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Last One
Last One | Alexandra Oliva
For readers of "Station Eleven "and" The Passage" comes a dazzling and unsettling novel of psychological suspense. In Alexandra Oliva s thrilling fiction debut, survival is the name of the game, as the line blurs between reality TV and reality itself and one woman s mind and body are pushed to the limit. She wanted an adventure. She never imagined it would go this far. It begins with a reality TV show.Twelve contestants are sent into the woods to face challenges that will test the limits of their endurance. While they are out there, something terrible happens but how widespread is the destruction, and has it occurred naturally or is it man-made? Cut off from society, the contestants know nothing of it. When one of them a young woman the show s producers call Zoo stumbles across the devastation, she can imagine only that it is part of the game. Alone and disoriented, Zoo is heavy with doubt regarding the life and husband she left behind, but she refuses to quit. Staggering countless miles across unfamiliar territory, Zoo must summon all her survival skills and learn new ones as she goes. But as her emotional and physical reserves dwindle, she grasps that the real world might have been altered in terrifying ways and her ability to parse the charade will be either her triumph or her undoing. Sophisticated and provocative, "The Last One" is a novel that forces us to confront the role that media plays in our perception of what is real: how readily we cast our judgments, how easily we are manipulated. Advance praise for "The Last One" "The Last One" seamlessly melds two of our contemporary obsessions the threat of global catastrophe and the staged drama of reality TV into a fiercely imagined tale of the human psyche under stress. This is an uncompromising, thought-provoking debut. Justin Cronin Haunting, moving, and remarkable, Alexandra Oliva s debut novel is clever in its concept and gripping in its delivery. This propulsive book is for everyone who ever thought reality television signaled the end of the world. Karen Joy Fowler Taut, tense, and at times almost unbearably real, "The Last One" is both a compelling read and a terrifyingly believable evocation of survival against the odds. Ruth Ware Like "The Hunger Games, " Alexandra Oliva s novel is page-turning and deeply unsettling. Rosamund Lupton Tense and gorgeous and so damn clever . . . I loved every second. Lauren Beukes Part wilderness-survival thriller and part dystopian pandemic story . . . a gripping portrayal of an ordinary person s evolving survival instincts as she realizes she can t trust the reality she sees. " Booklist" Clever in the best sense . . . thoroughly steeped in its times . . . an astute and compelling entry into the post-apocalypse genre. " Kirkus Reviews""
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Skyrimir
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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We start our school year earlier than most other schools and our days are a bit longer, so I‘m usually off a bit before other teachers. I have two weeks, TWO, before summer camp starts. I‘m almost through the first and while I haven‘t done a lot (and still worked a bit) I‘m making sure to take time for myself. I feel a little guilty, but after this crazy school year I know I need it at the same time!

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AudiobookingWithLeah
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

Overall Rating 3¾⭐ | Narration 😁 = Very Good
I read this synopsis and I had an idea in my head of what this would be like, but I‘m not sure this lived up to what I had envisioned for it. The scope was set pretty high and the actual story was somewhat less than that. It‘s not like I thought it wasn‘t good, though...I just wanted more than I got from it. The MC was so flipping stubborn...right up until the very end, I just wanted to shake her.

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Godpants
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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October Reads 2: wasn‘t so lucky with this crop. His and Hers, Little Secrets and Goodnight Beautiful all sort had elements that were fun, but overall highlighted what I hate about modern thrillers. The Last One and Castaways were thematically similar and both solid.

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Godpants
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

This was a lot of fun. Definitely the best of this reality show pandemic/horror that I‘ve read recently.

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Godpants
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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I guess I‘m on a reality themed horror kick, and you know toss in some end of the world shit and that‘s pretty much my year in reading in a nutshell.

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Addison_Reads
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

I've seen some mixed reviews about this one, but I loved it. I stayed up way too late finishing it because I just couldn't put it down. The combination of the reality show with a mass pandemic and the main character not knowing what is real and what isn't was thrilling.

I'll definitely read anything Oliva writes because I enjoyed this one so much. 💚

Crazeedi How are you doing? Thinking of you!!💕💕 5y
Addison_Reads @Crazeedi you're such a sweet person. ? It's been a rough few weeks and family drama seems endless, but I'm keeping my head up and focusing on the good things. I hope things are well for you. I'm finally going to take some "me" time next week to catch up on snail mail. 5y
Crazeedi @Addison_Reads I am going through some similar things, understand! I have lots of mail to send too, you will hear from me soon I hope! 🥰💖 5y
44 likes3 comments
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stuck.in.the.stacks
The Last One | Alexandra Oliva
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We want to welcome everyone back to another #mondaymatinee where we recommend books based on what we've watched and loved recently.

Today, we're recommending books based on some of our favorite reality TV shows. So get your TBRs ready and let us know what you would recommend in the comments!

https://stuckinthestacks.com/2020/02/03/monday-matinee-reality-tv-edition/

#readalikes #realitytv #bookrecommendations #bookblogger #bookblog

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kellyann28
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this one! I am a huge fan of Survivor and "competition based reality" shows. This starts out with a group of people competing in a wilderness-survival game show but things go very awry when a mysterious disease starts killing off humanity and the lines blur for "Zoo" on what's reality and what's the competition.

TheBookKeepers That sounds good! 6y
25 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Traci1
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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I saw this one in my Amazon Kindle Deals email this morning. I really enjoyed this end of the world tale. It's sort of Survivor meets Outbreak. If you like that sort of thing, $2 Is a great deal.

63 likes1 stack add
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kellyann28
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Found a lovely little discount book store on our last night in Florida. Bought the tagged book 😊

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TheBookgeekFrau
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Blue Owl Books bathroom 4

43 likes2 comments
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Bookish_AF
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

Really enjoyed this one!

This is a compulsively readable suspense book that combines a post-apocalyptic event with the “realities” of reality TV. While filming a Survivor like reality competition show, the contestants are left out in the woods during a real world disaster, unbeknownst to them. The story follows one contestant as she continues to play the “game” of survival, believing the world she finds herself in is all part of the show.

Bklover Great review! I‘m going to have to read this one! 6y
22 likes1 comment
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Bookish_AF
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Sneaking in a little airport reading with this thriller I got from the library.

I‘m off to the exotic location of....wait for it....

Norman, Oklahoma !! 🤪
It‘s for a work conference and it‘s always in Norman, so it‘s not my first rodeo.

Sadly I don‘t read on the plane because I‘m too scared of motion sickness (I‘ve become increasingly susceptible) so I get in what I can while waiting!

tracey38 I have been more prone to motion sickness the older I get. Safe travels! 6y
Bookish_AF @tracey38 Omg SAME! It‘s terrible! I never used to get motion sick. Planes normally don‘t bother me unless it‘s super turbulent but I‘m still too scared to attempt reading since I can‘t even handle a reading a text message in a car these days. 6y
27 likes2 comments
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Anton
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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I don't like reality television or pandemic stories, but this book combines the two and it somehow works. On sale today!

readordierachel Thanks for the heads up! I dont like reality TV much either, but I do like a good pandemic :) 6y
5 likes1 comment
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Scott_BookInvasion
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

Wrapped this up on the way home from work today. I really enjoyed it! I loved that you go in thinking it‘s just recounting an episode of Survivor or something but the it turns into The Road and more and more things open up a and suddenly you‘re like - oh shit - in disbelief and then your cheering and shouting ‘no way‘! And then it‘s over! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️🤘

Geeklet You‘ve definitely sold me on this one. It sounds like something I‘ll love. 6y
13 likes2 stack adds1 comment
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Scott_BookInvasion
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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About half way through and greatly enjoying this! A new take on the post-apocalyptic outbreak survival horror.

Guildedearlobe I saw this yesterday and it looked interesting. 6y
10 likes3 stack adds1 comment
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Ingerella
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

I read this book a little while ago and was pleasantly surprised at how much I ended up enjoying it. A group of people are on a survival type reality show in the woods. Something terrible happens in the real world, but the contestants don't know anything about it and don't know what is real or part of the show. This was one of my many Deal of the Day purchases on Amazon, and it turned out to be a good one.
#readingresolutions
#wilderness
@Jess7

63 likes3 stack adds
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BookaholicNatty
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Author #11 - Last one of the night!! Who is this author? What books did he write? And if you have read some of his works I wanna hear all about it 😊

TheBookgeekFrau Joe Hill? 7y
GarthRanzz Definitely Joe Hill 7y
ReadingVampire Joe Hill!!! I loved Horns!!!!!!! 7y
See All 18 Comments
Craftylikefox Joe Hill!!! Locke and Key was my first graphic novel! I will be waiting for it on Hulu! Love Horns and Heart shaped Box! 7y
BookaholicNatty Yesssss @C.Perone @GarthRanzz @Puredragonstar y‘all are good!!!! ❤️ 7y
BookaholicNatty @Craftylikefox Locke and Key was my first graphic novel too!!! 7y
Craftylikefox @BookaholicNatty Locke and Key is so great! I always recommend it. 🖤 7y
[DELETED] 3803335244 I read Horns and it was good. 7y
Prairiegirl_reading I just discovered how good Joe Hill is! I knew he was Stephen King‘s son so I hadn‘t given him a shot until recently. Nos4a2 is excellent. 7y
KathyWheeler I‘m not sure what book is my favorite— Locke & Key and N0S4A2 are equally great. 7y
Sungirl79 Nos4a2 was so good! Horns and Locke and Key are on my trb 7y
LibrarianRyan @BookaholicNatty yes it is. He's a Liten. 7y
tonyahoswalt I just saw that there is going to be a TV show this fall called Locke and Key. Does anyone know if it's based on the graphic novels? 7y
candc320 Loovvvveeee Joe Hill!! Heart Shaped Box and Strange Weather were great. The audio of Locke and Key was phenomenal! 7y
BookaholicNatty @candc320 there is an audio of Locke and Key??? 7y
jessberk13 NOS4A2 was the first audiobook I listened to - it was very good, and it freaked. Me. Out! I can still hear the narrator‘s voice in my head saying “Charlie Maaaaankkssss” 🙉🙉🙉 7y
78 likes18 comments
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cariashley
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

I‘m giving this a somewhat conflicted pick rating. I loved the beginning/middle - the concept is so clever and at first, well executed. But the end really dragged and fizzled, which is a shame. Still glad I listened to it, and I‘ll definitely check out whatever Oliva does next.

DGRachel The ending was so disappointing. 😔 7y
49 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Lauren_reading
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

This was not my usual book - sci-fi/dystopian mixed with Survivor. It was good, I couldn‘t stop reading and I liked the switches in timeline. This book just really creeped me out though!

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Beachesnbooks
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

If you're like me and you like to try to read some books that are sort of horror/suspense/thriller-y as we move into fall, but you have a hard time finding books you really like in those genres, and you're more into near-future SF and post-apocalyptic type things, you should pick up this book. This book does a great job of building creepy tension, and the reality-show/survival premise gives it some Hunger Games-esque vibes at times, which I loved.

Owlizabeth Thanks for the recommendation!! 7y
Crystalblu Sounds right up my alley! 7y
23 likes2 stack adds2 comments
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Beachesnbooks
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Having a chill night in with 📚and ☕️
I'm about 75% done with The Last One, my first book of #ripxii and it's SO addicting; it's a great thriller/suspense pick for someone like me who's more into SFF than straight-up horror.
#littensdressedinblood

MidnightBookGirl I do like a good science fiction thriller! 7y
32 likes1 stack add1 comment
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Beachesnbooks
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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I wasn't planning on doing much reading for #ripxii until October, but after finishing two of my current reads this weekend (yay!) I cleared up some space on my pile of books and decided to start these two. I'm still at the very beginning of both, but it never hurts to start some Halloween-ish reading early 💀👻🎃

32 likes2 stack adds
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JacintaMCarter
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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JoeStalksBeck I'm be been think about this book. Is it any good? 7y
JacintaMCarter @JoeStalksBeck It gets a little predictable in the middle, but the writing is good. I enjoyed it. 7y
25 likes2 comments
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Jessica_Jean
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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I should stop with the audio books, the female narrator is driving me nuts! Her voice is awful!

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La_Cori
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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if there's a title on the cover with all giant capital letters, then I wanna read it!!! 😉 #forfontssake
#anditsaugust @RealLifeReading

RealLifeReading 👍👍👍 7y
35 likes1 comment
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LauraRenae
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

Interesting premise that can be a page turner at times but the story does get a little tired and rushed towards the end.

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Tanzy13
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Twelve contestants are sent into the woods to face challenges that will test the limits of their endurance. Something calamitous happens while they're out there, but being cut off from society, the contestants know nothing of it. So when they do stumble across it, they just assume it's part of the game...

cariashley I have this on audio but haven't started it yet! Hoping it's good. 7y
TNbookworm I really liked this book, very compelling! 7y
Conservio I liked this. It's a nice break from what so much of apocalypse/dystopia is. 7y
79 likes12 stack adds3 comments
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AnnabelleSpeaks
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
Pickpick

I loved this book. If you liked Station Eleven you'll probably like this, similar dystopian future style, different plot. I also liked how they referred to the reality show contestant by things like "waitress" and "tracker" and "engineer" because that is exactly how I refer to reality show people, I can never keep their names straight. ANYWAY, a good book.

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LittlePixels
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

Wow, I've had a streak of great books lately! I've heard this compared to Station Eleven, so maybe I should revisit that book, because I DNF'd when I had trouble getting into it. This one is basically Survivor meets the apocalypse, in a beautifully written work of literary fiction. It ticked all my boxes. 😍👍

Hooked_on_books I loved this book but wouldn't compare it to Station Eleven, though I also liked that one. 7y
LittlePixels @Hooked_on_books Maybe I just didn't give it enough of a shot. I love post-apocalyptic and literary fiction, so it *should* be right in my wheelhouse, but the whole traveling minstrel thing sounded kind of meh. 7y
Hooked_on_books @LittlePixels I actually agree completely about the minstrel thing and didn't love the beginning of the book. I liked it more as it went on, so you may want to try it again someday. 7y
LittlePixels @Hooked_on_books Thanks! I definitely will try again, then. 👍 7y
16 likes1 stack add4 comments
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JennyReadsBooks
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Recommended by a friend/author/co-worker, and it sounds just tripy enough to work. I'll need to clear some space for "The Last One" in my reading pile! Anybody read it yet? #recommendations #TBR #bookrecs #tbrpile

Chelsea.Poole I really enjoyed it! 7y
JennyReadsBooks Great to know. I'll give it a try soon! 7y
1 like1 stack add2 comments
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Kimbono
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

Survivor meets the apocalypse. Pretty good.

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clconn17
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

I enjoyed this one. It was a little slow going (took me over a week to read a book less than 300 pages which is odd!) but the story was interesting. I didn't really like the ending though. The author could have given closure if she wanted to.

DGRachel I was very disappointed by the ending. 7y
53 likes1 comment
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LadyVB
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

I chose this read as it came recommended as a fan of the Black Mirror TV series. Imagine the hunger games meets apocolypse meets Bear Grylls survivor. A strong female lead who is having a last adventure before committing to tying herself down to mother hood.

Was a good read which kept the pages turning and yes in true Black Mirror style was very thought provoking though way less disturbing.

DebinHawaii Welcome to Litsy! 🎉📚👍😀 7y
1 like1 stack add1 comment
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Erin01
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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haven't heard much about this one but it sounds interesting + a cookie & latte from one of my favorite coffee shopes 📖😀☕

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LitHousewife
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

I really enjoyed this one. I liked the premise of being on reality TV show when a pandemic strikes. There were times when the main character got on my nerves, but I would be whiny and cranky on that situation, too. Good book club choice.

P.S. The two narrators were new to me and well suited for their roles. Mike Chamberlain has a great reality TV host voice.

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LitHousewife
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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I have finally found an audiobook I want to listen to!! 🎉🎉 This novel is about a Survivor type reality TV show and things are going lethally wrong. There are alternating chapters that switch between insights on the beginning of the game that introduces all of the contestants and a single contestant at some point in the future. I'm really intrigued!

whatsjennareading I've been wanting to read this one! 8y
TeR I really liked this one.... 8y
anrobe This one sounds fascinating! 8y
See All 6 Comments
NovelGirl82 Oh, that sounds interesting! 8y
LitHousewife @hrhthebookqueen @anrobe @NovelGirl82 It's really good! I want to keep listening and listening. 8y
LitHousewife @TeR It was not what I was expecting and I'm really enjoying it. 8y
67 likes9 stack adds6 comments
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amazingmavis
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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We are waiting on the storm while reading. Spot the puggle?

10 likes4 comments
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kristinshafel
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Mehso-so

Not the most unique premise, but Oliva is a good, promising writer & certainly creative. MC wasn't as kickass as I wanted her to be—kinda whiny—and it's a bit long and winding imo, so there's the 'so-so' for me. But I liked the book in general. Lots to think about re: portrayal of reality in media and how it shapes your perception of people/the world, etc. Worth a read if you like post-apocalyptic stuff.

kristinshafel I received a free copy in a Goodreads giveaway contest. (edited) 8y
9 likes1 comment
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valeriegeary
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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A change in venue. #vivamexico #readingvacation

monkeygirlsmama Enjoy the book; I certainly did! 8y
DimeryRene Lovely! 8y
62 likes1 stack add2 comments
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v_cuev
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
Panpan

This was somewhere between a so-so and a pan, but I'm not feeling generous today. I hated the idea that was perpetuated in this book that not wanting to have a child is the WORST THING EVER. The main character grew less and less likeable as the story progressed. There was a good concept hidden somewhere in the book, but it was not well-executed.

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cmckinnon
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

This book kept me turning pages from start to finish. I'm looking forward to more from this new writer.

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v_cuev
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva

Enjoying this so far. It's amazing the rationalizations the main character is making, but I'm willing to suspend disbelief a little bit longer :)

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Evelien
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
Panpan

Sorry but i really really really dislike this book. It was so predictable and slow. I think there is a lot of missing informarion that would make the book more interesting but for this it's a pan for me

AngelErin I couldn't even finish this one. 😬😬 8y
3 likes1 comment
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DGRachel
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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While I did read quite a few books last year that were published last year, most of those weren't debut novels. This is one of the few that was a debut. I gave it four stars on Goodreads, but I'm still not sure how I really feel about it. It was good, but not one I'll read again. #bestdebutsof2016 #feistyfeb

61 likes1 stack add
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monkeygirlsmama
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

#FeistyFeb #Day5 Best Debuts of 2016 @RealLifeReading

This was one of my ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ rated books published by a debut author in 2016.

Incredible! What Oliva did in this, her first novel, is simply fantastic. The author crafted her characters' world immaculately. The story is a thriller that is written around a reality tv show, and the book itself reads like you're watching one. Highly recommended! 👍

22 likes3 stack adds
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Scerakor
The Last One: A Novel | Alexandra Oliva
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Pickpick

An interesting twist on the traditional plague/apocalypse narrative. Not only does our protagonist have to navigate the country after a massive plague has hit the earth, but also had reason to deny what reality is showing her.

3 likes1 stack add