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The Last Forever

Deb Caletti (Goodreads Author)

3.47 · Rating details · 1,669 ratings · 228 reviews

Endings and beginnings sit so close to each other that it’s sometimes impossible to tell which is which.

Nothing lasts forever, and no one gets that more than Tessa. After her mother died, it’s all she can do to keep her friends, her boyfriend, her happiness from slipping away. And then there’s her dad. He’s stuck in his own daze, and it’s so hard to feel like a family when ...more

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Paperback, 320 pages

Published April 1st 2014 by Simon Pulse

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· 1,669 ratings · 228 reviews

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Sep 11, 2013 Stacee rated it it was ok

Shelves: edelweiss, read-in-2014

This book was sort of all over the place for me. I couldn't really connect with the MC because her narrative was such a jumble.

I was hoping for some serious swoons, Henry seemed to have so much promise. Alas, I was a bit disappointed in that aspect. In fact, it all of the relationships just didn't really make sense to me. I feel like we didn't get enough of a meeting between anyone before they were all BFFs.

I can definitely see the appeal, I'm sure a lot of people will enjoy the journey that ...more

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Mar 22, 2014 Jenni Arndt rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I really don’t even feel like I can effectively review this book because all I want to do is flail all over the place and shove it in people’s faces so they read it too. This book was absolutely perfect for me, I picked it up on a Saturday morning and before I knew it I was halfway through and dreading the book ending. This book is emotional, this book is funny and this book is engrossing.

We meet our MC Tess as she is grieving the recent loss of her mother to cancer. She is living with her fath I really don’t even feel like I can effectively review this book because all I want to do is flail all over the place and shove it in people’s faces so they read it too. This book was absolutely perfect for me, I picked it up on a Saturday morning and before I knew it I was halfway through and dreading the book ending. This book is emotional, this book is funny and this book is engrossing.

We meet our MC Tess as she is grieving the recent loss of her mother to cancer. She is living with her father and just going through the motions of day to day life. One afternoon the two of them pack up her father’s truck and head out to finally see the Grand Canyon. Once that’s done, they decide to see Vegas, and then they just keep going North until they get to Tess’s grandma Jenny’s house. At this point Tess’s father takes off to deal with his grief on his own and we see Tess start to plant new roots on the island of Parrish as she meets the locals and forms relationships. Ok, the small town feel of this was so awesome! I loved this little town, I loved how everybody knew everybody’s business and just how there for each other they were. Every character that Tess meets on this island became someone I felt like I knew and cared about. Even poor 8 year old Kenny Travis who had created quite the name for himself as the town’s little klepto.

While all of the secondary characters in this novel were fantastic the heart and soul of every page was Tess herself. Man, I loved this girl so much. I could relate to all of her thought patterns and I felt like her and I were kindred in a way. She was sarcastic & funny but it was her crushing thoughts about some of the regrets that she had that made me feel like I wasn’t alone as I read through the pages. She didn’t do everything she thought she could have as her mother was dying of cancer and the guilt of that was eating away at her. She also had this strained bond with her father that would boil over at times but always came back to a place of complacent understanding in the end that I understood so well. This girl quickly became my favourite MC that I have read about in a very long while.

As we watch Tess come to terms with everything that has happened in her life we also see her open up to love. She meets Henry Lark on the island and is smitten with him almost immediately (yes, he touches her and there are sparks that she just can’t forget) but this relationship is so not your typical YA romance. These two bond over intelligent discussion and they genuinely care about one another. The thoughtfulness that passes between them in their thoughts and how they go out of their way for one another was fantastic. The relationship isn't filled with cheesy cliches and it doesn’t take the path anyone can expect it to but I love how it all comes together in the end and how it helps Tess so much when she needs it most.

Another awesome addition to the novel is all of the botany in it. At the beginning of every chapter there is a little explanation about a different type of seed. I had thought that these would quickly become something that I would skip over but I loved the trivia! The things I learned about seeds are crazy, I mean they are scary little things when you learn what is inside them and what they are capable of. This all ties into the novel because Tess has a rare pixibell plant she is trying to keep alive that belonged to her mother after it was passed down by her father. I feel like even this plant became an important character in the novel because I was rooting for its well being and crying when things weren’t looking so good for it.

So I think that is the last tidbit of information I will include in this review. Remember it: this novel made me fall in love with a plant, that’s gotta be saying something!

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For more of my reviews, visit my blog at Xpresso Reads

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Feb 10, 2014 eileen rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult, contemporary

Check out more of my reviews at Singing and Reading in the Rain!

When I found this on my Kindle library, possessing no previous knowledge of where or when I downloaded it, I decided to start reading, even though it seemed like a long shot after the first few chapters. However, still I journeyed on, and still found nothing too special about this book.

Tess was way too focused on the romance, overall. The book centered around two things: the romance and her efforts to try to keep a pixieball alive. Check out more of my reviews at Singing and Reading in the Rain!

When I found this on my Kindle library, possessing no previous knowledge of where or when I downloaded it, I decided to start reading, even though it seemed like a long shot after the first few chapters. However, still I journeyed on, and still found nothing too special about this book.

Tess was way too focused on the romance, overall. The book centered around two things: the romance and her efforts to try to keep a pixieball alive. The pixieball is supposedly a rare breed, the last one of its kind, that her grandpa stole and grew himself. Her mother carried on the tradition, caring for it, and now it’s her turn. However, it’s gotten sick, therefore Henry and Tess are in an “urgent” race to find a cure for whatever disease Pix (her name for the pixieball) has. But, even though the pixieball is super important to her, enough that she’s willing to go through all the crap she goes through to try and save it, she doesn’t care when it comes down to the plant, or Henry. Sure, she cares about Pix, but when Henry tries to talk about saving it, Tess is more focused on how much they’re making out and the idea of them two together. Henry’s trying really hard to immortalize Pix, and Tess is more concerned that a letter heading says, “Dear Tess and Henry.” She’s more interested in the fact that their names are together on a freaking letter than on her plant that’s dying! And she constantly tries to make out with him when he seems like he may not be in the mood or want to talk about something on his mind.

Speaking of their romance, there was absolutely no chemistry between the two. Their “I really like you” statements could have held the equivalent passion as if they were acquaintances who barely knew each other in high school catching up on the side of the road. Their dialogue and conversations were bland, holding no substance or meaning. The beginning was cute, but when the story morphed into Pix’s illness, I was hoping that the character development would begin. There were some nice sentiments made in The Last Forever, like how not everything is picturesque and perfect like in movies and television series, but in the end it wasn’t quite what I was expecting or needing to compensate for the disposable romance and static characters.

During the first few chapters, Tess actually had a boyfriend named Dillon. But then it was dismissed within three sentences, something like, “Oh, apparently Dillon broke up with me…” and then Tess was free to chase after Henry Lark. It was an easy sentence to overlook, and because I was already disinterested in the story, I skipped over what I thought was a useless two sentences. Turns out, it was those sentences that freed up Tess’s relationship status. I had to look back and double-check when I remembered she previously had a boyfriend. When I found and familiarized myself with the section in question, I realized that it had been glossed over and glorified. It wasn’t memorable enough for me to remember it or for it to properly register in my brain. There wasn’t even a telltale reason why he decided to break up with her, but whatever. No development needed there. ...more

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Apr 05, 2014 Ladybug Lynn rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

One of the best books about grief and loss and recovery. Tessa's grief over her mother's death is raw and real. As someone who also lost her mother after a long illness, I can testify that the book is true to life. At times, gut wrenching difficult to read but beautifully written and ultimately hopeful. The love story is not what you would expect and the book was so much richer for that aspect of it. Loved ever page even as cried through most of it.

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Jan 17, 2014 Kate rated it it was ok

Shelves: young-adult, 2014

I liked Tess. I liked her dad and the fact that he was allowed to have a total crisis while still very clearly loving his daughter. I liked the complicated journey their grief took them on. I liked the fact that her mother's death lived in her heart and in the heart of this book without everything becoming maudlin. It felt like a very real grief, one that will always ache when you poke at it, but not always in a bad way.

Really, I was with this book up until the reveal. Not that it was a surpris I liked Tess. I liked her dad and the fact that he was allowed to have a total crisis while still very clearly loving his daughter. I liked the complicated journey their grief took them on. I liked the fact that her mother's death lived in her heart and in the heart of this book without everything becoming maudlin. It felt like a very real grief, one that will always ache when you poke at it, but not always in a bad way.

Really, I was with this book up until the reveal. Not that it was a surprise, because it wasn't. Rather, I hated the manner in which Tess found out. (view spoiler)[Because Henry, for all I felt bad for him and his confusion and what is clearly an impossibly tough time in his life, acted pretty much like a shit to Tess. And he did. Because when you are pretty sure you're still in love with your other best friend, you don't pull out a condom and almost have sex with your new best friend, a best friend who has been pretty clearly and openly in love with you. And you don't TELL her that you love her without clarifying what it means, even if half of that reason is because you wish it meant what she wants it to mean. At least, you don't do those things and then have the narrative gloss over them and have time and distance and perspective be the thing that heals it. Because that happens in life, but it's not satisfying to read about.

I wanted to feel sympathetic to Henry. I did, for a while. Elijah was clearly the person in the picture. Elijah was clearly the reason his heart was broken. He clearly wasn't sure what to do with Tess's physical displays of affection. But it got to the point where his comfort level, combined with the setup, makes you think he must have some level of romantic feelings for her. He hasn't made out with her up against a tree, but he initiates kisses and gestures that any girl who meets a boy who asks her out would interpret as him being into her.

And Henry is an odd duck, so it didn't seem strange to me that he wouldn't be a jump into a girl's pants right away sort of person, especially with his seemingly mending heart. And in that way I feel like the book lied to me. Between that and Sasha's comment about him falling in love and all the comments about their pull to each other and the fact that no one - no one at all mentions that Henry and Elijah had been seeing each other? Then, to have Tess find out wile Henry has well and truly kissed her and almost had sex with her - sex with her without even considering the fact that it's probably her first time? I was so, so angry at him. It was petty and selfish and mean spirited and not at all the Henry we had known for the whole book. I hated it and I hated that we leave them sending cutesy postcards to each other with a promise of a lifelong BFFdom.

What sucks is that I feel like I was denied an amazing friendship story. Because had this book been about that? Had Henry's 4am call of "I have to tell you something" been about Elijah and not Pix? I feel like this book could have been five stars. And it would have made Henry's story so much more essential to the plot and been so much more interesting to read about. Two friends going on a grand adventure to deal with the confusion and upheaval in their lives and finding an anchor that they both need in each other? Yes. Sign me the hell up. This way, though, felt gimmicky. It reduced Henry's confusion and anger about his sexuality to a footnote of their breakup that's never addressed and I'm so disappointed by that. I'm disappointed because Henry is a character I should have and was rooting for, and that one scene kind of spoiled it all for me. (hide spoiler)]

I wish this book had lived up to my idea of its potential. It came so close to delivering the kind of story I've hoped to read from Deb Caletti again, but in the end it never quite made it there for me. ...more

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Apr 24, 2014 Jamie-leigh Haughn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: books-i-own

I was sent this book by Simon and Schuster for review a few months ago and I finally got to it!

I went in to this book not knowing what to expect and I really enjoyed it! I was expecting the story to be an epic love story, but it wasn't at all. It really focuses more on family and personal growth. This is something that I usually don't enjoy but I really like the way this one was handled. The book had a bit of a slower start and parts of the beginning were a bit hard to follow, but once you get u I was sent this book by Simon and Schuster for review a few months ago and I finally got to it!

I went in to this book not knowing what to expect and I really enjoyed it! I was expecting the story to be an epic love story, but it wasn't at all. It really focuses more on family and personal growth. This is something that I usually don't enjoy but I really like the way this one was handled. The book had a bit of a slower start and parts of the beginning were a bit hard to follow, but once you get used to the writing style its smooth sailing from there.

The story follows a girl named Tess who has recently lost her mother to cancer. Her father is a bit irresponsible and suggests to her that they go on a road trip, but they end up getting much much more than a road trip! The story also follows Tess and her journey to save her mother's plant that she had taken care of her whole life, Pixiebell. Pix plays a huge role in the story in so many ways.

The characters in the book are very relatable and interesting. Tess is a great character, she is hurt but still has a lot of love in her heart that she doesn't always know what to do with. Her grandmother Jenny plays a huge role in this story and Jenny ended up being my favourite character in the whole book. There is a lot of character development and growth throughout this whole story both for Tess and her father, especially with her father and it was a really nice relationship development as well between the two.

There is a love story in this book, of course! However, it may seem to be the focus of the book for a bit but it really isn't. The relationship is kind of weird and awkward..Henry, the love interest is a good character as well, he is more complex and you will find something a little mysterious and even off about him and his relationship with Tess. It all makes sense in the end!!

The side character, her friends Sasha and Larry are great! The interactions between the group of friends is really fun to read. They all work at the town library and that is where a lot of this story takes place, which was also really cool as a reader who enjoys reading and the library. Books play a big role in this story and that is nice to see.

There is a pretty big twist in this story, and it makes a few things totally make sense that you may be questioning, and I just happened to have guessed the twist, that being said, I don't think its very obvious! I just had a lucky guess!

Overall, I really enjoyed this book, I definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a good self discovery book or a book focused on family. It was great! ...more

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May 18, 2018 Julia rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: abgebrochen

I don't like the writing style at all >.< also, in this last chapter there were already two stops of the road trip and the author shows nothing about them?? What's the point then? ...more

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Apr 20, 2014 Lory Blanco rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This book was magical. There were so many elements to this book that I just loved so much. We have the main character Tess, who has recently lost her mother and she is trying to deal with the grief and guilt of it. One day her father decides he wants to go on a road trip and they leave their lives behind and embark on this journey. But soon she finds herself on this tiny island where her father grew up. Here she meets Henry Lark. And she immediately feels a connection to him. I loved their rela ...more

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May 23, 2014 Kalla [A Bookish Nerd] rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: typical-insta-love, blah-blah-blah, young-adult-contemporary

Actual rating: 3 stars.

Tessa is a teenager dealing with the recent death of her mother from cancer. She's depressed. She doesn't know what to do. Her father is addicted to weed and alcohol. He isn't coping well at all, and he isn't being a father figure for Tessa. All Tessa wants to do is just get through each day, and taking care of Pix, her mother's plant that her mother took care of her entire life. And then one day her father says they're going on a trip: an epic road trip that should be ev ...more

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Aug 25, 2017 Sarah rated it liked it · review of another edition

3.5/5 stars

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Feb 28, 2014 Sarah Elizabeth rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: netgalley-edelweiss, r2r-complete, romance, read-2014, death, contemporary, young-adult

(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Simon Pulse and Edelweiss.)
17-year-old Tessa lives with her father after her mother died of cancer, and they still haven’t really learned how to live with just the two of them.
When her father than wants to go on a crazy road-trip to the Grand Canyon, Tessa has to go, and takes with her ‘Pixiebell’, a plant that was her grandfathers, which her mum looked after. Unfortunately though, Pixiebell starts to l (Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to Simon Pulse and Edelweiss.)
17-year-old Tessa lives with her father after her mother died of cancer, and they still haven’t really learned how to live with just the two of them.
When her father than wants to go on a crazy road-trip to the Grand Canyon, Tessa has to go, and takes with her ‘Pixiebell’, a plant that was her grandfathers, which her mum looked after. Unfortunately though, Pixiebell starts to look a bit ill.
What is wrong with Pixiebell? And can Tessa save it before it’s too late?

I didn’t enjoy this book at all, I just found it boring.

I couldn’t connect with Tessa. I felt sorry for her because her mum was dead and her dad was an ass, but I couldn’t feel sorry for her stupid plant, and her preoccupation with it was annoying. I also didn’t get her need to keep telling us her darn geographical location via co-ordinates; I mean did we really need to know that?

The storyline in this just didn’t interest me, and the writing didn’t suck me in. I was bored from pretty early on, and although some of the little bits about plants were mildly interesting, the rest of the book was just ridiculous. The whole storyline was basically about a plant for pity’s sake! And it wasn’t even all that interesting a plant as it turned out. Tessa was more interested in the plant than her father, her grandmother, her dead mother, the boy who wanted to be her boyfriend and pretty much anything really. I personally could not have given two hoots about the stupid plant, and why anyone would want to go all the way to Alaska, just to preserve some freaking seeds that they could have just posted there was also beyond me.
There was some romance, but it didn’t interest Tessa, and it didn’t interest me either.
To be honest I didn’t like this book, and I found it pretty darn boring, you cannot believe how pleased I was to finally make it to the end.
Overall; dull and boring,
4.5 out of 10.
...more

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Jul 07, 2014 Leah Wolff rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: my-reviews, 2014

I have absolutely fallen in love with this book. Deb Caletti is a wonderful author, but sometimes her books can be a little hit or miss. This one is a definite hit and has quite possibly taken the spot of my favorite Caletti book. Yeah, it's that good. I read it in about 6 hours just because I couldn't put it down.

I think I loved it so much because Tessa was so relatable, at least to me. It's like I was reading about myself. She could be really sensitive and then sarcastic, but all around just r ...more

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Nov 20, 2017 Myndi rated it really liked it · review of another edition

While it took me a bit to really get into this book, once I did I was hooked. I think it takes a good look into the grieving process, especially focusing on the guilt the ones left behind often feel. It also shows how when you love someone, it doesn't always have to be a romantic love.

If you're anything like me, you're going to spend a majority of this book really pissed at Tessa's dad. I even stopped reading to lecture my husband about how to treat our kids... I also spent a lot of time confus ...more

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May 28, 2019 Taylor Orth added it · review of another edition

Student Name: Taylor Orth Date Submitted: May 13
Book Title: The Last Forever Lexile: 720L

Personal Response:
I did not like this book at all. It took a long time to get into. The plot was very boring and repeating. This book is a very stereotypical book. I could predict what was going to happen next based on some other books I've read. This book is too sad for me.

Summary:
The main character’s name is Tessa. Tessa goes through a hard time after her mother passes away. She had to go through diffi ...more

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May 29, 2017 Stephanie A. rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: grief, contemporary-ya, girl-protagonists

Solid writing and a vivid setting, as expected; loved Tess, her whole family, the stuff with the plant, her grief coping mechanisms, and the seed facts, but also: (view spoiler) ...more

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Sep 05, 2017 Krystina rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

If a book that walks the path of a girl and her very special plant sound intriguing, then I highly suggest you read this novel. Deb Caletti created a realistic fiction book, “The Last Forever”, that follows the path of a 17 year old girl, Tess Sedgwick, and her father. Sadly, Tess’s mother had passed to cancer and it was just too much for Tess’s father to handle. Before she passed she had left a plant, Pix, with Tess. Tess’s grandfather had gotten the seeds to this rare plant and passed it on to ...more

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Feb 23, 2014 Amy rated it really liked it

3.5 stars

The motif of motherless daughters has been well mined by YA authors over the years. Whether dead mothers or absent, either physically or emotionally, we have seen this thread before.

But perhaps we have not seen it quite as it is presented here.

Tessa's mother died of cancer about a year ago, and during those intervening months, she has realized that there is no such thing as "forever." Everything changes. Her relationship with her boyfriend isn't what it once was - not that it ever was a ...more

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Oct 05, 2013 Trish at Between My Lines rated it it was ok

Shelves: reviews-done

The Last Forever is a book about the grief and the endless, never-ending journey you go through after the loss of a parent. However while the subject was intense, I never fully connected with the characters and just didn’t feel it.

First line of The Last Forever:

“In those early months, when the beautiful and mysterious Henry Lark and I began to do all that reading, I often skimmed over the name. “

My Thoughts on The Last Forever:

I didn’t hate this book, I just didn’t enjoy it. If I have to sum up ...more

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Nov 11, 2018 Clara rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Personal Response
The Last Forever was a halfway decent romance novel, but it took me quite a while to get into it. The beginning of the novel was not very interesting, but at like the tenth chapter or so, it slowly became interesting. Most of the romance parts of the novel were also confusing to follow. Something that I did like, was the fact that at the beginning of every chapter there was a paragraph about a different type of plant. Altogether, The Last Forever was not the worst romance novel Personal Response
The Last Forever was a halfway decent romance novel, but it took me quite a while to get into it. The beginning of the novel was not very interesting, but at like the tenth chapter or so, it slowly became interesting. Most of the romance parts of the novel were also confusing to follow. Something that I did like, was the fact that at the beginning of every chapter there was a paragraph about a different type of plant. Altogether, The Last Forever was not the worst romance novel, but I have read better ones in the past.
Plot Summary
The Last Forever is a novel that covers the life of a teenage girl whose mother died when she was at the age of 7 and has to live with her father who smokes pot and is not the most responsible. Tessa is in her senior year of high school and is getting over the loss of her mother. With that being said, Tessa’s father takes her out of school and goes to Las Vegas and was to be heading to the Grand Canyon, but later ends up staying with her grandmother she did not even know. The stay was only supposed to be a few days but later ended up being a month or so. Tessa met a guy named Henry Lark, who is a great musician and works at the local library. They both fall for each other in a way, but their relationship ended very badly. During this whole relationship, the plant that has been alive since her grandfather planted it was not in the greatest shape. The plant called Pix was knocked out of its pot by the dog, Vito, and was later losing its coloration. This caused Tessa to freak out for this was the closest thing she still has from her mother. Tessa and Henry ended up taking this plant to a professor at the University of Washington to see what was wrong with it and it turned out to have nothing wrong with it. It was just a life cycle for the monocarpic Fragaria. Since this plant was so unusual Tessa was allowed to take it to Svalbard, which is a vault that preserves special seeds forever. At the end, Tessa and her father went back to their original home and no longer were greatly affected by their loss. Altogether, this novel was a great way to show that good can come from the bad in life.
Recommendation
I would recommend this novel to anyone in the seventh grade or higher. I say this because it was a pretty basic romance that was pretty easy to follow but was not as interesting as I thought it was going to be. Altogether, a seventh grader could easily follow and understand the novel.
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Mar 08, 2014 Savannah (Books With Bite) rated it liked it · review of another edition

Given the chance I read Deb Caletti books all day. Her books are so well written and have so much in store for the reader! I just love them.

Plot: This is about a girl who’s life is changed in an instance. Nothing seems the same so her dad drives her across country on a whim. I can tell you that this story pulls you in immediately. You feel the plot so sad, so wanting to break out of the mold. The plot moves at a steady pace allowing the reader the right moments to immerse themselves in the story ...more

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Apr 20, 2014 Taylor Knight rated it really liked it · review of another edition

I'd read one of Deb Caletti's other books, Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, three months ago and I really enjoyed it. I was doubtful but I thought it was really funny and I loved the characters.
I'd actually forgotten how much I liked Honey, Baby, Sweetheart so when I started The Last Forever, I was once again doubtful. I'll never doubt Deb again!

The Last Forever is witty, emotional, and deals with some important things. The main character and her dad are working though the death of her mom and I feel ...more

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May 29, 2015 Adele rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: stand-alone, romance, reviewed, contemporary, young-adult

I WOULD RATE IT 3.5 IF I COULD.
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I dont really know what to say about this book. Yes, the story line is really good. The story mainly focuses on family and personal growth. Beyond that though, when I think back on the book, the book didn't really amount to anything. The Last Forever is a pretty static story. Nothing really changes.

Even though I found the story to be some-what boring, while I was reading The Last Forever, it was kind of interesting. The book is nicely paced. Ther ...more

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Apr 23, 2014 Liza Wiemer added it · review of another edition

Shelves: real-book-challenge

This was a very interesting book on loss and grief and relationships. Tessa lost her mother and her father goes a little crazy - okay maybe a lot, pulling her out of school a week before it ends, dragging her 1/2 way across the country and smoking pot. He was a bit of a loser who ended up getting his act together.
Caletti integrates facts on plants for each chapter. This is because Tessa possesses a special plant—a Pixiebell—that her mother got from her father. How he obtained the plant was enlig ...more

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Apr 18, 2014 Trisha rated it really liked it · review of another edition

"My home is yours for as long as you want it to be. But are you running, Tess?"
"Running away can also be running to."

What a great great story. I found Tess to be quirky but hilarious. I thought she was snarky but WOW, the life she was handed was tough so I think she earned her sass. I loved her humor and her thoughts, her pain and her need to hold on to her mom and the memory.

But I also understood her anger. Her dad abandoning her (even though I saw his reasons too.) This was so well done. I nev ...more

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Apr 14, 2015 Jeraca rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, read-but-unowned

I received this free eARC from Edelweiss in exchange for my honest review.

Deb Caletti and I just don't get along. I've read numerous books of hers and I just can't do it. The covers trap me. The synopsis sounds amazing. And then I start to read the book and I. Just. Can't. Get. Through. Them!

This is probably a fantastic book that all readers will love, but I've learned that she is just not meant for me. I will most definitely recommend her to other readers who enjoy similar books, but for my pe ...more

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Mar 29, 2014 Kirsten Feldman rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

The Last Forever in three lines. Deb Caletti did it, after a slow start: she made me love Tess and the "pixiebell." Tess has a heavy load, what with the dead mother, the AWOL father, the sneak transplantation, the ailing responsibility, and behold, the puzzling boy, but the journey is sweet and wise. After more switchbacks than a mountain road, Caletti also pulled off an ending that both surprised and pleased me.

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Aug 06, 2014 Marta rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Unexpectedly fresh characters and situations make The Last Forever stand out from the pack. This story is about life after losing a parent, the nature of love and the beauty of the everyday people in our lives. So often realistic reads are grim. The Last Forever is believable because it also includes the moments of hope and even fun that can coexist with hardship. It is both realistic and uplifting.

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Jun 07, 2013 Marley rated it liked it

As a character I got incredibly frustrated with Tess, for "falling" so easily for the boy as what...a distraction? I wish more of the focus was on her grief and her plot with the seed, which always felt like an afterthought

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May 10, 2014 Ana rated it liked it · review of another edition

Okay... I was not expecting that ending at all... Like, really?

I don't know what to say.... No words.

I liked the plot with the whole plant fiasco, but the "secret" that was hidden among the characters, I didn't like.

Overall, it was okay.

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Jun 03, 2014 Cherie LaBissoniere rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Deb Caletti has a way of speaking to me through her writing. She gives me hope, eases my fears, and makes me feel a deep love that cannot be explained. Her books are magic and this one is no different.

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About Deb Caletti

Deb Caletti

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Deb Caletti is the award-winning and critically acclaimed author of over sixteen books for adults and young adults, including Honey, Baby, Sweetheart, a finalist for the National Book Award, and A Heart in a Body in the World, a Michael L. Printz Honor Book. Her books have also won the Josette Frank Award for Fiction, the Washington State Book Award, and numerous other state awards and honors, and ...more

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“Endings and beginnings sit so close to each other that it’s sometimes impossible to tell which is which.” — 9 likes

“True love, the good, beautiful, one-and-only kind, the kind between loving friends and family and partners who are mostly just trying hard to do their best, it manages to overlook some pieces of its story. It overlooks what he can’t give you or how she failed you or what mistakes he made when he was struggling. It stays steady at its center. It evolves, through drought and storm. It grows. It survives.” — 8 likes

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Preview — The Last Forever by Deb Caletti

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About Deb Caletti

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