Overall, really enjoyed this story. It did start out making me nervous to get on a Tube, being quite anxious myself but it was also a great way to bring the characters together. I really like the way it spans quite a few years with real life things to center the reader like the recession, certain tv programmes, bits of politics etc.
A story about missed timings, you really feel for Tom and Abbie. They just really can't get it right for most of the book. The story takes turns you wouldn't expect, to say where it started out and it kept me hooked right up until the last page.
- I loved the ending and how it all came to a resolution, I'd love to see it turned into a film one day. It has the drama about it!

On the last train home you expect to find. . .
- Standing space only
- Drunk people singing
- The overpowering smell of McDonalds
You never expect to find love.

We read The Man I Never Met as our first bookclub read of 2023 so I have been keeping my eye out for The last train home since then.

I throughly enjoyed this! I loved Abbie and Tom and the flip between their perspectives. The book is set of many years and whilst you notice the time change due to little nods throughout the story it doesn’t feel like a long read. That, plus the fact that I couldn’t put it down. It’s one giant ‘will they won’t they’ with a few twists and turns.

For me, Elle Cook is giving non traditional modern day love stories and I’m here for it! They are the right about of soppy, funny, and wholesome with a hint of a twist, and that’s the kind of love story I enjoy.

Really recommend this one, especially if you enjoyed her first book, as it’s even better than that one and that was an enjoyable read.

Book Title: Last Train Home
Author: Elle Cook
Publisher: Random House UK, Cornerstone, Penguin
Stars: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Recommend: I defiantly recommend this book
Format: ARC Netgalley

I had no idea what to expect but I am so very happy I read this book. It captured me and didn’t let me go till the end. I was so invested and felt like I knew the characters in the book.

Told from the POV of the two main characters, Tom and Abbie, as you watch their lives play out over a span of 12 years after meeting on the Last tub home in London in 2005. Tragedy has brought them together, but “A lot can happen in seven seconds. A lot can happen in seven Years.”

What a heart-warming and equally heartbreaking book. At points I just want to yell at Abbie and Tom. You get such an insight into them and how they think and why they act the way they do. But at the same time, you just want to yell and scream at them for not communicating and making poor choices in life. I honestly wanted to be friends with them both. There are other characters who are also loveable in their own way.

eARC copy courtesy of NetGalley and the publisher
Pub Date November 9th 2023

This was a truly compelling, emotional story between Abbie and Tom, who meet at the end of a night out and experience an event that changes their lives forever. The story follows the pair over the years as their lives continue to intertwine with one another. I adored these two main characters - they were both so genuine and relatable, I didn’t want to leave them behind. If you want your heart broken multiple times, then this is the book for you!

*Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.*

Given the vague nature of the book blurb on NetGalley, I knew to expect some drama in this book, but I was caught off guard by the serious nature of what happened in the plot.

I found myself drawn into the story almost immediately, and was charmed by both Tom and Abbie throughout the book. Their intersecting lives were fascinating to watch as they developed over the years, with realistic life events and plot twists as time marched on.

Given how much time the book covered, the pacing felt good throughout and the writing style kept me engaged, with the viewpoint constantly flitting between Tom and Abbie without a chance for either character to get too boring or over-written.

The reason I stopped short of 5 stars for this unexpected joy of a book is that the secondary characters felt a little overcooked. The changes required to get Tom and Abbie to their inevitable end meant that some other characters ended up being painted as cartoon villains whose character development felt signposted in neon lights from the start - none of which felt particularly realistic or well-handled.

Overall, I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed this book, given that I came to expecting a rom-com of some sort.

Elle Cook is fast becoming one of my favourite authors. I absolutely loved her previous book so was overjoyed to receive an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

The last train home had a lot to live up to, and, I'm pleased to say, it did not disappoint. I was hooked from the start and couldn't put it down.

As soon as I read the first few pages I knew we were in for an emotional read and I wasn’t wrong. What a start to Tom and Abbie’s relationship!
I really enjoyed reminiscing about the time of the London Olympics and remember vividly the London bombings and financial crash of the times. The way Tom and Abbie’s stories are woven through the memorable timelines brings the story to life completely.
Elle Cook writes such relatable characters - their choices and mistakes are what make them human and it was easy to empathise with Abbie and Tom as the impact of the events of their meeting meant their story was never going to be an easy one.

This book had me hooked from the very first page.
The writing style was so good. It was quick and whitty and the short chapters made it so easy to get through. I literally couldn't stop reading.
I had such a nostalgia feel going through past events and reading about everyday human lives continuing on through such landmark moments in history.
The emotions I felt through this read were a rollercoaster, from shock, hurt, love and defeat! I was genuinely screaming at my kindle at more moments then one rooting for Tom and Abbie to find some sort of happiness whether romantic or platonic!
I highly recommend this one for those who love a 'will they, won't they' trope! One of my favorite reads this year!

The book is written from both Tom and Abbie’s perspective. The beginning of the book was a bit more dramatic than I expected, but the story flows well. I liked the main characters, they had their flaws, but on the whole were likeable and I wanted to find out what would happen to them. A will they won’t they romance that doesn’t give away the ending. Thank you #netgalley

Thanks to the Publisher and Netgalley for an early review copy.

The story is set over a five year period.

In 2005, Abbie and Tom meet on the tube, it’s late and the train goes off track. Then Abbie loses consciousness and Tom brings her out of the wreckage. The then becomes friends. Their places of work, are nearby and meet up every day.

When they friendship changes drastically, they decide to part ways. Meeting a few times over the years.

So, do they both unite? The story keeps you page turning to find out what happens next.

I recommend this book.

This is such a wonderful read and there is so much more to it than the usual romcom. This a romance story which doesn’t follow the usual format and you’re never quite sure how it’s going to pan out. There are so many highs and lows and misunderstandings throughout the story that I experienced so many emotions. It broke my heart at times but also made me laugh. It’s an emotional read but with lots of happy, heartfelt and passionate moments too. It also brought back memories of the breaking news stories of the time; such as the London bombings and the financial crash, all adding elements of reality to the storyline. This is a must read for contemporary romance fans.

Thank you to the publisher for the eARC via Netgalley.

Although I didn’t know know this from the description, this book had many similarities with one of my favourite books of all time: David Nichols’ One Day. Unfortunately, although this one had a much happier ending and I ate up the last few chapters, I didn’t find it as good.

Overall, this wasn’t a bad book but I did go into it expecting a romance and although there was romance, this book definitely wasn’t one.

Having said that, I had a good time reading it and enjoyed the will they won’t they and following Abbie and Tom along on their journey. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to connect much to either of them, which was a shame but I was really pleased as the story progressed and they finally found their way to each other.

On the other hand, I struggled a bit with the pace at times and found some chapters seemed to almost be filler, as they didn’t add much to the story. Additionally, I found myself wanting to scream at these characters multiple times and I didn’t love the emotional cheating either, even though it wasn’t between the MCs.

A solid 3.5 star read, mostly because of those last few pages, which I really loved. If you’re looking for a nice, easy read with a will they won’t they love story that spans over a few years and will leave you wondering whether it’ll ever have a happy ending, check this one out.

A big thank you to Penguin UK and Netgalley for sending me an arc in exchange for an honest review.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆
Abbie and Tom are both on the last Tube ride home one night in the mid 2000’s when tragedy strikes. Afterwards, their bond is strong but they struggle to understand whether it’s their shared experience that brings them together or the way they get on. For years, their friendship ebbs and flows, they get closer, they pull apart. But some invisible thread ties them to each other.

𝗠𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗼𝘂𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀
I adored reading Elle Cook’s The Man I Never Met, and was thrilled to be invited to read her latest story. There are close similarities between the stories, the London setting, the way it feels like fate puts the main characters in each other’s paths, the way it feels like they have to go through so much life experience. I loved the way Abbie and Tom are together, how she balanced out his need for child-like fun, and how they just “clicked”. It’s sometimes a sad and emotional read, but so, so good ❤️

My rating 4.5/5 - ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ ⭐️ 💫

Absolutely loved this book!

The authors writing style is amazing!

I look forward to reading more from them!

Just a good one.
Read it in one sitting. Four stars read.
I deeply enjoyed it.
Thanks to netgalley for this book

Tom and Abbie meet on the Tube on the way home from a night out. When the train derails, Tom carries Abbie out of the wreckage and from there a relationship develops, but are they just friends or something more. Over the years they are apart but never forget each other.
I loved Elle Cook's last book, The Man I Never Met, and this one is equally brilliant.
We follow Tom and Abbie through various stages of their lives, which are fairly normal, but Elle has a compelling style of writing, which I just can't put down.
Brilliant!

“The Last Train Home” by Elle Cook is a captivating tale of serendipity and love, artfully narrated through a dual perspective. The story’s foundation, set during a chance encounter on a crowded train, immediately draws readers in. The author’s ability to create a genuine connection between Abbie and Tom is remarkable, making their journey throughout the seven years incredibly engaging.

Abbie and Tom are not just characters; they are relatable individuals with well-crafted backgrounds. Their likability and the depth of their personalities add a layer of authenticity to the story. As readers, we become emotionally invested in their lives, hoping against all odds that they will eventually find their way to each other.

Tom’s unwavering sense of responsibility and profound love for his son are admirable traits that showcase his character’s depth. Abbie’s insight into the complexities of her own relationship, as well as her determination to steer her life in the right direction, make her a strong and relatable protagonist.

“The Last Train Home” is a story that beautifully explores the concept of timing, destiny, and the power of love. It’s a book that tugs at your heartstrings and keeps you invested in the journey of two remarkable individuals. Elle Cook has masterfully woven a tale that stays with you, and I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking a memorable, emotional, and serendipitous love story.

I received an ARC of this ebook from the publisher, but the thoughts and opinions expressed here are my own.

4.5 stars (rounded up to 5).

This book had me hooked from the beginning! Told from the POV of the two main characters, Abbie and Tom, we get to watch their lives play out after they were involved in a tube derailment where Tom had to pull Abbie to safety. Under normal circumstances they probably never would have met each other, despite working across a courtyard from each other and being able to see each other from their windows, but such a tragic event is bound to tie two people together.

The two become firm friends quite quickly but it doesn't last when things start to progress one night but come to an abrupt halt when Tom receives big news via text. Abbie tries to get him to explain what is going on but he can't and before he can think clearly, she's bolted from his flat and refuses to answer his calls or texts.

They each move on with their lives but when they least expect it, the world seems to throw them back together. Each time they try to piece back together the connection they once shared but it gets harder when they both start moving on with their lives.

I loved both characters in this story, they were both very relatable and easy to connect with. I loved how hard Tom tried to do the right thing every time, even though it usually backfired on him but it didn't stop him from still trying. I loved the ending as well when it finally came full circle and they were both at points in their lives that they could now explore things between them, it was so nice to finally see Abbie and Tom get their happy ever after. Sometimes the right people come into our lives at the wrong time.

Thanks to NetGalley and Cornerstone for the opportunity to read and review this ARC.

This book had me hooked from start to finish. A wonderful romantic read with the ‘will they, won’t they’ theme. I thoroughly enjoyed the journey.
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.

I think I was expecting this to be a cute romcom read and it had it's moments but it's more of a realistic read and is good within that space, but the cover is deceptive and was not what I expected.