The Last to Let Go: 5 reasons this February release is a must-read

Cover to The Last to Let Go by Amber Smith. Image: Margaret K. McElderry Books.

1. It contains valuable lessons for young adult readers

The book’s title alone references the most important takeaway from this novel. When faced with change, we’re inclined to cling even tighter to the past. It’s almost as though we believe by holding on longer, we can halt whatever comes next. Unfortunately, that isn’t normally how things play out.

But Brooke’s story isn’t just one of learning to let go. It’s also a tale of coming to terms with herself and her relationships with others. In spite of the darker subject matter, The Last to Let Go is at its core a coming of age story. In fact, it’s probably a more relatable coming of age story to kids facing similar battles to Brooke’s.

Smith speaks of the importance of writing these stories for a younger audience, claiming:

"Today I write with my younger self in mind. I think about the kinds of books I needed, the ones that made me feel less alone in the world, the ones that offered me guidance and understanding—those are the books I strive to write."

Her enthusiasm for supporting young readers shines through the pages of her novels. You can tell that she wants to both educate and empathize with her audience, simply based on the careful way she handles hard topics.

The Last to Let Go is available to purchase as of today. So if intense familial dramas are up your alley, it’s time for a trip to the bookstore. This novel is a relevant and important one with consequential messages. With all of that in mind, why wouldn’t you pick it up?

And when you’re done with it? Well, you can always grab The Way I Used to Be. And hopefully we won’t need to wait too long for Smith’s latest writing project to fall into our hands. When asked about what’s up next, she admitted to working on another young adult story:

"I’m currently working on a new contemporary YA that I’m super excited about—it is a first love story told in dual point of view: a boy who is struggling with the process of coming out as transgender and a girl who’s grieving the recent death of her sister. I’ve wanted to write a multiple POV book for a long time, but I hadn’t found quite the right place to do that until this this one."

Next: 8 young adult book releases to look for in February

This is exciting news for fans of Smith’s work, and for readers in general. In keeping with her usual traditions, it seems we’ll be getting another emotionally packed story, full of necessary societal commentary. But until that hits shelves, we’ll be obsessing over The Last to Let Go.