Wow, what a gripping story! The book centers around Sloan, who along with her girlfriend Cherry, survives a horrific mass murder. This traumatic event strengthens their bond, leading to a toxic co-dependent relationship as they both feel that nobody else can truly understand what they went through.
“Sloan liked the way Cherry said ‘us.’ The way she always combined them into one now. Nothing happened to Cherry or to Sloan; it only happened to both of them, as if what happened that day at camp had fused them somehow.”
Sloan is trying to move on with her life, as she deals with deep-seated trauma, severe anxiety, the weight of survivor's guilt, and a persistent feeling of not belonging stemming from her not knowing anything about her birth parents. The complexities of Sloan's troubled mind are skillfully portrayed by the author, who constantly molds the storyline around them. Sloan finds herself trapped in a state of constant fear as the fragmented memories of that night make it difficult to piece together the truth. She starts to believe that even Cherry – her soulmate, the only person that’s keeping her grounded, is keeping secrets about what truly happened to them.
“’I just want the truth. I want to know what happened.’ Sloan bit her lip. This wasn’t supposed to be so hard, so confusing. What was right and wrong. What was real and not real. Where was the line, and why did it keep moving?”
This book is an absolute thrill ride, and kept me engaged and second-guessing everything until the end! The story is packed with twists and turns, constantly reshaping itself as Sloan's mental health takes a turn for the worse. What happens when the line between what is real and what is not starts to blur? I thoroughly enjoyed unraveling each layer of the story, from Sloan's deteriorating mental health to her codependent relationship with Cherry and her gradual detachment from reality. The story gets pretty dark toward the end, and while that didn't bother me, it felt a bit abrupt. I think it would've been better if the pacing was more consistent throughout the book, especially toward the end. Nevertheless, it was clever, thought-provoking, and it left me guessing until the very last page! I highly recommend this intense YA psychological thriller, and cannot wait to read more of Jennifer Dugan's works in the future!
The cover design is pure perfection – it’s dark, mysterious, and fits the story perfectly! It grabbed my attention immediately! The black and white colors in the background perfectly capture Sloan’s struggle to properly put together the fragmented memories of that haunting night.
Thank you, BookishFirst, the publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and author Jennifer Dugan for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review! My review is based on an uncorrected text. The Last Girls Standing by Jennifer Dugan is due to be released on August 15, 2023.
“Sloan liked the way Cherry said ‘us.’ The way she always combined them into one now. Nothing happened to Cherry or to Sloan; it only happened to both of them, as if what happened that day at camp had fused them somehow.”
Sloan is trying to move on with her life, as she deals with deep-seated trauma, severe anxiety, the weight of survivor's guilt, and a persistent feeling of not belonging stemming from her not knowing anything about her birth parents. The complexities of Sloan's troubled mind are skillfully portrayed by the author, who constantly molds the storyline around them. Sloan finds herself trapped in a state of constant fear as the fragmented memories of that night make it difficult to piece together the truth. She starts to believe that even Cherry – her soulmate, the only person that’s keeping her grounded, is keeping secrets about what truly happened to them.
“’I just want the truth. I want to know what happened.’ Sloan bit her lip. This wasn’t supposed to be so hard, so confusing. What was right and wrong. What was real and not real. Where was the line, and why did it keep moving?”
This book is an absolute thrill ride, and kept me engaged and second-guessing everything until the end! The story is packed with twists and turns, constantly reshaping itself as Sloan's mental health takes a turn for the worse. What happens when the line between what is real and what is not starts to blur? I thoroughly enjoyed unraveling each layer of the story, from Sloan's deteriorating mental health to her codependent relationship with Cherry and her gradual detachment from reality. The story gets pretty dark toward the end, and while that didn't bother me, it felt a bit abrupt. I think it would've been better if the pacing was more consistent throughout the book, especially toward the end. Nevertheless, it was clever, thought-provoking, and it left me guessing until the very last page! I highly recommend this intense YA psychological thriller, and cannot wait to read more of Jennifer Dugan's works in the future!
The cover design is pure perfection – it’s dark, mysterious, and fits the story perfectly! It grabbed my attention immediately! The black and white colors in the background perfectly capture Sloan’s struggle to properly put together the fragmented memories of that haunting night.
Thank you, BookishFirst, the publisher G.P. Putnam's Sons Books for Young Readers, and author Jennifer Dugan for the ARC copy in exchange for an honest review! My review is based on an uncorrected text. The Last Girls Standing by Jennifer Dugan is due to be released on August 15, 2023.