"I ponder how many mistakes in life are born of a simple fear of being rude."
I can't believe how good it feels to be able to read and finish a book on a weekday. Since I'm now wholly in control of my life, the appeal to do what I wholeheartedly enjoy starts to make its way to me again. And I'm happy to start the journey by getting out of this ridiculous reading slump, courtesy of Just Last Night by Mhairi McFarlane which I managed to finish two days ago.
Following the story of four best friends in their thirties, this book introduces us to Eve, Justin, Susie, and Ed. Eve, from whom we get to hear the side of the story, has been secretly in love with Ed for ages, though unfortunately for her, Ed has a long-time girlfriend he won't be leaving for some time in the foreseeable future. Confiding this little secret to no one in the group, Eve believes that even Susie, her bestest friend in the world, doesn't know about the connection that she and Ed discreetly share.
Everything changes once the unimaginable happens though. Eve's life turns upside down in an instant. As secret after secret is revealed, Eve begins to question their friendship. And when someone from her past comes back into her life, surprises become even more frequent.
"This is what I never knew about loss—it’s also about what you gain. You carry a weight that you never had before. It’s never behind you. It’s alongside you."
Let me start this review by admitting that I had never thought a contemporary book could surprise me this much. Just Last Night was the kind of book that had been enveloped with some general ideas just for you to discover that the lid was actually a lie. It strayed far from the products of any wildest imagination—bravo though, I was honestly impressed.
Albeit sparkled with sardonic humor and wits, Just Last Night was a gut-wrenching story focusing on navigating life through grief and loss. McFarlane managed to perfectly balance the many sad parts with the comical ones from the friendship, and I think the story was sewed cleverly partly because of that.
Eve, very relatable that she was, easily got me rooting for her in only a matter of several chapters. She was the kind of heroine that you could without a doubt sympathize with because of her honesty and mundanity. I also found a lot of relatable quotes (they sounded almost ordinary but gold, trust me) throughout my reading that I highlighted in my Kindle for further perusal if needed.
"My conclusion is this: there’s no rule that says the unavailable person you waste your life being in love with has to be the greatest human you ever met."
Please, please, please, I encourage you to give this book a try. I can't say anything further to avoid the risk of spoiling the surprises, but trust me if you love emotional stories with gold characters, you will most likely find it perfect here.
Actual rating: 4.5★
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