“An absorbing exploration of friendship and betrayal.” ~ Hello Magazine

The Last Time I Saw You by Eleanor Moran

About this book: When Olivia Berrington gets the call to tell her that her best friend from college has been killed in a car crash in New York, her life is turned upside down. Her relationship with Sally was an exhilarating roller coaster, until a shocking betrayal drove them apart. But if Sally really had turned her back, why is her little girl named after Olivia?

As questions mount about the fatal accident, Olivia is forced to go back and unravel their tangled history. But as Sally’s secrets start to spill out, Olivia’s left asking herself if the past is best kept buried.

About the author: Eleanor Moran is the author of three previous novels: Stick or Twist, Mr. Almost Right and Breakfast in Bed, which is currently being developed for television.

Eleanor also works as a television drama executive and her TV credits include Spooks, Being Human and a biopic of Enid Blyton, Enid, starring Helena Bonham Carter. Eleanor grew up in North London, where she still lives. Learn more about her at her website (where you can also find a fun 60-second Q&A).

Genre: Fiction/Women’s Fiction

Would I read this book, judged on its cover alone? Hm. Probably, but only because it’s clearly a work of women’s fiction, which is my favorite genre; otherwise it doesn’t do much for me. 

If this book were a movie, I would rate it: R. Some profanity and mature themes, including peripheral drug use (not gratuitous or glamorized)

Reminds me of… Liane Moriarty; Hannah Richell

You’ll want to buy this book if … you’ve enjoyed novels by either of the two above authors (The Husband’s Secret and The Shadow Year in particular); if you love good women’s fiction in general.

Why did I read this book? For Querus for review

Would I read another by this author? Yes, without question. She’s one of my favorite new discoveries.

My take: This is exactly the kind of women’s fiction I love. Gritty and real, with such deep dives into the heart of relationships that even if you can’t relate to a particular scenario…you can. 

As a lover of all things British, I especially savored the English setting. Every character is intricately honed, with not even the most minor drop-in left to chance. If I had to pick a favorite sub-plot, it has to be the complex and painfully ambiguous relationship between Livvy and William, her dead ex-best friend’s grieving husband. The tension is exquisite, and meanwhile, the gradual peeling back of layers of memory and mystery kept me turning pages long past my bedtime.

Engrossing, riveting, this was one novel I could hardly put down. In many ways, I didn’t want it to end, but if it hadn’t, I couldn’t have enjoyed the warm heart of its emotionally satisfying conclusion.

Thanks to Wunderkind PR for providing me a free copy to review. All opinions are mine.

End notes: I do love a good work of women’s fiction. How about you? I’d like to hear from my readers… What genre will you pick up (almost) no matter what the cover or who the author?