"The Last Time I Saw You"

“The Last Time I Saw You”

Written by Liv Constantine

Review written by Diana Iozzia

“The Last Time I Saw You” was a disappointing read for me, in stark contrast to the first book, written by the ladies behind this pseudonym. Their first book, “The Last Mrs. Parrish” is a favorite thriller of mine, which is high praise, because I do not often pick favorites.

“TLTISW” follows the immediate grief that our main character, Kate, is sucked into, after her mother’s murder. Kate is also receiving suspicious packages, like dead animals and strange objects in packages with threatening notes. Kate begins to feel paranoid and worried that she and her family will be hurt or killed. We also have a second perspective, from her bizarre, old friend, Blaire, who seems to still hold a grudge over Kate’s dismissal of their friendship. However, Blaire is helping with Kate and her family’s grief and trying to forgive Kate.

To be honest, I had very high expectations, considering the authors and my previous reading experience from them. I was not very interested in the premise initially, thinking that this was a pretty basic, run-of-the-mill psychological thriller. Unfortunately, every typical trope that I do not enjoy in thrillers popped up, also allowing a very predictable ending. There are two main twists, one that was not surprising. The other was not predictable, but it was not very shocking or compelling.

For those who like unreliable narrators, suspicious main characters, gaslighting, and calm resolutions, this might be for you. However, I like big dramatic climaxes that feel satisfying and justify the entire read. I do have to mention that I love the prose, dialogue, and detail. I feel that the authors still crafted a well-written story, by writing style standards. I love the detail that the authors put into every scene. Everything is very visual and allows for a very clear mental image of the story. I remember enjoying those aspects in “The Last Mrs. Parrish”. If you hope for a book that you can “see in your head” like a movie, this is very cinematic.

Sadly, I was still very unhappy and not satisfied with this book. I feel that I was let down in comparison to their first book, so I still highly recommend that one. I’m sure that some readers will enjoy this, but I prefer to stick with “The Last Mrs. Parrish” and hope for a movie or miniseries.

Thank you to Harper Books for sending me an advanced reader’s edition in exchange for reading and reviewing purposes.