The Book Bump

First Published: 2023
Author: Gill Fernandez
Series: Six Degrees of Separation
Book number: 3
Language: English
Genre: Romance
My rating: 4/5

Last Love is the tale of young star-crossed lovers who are torn apart by life.

Despite being the last book in a series, this book works as a stand alone novel.

The book is well-written and enjoyable to read, despite it sometimes being hard to follow the point of view the reader is following. It feels at times that the author “head hops” to suit her needs.

There are lots of characters, some more prominent than others. However, there seems to be very little character development. Sally, the main character, is the only one who seems to have learned something from her life experiences.

There’s a lot going on and a lot for readers to wrap their heads around. Although the novel works as a standalone, it could be preferable to read the other books to really understand the relationships between the many characters that come into play.

The plot is based on lots of coincidences and being in the right/wrong place at the right/wrong time. While I am partial to the idea of destiny as a reader, there’s just too much in this book that it almost becomes predictable. In the sense that you knew all new character appearances had to be linked in somehow.

The backstory was weaved into the book brilliantly. As a reader, you have the information you need without it seeming clunky or awkward.

I enjoyed the time hops. Instead of using flashbacks, the author begins at the beginning then only recounts important events that happen up until the “real” beginning of the story.

There is beauty in the idea that people are never too old to be in love and love deeply. It’s very refreshing to have a middle-aged woman be the main character of a romance novel.

There is one part of the plot that I find very hard to conceive given that the character is meant to be deeply in love with the main character, Sally. It spoils the whole pinning-for-years element. 

The biggest downside to the novel is the ending. It is very abrupt. It felt as though the author wasn’t sure how to end the novel. There’s an epilogue, but it doesn’t work. The style change is disturbing. It feels like an afterthought and doesn’t bring anything to the novel. I would prefer to imagine what the characters got up to, instead of being told about their trivial lives.

Overall, it’s a good read. Exploring the idea that young love and lost love can endure hardship and survive is refreshing.

Highly recommended for anyone in search of a good romance story with a happy ending.

I would like to thank the author, Gill Fernandez, and Reedsy for providing a free ARC. I leave this review voluntarily, and all opinions are my own.