Last Girl Breathing by Court Stevens is a young adult novel that follows Lucy Michaels, who is forced to confront her past when her stepbrother goes missing and her town becomes the site of a murder investigation. With compelling characters and a well-paced plot, you won’t want to put this book down.
The novel begins with a tragic event from Lucy’s past – the death of her little brother in a flash flood. This event has haunted her ever since, and as the story progresses, Lucy begins to draw connections between her brother’s death and her stepbrother’s disappearance. Stevens does a fantastic job of weaving together the past and present, creating a layered and intricate plot that will leave you guessing until the very end.
As Lucy delves deeper into the investigation, she begins to uncover secrets about her brother’s death and the people around her. The characters in this novel are complex and well-developed, each with their own motivations and secrets. Stevens does an excellent job of creating a sense of paranoia and unease, leaving you wondering who to trust at every turn.
One of the things we loved most about this novel was its pacing. Stevens keeps the story moving at a steady clip, with just the right amount of twists and turns to keep you engaged. The suspense builds gradually, coming to a head in the final act of the novel. By the time we reached the end, I was on the edge of my seat, desperate to know how it would all turn out.
The themes explored in Last Girl Breathing are also worth noting. The novel tackles issues of trauma, grief, and the complicated relationships between families. Despite the heavy subject matter, Stevens handles these themes with sensitivity and care.
Last Girl Breathing is a fantastic read that will appeal to fans of thrillers and young adult fiction alike. With a compelling plot, well-developed characters, and a tense atmosphere, this novel is sure to keep you guessing until the very end.
Last Girl Breathing is available in bookstores everywhere. We highly recommend the audiobook narrated by McKenzie Fetters.
NOTE: We received an advance reading/listening copy of Last Girl Breathing from the publisher. Opinions are our own.
