The Last Place You Look by Aurora Rey
- Publisher: Bold Strokes Books, 2020
- Genre: Romance, LGBTQ+
- Format: Paperback (eARC)
- Page Count: 314 pages
- My Rating: ⭐⭐⭐ (3/5)
“Things don’t have to be malicious to do harm.”
Taylor
Moving home from New York City after her wife of 8 years left her for another woman, Julia Pierce had no choice but to take on a job at her family’s winery. She had also missed out on dating life since nineteen, so going casual to make up for the lost time sounded like a good idea. When Taylor Winslow, who had an ongoing crush on her for years unbeknownst to Julia, volunteered to friend-zone herself as a wingman, neither knew this friendship would take on a deeper meaning.
“Saying something works is relative. Maybe it does and it’s really awesome. But, sometimes, I think we tell ourselves things are working because they’re not terrible and we’re scared of rocking the boat to try for something better.”
Julia
Rey’s words flowed wonderfully. The subtle shift in point-of-view worked perfectly, never leaving me reeling to figure out whose thoughts the sentence was on. Some of the conversations were also carefully crafted, upping the enjoyment of the book in addition to the romance plot line.
“It didn’t work out. Things don’t always. It doesn’t mean they weren’t worth doing.”
Taylor
I found Taylor likeable, if not too nice. I also liked the friends and family of both main characters, especially Taylor’s twin brother, Chris, and his husband, Jack. They were all very interesting, supportive, and played important parts in the book. However, there were so much more to Julia and her sister Caroline’s history as well as Taylor and Julia’s friendship or acquaintanceship during their high school softball career. If elaborated, the story might feel more complete.
“I used to think love was all about losing yourself in another person. But you make me feel seen, loved, as a whole person, exactly as I am.”
Julia
While the book did not stir much emotion in me, The Last Place You Look was a pleasant read with wonderful characters. It certainly brought a warm buzz. [23 Mar 2020]
I received an e-ARC from Bold Strokes Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.
