Review Detail

When Avery's brother Whit passes away from a football injury, her whole family breaks. He was the star of the family and he and Avery were close. Even going to school becomes harder for her. When an EMT brings home Whit's belongings, Avery holds onto his phone like it's a lifeline. But there's texts from the initials OCMC and it's obviously someone Whit really cared about. Realizing that this person might not realize he's dead, Avery goes to Black Mountain to find her.

Even though Avery is getting away from home, being in Black Mountain is just as hard for her because it holds so many good memories of Whit. Plus, finding a girl with no lead isn't as easy as she hopes it to be. Thankfully, Jack comes to her aid. He vows to help her find this girl and be her co-detective. As they spend time searching, Avery realizes she really cares for Jack, but she isn't looking for a boyfriend right now. Her family is going through enough and the last thing she wants to do is make it harder on them. However, the heart can be persuasive.

THE LAST TEXT YOU SENT is a heartfelt YA contemporary romance where we witness the main character grieving the loss of her brother. As we watch Avery go through this process, we also see her character growth. I like how she isn't quick to jump into a relationship because it makes it more realistic. While Avery is a strong character, Jack is still my favorite. He's sweet and indulges Avery's crazy ideas. He makes her think outside of her black and white world to see the colors of the world around her. There are some sad moments but overall this is an empowering story about love and overcoming grief.


Final Verdict: I would recommend this book to teens who enjoy contemporary romances where the plots are emotionally driven. While Avery searches for OCMC, I found myself dying to know who it was too which adds a hint of mystery to the book.