I was disappointed, Christopher Pike. -_-First of all, I've got a lot of expectations for the end of this series. I expected everything to be solved, to be finished, everyone to be happy and fucking satisfied.They probably did, the characters, I mean. But I obviously wasn't.Why?WHY?!One - I hate the fact that SHARI COOPER succumbed to temptation (almost, really), just because Peter can't have sex.Two - I hate the fact that SHARI COOPER took hold of Jean Rodrigues' life completely. I mean, I get it. She came back from the dead in a different body, but what the hell, Jean Rodrigues is still living inside of her. It was as if she forget where Jean really came from, her mother, even her best friend and what happened about her dream of making every Hispanics proud? Of restoring her community? She changed her name to Shari Cooper, she was known as Shari Cooper. That is obviously not Hispanic. I can't believe Shari can be that selfish. Did she not learn anything when she died?Three - I hate the fact that there were actually non-existent moments of her and Peter. Okay, there were some, but that was after Shari succumbed to temptation and realized that Peter is her actual and only one true love forever ever till death part them .Four - I think it's better if Pike added a few scenes of Jimmy and Jean. I mean, they were very close. What happened to best sister anyone could ever have?Five - Daniel? Bethy? Amanda? What happened to them? Give me closure, please. It was as if they didn't exist in book one.Six - I HATE ROGER. HATE HIM HATE HIM HATE HIM. I know it's a given that everyone should hate him considering he's the antagonist, I just wanted to write that. I'm still fuming.Seven - WHY DID GARRETT DIE?! Why did you let him die?! One moment he was there, the next thing he's gone, head splattered into the concrete floor, my goodness. I feel bad for her daughter. What would happen to her now, huh?! Go back to drugs? I sometimes think this book was made in a rush. This was only made so that the series could be called a trilogy. It did not give me any answers whatsoever. It only made me more confused. I NEED A BETTER ENDING!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Rated 2.5 really.Excerpt from my review - originally published at Offbeat YA. Pros: Well-established female lead. Story gets closure.Cons: More no-real-mystery (see RM 2). More clichés. More new age blurbs (again, if you're not into it). Moderate sex references. Some seriously out-of-character moments.Will appeal to: Those who still need more Shari Cooper.Given the above blurb, you may wonder why I didn't apply a "Mystery" label to this book. There's a simple explanation: this is not a mystery. There are only a couple of possible suspects in this book, and once one of them is gone, the math is consequential. Also, don't be fooled - this is not a story about Shari trying to uncover the culprit of a murder plan against herself. Only at the end of the book we do realize someone has been wanting her dead all along. And she with us.RM 3 opens three years after the ongoings in the previous book. Shari-Jean (see RM 2) is now a famous writer, living with a still crippled, sexually incapable Peter (this is crucial to the development of the story). She is also plagued by strong headaches, courtesy of Jean's fall from Lenny's balcony. She's still surronded by her old friends - Jim, Jo - but seems to have neglected her (or Jean's) Hispanic roots. Also, she was supposed to write inspirational stories for the young, telling them death is not what it seems and they shouldn't be afraid of it and we really are all one and blah blah, but apparently, she tends to write the same kind of horror high-school stuff Pike more than often delivers. Notable exception: Shari did write a book called Remember Me, the story of her own death and rebirth. [...]Whole review here.
What do You think about The Last Story (2015)?
While Remember Me 2 was essentially a set up for this one, it was great to see so much happen in this book in addition to coming around full circle. It's especially nice to see Shari revisit particular characters from the first book with a new set of eyes now that she has made such an incredibly profound journey. While this as well as Book 2 are definitely steeped towards the spiritual slant, it's a fascinating world to enter, especially since Shari's distinct voice keeps us going which makes for some very funny as well as touching moments. A very satisfying ending to the series.
—Vikas
I read this series as a teenager, and thought I'd do it again. I still think the first one is excellent. The second was so-so, and third was sort of disappointing. I think it has to do with my advancing maturity (i.e. I'm getting old), because it felt like a really obvious parable. However, I started thinking that if I had a teenager, I would probably like them to read this. It is interesting, and it brings up a very loving, mystical spirituality that I certainly appreciate. I have to say, too, that the concept of the antagonist was really not handled well. They really don't explain the situation until the very end, so that it feels like an afterthought. Oh well. Like I said, probably very good for its target audience, but a bit lame for the post-post-adolescent crowd.
—Stacy
Okay, there were some bits that weren't so bad. Overall, not an interesting book at all! But slightly better than the second book. In fact, I don't know why I should bother! (The whole series is very avoidable.)
—Roanna
