble at that age haha

Overall, such a refreshing take on a coming of age young love romance novel!

[Josi Priscilla · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨️ARC REVIEW✨️
 
AUTHOR: Alyssa K Burns

Release date: 01/04/2026
Available on Amazon and KU!
 
RATING : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

What to expect:
🩷Morally grey
🖤Bad boy drummer
🩷Twin flames
🖤Summer fun
🩷Self-discovery
🖤Lady x Tramp
🩷Fast-burn love

 
REVIEW :
I would like to start by thanking Alyssa K Burns & Beyond the books pr for giving me the chance to read and review The Last Special Thing. Please Read the Trigger Warnings as this has underage drink and drug use.
My Favourite Quote: "It's more than love, we're twin flames. It will always be us."

This book took me on a journey, I feel I was able to relate to a few of the characters in someway. I understood Amelia's need to let go and try to live in the moment, to have that feeling of freedom of being a child (she didn't feel she had with overbearing parents) before the focus of college & her perfectly planned future. I related to Madison trying to have Amelia's back while exploring her relationship with Art.
I could relate to Art for his carefree go with the flow nature and wanting everyone to have a good time (even if he didn't execute it in the best way). Weston is the reliable guy, who made sure Amelia always got home safe. I felt the way Weston and Amelia's situationship (exes who try to navigate a friendship) was portrayed very well, even through the ups and downs they still tried to keep that friendship.

The way the drink & drug scenes were explored and perceived worked well and made you feel the way they did under the influence and how it effected people differently which was really interesting. I liked the way the different family relationships were portrayed were written very well and although I dont feel like Amelia's parents were overprotective/ overbearing really as she was given space to live in her own apartment, albeit on her parents property. It did give her the freedom to start to navigate adulthood with the security of her parents support near by, which I feel is lacking and could be beneficial for young adults to have. That space in which they can explore while still having that support from there parents, Meanwhile not being ontop of each other like we do when living under the same roof.
Overall I think this book was written well and I really enjoyed reading this.

[Trish · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book! I read this super quickly, because I didn't want to put it down!

We meet Amelia, our FMC, right before she graduates high school, when she seems to have everything lined up for a successful last summer before heading off to college; the long-term boyfriend, the supportive parents, the best friend, and the acceptance into her dream college. That is, until her boyfriend unexpectedly breaks up with her. What follows is a series of decisions made by Amelia that lead to an interesting summer, to say the least.

I was flipping through each page to get to the next, and found myself squeezing every muscle in my body, because I was so nervous about what was around each new corner. The summer before college is pivotal, and just thinking back to that (very long) time ago, this had me in all of my feels. It makes you yearn to reach out and give your younger self messages through Amelia's experience. It makes you realize how one bad decision can lead to many others. It showcases where distrust levels can start, or be enhanced, through people you think you can trust, and how some of your earliest relationships can impact the rest of your life.

Other things I loved:
- This felt different than typical romance reads; it was mysterious, real and vulnerable, a bit dark, and heartbreaking at times. Alyssa's writing resonates with me, as I like the nitty gritty realistic stories, but readers beware this isn't your typical beach read (but also, I'd totally take this to the beach!)
- Very quick read overall and loved the short chapters.
- I had immediate interest in the characters; I thought Alyssa developed each very well, whether you loved or hated them.
- It was tense! I had to remind myself to breathe and relax half the time.
- Friendships explored: jealousies, trust, ex to friends (is it possible), etc.

This is a 4.25 star for me! I highly recommend this book, but will say to check trigger warnings and understand this isn't a light read. I would have loved more back story with Amelia's parents (the usage of first names but also sometimes mom and dad confused me a bit). I would love to see where Amelia continues to go in life!

Thank you to Beyond The Books PR the author for the Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review. @beyondthebookspr and @alyssakburns

[Soha Amer · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Special Thing is a contemporary young adult coming‑of‑age story that explores friendship, love, identity, and the risks of adolescent choices. 

The novel follows Amelia Cox, a young woman whose carefully mapped‑out future falls apart after a sudden breakup right before graduation. Determined to make her last summer before college unforgettable, she meets Art Anderson, a free‑spirited, unpredictable guy whose presence turns her world upside down. 

Their connection is immediate and intoxicating — late nights, deep conversations, and an easy bond that neither of them quite anticipated. But as their summer progresses, Amelia is drawn into experiences — including drug experimentation and boundary‑pushing behavior — that blur the line between safe adventure and self‑destruction. 

At its heart, the book isn’t about glamorizing risky behavior; it’s about how quickly choices can escalate and how young people navigate new emotions, relationships, and pressures without clear guidance. The author intentionally avoids simplistic “just don’t do drugs” messaging, instead showing a realistic progression of decisions and consequences across a pivotal summer. 

What works well:
• A raw, emotional portrayal of teenage uncertainty and longing.
• A believable depiction of how curiosity and connection can lead to unintended situations.
• Honest reflections on identity, privilege, and the desire to feel ‘special.’

Potential challenges:
• Some readers may feel the story moves toward destruction with less resolution or clear direction.
• Because it treats heavy themes with subtlety rather than shock‑value, the pacing and emotional beats may feel uneven for some.

Overall: The Last Special Thing is a thoughtful, emotional debut that resonates with readers interested in character‑driven YA stories about risk, growth, and the complexity of coming of age.

[Alyss Valleroy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had the chance to read an ARC of The Last Special Thing, and I’m still sitting with it in the best (and slightly unsettling) way.

This isn’t your typical romance; it’s much more of a coming-of-age story about what happens when the life you thought you were going to have suddenly cracks open. Amelia starts the summer with everything mapped out, and watching that unravel as she chases something messier, more exciting, and more dangerous felt incredibly real. That push and pull between control and chaos? It’s done so well.

What really stood out to me is how honest the book feels. The relationships aren’t idealized, the choices aren’t always good ones, and the consequences aren’t wrapped up neatly. Amelia and Art’s connection is intense and intoxicating, but there’s this underlying tension the whole time... like you know things could tip in the wrong direction at any moment. I found myself both rooting for them and bracing for impact.

I also loved how the story explores privilege and freedom without hitting you over the head with it. Amelia has safety nets she doesn’t fully recognize, while Art is operating from a completely different reality, and that contrast adds so much depth to their dynamic.

And honestly? I appreciated that the book goes there. The partying, the experimentation, the questionable decisions? It all feels reflective of that in-between stage of life where you’re figuring out who you are, sometimes the hard way. It’s messy and uncomfortable at times, but intentionally so.

Overall, this felt dark, addictive, and emotional in a way that lingered after I finished. It’s not a fluffy beach read, but it’s the kind of story that makes you think about your younger self and the choices that shape you.

I loved it and I can’t wait for everyone else to read it. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Mads · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Last Special Thing is a captivating debut from author Alyssa K. Burns. In a market that is saturated with romances that focus solely on the couple, it was so refreshing to see a true coming of age novel. Losing yourself and then finding yourself again is something I think most of us can deeply relate to.

Amelia, while not perfect, is a young woman who has had everything she could ever dream of, yet wants to spend the summer chasing adventure and continuously pushing the boundaries she sets for herself.

Art, a free spirited drummer, rockets into Amelia’s life and seemingly fills every gap, the two of them becoming completely attached in the blink of an eye.

The version of Amelia at the beginning and the version at the end feel very different, in the best way. I relate to this story deeply as someone who also dated a drummer and lost myself a little in the process (albeit no drugs were to be found in my situation.)

While reading this book, I felt at times like the author was glorifying drugs and uplifting a relationship where one person says “it’s okay to say no” but has a huge positive reaction when the answer is yes, covertly manipulating the outcome. By the end of the book it was clear that this icky feeling I was having was completely intentional by the author and I appreciated all those intentionally uncomfortable moments even more.

This is a powerful story of female friendship, making your own path, and staying true to yourself. It’s not a book that everyone will enjoy, and romance readers may be surprised by the direction it takes but I’m glad to have read it and think there should be more books in this vein!

Thank you to Beyond the Books PR for the ARC!

[Susan (Purplegalaxyreads94) · Rating 4 out of 5]

First I’d like to thank Alyssa K. Burns and beyondthebookspr for the gifted eARC in exchange for my honest and spoiler free review of The Last Special Thing.

My Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

My Thoughts:
This is a brand new author to me and The Last Special Thing took me by surprise! If you want a book that makes you think of what you truly want in your life no matter what you may have already planned then look no further because that’s how Amelia’s life is in this book. Seeing an FMC go from having it all planned out to having a charmed life to being dumped by her high school sweetheart and becoming unsure of her future.

Watching her meet Art who challenges her in every way definitely made this coming of age story something special. If you want a story that shows the true meaning of going down a path of destruction yet still finding love along the way, then Amelia and Art’s story will be for you. It was such a beautiful journey of human life and finding one’s self. This story spoke a lot to me as I also was the type of girl to be considered the good girl. I did well in school, always made parents proud and never really did anything that maybe considered dangerous or destructive, so watching Amelia go on the summer of a lifetime definitely made me live through her vicariously. I think a lot of readers are going to find a piece of themselves in this story and will enjoy the character growth that it has to offer.

[Leila Heikkinen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Umm, what?! This book was IMPRESSIVELY written! I’ve never done drugs but in many moments throughout this book I legitimately felt like I was on them, haha. What a fabulous job Alyssa did of writing this trip—wow wow wow! Aside from the drugs part (which is still blowing my mind), this was an incredible story. I ADORED Amelia and Madisson’s friendship, it was just the sweetest thing. I also really really enjoyed the dynamic between Amelia and Weston—childhood best friends to first loves back to friends is really hard to figure out in real life and therefore really hard to write in fiction, but Alyssa did a great job of it. I’m honestly sad they didn’t work out, but I know they never would… and I love that we felt all of those emotions in their relationship! And Art. Sweet Art. He’s the perfect paradox because he’s a gentleman and a golden retriever, yet he’s a heavy drug addict. How do we deal with that?! Amelia fought with her love and the truth just exactly how we all would. Alyssa wrote this dilemma so beautifully, and I’m just so PROUD of Amelia’s character arc! Truly she was such an interesting and lovely character—she’s real and she loves so genuinely and my heart breaks for her broken one. I love her, I love Alyssa, I love the Honey Cat series and cannot wait for so many more adventures with this wild and fabulous crew!

[Busychapterbelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

One small choice, a summer that refuses to let you go
Alyssa K. Burns’ The Last Special Thing pulls no punches. It follows Amelia — the straight-A, trophy-collecting teen whose parents prize a spotless image — as a breakup with Weston and a reckless summer with Art push her into decisions that change everything. Burns writes simply but sharply; the scenes land, and the book forces you to sit with how a single “yes” can upend a life. If you read YA novels for honest, messy coming-of-age moments, this one fits.
What makes the story stick is its refusal to sugarcoat consequences. Amelia’s mistakes are raw and believable, and the fallout shows both the ugliness and the possibility of coming back from a bad choice when someone decides to try. Themes of family expectation, identity, and accountability thread through the summer romance and mistakes in a way that feels earned, not neat. The Last Special Thing is a compact, intense read for fans of emotional YA and quiet redemption arcs.
Trigger warning: this book includes drug use and other mature content; read the warnings before you start. If you’re curious, check your local library or favorite bookstore and give it a look — then tell someone what you thought. For more down-to-earth, spoiler-light book reviews of YA and coming-of-age reads, follow along and share your reactions.

[Chika (somereadbooks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Wow! it's hard to read this one for me, honestly. But firstly, thank you so much Alyssa K Burns and Beyond Books PR for the opportunity to read early from the Advanced Copy Readers 🫶

It's more 3,5 - 3,75 stars honestly.

the storyline: really easy to follow, the story is kinda common especially for YA but this has waaayyy deeper on drugs, drinking for underage and doing criminal things. The writer researched those things quite thorough, well done!

the writings: it's easy to understand and I love how she describes things; quite details. especially the inner thoughts of Amelia so we knew how she feels. it's written on third pov but somehow I kinda confused who's she referred to in the convo 🤭

the setting: modern, high schoolers who want to experience everything before enrolled to the uni. And it's quite a roller coaster.

moral of the story: sometimes we need to learn things the hard way before we find the right path in life.

ps. what I mean it's hard to read it in the beginning is bcs I hate Art from the very beginning Amelia met him. I know this guy is "doing" things. And I tried hard to hold on until the end so I know what path Amelia chooses. I think he's manipulative and toxic so I can't stand him LOL but I'm glad I finished it in time 😊

[Peggy Chapin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was well written and kept me glued to it for several days to see how Amelia survived her wild summer. Alyssa offered an understanding of teenage girls relationship with the opposite sex and how so many things can go awry all in the guise of saving their "love". I felt it provided an accurate depiction of how girls (and women) follow whatever the male in their life even suggests just to feel liked and then loved. It shows how pathetic girls react as soon as the "boyfriend" shows he is attractive to her, and then even worse is when he says he loves her. When that occurs, there is no question that she will follow him wherever he goes and do whatever he instructs her to do, even when she knows it is so wrong.

There were several possible outcomes and I hoped for the best for Amelia, frantically reading to end. I commend Alyssa for offering this real life view of teenage girls. I hope those who read the book will realize how quickly dreams can disappear by illusions of a wild and crazy summer offered by a misguided male.

I gave this book 5 stars because it was well-written, it had a real life scenario that I could relate to, and the outcome led me to think about it long afterwards.

[Paige Miller · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a coming of age romance story that evolves around underage drinking and drug use, so be aware of that before reading this book.

Amelia has everything she can need in life as someone who just graduated high school; money, family, friends, and acceptance to UCLA, but she still feels trapped. Art has none of that; he sleeps on an air mattress because his drum set is more important, he doesn’t have a job, and he is very chaotic. The two of them have a whirlwind summer and Amelia starts doing more and more drugs with Art and it slowly changes her as a person.

I had a hard time with parts of this book, one of them being that I wasn’t the biggest fan of the way Amelia was reacting to things, I wish she would’ve stood up for herself more and didn’t cave so easy. I’m also not a huge fan of third person POV so that took some getting used to.

Overall I gave this 3 stars because I do think it was well written, it just wasn’t necessarily the book for me.

*Honored to have received an early copy in exchange for my honest review*

[Amber N · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you remember the kind of love that changed how you thought about love? The kind that shakes up your beliefs and makes you do things you swore you never would? The kind that gives you whiplash, the only way to describe it is a roller coaster?

That’s what The Last Special Thing is, a roller coaster. One that takes you through every emotion and leaves you wanting more. I got off that ride and immediately thought, let’s do it again.

Alyssa found a way to capture the chaos of the summer after high school, when it feels like anything is possible. I thoroughly enjoyed watching the characters come to life and seeing pieces of myself and people I know in them. I wanted to shake some of them for the decisions they were making, but that’s part of being a young adult.

I think there’s something in this book for everyone. Even if some of the themes aren’t familiar, the feelings definitely are. It reminded me just how intense, messy, and unforgettable that time of life can be. Do yourself a favor and read it, you won’t regret it!!

[Brenda · Rating 3 out of 5]

ARC review
Amelia is a privileged, UCLA bound actress with a meticulously planned future. Until her boyfriend dumps her before graduation. Desperate for adventure she falls for Art. Art is a tattooed, mysterious drummer who lives by his own rules. As Amelia sheds her good girl persona she discovers a world of spontaneity and passion. But also a lot of spiraling out of control.
The Last Special Thing is a coming of age romance that captures the messy, exhilarating chaos of post-graduation freedom, but its pacing and character choices make it a mixed bag. Amelia’s journey from rule follower to rebel is compelling, and Art’s free spirited charm is a breath of fresh air, but the first half struggles with clarity and emotional depth, leaving readers waiting for the story to find its footing.
The second half of the book makes up for the struggling first half ending it on a 3 star read for me.
If you love bad boy musicians and good girls gone wild, Art is your book boyfriend.

[S. Grant · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow. This story was absolutely incredible. Going through Amelia’s experiences was extremely relatable: her desire for adventure, how that can easily lead you astray especially as a teenager, how quickly things can shift and you can lose yourself in the world, the questions she asked herself as she began to realize the changes that had taken place—it was all so, so real. Each wave she was swept under was another hit to her self image until it ate away at her completely and big life decisions had to be made. I left the story feeling very proud of her for her journey and how far she had come.

Her friendship with Madisson was beautiful. I both loved and felt for Madisson deeply. All the characters played their rolls so well. The rollercoaster from love to anger and aggravation with these characters was a ride.

Overall, I really enjoyed this one so much! Would highly recommend, especially if you loved the movie Thirteen. The “good girl on a journey with the wrong crowd” is definitely the vibe and it hits.

[Alma Castro · Rating 4 out of 5]

✨The Last Special Thing ✨

Quote: “Her love and desire for him drowned out logic.”
Rating : ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Tropes: Bad Boy Drummer , Twin Flames , Summer Fun , Self Discovery, Lady X Tramp , Fast Burn Love , Drug Experimentation , YA.
Format: Kindle

This book brought back so many memories from my teenage years 😭. I saw myself in Amelia and I too had an Art at a point in my life. On paper Amelia’s life seemed to have everything figured out however she felt she needed more. She met Art and it was an instant connection. She loved that he was free and did whatever he wanted. It seemed as if her life was always planned and with Art she felt free. This book moved at a fast pace and it felt real and raw. There were so many times I caught myself yelling at the FMC “this is a bad idea!” And then I remembered I was once in her place. We were all at one point in her place and were blinded by what we thought was love.

Now I do must say this book won’t be for everyone given that it’s a YA story and it’s told in 3rd person , however I do suggest giving it a chance.

[The Book Ssirren · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5⭐️

Sometimes we need to learn things the hard way before we find the right path in life. That’s what Amelia did. She thought living a wild line with Art was fascinating and fun. Falling into drugs and alcohol. I couldn’t help feeling that it was so easy for her to fall into this life because she was pampered in life. So of course she wanted to do something that was the complete opposite. Being older and a mom, I went through this book wanting to sit her down and ask her what in the heck she thought she was doing. But then I remembered what I told my kids. Once they turned 18 they were old enough to make their decisions in life. If they made mistakes, they learned from them. But the only way to truly find your way in life was to do what they thought they needed to do. I feel like Amelia needed to do that too.

[katiebbooks💌 · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you so much to Beyond the Books PR for the ARC of the last special thing. When I saw the blurb for this one I thought that is exactly what I’m looking for and I really did want to love it.

We follow Amelia after an unexpected breakup, as she meets Art, and they spend their summer taking drugs, before she’s due to go to college in the fall.

Unfortunately for me it did fall short. I liked the premise of the plot, but I wanted more depth from the characters, I felt a lot of their decisions were done just for the sake of it, and for me in order to connect I have to understand their reasonings for behaving in that way. I also wanted to see more of Amelia without Art at the end, as this would have added more of an emotional weight for me.

[Katie Shepherd · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was such a fun read. We’ve all been young and dumb and made some questionable choices and this book clearly demonstrates that aspect of life. The main character is flawed and that’s what makes her relatable. Her and I do not share the same insecurities but the baseline NEED to experience connection and be cared for and SEEN is so relatable. Have I made questionable substance decisions in my life? Sure have. This book does a great job describing those highs and lows and what makes you go back time and time again. But it ALSO displays a clear breaking point where you simply can’t continue on the way you have been. Overall it was such a good read. Great angsty summer book. Think Zara Larsson if she was in a metal band.

[Shaina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Well, I learned a lot more about drugs than I knew before from this book. It was a wild ride for this FMC to be sure. She wanted a summer of adventure and boy did she get it. There were parts of her story and arch that I resonated with — being a good girl, always doing what her parents wanted, etc. and just wanting something new and different. But her choices led her down some dangerous paths. It was very well written and felt like real experiences. But I just didn’t enjoy it. Maybe because I’m way beyond this stage of life. The characters felt real and I enjoyed the depiction of female friendships at this age.

[Frog · Rating 5 out of 5]

First I want to say how much I love the author's writing style. Burns has a way of pulling you in so you feel everything the characters do and taste the sh-tty coming of age beer that they drink. I loved Amelia as a FMC and felt her presence so deeply in the story. I think we have all met a boy like Art at some point in our lives... for better... or worse.

The drug aspect was something different from most YA books and I found myself on the edge of my seat for most of the book.

I can't wait to read book 2 in the Honey Cat series!!

Thank you to Beyond The Books PR the author for the Advanced Copy in exchange for an honest review. @beyondthebookspr and @alyssakburns

[Megan McDaniels · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book took me back to being 18. It was fun and wild. Full of the carefree bad decisions that are necessary for turning us into adults that know better. It was real and raw. Forget a slow burn, I love reading what’s real. (Or at least what was real when I was an angsty, dramatic, hopeless romantic teen) I loved it. I love the adventures, the friendships, the parties and the times when I was screaming for the FMC to think a little more rationally. But hey, we’ve all been blinded by love before.

[Tia Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

Was so happy to get this ARC of The Last Special Thing, a beautiful coming of age story about a young girl trying to find herself the summer before college. Amelia and Arts story is one that I’m sure a lot of young women can relate to, myself included, when youth and innocence are swept up in a whirlwind romance with a “bad boy”. Alyssa’s writing takes you to a place of empathy and compassion for her characters and their choices throughout the novel. This also made me want to take a trip to California again! Loved!!

[Kelsey Seltzer · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a good coming of age book. Getting swept up in a fast summer love, losing sight of who you are, and eventually finding your way back. The story moved quickly and kept my interest.

Loved the friendship between Amelia & Maddison! Would have loved to know a little bit more about the MMCs backstory but otherwise there was good character development.


*I received an advanced copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

[Michelle Guffey · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75⭐️

Oh the nostalgia. The Last Special Thing brings you back to that first love.
Maybe it's a personal experience thing for me but I really enjoyed this book. Kind of healing in a way.
MMCs name gave me the ick but I won't hold it against him😜
I wished the ending gave a little more. I wanted the FMC to mourn that first love that was lost.

Author writes really nice, book was easy to read and flows well.
Thank you so much to Beyond The Books PR for the ARC!!!