The setting for this one is Ireland in the summer of 1986 - (the year I was born!) and in the present day. The timeline flicks effortlessly back and forth between past and present events which works really well, sometimes this style of storytelling can be confusing but you are not going to have that problem here as it is written so well!
There is a classic butterfly effect moment here which is the root of the story, I loved that! I found myself asking the question ‘does every action deserve a reaction?’ And ‘How does one live with the consequences of their actions?’ - both of these questions were answered within the story and I felt the author had got the mix of mystery, red herrings and curved balls just right!

What a debut novel! The book plays off in the present, and in Ireland, 1986. Our main character, Belle, is a reporter who is determined to find the killer of a friend killed in 1986. This is a thrilling read, and I will read more by this author in future.

This was a DNF for me. I was really bored and just couldn't get into it. The story dragged at the beginning and it just wasn't fresh and new. I didn't like the main character at all.

*Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this arc in exchange for my honest review*

Great book and story - definitely worth reading.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
Dual timelines with a slow burn mystery. Really great book that was well thought out and easy to follow even with two different timelines.
I love books set in Ireland as well. Such a beautiful land.
Great book.

Set in Ireland in the present day with flashbacks to 1986, this was a fast paced mystery. Belle (McGee) is a journalist who has returned home following the death of a childhood friend. She becomes caught up in his story and what he was trying to achieve and then gradually the events in the summer of 1986 are revealed and we see how these relate to events in the present day.

when there's a book that almost everyone loves but you don't... it's just one of the weirdest feelings for a book lover. specially when it's thriller and you're down for every thriller ever existed. just wasn't for me. I'm not happy. not a bit. I wanted to love this book.

Thanks to NetGally for providing me a copy of this book.

A slow burner mystery that took me a while to get into, but, once I did, I enjoyed it. I just would have liked a slightly faster pace

I loved the fact that this book centres around the 1980's Love a book that does this. Dual timeline of 1986 then and present now. I didnt find the enviromental aspect of the book interesting but the writing style kept me interested to keep reading.

2.5
Disclaimer: I was gifted this book via netgalley and am leaving my review voluntarily
This book had a lot of potential, and it fell flat for me. The main character, belle, isn't very memorable, and she kind of sucks? Which, like, of course there's nothing wrong with flawed characters and I typically prefer flaws in main characters but just the way she treats people in her life SUCKS. Her actions SUCK.
The big reveal bothered me too, it was anticlimactic. There was this huge build up with catching Fionn's killer and you're made to think it's *spoiler* but it ISNT. and the way she finds out is so stupid. It doesn't make any sense whatsoever.
I liked that the author brought climate change and environmental impact as a plot device but that's about it honestly.

The Last Good Summer tells the story of Belle McGee, who in the summer of 1986 is a thirteen year old whose life is turned upside down when Fionn Power, a young man who her parents claim is a cousin, stays with her family. Belle is now an investigative journalist living in Dublin. She comes home one night and finds Fionn in her hallway; however, he disappears. After a call to her sister reveals that Fionn had actually been found dead earlier that day, Belle travels back to her hometown where she discovers the truth of the summer of 1986.

I really enjoyed this book. I love how it went back and forth between 1986 and the present. It gelled so well with uncovering bits and pieces of the story at just the right time. There weren't many jaw-dropping twists but it still had me wanting to know more about the corruption and scandals. I was rooting for the main character the entire time and absolutely loved the ending of this book.

I would definitely recommend this book and look forward to reading more from this author.

"The Last Good Summer" by J. J. Green takes readers on a captivating journey through time, unraveling a tragic chain of events that forever impacts the life of thirteen-year-old Belle McGee. Set against the backdrop of the summer of 1986, this novel combines elements of mystery, family secrets, and the enduring power of truth.

J. J. Green skillfully weaves together two timelines, seamlessly shifting between the summer of 1986 and the present day. This dual narrative enhances the suspense and intrigue, as the pieces of the puzzle slowly fall into place. The author's ability to create a sense of mystery and maintain a compelling pace throughout the story is commendable. Each chapter unfolds with new revelations and unexpected twists, keeping readers eagerly turning pages to uncover the truth.

"The Last Good Summer" is a gripping and emotionally charged novel that keeps readers engrossed until the very end. J. J. Green delivers a tale that combines mystery, family drama, and personal growth, leaving us with a powerful reminder of the importance of truth and the healing that comes from confronting the past.

Excellent in so many ways - setting, use of different timeframes, character development and really clever plot. Reminded me of Dervla McTiernan at her best.

The Last Good Summer by J. J. Green was an interesting read set from the summer of 1986. Belle McGee is just thirteen and lives in Northern Ireland, with her mother and father and her sister called Rose. This story switches between two time periods and is set in Derry, Donegal and Dublin. Belle's parents brings home a relation called Fionn Power. Rose and Belle's mother informs them he is their cousin and he is hidden away in a secret room within their family house, Fionn is meant to get some rest as he has been unwell. With so much secrets regarding Fionn both sisters have a lot of questions about him.

Who is Fionn really?

Are they related?

What is wrong with him?

Belle returns home, she is now an award-winning journalist in Dublin and goes by is McGee, Rose tells Belle on the phone that Fionn has been was found dead that very morning.

What has happened to him?

Belle' want to find answers about Fionn and she exposes corruption and scandal. She is forced to stop running from the shameful truth of 1986 onwards.

This book is So good and would make a great series on Television especially as its full of great twists and turns throughout that will just have you hooked and want to find out more about Belle's family

I highly recommend this book.

Big Thank you to both Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC.

Wow! This book was so incredibly good!! It takes place in the past and the present in alternating chapters. I did find some of the present day chapters tedious, there is a lot of detail about environmental waste and illegal dumping that I couldn’t get into. But the writing was fabulous and the ending was touching and heartbreaking. Just like real life, things are rarely tied up in a neat little bow. I will definitely be on the lookout for more from this author.

I enjoyed this book, but it was a bit slow. I also don’t think the killer made much sense. I felt like some things were left unresolved.

Thanks to The Book Guild and NetGalley for the ARC. Debut novel. Incredibly well written with solid character development, mystery, and intrigue. Recommend.

What a great novel! JJ Green has done the characters justice and has woven a tail that is engaging, compelling, and hard to put down. I do think it was predictable, but not in a bad way, and not one that deters the reader from finishing. As a dual timeline novel, it is done impeccably with transitions, and the main character is lovable and relatable. I feel like the “scary” parts were not that scary, and some thought could have been put into the two goons being a little more intimidating. As a debut novel, this is very well done, and will sell very well. It was very easy to follow, and the first two chapters at the tone for the whole entire book. Strong female lead is always a plus! Definitely would recommend to book clubs and fluff readers.

The Last Good Summer - J.J. Green

A great read with captivating character development. Fans of mysteries, general fiction, spy novels, and international mysteries should enjoy this book. I am a fan primarily of police procedurals and I enjoyed it.

The story moves back and forth from the main character's (Belle McGee) childhood to her young adulthood as the story of her immediate family and her friend's lives evolve.

One day, when Belle is 13, her parents bring home Fionn Power, instructing both Belle and her older sister to say nothing about Fionn's arrival, and he is hidden away in a secret room within the house, supposedly to get rest, as he has been unwell. The girl's mother initially tells her two daughters that Fionn is a first cousin, but to both girls that seems untrue.The girl's father swears both daughters to secrecy regarding their new (very attractive) young border. The older daughter, Belle's sister is tasked by the parents as responsible for the young man, and ultimately both sisters develop feelings for Fionn.

In Belle's case, the feelings for Fionn begin as warming embers, but soon burst into the flames of first love, and she makes an instant decision that causes her a lifetime of regrets.

Belle ultimately develops into a crack investigative reporter. McGee (the name Belle goes by when in her reporter persona) goes up against a very corrupt trash disposal industry that services a large portion of Ireland.

The ending of this novel was just slightly abrupt, otherwise a spanning epic of an interesting story.

Thanks to both Netgalley and the publisher for this eARC!

"That's the trajedy about life, you never knew you were living your happiest time, you never knew to savour it and make most out of it."

The story starts with Belle, the main protagonist, seeing Fionn power, a name from her past, at her window, and vanishing seconds later. That is when she comes across the fact that he had been killed a few days back. The arrival of Fionn in Belle's home had set into motion a chain of tragic events and now years later now that Fionn is dead, a scandal awaits to be exposed.

This is an debut novel of J.J. Green, and very impressive work. The pace of the book is slow, which is expected from a slow burn book, but one thing that I think could have had been better was the introduction to characters. I was disappointed because the characters kept crawling out of nowhere and made it difficult for me to connect to them.

Set in Ireland, the book tends to explore the the environmental scandals and the effects on life. With just enough general knowledge needed to know the consequences of the crime, the author very beautifully wove a web of characters in the suspense novel.

Easy to understand writing style. A very engaging plot. The first two chapters were enough to get me hooked to the story. The first chapter explained the circumstances in which belle met Fiona and on the next he disappeared, honestly I am all in for this. I already knew I would like what was coming.

Alternating past and present timeline yet the author has very cleverly tied both the timelines together as one. A book featuring a strong female lead, Belle, who is set out on finding what happened to Fionn power. A twisty tale of corruption.

Overall a bingeable decent read. Thumbs up. 👍