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.

Tom and Abbie meet on the last tube of the evening, as the title suggests. and the push and pull of their relationship ensues as they continue to not be in the right place at the right time, both physically and mentally.
I nearly didn't finish the book as I felt it was a little slow, and felt a bit dreary as each of them was dealing with the repercussions of the tube, and with Abbie not having enough money in London. But boy of boy am I glad that I kept reading because the story is wonderful and I found myself wishing for the best for them both and cheering along at points.
I do wish that the characters had a bit more 'character' other than Abbie not having a lot of money and parents in Enfield, there isn't a huge amount about her, which when Tom is complimenting her 'you're wonderful to me, I love everything about you' there isn't the context to know what he is seeing. That having been said, the chemistry between Tom and Abbie is so well written, and was what made the book so wonderful.
All in all I thoroughly enjoyed the book, and was reading it in every spare moment I had, so I would give it 4.5 stars. For the slightly slow start, and 'the text' (no spoilers) it loses the half point. but I can only review as a 4*
Thank you so much to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review, and to Random House UK, Cornerstone, Penguin.
#TheLastTrainHome #NetGalley

The cover and blurb are contrary to the actual subject matter of this book. The main characters undergo a traumatic event very early on, which I was very much not expecting in a “gorgeous will-they-won’t-they romance to curl up to”.

Nicely written once I overcame the shock.

The Last Train Home - Elle Cook

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I loved this book! I started this book and instantly became hooked, dying to read more.

I really enjoyed the timeline format of the chapters and it being set in 2005 in the beginning. The book had so many interesting events and the beginning of the book was just the perfect way to start.

Included in this book is pregnancy/children and even though I hate kids (sorry parents😬), I actually really enjoyed it.

When I first started reading this, I would never have expected it to go where it did. I would recommend this book for anyone looking for an emotional rollercoaster😂.

*Thank you to Netgalley for sending me this book in exchange for a review. All opinions are my own.*

I adored this book which follows the journey of Abbie and Tom who meet during a tragedy.
Over the years they meet again and again culminating in a will they won’t they love story.
Wonderful characters I was constantly rooting for their happy ever after and became totally invested in their prospective lives.
A wonderful read,
highly recommended.

The Last Train Home
A gorgeous will-they-won’t-they romance to curl up with this winter, Such a beautiful story and plot. One of the best books I've picked up this year.

I really enjoyed this book. I was hooked instantly with the likeable characters and spent most of my time imagining who would play them if this turned into a film adaption.

5* Unputdownable

A year ago I read The Man I Never Met, the plot has rattled around in my mind ever since, a sign, to me, of an excellent book. The author has done it again with The Last Train Home.

This novel takes place over a seven year period, starting when Tom and Abbie first meet on the London Underground. Each on their way home after a boozy night out, they break the unwritten rule of 'no eye contact and no speaking to other passengers on the Tube'. Flirting while happily chatting they are suddenly thrown into blackness when the train derails. Tom carries Abby from the wreck and takes her back to his home. A friendship emerges from their joint experience, at a point when their relationship becomes romantic unexpected news breaks them apart.

Written alternatively from Abbie and Tom's POV. I completely understood the choices both Tom and Abbie made, while saying, no, no, no. There's so much in this book, tragedy, fear, depression, annoyance (mine), the main character's bad decisions and missed opportunities, and finally, an excellent ending.

A gripping read, from the explosive opening pages to the many individual choices of Tom and Abbie pulling them further and further apart. That’s all I’m going to tell you, you’ll just have to read this for yourself. A very emotional book that I thoroughly recommend.

Thank you Penguin Random House and NetGalley for the ARC, this review is my personal, unbiased opinion.

Enjoyed the ideo of the story but found the characters a little frustrating. Too much will they won't they. Would still recommend for a pleasant romance story..

@currentlyreading__
Book 79 of 2023

Thank you to @NetGalley, the publisher and the author @lornacookauthor for the e-copy ARC of 'The Last Train Home'.

This is going down as one of my favourite books of the year and even though I was desperate to get to the end I am now bereft! 'The Last Train Home' is released on 9th November but I have since discovered that it's out now on Kindle so if you're largely a Kindle person like myself, you must grab it if you want all of the warm fuzzy feelings this book gave me. Abbie and Tom are our main characters who meet on a fateful night in 2005 on the Central Line Tube. They do what people usually don't on the Tube, and actually talk. They laugh, they joke and then there's an earth-shattering bang.

I was gripped to not only the beautiful cast of characters (some of whom I hated for all the right reasons), the story which was just so perfect but also the timeframe which seems like a couple of years ago and not almost twenty years ago! The references to Nokia phones, Snake and those character counts we had on our 12p texts really were a slice of nostalgia.

I could say many more things about this book but not wanting to spoil it, I'll keep it brief and say that it's an easy 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️from me and if you want a book where you're invested in the characters and want a side helping of mid 2000s nostalgia, get this now. It's to be devoured in a hungry sitting and recommended to everyone.



#bookstagram #bibliophile #bookworm #book #booknerd #bookstagrammer #kindle #instabook #reader #bookobsessed #bookstagramuk #readersofig #bookreview #lornacook #thelasttrainhome

When Abbie and Tom find themselves on the same late night underground train, they never expected their lives to change forever. The book follows the pair over the next seven years, as they weave in and out of each other's lives.

A very easy to read book, very well written, and I found myself desperate for Abbie and Tom to be together. I did however find myself willing them to just talk to each other on many occasions- it became quite frustrating at points!

There was just something so easy about reading this book. The author has a lovely, engaging way of writing which just draws you into the story easily. I loved the storyline and both the main characters, despite being frustrated with them some of the time. A single traumatic incident draws these two very different people together. What follows is their life stories told over a 7 year period with highs and lows, twists and turns.
The second book that I’ve read by this talented author and I look forward to her next book.
4 stars

Elle Cook does it again!
After reading The Man I Never Met earlier this year, I've been waiting for the next book to arrive and it did not disappoint.

Abbie and Tom meet by chance on the tube, and what starts as a bit of flirting with a stranger quickly changes into a moment they'll never be able to forget.

The incident throws them together, but also rips them apart, though distance and time separates them, they never manage to forget each other.

Beautifully written, I was so invested from the beginning.

I see this cartoon covers and I always assume it’s a romcom. I read the blurb and I thought “This looks like a happy read, let’s save it for a rainy day”. However, the last train home is not particularly happy, it’s overall a story about bad timing.

Complaint made, I was surprised of how much I enjoyed the story. Elle Cook wrote a set of realistic and relatable characters, whom we can easily understand. We know of their ambitions, insecurities, choices and hopes, we see them grow through life, and we understand them, because either we’ve been there, or we know someone that was.

This has the feel of a love story that could actually happen, with all its highs, lows, greys and disencounters. I just don’t believe on its ending.

Because we know who the final couple is, we know things we’ll go wrong at some point. We know the author will need to change the characters to keep MCs mind mostly guilty free.
Sean changes do not come as a surprise, but they felt out of character to me. I also found the end rushed and a bit unbelievable, but it is what it is.

As a finance girl, I always enjoy when the characters are financial analysts, though nobody ever understands what they do, which annoys me. Anyway, the picture of the financing sector and its workers in London, and other locations, was accurate and perfectly captured.
I also appreciated the road trip down memory lane through the subprime, this was so significant, I like to see it now, with the eyes of someone who’s not living through it anymore.

Recommended for romance readers who enjoy Josie Silver and Rebecca Serle, are can tolerate heartache until finally reaching the happy ending.

<i>I would like to thank Random House UK, Cornerstone, Penguin and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC in exchange for an honest review.</i>

📖BOOK REVIEW 📖
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

#TheLastTrainHome by @lornacookauthor

⏩synopsis

Oooo I really really loved this one. A romance that was far from predictable; the short chapters and jumping timeline ensured it cracked a great pace. The changing narration between Abbie and Tom kept it interesting and fresh while giving the story depth and making you feel all the appropriate emotions.

The author created really great fully rounded characters in Abbie and Tom; they were so realistic, relatable and invited all the right emotions that you rooted for them and raced through the pages to find out would they or wouldn’t they make it.

I must say I loved all the nostalgic reminders too, like Nokias, Snake and word limits on your texts (remember those 😂) yes feeling very old but they got a little smile from me.

I’ve read all this authors book as Elle Cook and Lorna Cook and are always excellent reads and would definitely recommend!

With thanks to author #ElleCook, @netgalley and @penguinukbooks for allowing us to read this one early!

RELEASING: October 5th

-EMILY

@the_book_girls_1

I absolutely adored this book!
After enjoying The Man I Never Met immensely, I had high hopes for Elle Cook's next book - and she did not disappoint.
The characters were so well developed that I really felt all the highs and all the lows with them and I was well and truly swept up in their story.
There were lots of twists and turns, too, which did well to keep me guessing and invested.
I'll be keeping an eye out for Cook's next book!