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The Last Post

Renee Carlino (Goodreads Author)

3.48 · Rating details · 1,470 ratings · 330 reviews

In this evocative and poignant novel from the USA TODAY bestselling author of Blind Kiss and Wish You Were Here, a young widow in the midst of grieving her late husband through Facebook posts learns to heal and fall in love again.

“See you on the other side.”

Laya Marston’s husband, Cameron, a daredevil enthusiast, always said this before heading off on his next adventure. In this evocative and poignant novel from the USA TODAY bestselling author of Blind Kiss and Wish You Were Here, a young widow in the midst of grieving her late husband through Facebook posts learns to heal and fall in love again.

“See you on the other side.”

Laya Marston’s husband, Cameron, a daredevil enthusiast, always said this before heading off on his next adventure. He was the complete opposite of her, ready and willing to dive off a cliff-face, or parachute across a canyon—and Laya loved him for it. But she was different: pragmatic, regimented, devoted to her career and to supporting Cameron from the sidelines of his death-defying feats.

Opposites attract, right?

But when Cameron dies suddenly and tragically, all the stages of grief go out the window. Laya becomes lost in denial, living in the delusion that Cameron will come back to her. She begins posting on his Facebook page, reminiscing about their life together, and imagining new adventures for the two of them.

Micah Evans, a young and handsome architect at Laya’s father’s firm, is also stuck––paralyzed by the banal details of his career, his friendships, and his love life. He doesn’t know what he’s looking for, only that there is someone out there who can bring energy and spirit to the humdrum of his life.

When Micah discovers Laya’s tragic and bizarre Facebook posts, he’s determined to show Laya her life is still worth living. Leaving her anonymous gifts and notes, trying to recreate the sense of adventure she once shared with her late husband, Micah finds a new passion watching Laya come out of the darkness. And Laya finds a new joy in the experiences Micah has created for her.

But for Laya, letting another man in still feels like a betrayal to her late husband. Even though Micah may be everything she could wish for, she wonders if she deserves to find happiness again.

Written with Renée Carlino’s signature “tender and satisfying” (Taylor Jenkins Reid, author of Maybe in Another Life) prose, this warm and compassionate novel shows us how powerful the courage to love and live again truly is. ...more

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Kindle Edition, 304 pages

Published August 20th 2019 by Atria Books

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May 13, 2019 Jaidee rated it did not like it · review of another edition

Shelves: under-two-stars-books

1.5 "utterly disappointed" stars !!

Most(est) Disappointing Read of 2019 Award

Thank you to Netgalley, Atria Books and the author for a copy of the book in exchange for a review.

Ms. Carlino has written one of my all time favorite contemporary romances. That gem of a book was titled Before We Were Strangers and I still sweetly smile thinking of that book and what it means to me. I look forward to re-reading that and swooning all over again.

I was so excited to receive a copy of a new book thinkin ...more

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Jul 13, 2019 Patty ~ Wrapped Up In Reading Book Blog rated it liked it

Shelves: depressing, netgalley-arcs, favorite-authors, adult-contemporary, arcs

*****3.5 STARS*****
{ARC Generously Provided by Author}

There are times in life when the pendulum swinging between happiness and sadness begins to slow. The powerful force of emotions goes dormant, we pause, look up, and realize we are finally content.

This story was equally depressing as it was bizarre. At times I wondered what path the author was trying to pave for the main characters. I struggled with my feelings for this book for almost 70% of it. I didn’t empathize or even like the heroine, L ...more

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Apr 17, 2019 Debbie Oliphant rated it really liked it · review of another edition

3.5 STARS

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I was excited to read and review this book as I am a fan of this author. The summary drew me in and after reading the first paragraph, I was emotional and did not want to put the book down...…..but after getting thru the halfway point, I did want to put the book down. I did finish and glad I did get to the ending as the story ended nicely.

Laya's life changes abruptly when she becomes a widow after being married for a very 3.5 STARS

I received an ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review

I was excited to read and review this book as I am a fan of this author. The summary drew me in and after reading the first paragraph, I was emotional and did not want to put the book down...…..but after getting thru the halfway point, I did want to put the book down. I did finish and glad I did get to the ending as the story ended nicely.

Laya's life changes abruptly when she becomes a widow after being married for a very short time. She is stricken with grief and is not able to cope on a daily basis. She leanes on her father who also became a widower when Laya was 3 years old. The two try to cope with their new normal. Laya has taken some time off from her job as a surgeon to figure our what she wants to do next.

Micah works for Laya's father's architectural firm and has felt lost as he is not happy where he is with his life and goes to the extreme to isolate himself beginning with a full, unkept beard and staying at his parents cabin on the weekends. He notices Laya and can't stop thinking about her. There is something about her that is drawing him out of his darkness and he wants to pursue her. He knows she is grieving and wants to become friends, but he soon realizes he has strong feelings for her. Laya is not emotionally ready to be more than friends. She's still calling her husband's cell so she can leave messages and hear his voice, and she is posting messages on his Facebook page. This behavior has everyone concerned as she is writing in the present tense and her post are adding to the grief to her husband's family.

Micah is beginning to breakthrough the walls that Laya has kept up, but each time he can take a step forward, she is propelled backwards. This is the challenge in their relationship and the story can take it's time or too much time with this evolution. Micah and Laya draw from their own strength to live again and enjoy life. The story is a journey to that goal and while some times felt disconnected, the ending felt like a crescendo with the right tone. Enjoy!!!!!

...more

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Feb 28, 2019 Chelsea Humphrey rated it it was ok

Shelves: from-publisher, netgalley

I think it's safe to say that I'm just not compatible with this author, and this was our last tango. I definitely would encourage other readers to pick it up and give it a try for themselves, though!

*Thank you to the publisher for providing my review copy. ...more

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Aug 07, 2019 Pavlina Read more sleep less blog rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, best-cover

❤️3,5 -4 STARS❤️

This is an emotional and heartbreaking read!You need to be in mood to read it!It wasn't easy to read it, there were moments I wanted to stop, The Last Post is definitely different from her other stories.

"Scars are a testament to the love and the relationships I had for and with each person. And if the scar is deep, so was the love. So be it. Scars are a testament to life."

description

I had a harder time connecting with both Laya and Micah but at some point it happened!I loved the premise ...more

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Aug 13, 2019 Alex ✰ Comets and Comments ✰ added it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc, unlikeable-characters, what-the-actual-fuck, contemporary-romance, dnf, insta-love-bug, standalone, new-adult, no-in-every-language-in-the-cosmos, not-memorable

~dnf @35%~

This was my first Renee Carlino book and whilst I will try reading another one of her novels in the future, this one just was NOT for me. I felt the characters to be very unrealistic and two-dimensional, it was something I just couldn't get past. The style of writing was also something that didn't bode well with me, I found it to be very narrative (instead of descriptive) and it tended to lack emotion. The romance was cringey, at best and lacked a lot of substance that I kept looking f ...more

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Sep 08, 2019 Jean rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I seriously loved this book!

Both Laya and Micah were such unique characters and as usual, Renee Carlino's words sucked me right in.

A heartbreaking beginning with reading what Laya went through, losing her husband Cameron tragically. Her struggle to accept his death was completely understandable.

And then there's Micah. He was almost like a lost soul trying to find his way in life, and figure out what was important to him. He had quite an interesting personality. And I absolutely LOVED his twin ...more

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Aug 17, 2019 Ashley rated it it was ok

Shelves: netgalley, 2019

Reviewed on: Ashes Books & Bobs.

I was extremely excited to read this book based on the blurb and author. It seemed like the perfect book to tug on my heartstrings and allow me to get lost in a beautiful love story.

Unfortunately, this book didn't tick the boxes I needed it to. Granted, it was not a horrible read. I really enjoyed certain parts and some of the humor, especially between Melissa and Micah. However, much of this book seemed downright weird to me. Many readers, myself included, though ...more

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Jul 09, 2019 TeriLyn rated it really liked it · review of another edition

**The Last Post generously provided by the publisher via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.**

4 "Isn't it beautiful?" Stars

Renee Carlino's vivid, descriptive prose never fails to draw me into her stories. Having read this book pretty quickly, unable to tear myself away from the tortured and tragic yet hopeful and full of love pages, I found myself enamored with the story telling chops of Carlino. Her style of writing just always manages to find some long buried emotion or reveals a new v ...more

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Jul 30, 2019 Jo - •.★Reading Is My Bliss★.• rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Laya had a whirlwind courtship and marriage to her husband Cameron after meeting at the emergency room she worked at with an injury from his job as a stuntman. It was one of those moments in time where they both knew there was something there between them that they couldn't ignore. Life has been crazy ever since.

‘Are you trying to wink at me?’ I asked. ‘No. I just want to make sure what I’m seeing is real.’ ‘What are you seeing?’ ‘The love of my life.’

Cameron travels all over the world chas Laya had a whirlwind courtship and marriage to her husband Cameron after meeting at the emergency room she worked at with an injury from his job as a stuntman. It was one of those moments in time where they both knew there was something there between them that they couldn't ignore. Life has been crazy ever since.

‘Are you trying to wink at me?’ I asked. ‘No. I just want to make sure what I’m seeing is real.’ ‘What are you seeing?’ ‘The love of my life.’

Cameron travels all over the world chasing the next thrill and when she can, Laya goes along too. There is huge risk involved in this career choice and although Laya supports him, she has no appetite for the thrill seeing things Cameron does. Her biggest fear becomes a reality when Cameron is tragically killed on the job leaving her a young widow. Devastated at losing him, Laya leaves her job at the hospital and returns back to New York to be closer to her father and figure out how she can live without her beloved Cameron.

‘I just want to know when I’ll stop feeling like a broken tooth walking around with exposed nerves constantly hitting the freezing air. I feel like my skin has been peeled off.’

One thing that helps Laya deal with her loss is to post messages on Cam’s Facebook page. Messages from Laya to Cameron about memories that pop into her head of things they experienced together. Some of them are about things she wished they did and some are just random thoughts. Laya’s father and Cam’s family are not happy about these posts but how can anyone tell someone how to grieve. If this is what Laya needs to do to get through this awful part of her life then so be it.

When Micah first meets Laya he pretty much forgets how to breath, let alone talk. She is the most stunning woman he has ever seen but her evident grief overshadows her beauty. He wants to know everything there is to know about her and he soon finds her posts online to Cameron. He decides to use these as his guide to occasionally be in the same place as Laya and in some instances to make some of her wishes come true. The last thing he wants to do is hurt her or scare her off. He just wants to make her smile and bring some light to her darkness.

‘It was in that moment I understood what falling for someone meant. It had nothing to do with sex, or wanting to feel good. I had already been there. Falling for someone is when you can’t look away. When you know you would never forget what a person looks like. You would never mistake her for someone else.’

Laya genuinely likes Micah’s presence in her life but she struggles with the guilt that comes along with that, like she is betraying Cameron by even having a friendship with him. She knows that she is not ready for anything more right now and she may not be for a long time. However, Micah makes her feel less alone and just knowing that he is there when she needs him gives her comfort.

I love that Micah was a mostly, quiet, keep to himself sort of guy. He didn’t look at Laya as a conquest or someone he could seduce. He saw the pain and anguish in her eyes and just wanted to help make it go away. His intentions were very sweet and although he may not have expressed himself in quite the way he wanted to, I found his honest ramblings so endearing. He definitely felt out of his depth and potentially felt like Laya was out of his league at times but his patient persistence was exactly what she needed.

‘Why are you staring at me?’ I said. ‘It’s hard to look away,’ he replied.

I’ve always believed that you can have more than one great love in a lifetime and Renee does a wonderful job showing this in this heartfelt story. I have loved every book I have read from this talented author and this story was yet another fabulous 5 star read. ...more

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Aug 04, 2019 Ellen ✦ Book Bellas ✦ rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: fiction, arc, romance, contemporary, favorite-authors, net-galley

3.5 STARS

I ADORE Renee Carlino's books and will read anything she writes. ('Swear on This Life' is a must-read, by the way.) With that said, I found 'The Last Post' to be a little confusing in its tone and characterizations. Although I was drawn into the story of Laya and Micah and their modern romance, I did not feel that this book reached its potential. Laya is recently widowed and cannot move on from her beloved husband Cameron's tragic death. She leaves public posts on his Facebook page ...more

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Jun 23, 2019 FMABookReviews rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc

THE LAST POST is a story about a woman drowned in the grief of the loss of her husband and the man who was determined to save her.

Micha wanted to be the reason Laya smiled, he wanted to be the one she thought about and loved, and he wanted her in his life.

Micah started as a stalker. There really isn't any other way for me to describe his character. It was difficult for me to like him or view him as a love interest. He was oddly obsessed with his boss's daughter, Laya (who is deep in grief over THE LAST POST is a story about a woman drowned in the grief of the loss of her husband and the man who was determined to save her.

Micha wanted to be the reason Laya smiled, he wanted to be the one she thought about and loved, and he wanted her in his life.

Micah started as a stalker. There really isn't any other way for me to describe his character. It was difficult for me to like him or view him as a love interest. He was oddly obsessed with his boss's daughter, Laya (who is deep in grief over the death of her husband -- the death which she witnessed). He had a strange need to try and make her feel better. He would read her posts on Facebook she made to her dead husband, and then try to recreate for her those experiences she wrote about, in the hope that it will make her feel better …

"I looked at Laya's last post from six weeks ago about the movie. I wanted to have that moment with her. Instead of creeping her out by hiding tickets under her mat, I decided to ask her properly."

For the most part, I liked Layla. I was glad we were able to watch her work her way through the grieving process and come out at the end, a stronger person. There were times, however, when she would lash out at people, that I found it difficult to like her. But everyone grieves differently, so I had to accept her angry and often nasty behavior as a result of her grief.

I loved the first 30% and thought for sure this was going to be another winner for me by this author. But, sadly, by 53% I contemplated not finishing. I put the story away and went on with my day. The next morning, I picked it back up again and decided to give it another try. I am glad that I did. The last 20% or so of the book, the story turned around for me. And, therein lies the problem. The middle of the book was slow. It was heavy. The focus became on Laya's loss and her anguish, and on Micah's odd, obsessive tendencies toward her, rather than focusing on the characters themselves. And those things made me not interested in the characters or their story.

While this may not have been a winner for me, I have loved every other book I've read from this author. Her writing is emotional, and her characters are intriguing. I look forward to reading more from her.

I was provided a review copy by the publisher; this did not influence my opinion of the book nor my review.

...more

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Aug 19, 2019 Kendall rated it liked it · review of another edition

This was my first read by Renee Carlino and have to say I was a. tad bit disappointed :(.

The Last Post was a strange and sad romance to say the least. It definitely had me emotional in this tale but felt the romance was just all over the place and did things backwards. The majority of the story was about the grief and loss which was the ENTIRE book. This was a tad bit too heavy for my liking and just felt a bit more depressing then I wanted it too.

The characterization was weak which I struggled ...more

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Sep 03, 2019 Laura Rash rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Exactly what I needed to read today. All the feels.

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Aug 06, 2019 Jamie Rosenblit rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arcs

Renee Carlino has written some of my favorite books (Before We Were Strangers, Wish You Were Here, Swear on This Life) and some that were more "meh" for me (Blind Kiss). The Last Post falls somewhere closer to middle of the road this time for me.

What I Liked:
- Story about moving on after terrible loss at a young age
- Learning if it's possible to make room again in your heart without dishonoring a spouse who has died
- Fun family dynamics (bantering siblings always make me laugh, especially when ...more

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Jan 16, 2019 ✨ A ✨ marked it as to-read · review of another edition

Shelves: 2019-release, for-reading-slumps

I feel like I'm going to be waiting excitedly every year for Carlino to publish a new book. Not a bad way to spend a year 😋

January 25th, 2019
August, why are you so far away? Get over here now. ...more

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Aug 21, 2019 The Book Bee added it · review of another edition

Shelves: dnf

REVIEW: DNF at 66%
"Scars are a testament to life."

My thoughts upon immediately starting this book: I feel like the voice in this book was one of ease, but with a quiet power behind it. You and Me, we are chatting. We are having a conversation and the prose is lighthearted, even though the subject matter has some heavy moments.

My thoughts just barely in the book: I feel like something is missing. The things that should have broken me - subject matter alone, read like I was removed from t ...more

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Aug 01, 2019 Michele rated it really liked it

Shelves: 2019-reads, netgalley, doctors-hospitals-medical, widow-widower, contemp-romance, after-heartbreak

3 1/2 "3...2..1...See Ya" Stars

I'm not exactly sure how to approach this review. I am a long-time fan of Renee Carlino's books. Truly, I have loved them all. That said, The Last Post was a more challenging read for me than the ones I've previously read. You're going to think I didn't like this book at all, but I did. I just didn't like it as much as I anticipated. I typically LOVE and want to shout from the rooftops about Ms. Carlino's books. This time, something was missing for me. I found 3 1/2 "3...2..1...See Ya" Stars

I'm not exactly sure how to approach this review. I am a long-time fan of Renee Carlino's books. Truly, I have loved them all. That said, The Last Post was a more challenging read for me than the ones I've previously read. You're going to think I didn't like this book at all, but I did. I just didn't like it as much as I anticipated. I typically LOVE and want to shout from the rooftops about Ms. Carlino's books. This time, something was missing for me. I found that I had a harder time connecting with both Laya and Micah. I understand that Laya was grieving her husband and probably had some PTSD because she was present when he died. However, even taking that into consideration, I still found that I couldn't make myself relate to her the way I wanted to. Then there was Micah, who was a mess all on his own. I never understood what was behind his mid-life crisis - - the one where he'd grown the beard and retreated to the woods for a time period. Did he go through a depression of his own? What was his trigger? I feel like there was more to him that went unexplained. I did like him though and appreciated that he was trying to reach Laya and soothe her the only way he knew. It just so happened that it was a bit creepy, awkward and somewhat stalkerish. He was sincerely trying though and I can give brownie points for true effort. I was very hot and cold on Micah's relationship with his twin sister. She was much too abrasive for me at times and treated him a little too callously. However, I guess that she redeemed herself at the end but midway through I was definitely not a member of her fan club.

Now let's talk about Cameron, the dead husband. I know he didn't intend to be one but he was such a selfish man. It was evident he loved Laya, but apparently not enough to be around for her for the long haul. I think he already loved thrill-seeking too much by the time he met her. It was in his blood and he couldn't have ever given it up. With such a risky career, he should have had more frank discussions with her regarding what he'd want her to do in the event that he died. That is where he truly failed her because when it happened, she was left spinning with no direction and unclear of how to move forward without him. Given her family history, she needed that direction. I think all the accumulated loss is one reason she had so much difficulty moving forward.

I really felt like this book had so much potential. I liked the premise but sadly, it just fell short for me. However, when I say it fell short, I am rating it on a Renee Carlino scale. This is to say that it is still a good book. I think sometimes my expectations are set too high. There were still many things I enjoyed about the book.

"Scars are a testament to the love and the relationships I had for and with each person. And if the scar is deep, so was the love. So be it. Scars are a testament to life."
(Disclosure: The quote above is subject to change as it is from an ARC but I had to share it because I found it to be absolutely beautiful.)

Thank you to NetGalley and Atria Books for this ARC in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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May 06, 2020 heba rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: lost-interest

♦ find MORE reviews on my blog ♦

This book is supposed to be a story about a woman encompassing grief and finding a second chance at love. Sound wonderful, doesn't it?

Well, it was basically a ripoff. First off, it feels like a betrayal, in all honesty. Why? Because I love Renee Carlino with all my heart, and her books Swear on This Life & Before We Were Strangers are two of my all-time favorite novels. So I felt incredibly hurt when I realized 60% through this novel that I did not love. I did no ...more

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Dec 07, 2019 Kirsten rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: reading-with-catherine

This is my second book by Renee Carlino, and while I didn't like it nearly as much as her first, I did find it entertaining.

Poor Laya. She's a well-rounded individual and has survived the rigors of medical school; yet, she has found herself married to that most irresponsible of creatures - the thrill seeker. You know, those idiots that jump off buildings and mountains and cliffs. Like there aren't perfectly reasonable hobbies and/or jobs out there.

So, back to Laya. She loves this idiot and the ...more

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Aug 19, 2019 Rachel rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: arc-reads, read-in-2019

3.5 stars

Laya becomes a young widow when her husband’s daredevil career leads to a tragic accident. She becomes mired in her grief, unable to move through the stages of grief at a pace those around her deem acceptable. Micah works for Laya’s father and finds himself floating through the motions. He has entered a sort of crisis of self as he loses sight of what he wants out of his life and career. A brief meeting with Laya has Micah intrigued and he begins to come back into himself as he pursues ...more

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Sep 02, 2019 T. Rosado rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, 2019, womens-fic, netgalley, witty, im-not-crying-youre-crying

4.5 Stars!

In full disclosure, I went into this book with lowered expectations based on some low ratings. As I was reading, I found myself trying to predict where the story was going, because there had to be a major jump-the-shark moment where this story derailed. I'm thrilled to report that it never happened. After some big smiles and a few tears, I ended up loving this story.

This is only the third book I've read by this author, but I enjoy this author's writing style with a passion. Personally, ...more

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Aug 20, 2019 Beneath The Covers Blog rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: alison, arcs, 2019-reads

3.5 stars

Laya never thought that she would be able to move on after the death of her husband, but maybe Micah can change her mind and get her to see there is love after loss.

I found the premise of this story to be good, the emotions Laya went through after losing her husband was gut wrenching. There’s not much to say about Micah. I just did not connect with him at all and I think that’s where I struggled with the story. I did find his and his sister’s relationship to be hilarious, more so her to ...more

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Jul 09, 2019 book bruin rated it liked it

3.5 stars

When I pick up a Renee Carlino book, I know that it's going to be an emotional ride. One that will pull on my heartstrings and make me examine my own life and experiences. The Last Post was no different.

Laya's journey after the sudden death of her husband was painful, poignant, and sometimes frustrating. There was a lot of hot and cold and erratic behavior, but I think it was the author's way of showing how disjointed and broken Laya felt. People cope and handle grief in so many differ ...more

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Aug 16, 2019 J. Greene rated it really liked it

I don’t like "death" stories. The stories where either someone dies or the main character is suffering the death of a loved one. Sadness cloaks these types of stories like a wet blanket.

I was apprehensive about reading this book, but I'm glad I ignored my apprehension.

It surprised me to find that I could connect with this story the way I did. I’ve told you all before, and I’ll tell you again, I am a sucker for emotional reads. This book had emotion in droves.

Laya is happily married to Cameron. T I don’t like "death" stories. The stories where either someone dies or the main character is suffering the death of a loved one. Sadness cloaks these types of stories like a wet blanket.

I was apprehensive about reading this book, but I'm glad I ignored my apprehension.

It surprised me to find that I could connect with this story the way I did. I’ve told you all before, and I’ll tell you again, I am a sucker for emotional reads. This book had emotion in droves.

Laya is happily married to Cameron. Things aren’t perfect but their shared love makes up for bad parts. She’s getting into her role as a doctor, and Cameron is still living the dare-devil lifestyle. It's this same lifestyle that takes Cameron's life, and Laya is there to witness it. Grief consumes Laya. She's leaving Cameron voicemails postmortem and leaving messages on his Facebook page. Everyone is worried about her.

Micah is in a slump. He's unsatisfied. His job doesn't pay enough, and he's not doing the work he feels called to do. Then he meets Laya. She's his boss' daughter. One look at her and Micah is a goner. He takes to her facebook page as a means of staying in touch with her. He discovers secrets about her and in an attempt to help her grieve, he oversteps.

Micah is an interesting character. He was too much and not enough, all at the same time. He was overwhelming in his approach to Laya. I wanted to chuck it up to him being love-struck, but I'm not sure. He was overbearing. He tried helping Laya overcome her grief, but she wasn't prepared for the onslaught of the emotions that came with his presence, or his attempts to help her.

I have to say though he was overbearing, the way he cared for and loved Laya was sort of cute. I liked Micah. He was instant love disguised as a man, but it worked for his character. It was believable and worked for the story and the progression of the plot. I know a lot of readers won't like Micah's character, but I appreciated him towards the end. It brought the story full circle for me.

Laya was a conundrum. She was heavily shrouded in grief, it was a separate entity. The author handled her grief responsibly and realistically. It was a journey watching her grieve, and battle with her feelings for Micah.

The author allowed time for both characters to fully develop separately and then later, together. It was well-written. No doubt about it. This story probably won't appeal to everyone, but for those of you that like unconventional, emotional love stories--this will be the perfect read for you. The pacing of everything is perfect, with just enough drama to shake things up. Micah's sister, Melissa, is a riot. It was a pretty great read and another good one from Carlino. ...more

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Jul 06, 2019 Shelby rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: romance, womens-fiction

Laya never planned to get married, never planned on falling in love. But life had other plans for her. Well on her way to becoming an orthopedic surgeon, Laya met Cameron, a fearless stuntman who got his thrills from extreme sports. They had a whirlwind romance and were married within a year. But only a year after they tied the knot, Cameron unexpectedly dies during one of his stunts and Laya is left trying to pick up the pieces of her life. She moved back to New York to be closer to her dad and Laya never planned to get married, never planned on falling in love. But life had other plans for her. Well on her way to becoming an orthopedic surgeon, Laya met Cameron, a fearless stuntman who got his thrills from extreme sports. They had a whirlwind romance and were married within a year. But only a year after they tied the knot, Cameron unexpectedly dies during one of his stunts and Laya is left trying to pick up the pieces of her life. She moved back to New York to be closer to her dad and puts her career—and everything else—on hold during her grieving process.

Micah has been working at the same architecture firm for years and doesn’t feel his career is progressing in any sense of the word. His friends are content partying every weekend, sharing their bed with a new woman every night. But Micah’s over that lifestyle. He’s ready to move forward, settle down and leave the party days behind him. Micah feels he’s in a midlife crisis, even though he’s barely even 30-years old. But when he meets his boss’ daughter, Laya, he snaps out of his funk and has a reason to move forward.

Laya’s family is worried for her—she isn’t coping with Cameron’s death in the healthiest way. She’s been sending Cameron Facebook messages, updating him on her life and reminiscing about all their good memories together. But while doing so, she isn’t able to move on. Little does she know, Micah has been reading her posts and sending her anonymous gifts that remind her of Cameron.

Micah and Laya enter each other’s lives at the most inconvenient of times, but for some reason they just work, even if it takes months to get to their destination.

The Last Post is Renee Carlino’s latest contemporary romance publication. The premise of this story was intriguing—a hard-hitting story about grief, love and moving forward. Previously I read Blind Is and Swear on This Life by Renee Carlino an loved both, but unfortunately there was a disconnect with The Last Post. What I loved about this story: Micah’s relationship with his twin sister, Melissa. Their banter was witty and funny and their connection I feel was awesome. For some reason I couldn’t connect with Laya and Micah. I thought Micah’s interest in Laya was a little odd and he came off too strong for no reason. I sympathized with Laya’s grief but didn’t buy her romance with Micah. I wanted so badly to love this one, but it just wasn’t for me. I think it was well-written and I will continue to read more by this wonderful author. 3/5 stars.

Thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Renee Carlino for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. ...more

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Aug 04, 2019 Tanya (Girl Plus Books) rated it really liked it

Shelves: arc, contemporary, netgalley, romance

3.5 STARS

After a whirlwind first year of marriage, Laya is suddenly and tragically a widow. Retreating from work, family and friends, Laya is mired in grief and finds solace in leaving messages for Cameron, her deceased husband, on his phone and his Facebook page. Despite pleas from his family to stop the posts, which they consider hurtful, Laya can’t seem to stop.

Micah works for Laya’s father’s architectural firm and seems to be at a crossroads himself. He feels a disconnect with his friends a 3.5 STARS

After a whirlwind first year of marriage, Laya is suddenly and tragically a widow. Retreating from work, family and friends, Laya is mired in grief and finds solace in leaving messages for Cameron, her deceased husband, on his phone and his Facebook page. Despite pleas from his family to stop the posts, which they consider hurtful, Laya can’t seem to stop.

Micah works for Laya’s father’s architectural firm and seems to be at a crossroads himself. He feels a disconnect with his friends and a sense of pointlessness to his work and his everyday life. When he meets Laya he’s immediately drawn to her. He knows she is a widow and, when he comes across her posts to her deceased husband, he feels compelled to somehow help her. Taking cues from her posts, he begins to slowly get to know Laya and a relationship (of sorts) forms.

I was excited to dive into The Last Post because I have loved several of Carlino’s books in the past. She has such a gift for emotional storytelling. Unfortunately, it was the emotion that was missing from this one for me. I didn’t feel a connection with either Laya or Micah, and at times I wasn’t even sure I felt a real connection between the two of them. In the beginning I wasn’t sure what to make of Micah or what his motivations were. It wasn’t clear to me whether he was altruistic or was trying to fulfill some need in himself.

Both Laya and Micah were living very small, insular lives – disconnected from the world and the people around them. I liked how together they both started to rejoin the world. Laya was finally able to start moving past her grief and Micah was coming out of… whatever it was he was going through. Honestly, I never did really understand what his issues were or what was troubling him. Laya struggled to come to terms with Cameron’s failings and recognize that neither he, nor their marriage, had been perfect. It was satisfying to see her come out of her shell and be willing to move forward.

While I didn’t feel emotionally invested in Laya and Micah’s story, and I missed that emotional punch that I’ve come to count on from Carlino, there’s no denying that she is a gifted storyteller. I love her writing style and I love her ability to tell a story about real people facing real challenges. Her stories always feel authentic and never gimmicky. If you enjoy stories that focus on overcoming loss, second chances and moving on, give The Last Post a chance.

Note: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. This does not impact my opinion of the book or the content of this review. I received no compensation and my review is voluntary. ...more

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Sep 17, 2019 jessica rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

not quite renee carlinos strongest story, nor is it my favourite by any means, but i am incapable of giving her books anything less than 5 stars.

i think she has a really remarkable way of capturing human emotions within her characters, and making the reader relate to those emotions, even if they havent experienced that kind of feeling before. particularly with this story, i think grief is explored and handled very well. i couldnt help but feel so heartbroken over the loss of cameron and emphath ...more

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Aug 19, 2019 Nerdy Dirty & Flirty rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

Tragic. Hopeful. Beautiful.

How does one put themselves back together after a life altering tragedy? How far will you go to fix someone? Laya is drowning in grief when Micah comes along and inserts himself into her life in the hopes of helping to pull her from heartache. Loss and love and an ocean of obstacles stand between these two. Carlino delivers a story equally heartbreaking and heartening. I was able to slide into the story, feel the emotions of the characters, and get lost in their journe ...more

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Jan 27, 2020 Bea rated it really liked it · review of another edition

This was an amazing read!! The characters were so witty and so funny especially the Hero! I loved it! With the story line being so heavy and filled with tragedy, it helped that there where some moments of laughter! I ran out and bought the paperback!

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About Renee Carlino

Renee Carlino

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Renée Carlino is a bestselling author of contemporary women's novels and new adult fiction. Her books have been featured in national publications, including Cosmopolitan Magazine, InStyle Magazine, USA TODAY, Huffington Post, Latina magazine, Publisher's Weekly, Redbook, Sunset Magazine, Coastal Living and the Union Tribune. She lives in Southern California with her husband and two sons. When she' ...more