Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Published by: Avon Books
Publication date: 12 March 2026
Content warnings: toxic relationship

Other books by Kate Storey:
The Memory Library
The Forgotten Book Club

“Sometimes the last page is just the beginning…”

This is just a bloody gorgeous book through and though! And when I say that, I mean it is perfection. Kate Storey – aka Lisa Timoney – can do no wrong it seems, and her brand new book about books is an absolute dream. As soon as you step into Erin’s café, I guarantee you won’t want to leave. There’s a brilliant cast of diverse characters and a plot to completely lose yourself in. It is flawless. I am so thrilled to be sharing my review for The Last Page Café by Kate Storey!

About the book

At fifty-four, Erin McRae feels like she’s living in the margins of her own story. Her son is preparing to fly the nest, and the rent increase on the café she loves to run means she’s going to have to close up shop. Her greatest escape is the mismatched book club she founded, bound together by one unusual rule: they choose their next book based solely on the last page.

But when the book club discusses what their own last pages might say, Erin and her fellow members begin to see their own lives in unexpected ways.

As the club’s discussions grow deeper, long-buried secrets surface, old wounds start to heal – and romance leaps off the page. With The Bookmark under threat of closure, Erin must ask herself: can she write herself a happier story?

The beginning

God, this was just gorgeous from the start, but what else can you expect from a new Kate Storey book?! I loved meeting Erin and being shown around her pride and joy, The Bookmark Café. She took over the running of it over a decade ago from her mother, who’d run the place herself for almost forty years. I easily found myself wandering around the café with Erin as she ensures everything is in it’s place after a busy day, and before her weekly book group begins. I loved taking in the vivid descriptions of decor which gave the café such a homely feel. The imperfections of this place really brought it to life! We slowly begin to meet the members of the book group, people who had become friends to Erin over the years; Susan, Joe, Mercy, Riley and Hafsa. These wonderful people were so different from one another, all had different stories. But they all came together through their love of books. Getting to know them all over time was a true delight. I loved Erin’s own twist on reading. She reads the last page of a book first. If it’s satisfying enough, then the book is worth reading!

“No matter how careful you were, cherished things could break and sometimes they could never be repaired. She knew that better than anyone.”

The ‘last page first’ mentality had been adopted by the book group. That’s how they’d decide on the next book they’d read together which I just adored. But as they’re mid-session, a stranger walks in. A new personality added to the book group mix. Adam definitely catches Erin’s eye and I could sense he would be a positive addition to the group in time. I loved the early hints of something wonderful coming Erin’s way, especially after we learn more about her life, her past. A marriage that didn’t last. The years of struggling financially while bringing up their son, Jack, alone. It hadn’t been easy for her by a long shot. As well as her book group friends and her café, Jack was a huge part of her life. After all they’d been through, he’d turned out alright. But the joy of having him home from university is dimmed after she receives a letter about the increase in rent on the café, the possibility that she’d have to close consuming her thoughts. What would she do if it happened? The café that had been in her family for decades, gone. Just like that. There had to be something she could do.

The middle

I lost myself within this book. The sense of community, the beauty of friendship, the hints of new beginnings warming on the soul. But there is always the dark cloud of the rent increase looming. Erin isn’t a fan of change. Closing the café is just unbearable to think about. But when the book group set themselves a challenge, that they’d all have a think about their own ‘last pages’ and what they’d say, and also have a go at writing them, she starts to think more about her life, about her future. About the café’s future. I love how this book made me think about my own life in so many ways, about what I want for myself, about what the future looks like. I remember thinking the same about the last book, The Forgotten Book Club, of how thought-provoking and moving it was, and I knew this would radiate throughout this entire book too. I felt so happy for Erin as she goes out of her comfort zone to spend a bit of time with Adam away from the group, but things don’t go as planned. She finds out something about him that she doesn’t like, but it was soon clear there was a plausible explanation.

“I get it. I do too. But the grim fact is, legacy or not, if it’s not working, something has to change.”

Each of these characters were so full of colour, so vibrant, so wonderfully developed. They all had their quirks, different backstories, different reasons for making them so likeable. I loved getting to know them more, understanding why these people were so important to Erin, why they played such crucial roles in her life. And the more we read about Adam, the more I loved him and knew he’d be perfect to slot into Erin’s life. The author touches upon neurodiversity in her characters, and her real, relatable scenarios completely immersed me in every chapter. The subtle humour sprinkled throughout made me smile so much. It really was everything I needed. But even though this author is brilliant at creating characters you’ll love, she’s also pretty good at creating characters you’ll loathe, one being Riley’s boyfriend, Chegs. What a nobber he is! The exploration of this toxic relationship was brilliant, and it really brings out Erin’s kindhearted nature, her desire to protect those who mean so much to her. Even with so much going on in her life, she is always there for everyone else.

The end

It was a lot, but Erin finally admits the truth about the rent increase on the café, and the group act exactly as I’d expected; supportive and determined as heck to to save this place that was like their second home. They discuss money-making ideas to help increase those all-important profits, and the support Erin receives was second to none. It was so heartwarming and lovely! But this was a feeling I’d gotten throughout the entire book, and is something this author does so incredibly well. I started to get a bit sad that this book wasn’t real life, that I couldn’t experience the new-and-improved café for myself! As well as this, we finally start to hear some of the ‘last pages’ written by these characters, starting with Adam. My god, my eyes filled with tears. What he’d written was so moving, so incredibly beautiful that I wanted to reach through the pages and hug him. And wanting Erin to be a part of his future was just everything. As everything comes together for a fundraiser to scrape together the money for the future of the café, I was so excited to see just how successful it would be!

“She had the confidence to believe she could make these new chapters the best of her life. She didn’t need to know the ending. Because she had faith in her own story.”

The ‘last pages’ keep coming from different characters and it was exceptional. There was sadness, reminiscing, joy, hope. Bittersweet memories, yet positivity and excitement for the future. And the transformation of the café had me feeling all the feelings for Erin and her lovely group of friends. Erin’s development as a character from beginning to end was truly wonderful, and she’d gone from being a cautious soul, scared of change, to being a courageous woman who wasn’t afraid to live in the moment. She’s moving onto better things, getting a second chance at love, and has a whole new exciting life ahead of her. And of course, she has the support of her solid friendship group which was pure gold. I was so sad finishing this book and I longed to stay in Erin’s life just a little bit longer, but instead, I’ll catch up with Kate’s first book that I haven’t read yet, and also wait (somewhat) patiently for whatever comes next. If you love book club fiction and you haven’t tried Kate Storey yet, this is your sign! She is not only an incredible author, but a gorgeous person too!

Overall thoughts

The Last Page Café has completely changed my outlook on life recently, one of those books that you pick up at the exact time you need it. It’s such a moving and uplifting story, and one I will always return to whenever I need reminding that life is for living, and that happiness should be a priority for everyone. Erin McRae runs The Bookmark Café and hosts a regular book group with people who have become her good friends. A quirk of the group being that they read the last page of a book first to see if it’s worth reading (I could never!) But an increase in rent threatens to ruin everything she’s built, and the possibility she may have to close quickly becomes a given if she doesn’t act. And how her friends rallied around to help, providing support and organising an entire fundraiser was everything. Yet the story runs much deeper than just saving Erin’s pride and joy of a café.

I loved how these characters had a go at writing their own ‘last pages’, their wishes for their future selves, how they want their lives to pan out. And yep, you guessed it, it was so incredibly emotional and thought-provoking at times. (You may need the tissues!) It’s a story of finding yourself again, of learning to let in all the new and good things in your life instead of being afraid of change, about the importance of having wonderful, loyal friends around you. And of course, it’s about the importance of a good book, and how they can shape our lives. This book will touch your soul and fill you with warmth. A must read, and the colour looks excellent on your shelf, I must say!

Huge thanks to the gorgeous Kate Storey, aka Lisa Timoney, and the wonderful team at Avon Books for my copy! You can grab your own copy of The Last Page Café from Amazon* or wherever you buy your books. Make sure you’re following the author on Instagram for more updates!

* As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases – thanks for your support!

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