About the Book:
Title: Last Night
Author: Mhairi McFarlane
Page Length: 416
Publication Date: April 1, 2021
Publisher: Harper Collins
Synopsis: Two best friends.
One missed chance.
And a night that changes everything.
Eve, Justin, Susie and Ed have been friends since they were eighteen. Now in their 30s, the four are still as close as ever, Thursday pub quiz night is still sacred, and Eve is still secretly in love with Ed.
Maybe Eve should have moved on by now, but she can’t stop thinking about what could have been. And she knows Ed sometimes thinks about it too.
Then one night, in an instant, all their lives change forever. And, as Eve learns she didn’t know her friends as well as she thought, she also discovers she isn’t the only person keeping secrets…
LINKS: Goodreads | Amazon | Book Depository
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My Review:
Eve, Justin, Susie, and Ed have been best friends since they were teenagers. Now in their thirties, they still get together for weekly quiz nights at the pub. Though their relationship is platonic, Eve’s been in love with Ed for years. However, her hopes shatter when Ed proposes to his girlfriend, a woman that the friends don’t like.
When one of the friends dies in a tragic accident, the other three are grief-stricken, and their lives are irrevocably changed. As the friends deal with funeral arrangements, family members, and their own grief, they also must face secrets that are revealed. A story of love, loss, hope, and healing, Last Night is a beautiful homage to friendship.
The friendship between Eve, Justin, Susie, and Ed is long-standing and wonderful, and each friend is dynamically developed. I loved their witty banter and easy comradery with each other. You can tell from the beginning that this foursome has a special and close friendship, and it is devastating to see how the death of their friend affects them. It is such a crushing and all-encompassing loss for all of them, and their grief is raw and real and honest. McFarlane has a special gift for creating relatable, realistic, and well-rounded characters, and this book is no exception.
Eve is a great protagonist. She is witty, loyal, and kind – definitely the kind of person you’d want for a friend. I also love how introspective Eve is. Her character growth is the focus of the story, and as she examines her life, Eve has to decide what it is she really wants. She also reflects on the past and how her relationships affected her. Fear of rejection and lack of security have hindered her, and, as she faces some of her issues, she becomes more self-aware and willing to let go.
Eve also realizes that maybe she didn’t know those closest to her as well as she thought, which is fascinating. Eve goes on a powerful emotional journey riddled with grief and betrayal, but she comes out stronger and more confident in herself. There is a bit of a love story, but it is not the focus of the novel. It is more prominent later in the book, and it is lovely. I think the love story shows just how much Eve has changed and grown.
An engrossing and moving story about friendship, finding oneself, grief, and forgiveness, this is a beautifully written and deftly-layered novel. I love the characters, setting, and dialogue, and there is also a lot of humor and some great pop culture references that I appreciated. Thanks so much to Mhairi McFarlane and Harper Collins for a copy of the book in exchange for my honest review.
Rating:
Favorite Parts:
- The friendship. Eve, Justin, Susie, and Ed have a fantastic and lasting relationship.
- The strong messages of friendship, loss, grief, healing, and moving on.
- The romance. Though it isn’t the main focus of the story, I still loved it.
Favorite Line:
It’s like my whole life was about traveling back to you.
Recommendations:
Grab some tissues because this book might leave you in tears! It is emotional and heart-breaking and deals with some heavy topics, including the death of a loved one.
Want to read other books by Mhairi McFarlane? Check out my review of If I Never Met You!
Oh my, this sounds like a great book, one that I would definitely enjoy. Wonderful review, Julie.. I have not read anything by Mhairi McFarlane, but have heard good things about her writing.
It’s really good! A little heart-breaking, a lot heart-warming! I think you would enjoy it. It’s my second by the author, and I’ve liked both. 🙂