The Last True Love Story

Seventeen-year-old Hendrix and Corrina embark on an impromptu road trip from Los Angeles to New York with Hendrix's grandfather, Gpa. Their mission is to reach Gpa's childhood home in Ithaca before his Alzheimer's erases all memory of his late wife. The journey becomes a race against time as the three travelers attempt to evade their worried families and authorities. Along the way, Hendrix documents Gpa's love story through a series of recordings, while his own romance with fellow musician Corrina begins to bloom. Through cross-country highways and unexpected detours, the characters navigate family obligations, personal dreams, and the complexities of memory. Music serves as both escape and connection - from Hendrix's guitar playing to the songs that sparked Gpa's decades-long romance. This coming-of-age novel explores how love stories echo across generations, examining the ways we preserve our most important memories and create new ones. The narrative weaves together themes of family bonds, artistic passion, and the courage to chase what matters most.

Readers praise the authentic teen voices and road trip elements, appreciating how the story balances humor with heavier themes of love, loss, and memory. Many note the realistic portrayal of first love and family relationships, particularly the bond between Teddy and his grandfather. Common criticisms focus on the pacing, with some readers finding the first half slow before the road trip begins. A few reviews mention that the plot feels predictable and follows familiar YA road trip tropes. Specific reader comments highlight: "The musical references and playlists add depth to the characters" - Goodreads review "Grandpa Gus's battle with Alzheimer's hits close to home" - Amazon review Ratings across platforms: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (1,100+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (50+ reviews) BookBrowse: 4/5 (20+ reviews) The book resonates most strongly with readers who connect to themes of family bonds and music, while those seeking unique plot twists express less enthusiasm.

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🎸 Author Brendan Kiely was inspired to write this road trip story after taking his own cross-country journey with his wife, during which they explored American music history. 💝 The novel's portrayal of Alzheimer's disease was influenced by Kiely's personal experience with his grandmother, who suffered from the condition. 🚗 The book's road trip route from Los Angeles to Ithaca mirrors the real-life path that many musicians took during the Great Migration, traveling from the South to Northern cities. 🎵 Each chapter title in the book is named after a song that relates to the story's themes or events, creating a soundtrack that readers can actually listen to while reading. 🏆 Brendan Kiely is also known for co-authoring "All American Boys" with Jason Reynolds, which won the Coretta Scott King Author Honor Award and the Walter Dean Myers Award.