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The Last Word
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
After posting a negative book review, a woman living in a remote location begins to wonder if the author is a little touchy--or very, very dangerous--in this pulse-pounding novel of psychological suspense and terror from the critically acclaimed author of No Exit and Hairpin Bridge. Emma Carpenter lives in isolation with her golden retriever Laika, house-sitting an old beachfront home on the rainy Washington coast. Her only human contact is her enigmatic old neighbor, Deek, and (via text) the house's owner, Jules. One day, she reads a poorly written--but gruesome--horror novel by the author H. G. Kane, and posts a one-star review that drags her into an online argument with none other than the author himself. Soon after, disturbing incidents start to occur at night. To Emma, this can't just be a coincidence. It was strange enough for this author to bicker with her online about a lousy review; could he be stalking her, too? As Emma digs into Kane's life and work, she learns he has published sixteen other novels, all similarly sadistic tales of stalking and murder. But who is he? How did he find her? And what else is he capable of?
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Nessavamusic
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Pickpick

This is very fun, bonkers, horror/thriller. A woman who is grieving is house sitting alone with only a shut in older gentleman neighbor for company. She spends most of her day reading indi thrillers, when she reads a truly bad book and gives it one star, the author takes offense…
This was a fast paced thrilling read, even though I guessed the twist, it was still a lot of fun. 4⭐️
Content warnings ⬇️

Nessavamusic Warning for Gore and Death of a child 4d
OriginalCyn620 I can‘t wait to read this one! 4d
Nessavamusic @OriginalCyn620 It was very fun! 4d
55 likes2 stack adds3 comments
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ChaoticMissAdventures
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Pickpick

Low pick. This was a bit ridiculous but felt fresh and fun. Emma puts a 1⭐ review on GR and the author comes to kill her for it. This premise sold me. Especially with all the social media talk about how authors have been reacting to reviews lately, & after reading Yellowface which talks about publishing and reviews.
I liked that the author gave the protagonists dog a voice, at first it threw me off but it really grew on me. I also liked the 👇

ChaoticMissAdventures Alternating voices between Emma, the author, and flashes from the past. The weaving of the POV has you constantly questioning what is "true". I had a lot of questions throughout and not all of them were addressed but overall it was a good ride. I don't read many horror books but I found the actual horror of it all pretty mild (I live alone and had no problems sleeping while reading ?) 5d
BarbaraBB Great review👌🏽 4d
37 likes1 stack add2 comments
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QuietMornings
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Can anyone confirm that nothing happens to the dog? PLEASE 🙏🏼

Leftcoastzen The dog ends up ok, but I still didn‘t like this book! Some people did. 7d
9 likes1 comment
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Branwen
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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It's officially summer! ☀️

Okay so...not really! At least not technically? But it's the FIRST day I'm sitting out on my balcony with a beer and a thriller - so I'm totally counting it! 😎📚🍺

RaeLovesToRead Wish I could jump on a plane and come visit!!! 1w
Branwen @RaeLovesToRead ME TOO! 😭💕 1w
58 likes2 comments
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MaleficentBookDragon
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Two holds came in. I can‘t decide which to read first.

Cathythoughts Stacking the tagged one 👍🏻 1w
thewallflower0707 Yeah to Yellowface! Kuang hasn‘t disappointed me yet. 1w
75 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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OutsmartYourShelf
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
This post contains spoilers
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Mehso-so

I'm a bit mixed in my views about this. It is well-written, pacy, & there are lots of twists & turns (although I guessed the main twist, some of others I definitely did not see coming which is always a good thing). Did I actually enjoy reading it though? Not sure. I will reiterate in the TWs but let me tell you here that the dog survives, that's not to say poor Laika doesn't go through some horror, but ultimately she's okay. (continued)

OutsmartYourShelf Me - not so much as I could have happily gone on avoiding knowing about the fate of real-life namesake Laika who was sent into space, for the rest of my natural life. I have deliberately avoided ever Googling anything about this so, yeah, thanks for that I guess. Verdict: well-written, fast-paced with lots of twists & turns but the couple of animal-related bits were difficult to read for me. 3⭐ 2w
OutsmartYourShelf TWs: violence, death, stalking, animal cruelty (fortunately the dog survives), animal death (you read about the real-life Laika who didn't).

My thanks to #NetGalley & publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for the opportunity to read an ARC.

Full Review: https://www.goodreads.com/review/show/5338550997

Read 13th-15th May 2023
(edited) 2w
7 likes2 comments
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marleed
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Pickpick

I began using Goodreads in 2017 and my first review was a poor opinion of a self-help book. My complaint wasn‘t about the content itself so much as my not being the proper audience. I received a quick response from what I still believe to be the author‘s team calling me a twit and some other choice words. So, oh yeah, I had to read this! Btw, I did delete my review! It was before I found Litsy - now I‘d screenshot for an opinion from you!

DGRachel I‘ve had one person want to argue with me about why my review/opinion on a book was “wrong”. 🙄 You just have to wonder about people sometimes… 2w
ChaoticMissAdventures I firmly believe that reviews are not for the author. This rage from authors has become so common, people need to take criticism when they put things out into the world for others. Reviews are opinions!! Not everyone is going to like your book! I am excited to read this one. 2w
IndoorDame I totally accept that you can‘t keep people on the internet from picking ridiculous arguments with you, but it coming from the author‘s team is really extra! 2w
See All 8 Comments
BarbaraBB Wow that‘s brutal. Your allowed whatever opinion! I never review books on GR because there are so many eloquent people there writing long reviews that I don‘t feel comfortable 🤷🏻‍♀️ 2w
CoverToCoverGirl Stacking… all I can say is it‘s okay not to like or love a book. If as an author you can‘t except that, it‘s time to throw away your pen. 2w
marleed @DGRachel @ChaoticMissAdventures @IndoorDame @BarbaraBB @CoverToCoverGirl Because I was so new to GR and had only posted a couple reviews, it completely freaked me out and embarrassed me. I didn‘t immediately realize I could delete my review. Since then, I‘ve only posted reviews on a handful of my subjective 5* reviews. I do like GR for tracking my books read and my want to read. But I save my opinions for my Litsy family! 2w
bthegood I started using Storygraph to keep track of what I've read and what I thought about the books (I like how I can sort by author/year/month/title etc...) - I don't think you can respond to other people's reviews, I believe (at least originally) this site was trying not to be a social media site. 🙂 1w
marleed @bthegood I‘ve yet to set up a storygraph account, but I sure read good things about it from other Littens! 1w
82 likes2 stack adds8 comments
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AudiobookingWithLeah
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Pickpick

4¼⭐
What a thrilling edge-of-your-seat thriller this was. This book's title is a clue to ultimately figuring out WTF is going on here. There‘s much moving forward in the story with one narrator and then with the next narrator, you‘ll move back. Which is either going to feel really confusing and/or feel like a unique way of writing. I think it was a little of both. All in all, it was exciting to try to figure out what was going on here.

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Skyrimir
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Panpan

I didn‘t like No Exit, but this was the only May BOTM that sounded interesting so I figured I would give the author a second chance. Big mistake. I started out liking it. I haven‘t felt this angry finishing a book in forever. I don‘t want to donate it, because someone will end up paying money for it, and if I put it in a little free library someone is still wasting their time. What to do with a book you really disliked?

LiteraryinLawrence Oh no! Can you say (behind a spoiler marker) what made you dislike it so much? 2w
12 likes1 comment
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JacqMac
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Pickpick

Don‘t start it if you don‘t have time to finish it. You won‘t want to put it down. That seems to be the way with Taylor Adams. If you can suspend belief a little bit this is a great twisty thriller. I think it‘s better than No Exit. 4/5

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EatSleepRead
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Pickpick

This was a soft pick, a pretty good twisty thriller. I will admit I couldn't put this one down and flew through it.

tapgurl Reading it now but left it at work! Can‘t wait to get back to it! 3w
17 likes1 comment
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TheBookStacker
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Big stormy night here in Nashville. So I‘m cozied up with a glass of wine and this book. #botm ⛈️🍷📖🩶

42 likes2 stack adds
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Kappadeemom
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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I can‘t put it down!

41 likes2 stack adds
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candc320
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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My #botm books got here so quickly this month!

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MotherOfCats
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Will it ever stop raining? Oh well 😉

RaeLovesToRead Your bookstand is adorable! 😻😻 4w
8 likes1 comment
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MaleficentBookDragon
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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I‘m getting this one from the library and I think I‘m first in line.
So… I‘m skipping #BOTM for the second month in a row.

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Leftcoastzen
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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This is what I picked ! #BOTM

thereadingreference Me too!! Hope it's good 4w
48 likes2 comments
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LeslieO
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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I almost skipped this month. I loved No Exit but only liked Hairpin Bridge. But I decided to give this one a try. #BOTM #TBR

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AnnRaz
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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“Time slows to a strange and turgid crawl when you‘re a grown-ass adult hiding under a window.”

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Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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All of these looked good! I loved No Exit by Taylor Adams!

I‘m thinking of this being my last round with #BOTM. Who gets the #Aardvark box? Do you like it? 📚

marleed Anytime I think I might give up on BOTM, the new batch contains even more than my 3-book limit. I‘m afraid they have me, and hopefully the prices stop climbing because I doubt the prices will go back down even when inflation stagnates. 4w
JenReadsAlot I just joined #aardvark but haven't read any of the books yet 🤷‍♀️ 4w
EKonrad Picked the Collecting Regrets one for my box (and The Last Word is great!). 😊 4w
Amie I like botm better than aardvark because I like more of the books they offer and aardvark doesn't let you skip (at least not when I cancelled a couple of months ago) - you can skip but they still charge you every month. 4w
59 likes4 comments
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TheBookStacker
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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I‘m ready for some thrillers! #botm

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candc320
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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May #botm picks are up!!

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SilversReviews
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Pickpick

THRILLER - HORROR

A book's nightmare coming true all because of a negative review?

The book is very cleverly written as the real drama unfolds and we read the story the author is playing out - Emma knows what will happen because she is living it.

It is pretty gruesome, but those who know the work of Mr. Adams don‘t need to be forewarned. 4/5

FULL REVIEW: https://tinyurl.com/45dw747w

@taylor.adams.author
@williammorrowbooks

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guinsgirlreads
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Pickpick

There is never a dull moment in a Taylor Adam‘s book.. so good! I‘ll have to get to Hairpin Bridge soon!

27 likes1 stack add
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swishandflick
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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This feels like a good possibility for the final #BOTM clue!

marleed I gave a so-so review on Goodreads when I very first started using it. The author (or her team) replied that I was a twit - or something to the effect. It freaked me out so much that I deleted my review. These days though, I would have kept it, screen shotted it, and posted it to Litsy for support! … I kinda think I need to read this book! 1mo
Alwaysbeenaloverofbooks @marleed wow!! Seriously?! Is this a male or female author? I loved No Exit and thought it was a male 🤷🏻‍♀️ 1mo
70 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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EKonrad
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Pickpick

I guessed a few of the twists in this one, but it was still a fun thriller that kept me interested. Also, the plot made me rethink ever leaving a one-star book review ever again!!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

34 likes1 stack add
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theokiereader
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Pickpick

Full review and recipe that matches the book: https://bakingthroughbookclub.com/2023/03/30/not-a-one-star-review/

As soon as I began reading, I knew I was in trouble.

No, I never thought about rating it one star to test whether I would succumb to the same fate as the heroine.

I was in trouble because my husband was leaving for a business trip, and I could tell that this wasn't a book I wanted to read in an empty house.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bklover Ooh I loved No Exit! 2mo
theokiereader @Bklover I did, too! IMO, The Last Word is even better! 2mo
11 likes1 stack add2 comments
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SilversReviews
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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FULL REVIEW 4/30

A book's nightmare coming true all because of a negative review?

The tension in THE LAST WORD is so palpable you will be jumping at any sound in your surroundings as you are reading.

It is pretty gruesome, but those who know the work of Mr. Adams don‘t need to be forewarned.

Warning to reviewers - you never know who may retaliate from a bad review. 😀 4/5

@taylor.adams.author
#tandemliterary
@harpercollins

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Reading_Beyond_The_Book_Cover
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Come see!

50 pages in and I know this book will be keeping me company the rest of this Spring Break weekend.

Many thanks to the author, Tandem Literary, and @WilliamMorrowBooks for the gifted ARC.

#bookmail #TheLastWord

Reading_Beyond_The_Book_Cover 4/5 stars. This was a wild ride. Written review coming soon 😉. 2mo
3 likes1 comment
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SilversReviews
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Thank you, #tandemliterary and @harpercollins

I am looking forward to Mr. Adams‘ newest!!

@taylor.adams.author

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KristiAhlers
The Last Word: A Novel | Taylor Adams
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Pickpick

This book was so weird and twisted! Which I guess is what you want as a reader when reading a psychological thriller. This book comes out in April and I've got to tell you this one will give you pause.

60 likes2 stack adds