Last Seen Leaving

by Caleb Roehrig

[Angie]

I received an ARC through NetGalley.

Last Seen Leaving blew my freaking mind! It hooked me from the very first chapter with Flynn thinking his parents discovered his weed. Instead, the cops are waiting to ask him about his girlfriend, January. She never came home from school and no one has heard from her. Flynn hasn't seen her in a few days, which seems suspicious, but Flynn does have an alibi even if the cops don't quite buy it. Flynn and January's relationship wasn't all sunshine and rainbows, but he's genuinely worried and won't stop until he finds out what happened to her.

I just absolutely loved Last Seen Leaving. This is a frightening situation and I had to know what happened! Flynn has his secrets which may have an effect on January's case, but the more he digs, the more he discovers that she had a ton of secrets herself. How well do you ever really know those closest to you? That's something that's really explored here as Flynn puts together clues and evidence, and as he comes out.

Flynn's coming out was really interesting. I wouldn't say Last Seen Leaving is a coming out story, since the focus is definitely on the mystery. But Flynn is forced to come out as part of the investigation. He's struggled with the fact that he's gay for awhile, and it's part of his and January's final meeting, so of course he has to tell the police to clear his name. That is absolutely not the ideal way to come out to your parents, but after that Flynn starts to accept who he is. He comes out to his friends, and their reactions vary. But he won't go back to lying to himself and that's wonderful. Not to mention there's an adorable blossoming romance as Flynn enlists the help of a guy to help him figure out what happened to his girlfriend.

The ending of Last Seen Leaving was intense! Everything was leading up to that moment! It seems like no one really knew January at all, or what was going on with her before she disappeared. Then the truth comes out and I couldn't stop reading! OMG OMG OMG! What is even happening right now?! How can this be?! Woah.

Read more of my reviews at Pinkindle Reads & Reviews.