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
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
Support independent bookstores by buying on Bookshop: The Last of August
Or buy on Amazon: The Last of August
-
Brittany is both a poet and novelist
She has co-written a variety of novels
She teaches creative writing
She lives with her husband and pets
For more information, view Brittany Cavallaro’s website: brittanycavallaro.com
-
-
What did you think of this book??
Reach out below anytime! Whether to share your opinion of this book, comment on mine, ask for similar suggestions, or ask for more clarity/spoilers for this book. I’d love to answer any questions, share more opinions, or hear your thoughts!! Thanks so much!!
More Reviews!!
