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The Last Love Song
After high school graduation, Mia Peters faces a summer full of painful goodbyes. Songwriting is her only solace. Everyone she knows is moving on, including Britt, her biggest supporter ... and kind-of-sort-of girlfriend. Britt keeps pushing Mia to go bigger and do better than their small town, but Mia can't imagine a life beyond Sunset Cove. Besides, she refuses to follow in the footsteps of her late mother--country music star Tori Rose--who abandoned her family to pursue her dream, leaving Mia and her two grandmothers alone. Desperate for a sign of what might lie ahead, Mia finds the opposite--a mysterious letter from the past, addressed to her in her mother's handwriting. It turns out to be the first of many. One by one they lead Mia on a wild scavenger hunt through a Sunset Cove she never knew, buried under the memorializing that has frozen her mother in time. Each new discovery brings Mia closer to the real Tori Rose, but with the clock ticking on Britt's departure, Mia knows she is running out of time. With the summer winding down, Mia must decide if she is ready to face the present, confront her feelings, and forge the destiny she truly wants.
286 pages, Paperback
First published April 9, 2024
About the author
Kalie Holford
1 book62 followersKalie Holford (she/her) is a university student studying Fine Arts in the Pacific Northwest where she lives with her family and two puppies. She loves Mamma Mia!, country music, and love songs and stories. Her passion is writing books about messy girls who make mistakes, learn to love, and grow alongside each other, and her debut, The Last Love Song, features all of these things. When she's not writing, she can be found designing graphics, studying, re-organizing her bookshelves for the thousandth time, or making her way through the Marvel Cinematic Universe with her boyfriend. She can also be found at @kalieholford on Instagram and TikTok.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 257 reviews
February 23, 2024
will i ever stop sobbing over this book? place your bets now!
June 16, 2024
I’m on BookTube now! =)
**This ARC was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley & Blackstone Publishing.**
”She told me to follow the music, but I don’t know where it’s going to lead.”
I was very excited to start “The Last Love Song” because it sounded like everything I like to read about in my books. Mamma Mia vibes, music, two POVs in different time-lines, a grief rep, a scavenger hunt with a mystery element and a Sapphic romance. I mean, what’s not to love? I was so ready to dive into this story and once I did, I had a really good time. I think for a debut this was great and despite a couple of little issues I had with the storyline I was still happy to tag along Mia’s scavenger hunt and to find out more about her mother’s mysterious past.
I’ve never known how to really know her for everything she was. I’ve never known how to leave the little pieces of her I have or the people who need to hold on to those stories without saying them.”
So what exactly is the book about? Well, we follow Mia Peters who lives in a small town and is the daughter of former country music star Tori Rose. Apparently, Tori’s death was kept quiet and no one wants to talk about what happened in the past. After graduation, her grandmothers give her letters in her mother’s handwriting, though and so an unexpected scavenger hunt for the whole truth and Tori’s past ensues. I’ve to admit that the premise of the story was very intriguing and I enjoyed to follow all those little hints alongside Mia. With every new letter, there comes another clue and the pages of Tori’s diary don’t only reveal how her career started but also hint at the identity of Mia’s father. I personally love scavenger hunts and the way it was done in here was a lot of fun and kept me guessing until the very end.
"I have the angles of her features when I search for them, I have her songs in my heart, but I will never have her fate, and I will never get out of this town."
Another thing that was done well, was Mia’s anxiety and her fear of always being compared to her mother. Mia was a great musician in her own right, but if you’re the daughter of one of the brightest country stars that ever shone, some people will always draw comparisons and see you as some sort of legacy. All of Mia’s insecurities stemmed from that and I think her character arc was very relatable and comprehensible.
It’s not easy to deal with all of those expectations and the added pressure of Britt – her best friend and soulmate – leaving soon to follow her own dreams, certainly didn’t help. Still, at times I couldn’t help but feel a little frustrated with Mia because it was so obvious that she wanted to be with Britt, yet it seemed like she didn’t want to face that truth and conditioned it on how her mother’s scavenger hunt would end instead. Mia wanted someone else to make that choice for her and yes, that was extremely frustrating. Then again, she was still a teen and I guess if you’re that young and never knew your mom, you might crave some sort of guidance.
”When I look back, she’s already taken the stage, scanning the room, still searching for me in a way that I hope she one day – in six-almost-five days – won’t, if only so I can stop being the person who lets her down.”
As we follow Tori Rose’s diary entries and her story unfolds, we discover that she didn’t always have an answer for everything, though. The reader gets to see a young Tori Rose at the beginning of her career, torn between adventurous life on the road and the quiet safety of the small town she grew up in. Her inner struggle reflected in the two boys that accompany her on her journey while she follows her dreams. And let me tell you this, those two boys couldn’t have been any more different even if they tried.
"His voice was gentler than I'd kept mine. He made his way across the lobby, and I held his gaze again. Our melodies wound together. I didn't make a move until the song was over."
"Dance with me," I said. "It's the perfect weather."
He shook his head, took a bow, and extended a hand. I looped my arms around his neck.
On the one hand, we had Patrick Rose, the mysterious boy with the rose tattoo who connected to Tori through their mutual love for music. And on the other hand we had David Summers, Tori’s childhood best friend who supported her no matter what and knew her better than anyone else. I loved how those two boys stood for different things in Tori’s life and the fact that one of them could be Mia’s father only made to read her POV even more intriguing. The only thing Tori Rose always knew was that she wanted to make music, but in order to do that she also had to make a choice.
"She had choices, she had fears, she had songs that scared her, and she tried her best. She was a million paradoxes, and she wanted the music despite it all."
So in the end both, Mia as well as Tori Rose, had to decide what they wanted and it was no easy choice for either of them. I think what Patrick and David represented for Tori Rose was exactly what Britt and Mia’s grandmothers represented for her. Choices, different paths with a million of possibilities and yes, this can be quite scary. Still, despite it all, I could always feel how much Mia loved her grandmothers and Britt. Both girls, Mia and Tori, felt torn inside and both had to find their own way.
”Her nose nudges mine, and our lips meet again, fingers tangling deeper in hair and hearts on sleeves. We burst and we break. We are dichotomies and paradoxes and lies and happily never afters. We are an ending that wants to be a beginning and a beginning that never got to start quite right. We are everything, and she is everything, and only I know that I truly wish I could go with her.”
Even though Mia’s POV wasn’t as interesting as Tori Rose’s, I still loved her relationship with Britt and those two had a lot of chemistry and sweet moments that instantly caused me to pull for them. In addition, I’m such a sucker for the best friends-to-lovers trope and Britt and Mia definitely delivered on that front. What I really loved about this book were the beautiful lyrics, though. They made everything feel even more real and I could totally imagine them singing those songs on a stage together. Meaningful lyrics that rhyme are my kryptonite in books that feature music so this was amazing!
"Better off with no hearts on sleeves, for mine's
caged inside.
Better off without the truth, for there's safety in
our lies."
”And the songs in my heart won't be silenced by
dawn,
Because honey the music's been raging too long.
So in this garden of dreams, constellations at its
seams,
I ask you this time: will you follow the music
with me?"
Finally yet importantly, before I end this review I’ve to mention a couple of things: Firstly: The fact that we got an elderly lesbian couple in the form of Mia’s grandmothers was awesome. I honestly need more representation like this in my books! For obvious reasons we so rarely get older LGBTQIA+ couples in stories, but I think representation like that is so important. Secondly: Kalie Holford nailed the grief representation for me. It ran like a common thread through the entire book and was palpable in many different ways. No matter if it was through Mia’s grandmothers that didn’t want to talk about Tori Rose, Tori’s old friends, people that knew her and spoke about her with Mia or even Mia herself who never got to know her mother and held on to her letters so tightly it hurt. Grief can have many forms and this was shown so nicely throughout the story.
”For all the pain her passing caused, I am so glad I met her, that she was part of my life. That’s the funny thing about loss, you know? You wish you’d never had to feel a hurt that deep, but you *knew* that person and you wouldn’t have had it any other way. For however long they were there, they meant something, and that is forever.”
Despite all my enjoyment there were some things that didn’t make a lot of sense though and of course I want to address them in my review as well. For instance, I couldn’t understand why Mia’s grandmothers never spoke about Tori Rose. I mean she was their daughter and no matter how much it hurt, for the sake of their grandchild’s sanity alone they should have told her about her mother. And if we’re already talking about flaws in the story: I didn’t get how Mia was able to live in Sunset Cove all her life without finding out about her mother’s death. You would think that it’s impossible not to know everything about your famous country star mother in a city that is so clearly dedicated to her life and work. Not to mention that the press would have had a field day finding out who Mia’s father was. Under normal circumstances, Mia could have easily read about Tori Rose’s love life in all the tabloids and newspapers of that time. Especially in times like now in which all those things are archived online and you just have to follow the right link. So that part of the story felt a little unrealistic and I’m sure the author could have found a different way to keep the mystery alive than just not allowing the characters to talk about Tori Rose.
”You can outgrow places and people and still love them.”
Conclusion:
All told, “The Last Love Song” was a great debut novel that lived from its beautiful lyrics and intriguing storyline. The scavenger hunt element and the mystery around Tori Rose’s death and Mia’s father kept me invested and I really wanted to know how the story would end for both of those girls. I loved how the grief representation was handled and the fact we got a queer rep as well was the icing on the cake. So despite of some things not making a lot of sense I was still happy to follow Mia’s journey. 3,5 stars rounded up to 4, because at the end of the day this was a very enjoyable read and I had a good time reading it.
________________________________
This was a nice story and I really wanted to find out who Mia’s dad was.
I liked that we had an elderly lesbian couple in this and the lyrics throughout the book were great. I gotta admit I was more invested in Tori Rose’s storyline than I was in her daughters, though. XD
Full RTC soon! I’ll try to get it up asap because I was already late reading this ARC. >_<
______________________________
I got “The Last Love Song” as an ARC from NetGalley and I’ve been looking forward to read it ever since! Unfortunately life happened and I didn’t manage to get to it sooner.
Anyway! I’m ready to dive into this and I’m extremely intrigued by the premise of the book.
I love stories that blend the past and future together and have a music element. Mia’s mother is a country music star and we’re going on some sort of scavenger hunt through her city. Plus there’s a LGBTQIA+ rep and I’m always here for them!
This said: I’m ready! Let’s do this! =)
Find me on:
My Blog
Instagram
**This ARC was provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. Thank you to NetGalley & Blackstone Publishing.**
”She told me to follow the music, but I don’t know where it’s going to lead.”
I was very excited to start “The Last Love Song” because it sounded like everything I like to read about in my books. Mamma Mia vibes, music, two POVs in different time-lines, a grief rep, a scavenger hunt with a mystery element and a Sapphic romance. I mean, what’s not to love? I was so ready to dive into this story and once I did, I had a really good time. I think for a debut this was great and despite a couple of little issues I had with the storyline I was still happy to tag along Mia’s scavenger hunt and to find out more about her mother’s mysterious past.
I’ve never known how to really know her for everything she was. I’ve never known how to leave the little pieces of her I have or the people who need to hold on to those stories without saying them.”
So what exactly is the book about? Well, we follow Mia Peters who lives in a small town and is the daughter of former country music star Tori Rose. Apparently, Tori’s death was kept quiet and no one wants to talk about what happened in the past. After graduation, her grandmothers give her letters in her mother’s handwriting, though and so an unexpected scavenger hunt for the whole truth and Tori’s past ensues. I’ve to admit that the premise of the story was very intriguing and I enjoyed to follow all those little hints alongside Mia. With every new letter, there comes another clue and the pages of Tori’s diary don’t only reveal how her career started but also hint at the identity of Mia’s father. I personally love scavenger hunts and the way it was done in here was a lot of fun and kept me guessing until the very end.
"I have the angles of her features when I search for them, I have her songs in my heart, but I will never have her fate, and I will never get out of this town."
Another thing that was done well, was Mia’s anxiety and her fear of always being compared to her mother. Mia was a great musician in her own right, but if you’re the daughter of one of the brightest country stars that ever shone, some people will always draw comparisons and see you as some sort of legacy. All of Mia’s insecurities stemmed from that and I think her character arc was very relatable and comprehensible.
It’s not easy to deal with all of those expectations and the added pressure of Britt – her best friend and soulmate – leaving soon to follow her own dreams, certainly didn’t help. Still, at times I couldn’t help but feel a little frustrated with Mia because it was so obvious that she wanted to be with Britt, yet it seemed like she didn’t want to face that truth and conditioned it on how her mother’s scavenger hunt would end instead. Mia wanted someone else to make that choice for her and yes, that was extremely frustrating. Then again, she was still a teen and I guess if you’re that young and never knew your mom, you might crave some sort of guidance.
”When I look back, she’s already taken the stage, scanning the room, still searching for me in a way that I hope she one day – in six-almost-five days – won’t, if only so I can stop being the person who lets her down.”
As we follow Tori Rose’s diary entries and her story unfolds, we discover that she didn’t always have an answer for everything, though. The reader gets to see a young Tori Rose at the beginning of her career, torn between adventurous life on the road and the quiet safety of the small town she grew up in. Her inner struggle reflected in the two boys that accompany her on her journey while she follows her dreams. And let me tell you this, those two boys couldn’t have been any more different even if they tried.
"His voice was gentler than I'd kept mine. He made his way across the lobby, and I held his gaze again. Our melodies wound together. I didn't make a move until the song was over."
"Dance with me," I said. "It's the perfect weather."
He shook his head, took a bow, and extended a hand. I looped my arms around his neck.
On the one hand, we had Patrick Rose, the mysterious boy with the rose tattoo who connected to Tori through their mutual love for music. And on the other hand we had David Summers, Tori’s childhood best friend who supported her no matter what and knew her better than anyone else. I loved how those two boys stood for different things in Tori’s life and the fact that one of them could be Mia’s father only made to read her POV even more intriguing. The only thing Tori Rose always knew was that she wanted to make music, but in order to do that she also had to make a choice.
"She had choices, she had fears, she had songs that scared her, and she tried her best. She was a million paradoxes, and she wanted the music despite it all."
So in the end both, Mia as well as Tori Rose, had to decide what they wanted and it was no easy choice for either of them. I think what Patrick and David represented for Tori Rose was exactly what Britt and Mia’s grandmothers represented for her. Choices, different paths with a million of possibilities and yes, this can be quite scary. Still, despite it all, I could always feel how much Mia loved her grandmothers and Britt. Both girls, Mia and Tori, felt torn inside and both had to find their own way.
”Her nose nudges mine, and our lips meet again, fingers tangling deeper in hair and hearts on sleeves. We burst and we break. We are dichotomies and paradoxes and lies and happily never afters. We are an ending that wants to be a beginning and a beginning that never got to start quite right. We are everything, and she is everything, and only I know that I truly wish I could go with her.”
Even though Mia’s POV wasn’t as interesting as Tori Rose’s, I still loved her relationship with Britt and those two had a lot of chemistry and sweet moments that instantly caused me to pull for them. In addition, I’m such a sucker for the best friends-to-lovers trope and Britt and Mia definitely delivered on that front. What I really loved about this book were the beautiful lyrics, though. They made everything feel even more real and I could totally imagine them singing those songs on a stage together. Meaningful lyrics that rhyme are my kryptonite in books that feature music so this was amazing!
"Better off with no hearts on sleeves, for mine's
caged inside.
Better off without the truth, for there's safety in
our lies."
”And the songs in my heart won't be silenced by
dawn,
Because honey the music's been raging too long.
So in this garden of dreams, constellations at its
seams,
I ask you this time: will you follow the music
with me?"
Finally yet importantly, before I end this review I’ve to mention a couple of things: Firstly: The fact that we got an elderly lesbian couple in the form of Mia’s grandmothers was awesome. I honestly need more representation like this in my books! For obvious reasons we so rarely get older LGBTQIA+ couples in stories, but I think representation like that is so important. Secondly: Kalie Holford nailed the grief representation for me. It ran like a common thread through the entire book and was palpable in many different ways. No matter if it was through Mia’s grandmothers that didn’t want to talk about Tori Rose, Tori’s old friends, people that knew her and spoke about her with Mia or even Mia herself who never got to know her mother and held on to her letters so tightly it hurt. Grief can have many forms and this was shown so nicely throughout the story.
”For all the pain her passing caused, I am so glad I met her, that she was part of my life. That’s the funny thing about loss, you know? You wish you’d never had to feel a hurt that deep, but you *knew* that person and you wouldn’t have had it any other way. For however long they were there, they meant something, and that is forever.”
Despite all my enjoyment there were some things that didn’t make a lot of sense though and of course I want to address them in my review as well. For instance, I couldn’t understand why Mia’s grandmothers never spoke about Tori Rose. I mean she was their daughter and no matter how much it hurt, for the sake of their grandchild’s sanity alone they should have told her about her mother. And if we’re already talking about flaws in the story: I didn’t get how Mia was able to live in Sunset Cove all her life without finding out about her mother’s death. You would think that it’s impossible not to know everything about your famous country star mother in a city that is so clearly dedicated to her life and work. Not to mention that the press would have had a field day finding out who Mia’s father was. Under normal circumstances, Mia could have easily read about Tori Rose’s love life in all the tabloids and newspapers of that time. Especially in times like now in which all those things are archived online and you just have to follow the right link. So that part of the story felt a little unrealistic and I’m sure the author could have found a different way to keep the mystery alive than just not allowing the characters to talk about Tori Rose.
”You can outgrow places and people and still love them.”
Conclusion:
All told, “The Last Love Song” was a great debut novel that lived from its beautiful lyrics and intriguing storyline. The scavenger hunt element and the mystery around Tori Rose’s death and Mia’s father kept me invested and I really wanted to know how the story would end for both of those girls. I loved how the grief representation was handled and the fact we got a queer rep as well was the icing on the cake. So despite of some things not making a lot of sense I was still happy to follow Mia’s journey. 3,5 stars rounded up to 4, because at the end of the day this was a very enjoyable read and I had a good time reading it.
________________________________
This was a nice story and I really wanted to find out who Mia’s dad was.
I liked that we had an elderly lesbian couple in this and the lyrics throughout the book were great. I gotta admit I was more invested in Tori Rose’s storyline than I was in her daughters, though. XD
Full RTC soon! I’ll try to get it up asap because I was already late reading this ARC. >_<
______________________________
I got “The Last Love Song” as an ARC from NetGalley and I’ve been looking forward to read it ever since! Unfortunately life happened and I didn’t manage to get to it sooner.
Anyway! I’m ready to dive into this and I’m extremely intrigued by the premise of the book.
I love stories that blend the past and future together and have a music element. Mia’s mother is a country music star and we’re going on some sort of scavenger hunt through her city. Plus there’s a LGBTQIA+ rep and I’m always here for them!
This said: I’m ready! Let’s do this! =)
Find me on:
My Blog
April 25, 2024
⁀➷ 3 stars ☆
⋆.˚✮🎧✮˚.⋆
“i ask you this time: will you follow the music with me?”
this was a cute story, but i think my expectations were too high and i was a little disappointed with it :( the cover is gorgeous and the premise seemed really interesting, but it was a bit of a letdown. this will be a fairly short review bcs i don't rlly have much to say
⟶ what i liked.
the writing was really beautiful - it was heartfelt and lyrical and the prose was really well done! although the dialouge at times felt overtly dramatic and unnatural, but oh well. the setting was amazing and i loved the small town coastal vibes. take me to sunset cove !!
mia was a really realistic and well developed character, and i loved reading about her journey. the romance was fairly cute, though not particularly memorable, and i loved the parallels between britt and tori.
the ending actually made me tear up a bit. it was a perfect way to tie up the story.
⟶ what i didn't like.
despite being fairly short, the middle part of this book dragged a lot. it took me over a week to read this book despite it being under 300 pages. but it was also fast at the same time, given that everything takes place in like a week...but okay.
the entire premise of the book felt really unrealistic. mia lives in this town that is very clearly devoted to her mother, yet she knows nothing about her? also the internet exists, why was there no mention of her ever looking up anything about her mother? the dad plotline felt like it was just shoved in there and didn't really have any real bearing on the plot. also, the scavenger hunt thing, despite being the main plot, was just sort of there...i would have liked more mystery around it because for the most part it was pretty random.
mia's chapters were quite slow at times, and i found myself getting bored a lot. i was mostly just looking forward to tori's chapters bcs her story was way more interesting to me.
⟶ overall.
despite it's flaws, i still liked this book ! i think the author is really talented - like those song lyrics?? - and i'm looking forward to seeing what she releases next ! although this wasn't really for me, i would recommend this book to anyone who wants a short summery story about love, loss, music, and following your dreams.
⟶ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review! 🩷
┈┈┈┈┈┈
꒰🎤꒱ ➳ pre-read: got the arc!! tho...it comes out tomorrow. so 🤗 BUT THIS LOOKS SO GOOD AND THE COVER IS STUNNING so im excited to start this <3
⋆.˚✮🎧✮˚.⋆
“i ask you this time: will you follow the music with me?”
this was a cute story, but i think my expectations were too high and i was a little disappointed with it :( the cover is gorgeous and the premise seemed really interesting, but it was a bit of a letdown. this will be a fairly short review bcs i don't rlly have much to say
⟶ what i liked.
the writing was really beautiful - it was heartfelt and lyrical and the prose was really well done! although the dialouge at times felt overtly dramatic and unnatural, but oh well. the setting was amazing and i loved the small town coastal vibes. take me to sunset cove !!
mia was a really realistic and well developed character, and i loved reading about her journey. the romance was fairly cute, though not particularly memorable, and i loved the parallels between britt and tori.
the ending actually made me tear up a bit. it was a perfect way to tie up the story.
⟶ what i didn't like.
despite being fairly short, the middle part of this book dragged a lot. it took me over a week to read this book despite it being under 300 pages. but it was also fast at the same time, given that everything takes place in like a week...but okay.
the entire premise of the book felt really unrealistic. mia lives in this town that is very clearly devoted to her mother, yet she knows nothing about her? also the internet exists, why was there no mention of her ever looking up anything about her mother? the dad plotline felt like it was just shoved in there and didn't really have any real bearing on the plot. also, the scavenger hunt thing, despite being the main plot, was just sort of there...i would have liked more mystery around it because for the most part it was pretty random.
mia's chapters were quite slow at times, and i found myself getting bored a lot. i was mostly just looking forward to tori's chapters bcs her story was way more interesting to me.
⟶ overall.
despite it's flaws, i still liked this book ! i think the author is really talented - like those song lyrics?? - and i'm looking forward to seeing what she releases next ! although this wasn't really for me, i would recommend this book to anyone who wants a short summery story about love, loss, music, and following your dreams.
⟶ thank you to netgalley and the publisher for sending me an arc of this book in exchange for my honest review! 🩷
┈┈┈┈┈┈
꒰🎤꒱ ➳ pre-read: got the arc!! tho...it comes out tomorrow. so 🤗 BUT THIS LOOKS SO GOOD AND THE COVER IS STUNNING so im excited to start this <3
Shelved as 'dnf'
June 26, 2024temporary DNF — i started this when i really was not in a reading mood and subsequently didn't pick it up again for six months through absolutely no fault of the book. i will return one day when i can fully appreciate it ♡
-
i have been SO excited about this book for so long and i'm so so so proud of kalie ♡♡♡
BI MAMMA MIA BOOK EVERYONE
-
i have been SO excited about this book for so long and i'm so so so proud of kalie ♡♡♡
BI MAMMA MIA BOOK EVERYONE
October 17, 2024
The Last Love Song is perfect for anyone who’s ever tried to decode the clues in the lead-up to a new Taylor Swift album.
What do you mean by... ''tried''?
I do NOT recommend the audiobook! The narrator sounds like she's about to cry at all times!
Me too, bitch!
What do you mean by... ''tried''?
I do NOT recommend the audiobook! The narrator sounds like she's about to cry at all times!
Me too, bitch!
April 9, 2024
3.5~
-------------------
Happy release day! Love the cover 😍
-------------------
Some Moxie X Mama Mia vibes
If you squint there are Daisy Jones & Evelyn Hugo vibes
Past & Present timeline chapters
-------------------
It's not perfect but how is this a damn debut???
Should have highlighted more lines.
I look forward to what she writes next.
-------------------
Spoilers -
*I don't get why the grandmas blame themselves when they know why the mom left and even allowed her to do so.
*Brit was impatient with Mia when she was her world was collapsing.
*The grandmas hid who the dad was, and what is the cause of death of the mom (like excuse me?)
-------------------
Happy release day! Love the cover 😍
-------------------
Some Moxie X Mama Mia vibes
If you squint there are Daisy Jones & Evelyn Hugo vibes
Past & Present timeline chapters
-------------------
It's not perfect but how is this a damn debut???
Should have highlighted more lines.
I look forward to what she writes next.
-------------------
Spoilers -
*I don't get why the grandmas blame themselves when they know why the mom left and even allowed her to do so.
*Brit was impatient with Mia when she was her world was collapsing.
*The grandmas hid who the dad was, and what is the cause of death of the mom (like excuse me?)
May 12, 2024
3.5-4⭐️ There is nothing like a YA coming of age story to put the big life lessons into perspective. Katie Holford’s new contemporary debut, does just this.
With themes of first love, figuring out your place in the world, and overcoming the greatest of loss, this book will sweep you away, Mama Mia style, into the lives of Mia Peters and Tori Rose - strong, determined, ambitious, and full of heart. And of course, a side of romance is always appreciated. Watching Mia and Britt’s friendship blossom was the candle on the proverbial cake.
🎧 This seemed like the perfect book to read with my ears versus my eyes and I am so glad I did. The narrators, Taylor Meskimen and Amanda Dolan, were the perfect choices to voice these two pivotal characters and they did an incredible job making Mia and Tori wholly authentic.
Thank you to my friend for putting this one on my radar. I look forward to seeing what Holford comes up with next.
Read if you like:
•friends to lovers
•scavenger hunts
•dual timelines and POV
•sapphic romance
•Daisy Jones meets Mama Mia
but make it queer
Thank you Blackstone Publishing and Librofm for the gifted copies.
With themes of first love, figuring out your place in the world, and overcoming the greatest of loss, this book will sweep you away, Mama Mia style, into the lives of Mia Peters and Tori Rose - strong, determined, ambitious, and full of heart. And of course, a side of romance is always appreciated. Watching Mia and Britt’s friendship blossom was the candle on the proverbial cake.
🎧 This seemed like the perfect book to read with my ears versus my eyes and I am so glad I did. The narrators, Taylor Meskimen and Amanda Dolan, were the perfect choices to voice these two pivotal characters and they did an incredible job making Mia and Tori wholly authentic.
Thank you to my friend for putting this one on my radar. I look forward to seeing what Holford comes up with next.
Read if you like:
•friends to lovers
•scavenger hunts
•dual timelines and POV
•sapphic romance
•Daisy Jones meets Mama Mia
but make it queer
Thank you Blackstone Publishing and Librofm for the gifted copies.
April 20, 2024
A solid 4 star read!
Reasons I want to read this book (so badly):
- Mamma Mia vibes
- Focused on both mother's and daughter's storylines separately
- Dual timeline
- Dual POV
- Folkore vibes
- Queer rep
- Childhood friends to lovers (twice)
- LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL COVER 😍🤩
Reasons I want to read this book (so badly):
- Mamma Mia vibes
- Focused on both mother's and daughter's storylines separately
- Dual timeline
- Dual POV
- Folkore vibes
- Queer rep
- Childhood friends to lovers (twice)
- LOOK AT THAT BEAUTIFUL COVER 😍🤩
Want to read
March 17, 2024got approved for an arc when i haven't recreationally picked up a book in months 🌝
April 1, 2024
COULDN'T CONNECT TO ANY PART OF THIS STORY
I am clearly in the minority with this book, but I just couldn't get into it at all...
What I disliked
👎Writing: Normally I don't get too hung up on writing, but when pretty much the entire story is written as an angsty teenagers inner dialogue, the writing bothers me...
👎Characters: There really wasn't any one character that I could connect to, they felt flat and boring - especially Mia didn't do anything for me
👎Pacing: The book is quite short, which makes the pacing quite fast - too fast for me to get emotionally connected to anything
👎Scavenger hunt: Mia is following clues left by her dead mother in order to learn more about her, but the scavenger hunt just didn't feel involved to me, it seemed more lackadaisical
👎Premise: The entire premise of Mia living in a town that is clearly very devoted to her mother (!), and yet no one will or can tell Mia anything about said mother just seems super weird and odd to me
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I am clearly in the minority with this book, but I just couldn't get into it at all...
What I disliked
👎Writing: Normally I don't get too hung up on writing, but when pretty much the entire story is written as an angsty teenagers inner dialogue, the writing bothers me...
👎Characters: There really wasn't any one character that I could connect to, they felt flat and boring - especially Mia didn't do anything for me
👎Pacing: The book is quite short, which makes the pacing quite fast - too fast for me to get emotionally connected to anything
👎Scavenger hunt: Mia is following clues left by her dead mother in order to learn more about her, but the scavenger hunt just didn't feel involved to me, it seemed more lackadaisical
👎Premise: The entire premise of Mia living in a town that is clearly very devoted to her mother (!), and yet no one will or can tell Mia anything about said mother just seems super weird and odd to me
ARC provided by the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
March 20, 2024
This book is absolutely perfection!!! Insta favorite of this year!!! And I can't wait to reread it again!
It's summertime in Sunset Cove, and Mia Peters is facing a major case of the post-graduation blues. She's saying goodbye to everything she's ever known, including her kind-of-sort-of girlfriend, Britt. But Mia's not ready to let go of her small-town life or follow in her mom's footsteps as a country music star. Like, can you blame her? Who wants to be abandoned like that, right?
But then, out of nowhere, Mia starts getting these mysterious letters from her mom's past, and suddenly, she's on this epic scavenger hunt through Sunset Cove, discovering secrets she never knew existed. And let me tell you, the feels are REAL, people! Like, I was legit on the edge of my seat, dying to know what Mia would uncover next.
And the romance? UGH, don't even get me started! Mia and Britt's relationship had me swooning so hard, I thought I might pass out. It's like, you can feel the chemistry jumping off the page, and you just KNOW these two are meant to be together. Plus, the way Kalie Holford writes about love is seriously magical. I mean, I'm still thinking about it days later!
But what really got me was how relatable Mia's journey was. Like, who hasn't struggled with their identity or felt the pressure to live up to family expectations? Mia's story is all about finding yourself and chasing your dreams, no matter how scary it might seem. And TBH, I think we could all use a little inspo like that in our lives.
So, if you're looking for a book that's equal parts heartwarming, swoon-worthy, and totally addictive, "The Last Love Song" is where it's at, my friends. Trust me, you won't regret diving into this beautiful world of love, family, and self-discovery. It's the kind of story that'll stay with you long after you've turned the last page! Highly, highly recommend!!!
It's summertime in Sunset Cove, and Mia Peters is facing a major case of the post-graduation blues. She's saying goodbye to everything she's ever known, including her kind-of-sort-of girlfriend, Britt. But Mia's not ready to let go of her small-town life or follow in her mom's footsteps as a country music star. Like, can you blame her? Who wants to be abandoned like that, right?
But then, out of nowhere, Mia starts getting these mysterious letters from her mom's past, and suddenly, she's on this epic scavenger hunt through Sunset Cove, discovering secrets she never knew existed. And let me tell you, the feels are REAL, people! Like, I was legit on the edge of my seat, dying to know what Mia would uncover next.
And the romance? UGH, don't even get me started! Mia and Britt's relationship had me swooning so hard, I thought I might pass out. It's like, you can feel the chemistry jumping off the page, and you just KNOW these two are meant to be together. Plus, the way Kalie Holford writes about love is seriously magical. I mean, I'm still thinking about it days later!
But what really got me was how relatable Mia's journey was. Like, who hasn't struggled with their identity or felt the pressure to live up to family expectations? Mia's story is all about finding yourself and chasing your dreams, no matter how scary it might seem. And TBH, I think we could all use a little inspo like that in our lives.
So, if you're looking for a book that's equal parts heartwarming, swoon-worthy, and totally addictive, "The Last Love Song" is where it's at, my friends. Trust me, you won't regret diving into this beautiful world of love, family, and self-discovery. It's the kind of story that'll stay with you long after you've turned the last page! Highly, highly recommend!!!
September 23, 2024
This was 3.5 but I rounded up. While I ended up liking this there were some moments that had me shaking my head and/or rolling my eyes.
Like, I need someone to explain why this girl's grandmothers couldn't tell her anything about her mother? In 18 years?!? Like, not even how she died...are you kidding me?? Also, how did no one else come across all of Tori's clues and journal entries over the course of the 18 years. I mean, some of them were barely hidden? A lot just made no sense, honestly.
However, this is one that got to me emotionally so that's why I went with the higher rating.
Like, I need someone to explain why this girl's grandmothers couldn't tell her anything about her mother? In 18 years?!? Like, not even how she died...are you kidding me?? Also, how did no one else come across all of Tori's clues and journal entries over the course of the 18 years. I mean, some of them were barely hidden? A lot just made no sense, honestly.
However, this is one that got to me emotionally so that's why I went with the higher rating.
Want to read
July 7, 2023a queer YA romance inspired by
Mamma Mia
?????????
June 1, 2024
Super cute and easy to read! It's Mamma Mia inspired, which I thought meant it would be more emotional than I found it to be; there were definitely moments where I could feel that, but largely, with Mia being very disconnected from her mother (to the point of not even having any memories of her really), the emotion didn't come through. I just couldn't work out how Mia knew absolutely NOTHING about her mother, who was supposedly a very famous singer - like she didn't even know how her mum had died - did she not think to Google her once in eighteen years?? Just a bit unbelievable to me. I do think the author has a lot of talent though, and I did like the main character and the love interest's relationship, and the scavenger hunt was such a fun concept!
June 11, 2024
see, i didn't know this was supposed to be a mamma mia inspired story and i think that's why i enjoy it more? i really love mia's self-discovery and while this feels a bit superficial at times, as in some parts could've been explored more but it doesn't, it got me emotional nearing the end
June 14, 2024
4.5 mamma mia meets daisy jones and the six but make it queer. I loved it and the story is so cute and addicting, but didnt quite meet that five star feeling
June 12, 2024
this was really sweet. it hit many of my buttons (sapphic, and mother&daughter angst) and while i enjoyed it and had a good time and def rec it, something abt it really felt ya in a way that i don't gel with as much anymore now that i'm an adult. not all ya feels like that, but this one did. that's certainly not a bad thing! but just lessened my personal enjoyment just a little, or maybe made it hit a littles less hard. despite that, i def related to things in it, and enjoyed the story.
Read
March 28, 2024The Last Love Song is a book for everyone who pores over song lyrics, looking for secret messages.
In The Last Love Song, a girl whose late mother was a famous singer searches for clues about her late mom, also hoping to find out who her dad might be.
Yes, there were things in this book that made me go "huh?"
But there was also a sort of magic here in the story, which did have a fun Mamma Mia feel and I did enjoy it!
I put The Last Love Song on my list of books like Daisy Jones & the Six. Come check out the whole list!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
In The Last Love Song, a girl whose late mother was a famous singer searches for clues about her late mom, also hoping to find out who her dad might be.
Yes, there were things in this book that made me go "huh?"
But there was also a sort of magic here in the story, which did have a fun Mamma Mia feel and I did enjoy it!
I put The Last Love Song on my list of books like Daisy Jones & the Six. Come check out the whole list!
Thanks to the publisher for providing an advance copy for review!
April 17, 2024
This book has a fun premise but it really quickly started to feel overly cheesy, angsty, and unrealistic. I think it needed to dive a little bit further into the tough topics it brushed upon, and also give us more time to really understand why the mother/daughter dynamic was the way it was to kick off the entire plot - if the mother was leaving a trail of scavenger hunt clues for her daughter, there has to be some reason she couldn’t have told her all of those things while she was alive, or else it just feels gimmicky (and in this case it did). There were also sooo many song lyrics included that again felt overly angsty and like they were supposed to represent the deep feelings that the rest of the narrative was missing but for me missed the mark.
April 5, 2024
I had such high hopes for this, but while I enjoyed it, I ended up with some mixed feelings. I thought this was a very charming story, heartfelt and cinematic, and I loved that we got to read chapters from Mia's mother's perspective as well, which really added to the atmosphere of the story. That said, the story did fall a little flat for me. I think I expected a little more from it in terms of mystery and character development. I really didn't like how the reason for her mother's death was kept from Mia for so long, because this really screwed with her brain. I think she always deserved to know. I also wasn't a fan of the romance, because it felt really conditional, and I didn't feel the chemistry.
February 19, 2024
2.5 🌟
Amazing premise but the execution was a bit bland. Also don't let yourself be fooled by the "queer Mamma Mia" pitch, it's really more of a Daisy Jones situation.
Amazing premise but the execution was a bit bland. Also don't let yourself be fooled by the "queer Mamma Mia" pitch, it's really more of a Daisy Jones situation.
March 18, 2024
Whelp.
The Last Love Song follows Mia Peters, daughter of the late sensation Tori Rose, as she prepares for a summer of endings. Her best friend is leaving their small town of Sunset Cove to pursue her dream of music, and Mia is absolutely certain she can't join — no matter how much she wants to — because she doesn't want to end up like her mom. Dead, a mystery no one can solve, and a person no one really knows. But then Mia receives the graduation present her mom made her right before she died. There she finds a scavenger hunt: the promise of answers.
First off, I don't think this book is accurately described by how it's pitched (i.e. bisexual Mamma Mia). The whole "who's my dad" plotline felt ineloquently thrown in there, and didn't have any real bearing on the plot. It's more giving I Kissed Shara Wheeler, but make it friends-to-lovers and centered around stardom, with a touch of the movie The Half of It.
I felt for Mia, and I really did like seeing her start to understand herself and her mother. I also really liked the way music was used in this book. The lyrics of all the songs embedded tell vivid stories. They're powerful and beautiful and I could almost hear them off the page. I also loved the alternating timelines. Rather than describe Mia reading her mom's letters, we saw the world from Tori Rose's perspective. It was immersive and really made the mother's story shine.
However, my biggest problems stem from the writing. Not only was it written so simply that each point seemed to depend on a cliche, it also just did not make sense. In one sentence*, Mia notes that the "coldness has faded from her [best friend's] eyes" and the next sentence claims that her face is "completely unreadable"? Or in another, Tori Rose describes the stage lights glinting off a tattoo on her collarbone — and WHAT? Is she giving herself a double chin staring at her COLLARBONE right before she performs in front of a massive audience?
In both these instances (and many others), I see the intended impact. But the contradictions in the language indicate that these moments were not clearly thought out beyond the drama. And that's frustrating as a reader! I want to feel these things, but you have to earn the impact — not with flowery words, but by painting a powerful story that works in the world you have created. *just a disclaimer that these quotes are from a review copy and may not be the final version.
I also found the scavenger hunt Mia's mother leaves her very random. For me, I felt like the foundations of the clues were not established enough to make it a fun mystery. Especially as the clues got more creative and complex, there was no way Mia could have figured them out. And yet, even though the hunt was random, the plot itself was predictable. I guessed the big reveal a couple chapters in.
Mia's thought cycles were also endlessly frustrating. She just kept repeating the same thoughts (and actions!) throughout. There's only so much self-degradation and self-pity I can read in place of a real plot (I'm telling you, nothing substantial really happens between 5% and 40%).
I did like the Tori Rose romance timeline. I enjoyed how messy and honest it felt. Even if I am not and will never be a music star like her, I connected to the feelings of having to decide which sacrifice would be worth it. Mia's romance, on the other hand, felt strangely forced? I just didn't get the sense that she really wanted it to turn out well. It felt less nuanced than her mother's narrative.
ALSO: Why does no one in this book ever have to warm up?? Not once does Mia or literally any other character mention warming up, or practicing, or being anything less than perfect at music. It just felt really odd.
This book would make a good Netflix movie, honestly, but I struggle to recommend it. It is a short read, but I don't feel it really adds anything new or exceptionally executed to the genre of queer YA.
Trigger Warnings: terminal illness, death of parent (off page, central to the plot), absentee father
I received an eARC via NetGalley from Blackstone Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
The Last Love Song follows Mia Peters, daughter of the late sensation Tori Rose, as she prepares for a summer of endings. Her best friend is leaving their small town of Sunset Cove to pursue her dream of music, and Mia is absolutely certain she can't join — no matter how much she wants to — because she doesn't want to end up like her mom. Dead, a mystery no one can solve, and a person no one really knows. But then Mia receives the graduation present her mom made her right before she died. There she finds a scavenger hunt: the promise of answers.
First off, I don't think this book is accurately described by how it's pitched (i.e. bisexual Mamma Mia). The whole "who's my dad" plotline felt ineloquently thrown in there, and didn't have any real bearing on the plot. It's more giving I Kissed Shara Wheeler, but make it friends-to-lovers and centered around stardom, with a touch of the movie The Half of It.
I felt for Mia, and I really did like seeing her start to understand herself and her mother. I also really liked the way music was used in this book. The lyrics of all the songs embedded tell vivid stories. They're powerful and beautiful and I could almost hear them off the page. I also loved the alternating timelines. Rather than describe Mia reading her mom's letters, we saw the world from Tori Rose's perspective. It was immersive and really made the mother's story shine.
However, my biggest problems stem from the writing. Not only was it written so simply that each point seemed to depend on a cliche, it also just did not make sense. In one sentence*, Mia notes that the "coldness has faded from her [best friend's] eyes" and the next sentence claims that her face is "completely unreadable"? Or in another, Tori Rose describes the stage lights glinting off a tattoo on her collarbone — and WHAT? Is she giving herself a double chin staring at her COLLARBONE right before she performs in front of a massive audience?
In both these instances (and many others), I see the intended impact. But the contradictions in the language indicate that these moments were not clearly thought out beyond the drama. And that's frustrating as a reader! I want to feel these things, but you have to earn the impact — not with flowery words, but by painting a powerful story that works in the world you have created. *just a disclaimer that these quotes are from a review copy and may not be the final version.
I also found the scavenger hunt Mia's mother leaves her very random. For me, I felt like the foundations of the clues were not established enough to make it a fun mystery. Especially as the clues got more creative and complex, there was no way Mia could have figured them out. And yet, even though the hunt was random, the plot itself was predictable. I guessed the big reveal a couple chapters in.
Mia's thought cycles were also endlessly frustrating. She just kept repeating the same thoughts (and actions!) throughout. There's only so much self-degradation and self-pity I can read in place of a real plot (I'm telling you, nothing substantial really happens between 5% and 40%).
I did like the Tori Rose romance timeline. I enjoyed how messy and honest it felt. Even if I am not and will never be a music star like her, I connected to the feelings of having to decide which sacrifice would be worth it. Mia's romance, on the other hand, felt strangely forced? I just didn't get the sense that she really wanted it to turn out well. It felt less nuanced than her mother's narrative.
ALSO: Why does no one in this book ever have to warm up?? Not once does Mia or literally any other character mention warming up, or practicing, or being anything less than perfect at music. It just felt really odd.
This book would make a good Netflix movie, honestly, but I struggle to recommend it. It is a short read, but I don't feel it really adds anything new or exceptionally executed to the genre of queer YA.
Trigger Warnings: terminal illness, death of parent (off page, central to the plot), absentee father
I received an eARC via NetGalley from Blackstone Publishing in exchange for an honest review.
October 31, 2023
I received a copy of The Last Love Song as an ARC in exchange for an honest review from NetGalley.
So this book is a perfect book to read with your parent/kid. I think it would be fantastic to break between chapters and talk about your actual life with your child. I love how this book really drives home the humanity of being a person AND a parent. And how those two things can be really overlapped in a complex web of emotions. I read this book very quickly, because I was dying to find out what happened, and I legitimately sobbed about halfway through. I really feel like it was written in a way that will make you think about it for a long time.
That being said, there are some portions you’ll have to suspend your disbelief. The story is about a girl with an extremely famous mother, who mysteriously died… And somehow, despite being famous, there’s no information about large portions of her life or death on the internet or anywhere. Otherwise a charming and bittersweet story
So this book is a perfect book to read with your parent/kid. I think it would be fantastic to break between chapters and talk about your actual life with your child. I love how this book really drives home the humanity of being a person AND a parent. And how those two things can be really overlapped in a complex web of emotions. I read this book very quickly, because I was dying to find out what happened, and I legitimately sobbed about halfway through. I really feel like it was written in a way that will make you think about it for a long time.
That being said, there are some portions you’ll have to suspend your disbelief. The story is about a girl with an extremely famous mother, who mysteriously died… And somehow, despite being famous, there’s no information about large portions of her life or death on the internet or anywhere. Otherwise a charming and bittersweet story
February 7, 2024
We all have a song that sweeps us away once the first second plays, right? Songs that have us aching and smiling to ourselves at the same time, that we could recognise everywhere because of the feeling in our chests it unlocks. Songs that, no matter how often you've heard them or how long it's been, always hit as hard, right?
That's what this book feels like for me.
I've had the honour to read multiple drafts of THE LAST LOVE SONG, and it remains an absolute favorite. This story, told through gorgeous prose, is full of hope and dreams and grief and music. It made me laugh and scream and cry and, overall, it found its way into my heart.
I can't wait for everyone to meet my favorite characters in 2024 and fall in love with Kalie's storytelling. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna sob over this book again-
That's what this book feels like for me.
I've had the honour to read multiple drafts of THE LAST LOVE SONG, and it remains an absolute favorite. This story, told through gorgeous prose, is full of hope and dreams and grief and music. It made me laugh and scream and cry and, overall, it found its way into my heart.
I can't wait for everyone to meet my favorite characters in 2024 and fall in love with Kalie's storytelling. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna sob over this book again-
July 10, 2024
you can read more of my reviews here: https://teatimelit.com/
While I see why people would consider this a romance-centric novel — the romance between Mia and Britt is definitely a large part of it — I think that this is a coming-of-age novel ahead of anything else. The heart of this story is Mia learning about herself, finding a way to connect to her mother, and following her heart.
I loved the format and storytelling of The Last Love Song. We know that I love a good seaside town story, and I loved the vibe of Sunset Cove — it kind of reminded me of Horseshoe Bay for my fellow Nancy Drew CW fans. With this book centering around Mia learning more about her country music star mother, you know that music is going to be involved and I loved that the sections of the book were split into tracks. I thought that was really fun and seeing how the section tracks worked into the story was so cool.
If a book is about music or a musician, I want music fully involved in the story and storytelling, and I think Holford really delivered on that. Aside from having the sections of the book split into tracks and lyrics from Tori Rose’s songs starting each section, there were song lyrics, Mia was a songwriter, Bri (Mia’s best friend/sometimes hook up/eventual girlfriend) was the lead singer of the band that Mia wrote songs for, and of course, Holford included a playlist at the end of the book. Music was woven into every aspect of this book.
While I liked Mia as a main character I did feel a bit of a disconnect from her. There were many times when she would talk about how she always “ruined” things, and while I see where that was coming from — I’m sure much of that came from growing up without her mother and believing that her mother may have regretted having her — and could empathize with her, I don’t know if I ever felt the things that she was talking about if that makes sense. This is a general critique that I had of the book, while there were moments that made me emotional, I didn’t feel as emotionally connected and/or invested as I hoped and expected. Though I will say, there was a moment later on in the book that brought a tear to my eye and I do think that it was beautifully written.
Even though I wasn’t as emotionally invested as I wanted to be, I did like following Mia’s journey and I liked all of the characters. I always talk about how I love stories where the main character has a close relationship with their grandparents, so I loved that Mia was raised by her grandmothers and was so close to them. I also did not know that we would be getting lesbian grandmothers in this one and that was the best surprise — this is when you find out that I didn’t bother reading the description, all I needed to know was that it had Mamma Mia vibes. I loved them, they were so cute. I thought Tori Rose was a super interesting character, and I loved the chapters that were her diary entries because I was so curious about what happened to her and how she skyrocketed to fame.
The dual timeline really worked for me, and I was invested in both timelines. I liked getting to watch Mia grow throughout the process of searching for these clues that her mother left her, and I loved learning more about Tori Rose with Mia. Holford did a great job of keeping both timelines interesting and switching back and forth in a way that makes sense. I was also glad that the discoveries happened for the reader and Mia at the same time, as opposed to us learning something in the past and Mia learning it a few chapters later.
The Last Love Song is Holford’s debut novel, and there were moments where I felt that way. The pacing was a little funky for me, and I think that we could’ve delved deeper into certain aspects of the story. That being said, I will definitely check out Holford’s future works because there were a lot of things that I really enjoyed about this story. It was an easy book to get lost in; when I was reading it I couldn’t stop reading it, and when I wasn’t reading it I wanted to be reading it. There were some beautiful quotes, I loved “She’s the personification of a love song, and I can’t get her out of my head” — what a perfect quote in a book about music. And “She didn’t end the day she died” really got me, and is a line that will stay with me for a while.
I’d definitely recommend The Last Love Song to fans of Morgan Matson and Emma Lord, as well as anyone who enjoys a story about staying true to yourself and following your dreams.
---
review to come!
While I see why people would consider this a romance-centric novel — the romance between Mia and Britt is definitely a large part of it — I think that this is a coming-of-age novel ahead of anything else. The heart of this story is Mia learning about herself, finding a way to connect to her mother, and following her heart.
I loved the format and storytelling of The Last Love Song. We know that I love a good seaside town story, and I loved the vibe of Sunset Cove — it kind of reminded me of Horseshoe Bay for my fellow Nancy Drew CW fans. With this book centering around Mia learning more about her country music star mother, you know that music is going to be involved and I loved that the sections of the book were split into tracks. I thought that was really fun and seeing how the section tracks worked into the story was so cool.
If a book is about music or a musician, I want music fully involved in the story and storytelling, and I think Holford really delivered on that. Aside from having the sections of the book split into tracks and lyrics from Tori Rose’s songs starting each section, there were song lyrics, Mia was a songwriter, Bri (Mia’s best friend/sometimes hook up/eventual girlfriend) was the lead singer of the band that Mia wrote songs for, and of course, Holford included a playlist at the end of the book. Music was woven into every aspect of this book.
While I liked Mia as a main character I did feel a bit of a disconnect from her. There were many times when she would talk about how she always “ruined” things, and while I see where that was coming from — I’m sure much of that came from growing up without her mother and believing that her mother may have regretted having her — and could empathize with her, I don’t know if I ever felt the things that she was talking about if that makes sense. This is a general critique that I had of the book, while there were moments that made me emotional, I didn’t feel as emotionally connected and/or invested as I hoped and expected. Though I will say, there was a moment later on in the book that brought a tear to my eye and I do think that it was beautifully written.
Even though I wasn’t as emotionally invested as I wanted to be, I did like following Mia’s journey and I liked all of the characters. I always talk about how I love stories where the main character has a close relationship with their grandparents, so I loved that Mia was raised by her grandmothers and was so close to them. I also did not know that we would be getting lesbian grandmothers in this one and that was the best surprise — this is when you find out that I didn’t bother reading the description, all I needed to know was that it had Mamma Mia vibes. I loved them, they were so cute. I thought Tori Rose was a super interesting character, and I loved the chapters that were her diary entries because I was so curious about what happened to her and how she skyrocketed to fame.
The dual timeline really worked for me, and I was invested in both timelines. I liked getting to watch Mia grow throughout the process of searching for these clues that her mother left her, and I loved learning more about Tori Rose with Mia. Holford did a great job of keeping both timelines interesting and switching back and forth in a way that makes sense. I was also glad that the discoveries happened for the reader and Mia at the same time, as opposed to us learning something in the past and Mia learning it a few chapters later.
The Last Love Song is Holford’s debut novel, and there were moments where I felt that way. The pacing was a little funky for me, and I think that we could’ve delved deeper into certain aspects of the story. That being said, I will definitely check out Holford’s future works because there were a lot of things that I really enjoyed about this story. It was an easy book to get lost in; when I was reading it I couldn’t stop reading it, and when I wasn’t reading it I wanted to be reading it. There were some beautiful quotes, I loved “She’s the personification of a love song, and I can’t get her out of my head” — what a perfect quote in a book about music. And “She didn’t end the day she died” really got me, and is a line that will stay with me for a while.
I’d definitely recommend The Last Love Song to fans of Morgan Matson and Emma Lord, as well as anyone who enjoys a story about staying true to yourself and following your dreams.
---
review to come!
April 12, 2024
I received this book through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Copy provided by Blackstone Publishing.
After high school graduation, Mia Peters faces a summer full of painful goodbyes. Songwriting is her only solace. Everyone she knows is moving on, including Britt, her biggest supporter and kind-of-sort-of girlfriend. Britt keeps pushing Mia to go bigger and do better than their small town, but Mia can not imagine a life beyond Sunset Cove. Besides, she refuses to follow in the footsteps of her late mother, country music star Tori Rose, who abandoned her family to pursue her dream, leaving Mia and her two grandmothers alone.
Desperate for a sign of what might lie ahead, Mia finds the opposite, a mysterious letter from the past, addressed to her in her mother’s handwriting. It turns out to be the first of many. One by one they lead Mia on a wild scavenger hunt through a Sunset Cove she never knew, buried under the memorializing that has frozen her mother in time. Each new discovery brings Mia closer to the real Tori Rose, but with the clock ticking on Britt’s departure, Mia knows she is running out of time. With the summer winding down, Mia must decide if she is ready to face the present, confront her feelings, and forge the destiny she truly wants.
The Last Love Song is a queer YA debut. How is this book a debut? It was so good. The cover of the book was what really drew me in. But this book was so raw and heartfelt. It was so well showcased in Holford's writing. You can just feel all the emotions. This book is great for both a parent or kid to read. It faces so many struggles for both parents and kids and how those things can explore a web of different emotions. I really liked how the two timelines of Tori and Mia intertwined It was just like a scavenger hunt of reading all the letters Tori left for Mia. I wish we got to read the songs in the book, maybe I will need to get a physical copy to read the song lyrics. Also, the queer sapphic representation was something I really appreciated and seeing three generations of sapphic women within the same family was a bonus.
I think this is a quick, easy, and fast paced read for anyone looking for a mother-daughter story, finding yourself, and chasing your dreams. If you like Mamma Mia, Daisy Jones, and these themes, definitely check this one out. I cannot wait to see what the next book Holford has in store for us.
Rating: 3.5/5
After high school graduation, Mia Peters faces a summer full of painful goodbyes. Songwriting is her only solace. Everyone she knows is moving on, including Britt, her biggest supporter and kind-of-sort-of girlfriend. Britt keeps pushing Mia to go bigger and do better than their small town, but Mia can not imagine a life beyond Sunset Cove. Besides, she refuses to follow in the footsteps of her late mother, country music star Tori Rose, who abandoned her family to pursue her dream, leaving Mia and her two grandmothers alone.
Desperate for a sign of what might lie ahead, Mia finds the opposite, a mysterious letter from the past, addressed to her in her mother’s handwriting. It turns out to be the first of many. One by one they lead Mia on a wild scavenger hunt through a Sunset Cove she never knew, buried under the memorializing that has frozen her mother in time. Each new discovery brings Mia closer to the real Tori Rose, but with the clock ticking on Britt’s departure, Mia knows she is running out of time. With the summer winding down, Mia must decide if she is ready to face the present, confront her feelings, and forge the destiny she truly wants.
The Last Love Song is a queer YA debut. How is this book a debut? It was so good. The cover of the book was what really drew me in. But this book was so raw and heartfelt. It was so well showcased in Holford's writing. You can just feel all the emotions. This book is great for both a parent or kid to read. It faces so many struggles for both parents and kids and how those things can explore a web of different emotions. I really liked how the two timelines of Tori and Mia intertwined It was just like a scavenger hunt of reading all the letters Tori left for Mia. I wish we got to read the songs in the book, maybe I will need to get a physical copy to read the song lyrics. Also, the queer sapphic representation was something I really appreciated and seeing three generations of sapphic women within the same family was a bonus.
I think this is a quick, easy, and fast paced read for anyone looking for a mother-daughter story, finding yourself, and chasing your dreams. If you like Mamma Mia, Daisy Jones, and these themes, definitely check this one out. I cannot wait to see what the next book Holford has in store for us.
Rating: 3.5/5
September 17, 2024
3.5/5
On her graduation day Mia Peters is handed a gift left to her by her late mother, the famous country singer Tori Rose. The gift contains a journal and several envelopes that lead her on a scavenger hunt around town, revealing more and more about who Tori was. Stuck between a desire to follow in her mother’s songwriting footsteps and the fear that threatens to keep her in her small town, Mia believes the end of this hunt will lead her to the future she should choose.
Overall I thought this was a great whirlwind adventure as we follow Mia trying to overcome her fears and learn how to stop running from the future. Mia was a great fleshed out character who I really empathized with. I enjoyed seeing her growth. I also liked the romance between Britt and Mia. I found their push and pull relationship intriguing. The obstacles they faced were really realistic and added to the turmoil Mia was facing.
The entire concept of Mia barely having any knowledge of her very famous mother was a little far fetched. I can understand her grandmothers’ grief making it difficult for them to talk about her, but the rest of the town hiding information from her too was weird. Especially to the extent where she didn’t even know how her mother died. It was a really shaky reality to base the entire story around.
I loved the scavenger hunt plot line, but I wish the letters held more substance. The flashbacks were only of Tori’s early days in Nashville, and it would have made readers more invested if they were spread out amongst her entire career. That way we could actually see her mistakes and regrets, and the lead up to her having Mia. Instead, hearing the end of Tori’s story told by other people just made it come off as… sad. It felt very tragic, which didn’t align with how the ending wanted the story’s take away to be.
This was well written with a lot of emotion, but left me with questions and a bittersweet feeling rather than the hopeful send off I think it tried to aim for.
On her graduation day Mia Peters is handed a gift left to her by her late mother, the famous country singer Tori Rose. The gift contains a journal and several envelopes that lead her on a scavenger hunt around town, revealing more and more about who Tori was. Stuck between a desire to follow in her mother’s songwriting footsteps and the fear that threatens to keep her in her small town, Mia believes the end of this hunt will lead her to the future she should choose.
Overall I thought this was a great whirlwind adventure as we follow Mia trying to overcome her fears and learn how to stop running from the future. Mia was a great fleshed out character who I really empathized with. I enjoyed seeing her growth. I also liked the romance between Britt and Mia. I found their push and pull relationship intriguing. The obstacles they faced were really realistic and added to the turmoil Mia was facing.
The entire concept of Mia barely having any knowledge of her very famous mother was a little far fetched. I can understand her grandmothers’ grief making it difficult for them to talk about her, but the rest of the town hiding information from her too was weird. Especially to the extent where she didn’t even know how her mother died. It was a really shaky reality to base the entire story around.
I loved the scavenger hunt plot line, but I wish the letters held more substance. The flashbacks were only of Tori’s early days in Nashville, and it would have made readers more invested if they were spread out amongst her entire career. That way we could actually see her mistakes and regrets, and the lead up to her having Mia. Instead, hearing the end of Tori’s story told by other people just made it come off as… sad. It felt very tragic, which didn’t align with how the ending wanted the story’s take away to be.
This was well written with a lot of emotion, but left me with questions and a bittersweet feeling rather than the hopeful send off I think it tried to aim for.
April 11, 2024
This was a really good young adult novel!
There is an underlying romance to it lingering on the surface, but it is about so much more than just a romance- it is about a daughter connecting with her mom who has passed away and it is also about finding yourself especially at such a pivotal time at age 18 and starting your life.
I really liked the two timelines- Mia’s story in present day and then her mom’s story from the past. I loved how the timelines intertwined so well with the set-up of the scavenger hunt and letters her mom left her.
What a great debut! Such a quick and easy read- recommend checking it out!🩷
Thank you @blackstonepublishing & @kalieholford for this #gifted e-ARC!🫶🏼
There is an underlying romance to it lingering on the surface, but it is about so much more than just a romance- it is about a daughter connecting with her mom who has passed away and it is also about finding yourself especially at such a pivotal time at age 18 and starting your life.
I really liked the two timelines- Mia’s story in present day and then her mom’s story from the past. I loved how the timelines intertwined so well with the set-up of the scavenger hunt and letters her mom left her.
What a great debut! Such a quick and easy read- recommend checking it out!🩷
Thank you @blackstonepublishing & @kalieholford for this #gifted e-ARC!🫶🏼
March 10, 2024
Thank you so much to author Kalie Holford and NetGalley for an ARC of this book.
I am a sobbing wreck right now. This is one of the most beautiful stories I ever got to read and I’ll hold it close to my heart forever.
I love the POVs in this so much. It’s a mother and daughter’s story as well as a love story and it was a great change to have their POVs rather than two love interests for a change. It just made me feel more connected to the story and wish Tori Rose was a real artist.
I fell in love with this story and the characters. Mia’s journey to find out about her mother also led her to find out about herself which was beautifully portrayed. I could feel her struggles and yearning. It’s such a beautiful character portrayal to see her being an extension of her mother while also being her own person besides that. As someone who’s quite attached to her mother, as well as the daughter of an immigrant, I could relate to her on the aspect of wanting a separate identity from the mother while being proud of to be hers.
It’s just a beautiful book, one I’ll hold dear to my heart. It leaves a permanent mark in your soul with its emotional impact and beautiful writing. (Also I need those songs to be real, thanks)
I am a sobbing wreck right now. This is one of the most beautiful stories I ever got to read and I’ll hold it close to my heart forever.
I love the POVs in this so much. It’s a mother and daughter’s story as well as a love story and it was a great change to have their POVs rather than two love interests for a change. It just made me feel more connected to the story and wish Tori Rose was a real artist.
I fell in love with this story and the characters. Mia’s journey to find out about her mother also led her to find out about herself which was beautifully portrayed. I could feel her struggles and yearning. It’s such a beautiful character portrayal to see her being an extension of her mother while also being her own person besides that. As someone who’s quite attached to her mother, as well as the daughter of an immigrant, I could relate to her on the aspect of wanting a separate identity from the mother while being proud of to be hers.
It’s just a beautiful book, one I’ll hold dear to my heart. It leaves a permanent mark in your soul with its emotional impact and beautiful writing. (Also I need those songs to be real, thanks)
May 6, 2024
Thank you to LibroFM for my ALC of this book.
The Last Love Song by Kalie Holford was a perfect debut novel. I loved the narration and how it did a beautiful job of giving voice to these lovable characters. This is a YA queer romance that follows Mia Peters on her journey of trying to reconnect with her mother, who passed away. She follows a series of letters and clues to discover what her mother wanted to share with her. Britt, her best friend and sort-of-girlfriend supports Mia through this emotional journey. I loved these characters and seeing their development throughout this novel. I would highly recommend reading this book.
The Last Love Song by Kalie Holford was a perfect debut novel. I loved the narration and how it did a beautiful job of giving voice to these lovable characters. This is a YA queer romance that follows Mia Peters on her journey of trying to reconnect with her mother, who passed away. She follows a series of letters and clues to discover what her mother wanted to share with her. Britt, her best friend and sort-of-girlfriend supports Mia through this emotional journey. I loved these characters and seeing their development throughout this novel. I would highly recommend reading this book.
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