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The Last Thing She Wrote
Six months after his sister's death, seventeen-year-old Freddie Monroe is still reeling from the loss as if it were yesterday. More than anything, Freddie hasn't been able to forgive himself for not being there the night Kaylee took her own life. He remains consumed by the notion that he failed to protect his younger sister.
At his therapist's recommendation, Freddie finds himself going through Kaylee's bedroom, sifting through her things and clinging to her memory.
Searching for answers.
When Freddie first stumbles across Kaylee's diary, he hesitates to open it, unwilling to break the sibling code of privacy, even in death. But once he finds the courage to delve into its pages, he realizes he didn't know his younger sister as well as he thought.
What secrets was Kaylee hiding? If she had confided in Freddie, could he have saved her?
The more Freddie uncovers, the more he realizes the truth is nothing like it seems.
At his therapist's recommendation, Freddie finds himself going through Kaylee's bedroom, sifting through her things and clinging to her memory.
Searching for answers.
When Freddie first stumbles across Kaylee's diary, he hesitates to open it, unwilling to break the sibling code of privacy, even in death. But once he finds the courage to delve into its pages, he realizes he didn't know his younger sister as well as he thought.
What secrets was Kaylee hiding? If she had confided in Freddie, could he have saved her?
The more Freddie uncovers, the more he realizes the truth is nothing like it seems.
148 pages, Kindle Edition
Published August 3, 2022
5 people are currently reading
1196 people want to read
About the author
Julia Bodwell
3 books72 followersJULIA BODWELL is the author of contemporary young adult novels with strong emotion and depth. A former middle school teacher, she now owns and operates The Gilded Page bookstore in Tarpon Springs, Florida, where she lives with her husband and their rescue cats.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
August 15, 2022
This is the first book I’ve read from the author and I am hooked.
The writing is solid, the story is solid and I really have no fault with this book.
It’s a quick read full of emotion, betrayal, mystery, friendship and a brother who just loves his sister.
Highly recommend this book.
The writing is solid, the story is solid and I really have no fault with this book.
It’s a quick read full of emotion, betrayal, mystery, friendship and a brother who just loves his sister.
Highly recommend this book.
July 20, 2022
Name of Book: The Last Thing She Wrote
Author: Julia Bodwell
Genre: Teen/YA - Mystery
Pub Date: August 3, 2022
My Rating: 3.4 Stars
Seventeen year old, Freddie Monroe is filled with sorrow as well as guilt over the suicide of his thirteen year old sister, Kaylee. He feels guilty that he wasn’t there to prevent what happened.
He is in therapy trying to deal with his grief. He finds Kaylee’s diary and believe it just may uncover secrets she was hiding and perhaps what caused her death.
Freddie is sure his sister wouldn’t kill herself!
I know I am not the target audience for this but as a High School Guidance Counselor; I love to read YA stories. It pleases me that I can recommend a book as well as know what they are reading.
This was a Quick read plus I was curious!
Want to thank NetGalley and Julia Bodwell for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 3, 2022
Author: Julia Bodwell
Genre: Teen/YA - Mystery
Pub Date: August 3, 2022
My Rating: 3.4 Stars
Seventeen year old, Freddie Monroe is filled with sorrow as well as guilt over the suicide of his thirteen year old sister, Kaylee. He feels guilty that he wasn’t there to prevent what happened.
He is in therapy trying to deal with his grief. He finds Kaylee’s diary and believe it just may uncover secrets she was hiding and perhaps what caused her death.
Freddie is sure his sister wouldn’t kill herself!
I know I am not the target audience for this but as a High School Guidance Counselor; I love to read YA stories. It pleases me that I can recommend a book as well as know what they are reading.
This was a Quick read plus I was curious!
Want to thank NetGalley and Julia Bodwell for this early eGalley.
Publishing Release Date scheduled for August 3, 2022
November 15, 2022
Thank you Goodreads and Julia Bodwell for the giveaway.
This novella was absolutely amazing. Heart wrenching, but amazing.
Freddie is suffering from the suicide of his little sister. His family is in shambles and he finds himself isolating himself from everyone he used to spend time with. When his therapist asks him to face the memories of his sister, he finds himself reading her diary to try and figure out what led to her suicide.
When things don't seem to make sense, Freddie digs deeper trying to put together the pieces of a puzzle he isn't sure is really there.
Absolutely heartbreaking. This beautifully written story explores loss and redemption, as well as learning to forgive yourself.
Bodwell is an author to watch. She is sure to put forth more incredible works.
This novella was absolutely amazing. Heart wrenching, but amazing.
Freddie is suffering from the suicide of his little sister. His family is in shambles and he finds himself isolating himself from everyone he used to spend time with. When his therapist asks him to face the memories of his sister, he finds himself reading her diary to try and figure out what led to her suicide.
When things don't seem to make sense, Freddie digs deeper trying to put together the pieces of a puzzle he isn't sure is really there.
Absolutely heartbreaking. This beautifully written story explores loss and redemption, as well as learning to forgive yourself.
Bodwell is an author to watch. She is sure to put forth more incredible works.
July 3, 2022
When Julia asked if I’d like an ARC of her upcoming book I literally jumped at the chance. The Last Thing She Wrote centres around Freddie, a 17 year old who is struggling with the loss of his sister. Freddie blames himself for not being there for her on the night that she took her own life. He is angry and resentful at the world, fighting his way through therapy. When Freddie comes across his sisters diary six months after losing her, he is hopeful that it may give him insight into her last days and help him understand his sisters choice. But he quickly realises that there were things he didn’t know about his sister, and it sends him on an unexpected path to uncover the truth about what was really happening in those final days.
Julia touches on a number of important and delicate subjects in this book and does so in a sensitive and compassionate manner. The book is mysterious and sorrowful, but also touching, and in some places had me chuckling. Although this is a young adult novel, any audience would be gripped by the story because of Julia’s ability to write across the ages. Please pick up a copy of this book when it’s available on the 3rd August 2022, it’s a mystery worth seeing through to the end.
I applaud you, Julia, for your hard work, perseverance and talent.
Julia touches on a number of important and delicate subjects in this book and does so in a sensitive and compassionate manner. The book is mysterious and sorrowful, but also touching, and in some places had me chuckling. Although this is a young adult novel, any audience would be gripped by the story because of Julia’s ability to write across the ages. Please pick up a copy of this book when it’s available on the 3rd August 2022, it’s a mystery worth seeing through to the end.
I applaud you, Julia, for your hard work, perseverance and talent.
July 5, 2022
Wow. This is my first book I’ve read by Julia Bodwell, but it certainly won’t be my last. I was so enthralled by the story of Freddie and his reckoning with the tragedy of his sister’s death. The story starts out slow with introducing the trauma that Freddie is going through dealing with his own feelings of guilt around his sister’s suicide. But the story quickly becomes something else leaving him to doubt whether his sister actually took her own life. I loved the use of the diary as the catalyst for the mystery as I always love journal entries as a literary device.
I think the mystery of this story is so well-done. It certainly kept me guessing until the climax, and I applaud the author’s ability to craft such a great mystery. This story is beautifully written. The characters, particularly Freddie, are well-rounded and the grappling with the death of a loved one is such a relatable concept that can instantly make any reader empathize.
I cannot recommend this story enough and will definitely be purchasing Julia’s first book very soon! Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced copy to review!
I think the mystery of this story is so well-done. It certainly kept me guessing until the climax, and I applaud the author’s ability to craft such a great mystery. This story is beautifully written. The characters, particularly Freddie, are well-rounded and the grappling with the death of a loved one is such a relatable concept that can instantly make any reader empathize.
I cannot recommend this story enough and will definitely be purchasing Julia’s first book very soon! Thank you to the author for providing me with an advanced copy to review!
July 21, 2022
The first thing I noticed about this book was that the cover was a stunning picture. It lured me in right away. I picked it up and I didn’t set it down until I was done, absolutely devouring it in one session. This story is full of palpable grief, as well as dealing with that grief. It also has some great twists and turns throughout to keep you on your toes!
Freddie is our main character. He is a high school junior who lost his sister to suicide 6 months previous. He has withdrawn from his friends and family, still trying to cope with not only with her suicide, but the feelings of guilt he has for not being there for her. His therapist hadn’t been able to reach him and make any breakthroughs in the 6 months they’ve been working together. So she suggests to go home and look at her things, to remind him of the good memories they made together. He goes into her room that has been left untouched. Looking around is bringing her back to him, memories flooding over him. And then he finds her diary. Would it clue him in to why she took her own life? Will it bare the pain she kept hidden until it was too much?
Freddie is our main character. He is a high school junior who lost his sister to suicide 6 months previous. He has withdrawn from his friends and family, still trying to cope with not only with her suicide, but the feelings of guilt he has for not being there for her. His therapist hadn’t been able to reach him and make any breakthroughs in the 6 months they’ve been working together. So she suggests to go home and look at her things, to remind him of the good memories they made together. He goes into her room that has been left untouched. Looking around is bringing her back to him, memories flooding over him. And then he finds her diary. Would it clue him in to why she took her own life? Will it bare the pain she kept hidden until it was too much?
July 12, 2022
I totally read this all in one sitting without putting it down. I enjoyed the honesty of the characters, the surprising twists, and the underlying story of sibling love. Death & suicide are very deep topics for any author to tackle, and Julia does it with skill, style, and humanity. And I don't want to spoil it, so I will just say that I totally didn't see that coming! Great job!!
August 7, 2022
This is the first book I've read from Julia.
Loved it. Read it in one day.
The story moved a long nicely and was loaded with betrayal and mystery.
It was easy to feel empathy for one of the main characters in The book, Freddie who was grappling with the death of his sister.
Well done! It had me guessing right up until the end. I can't wait to read One Wrong Summer by Julia
Loved it. Read it in one day.
The story moved a long nicely and was loaded with betrayal and mystery.
It was easy to feel empathy for one of the main characters in The book, Freddie who was grappling with the death of his sister.
Well done! It had me guessing right up until the end. I can't wait to read One Wrong Summer by Julia
September 24, 2022
Another great book by Julia Bodwell.
This is a page turner of a book. Once you sit down to read it, you’ll want to finish it in one sitting. Ample description. The author has a real ear for teenage vernacular. Her characters were believable and the story will have you on the edge of your seat wondering what happened in this poor girl’s life to drive her here.
This is a page turner of a book. Once you sit down to read it, you’ll want to finish it in one sitting. Ample description. The author has a real ear for teenage vernacular. Her characters were believable and the story will have you on the edge of your seat wondering what happened in this poor girl’s life to drive her here.
August 3, 2022
The Last Thing She Wrote by Julia Bodwell
Published: August 3, 2022
Julia Bodwell
Pages: 148
Genre: YA Thriller
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Julia Bodwell is an educator, writer, and musician living in Florida with her husband and their rescue cat. She's obsessed with Halloween and summertime and loves to curl up with a good book as often as possible. She is the author of One Wrong Summer and The Last Thing She Wrote.
“But at the end of the day, I know I’m the one who left her alone.”
It’s been six months since Freddie’s little sister, Kaylee, died by suicide. Six months and Freddie is still angry. Still hurt. Questions still haunt him. When his therapist suggests he spend time in Kaylee’s bedroom, the last thing Freddie expects is to find her diary. To read her diary. But as he does, he starts getting answers to questions, and he starts having more questions about that night.
This was a quick read. Very emotional and dealing heavily with talks of death by suicide. If that is a subject you can’t handle, this isn’t the book for you.
There was a lot of emotion in this novella. Freddie was going through the stages of grief and, in his own way, trying to figure out what happened.
The cast of characters were pretty typical high school teens focused on parties and dating and working their way to graduation.
So when vibrant Kaylee takes her own life, the wreckage left behind is vast. And Freddie needs answers. He wants to know why.
This novella will punch you in the heart and make you gasp out loud. A very quick read, you will devour the words and find yourself trapped in the story.
Published: August 3, 2022
Julia Bodwell
Pages: 148
Genre: YA Thriller
KKECReads Rating: 4/5
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.
Julia Bodwell is an educator, writer, and musician living in Florida with her husband and their rescue cat. She's obsessed with Halloween and summertime and loves to curl up with a good book as often as possible. She is the author of One Wrong Summer and The Last Thing She Wrote.
“But at the end of the day, I know I’m the one who left her alone.”
It’s been six months since Freddie’s little sister, Kaylee, died by suicide. Six months and Freddie is still angry. Still hurt. Questions still haunt him. When his therapist suggests he spend time in Kaylee’s bedroom, the last thing Freddie expects is to find her diary. To read her diary. But as he does, he starts getting answers to questions, and he starts having more questions about that night.
This was a quick read. Very emotional and dealing heavily with talks of death by suicide. If that is a subject you can’t handle, this isn’t the book for you.
There was a lot of emotion in this novella. Freddie was going through the stages of grief and, in his own way, trying to figure out what happened.
The cast of characters were pretty typical high school teens focused on parties and dating and working their way to graduation.
So when vibrant Kaylee takes her own life, the wreckage left behind is vast. And Freddie needs answers. He wants to know why.
This novella will punch you in the heart and make you gasp out loud. A very quick read, you will devour the words and find yourself trapped in the story.
August 5, 2022
Freddie is struggling with his younger sister Kaylee’s death. He can’t forgive himself for not being there and not seeing his sister was not going well to the point where she took her own life. After his therapist suggests he enters Kaylee’s room to help cope with all of this and try to move on, Freddie finds Kaylee’s journal. He decides to go through it in hopes he’ll find something to explain his sister’s death. The answers he finds are not the ones he expected...
As you probably know by now, this book is not my usual genre. I did enjoy it a lot, it was all new to me and I was captivated by the story. It was a short read, and really fast-paced. The main character is dealing with a lot after his sister’s death so I did enjoy seeing his path to recovery and all the things he went through. I think the book showed very well the emotional state one can be in after such hard events. Seeing all of that from a teen POV made it all even more poignant. The mystery part of the book was nicely done and kept me absorbed in the story. It was a nice read! Before ending, I just have to say that I absolutely love the cover of that book! It is gorgeous!
Thanks to the author for the ARC, I am leaving this review voluntarily.
As you probably know by now, this book is not my usual genre. I did enjoy it a lot, it was all new to me and I was captivated by the story. It was a short read, and really fast-paced. The main character is dealing with a lot after his sister’s death so I did enjoy seeing his path to recovery and all the things he went through. I think the book showed very well the emotional state one can be in after such hard events. Seeing all of that from a teen POV made it all even more poignant. The mystery part of the book was nicely done and kept me absorbed in the story. It was a nice read! Before ending, I just have to say that I absolutely love the cover of that book! It is gorgeous!
Thanks to the author for the ARC, I am leaving this review voluntarily.
August 2, 2022
3.5 stars
This book was so easy to read. It dealt with a thought issue in such a sensitive, delicate way. It was so easy to relate to Freddy and to feel all his emotions - the grief, the self-doubt, the anger, the inability to find peace without understanding why his lively, little sister decided to take her life.
It was fast-paced and the mystery behind Kaylee's death was well-written. I only wished it would have been more developed: barely more than one hundred pages cannot do justice to this story.
*Thank you to the Author and NetGalley for the eARC*
This book was so easy to read. It dealt with a thought issue in such a sensitive, delicate way. It was so easy to relate to Freddy and to feel all his emotions - the grief, the self-doubt, the anger, the inability to find peace without understanding why his lively, little sister decided to take her life.
It was fast-paced and the mystery behind Kaylee's death was well-written. I only wished it would have been more developed: barely more than one hundred pages cannot do justice to this story.
*Thank you to the Author and NetGalley for the eARC*
November 18, 2022
Still reeling from his younger sister’s sudden suicide six months earlier, Freddie decides to confront his guilty feelings about not being home that night by finally looking for some answers as to what was going through her mind that awful night. When he finds her journal and begins to read, however, it leads to more questions than answers, and soon he finds himself embroiled in an even deeper mystery, wondering if his sister even took her own life or if she was murdered.
NOTE: I don’t normally go for novellas, and at about 140-ish pages, this qualifies, but I’d heard good things about this one, so I decided to go for it. And I have to say I enjoyed it.
This story manages to punch a lot of emotion into this story, right off the bat. We enter as we see this family, and specifically a brother, just completely torn up after the death of Kaylee. And then were tossed into the mystery, which takes a little bit, but does indeed get going, and doesn’t stop from there. And the big reveal was great, I didn’t see that coming.
All of that in a novella. Suffice it to say the author knows how to write a good story to get all of that into a short book. And when I say that the emotion really felt REAL. I mean it. I could feel the pain that Freddie was feeling as he talked about his sister. It was incredibly powerful. I was very impressed by the author’s ability to write that into the story.
Like I said, I’m not a huge fan of novellas, but I greatly enjoyed this one, and it didn’t take long to finish. I highly recommend checking it out!
NOTE: I don’t normally go for novellas, and at about 140-ish pages, this qualifies, but I’d heard good things about this one, so I decided to go for it. And I have to say I enjoyed it.
This story manages to punch a lot of emotion into this story, right off the bat. We enter as we see this family, and specifically a brother, just completely torn up after the death of Kaylee. And then were tossed into the mystery, which takes a little bit, but does indeed get going, and doesn’t stop from there. And the big reveal was great, I didn’t see that coming.
All of that in a novella. Suffice it to say the author knows how to write a good story to get all of that into a short book. And when I say that the emotion really felt REAL. I mean it. I could feel the pain that Freddie was feeling as he talked about his sister. It was incredibly powerful. I was very impressed by the author’s ability to write that into the story.
Like I said, I’m not a huge fan of novellas, but I greatly enjoyed this one, and it didn’t take long to finish. I highly recommend checking it out!
August 14, 2022
Thank you for this advanced reader copy of the book! I cannot say enough great things about this author! She develops relatable and real characters and spins a writers golden thread about the feelings and challenges that teens face in this world of technology, likes, loves, and finding their place in the world! It’s okay to not go it alone and ask for help. This book makes my librarian self very happy to have this type of book available for teens and adults alike!
August 21, 2022
The Last Thing She Wrote is a first time read by the author for me. I love a good YA book and this one ticked a few boxes. A good mystery/thriller about losing a sibling, dealing with loss/grief but also about friendship and seeking help from others.
Freddie is a lost soul after losing his sister to suicide six months before. He's working through the grief with a therapist as he experiences rage (Due to not processing his feelings and anger about not being there or understanding why Kaylee took her life). After a deep session with his therapist and some sound advice, she tells him to connect with his sister by spending time in her room with her things. In doing so, he opens up a whole can of worms and finds out some interesting things about Kaylee and what she was going through before her death.
This book was a nice quick read, as a YA it's perfect for those who don't want the hassle of thousands of pages and losing interest. Obviously it does cover some tough subjects (I'm not going to give spoilers) including suicide, sex (Mild mentioning not the actual act), drinking and drugs (Mild mentioning). The mystery element is dealt with really well and although the outcome is a little too clean cut for me and 'slightly out there' I enjoyed the process and journey with Freddie. I really felt the love he had for his sister but also his parents and friends in this book. Nothing was 'too heavy' in The Last Thing She Wrote, but those dealing with loss of a sibling may be best to steer clear until time has passed and they are dealing better with it.
A solid 4 star read, this book surprised me in a good way as usually I don't love male leading characters, but Freddie's voice was just write. I read this in one sitting, highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Julia (Author) for a ARC of The Last Thing She Wrote in exchange of an honest review.
Freddie is a lost soul after losing his sister to suicide six months before. He's working through the grief with a therapist as he experiences rage (Due to not processing his feelings and anger about not being there or understanding why Kaylee took her life). After a deep session with his therapist and some sound advice, she tells him to connect with his sister by spending time in her room with her things. In doing so, he opens up a whole can of worms and finds out some interesting things about Kaylee and what she was going through before her death.
This book was a nice quick read, as a YA it's perfect for those who don't want the hassle of thousands of pages and losing interest. Obviously it does cover some tough subjects (I'm not going to give spoilers) including suicide, sex (Mild mentioning not the actual act), drinking and drugs (Mild mentioning). The mystery element is dealt with really well and although the outcome is a little too clean cut for me and 'slightly out there' I enjoyed the process and journey with Freddie. I really felt the love he had for his sister but also his parents and friends in this book. Nothing was 'too heavy' in The Last Thing She Wrote, but those dealing with loss of a sibling may be best to steer clear until time has passed and they are dealing better with it.
A solid 4 star read, this book surprised me in a good way as usually I don't love male leading characters, but Freddie's voice was just write. I read this in one sitting, highly recommend it.
Thank you to NetGalley and Julia (Author) for a ARC of The Last Thing She Wrote in exchange of an honest review.
July 21, 2022
The Last Thing She Wrote was a very impactful book for me to read. Right from the beginning I could grasp how torn up Freddie was over Kaylee's death. He wanted answers as to why Kaylee would have killed herself. He felt something was off with her death and he was also battling guilt over not being there for his younger sister Kaylee. After a therapy session Freddie goes through Kaylee's room and possessions in hopes it will allow him to cope better. He stumbles across her diary and finds that there was a secret Kaylee had discovered that put her life in danger. I really enjoyed Freddie's persistence and how much he cared for the people in his life. Including his family, Becca , and even his friends. In the beginning Freddie was very closed off towards his friends and family. Throughout the book we see him start to open up again and allow his friends to help him. He also even allows Becca back into his life and I feel like this helps with him being able to gain hope and fulfillment back into his life. I do think that Freddie's best friend Landon is awful and not deserving of Freddie or Becca because of the things he has done and said to Freddie especially right after his sister's passing. This book had me hooked from the very first chapter and I really enjoyed reading this book and the suspense that came along with it!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 14, 2022
I had the pleasure of reading my first ARC from the lovely @jbodwellwrites
I won’t provide any spoilers, but the synopsis is about Freddie, a teenage boy who recently lost his younger sister to suicide who is struggling for closure and answers. He discovers his sister’s diary and starts to uncover secrets she was hiding, and that perhaps there was more going on surrounding her death that know one even knew.
This genre is not something I would normally pick up and read, but I was pleasantly surprised. It had those moments where I felt a bit of anxiety regarding the safe keeping of the diary, or whether or not something would go terribly wrong while Freddie was trying to uncover the truth. I really liked how the story started. It drew me in from the first chapter. Freddie was a very likable character.
The story was a short read so I would have liked to see it drag out a bit more. I did feel like the ending and resolve came too quick. However, I was disturbed by the truth that was uncovered and I thought the author did a great job with the story line.
This is a teen and young adult fiction that will be released August 3rd. Go check out the author’s Instagram page for updates and her other releases!
I won’t provide any spoilers, but the synopsis is about Freddie, a teenage boy who recently lost his younger sister to suicide who is struggling for closure and answers. He discovers his sister’s diary and starts to uncover secrets she was hiding, and that perhaps there was more going on surrounding her death that know one even knew.
This genre is not something I would normally pick up and read, but I was pleasantly surprised. It had those moments where I felt a bit of anxiety regarding the safe keeping of the diary, or whether or not something would go terribly wrong while Freddie was trying to uncover the truth. I really liked how the story started. It drew me in from the first chapter. Freddie was a very likable character.
The story was a short read so I would have liked to see it drag out a bit more. I did feel like the ending and resolve came too quick. However, I was disturbed by the truth that was uncovered and I thought the author did a great job with the story line.
This is a teen and young adult fiction that will be released August 3rd. Go check out the author’s Instagram page for updates and her other releases!
September 3, 2022
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for a review. It’s been six months since Freddier Munroe’s sister, Kaylee, committed suicide and he just can’t seem to move on with his life. He blames himself for not being there for his sister on the night that she took her own life. His parents decide to send Freddie to a therapist in the hopes that she will be able to help him cope.. The therapist recommends that Freddie spend time in Kaylee’s room and think about the times that they spent together. Freddie works up the courage to enter her room. At first he is not sure that this is a good idea. He calms down and looks around. He decides to look around and finds her diary in a drawer. Although Kaylee is no longer alive, Freddie feels that he is invading Kaylee’s privacy and wonders what she would think of him if she could see him. He takes the diary into his room and goes to sleep, wondering if he is doing the right thing. In the morning he decides that he will indeed read her diary. It might give him an indication of why Kaylee took her own life. This book was exceptionally well written. I found it very hard to put down, I highly recommend this book.
September 3, 2022
I would like to thank Netgalley and the publisher for an advanced readers copy of this book in exchange for a review. It’s been six months since Freddier Munroe’s sister, Kaylee, committed suicide and he just can’t seem to move on with his life. He blames himself for not being there for his sister on the night that she took her own life. His parents decide to send Freddie to a therapist in the hopes that she will be able to help him cope.. The therapist recommends that Freddie spend time in Kaylee’s room and think about the times that they spent together. Freddie works up the courage to enter her room. At first he is not sure that this is a good idea. He calms down and looks around. He decides to look around and finds her diary in a drawer. Although Kaylee is no longer alive, Freddie feels that he is invading Kaylee’s privacy and wonders what she would think of him if she could see him. He takes the diary into his room and goes to sleep, wondering if he is doing the right thing. In the morning he decides that he will indeed read her diary. It might give him an indication of why Kaylee took her own life. This book was exceptionally well written. I found it very hard to put down, I highly recommend this book.
July 5, 2022
I had the pleasure of beta reading this twisty story from one of the most talented people I know!
Julia writes so well, this book just flowed flawlessly, and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I was surprised at the end of this mystery, which doesn't happen often.
Young Adult usually isn't my go-to read, but I actually really enjoyed how these teen POVs really felt authentic. There was some great cute humor thrown in there, with zero info-dumping, which I really appreciated. The story just unravels in a perfect pace, until the ending just twists and reveals in a very satisfying way.
It does hurt my heart a bit, when children/teens are hurt or killed, or sexually assaulted (I feel that's the mom in me coming through, so trigger warning there) but, I felt this was really spot on for the audience it was meant for, and I was able to set my reactions knowing the target demo.
I'm so excited for Julia and look forward to more of her books!
Julia writes so well, this book just flowed flawlessly, and kept me on the edge of my seat the entire time. I was surprised at the end of this mystery, which doesn't happen often.
Young Adult usually isn't my go-to read, but I actually really enjoyed how these teen POVs really felt authentic. There was some great cute humor thrown in there, with zero info-dumping, which I really appreciated. The story just unravels in a perfect pace, until the ending just twists and reveals in a very satisfying way.
It does hurt my heart a bit, when children/teens are hurt or killed, or sexually assaulted (I feel that's the mom in me coming through, so trigger warning there) but, I felt this was really spot on for the audience it was meant for, and I was able to set my reactions knowing the target demo.
I'm so excited for Julia and look forward to more of her books!
August 2, 2022
When the author asked if I wanted to be a part of her street team and receive an ARC of her upcoming book, The Last Thing She Wrote, all I could think was ‘ummm 100 times yes’.
YA isn’t a genre I normally think to read, but I loved Julia’s other book, One Wrong Summer, so I couldn’t wait to see what magic she created with this one!
This book takes you through it with Freddie. Grief over the loss, regret that maybe things could have been different, anger, suspicion, fear, nostalgic fondness, hope - the whole gamut of emotions.
Solid writing, authentic characters, and a mystery that will test your “whodunit” skills!
Similar to her first book, Julia handles tough and/or delicate topics with grace and sensitivity - never sensationalizing or exploiting what happens.
She has a knack for creating realistic characters finding themselves in situations that will tug at your heartstrings and make you wish you could act on their behalf.
YA isn’t a genre I normally think to read, but I loved Julia’s other book, One Wrong Summer, so I couldn’t wait to see what magic she created with this one!
This book takes you through it with Freddie. Grief over the loss, regret that maybe things could have been different, anger, suspicion, fear, nostalgic fondness, hope - the whole gamut of emotions.
Solid writing, authentic characters, and a mystery that will test your “whodunit” skills!
Similar to her first book, Julia handles tough and/or delicate topics with grace and sensitivity - never sensationalizing or exploiting what happens.
She has a knack for creating realistic characters finding themselves in situations that will tug at your heartstrings and make you wish you could act on their behalf.
August 15, 2022
Six months after his sister's death, seventeen-year-old Freddie Monroe is still reeling from the loss as if it were yesterday. More than anything, Freddie hasn't been able to forgive himself for not being there the night Kaylee took her own life. He remains consumed by the notion that he failed to protect his younger sister.
At his therapist's recommendation, Freddie finds himself going through Kaylee's bedroom, sifting through her things and clinging to her memory.
Searching for answers.
When Freddie first stumbles across Kaylee's diary, he hesitates to open it, unwilling to break the sibling code of privacy, even in death. But once he finds the courage to delve into its pages, he realizes he didn't know his younger sister as well as he thought.
What secrets was Kaylee hiding? If she had confided in Freddie, could he have saved her?
The more Freddie uncovers, the more he realizes the truth is nothing like it seems.
Really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Julia Bodwell
I just reviewed The Last Thing She Wrote by Julia Bodwell. #TheLastThingSheWrote #NetGalley
Really enjoyable read totally recommend
Thank You NetGalley and Julia Bodwell
I just reviewed The Last Thing She Wrote by Julia Bodwell. #TheLastThingSheWrote #NetGalley
December 11, 2022
[ Review time ]
Title: The Last Thing She Wrote
Author: Julia Bodwell
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/YA
Release Date: August 3rd 2022
Publisher: Julia Bodwell
My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
wow wow wow.
This book took me by surprise because it was so beautiful and good!
Julias writing style is amazing and the way she describes grief, loss and being lost in those feelings was very touching.
It was a quick read but even though it wasn’t a long book, Julia managed to get so many emotions in just a few amount of pages. It definitely made me tear up more than once reading this one.
I really recommend people to read this one, but look up TW before you do!❤️
I can’t wait to read Julias other book and upcoming releases!
A big thank you to NetGalley and Julia Bodwell for letting me read this ARC for an honest review!💖
Title: The Last Thing She Wrote
Author: Julia Bodwell
Genre: Mystery/Thriller/YA
Release Date: August 3rd 2022
Publisher: Julia Bodwell
My rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟
wow wow wow.
This book took me by surprise because it was so beautiful and good!
Julias writing style is amazing and the way she describes grief, loss and being lost in those feelings was very touching.
It was a quick read but even though it wasn’t a long book, Julia managed to get so many emotions in just a few amount of pages. It definitely made me tear up more than once reading this one.
I really recommend people to read this one, but look up TW before you do!❤️
I can’t wait to read Julias other book and upcoming releases!
A big thank you to NetGalley and Julia Bodwell for letting me read this ARC for an honest review!💖
July 1, 2022
What a great book! I really enjoyed the emotional aspect of this story as well as the mystery that kept me wanting to read more. Although I found the outcome of the story to be a little predictable, it was still a very enjoyable read and there were some parts that surprised me.
In this book you follow seventeen-year-old Freddie as he deals with the loss of his sister, Kaylee, as she committed suicide. As a part of the grieving and healing process he finds himself in Kaylee’s room and finds her diary. This leads him on a journey to find out the truth about what really happened to his sister.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a quick mystery.
In this book you follow seventeen-year-old Freddie as he deals with the loss of his sister, Kaylee, as she committed suicide. As a part of the grieving and healing process he finds himself in Kaylee’s room and finds her diary. This leads him on a journey to find out the truth about what really happened to his sister.
Overall, I really enjoyed reading this book and would recommend it to anyone who likes a quick mystery.
July 24, 2022
I was lucky enough to be gifted this book on NetGalley in exchange for a review.
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This book combines mental health issues with a mystery, 2 of my favourite things to read. It’s addictive, fast paced and really engaging. We follow Freddie through his grief, after his younger sister has died by suicide. As part of his therapy, he finds his sisters diary which gives insight into what happened to her.
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It’s a ride with an ending I didn’t expect. It’s a quick and easy read which will make you appreciate family. I really loved it! It was an absolute pleasure to read.
.
If you’re comfortable reading books on this topic I recommend you check this out 🙌🏻
Book is released August 3rd.
4/5
.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Author Julia Bodwell for this ARC ❤️
.
This book combines mental health issues with a mystery, 2 of my favourite things to read. It’s addictive, fast paced and really engaging. We follow Freddie through his grief, after his younger sister has died by suicide. As part of his therapy, he finds his sisters diary which gives insight into what happened to her.
.
It’s a ride with an ending I didn’t expect. It’s a quick and easy read which will make you appreciate family. I really loved it! It was an absolute pleasure to read.
.
If you’re comfortable reading books on this topic I recommend you check this out 🙌🏻
Book is released August 3rd.
4/5
.
Thank you to NetGalley and the Author Julia Bodwell for this ARC ❤️
August 4, 2022
3.5 stars
This was such a quick, fast paced YA read! I’m definitely not the target audience for this, but I can appreciate a YA book every now and then.
As someone with an amazing older brother, I appreciated how Freddie was written. He was still a horny, impulsive 17-18 year old boy (he really loved Becca’s lips!!), but you could tell he was a sweetheart who had so much love for his sister—Julia really made that come through in her words.
Because it was such a short book (less than 150 pages I believe), everything happened very quickly and it all fell together nicely despite being SUCH a crazy conclusion. I feel like that’s pretty typical of YA books though, haha.
This won’t be for everyone, but if you’re in the mood for a quick YA fictional mystery, pick this one up!
This was such a quick, fast paced YA read! I’m definitely not the target audience for this, but I can appreciate a YA book every now and then.
As someone with an amazing older brother, I appreciated how Freddie was written. He was still a horny, impulsive 17-18 year old boy (he really loved Becca’s lips!!), but you could tell he was a sweetheart who had so much love for his sister—Julia really made that come through in her words.
Because it was such a short book (less than 150 pages I believe), everything happened very quickly and it all fell together nicely despite being SUCH a crazy conclusion. I feel like that’s pretty typical of YA books though, haha.
This won’t be for everyone, but if you’re in the mood for a quick YA fictional mystery, pick this one up!
August 10, 2022
Loved everything about this book. It was such a GREAT and fast paced read. Definitely a book with a trigger so fair warning if you aren't very susceptible to suicide. Freddie is junior high school who comes home one night after partying wit his friends to an extremely disturbing discovery. His sister, face down in a pool. Quick to jump to action he tries to resuscitate his sister but unfortunately it's too late.
Months later Freddie is still grieving from the loss, and is having a hard time just accepting that his sister would kill herself. She was 13 with so much more life to live. After speaking to his therapist about how to cope and move forward with his life he decides to spend some time in his sister Kaylee's room. It's there that he discovers her diary, he takes it, in hopes that he may be able to find some answers as to why she took her life.
I was gripped to the very end and read this story in one sitting. I totally empathized with Freddie and waned to know the truth about his sister. This was a great refreshing read between my generally massive fantasy series.
Months later Freddie is still grieving from the loss, and is having a hard time just accepting that his sister would kill herself. She was 13 with so much more life to live. After speaking to his therapist about how to cope and move forward with his life he decides to spend some time in his sister Kaylee's room. It's there that he discovers her diary, he takes it, in hopes that he may be able to find some answers as to why she took her life.
I was gripped to the very end and read this story in one sitting. I totally empathized with Freddie and waned to know the truth about his sister. This was a great refreshing read between my generally massive fantasy series.
August 17, 2022
Wow! I read this in a day as it is the kind of book that you can't stop reading. You feel the anticipation as you turn the pages and it is quite fast paced with each chapter blending into the next. It's extremely well written with interesting characters. It keeps you guessing with a MAJOR twist that you don't see coming.
The plot is interesting with Freddie trying to come to terms with his sister's suicide and the book highlights the grief that the family experiences in parallel with the thriller. Freddie comes across his sister's diary and slowly understands that things aren't as they seem. Definitely recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and Julia Bodwell for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The plot is interesting with Freddie trying to come to terms with his sister's suicide and the book highlights the grief that the family experiences in parallel with the thriller. Freddie comes across his sister's diary and slowly understands that things aren't as they seem. Definitely recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and Julia Bodwell for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
August 17, 2022
Wow! I read this in a day as it is the kind of book that you can't stop reading. You feel the anticipation as you turn the pages and it is quite fast paced with each chapter blending into the next. It's extremely well written with interesting characters. It keeps you guessing with a MAJOR twist that you don't see coming.
The plot is interesting with Freddie trying to come to terms with his sister's suicide and the book highlights the grief that the family experiences in parallel with the thriller. Freddie comes across his sister's diary and slowly understands that things aren't as they seem. Definitely recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and Julia Bodwell for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
The plot is interesting with Freddie trying to come to terms with his sister's suicide and the book highlights the grief that the family experiences in parallel with the thriller. Freddie comes across his sister's diary and slowly understands that things aren't as they seem. Definitely recommend!
Thank you NetGalley and Julia Bodwell for the ARC in exchange for an honest review!
December 23, 2022
It’s been six months since Kylie was found drowned in the pool and even though it was called suicide Fred cannot help but feel guilty if only he hadn’t gone to Anton’s party she would still be here. He still seeing the psychiatrist and when she advises him to sit in Kiley‘s room and remember the good times he does exactly that and while in there he finds her diary in watching right inside makes bread curious. Could Kylie‘s death have been murdered? If it was murder who did it? These questions lol answered in the book an OMG theaters world for you they did me. This is a surprisingly thrilling yeah mystery And it’s the one I got yesterday started reading and didn’t stop till I was done it was that good. I received it from NetGalley and the publisher but I am leaving this review voluntarily please forgive any mistakes as I am blind and dictate my review.
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