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The Last Days of Us
Five teens, one derelict Kombi and an unforgettable road trip…
Six months ago, Zoey’s life went off the rails. After the tragic loss of her brother, she partied her way to oblivion, estranged her best friend, Cass, and pushed away her now ex, Finn. But when her destructive behaviour reaches dangerous heights, Zoey realises she needs to pull herself together and get her old life back, including her ex. There’s just one complication: Finn is now dating Cass.
Now, it’s the last week of summer and Zoey, Cass and Finn are setting out on the road trip of a lifetime to see their favourite musician, Gray, perform live, joined by Finn’s infuriatingly attractive bad-boy cousin Luc and his vibrant younger sister Jolie. Zoey thinks this is her chance to put things to rights and convince Finn they should get back together. But she wasn’t counting on her friends’ lingering resentment, Luc’s disarming sincerity, and Jolie’s infectious love for life to turn her plans upside down.
This emotional coming-of-age story will resonate with anyone who’s ever messed up, fallen in love, or taken off on an adventure.
Six months ago, Zoey’s life went off the rails. After the tragic loss of her brother, she partied her way to oblivion, estranged her best friend, Cass, and pushed away her now ex, Finn. But when her destructive behaviour reaches dangerous heights, Zoey realises she needs to pull herself together and get her old life back, including her ex. There’s just one complication: Finn is now dating Cass.
Now, it’s the last week of summer and Zoey, Cass and Finn are setting out on the road trip of a lifetime to see their favourite musician, Gray, perform live, joined by Finn’s infuriatingly attractive bad-boy cousin Luc and his vibrant younger sister Jolie. Zoey thinks this is her chance to put things to rights and convince Finn they should get back together. But she wasn’t counting on her friends’ lingering resentment, Luc’s disarming sincerity, and Jolie’s infectious love for life to turn her plans upside down.
This emotional coming-of-age story will resonate with anyone who’s ever messed up, fallen in love, or taken off on an adventure.
260 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2018
14 people are currently reading
367 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 74 reviews
July 8, 2018
Moving and memorable. Had to read this in one sitting
Zoey’s life has gone totally off the rails since the death of her brother. Her pain is all consuming and she shuts everyone out of her life. Zoey’s boyfriend, Fin, finds solace in the arms of her best friend Cass.
When she is invited on a road trip with Cass, Fin and his two cousins to see their favourite musician, Gray, Zoey sees this as the opportunity to get her life on track and get back the happiness she once knew....with Fin.
The Last Days of Us is a heartfelt coming of age story of friendship, finding yourself and living in the moment. Zoey is the main focus, as she is the narrator, but every character had their own story and all were paramount to the plot.
Zoey’s main focus on the road trip is to get her boyfriend back but as the trip progresses and she becomes friends with Fin’s cousin Jolie she learns to see the beauty in small things, to live life in the moment and find joy in every new experience.
Zoey’s trip to awakening is heartfelt and filled with moments of despair. She does come to the realization that it’s not all about her, other people have pain, sorrow and loss too. I think she comes out of it a better person.
Warning: tissues required.
This review is part of the Beauty & Lace Bookclub
To read the original review on Beauty & Lace please visit http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
Zoey’s life has gone totally off the rails since the death of her brother. Her pain is all consuming and she shuts everyone out of her life. Zoey’s boyfriend, Fin, finds solace in the arms of her best friend Cass.
When she is invited on a road trip with Cass, Fin and his two cousins to see their favourite musician, Gray, Zoey sees this as the opportunity to get her life on track and get back the happiness she once knew....with Fin.
The Last Days of Us is a heartfelt coming of age story of friendship, finding yourself and living in the moment. Zoey is the main focus, as she is the narrator, but every character had their own story and all were paramount to the plot.
Zoey’s main focus on the road trip is to get her boyfriend back but as the trip progresses and she becomes friends with Fin’s cousin Jolie she learns to see the beauty in small things, to live life in the moment and find joy in every new experience.
Zoey’s trip to awakening is heartfelt and filled with moments of despair. She does come to the realization that it’s not all about her, other people have pain, sorrow and loss too. I think she comes out of it a better person.
Warning: tissues required.
This review is part of the Beauty & Lace Bookclub
To read the original review on Beauty & Lace please visit http://bookgirl.beautyandlace.net/boo...
December 18, 2017
*https://mrsbbookreviews.wordpress.com
Who doesn’t love a road trip themed novel? I know I have a weakness for these books, they never seem to fail to appeal my sense of adventure and escapism. The Last Days of Us, written by Australian novelist Beck Nicholas, takes the reader on an interstate jaunt with Zoey, her best friend Cass, ex Finn and Finn’s cousins. The group use the last week of summer as an excuse to take a road trip in a kombi, travelling from Adelaide to Melbourne, to see Gray, their favourite musician. The Last Days of Us is a moving coming of age story, coloured with moments of light and dark.
Zoey, the main protagonist of The Last Days of Us, lost her brother Dan over six months ago in a tragic car accident. Since the crash, life has been hard for Zoey. We learn that Zoey has engaged in a fair bit of self destructive behaviour since the loss of her brother. This carefree behaviour has directly impacted on her relationships and as a result, Zoey has lost her boyfriend Finn to her best friend Cass. In an attempt to make amends for her actions, Zoey suggests a road trip to mark the end of the summer, to see their favourite performer, Gray. The trip offers Zoey a chance to reconnect with her estranged friend and ex. As she desperately clings onto the hope of reconciliation with Finn, Zoey finds herself drawn to Luc, Finn’s mysterious cousin. With the infectious Jolie by her side, Zoey’s life begins to make a change for the better.
I saw a recent recommendation of The Last Days of Us by an author I follow closely on social media, Rachael Johns. I was pleased when a copy of The Last Days of Us came into my possession and after reading this raw coming of age novel, I am keen to explore the back catalogue of Beck Nicholas.
The Last Days of Us is a book targeted to the young adult market, with the main protagonist and her band of friends being aged in their late teens. However, I still feel this is a novel that can be appreciated by adult readers. In fact, The Last Days of Us evoked a strong sense of nostalgia for me, as it enabled me to recall the last summer of high school, as I made that difficult transition from a high school student, to a young adult. It was a tough time for me personally, as it is for our leading lady of the novel, Zoey. Although my experience at this age was nowhere near as tragic as Zoey’s, I could still find some semblance with her situation.
I appreciated Beck Nicholas’ writing style. The Last Days of Us is well written, very much targeted to the key audience of this novel and has a distinctly Australian flavour. I loved the road trip scenes very much. I lapped up the locations that are familiar to me and I thought Nicholas captured the sense of freedom a road trip ignites very well indeed.
There are some dark and tough moments in this novel that Nicholas handles with care. First there is the loss of lead character Zoey’s brother. Nicholas shows us the stages of grief through these sections of the novel and I believe she presents these in a sensitive manner. The book also explores close held secrets, fractured friendships, romance, attraction, hedonism and mental health. These relevant and contemporary issues are offset by poignant moments of self actualisation. Although it was an emotional ride with Zoey and her friends, the road travelled offered some fun times, along with the promise of a bright future ahead for the characters of The Last Days of Us.
An extra feature of The Last Days of Us that I feel must be acknowledged, as I thought it was a great touch, are the song lyrics that adorn each chapter beginning of the novel. The lyrics selected come from the performer Gray, who is Zoey’s favourite musician. Gray plays an important role in the novel, as he is the main reason why the group embark upon a road trip from state to state. This extra touch added to the musical flavour of the novel and I found myself looking forward to each new chapter, to read through these meaningful song words.
The Last Days of Us is a story of heartbreak, regret, righting past wrongs, making plans for the future and appreciating each day as a gift. This emotional coming of age young adult novel is peppered with a distinctly Australian flavour, which I loved. I enjoyed The Last Days of Us very much and I encourage all readers to add this book to your essential summer holiday reads pile!
*I wish to thank the publisher, Harlequin Books Australia, for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Who doesn’t love a road trip themed novel? I know I have a weakness for these books, they never seem to fail to appeal my sense of adventure and escapism. The Last Days of Us, written by Australian novelist Beck Nicholas, takes the reader on an interstate jaunt with Zoey, her best friend Cass, ex Finn and Finn’s cousins. The group use the last week of summer as an excuse to take a road trip in a kombi, travelling from Adelaide to Melbourne, to see Gray, their favourite musician. The Last Days of Us is a moving coming of age story, coloured with moments of light and dark.
Zoey, the main protagonist of The Last Days of Us, lost her brother Dan over six months ago in a tragic car accident. Since the crash, life has been hard for Zoey. We learn that Zoey has engaged in a fair bit of self destructive behaviour since the loss of her brother. This carefree behaviour has directly impacted on her relationships and as a result, Zoey has lost her boyfriend Finn to her best friend Cass. In an attempt to make amends for her actions, Zoey suggests a road trip to mark the end of the summer, to see their favourite performer, Gray. The trip offers Zoey a chance to reconnect with her estranged friend and ex. As she desperately clings onto the hope of reconciliation with Finn, Zoey finds herself drawn to Luc, Finn’s mysterious cousin. With the infectious Jolie by her side, Zoey’s life begins to make a change for the better.
I saw a recent recommendation of The Last Days of Us by an author I follow closely on social media, Rachael Johns. I was pleased when a copy of The Last Days of Us came into my possession and after reading this raw coming of age novel, I am keen to explore the back catalogue of Beck Nicholas.
The Last Days of Us is a book targeted to the young adult market, with the main protagonist and her band of friends being aged in their late teens. However, I still feel this is a novel that can be appreciated by adult readers. In fact, The Last Days of Us evoked a strong sense of nostalgia for me, as it enabled me to recall the last summer of high school, as I made that difficult transition from a high school student, to a young adult. It was a tough time for me personally, as it is for our leading lady of the novel, Zoey. Although my experience at this age was nowhere near as tragic as Zoey’s, I could still find some semblance with her situation.
I appreciated Beck Nicholas’ writing style. The Last Days of Us is well written, very much targeted to the key audience of this novel and has a distinctly Australian flavour. I loved the road trip scenes very much. I lapped up the locations that are familiar to me and I thought Nicholas captured the sense of freedom a road trip ignites very well indeed.
There are some dark and tough moments in this novel that Nicholas handles with care. First there is the loss of lead character Zoey’s brother. Nicholas shows us the stages of grief through these sections of the novel and I believe she presents these in a sensitive manner. The book also explores close held secrets, fractured friendships, romance, attraction, hedonism and mental health. These relevant and contemporary issues are offset by poignant moments of self actualisation. Although it was an emotional ride with Zoey and her friends, the road travelled offered some fun times, along with the promise of a bright future ahead for the characters of The Last Days of Us.
An extra feature of The Last Days of Us that I feel must be acknowledged, as I thought it was a great touch, are the song lyrics that adorn each chapter beginning of the novel. The lyrics selected come from the performer Gray, who is Zoey’s favourite musician. Gray plays an important role in the novel, as he is the main reason why the group embark upon a road trip from state to state. This extra touch added to the musical flavour of the novel and I found myself looking forward to each new chapter, to read through these meaningful song words.
The Last Days of Us is a story of heartbreak, regret, righting past wrongs, making plans for the future and appreciating each day as a gift. This emotional coming of age young adult novel is peppered with a distinctly Australian flavour, which I loved. I enjoyed The Last Days of Us very much and I encourage all readers to add this book to your essential summer holiday reads pile!
*I wish to thank the publisher, Harlequin Books Australia, for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
March 20, 2018
i enjoyed this contemporary read not as much as i thought i would have liked but i think if you love books like this you'll enjoy it!
December 27, 2017
2.5 Stars.
Sixteen year old Zoey is embarking on a journey of reflection and discovery, attending a performance in Melbourne and accompanied by her best friend and former boyfriend. After her brother Daniel passed away, her relationships dissolved as Zoey medicated with a destructive concoction of alcohol and isolation. Although remorseful, Zoe is courageous to concede and apologise for her behaviour, she continued to endure the relationship of friend and former boyfriend Finn. Two important figures in her life seeking solace in one another, rather than support Zoey.
Accompanying them on the journey is Lucien and Jolie, siblings and cousins of Finn. A stoic young man and reluctant passenger, Lucien appears menacing while Jolie is a vivacious and effervescent fifteen year old. Zoey is attracted to Lucien. He's attentive and paternal but with no regards for her best friend, Zoey is determined to rekindle her relationship with Ryan.
I despised Ryan and his girlfriend. Zoey was intoxicated and allegedly discovered with a young man and consequently, this excused her friend and boyfriend from their behaviour. The narrative circumvents the discussion of consent and Zoey is criticised by her friend for her sexuality, implying she's promiscuous. I found the relationship between Zoey, Finn and his girlfriend noxious as Zoey endeavours to reestablish her relationship with Finn. It explores adolescent relationships and deception. Although Zoey is distressed, she attempts to manipulate Finn into a new relationship. Her friend is barely present, a character only existing to aggravate Zoey and create a point of melodrama within the narrative. She spends the entire journey either unsociable or being offensive.
Lucien is a compassionate young man and I enjoyed his gentle and familial relationship with Jolie who is spontaneous and charismatic, her enthusiasm and vitality is infectious. I'm disappointed the narration focalised Zoey when Jolie could have offered a pragmatic perspective. I applaud Zoey's character for reflecting on her behaviour but pursuing Finn was uncomfortable. Zoey's resentment of the relationship between Lucien and Jolie was exhausting as she continuously compared her relationship with Daniel.
The essence of The Last Days of Us is spontaneity, absolution and adversity. Unfortunately it's melodramatic, monotonous and not for me.
Sixteen year old Zoey is embarking on a journey of reflection and discovery, attending a performance in Melbourne and accompanied by her best friend and former boyfriend. After her brother Daniel passed away, her relationships dissolved as Zoey medicated with a destructive concoction of alcohol and isolation. Although remorseful, Zoe is courageous to concede and apologise for her behaviour, she continued to endure the relationship of friend and former boyfriend Finn. Two important figures in her life seeking solace in one another, rather than support Zoey.
Accompanying them on the journey is Lucien and Jolie, siblings and cousins of Finn. A stoic young man and reluctant passenger, Lucien appears menacing while Jolie is a vivacious and effervescent fifteen year old. Zoey is attracted to Lucien. He's attentive and paternal but with no regards for her best friend, Zoey is determined to rekindle her relationship with Ryan.
I despised Ryan and his girlfriend. Zoey was intoxicated and allegedly discovered with a young man and consequently, this excused her friend and boyfriend from their behaviour. The narrative circumvents the discussion of consent and Zoey is criticised by her friend for her sexuality, implying she's promiscuous. I found the relationship between Zoey, Finn and his girlfriend noxious as Zoey endeavours to reestablish her relationship with Finn. It explores adolescent relationships and deception. Although Zoey is distressed, she attempts to manipulate Finn into a new relationship. Her friend is barely present, a character only existing to aggravate Zoey and create a point of melodrama within the narrative. She spends the entire journey either unsociable or being offensive.
Lucien is a compassionate young man and I enjoyed his gentle and familial relationship with Jolie who is spontaneous and charismatic, her enthusiasm and vitality is infectious. I'm disappointed the narration focalised Zoey when Jolie could have offered a pragmatic perspective. I applaud Zoey's character for reflecting on her behaviour but pursuing Finn was uncomfortable. Zoey's resentment of the relationship between Lucien and Jolie was exhausting as she continuously compared her relationship with Daniel.
The essence of The Last Days of Us is spontaneity, absolution and adversity. Unfortunately it's melodramatic, monotonous and not for me.
January 24, 2018
Another contemporary that didn't do it for me. When the book starts off with a character calling herself a slut (which would carry on about 8 times throughout the entire book), and saying she misses her brother farting in her face (out of all the things you would miss about your brother), I knew it was going to be a rough read.
There's this scene, where the guys on the road trip indicate how "curvy" a girl is. And the main character decides that she:
"It's not something the easygoing girl I'm trying to be would do." EXCUSE ME? Like you're so easygoing you're just going to let these males step all over you.
in another breath, says:
"Not that I care, but then, I didn't need to know she was built like every guy's wet dream either..." A perfect example of internalised misogyny. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
Her first mistake is that she goes on a road trip with her best friend who happens to be dating her ex-boyfriend. I have no idea why she thought this was a good idea because what we get is a strained relationship with her best friend, a lot of internalised hate and pining after her ex-boyfriend. There's also a lot of relationship drama and I really didn't find any of the character interesting. Like her best friend just does not care about her at all and the other characters are fairly bland.
The only thing I found mildly interesting was the twist at the end which I didn't see coming, but at least we came full circle. I ended up skimming the rest of the book because I just had no interest in it and I'm glad it's over. I also really disliked the romance, because it seemed like it evolved just because she was there. Also can I say her ex-boyfriend Finn is trash.
Truth be told, I can see where the book was going. It's about a girl dealing with the grief and the loss of her brother, who makes drunken mistakes and is suffering from the consequences of this. There's a lot to be desired in her approach and her mindset though. Including referring to herself as a slut over and over again (hey if you think my review is repetitive, that's how it was in the book). I just felt like this book held a lot of internalised misogyny, with girl on girl hate and I'm not about that.
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
There's this scene, where the guys on the road trip indicate how "curvy" a girl is. And the main character decides that she:
"It's not something the easygoing girl I'm trying to be would do." EXCUSE ME? Like you're so easygoing you're just going to let these males step all over you.
in another breath, says:
"Not that I care, but then, I didn't need to know she was built like every guy's wet dream either..." A perfect example of internalised misogyny. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED.
Her first mistake is that she goes on a road trip with her best friend who happens to be dating her ex-boyfriend. I have no idea why she thought this was a good idea because what we get is a strained relationship with her best friend, a lot of internalised hate and pining after her ex-boyfriend. There's also a lot of relationship drama and I really didn't find any of the character interesting. Like her best friend just does not care about her at all and the other characters are fairly bland.
The only thing I found mildly interesting was the twist at the end which I didn't see coming, but at least we came full circle. I ended up skimming the rest of the book because I just had no interest in it and I'm glad it's over. I also really disliked the romance, because it seemed like it evolved just because she was there. Also can I say her ex-boyfriend Finn is trash.
Truth be told, I can see where the book was going. It's about a girl dealing with the grief and the loss of her brother, who makes drunken mistakes and is suffering from the consequences of this. There's a lot to be desired in her approach and her mindset though. Including referring to herself as a slut over and over again (hey if you think my review is repetitive, that's how it was in the book). I just felt like this book held a lot of internalised misogyny, with girl on girl hate and I'm not about that.
I received a review copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
April 20, 2018
Trigger warnings for substance addiction, grief, sexual assault and terminal illness.
• The entire narrative around Zoey's 'cheating' - which was actually sexual assault - made me deeply uncomfortable.
• I don't understand how I was meant to like Luc after the kiss scene. You do not kiss someone after they tell you to leave them alone, especially when they are crying and visibly upset and do not give you verbal consent. God.
• I didn't think Zoey's substance addiction was done justice. It was mentioned only in passing a few times and she was confronted by so many potential relapse triggers that were never really an issue.
• A lot of plot holes and stretched believability.
• I'm sick to death of that kind of plot twist.
rtc
• The entire narrative around Zoey's 'cheating' - which was actually sexual assault - made me deeply uncomfortable.
• I don't understand how I was meant to like Luc after the kiss scene. You do not kiss someone after they tell you to leave them alone, especially when they are crying and visibly upset and do not give you verbal consent. God.
• I didn't think Zoey's substance addiction was done justice. It was mentioned only in passing a few times and she was confronted by so many potential relapse triggers that were never really an issue.
• A lot of plot holes and stretched believability.
• I'm sick to death of that kind of plot twist.
rtc
January 15, 2018
I bought this book yesterday, and finished it last night (well, technically this morning -- it was after midnight). That's something that never happens to me these days, so I needed you to know that upfront. While some of the speed with which I read it is due to the relatively short length of this young adult contemporary, especially compared the epic fantasy I finished a week ago, most of it is due to Nicholas's accessible writing style and the natural momentum of a road trip story.
But The Last Days of Us isn't just any road trip story. Firstly, it's Australian, set on the road between Adelaide and Melbourne as the characters travel there to see the musician Grey in concert. That has particular appeal for me, because - although that's not a drive I've done myself - I've seen photos of a lot of the landmarks that the teens visit. It's always self-affirming to see your own world in fiction.
Secondly, The Last Days of Us is a powerful exploration of grief and grieving. As the blurb says, Zoey is trying to piece her life back together after losing herself in alcohol and wild parties following her brother's death. She has broken up with her boyfriend, has grown distant from her best friend (who is now dating her boyfriend, so that seems fair), and is estranged from her parents. She can see that her life is a mess, but the only way she can see to fix it is to try and return to the "old" Zoey, the one she was before Dan died. She tries to do this in a very literal sense - same haircut, same fashion sense, same boyfriend.
Some may find Zoey's intention to get between Cass and Finn a little shocking, but it didn't prevent me from being able to get behind her as a character. For a start, Zoey isn't particularly nefarious about it. She doesn't set out to directly sabotage Cass with Finn. She instead tries to reconnect with him, show him that the old Zoey is back (even if she's not and never can be), and see if that is enough. Also, it's clear from the beginning that Finn is a terrible choice for Zoey (and probably for Cass), so I guess I never expected Zoey's scheme to go very far.
I'm not going to lie, those moments in the first half of the book where she tries to orchestrate things so she can talk to Finn alone are awkward as anything. But, here's the thing - I found them so cringey because I remember how, when I was seventeen, I tried to arrange things so I could be with a crush. Not one that had a girlfriend, admittedly, but I was just about as ham-fisted about it as Zoey. I could really relate to her in that regard.
There are other elements of grief in the story, ones I won't get into because of spoilers. They are fairly well telegraphed, and play out as you might expect -- but that didn't make them any less heartbreaking. Still, the scene that made me cry is one that is all Zoey, mourning for her brother. Her grief is so raw.
The relationship that develops between Zoey and Luc is sweet, and didn't feel rushed despite the relatively short timeframe in which most of the book takes place. He is perceptive, is sweet without being a pushover when Zoey is rude to him, and provides an excellent foil for the shallowness that is Finn. Cass is a little more problematic as a character -- she clearly struggles with having Zoey back on the scene and is insecure about her relationship with Finn, but she resorts to some pretty low comments for a supposed best friend. (She and Finn try to slut-shame Zoey, which did make me want to punch them a little bit.)
The other thing I really loved about this book was Grey, the teen musician they are travelling to see. He's only in a couple of scenes, but excerpts from his songs (written by the author, obviously) are at the start of each chapter, so his fingerprints are throughout. His music leans towards tortured and broody, so the excerpts are a nice note ... so to speak.
Definitely check out The Last Days of Us for an easy but compelling summer read.
But The Last Days of Us isn't just any road trip story. Firstly, it's Australian, set on the road between Adelaide and Melbourne as the characters travel there to see the musician Grey in concert. That has particular appeal for me, because - although that's not a drive I've done myself - I've seen photos of a lot of the landmarks that the teens visit. It's always self-affirming to see your own world in fiction.
Secondly, The Last Days of Us is a powerful exploration of grief and grieving. As the blurb says, Zoey is trying to piece her life back together after losing herself in alcohol and wild parties following her brother's death. She has broken up with her boyfriend, has grown distant from her best friend (who is now dating her boyfriend, so that seems fair), and is estranged from her parents. She can see that her life is a mess, but the only way she can see to fix it is to try and return to the "old" Zoey, the one she was before Dan died. She tries to do this in a very literal sense - same haircut, same fashion sense, same boyfriend.
Some may find Zoey's intention to get between Cass and Finn a little shocking, but it didn't prevent me from being able to get behind her as a character. For a start, Zoey isn't particularly nefarious about it. She doesn't set out to directly sabotage Cass with Finn. She instead tries to reconnect with him, show him that the old Zoey is back (even if she's not and never can be), and see if that is enough. Also, it's clear from the beginning that Finn is a terrible choice for Zoey (and probably for Cass), so I guess I never expected Zoey's scheme to go very far.
I'm not going to lie, those moments in the first half of the book where she tries to orchestrate things so she can talk to Finn alone are awkward as anything. But, here's the thing - I found them so cringey because I remember how, when I was seventeen, I tried to arrange things so I could be with a crush. Not one that had a girlfriend, admittedly, but I was just about as ham-fisted about it as Zoey. I could really relate to her in that regard.
There are other elements of grief in the story, ones I won't get into because of spoilers. They are fairly well telegraphed, and play out as you might expect -- but that didn't make them any less heartbreaking. Still, the scene that made me cry is one that is all Zoey, mourning for her brother. Her grief is so raw.
The relationship that develops between Zoey and Luc is sweet, and didn't feel rushed despite the relatively short timeframe in which most of the book takes place. He is perceptive, is sweet without being a pushover when Zoey is rude to him, and provides an excellent foil for the shallowness that is Finn. Cass is a little more problematic as a character -- she clearly struggles with having Zoey back on the scene and is insecure about her relationship with Finn, but she resorts to some pretty low comments for a supposed best friend. (She and Finn try to slut-shame Zoey, which did make me want to punch them a little bit.)
The other thing I really loved about this book was Grey, the teen musician they are travelling to see. He's only in a couple of scenes, but excerpts from his songs (written by the author, obviously) are at the start of each chapter, so his fingerprints are throughout. His music leans towards tortured and broody, so the excerpts are a nice note ... so to speak.
Definitely check out The Last Days of Us for an easy but compelling summer read.
January 13, 2018
This was a sweet and fun love story, with a giant side of feels (no, you're ugly crying!). A perfect summer read.
February 6, 2018
*This book was received via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
This book was surprisingly deep. After her brother dies, the main character Zoey gets involved in the party scene and her life gets out of control. After a much needed wake-up call, Zoey realises she wants her old life back. Zoey, however, not only aims to do this by making amends with her best friend Cass, but also by stealing back her ex-boyfriend Finn. Zoey's grand plan is to go on a road trip with Cass, Finn and Finn's cousins Jolie and Luc. The trip however leads to unexpected consequences and discoveries not just about love but also the precious fragility of life.
Apart from the plot which was interesting, the characters were also quite well developed with Jolie, Luc and Zoey the most fleshed out. Cass and Finn kind of take a back seat hence there could be some more room for character development with both of them but considering the length of the novel this may have caused the plot to drag. The romance was also well written and believable.
Finally, a special mention must go to Jolie who was one of my favourite characters due to her joyous, resilient and optimistic nature.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read with a strong plot and interesting characters. Not only that but this book is quite memorable as the reader's emotions are evoked throughout the book.
This book was surprisingly deep. After her brother dies, the main character Zoey gets involved in the party scene and her life gets out of control. After a much needed wake-up call, Zoey realises she wants her old life back. Zoey, however, not only aims to do this by making amends with her best friend Cass, but also by stealing back her ex-boyfriend Finn. Zoey's grand plan is to go on a road trip with Cass, Finn and Finn's cousins Jolie and Luc. The trip however leads to unexpected consequences and discoveries not just about love but also the precious fragility of life.
Apart from the plot which was interesting, the characters were also quite well developed with Jolie, Luc and Zoey the most fleshed out. Cass and Finn kind of take a back seat hence there could be some more room for character development with both of them but considering the length of the novel this may have caused the plot to drag. The romance was also well written and believable.
Finally, a special mention must go to Jolie who was one of my favourite characters due to her joyous, resilient and optimistic nature.
Overall, this was a very enjoyable read with a strong plot and interesting characters. Not only that but this book is quite memorable as the reader's emotions are evoked throughout the book.
October 11, 2019
Guys, look. I'm a huge sucker for a YA romance. I'm not even going to pretend this was a good book. It was cookie cutter YA. It really was. I've read multiple versions of this same story, rebagled with a slightly different hook. Take one first person female protagonist with + tragic backstory + one hot, blonde but vapid boy + one dark mysterious and moody boy, add a heavy dash of teenaged angst and a kitchsy hook (in this case, roadtrip!) shake well and serve. It's nothing special, really. The characters were fairly 2D, especially the best friend and the ex boyfriend, who mostly existed only to produce barely existent conflict. Honestly the protagonist, Zoey, drove me up the goddamn wall most of the time (realistic description of grief? Not this). But you know what? I freaking DEVOURED this book. I couldn't put it down. I was genuinely thrilled when moody mcmoody face started to open up to angsty Zoey. I was excited when their relationship developed. It was as inevitable as death (pardon the pun) but damnit, I enjoyed it. So shoot me, I guess?
This felt like schmoopy, hurt/comfort fanfic, and was categorically not a very good book. But whatever, I was totally into it.
This felt like schmoopy, hurt/comfort fanfic, and was categorically not a very good book. But whatever, I was totally into it.
January 14, 2018
This book was exactly what I was expecting it would be: super cheesy, predictable, overdramatic, and full of cringe worthy romance, which is exactly what I love! I shouldn’t and I hate myself for it, but I’m a sucker for a cliché contemporary novel. This book in particular was super cliché and cheesy. It was just another YA contemporary, if I’m being honest. There wasn’t anything remarkable about this book that made it stand out to me. It was a quick, easy read, but I know in a months time I will have forgotten the story and the characters . . .
December 18, 2017
3.5*** I enjoyed this story, there were parts that I didn't enjoy so much, but overall it was a good read. Sometimes what we think we want isn't always the case. Zoey has many issues to work through, as do her friends, (though I'm not sure I'd want friends like hers). Setting out on a road trip is a great way of making or breaking these relationships.
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin (Australia), TEEN / MIRA for a copy in return for an honest and voluntary review
Thanks to Netgalley and Harlequin (Australia), TEEN / MIRA for a copy in return for an honest and voluntary review
January 29, 2019
This was a really good quick read. It has been sitting on my bookshelf for a while and last night I decided I would start it. I did not want to put it down last night but luckily got a chance to finish it this morning. I really loved the relationship between Jolie and Luc, and just Jolie in general. It was sweet to see her so enthralled by the small things and sites on their road trip.
December 9, 2017
A real emotional and raw read - full review coming soon.
January 13, 2018
An enjoyable road trip story, about discovering that you can't go back to before a major change. More soon...
February 24, 2023
Just your average teen romance. Felt like reading a wattpad story to be honest. Not in a bad way
September 30, 2019
I loved this book so much. The ending had me reaching for tissues so be warned.
October 29, 2021
what I thought it would be did not disappoint
May 28, 2021
So, this book for me was quite an easy read. Finished it within 3 days and I wouldn’t say I took the story away with me, if you get what I mean..
And if I’m honest the story was very predictable. The hints to the main character about particular plots points or twists were so obvious that I couldn’t believe the author was making out she was that... ignorant! It annoyed me to the point where I skipped a lot of lines... which is something you don’t want to be doing if you want to invest yourself into the story.
Overall it was a sweet story and I did feel sympathy for all of the characters but I wouldn’t read again
And if I’m honest the story was very predictable. The hints to the main character about particular plots points or twists were so obvious that I couldn’t believe the author was making out she was that... ignorant! It annoyed me to the point where I skipped a lot of lines... which is something you don’t want to be doing if you want to invest yourself into the story.
Overall it was a sweet story and I did feel sympathy for all of the characters but I wouldn’t read again
January 18, 2018
I liked this novel. I’m judging this on the basis that I read it the whole way through without getting bored of it. It’s a nice summer read and If you’re dreaming of a road trip with drama aplenty then this is for you.
This book is the best kind of guilty pleasure read because you ultimately see what’s going to happen but that doesn’t stop you from turning page after page to see how we get there. Much like the road trip Zoey finds herself on - we know the destination but what’s along the way is a mystery. See what I did there? I made the metaphor of being on a road trip much like that of reading this book. Pat on the back.
The story starts off with us seeing Zoey the protagonist getting ready to go on a road trip. I appreciate that the story just delves straight in. There’s no long drawn out backstory and unnecessary details, we receive the right amount of background to become curious and later more is revealed to us. Nothing is worse when you’re reading than when authors give too much detail and too soon.
What we do know when we start reading is Zoey kind of went crazy six months ago. Went off the rails, drank all hours of the day, didn’t know what day it was when she woke up, crazy. After the tragic loss of her brother, she drank away her sorrows, pushed away all the people closest to her including her best friend and boyfriend. Turns out she’s pushed her boyfriend right into her best friends arms. Now she’s determined to get her old life back complete with her ex, Finn. This comes from a hopefulness that when she does so she will also go back to feeling how she did pre her brother passing. What’s not on her plans is Luc, Finns surprisingly disarming cousin or Jolie and her love for life and everyone in it.
This novel had everything I love. Love, loss, redemption, heartbreak, regret and righting past wrongs. I appreciated Beck Nicholas’ writing style. Who doesn’t love a good road trip when friends and this was one of the reasons that drew me to reading this book.
Beck Nicholson also does a great job of exploring some very real issues we face such as grief, mental health, death, and polarity of loneliness. As a teenager you often times are left questioning a lot of things in your life as you grow up and start to explore what you value in your life and how to deal with certain emotional experiences that come your way. There were many different kinds of love - romantic, family and friendship and I think this novel beautifully showcases all those different kinds. There is an issue of grief and how it is handled by people differently that Nicholson touches on beautifully. Not too much to offset readers as her demographic is quite young but enough to touch on some key points of loss that everyone can identify with.
I really enjoyed how music was used also as a means of healing for the protagonist. It often times is a real lifeline for people and I especially enjoyed how each chapter started off with a song verse from Zoey’s favourite singer, Grey.
This coming of age story is especially poignant and will leave you feeling nostalgic if you���re past your teen years or looking forward to summer if you’re still in them. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone for their summer holiday reading. Set in the sizzling Australian summer it’s a novel people of all ages can enjoy.
*I wish to thank the publisher, Harlequin Books Australia, for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
This book is the best kind of guilty pleasure read because you ultimately see what’s going to happen but that doesn’t stop you from turning page after page to see how we get there. Much like the road trip Zoey finds herself on - we know the destination but what’s along the way is a mystery. See what I did there? I made the metaphor of being on a road trip much like that of reading this book. Pat on the back.
The story starts off with us seeing Zoey the protagonist getting ready to go on a road trip. I appreciate that the story just delves straight in. There’s no long drawn out backstory and unnecessary details, we receive the right amount of background to become curious and later more is revealed to us. Nothing is worse when you’re reading than when authors give too much detail and too soon.
What we do know when we start reading is Zoey kind of went crazy six months ago. Went off the rails, drank all hours of the day, didn’t know what day it was when she woke up, crazy. After the tragic loss of her brother, she drank away her sorrows, pushed away all the people closest to her including her best friend and boyfriend. Turns out she’s pushed her boyfriend right into her best friends arms. Now she’s determined to get her old life back complete with her ex, Finn. This comes from a hopefulness that when she does so she will also go back to feeling how she did pre her brother passing. What’s not on her plans is Luc, Finns surprisingly disarming cousin or Jolie and her love for life and everyone in it.
This novel had everything I love. Love, loss, redemption, heartbreak, regret and righting past wrongs. I appreciated Beck Nicholas’ writing style. Who doesn’t love a good road trip when friends and this was one of the reasons that drew me to reading this book.
Beck Nicholson also does a great job of exploring some very real issues we face such as grief, mental health, death, and polarity of loneliness. As a teenager you often times are left questioning a lot of things in your life as you grow up and start to explore what you value in your life and how to deal with certain emotional experiences that come your way. There were many different kinds of love - romantic, family and friendship and I think this novel beautifully showcases all those different kinds. There is an issue of grief and how it is handled by people differently that Nicholson touches on beautifully. Not too much to offset readers as her demographic is quite young but enough to touch on some key points of loss that everyone can identify with.
I really enjoyed how music was used also as a means of healing for the protagonist. It often times is a real lifeline for people and I especially enjoyed how each chapter started off with a song verse from Zoey’s favourite singer, Grey.
This coming of age story is especially poignant and will leave you feeling nostalgic if you���re past your teen years or looking forward to summer if you’re still in them. I really enjoyed this and would recommend it to anyone for their summer holiday reading. Set in the sizzling Australian summer it’s a novel people of all ages can enjoy.
*I wish to thank the publisher, Harlequin Books Australia, for providing me with a complimentary copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
December 10, 2017
The Last Days Of Us explores themes of perseverance, heartbreak and loss through the story of five teenagers who are on a road trip towards Melbourne to attend a gig. Despite the short duration of the trip, they grow and learn to appreciate that life can be short and that it’s important to appreciate every day.
The book focusses on the perspective of Zoey, who has endured a rough path within the last six months. Since losing her brother in a tragic car accident, she’s put herself on a reckless path towards self-destruction. This resulted in losing her boyfriend, who then moved onto dating her best friend. Zoey has come to the realisation that her party-girl side isn’t her being her true-self, and is more of a facade she used to deal with the hurt of losing her brother. Along with her ex and best friend, Luc and Jolie, who are her ex’s cousins, join the road trip. Whilst dealing with the awkwardness of watching her ex and best friend engage in PDA, she finds herself becoming close to Luc. Luc sees her for her true self and looks past the rumours of her reputation.
Throughout different stages of the book, we see Zoey develop significantly. Initially, she was adamant that winning her ex back was going to make her happy. But she quickly realises that chasing the past is not always a wise decision, even if he is a great guy — part of growing older and maturing is realising that you can’t search for something that once was, you need to evolve. The author was able to depict this period of discovery authentically, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Zoey’s frame of mind change as the road trip progressed closer to Melbourne.
Though the love story between Zoey and Luc will make you eager to turn the page to see what will happen next, romance isn’t a dominating force of this book. It instead shows the pursuit of self-discovery, especially in the face of loss. It also represents the different ways young people deal with adversity — including Zoey’s use of partying and drinking as a form of escapism, Luc’s determination to maintain strength and Jolie's positivity despite her circumstances.
The Last Days Of Us is a raw and honest story about dealing with hardship and adversity and the silver lining that is waiting on the other side.
The book focusses on the perspective of Zoey, who has endured a rough path within the last six months. Since losing her brother in a tragic car accident, she’s put herself on a reckless path towards self-destruction. This resulted in losing her boyfriend, who then moved onto dating her best friend. Zoey has come to the realisation that her party-girl side isn’t her being her true-self, and is more of a facade she used to deal with the hurt of losing her brother. Along with her ex and best friend, Luc and Jolie, who are her ex’s cousins, join the road trip. Whilst dealing with the awkwardness of watching her ex and best friend engage in PDA, she finds herself becoming close to Luc. Luc sees her for her true self and looks past the rumours of her reputation.
Throughout different stages of the book, we see Zoey develop significantly. Initially, she was adamant that winning her ex back was going to make her happy. But she quickly realises that chasing the past is not always a wise decision, even if he is a great guy — part of growing older and maturing is realising that you can’t search for something that once was, you need to evolve. The author was able to depict this period of discovery authentically, and I thoroughly enjoyed seeing Zoey’s frame of mind change as the road trip progressed closer to Melbourne.
Though the love story between Zoey and Luc will make you eager to turn the page to see what will happen next, romance isn’t a dominating force of this book. It instead shows the pursuit of self-discovery, especially in the face of loss. It also represents the different ways young people deal with adversity — including Zoey’s use of partying and drinking as a form of escapism, Luc’s determination to maintain strength and Jolie's positivity despite her circumstances.
The Last Days Of Us is a raw and honest story about dealing with hardship and adversity and the silver lining that is waiting on the other side.
December 10, 2017
I was given a copy of this book from the publishers in exchange for an honest opinionated review. I really don’t know how I feel about this book. And as a fan of Beck Nicholas’ previous work, I am disappointed in myself that I didn’t really enjoy this book.
The story follow Zoey, her brother has just passed away, they were really close, and she has done everything in her power to self-destruct. In doing so she has lost her boyfriend, her best friend and with school about to finish, regrets it all. Trying to mend fences, Zoey, her ex-boyfriend, her estrange best friend who is now with her ex-boyfriend and her ex-boyfriend cousins all go on an interstate road trip. Why? To have a good time, listen to their favourite performer live and live a little before the end of school comes and they are thrown out into the real world.
I am going to be completely honest with you. I read 200 pages and then had to skip all the way until the end of the last book to the last chapter. I couldn’t take it. It was driving me crazy. A one woman’s mission to break up her happy ex and best friend so she can get back together with him after she broke his heart, I mean, please. I liked the premise of a group of friends going on a road trip, that is what sucked me in, but it kind of didn’t work, it was way too full of drama, taking away from the aspect. The book was really deep and heavy, filled with sickness, death and depression.’
The writing was good. Beck Nicholas knows how to right, I just don’t think it was well structured. It lagged a bit, and took too long for things to be said, a lot was also repeated. It took a long time to get mildly interesting and then it kind of lost it.
So I liked the beginning and the premise of what this story could have been, it just didn’t do it for me this time. Sorry
The story follow Zoey, her brother has just passed away, they were really close, and she has done everything in her power to self-destruct. In doing so she has lost her boyfriend, her best friend and with school about to finish, regrets it all. Trying to mend fences, Zoey, her ex-boyfriend, her estrange best friend who is now with her ex-boyfriend and her ex-boyfriend cousins all go on an interstate road trip. Why? To have a good time, listen to their favourite performer live and live a little before the end of school comes and they are thrown out into the real world.
I am going to be completely honest with you. I read 200 pages and then had to skip all the way until the end of the last book to the last chapter. I couldn’t take it. It was driving me crazy. A one woman’s mission to break up her happy ex and best friend so she can get back together with him after she broke his heart, I mean, please. I liked the premise of a group of friends going on a road trip, that is what sucked me in, but it kind of didn’t work, it was way too full of drama, taking away from the aspect. The book was really deep and heavy, filled with sickness, death and depression.’
The writing was good. Beck Nicholas knows how to right, I just don’t think it was well structured. It lagged a bit, and took too long for things to be said, a lot was also repeated. It took a long time to get mildly interesting and then it kind of lost it.
So I liked the beginning and the premise of what this story could have been, it just didn’t do it for me this time. Sorry
December 18, 2017
I started The Last Days of Us thinking it was going to be a fun summer read which it was, but it was also so much more. This book made me feel all the feels. Zoey is trying hard to get her life back together after her brother past away. She decides to go on a road trip with her best friend, ex-boyfriend and his cousins Luc and Jolie to see musician Gray in concert. Honestly, this book was just the perfect road trip book. I loved reading about all the different places they stopped at along Great Ocean Road.
I really felt like I got to know Zoey throughout reading The Last Days of Us. She really grew on me as a character. Although I thankfully haven’t lost a sibling like Zoey, Beck Nicholas’ writing really helped the reader to understand the grief and sense of loss that comes with it. Luc was such an interesting character as well, I loved how he understood Zoey and how much they supported each other. These characters just felt so realistic and the romance that developed between Zoey and Luc felt natural. I struggled with what Zoey even saw in Finn and Cass as they weren’t very supportive of her. Jolie was my other favourite character, her excitement for the whole trip was contagious to the other characters. I also loved seeing the sibling bond between Luc and Jolie, it reminded me of my siblings.
Overall, If you love a good contemporary about; friendship, romance and road trips this book is for you!
Thank you to Harlequin Australia for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
I really felt like I got to know Zoey throughout reading The Last Days of Us. She really grew on me as a character. Although I thankfully haven’t lost a sibling like Zoey, Beck Nicholas’ writing really helped the reader to understand the grief and sense of loss that comes with it. Luc was such an interesting character as well, I loved how he understood Zoey and how much they supported each other. These characters just felt so realistic and the romance that developed between Zoey and Luc felt natural. I struggled with what Zoey even saw in Finn and Cass as they weren’t very supportive of her. Jolie was my other favourite character, her excitement for the whole trip was contagious to the other characters. I also loved seeing the sibling bond between Luc and Jolie, it reminded me of my siblings.
Overall, If you love a good contemporary about; friendship, romance and road trips this book is for you!
Thank you to Harlequin Australia for sending me a copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 28, 2018
The Last Days of Us by Beck Nicholas is a Young Adult book with a message that not everything is as it seems nor to take life for granted.
Five teenagers leave Adelaide in a derelict kombi on a road trip to Melbourne to see their favourite musician, Gray, perform live. With the end of summer approaching Zoey, who six months ago lost her brother in a tragic car accident and partied her way to oblivion, estranging her best friend, Cass and pushing away her now ex, Finn. After Zoey’s behaviour reaches dangerous heights she realises she needs to pull herself together and get her old life back, including her ex-boyfriend. Only problem is Finn is now dating Cass.
Zoey agrees to go on the road trip with Finn and Cass on the last week of the holidays, they are joined by Finn’s cousins, attractive bad boy Luc and his younger sister Jolie. Zoey sees the trip as a chance to win back Finn and make things right with Cass but not everything goes according to plan when Zoey finds herself attracted to Luc and wondering what she ever saw in Finn.
As the five see some of the wonders that Australia has to offer on their trip – all motivated and planned by Jolie – we go deeper into the lives of the each character and piece together their thoughts and feelings.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to people with Young Adult readers in their care. Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Harlequin Australia for the opportunity to read this novel.
Five teenagers leave Adelaide in a derelict kombi on a road trip to Melbourne to see their favourite musician, Gray, perform live. With the end of summer approaching Zoey, who six months ago lost her brother in a tragic car accident and partied her way to oblivion, estranging her best friend, Cass and pushing away her now ex, Finn. After Zoey’s behaviour reaches dangerous heights she realises she needs to pull herself together and get her old life back, including her ex-boyfriend. Only problem is Finn is now dating Cass.
Zoey agrees to go on the road trip with Finn and Cass on the last week of the holidays, they are joined by Finn’s cousins, attractive bad boy Luc and his younger sister Jolie. Zoey sees the trip as a chance to win back Finn and make things right with Cass but not everything goes according to plan when Zoey finds herself attracted to Luc and wondering what she ever saw in Finn.
As the five see some of the wonders that Australia has to offer on their trip – all motivated and planned by Jolie – we go deeper into the lives of the each character and piece together their thoughts and feelings.
Thoroughly enjoyed this book and would highly recommend it to people with Young Adult readers in their care. Thank you to Beauty and Lace and Harlequin Australia for the opportunity to read this novel.
February 20, 2018
not gonna lie, this book was fairly average. the character development wasn't great, and i found that there was quite a bit of telling, not showing. while i admired parts of zoey's character, i felt like she could have been developed even more, as her voice was not particularly strong. the other characters in the book were rather one-dimensional, failing to be much more than tropes and brief appearances in the story.
i felt like there could have been so much more exploration of the themes of grief and suffering, as well as some sort of resolution regarding the way zoey's supposed 'best friend' and ex treated her. either they should've apologised and resolved the conflict, or they shouldn't have stayed friends because honestly, the slut shaming and backhanded comments were awful.
i think my main problem was the romance between zoey and luc. it was insta-attraction, but of the love-hate variety. and the claims of devotion after, what? three days together?! no, just no. also, it felt like the romance became the primary focus, and while i am always down for a good romance, when the development of the relationship isn't good, it just leaves everything sort of dissatisfying.
i felt like there could have been so much more exploration of the themes of grief and suffering, as well as some sort of resolution regarding the way zoey's supposed 'best friend' and ex treated her. either they should've apologised and resolved the conflict, or they shouldn't have stayed friends because honestly, the slut shaming and backhanded comments were awful.
i think my main problem was the romance between zoey and luc. it was insta-attraction, but of the love-hate variety. and the claims of devotion after, what? three days together?! no, just no. also, it felt like the romance became the primary focus, and while i am always down for a good romance, when the development of the relationship isn't good, it just leaves everything sort of dissatisfying.
January 4, 2018
3.5 Stars
This was an entertaining, emotional rollercoaster of a book! Based on the blurb, I thought this was going to be another generic road-trip novel. In some ways, it was; however, I still enjoyed this book.
For me, the central theme of this book is grief. The way that Nicholas portrayed this was very humbling and eye-opening. I have been lucky enough to not lose anyone close to me, yet the way that the author depicts the characters’ sorrows was very relatable, without being too overpowering or unrealistic. I didn’t expect to get as emotional as I did.
The one thing that I really didn’t like about this book was the insta-love trope. For me, it was overdone and impractical. I understand the idea of two characters bonding over their anguish which no other character really seems to understand, but I found it a bit much that they were practically in love after knowing each other for less than a week.
I would have liked to know more about the secondary characters. I wanted to know more about how they ended up being the way they are at the start of the novel, and I wanted to know more about how they ended up at the end. This is a short book, and I would have liked the author to have added some more details and taken a little bit more time telling the story.
Overall, this is a great summer read. Prepare yourself for some tears and a sweet (if not slightly unrealistic) romance!
This was an entertaining, emotional rollercoaster of a book! Based on the blurb, I thought this was going to be another generic road-trip novel. In some ways, it was; however, I still enjoyed this book.
For me, the central theme of this book is grief. The way that Nicholas portrayed this was very humbling and eye-opening. I have been lucky enough to not lose anyone close to me, yet the way that the author depicts the characters’ sorrows was very relatable, without being too overpowering or unrealistic. I didn’t expect to get as emotional as I did.
The one thing that I really didn’t like about this book was the insta-love trope. For me, it was overdone and impractical. I understand the idea of two characters bonding over their anguish which no other character really seems to understand, but I found it a bit much that they were practically in love after knowing each other for less than a week.
I would have liked to know more about the secondary characters. I wanted to know more about how they ended up being the way they are at the start of the novel, and I wanted to know more about how they ended up at the end. This is a short book, and I would have liked the author to have added some more details and taken a little bit more time telling the story.
Overall, this is a great summer read. Prepare yourself for some tears and a sweet (if not slightly unrealistic) romance!
December 11, 2017
A road trip across Australia with friends to see a band, umm yes please sign me up! Sounds like the perfect light summer read. A girl trying to get back together with her ex who is now dating her best friend, this should be intersting and fun is what I thought. I was honeslty expecting a fun quick summer beach read but this book was so much more!
Zoey is trying to get her life back together after going off the rails right after losing her brother and she thinks the perfect way to do this is by getting back together with her ex whilst on a road trip to see her favourite band. Things start to get complicated when her ex's cousins join and she finds herself attracted to the dark and moody Luc.
While there is a lot of fun times in this book, it is deep and actually quite heartbreaking. I definitely found myself crying.
I really felt for Zoey, trying to overcome her sadness and move past her mistakes. Realising that life is short and you should make the most of every day.
This coming of age story has it all, friendship, love, sadness, loss, adventure. Definitely a must read!
Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for providing me an arc.
Zoey is trying to get her life back together after going off the rails right after losing her brother and she thinks the perfect way to do this is by getting back together with her ex whilst on a road trip to see her favourite band. Things start to get complicated when her ex's cousins join and she finds herself attracted to the dark and moody Luc.
While there is a lot of fun times in this book, it is deep and actually quite heartbreaking. I definitely found myself crying.
I really felt for Zoey, trying to overcome her sadness and move past her mistakes. Realising that life is short and you should make the most of every day.
This coming of age story has it all, friendship, love, sadness, loss, adventure. Definitely a must read!
Thank you to HQ and Netgalley for providing me an arc.
April 11, 2018
I live in a house with teenage girls and saw this laying on the table. Picked it up, read it in two nights.
I love that it’s based in Australia and written by an Australian author describing a trip across the south of our country that I’ve done most of.
I really cared for these characters. Each were flawed but you couldn’t help but care for them and care about their outcomes.
The running theme of grief through the book was refreshingly realistic and relatable being someone who lost my own father less than a year ago. The grief in this book and reading the characters dealing with it - raw and honest - actually helped me with my own.
I predicted the outcome of one character halfway through but it still didn’t stop me from sobbing over the last few chapters.
I really enjoyed this young adult read.
I love that it’s based in Australia and written by an Australian author describing a trip across the south of our country that I’ve done most of.
I really cared for these characters. Each were flawed but you couldn’t help but care for them and care about their outcomes.
The running theme of grief through the book was refreshingly realistic and relatable being someone who lost my own father less than a year ago. The grief in this book and reading the characters dealing with it - raw and honest - actually helped me with my own.
I predicted the outcome of one character halfway through but it still didn’t stop me from sobbing over the last few chapters.
I really enjoyed this young adult read.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 14, 2024
It didnt take too long for me to finish the book, I really related to Zoeys character and her feelings. I will admit the plot is cliche but I was so immersed in all the characters, I love how the author didn’t villianise Cass entirely, and the conflict between Zoey and Cass felt like a real genuine teenage female friendship, which tells me that this was written by a woman.
I will say, Zoey’s alcoholism felt a bit romanticised but I can’t judge the author for at least not primarly making the story about Zoeys alcoholism as the story is set on her being sober, I feel like it could have been fleshed out more but it didn’t stop me enjoying the book.
I did cry, the first book to make me cry. Amazing job on capturing loved ones passing and grieving, it was really real.
I will say, Zoey’s alcoholism felt a bit romanticised but I can’t judge the author for at least not primarly making the story about Zoeys alcoholism as the story is set on her being sober, I feel like it could have been fleshed out more but it didn’t stop me enjoying the book.
I did cry, the first book to make me cry. Amazing job on capturing loved ones passing and grieving, it was really real.
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