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Ootamatu ärasõit.
Aastakümneid küpsenud lugu.

Nightingaleʼi pere harmooniline tasakaal lööb kõikuma, kui pereema Cecily – kelle lapsed ei mäleta, et ta oleks kunagi midagi spontaanset teinud – sõidab ainsagi hoiatuse või seletuseta Kreeka saarele. Miks ema midagi nii ebatavalist tegi, jääb arusaamatuks tema kolmele tütrele: tähtsust täis ärinaisele Felicityle, eluga rahulolematule perearstile Juliale ja õnnelikule viie lapse emale Lilyle.

Kuid Cecily läks, et jätkata lugu, mida ta aastakümnete eest juba lõppenuks pidas – lugu, mis võib tema perekonnale tohutut mõju avaldada. Ja kui ta tagasi tuleb, peab ta neile tõtt rääkima.

Kas Cecily suudab perekonda koos hoida, kui suur saladus päevavalgele tuleb? Ja kas ta avastab, et ta pole ainus, kel on midagi tähtsat teatada?

296 pages, Paperback

First published July 28, 2020

5719 people are currently reading
5623 people want to read

About the author

Imogen Clark

15 books882 followers
Internationally bestselling author Imogen Clark has sold over one million books. She writes contemporary fiction about families and secrets. Her books have topped Amazon storewide charts eight times and her third book, Where the Story Starts, was shortlisted in the UK for Contemporary Romantic Novel of the year 2020.

Imogen initially qualified as a lawyer but after leaving her legal career behind to care for her four children, she returned to her first love - books. She went back to University, studying English Literature part-time whilst the children were at school. It was a short step from there to writing novels.

Imogen's great love is travel and she is always planning her next adventure. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband and children.

If you'd like to connect then please visit her website at www.imogenclark.com where you can sign up to her monthly newsletter. Imogen can also be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram as Imogen Clark Author.

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5 stars
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 885 reviews
Profile Image for Sandysbookaday (taking a step back for a while).
2,624 reviews2,474 followers
August 23, 2020
EXCERPT: 'Did you think about me at all, Cecily? After, I mean.'

The question hit Cecily like a punch and tears sprang to her eyes. She blinked rapidly to disperse them. 'Oh, yes,' she said, her voice breaking a little. 'I have thought about you every day for fifty years.'

ABOUT THIS BOOK: The chaotic but happy equilibrium of the Nightingale family is thrown into disarray when Cecily—whose children can’t remember her ever being remotely spontaneous—disappears to a Greek island with no warning or explanation.

Her reasons for doing something so out of character are a total mystery to her three daughters, high-powered executive Felicity, unfulfilled GP Julia and organised mother-of-five Lily. What connection could she possibly have with Kefalonia?

But Cecily has gone to continue a story she thought ended decades ago—one that could have a huge impact on her family. And when she returns, she’ll have to tell them the truth.

Will Cecily be able to hold her family together once she reveals her big secret? And might she discover that she’s not the only one with a story to tell?

MY THOUGHTS: The Last Piece sounds like a book about a jigsaw puzzle. And in a way it is. Picture a completed puzzle of a family; the parents with their three daughters, their husbands and their children. The puzzle is complete, but there's a piece left over...

Marnie is that piece.

I loved this realistically depicted family. Norman, retired, is married to Cecily, a wonderful mother and grandmother who is always there for her family, until the day that she isn't.

There's no great mystery, or at least there wasn't for me, as to why she has gone. It was pretty obvious from the outset although the author has attempted to shroud it in mystery. This is not a criticism, merely a statement of fact. I did feel, though, that doing this did slightly impede the flow of the book at the outset and that it was carried on for too long.

Imogen Clark's depictions of sibling rivalry/love are entirely realistic. The three sisters are all very different people with very different lives, yet they have remained close and are very supportive and protective of one another. I also related to the trepidation felt by Cecily, and the conflicting emotions felt by Marnie, and yet there were also things that I didn't understand, like Cecily not contacting Marnie on her birthday.

This is an emotional character driven family drama, one that I enjoyed immensely. I want to read more from this author.

😍😍😍😍.3

#TheLastPiece #NetGalley

As we are all currently restricted to armchair travelling, I would like to share with you the places you will visit while reading The Last Piece: the Greek Island of Kefalonia; and in the UK, Harrogate, Leeds and London.

THE AUTHOR: Bestselling author Imogen Clark writes contemporary women’s fiction about the secrets that hide at the heart of the families that she creates. She lives in Yorkshire with her husband and children (who hopefully have no such secrets to tell!)

Imogen initially qualified as a lawyer but after leaving her legal career behind to care for her four children, she returned to her first love - books. She went back to University, studying part-time whilst the children were at school and graduated with a BA in English Literature with First Class Honours.

Imogen’s great love is travel and she is always planning her next adventure.

DISCLOSURE: Thank you to Amazon Publishing UK via Netgalley for providing a digital ARC of The Last Piece by Imogen Clark for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

For an explanation of my rating system please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the about page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This review and others are also published on Twitter, Amazon, Instagram and my webpage
Profile Image for Ceecee .
2,739 reviews2,306 followers
June 25, 2020
Felicity is really annoyed with her mother Cecily. Why has she upped and gone to Kefalonia without a word to herself or twin sisters Lily and Julia? Why is her father Norman being so mysterious? Eventually the girls find out the truth and it’s the last thing they expected.

First of all, the characters in the book are lovely. The family are close, their lives intertwine and they are all so different. I like how each daughter has issues which makes them interesting and you follow how they deal with things. The character of Marnie who Cecily meets in Kefalonia is the ‘missing piece’. She is not an easy person but I really admire her directness and you can feel and understand her awkwardness. I like the ripple effect that she has on the story and also that it does not have a perfect ending. This feels right and it fits well. There are some good descriptions such as of Kefalonia and I like the Harrogate setting where the family live - the author had me drooling with the mention of the iconic Betty’s and the Fat Rascals. Yum. If you happen to be in the York or Harrogate area I suggest you go and try one yourself!!!

However, it takes a while for the book to get going and for a long time very little happens. Then from Part Three when we get Cecily’s story as a teenager the novel really moves up a gear. This section is very good and the 1960’s attitudes are portrayed very well although Cecily s parents are unusually modern in their outlook.

Overall, once the book gets into its stride I enjoyed it. It’s an easy read which portrays family and family dynamics well.

With thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for the ARC. I love the book cover!

3-4 stars rounded up.
Profile Image for elizabeth rose .
243 reviews301 followers
June 14, 2024
Imogen Clark’s The Last Piece offers a heartfelt yet bittersweet journey into the intricacies of family life and the weight of buried secrets.

Set in the cosy world of the Nightingale family, the story takes off when a long-concealed truth is unearthed through a letter received by matriarch Cecily. This revelation sets the stage for a cascade of events that force each family member to confront their past and reconsider their future.

The story masterfully balances drama with heart-warming moments. While the revelation of the family secret may be a little predictable, the emotional journey it triggers is profoundly engaging. Clark skilfully navigates the complexities of family life, blending scenes of deep emotional resonance with warmth, love, and laughter.

The story's conclusion, though tinged with bitterness and with a few loose threads, rings true to the messy reality of family dynamics, which I loved. Each character finds their own version of contentment, emphasizing acceptance and understanding over a traditional "happy ending."

For my full review, please visit https://thehappybookworm1.wordpress.com

Happy reading! ❤️
Profile Image for Ioana.
336 reviews8 followers
June 26, 2020
The novel started fine, with a fast pace, a mystery (that wasn't that mysterious in the end, in my opinion), and the promise of a good story; and yet, I didn't enjoy this one.

The plot is weak and it's easy to see where it'll take the reader. The focus is on Cecily Nightingale, a mother of three daughters, who discovers that the daughter she gave up for adoption fifty years ago has summoned her to Greece. This isn't a spoiler because you learn this fairly early in the book.

I don't know why there were chapters focusing on all her three daughters, yet each thread is left blowing in the wind because we have no real closure or finality to their stories. Maybe this is because Cecily's story isn't a strong enough story line on its own. There is a build-up, but you can plainly see Cecily's story and secret, and the same is true for Julia, one of Cecily's daughters.
We are also handed everything on a platter, little is revealed through conversations. Norman, Cecily's husband, thinks of the past and voila! you have their history presented to you. That's too easy for me.

There aren't many characters in the novel, yet I didn't feel any fondness towards anyone in particular. However, I know for sure I didn't like Cecily. She seems naive to the point of entitlement and even judgmental - the "wobbly stomach" of another woman she sees in summer clothing makes Cecily feel "nauseous", but she feels proud of herself for going to the beach and showing her "wobbly thighs".

Marnie, the fourth daughter, is a fifty year old woman. However, I constantly had to remind myself of that because from every interaction Cecily had with her I had the impression that Marnie's in her 20s. Cecily refers to Marnie as "young people" which makes everyone seem silly. Speaking of silly, Marco, one of Cecily's sons-in-law, after twenty years in UK can't seem to be able to use the verb to be, for the life of him. Why make characters silly and fake?

The relationship between Cecily and Marnie is cold and Marnie is plain mean, not to mention somewhat disturbing, given the obsession we learn she has with the Nightingales. Why she insisted on meeting Cecily on an island in Greece, when they all live in UK, is beyond me. For the sake of change of scenery, I assume.

I am hitting this novel hard, I can see that. But as a reader I didn't see any depth. The characters were merely sketched, I couldn't like anyone because there was no character development, and everything was just handed over to read, not revealed, if that makes sense. It does read rather fast, and maybe if you've read Imogen Clark before you might find this enjoyable. It wasn't the novel for me, although I was looking forward to it.

Disclaimer: I received this novel from the publisher via Net Galley. All thoughts expressed here are my own.
Profile Image for Maria.
732 reviews486 followers
March 29, 2021
Not the most exciting book I've ever read. It was just basic, you know what I mean? The characters weren't the best, but I did appreciate the family drama in this book!

I can see how this can be a quick summer read, so if you're looking for something family-drama centred, with a lot of personal growth, then pick this one up!

I only read this because it was in the July Adult Once Upon a Book Club box, and the gifts that came long with it were fantastic! So the box gets a 5 stars from me!
Profile Image for Tonya.
770 reviews178 followers
February 21, 2021
Thank you Amazon Publishing UK and NetGalley for my ARC. I absolutely loved this book!
I was brought to tears many times throughout this heart wrenching family drama. I thoroughly enjoyed every well developed character. The story begins with a text chain of three adult daughters speculating on their mother’s sudden trip to Greece. From there we are introduced to the Nightingale family where long held secrets are revealed. Consequences of past decisions come to light and lives are changed forever. This is a heartwarming story of loss, love and renewal.
Profile Image for Louise Wilson.
3,655 reviews1,688 followers
August 7, 2020
The sisters, Felicity, Julia and Lily are wondering why their mother, Cecily, has suddenly went to Greece. She's never even been there before. They realise their father knows much more than he's letting on about. When Cecily returns home, she tells the family the reasons why she left. Their lives are turned upside down and will never be the same again.

Cecily is a mother of three and a grandmother to six. She has gone to a retreat to face the consequences of a decision she had made fifty years ago. She has no idea how to right the past. The story unravels slowly, revealing secrets along the way. The characters and plotline are intriguing. Everyone was struggling with their own issues. The book is well written and it's quick and easy to read. The content matter had been well researched.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author Imogen Clark for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
1,718 reviews110 followers
September 30, 2020
I found this book very disappointing I felt it dragged a lot and unfortunately I didn’t like the characters very much. They were spoilt, very demanding and seemed to have very shallow characters. The mother in the story didn’t seem pleasant either as she spent 40 happy years with her husband and then suddenly jets off to Greece without her husband, something that wouldn’t even occur to me to do. My thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book in return for an honest review.
Profile Image for Louise Wilson.
3,655 reviews1,688 followers
August 7, 2020
Three sisters, Felicity, Julia and Lily are wondering why their mother, Cecily, had suddenly went to Greece. She's never even been there before. They realise their father knows much more than he's letting on about. When Cecily returns home, she tells the family the reasons why she left. Their lives are turned upside down and will never be the same again.

Cecily is a mother of three and a grandmother to six. She has gone to a retreat to face the consequences of a decision she had made fifty years ago. She has no idea how to right the past. The story unravels slowly, revealing secrets along the way. The characters and the plotline are intriguing. Everyone was struggling with their own issues. The book is well written and it's quick and easy to read. The content matter had been well researched.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Amazon Publishing UK and the author Imogen Clark for my ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Amy.
986 reviews19 followers
July 3, 2020
Our lives are like jigsaw puzzles. Each piece contains a story that when fitted together, portrays a photo of our journey. Looking at a section is only a snapshot but an important outline of our backgrounds.

Without warning, Cecily Nightingale disappears to Kefalonia leaving her three daughters puzzled. As the matriarch of their family, she presides with a loving but firm hand keeping her children in line. Questioning their mother's actions, they realize that their father knows more than he reveals. However, Norman insists that it's Cecily's story to share.

Meanwhile, Cecily is preparing to meet the daughter she gave away at birth. An unexpected letter requested her presence at a Greek retreat. Imogene Clark takes readers along for the tumultuous ride as Cecily hopes at last to have her 'last piece' complete the family's puzzle.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for opportunity to read #TheLastPiece in exchange for an honest review. It was my first Imogen Clark novel but it won't be the last. I loved Clark's character development and teared up at the raw emotions displayed between Cecily and Marnie. Cecily desperately wants to fill the missing piece or void that giving up her daughter created but Marnie remains impermeable.

The standoffish reception shocked Cecily but while her demeanor was gruff at times, I appreciated that the author presented a real account that not all meetings go as planned. I would encourage other readers who enjoy books about family dynamics to check out "The Last Piece." After reading, I have a new appreciation for my family.
Profile Image for Sherri Thacker.
1,676 reviews373 followers
July 6, 2020
A mother has a 50 year old secret from her 3 daughters and takes a trip to Greece when she receives a letter asking her to come to a yoga retreat. She goes to Greece but does not tell her daughters that she went and they had to find out from their dad.

Lots of secrets throughout, all the way until the very end. I enjoyed this book and the many stories it told. A quick read for me.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this early release book in exchange for my honest opinion. To be published July 2020.
Profile Image for Samantha.
140 reviews7 followers
July 12, 2022
I am absolutely baffled by the high reviews of this book. It was a train wreck.

First, not a single character was likable, except maybe Lily and Julia in the beginning. Felicity and Marnie are downright terrible people. I hated them every second of the book. Cecily was a pretty awful person too. They were judgmental, harsh, and narrow-minded. I’m guessing the author was trying to give the impression of a “strong independent woman,” but they were not even close to that.

I enjoyed the story of Cecily when she was younger. I honestly think that was the only part of the book I liked and enjoyed reading. There was so much detail and emotion in her character. Peggy was a great character. The obstacles and heartbreak they went through made for a very compelling story. I would have preferred just a book about that.

The addition of the lives of each of her daughters was weird and in the end, incomplete. It seemed thrown in there as filler. Also, the sisters kept secrets from each other, and they were secrets that you wouldn’t keep from your sister. They’re YOUR SISTER! That’s what they’re there for. That was frustrating and unrealistic too.

And the end? So dumb. (Honestly that’s the best word I can think of for it, just DUMB.) I don’t think I’ve ever been this harsh in a review but I’m just so mad I wasted my time on this book. The ONLY reason I didn’t DNF this book was because it was part of the Once Upon A Book Club Box for August and I wanted the full experience of the box.

If the author reads this, I am truly sorry but this is how I really felt. This book had potential and the verbiage was written well. I just hated the story, the characters and gosh, the end was just terrible. Ugh. I’m done.
Profile Image for Lady Kate La Fleur.
84 reviews28 followers
August 8, 2020
I received this book via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

The Last Piece ★★☆☆☆ – 2.5


Writing: 3.5 stars
Characters: 3.0 stars
Plot: 2.0 stars
Originality: 1.0 stars
Cover: 3.5 stars

Recomendability: meh, nothing special. It was written okay, but the language didn’t draw me in.


The book was decent and readable, but I won’t be recommending it. The mystery was far too obvious, I hoped for some twist that would make this story stand out, it didn’t come.
I was mostly bored, the story was too similar to many others and I didn’t resonate with any of the characters. Also, there were details that didn’t add anything to the plot.
I don’t know, perhaps, it was just me, but I expected more from the story, something more akin to Danielle Steel and her captivating books.
Profile Image for Vonda.
318 reviews160 followers
August 30, 2020
I hadn’t read any of Imogen Clark’s books before this one. as they aren't a genre I really enjoy; however, I was surprised when it grasped me and pulled me in from the beginning. A well written, heartwarming family drama about a family with 3 daughters who were distinctly different and with a secret of their own. Mother Cecily holds the biggest secret of all. Will it tear apart the family?
Profile Image for Jessica Reads It.
573 reviews44 followers
August 7, 2020
A powerful journey of self-discovery.

For Cecily, the past was never the past, every day of her life she carried a little piece of it in her memories and her heart. Now, 40 years later the past has finally caught up with her, and her mysterious invitation to Greece may just blow the lid off her entire life. Meanwhile, back home, her three daughters are astounded by their mother’s sporadic trip to Greece with no explanations as they slowly realize just how integral their mother is to their lives.

Imogen Clark weaves a powerful tale about the hardships of women and their resilience in the face of tragedy. A powerful theme throughout this book is “family” and the many iterations it can manifest from. The premise of the last piece, though simple in concept is masterful in its execution as Imogen Clark gives us a classical writing style with modern twists. Her characters were powerful and engaging, offering honest insights into motherhood, struggling marriages and separation, career obsessions, and the simple desire for children.

The last piece was an emotional roller-coaster that will have you guessing right up until the end. I appreciate books that are grounded in reality, as ugly as it may be, and Imogen did not disappoint. This is an excellent book for those who enjoy reading family drama, complicated dynamics, and OMG endings!

Sometimes in life you need to focus on the pieces you have instead of wondering what could be missing.

This review was posted to my blog on 07-08-2020 here https://jessicareadsit.wordpress.com/...
Profile Image for Kimberly .
683 reviews147 followers
May 28, 2021
Finally a touch of reality

Finding one's birth family can be a wonderful experience but sometimes it's just not and people need to be prepared for that and to live with the consequences. You can't make up for decades of differences. There can be love but it's not the same as that from the first day of life. Different experiences, education, viewpoints all stand in the way. Proceed with caution.
Profile Image for Tonya.
585 reviews133 followers
July 29, 2020
Cecily hops on a plane to some Greek Island and her family is left to wonder why and what is going on. The Last Piece by Imogen Clark is a well written novel about the secret that Cecily has been keeping and how life has a way of bringing things to light that have been hidden.

I absolutely love the narrative style: alternating viewpoints between Cecily, her three daughters (Felicity, Julia and Lily) as well as Cecily's perplexed husband, Norman. Imogene Clark certainly has won me over with her writing, plot twists, and deep look at what it means to be a family. Some things are crystal clear and resolved and other things are not as specific (you know, like real life?)

Definitely a book to treasure!! Have you read it? If so, what did you think?

Thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Publishing Company, UK and Imogene Clark for this temporary digital advance review copy for me to read and enjoy. As always, my opinions are my own and my review is voluntary.
Profile Image for Melissa Borsey.
1,888 reviews38 followers
June 1, 2020
A well written, heartwarming family drama about a mother who raised 3 daughters and meets the daughter she gave up when she was a teenager. I thank Netgalley and Amazon Publishing for the opportunity to read and review this book.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Profile Image for Ugnė Lukošienė.
608 reviews15 followers
March 13, 2023
Šeimos istorija. Tokias istorijas mėgstu. Skaitėsi lengvai, greitai. Pati šeimos paslaptis- įtikinama, bet finale tikrai ne taip visko tikėjausi. Sakykime, pati prasmė manęs neįtikino. Knyga, kuri pasimirš greitai.
376 reviews14 followers
October 6, 2020
The Missing Piece
I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
Had it not for the review, I would not have finished it.
This is the story of the Nightingale family of Cecily and Norman with three adult daughters. There is plenty of family drama within the family, each daughter dealing with their own issues. Felicity is dealing with a cheating husband, Julia is single, but wants a baby, Lily has 5 small children to deal with. Then Cecily suddenly disappears to Greece for a week, that is totally out of character for her. What happened in Greece and the consequences, the effect on the family is the subject of the book.
To me, the reason for the trip was pretty predictable. I found the book agonizingly slow and boring, the characters shallow, overall being generous to give this novel 3 stars.
Thanks NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the advanced copy.
Profile Image for Tina Culbertson.
649 reviews22 followers
July 26, 2020
This book pulled me in immediately with the realistic dialogue between the three sisters in the beginning. Felicity,  Julia and Lily are texting back and forth about an unexpected and uncharacteristic event.  Their mother, Cecily Nightingale, has up and flown off to Greece on some mysterious trip.  The Nighingales rarely take any holiday away from their Yorkshire home.

Lily and Julia, who are twins, found it amazing Cecily would up and just go anywhere without their father Norman.  They are old homebodies who never do anything out of the ordinary.  When the sisters converge on Norman to ask about thier mother he is rather deceptive, other than telling them Cecily is not ill so they needn't worry.  The women have to wait it out to see what heppens when their mother comes home the following week.

Supporting chararacters:

Felicity, the oldest, is married to a scoundrel and has a 4 year old son.  She has a high powered business career and has a very rigid view of life.  I guess if I were married to Richard I'd have an edgy personality as well.

Julia and Lily are twins with an unusual birth story.  Lily arrived seven weeks early and had a rough start to life while Julia stayed put until her proper birth time.  Therefore, although they are twins and share that special mental connection and personality, they have different birthdates. Julia is a medical doctor and single. Lily is married to Marco and five sons.  She makes everything seem easy and has a lovely personality, quite the contrast to snappy and judgemental Felicity.

We find out why Cecily Nightingale took her mysterious trip about a quarter of the way into the book.  You can figure it out by then and you will see how it impacts all f the family once she returns.  I can't say without giving spoilers so I'll save that for Goodreads.

When I got to the end I felt a little let down until I thought about it for a bit.  It seemed abrupt, then I thought of the title.  The Last Piece.  Everything came together , even Norman's jigsaw puzzle and a family issue.



There was a bit of foodie stuff mentioned such as fish and chips, Jamie Oliver meals, curry, roasted beef dineer and such sweets as black forest gateau and Fat Rascals.  I didn't know what that was so I looked it up. A fat rascal is a type of cake, similar to a scone or rock cake in both taste and ingredients. It originated in Yorkshire at least as early as the 19th century.

Imogen Clark lives in Yorkshire and has three other novels published

Much thanks to Netgalley for the advanced complimentary copy. I was not compensated for this review and throughly enjoyed this book. Publication date is July 28, 2020. Genre is women's fictions.

Imogen Clark lives in Yorkshire and has three other novels published.
Profile Image for Mary.
710 reviews
August 6, 2020
Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This was the first book I've read from this author. It was a fast read.
I found it entertaining for the most part, loved the ramshackle countryside setting. My favorite characters were Cecily and Norman. I didn't much care for Marnie, either.
799 reviews15 followers
July 31, 2020
This book left me turning the pages so quickly to find out which missing piece of the "puzzle" that the author would reveal next! Really enjoyed it!

Thanks to netgalley and the publisher for the arc
Profile Image for Connie.
1,593 reviews25 followers
June 3, 2021
I read this book via Kindle Unlimited.

This book begins with the Nightingale girls being told their mother has gone to Greece on a whim and would be back on Friday. This single action was so unlike their mother, the girls are all thrown for a loop. We find out a little about each girl, Felicity, a hard-working, hard-faced mother of Hugo whose husband is having an affair; Julia, the doctor with no husband but a plan to have a baby with her gay best friend; Lily who felt so far behind her siblings in her achievements but is the mother to five boys and overall really, the nicest. Then there's Norman, their father, who is kind and loving and supports his wife's seemingly random trip to Greece because he knows the real reason. Cecily is going to meet her long lost daughter. Marnie. The baby she had to give up when she was just a child herself. But why now? Fifty years after?

This book was fine. It lacked any real drama, any real crescendos in action and so on but it was still a nice read. It was easy to follow and kept me interested for the duration as it was quite a sad subject. I think Cecily's story was heartbreaking and I am glad that she and Marnie reconnected in some way. Overall, I enjoyed this book but it wouldn't be a favourite.
Profile Image for Natalie "Curling up with a Coffee and a Kindle" Laird.
1,398 reviews103 followers
June 9, 2020
I enjoyed this book. It was a quick, easy read and just what I needed. Whilst I can appreciate the more serious themes of the book, I did not feel like it was considerably memorable. The characters were great and very distinct, and I liked how we could see their different personalities through how they lived their lives. However, I did not see the book as life changing or one I would insist on recommending to friends. I would recommend it to people needing a relief from the current situation.
Profile Image for Pam.
2,196 reviews32 followers
October 4, 2020
AUTHOR Clark, Imogen
TITLE The Last Piece
DATE READ 09/28/20
RATING 4/B
FIRST SENTENCE "LILY: mum's disappeared ;-) / JULIA: ??????!!! / FELICITY: What?"
GENRE/ PUB DATE/FORMAT / # OF Fiction/2020/own-pb/ 305 pgs
SERIES/STAND-ALONE SA
CHALLENGE Good Reads 2020 Reading Goal 169/120;
GROUP READ OnceUponABookClub
TIME/PLACE Present/England & Greece
CHARACTERS Cecily Nightingale mother to Marnie/chef; Felicity/business executive; Julia/Physician; Lily/mother of 5 boys
COMMENTS This was a bit of a different take on a reunion of mother and daughter and appreciated this aspect quite a bit. Cecily was only 15 when she became pregnant in the late 60's. Her parents decided it was best for her to go away, have the baby and let her be adopted. Cecily goes on to marry and have 3 daughters …50 years from the birth of her first daughter she has contact for the first time .
Profile Image for Natalija R. .
143 reviews11 followers
October 20, 2022
Labai ilgai laukiau kol ja isleis ir deja...
Nesuzavejo si knyga. Pusetina, nors skaitesi legvai ir tik uz tai dedu 3⭐, kitaip butu maziau. Nei sis nei tas- pati istorija man pasorode betiksle, per daug melo tarp veikeju, kuris ir toliau tesiasi, per daug leksto veidmainiskumo, per daug isrutuliuota kur nereikia su verkslenimais, nezinau- man asmeniskai suteike daugiau negatyviu emociju, nei vienas personazas nepatiko. Ne iki galo supratau koks buvo istorijos tikslas... Dar duosiu sansa siai autorei ateityje- gal pasiteisins lukesciai...
Profile Image for Jen.
1,126 reviews101 followers
July 31, 2020
This is not the kind of book I normally read but I found it truly delightful and was glad I picked it up. It centers are Cecily, mother of 3 grown women and wife of Norman, who takes a last-minute trip to Greece, which is totally out of character for her. Turns out she was summoned by another daughter Marnie, who she had given up after giving birth as a teenager.

All of the characters in this book were real- I was able to empathize with them across the boards and I liked how the story didn't get tied up in a nice bow, but was a little messy and surprising just like real life. The author does a great job of taking the reader back in time to Cecily's pregnancy and weaving that storyline in with the current one. I particularly identified with her husband, Norman, who seemed solid and caring, if not a little bit put-upon by his giant family and all of their situations.

Even if you don't normally read family lit like this, I'd recommend the book- it stuck with me and I believe it will continue to do so, and I find it rare to read a book in which the author connects you to characters in this manner. Thanks to Netgalley for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Profile Image for Bonnye Reed.
4,696 reviews109 followers
July 30, 2020
I received an ARC electronic copy of this novel on July 20, 2020, from Netgalley, Imogen Clark, and Amazon UK publishers. Thank you all for sharing your hard work with me. I have read this novel of my own volition, and this review reflects my honest opinion of this work. Imogen Clark writes a tight, compelling tale. It is always a pleasure to read her.

The three Nightingale daughters of now-retired Cecily and Norman are all in their thirties and independent, though still residing in their home town, and very differently focused on this life. The eldest, Felicity, has a high-stress, high powered career as a GP and despite being married to Mr. Wrong she is finally the mother of young Hugo after several runs at IVF. The twins with different birthdays are also truly independent thinkers - Julia is settled into a high-powered job, still single, and running out of time to find Mr. Right and start a family. Lily married young, and she and husband Marco are the parents of five sons, the youngest twins, and have expanded their Italian restaurants into a fairly nice conglomerate, still small enough to handle without losing control of the end product, but productive enough to allow Lily to stay home with the boys.

And then Cecily receives a letter inviting her to Greece where Marnie Stone will be willing to meet with her. And Cecily drops everything and flies away. Why would she just fly away with no notice, no planning? Her daughters are flabergasted, and Norman is mysteriously silent on the whole matter. What is this all about? And how is it going to impact their well-established lives?
Pub date July 28, 2020
rec July 20, 2020
publisher Amazon UK

Reviewed on July 30, 2020, on Goodreads, Netgalley, AmazonSmile, and Barnes&Noble. Not available forreview on BookBub, Kobo, or GoogleReads.
Profile Image for Brenda.
1,100 reviews
July 31, 2020
The Last Piece is a beautifully written complicated story of family that keeps you guessing through the first half of the book. It drove me crazy that I didn't know exactly what the secrets were but it's also the thing that made this book so interesting to read! Once I was finally clued in to what Cecily's mysterious trip is all about, I couldn't book the book down!
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