After her girlfriend dumped her publicly and her credibility as a Music Critic has been hit very hard, putting her job in jeopardy, Samantha “Sammy” Espinosa returns to Ridley Falls, the small town she spent most of her childhood, with a mission: to find former Rockstar Max Ryan and convince him to give her an exclusive interview—including hearing his new album, as some forums have been insisting he’s supposedly recording, so she can review it as a way to save her career.
Returning to Ridley Falls isn’t as easy as it sounds. Turns out there’s a lot of history, which are the roots of Sammy’s issues. Her parents (her father died before Sammy was born) are from Ridley Falls, and her grandmother, her only relative from her father’s side alive, never recognized Sammy as part of her family; Sammy wants to know firsthand why her grandmother never wanted to know her. With a complicated relationship with her flighty mother, there’s a lot of water under the bridge. The icing of the cake? Sammy had a brief affair with Max years ago just before his group gets a contract and, when he gets his big break, he ghosted her.
The plan is to get her exclusive and an explanation about his past behavior from Max. But things didn’t go as expected; Max isn’t the jerk she thought he was for the past years. They start to get closer with each moment they spend together. Knowing what he thinks about people looking for him with ulterior motives, how could Sammy tell him what’s her job and her reasons for being in Ridley Falls?
Sammy is a character you wouldn’t forget. She has a lot of emotional struggles and goes through a lot in this story. As she comes back to the only place she could call home, she has to face lies, secrets and demons from her past. Sometimes you get exhausted with her comes and goes, especially because she’s the only narrator in this book, but at the same time you’ll end loving her. Max, on his part, is a pleasant surprise. He’s not the typical Rockstar, arrogant and toxic, as fictional Rockstars (and some real ones, hehehe) use to be. He’s charming, kind, considerate and so sexy. He has his own inner demons and issues he has to deal with, making him more alluring.
“What’s your favorite time of day?” I ask at one in the morning. My eyes are closed. I think I might be more asleep than awake.
“This one,” he says. “Right now.”
“Mine, too.”
As a couple they work great, although they’re not pretty good in the communications department. They have an unique chemistry and the way they interact with each other is organic. All their intimate moments (and I’m not talking about sex) are full of emotion. Speaking of emotions, their connection with music—another thing they share, which is meaningful for the plot—is beyond emotions; it takes them to a spiritual level most of the time.
Secondary characters bring the spark to this book, Sammy’s best friend Willa, her wife Brook and Willa’s parents being my favorite. Sammy’s chosen family is so diverse (independently of Willa and Brook’s lesbian marriage) and picturesque you fall in love with them immediately. Also, there’s Paloma (Sammy’s grandmother) and Dina Rae (Sammy’s mother), which bring a little antagonistic vibe without bothering the plot and the reading.
Sammy Espinoza’s Last Review is a story about second chances, knowing yourself, conquering your demons and yes, forgiveness. This is the first time I read one of Mejía’s books, and I really liked it. This book’s writing is witty and made me laugh a lot. The reading has a perfect pace and the transitions between scenes are fantastic. Also, kudos for the natural way the LGBTQ+ aspects of the book—starting with a queer heroine—which I LOVE, are added to the story, without effort nor being forced to the plot. Unfortunately, I didn’t like the ending much. It’s not a bad one, to be clear. It’s just Sammy and Max deserved better, in my humble opinion. After all, a second chance romance should always be better.
ARC given by Penguin Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine via Netgalley. Thanks for your trust.
About the Book
Release Date: July 18, 2023
ASIN: B0BJPK63HY
Published By: Penguin Random House Publishing Group – Ballantine
Series: None
Genre: Contemporary Romance
eBook, 348 pages
“A sexy, funny, sweet story about second chances and found family . . . I fell in love with Ridley Falls and everyone in it.”—Emily Henry, #1 New York Times bestselling author of Book Lovers
“This immersive tale will have everyone flipping pages.”—Good Morning America
ONE OF THE BEST ROMANCE NOVELS OF 2023: Cosmopolitan, USA Today
A music critic stuck in a spiral of epic proportions targets her teenage crush for a career comeback and a chance at revenge. What could possibly go wrong?
Sammy Espinoza’s life is a raging dumpster fire. Her desperate attempt to win back her singer ex-girlfriend has landed her in hot water at work, and she has one last chance before her editor cuts her column. Luckily, Sammy has a plan to redeem herself, but it won’t be easy.
Rumor has it that Max Ryan, the former rock god, is secretly recording his first-ever solo album years after he dramatically quit performing. And it just so happens that he and Sammy have history: Right before Max got his big break, he and Sammy spent an unforgettable night together.
Exclusive access to Max’s new music would guarantee Sammy’s professional comeback and, even better, give her the opportunity to serve some long-awaited revenge for his traumatic ghosting.
But Max lives in Ridley Falls, Washington, and Sammy has history there as well: a family that never wanted her and a million unanswered questions. Going back would mean confronting it all—but what else does she have to lose?
About the Author
TEHLOR KAY MEJIA is a bestselling and award winning author of young adult and middle grade fiction.
Their debut young adult novel, WE SET THE DARK ON FIRE, received six starred reviews, as well as the Oregon Spirit Book Award for debut fiction, and the Neukom Institute Literary Arts Award runner up honor for debut speculative fiction. It has been featured on Seventeen, Cosmopolitan, and O by Oprah Magazine’s best books lists, and was a 2019 book of the year selection by Kirkus and School Library Journal.
Tehlor’s debut middle grade novel, PAOLA SANTIAGO AND THE RIVER OF TEARS, was published by the Rick Riordan Presents imprint at Disney/Hyperion. It received four starred reviews, and was named Amazon’s best book of 2020 in the 9-12 age range. It is currently in development at Disney as a television series to be produced by Eva Longoria.
Their highly anticipated adult debut, SAMMY ESPINOZA’S LAST REVIEW, will be available from Ballantine Bantam Dell in the summer of 2023.
Tehlor strives to create stories which showcase the importance of community, radical inclusion, and abolitionist values. They live with their child, partner, and two small dogs in their home state of Oregon, and is active on Instagram @tehlorkay.
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