The Last of August Book Review
The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro book review and recommendation with NO SPOILERS
Date: 5-26-25 Post Written By: MK Overall Rating: 6.8/10
Book Cover Rating: 7.1/10
(My personal opinion)
Title: The Last of August
Author: Brittany Cavallaro
Pages: 317
Genre: Young Adult, Realistic Fiction, Mystery
Subplots: Thriller, Romance
Romance Level: 2/3
Series: Charlotte Holmes #2
Publisher: HarperCollins
First Published: 2017
Number of Editions: 27
Goodreads Rating: 3.6/5
# of Goodreads Ratings: 23,919
Amazon Rating: 4.2/5
# of Amazon Ratings: 1,098
Common Sense Media Age Recommendation: 14+
Movie/TV Show?? : No
Book Type: Standard
POV Type: Dual, First Person
Pacing: Mid-Fast
Generally: Classic Holmes-Watson mystery, Sherlock Holmes and John Watson descendants, mystery
Blurb:
Jamie Watson and Charlotte Holmes are looking for a winter-break reprieve after a fall semester that almost got them killed. But Charlotte isn’t the only Holmes with secrets, and the mood at her family’s Sussex estate is palpably tense. On top of everything else, Holmes and Watson could be becoming more than friends—but still, the darkness in Charlotte’s past is a wall between them.
A distraction arises soon enough, because Charlotte’s beloved uncle Leander goes missing from the estate—after being oddly private about his latest assignment in a German art forgery ring. The game is afoot once again, and Charlotte is single-minded in her pursuit.
Their first stop? Berlin. Their first contact? August Moriarty (formerly Charlotte’s obsession, currently believed by most to be dead), whose powerful family has been ripping off famous paintings for the last hundred years. But as they follow the gritty underground scene in Berlin to glittering art houses in Prague, Holmes and Watson begin to realize that this is a much more complicated case than a disappearance. Much more dangerous, too.
My Review
Main Characters:
James Watson- James is the main character in this book. Most people call him Jaime, but he does not particularly like it. He is an aspiring writer, and enjoys puzzles. He is, obviously, a descendent of Dr. Watson.
Charlotte Holmes- Holmes is Jamie’s friend. Since birth, she has been raised to be analytical, discerning, emotionless, and a problem solver. However, she feels a ton of pressure, and it can lead her to make mistakes. She is, obviously, a descendent of Sherlock Holmes.
August Moriarty- August is part of the notorious Moriarty family; some of Sherlock Holmes’s greatest enemies. He is brilliant, but not very close to his family.
These characters were SO unique and had a TON of character development. I really enjoyed reading about them, and am excited to hear them grow and change more in future books. I got a little tired of hearing about some of their problems, just because they were often going on and on about them. That being said, they were definitely in tough spots, so I don’t really blame them.
Character Rating: 8.1/10
Setting:
This book takes place in England, Berlin, and Prague
This was an utterly average setting, with a slightly above average atmosphere. Parts of the book were tense… I guess. I know this is a weak description, but it was a weak setting, so….. fitting. (Side note: I was looking up synonyms for average so I could try to make this review a bit more interesting, and one of the main ones was ‘plain-Jane’…. so, I guess this was a plain-Jane setting.). Anyways, this physical setting did move across Europe, but it wasn’t particularly interesting.
Setting Rating: 5.1/10
Plot:
Did I enjoy this plot? Yes. Was it AMAZING? Honestly, no. This book had strong mystery aspects and roots, and was engaging, but likely won’t stick with me for a while. I was listening to this on an audiobook, and guiltily zoned out a bit. Not long enough to miss anything important, but long enough to realize, this was the sort of book I could zone out while listening to…. which is definitely a bad sign. I loved the idea of future Holmes-Watsons, and I thought it was fairly well executed, but again, nothing too special.
Plot Rating: 5.9/10
Writing:
Brittany Cavallaro did do a good job writing this book. It was fun and easy to read. I really enjoyed how she wrote it in the perspective of people from England, and I enjoyed hearing their subtle differences.
Writing Rating: 6.8/10
Ending:
You know what, I liked this ending. It wasn’t 100% happy, but for the most part it was. It didn’t leave me with too much of a cliffhanger, but I care about the characters enough to be curious as to their futures. So, I will probably read future books in the series, but I’m not necessarily running to the bookstore.
Ending Rating: 8.2/10
The Overall:
Overall, I enjoyed this young adult, mystery book. It was fast paced, and had great mystery aspects. But, to be honest, much of this book felt a little average. The characters were unique and had great development, but the setting and plot felt a little dry and boring. The ending was good enough for me to want to read book three, but I’m not necessarily running to the bookstore. I think I preferred book one, but not by too much.
Overall Book Rating: 6.8/10
I would maybe recommend this book
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ChatGPT’s Opinion: The Last of August by Brittany Cavallaro is the second book in the Charlotte Holmes series, continuing the story of teenage detectives Charlotte Holmes and Jamie Watson. Set in Europe, the plot follows their search for Charlotte’s missing uncle amid an art forgery conspiracy and the reemergence of the Moriarty family. While some readers find the mystery less compelling than in the first book and critique the characters' frequent conflict, others praise the novel’s emotional depth, evolving relationships, and character development. Overall, it’s a character-driven YA mystery that explores themes of identity, legacy, and trust.
About the Author:
Brittany Cavallaro is the New York Times bestselling author of the Charlotte Holmes novels, including A Study in Charlotte, and the historical fantasy duology Muse (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books). With Emily Henry, she is the author of HelloGirls (HarperCollins/Katherine Tegen Books). Most recently, she wrote the young adult verse novel Sunrise Nights with Jeff Zentner (HarperCollins/Quill Tree).
Cavallaro is also the author of the poetry collections Girl-King and Unhistorical, both from University of Akron Press. A recipient of a National Endowment in the Arts fellowship, she received her MFA in creative writing from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and her PhD in English literature from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Currently, she teaches creative writing at the Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, where she lives with her husband, cats, and golden retriever.
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A Study in Charlotte
View my Review: A Study in Charlotte
The Case for Jamie
A Question of Holmes
Sunrise Nights
Hello Girls
Muse
Manifest
Girl-King
Unhistorical
View Brittany Cavallaro’s books on her website: Brittanycavallaro.com
Or on Amazon: Brittany Cavallaro’s Books
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ChatGPT.com (ONLY for specified “ChatGPT’s opinion” portion of reviews and small information gathering)
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