The Last Love Song Review

Release Date: April 9, 2024

Author: Kalie Holford

I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

Synopsis

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.
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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.

Review

“The Last Love Song” by Kalie Holford is a captivating and emotional journey that beautifully weaves together themes of self-discovery, family, and the pursuit of dreams.

Set against the backdrop of Sunset Cove, Mia Peters faces a pivotal summer filled with farewells and uncertainties. Songwriting becomes her solace, and her journey unfolds as she grapples with the impending departures of those closest to her. The narrative skillfully explores Mia’s reluctance to venture beyond her small town, haunted by the legacy of her mother, country music star Tori Rose, who left Mia and her grandmothers behind to pursue her dreams.

The mysterious letters from Mia’s mother serve as a poignant and intriguing plot device, guiding Mia through a scavenger hunt that unravels the hidden layers of Sunset Cove and the true story of Tori Rose. The novel seamlessly blends the past and the present, keeping readers engaged and invested in Mia’s quest for self-discovery.

The comparison to “Mamma Mia” and “Thirteen Little Blue Envelopes” provides an apt reference point, capturing the essence of the book’s exploration of family secrets and the impact of a parent’s choices on the protagonist’s life.

The cover, featuring a split image of Mia and her mother at the same age, is visually striking and reflective of the dual timelines explored in the narrative.

While some elements may stretch believability, such as the lack of information about Tori Rose’s death despite her fame, the novel excels in delivering a compelling and emotionally resonant story.

“The Last Love Song” is a quick read that lingers in the mind long after the last page. It’s a tale that explores the complexities of relationships, the consequences of choices, and the pursuit of one’s true destiny. Kalie Holford’s storytelling prowess and the memorable characters make this novel a worthwhile and thought-provoking read.