Last Chance Books: You’ve Got Mail for the Current Generation

While nothing will beat the enviable presence Meg Ryan brings to the screen, Last Chance Books certainly has two strong feet to stand on. Author Kelsey Rodkey is able to accomplish something I have seen recent authors struggle with; speak to an audience younger than her that does not feel gimmicky. With funny characters and heart wrenching dialogue, Last Chance Books will leave the reader with a plethora of feelings they do not know where to put. 

Even though books that take direct inspiration from a classic film can sometimes bother me, if done well I do not mind. This is exactly the reason why I was able to stop comparing Last Chance Books and You’ve Got Mail after a few pages. While the premise of an indie bookstore competing with a newly opened chain store across the street is literally the plot of the books inspiration, the twists that Rodkey adds, as well as her incredibly likeable characters, lets me forgive the book. Madeline and Jasper are some the most agreeable protagonists I have read in a while. They are able to connect with readers and their struggles of identity and family without going overboard into unbelievable. As these two are constantly competing to ruin the other store’s reputation, I found myself switching sides often. While ‘support small businesses,’ should be the moto everyone lives by, Jasper’s charm and wit are undeniable and made me not hate him as much as I probably should have. It is clear from the beginning that the connection the two characters share will lead them to falling in love, but predictability is not always a bad thing. In this case, it is gladly welcomed. 

The side characters of Last Chance Books, remain just that. Rodkey does an excellent job of fleshing out the family members and friends of Madeline and Jasper without leaving unanswered questions. She gives them likeable personalities and interesting motives for their actions, but she does not go as far as developing them to the point where they should probably have their own book. In this sense, the side characters add to the story, but I did not feel as invested in them as I did our main protagonists, something I think more books should focus on. Side characters do not mean they are uninteresting, but they also are not the main focus. 

Third act twists normally give me a migraine and the desire to retire the book. However, Rodkey was very intentional with her placement twists and for that, third act twists might just be growing on me. Might. As I read the beginning of the relationship between Madeline and Jasper, I could not help but feel like it happened so soon and that the pranks they had been pulling on each other would be waste. Tricky Rodkey had a betrayal up one sleeve and a believable forgiving up the other. Again, author Kelsey Rodkey really shines with her understanding of being a teenager or young adult and all of the turbulence that comes with it. Last Chance Books stands out as a sweet, funny, emotional, and heartwarming read with really well developed characters and storylines. It is because of the care that author Kelsey Rodkey put into crafting this easy read that I will certainly be picking up this 5 out of 5 books book very soon.