I absolutely loved this booked. I’ve read all of Tracy Bloom’s books, however this is definitely my favourite.
It’s emotional, poignant, relatable, sad but also surprisingly funny.
Being in my 30s, I loved all the references to 1996.
It’s a book that will stick with you and one that I would strongly recommend.

4☆ Poignant, Heartbreaking yet humorous.

First of all I want to start by saying as a rule I don't read books that have any reference to the Big 'C' Word for personal reasons.

So when I see the blurb for The Last Laugh I was drawn to it. I think it's due to the witty blurb I was hoping this would be a more light hearted read.
I'm glad to say although it was emotional there was enough humour to balance it.

Yes this is a subject that is so current and very very real but Tracy added her special spark and she made it emotional yet light hearted, with the right amount of sensitive humour.

I admired Jenny's strength and determination to live life after her diagnosis.
Jenny decides to keep her diagnosis to herself, rightly or wrongly this is the case for many people so it showed us a different side to coping.

You see Jenny's husband is a cheating scumbag! When Jenny needs him most he is busy servicing he's work collegue.

After getting both pieces of news I would of gone to pieces.
But not Jenny she was amazing.
She dusts herself off and decides that she is not going to let the 'C' word destroy what time she has left.
She's going to kick butt and have a rip roaring time. What better way then with a trip down memory lane.
With the help from her good friend Maureen she plans the perfect party.

The Last Laugh is very thought provoking, and will really hit home to cherish family, friends and life.
It's beautifully written with much thought and sensitivity the whole way through.
It will leave you emotional, laughing out loud, caring for the characters, poignant moments, it leaves you looking at life from a different perspective.

I do think if you are sensitive like me then still give The Last Laugh a try as you might be pleasantly surprised.
A beautifully Poignant Read that you will remember. Definetly one to watch out for!

A funny, witty read that's also got a very serious/morbid side about a woman who finds out she has cancer the same day she finds out her husband is having an affair.

A very easy read that can easily be read in a day. I thought it would make me cry but it didn't...unfortunately I just didn't feel connected to Jenny like I should have done.

There were some hilarious situations and I adored Jenny's relationship with Maureen. Tracy's writing is great and I would definitely read more books by her on that alone but for me this book just didn't hit the mark and was a little bit too cliché for me. I also couldn't forgive the husband and thought Jenny was a bit of a doormat really! Sorry but she annoyed me!

I received this book free of charge from the publisher in return for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.

Don't let my rating fool you, this was an enjoyable story of a woman figuring out how to live now she knows when she's going to die.

Jenny finds out her husband is cheating on her exactly when she's ready to tell him she has terminal cancer. Also, her relationship with her daughter isn't the best and her son depends on her since his father is never there for him. How can she let them go just like that? So she decides to postpone informing everyone and to fully live, like she did back when she met her husband. For that, what's better than a 1996-themed party?

I was expecting to laugh more, and while this was far from being a heavy read about a dying woman, this wasn't any sort of parody. In fact, the result was very interesting because of how well the author dosed between humor and seriousness; it's a different perspective. Because of this, the story isn't as predictable.

Then why just three stars? First, I still think the story was lukewarm, it could have made me feel more—although it did make me cry a little at times. Also, I'm not sure I enjoyed how Jenny found her peace of mind by the end (no, I don't mean dying, this is a spoiler-free review); I hoped for more retribution on characters who did her bad. You kind of expect feel-good literature like this one to be fairer where the real world isn't, and yet, she was almost apologetical toward those people. Why? Most of them deserved a kick on their bottoms, to be honest. So, yes, I expected this book to be smarter, since the plot itself is quite smart.

Still, this is a great read for everyone who thinks they have already peaked to think again. There are so many lessons to extract from Jenny's stories! Yes, it could have been better, but I think it's already entertained me quite well.

I loved this book, it was an emotional rollercoaster of highs and lows. I laughed out loud several times, but also really felt for Jenny at times.
It makes you think about cherishing your life and of your family around you.

The Last Laugh is a wonderful, funny read. It is a bit heavy and emotional, but that just added to the character of the story. It is well written and relatable. I would recommend.

I voluntarily read and reviewed a copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own

I liked this one a lot. It hit all my mid-90's nostalgia buttons and made me cry a little at the end. Definitely recommend it to anyone who loved chick lit back in the late 90s. It has a great Bridget Jones' Diary vibe and was hard to put down.

From the synopsis I knew this was not going to be a happy book, it's about a 45 year old woman who finds out she has cancer and that her husband is having an affair on the same day, but while it is heartbreaking and poignant there is still something very positive and uplifting about it. I may have cried my way through around 75% of the story but the other 25% had me laughing out loud.

There's just something very real and very approachable about Blooms writing and from the very first page I was totally behind main character Jenny. My life may be in a completely different place but there was something very relateable about her and the situation she finds herself in. She's just such a likeable character, down to earth, funny and far too nice and caring, she's the type of person I'd want as a friend so watching her keeping it all a secret and no one really noticing was heartbreaking.

While the story is about how Jenny deals with her diagnosis the focus is definitely not on living with cancer. Things like treatment, pain and other complications are mentioned but as Jenny is trying to ignore them, they're generally glossed over quickly. Instead the focus is very much on the relationships in her life and the author portrays them brilliantly. Again there was so much to relate to and many of the situations felt very familiar, spending time with family but never having a real conversation, the one upmanship and judgement from so called "friends" and how sometimes even the best of friends drift apart over time.

I'm probably making this sound like a really depressing story but it's really not. There are so many funny moments scattered throughout I found myself crying one second and laughing the next. Jenny's attempts to bring 1996 back (and her family's reactions) are hilarious and elderly friend Maureen's no nonsense and practical approach had me laughing out loud. I also loved the freedom Jenny found to speak her mind to those around her, I was cheering her on the whole way.

If I had one quibble with this book though, it's probably the ending. It was a little too sudden for me and seemed to come from nowhere. I can't think of a better ending but it just felt a little incomplete to me.

Overall though this was a really great read and I found myself flying through it. I would recommend though that if you do read it you keep the tissues handy. It's an emotional rollercoaster.

I’m thrilled to be taking part in the blog tour for The Last Laugh by Tracy Bloom today. I’ve never read anything by Tracy before but after reading a lot of crime/psychological thrillers I thought it was time for a chance of genre. Once I read the blurb I decided that this could be just the book I was looking for. . . and I wasn’t wrong.

Imagine finding out that you’re terminally ill and when you go to your husband’s office to share the devastating news you find him in a compromising position with a leggy, blonde colleague. That’s exactly what happens to Jenny. Throw into the mix two teenage children, a father with dementia, a taxing mother, a brother who rarely makes an appearance and a job at the local care home and you’ve got Jenny’s life.

You’d think that Jenny would be wallowing around in self-pity, but with some guidance from Maureen, a resident at the care home where she works, she does some soul searching and makes an important decision.

Through flashbacks to 1996 we find out how Jenny met and fell in love with husband Mark. Life was obviously very different for Jenny then and she has lots of fond memories of that time in her life which is why she wants to reconnect with long lost friends.

This is the first book I’ve read by Tracy Bloom and I can honestly say that I was impressed with her writing style. The fact that she can take a sensitive subject like cancer and produce a story that’s sprinkled with humour and written with great sensitivity, shows just what a talented writer she is. I quickly warmed to Jenny’s character and found that as I was reading I was putting myself in her shoes and asking what I would do if I was in her position.
The Last Laugh is one of those books that will make you take stock of your own life. It’s thought-provoking, funny and poignant all at the same time. If you’re looking for something a little different to read then I’d recommend that you give this little beauty a try.

I love and adore Tracy’s books so this one was always going to be a hit with me! I was genuinely excited to get started and I have to say now I’ve finished it – I blooming loved it!!

The story is great, I loved every page and flew through the book. So funny in places and touching where it needs to be – it really is an excellent piece of work and has been one of my top reads of the year so far!!

Tracy is one of my favourite authors – another brilliant 5 star read for me!!

EXCERPT: I look back at Mark. My chosen path. I've purposely not told him what's going on so far, which might appear strange but I cannot seem to say the words out loud. I cannot even bear to hear them. I 've tried. I've stood in front of the mirror and formed the words in my head and tried to force them out of my mouth but nothing comes out. I just stare and stare and stare at myself and think, is this really happening? If I don't actually say the words then maybe it isn't, maybe everything will be all right.

ABOUT THIS BOOK: ‘I’ve googled it, how to die,’ Jenny says to Maureen. ‘It was full of climbing this mountain, swimming that sea, becoming a marathon runner and raising millions for charity.’

‘Sounds like bloody hard work. You can make it more fun than that surely?’

Jenny discovers her days are numbered at the same time she discovers her husband is having an affair…

Frankly, her life was tough enough already. Two tricky teenagers, her mother’s constant complaints, friends who aren’t up to the job and a career which has been spiralling downwards since she won ‘Sunseeker Tour Rep of the Season’ twenty years ago.

And now this: a cheating husband and a death sentence.

Enough is enough. Jenny vows to keep both catastrophes a secret. She takes her life – and death – into her own hands and decides to live as she did when she was happiest… in 1996. She plans a spectacular 1990’s themed party in place of a wake that she herself will attend. But will she be able to keep her secrets for long enough to have the party of a lifetime?

From No. 1 bestseller Tracy Bloom, The Last Laugh is both hilarious and heartbreaking, a book about how to find happiness and live your life as though every day is your last. Perfect for fans of Marian Keyes and Kicking the Bucket List.

MY THOUGHTS: I am probably the only person who has so far read The Last Laugh by Tracy Bloom who hasn't found it hilarious. Instead, I found it sad, poignant and strangely uplifting.

Jenny has attitude in spades. I loved her 'well f**k you' attitude, and her determination to live her life on her terms. I also admired the way she dealt with her husband’s affair.

Maureen was wonderful. She shows the wisdom of age and experience. She sees and understands things that Jenny can't, because she is too closely involved. And she calls a spade a spade. We all need a Maureen in our lives.

There are a lot of life lessons in this book. Lessons about taking a look at and considering the 'bigger picture', not just your own little role in things, about the importance of friendship and the different roles the same people play at different points in your life, about not being too hasty to write people off, and about second chances.

I was expecting a light, fluffy, chic-lit read, but I got so much more from this book. I think that what people will take from this book will depend on where they are at in their lives. But regardless, it is a delightful and touching read. 4.5 surprised stars from me.

Thank you to Bookouture via Netgalley for providing a digital copy of The Last Laugh by Tracy Bloom for review. All opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own personal opinions.

Please refer to my Goodreads.com profile page or the 'about' page on sandysbookaday.wordpress.com for an explanation of my rating system.

This review and others are also published on my blog sandysbookaday.wordpress.com

This was a fantastic book filled with laughter and even moments that wrenched your heart! This book was one of a kind and I LOVED the whole experience!

Since the death of my dad from cancer in 2016, I’ve avoided books that deal mainly with subjects like this one, terminal cancer and death. However, I’ve been reading Tracy Bloom’s books for many years, so I knew what the writing was going to be like. I also knew that she would take a difficult subject to talk about and make it into something positive and enjoyable, I wasn’t wrong.

The plot is a humorous take on one woman coming to terms with her cancer prognosis and deciding to take matters into her own hands. She has nothing left to lose anymore, so with a new haircut, adventurous clothes, a slim body (though not intentional), and a no holds barred attitude, Jenny has returned to how she was when she felt like the happiest woman alive. She doesn’t want people’s sympathy, or their tears. This is her death and she is going to go about it, however the hell she wants to.

I liked Jenny from the beginning. Some people might not understand her attitude of wanting to go to a medical appointment alone, or not telling her family of her diagnosis, but I could understand her perfectly. What I saw was a woman trying to protect those she loved, plus she didn’t have to deal with people looking at her sympathetically or trying to wrap her in cotton wool, she just wanted to be herself for as long as she could. She only chose to tell elderly Maureen as she knew that she wouldn’t sugar coat anything, nor go all soppy on her.

Ms. Bloom has managed to take a hard to deal with subject and whilst keeping the seriousness of it, has written a plot that you can laugh along with. Yes, there are a few ‘gulp’ moments, but for the vast majority of the book I had a smile on my face.

This is a beautiful book that has been exquisitely crafted and one that I thoroughly enjoyed reading.

I believe covering topic of someone dying and finding out that their partner is cheating on them is something very hard to lighten up. I found this book at the beginning a bit heavy to digest, probably as I just felt so bad for Jenny, my feelings towards her and her life sentence were so strong, I was really really upset for her. However as soon as Jenny has decided to not wait for her life to end but enjoy every last minute she has to the fullest, I really started to enjoy it.

This book holds strong message, has powerful impact on your emotions, on way you look at your life, your values. It just gives you something to take and apply in your own life, it changes you. I'm so pleased I had chance to read this book and will definitely read some more books by Tracy Bloom as I really enjoyed her writing style and the way she presents her story. It's very engaging and you just can't stop reading it.

The full review can be found on: www.shufflebookbox.wordpress.com

Jenny has a secret. A big one. One that is going to affect her family in all sorts of ways and she doesn’t know how to tell her husband let alone the kids. Her husband also has a secret which Jenny finds out about unwittingly adding to her angst. A book of ups and downs, highs and lows and one to make you think about your own life and how you live it. This draws you in as you so feel for Jenny and her predicaments and makes you really think “if it were me….. what would I do”. Characters wonderfully portrayed that you can’t help but admire them. A brilliantly written book written with sensitivity and poignancy, with a look at life from a very different perspective. If you think you have problems- read this and it will put everything in perspective. “Live life with hope”. Tracy you have a talent- I very much look forward to your next book.

" '...well, you’re starting to look a bit too thin, that’s all.’ I nod. How many times have I dreamed of someone saying that to me? Being accused of being too thin is like being told you’ve won too many Oscars in my book. Magical, magical words if ever they come your way. If only I didn’t have to get cancer to hear them."

Jenny has plenty to cope with as it is: Ellie, her difficult 17 year daughter; George, her anxious 15 year old son, her demanding mother; her father suffering from altzheimers; her caretaker job at the old age home. But those issues are now pale in comparison to Jenny's discovery that she has terminal cancer AND that her husband of twenty years is cheating on her!

Adding humour to the dead serious topic of being terminally ill can be a gamble of hit or miss if it's not executed sensitively. And this is where Tracy Bloom's talent stands out as she effortlessly combined the two, creating a beautiful story, with its emotional ups and downs bringing tears to my eyes, perfectly balanced with moments that had me giggling to myself on several occasions.

The story was greatly enhanced with a 'liquorice all sorts' arrangement of colourful characters you won't soon forget. I loved Jenny's decision to be happy even if her world was falling apart, her resilience and her courage. I also loved her elderly friend Maureen... not only because I share the same name as her but her sharp witt and no nonsense wisdom made me wish I had a Maureen as my friend too. I love how the author incorporated her and the other folks at the old age home as an integral part of the story...old folks have so much to give if we only give them the time to give it.

A book that surprised me with its many life lessons, it is guaranteed to make you look at your own life and question how well you're living it.

" 'There’s going to be plenty of bad stuff that haunts your memories, Ellie. Loads of crap you’ve not even had nightmares about yet.’ She stares back at me, petrified. ‘So what you have to do, what you absolutely must do, is throw yourself into making good memories. Amazing ones. Ridiculously crazy ones. If you do nothing else with your life, spend it making the most crazy-shit memories you can to cancel out the bad ones. Do you understand?’ "

A bitter-sweet book that I was sure would have me heartbroken by the end. It did have me shedding tears, yet it surprisingly also left me feeling comforted, leaving me with a sense of hope, inspiring me to cherish my loved ones even more and go out into the world and make some 'crazy-shit' good memories with them.

I would like to thank Netgalley, Bookouture and Tracy Bloom for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

Another wonderful read from Tracy Bloom. This book has laughs and a great plot but most of all, this is what they mean when they say a book gives you all the feels! This book made me feel everything and yet those feelings are tied up with Jenny and her family and that is why I love a Tracy Bloom novel!

Jenny is a great main character, she is recognisable as one of us or as one of our friends and so you invest in her and just want the best for her no matter what. She can be an incredibly frustrating character to ride with but that is what makes you keep turning the pages in this novel. Jenny is also an incredibly inspirational character, she definitely made me want to channel my inner spice girl.

As much as the characters in this novel are very recognisable. The storyline is also something which we hear about every single day, it could be happening to our friend, our neighbour or ourselves. But Tracy Bloom weaves the plot in such a clever way, you're entertained and emotionally driven throughout.

The supporting characters in this novel range from the hilarious to the one you love to hate, always a winning formula. And although this book does deal with incredibly sensitive issues I still loved every moment of it and read it in practically one sitting. If you've never read a Tracy Bloom novel, this is a great place to start and if you have, I think you'll definitely agree with me that this is her best book yet!

Thank you to Bookouture for letting me take part in this tour.  I loved Tracy's No-one ever has sex series so when I heard that Tracy had a brand new book I had to read it. 

Jenny finds out that she is terminally ill the day after her 40th birthday. She decides that instead of telling everyone that she is dying she will live life to the fullest for as long as possible. When I read the first few chapters of this book I thought oh that's a bit different to the authors previous books and set myself up for a bit of a sob fest but in true Tracy style I didn't shed a tear until the last 3%. 

I really admired Jenny. She gives us lots funny stories and moments throughout this book. She is an extremely strong and brave character. While battling cancer she manages to deal with a cheating husband, a typical teenage daughter and a son with anxiety issues. Oh and continue to go to work and plan an awesome party.  Personally I don't think I could have done it. You would have found me under a duvet sobbing. 

The only person Jenny tells her fate to is Maureen. Maureen lives at the old people's home where Jenny works. I absolutely loved Maureen. She was such a good friend to Jenny. She was funny but also straight talking. She was exactly what Jenny needed. 

I loved the party and the flash backs to 1996. I love Corfu and really enjoyed the little glimpses we got in this book. 

The end of this story was perfect. I have seen other people say they thought it was abrupt or that they wanted to see what happened after. For me I am happy to live in the 1%. 

Tracy's writing is funny and poignant. She has taken some of the worst moments imaginable and  put a positive light on them. This is not an easy job but Tracy makes it seem effortless. Tracy has proved she can not only write laugh out loud stories but, also those that make you take stock of your life and live for the here and now.

A bittersweet story about Jenny who finds out that she has cancer on the same day that she catches her husband with another woman. She decides not to tell anyone about her cancer or confront her husband but instead to celebrate her life with a 1990’s party. Her way of celebrating her “funeral”. It is her way to get people together and to reconnect so that she knows her husband and her kids will have a support system when she has gone. Lovely story that I couldn’t stop reading!

I feel as if I've been on a roller coaster whilst reading The Last Laugh by Tracy Bloom .. highs and lows, happy and sad, and all at breakneck speed. Never a dull moment!

A none-too-welcome health diagnosis sets Jenny on the path to recapture the best years of her lift and, with the help of her friend Maureen - who does frank and candid like no-one else - she goes about recreating her 25th birthday party and getting back in touch with all the friends she hasn't seen in two decades, whilst also deciding to turn the clock back for herself.

Jenny is a fantastic, well-rounded and quite amazing character. Tackling life as most of us would like to think we would should we find ourselves in her shoes. There are no end of laugh-out-loud moments in this book, but keep the tissues handy for the moments which catch you entirely unawares. Very well written, completely believable and a novel where the reader feels a real affinity with the characters .. and dream of becoming a Maureen in their later years!

I loved everything about this one, and I think the ending was perfection itself. Very clever indeed! Not only a book I thoroughly enjoyed but one I have no hesitation in recommending for those who enjoy a good story which is just that bit different from the norm.

My thanks to publishers Bookouture for providing my copy via NetGalley. This is my honest, original and unbiased review.