Annie brings together her three best friends for a long weekend in a seaside airbnb.It doesn't work out as planned ,the weekend turns sour with arguments, grudges,the friends are no longer the people they were .Annie has a devastating decision to make and change everyone's lives for ever. A different read to what I thought it would be but nevertheless very enjoyable .Thank you to NetGalley.

Annie is determined to get her three friends together for a weekend away. It isn't easy to arrange, but they all arrive in Dorset at the August Bank Holiday Weekend. Even from the initial arrangement discussions, it's clear Annie needs this weekend to happen and that her friends are less committed to it. The characters are often unlikeable, caught up in their lives, and uninterested in their friends. The strained friendship dynamic is often toxic, but the storytelling is compelling and immersive, and you keep reading, wanting to know what happens next. Gentle pacing makes the impactful moments resonate, and you invest in the characters even when you don't like or understand their actions and motivations. I like the characterisation, the complex relationships, the emotional journey the characters experience and the unexpected twists.
I received a copy of this book from the publisher.

The Last Weekend was an emotional and thought-provoking read. I really liked the idea of old friends reuniting for a relaxing seaside getaway — but things quickly took a darker turn. The story touches on deep topics like friendship, trust, and tough decisions. While I didn’t find all the characters likeable, they were written well and felt very real. The pace was a bit slow at first, but it picked up and became really engaging. I loved the setting, and the cover is beautiful too! Overall, it was a good, well-written read with some surprising twists.
Very grateful to the publisher for my copy through NetGalley, opinions are my own.

3.5 stars rounded down

Annie has brought her three best friends and their families together for a long weekend away in a gorgeous seaside Airbnb. It should be idyllic - sun, sea, sand, cocktails and laughter. But below the surface, none of these friendships are quite what they seem. And Annie has a secret - an earth-shattering favour to ask one of her friends. As the idyllic weekend turns sour - Annie must make her devastating decision - and change everyone's lives forever.

Four friends tried to reconnect after marriage and kids had drifted them apart. Annie has brought them and their families to a gorgeous Airbnb. But Annie has devastating news and a big favour to ask her friends.

The pace is slow to begin with. I was not keen on any of the characters. I liked the author's writing style. There were quite a few issues raised. We also had twists and some suspense.

Published 10th April 2025

I would like to thank #NetGalley #HarperCollinsUK #HarperFiction and the author #HannahBegbie for my ARC of #TheLastWeekend in exchange for an honest review.

Do not be lulled by the cosy cover that this is a comfortable read, it's anything but!
Four friends and their spouses and children gather for a weekend by the sea, a weekend arranged by Annie because she has some pretty devastating news to impart and a huge life-changing favour to ask.
By the time they leave, it's not only Annie’s news that will rock the foundations of all of their lives.
It's a slow build of a read initially but boy when it gets going it delivers in spades.

This was a very moving story. It had places that were very slow but the overall read was good. Annie set up the idyllic place for her friends to meet so that se could tell them her bad news and ask for help. It was slow in places and often I found it unbelievaable that they would all react the way that they did for what was an adult group. Some chacters were not likeable but all were described so well and it was easy to understand the way that they behaved.The gossip ran deep and covered topics that are not easy to document in such an easy to read way. I found it difficult to believe that the 3 men were noot really worried and this did not seem plausible, however it gave Hannah Begbie the opportunity to give them their own part of the story. It is well written and the ending although sudden was lovely and made the book complete.

This was a beautifully heart-breaking story with so many emotions along the way from laughter, incredibility to sadness.

I just bloody loved this book. It made me internally shout (I was in a public place at the time), it made me snotty cry (and I was so grateful I wasn’t in a public place) but most of all, it made me think about friendships, relationships and what to expect from people that I’ve known for years. I admit I came to this book thinking it was going to be the usual female friendship, bonding weekend now that they were mothers and not carefree university students. How naive of me! This book digs deep - into what and why we have long term, best friend relationships and whether they’re sustainable. Hannah Begbie has encapsulated the female group friendship, dissected it and then with an unswerving eye, analysed it with such skill that the reader becomes so fully invested that the ending is almost a relief.

Four old friends get together for a weekend away at a stunning Airbnb. Don’t be fooled by the Enid Blyton style cover; Four Go On a Jolly Trip! This is the stuff of nightmares, Backbiting, secrets, manipulation it’s the holiday break from hell. I disliked all the characters, but the story of these toxic friendships is so well written that it didn’t matter. I felt like I was a spectator at peep show waiting to see what would happen next. It’s so awful I loved it.

Thank you netgalley and publishers for allowing me an early copy of ghis bookto review. This book wasn't quite what I expected at all, I was thinking girls getting together for gossip and fizz, but this is more than that The story definitely packs a punch in places, it covers some deep topics and as with real life, there are likeable and unlikeable characters to deal with. Certainly worth reading.

The Last Weekend follows four friends as they try to reconnect after marriage, kids and jobs get in the way. They used to be inseparable but now they have drifter apart but one of them needs the others more than ever. I found the main characters slightly annoying and found myself thinking that they were younger than they were. Dex was particularly annoying and I wanted to shake him at one point and tell him to grow up!
The premise of the story was good though and I enjoyed the ending.

📖✨ Book Review: The Last Weekend by Hannah Begbie ✨📖

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫 (3.5/5)

Thank you NetGalley, HarperCollins, and Hannah Begbie for the ARC! 💙

Four women, one stunning Airbnb, and a weekend full of secrets, tension, and a life-changing request—what could possibly go wrong? 😬 Spoiler: everything.

I loved the writing style—sharp, immersive, and effortlessly engaging. Hannah Begbie knows how to build suspense and keep you turning the pages. That said… I genuinely despised every single character 😅, which made it tough to love. They’re messy, flawed, and at times, downright infuriating. But maybe that’s the point? 🤔

If you enjoy drama-filled thrillers with toxic friendships, hidden agendas, and jaw-dropping moments, this one’s for you! 🌊🍸🔪 Would I vacation with these women? Absolutely not. Would I read more from this author? 100%!

A fairly enjoyable read, although mainly unlikeable characters- apart from Martin who was adorable. It just felt longer than it actually was and I’m not sure that’s a positive recommendation. I didn’t live it but I didn’t hate it either. Three and a half stars.

Oh I loved this book! It's a weekend for four old friends to get together with their families and the drama that ensues. So well written and emotional, I adored it.

The story of 4 long-term friends and their families of a weekend away together sounded great.
When starting this book, I thought it would be life affirming and full of laughter and friendship, but what I got was nastiness, toxic characters, and something that I struggled through.
The last 10% of the book was nice, but the switch happened a bit quickly, so it felt like another book entirely.
I know that some people will love this, so don't let my thoughts put you off. The writing was really lovely in places, but unfortunately, the story just wasn't for me.

I was totally gripped by this book. A story of friendship and its survival through good and bad. Would recommend this book

My first book by this author and I rather enjoyed it.. Annie has a secret and has to decide if or what she wants to tell her friends. A bit heavy in places and made you think but there was also hope and I really wanted to know what the secret was. I would recommend this book

Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book. It was a great book. Great characters and brilliant storyline. I have recommended this book to friends and family. I really enjoyed this book. Definitely worth five stars.

An interesting read about a woman who wants her best friends round her for big news. I wanted to know how things panned out but I really didn't like the friends. A bit contrived with too many different issues juggling for space but made me want to know the outcome.

This is seconf book I have read this week about four women.

Annie has a secret and she s meeting up with her friends at an air bnb and must decide weather to divulge to her friends.

There are more than few heavy themes funning through this book but I was hooked and for me it was a one sit read. I really couldn't wait to see how the story unfolded.

This is fab read to debate at a book club. I feel that every reader will take something different from the story.