The Last Letter by Rebecca Yarros

I picked this semi-epistolary book, because it is a great form of writing. I love such books. But, I didn't know this book was going to be sad too. The sadness did not force tears out of me, but it stunned me to silence. Call it a stoicism of sorts.

Ella is a young single parent to twins - Maisie and Colt. Having been dumped in life one too many times, she has lost the trust factor in relationships. She runs a beautiful bed and breakfast sort of space in a small town. Life is slow, predictable and okay. 

Her brother, Ryan is in the army and deployed in some unknown location. 'Chaos', Ryan's best mate, had no home or family. He did not know what it meant to have loved ones wait for you. He was all that you imagine of a hero - drop dead gorgeous, patient, kind and duty driven. Ryan encourages Chaos and his sister to exchange letters - who does not like to read mail when you are sitting in some bunker awaiting death or enemy? So that starts a beautiful friendship.

As time goes, life proves itself yet again that it is unpredicatable. Ella faces a major catastrophe - Ryan is killed in battlefield, her daughter is diagnosed with an aggressive cancer and there is no trace of Chaos.

But, one bright morning a stranger walks into Ella's bed n breakfast. He books himself into this place for 7 months and in due course tells Ella that his name was Beckett Gentry and he was Ryan's best friend. He was there on Ryan's request to always look after his sister and the twins. Not wanting help from anywhere, Ella initially keeps away from Beckett. But, the ice melts, friendship turns into a wonderful romance. But the nature of life is never to trust that all will always go well. 

Why is Beckett Gentry so bent upon looking after Ella and the kids? How many more curve balls is life going to thrown at Ella? Should Ella trust Beckett? Can a retired soldier resume civil life and join the pieces of his broken life? Where did Chaos disappear? Did he die alongside Ryan?

This story has answers to all these questions.

IMHO, I liked the book quite a bit. But, I find it difficult to believe in these "heroes" who are so perfect and not an ounce of meanness in them. Where are such good men in real life?! Then, I am reminded that this is fiction! 

I also felt the book stretched the sadness quotient a little too much. That could have been avoided. Also, sometimes dialogues turn too philosophical, but that's okay. 

There are about two-three detailed intimate scenes in the book. I felt it was okay for it to be included as it probably showed that no matter how broken Beckett was as a person, he had so much love to give. So treat this with fair discretion.

Trigger Warning - Loss of a child. I cannot imagine pain of losing a child in real life. I don't enjoy it in fiction either. By the time this scenario plays out in the story, it is almost the end of the book. I wish the author had just ended the story as a happy ever after. This tragedy was not required. It didn't teach anyone anything. I was not very happy about the summarizing and moving of timeline to show that life goes on after tragedy. Although there is a satisfactory ending.

This is nothing like a Khaled Hosseini kind of heartbreak book so you can pick it up if you like a little mush and a soft palette reading. I listened to it on Audible and the narration is good.