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Don't Read the Last Page

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How many chances does love get?

Penny Wilson never wanted to break up with Christopher, but when she's whisked away to college by her controlling best friend, Penny says goodbye to her hometown in Colorado and the boy her heart never wanted to leave.

Christopher Samson was the star of the basketball team, but his passion has always been photography. Now taking classes at the local community college, Christopher tries to heal his broken heart through his art.

When Penny decides to come home and take a semester off from school, her world crosses paths with Christopher, bringing them back together where it all ended the first time. A photography contest makes the ex-lovers partners once again. It's only supposed to be five photos, but each picture they take—each second they spend together—reopens old memories and feelings.

Somehow, Penny's quiet visit home with her family has turned into nights at her favorite diner with Christopher, photo shoots at the hot springs, and slow dances under the stars. Knowing she's supposed to return to college in California that fall, Penny and Christopher walk a fragile line of reigniting their relationship and threatening another heartbreak.

Penny came home to rethink her future, not to fall back in love with Christopher, but for that to happen, she would have had to stop loving him in the first place.

"I know I've been here before. I've lived these pages with him already. It feels like I'm rereading our story, but this time, I won't read the last page."

425 pages, Kindle Edition

Published January 25, 2022

33 people are currently reading
2762 people want to read

About the author

Catherine Downen

11 books178 followers
Catherine Downen is the author of The Markings series. She recently graduated from Bradley University with a degree in Mechanical Engineering. She has always had a love for writing and a passion for telling stories. Currently, Catherine is working as a Sustaining Engineer in St. Louis MO by day, while continuing to write on the side.

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5 stars
27 (19%)
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44 (31%)
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47 (33%)
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews
Profile Image for vivi ₊˚ෆ.
119 reviews16 followers
June 2, 2024
3.O ☆
⚠ spoiler alert

if you like… ᝰ.ᐟ
⊹ second chance romance (no cheating)
⊹ small town romance
⊹ friends to lovers
⊹ mutual pining

To start, I found the couple literally so adorable. The plot was quite good, it was better executed than what i was expecting. But with that said, it was SO LONG. It took me a few days to get through it because it was executed so slowly, like nothing really happened. I loved the way that everything was intertwined in the plot like following Penny and her time with the cheer team and spending time with Christopher's friends in the log cabin. The small town aspect really shined through in the plot, that was the most lovable part about this whole thing. The characters themselves were alright but there was nothing really unique about any of them. Adding that and the dragging out of the story really made it difficult to get through without skimming the whole way through.

I found the ending the worst part about the whole book. The way she instantly forgave her best friend that caused her so much pain and trauma is crazy to me and Lindsay just doing a whole 180 from the way the book had portrayed her was so disappointing. Just when we get Penny finally taking control of her life I feel like the decision to have her move across the country to follow her boyfriend while he chases his dreams is so anticlimactic to her entire character development. It would have been better if they’d just agree to the long distance relationship and have her stay in Rayou. It would be a nice bittersweet ending that’s realistic and shows you that even with obstacles you could still make it work without having to sacrifice your life for someone else. You know like the life lesson should be but that’s just my take.

˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚

characters ₊˚⊹♡

Penny Sis really gave us nothing unique, she felt so hollow to me. Her struggles and feelings were conveyed perfectly but fully as a character she could have easily been more in depth, maybe it’s the story telling or just her intended character, either way kind of disappointing. I wanted to love Penny but she is definitely a mc that will go down forgotten in my books.
Christopher He was also nothing special. Don’t get me wrong, he had a huge heart and was everything that you would want in a partner but there is nothing that makes him stand out amongst other love interests. He’s safe and that’s it, the complexity really got thrown out the window with everyone in this book it seems. Overall, he was sweet, caring and they made a cute couple with a few good moments.

☃・:*:。・:*:・゚

✮⋆˙quotes
─ “I know I’ve been here before, I’ve lived these pages with him already. It feels like I’m rereading our story, but this time, I won’t read the last page.”

─ “So, don’t read the last page. Pick up a pen and write your new beginning.”

˚ ೀ⋆。˚ • ♪

𐙚˙playlist ⋆。
⊹ stuck with u - ariana grande & justin bieber
⊹ let’s fall in love for the night - finneas
⊹ back to december - taylor swift
⊹ afterglow - taylor swift

xoxo,
vivi
Profile Image for Mia N. Gleason.
104 reviews1 follower
December 7, 2021
Such a cute "feel-good" winter romance. Highly recommend. You'll find yourself relating to Penny in ways that might take you back to your high school experience, and maybe even those first few months of going off to college. Downen handles themes and topics very articulately and sensitively. There are lots of great characters and I was able to relate to Penny and Christopher as individuals as well as a couple. I also found my emotions all over the place with the introductions of other characters! I will not give away any spoilers...but there was one character in particular that just had me on edge every time they were mentioned!

The cute holiday/wintery details woven through the storyline also makes the book a cozy read. You'll find yourself sitting on the edge of your overstuffed chair as Downen leads readers on with anticipation of certain events as well.
Profile Image for Rubi.
2,601 reviews11 followers
September 18, 2024
2nd chance romance

Honestly, Christopher was perfect 🥹🥰
Penny broke his heart, but he was still so sweet to her.
She didn't have a right to be upset with him for seeing someone else since she dumped him for no good reason and had ZERO right to get mad at him for achieving a dream. She left him!
But I get she's young, immature and emotional. She'd been mentally abused by her best friend for years and saw the world through a tinted lens.
The novels deals with some tough topics such as eating disorders, unhealthy weight, and being controlled. Penny had a lot of baggage and hurt and I think that was the point for her not being emotionally available. But Christopher didn't give up.
They were a cute couple and I really enjoyed them rekindling their friendship and relationship 😍
I want me a Christopher 🤭☺️
5 reviews2 followers
Read
December 9, 2021
I was so happy to be a Beta reader on this book.
A winter romance, just what I needed and this one did not disappoint.
Catherine does not write boring books, so I knew this would be a winter adventure.
The characters, Penny and Christoper are so relatable and their romance is outstanding.
The snow scenes made you feel like you were right there!
I loved, loved, loved this book!
Profile Image for Binks.
27 reviews2 followers
February 4, 2022
This book was meh for me. The romance was formulaic and contrived by plot. Didn't get why the MC allowed her friend to control her whole life.

Didn't care for the romance either.

Oh well. Thought I'd like this one.

I'm giving it 1.5 stars for the title. Though I wish I hadn't read the first page.
Profile Image for Anila.
474 reviews142 followers
February 17, 2022
This books was way too long in my opinion. I had such a hard time getting through it as It was moving at a snail’s pace and the romance and plot were very generic. It seemed like nothing was happening and I got bored very easily while reading this book.
Profile Image for Susanne Moholt.
38 reviews
April 12, 2022
I thought I would like this book. But I just did not see a point with it, as the plot was extremely boring and dragged out to me. So yeah, don’t read the first page.
Profile Image for Mirte.
127 reviews41 followers
January 26, 2022
Rating: ★★★★

Penny Wilson grew up in a small town in Colorado, in the mountains. Along with her childhood best friend, she goes off to college in California, but after her first semester there, she starts to realize that this isn’t really what she wants to do with her life. So she decides to take a semester off and return home to her mother in Rayou. During her time back home, Penny comes across her ex-boyfriend and encounters some traumas she hasn’t worked through yet. She’s on a journey to find herself and learn what she wants in her life after realizing that it was actually her childhood best friend who involuntarily decided everything for her.

Characters
Penny Wilson is a lovely character, and I really wanted all the best for her + Christopher Samson is one of the sweetest and most thoughtful book boyfriends :’). There were some lovely side characters too, and Lindsay is a bit of a difficult one. In the beginning, I really couldn’t stand her personality, especially after learning what she did to Penny, but towards the ending, I did grow some sympathy towards her.

Plot
We get a second-chance love story in a small mountain town covered in snow, mixed with photography, cheerleading, a supportive mom, and a library! What’s not to love?

Writing
The writing was good. It did feel a little repetitive sometimes, but I managed to forget that very quickly because I was enjoying the story so much! There were some lovely metaphors (relating to books hehe) and they make the title a lot more meaningful.

Setting
As I’ve said before; I absolutely adored the snow-covered small town - especially during this time of the year and since it’s so different from my own hometown.

Trigger warnings: eating disorder, toxic friendship, body shaming
Profile Image for Alicia🤍📖.
261 reviews47 followers
February 9, 2025
3.5 🌟At first I didn’t want to read the last page but I had too! I was on my seat to find out what happens at the end of this book! I really enjoyed this book and the whole idea of Penny and Christopher trying to get back together I wish there was more romance but it is YA so I can’t expect a lot I found it sweet reading Penny’s family aspect as it was different to Christopher’s omg I was not a fan of Penny’s best friend Lindsay but I’m glad she realised what she did was wrong and I think Christopher is so patient after Penny broke his heart but the feelings were always there for Penny and the same for her and woah the ending had me on the edge of my seat I’m so glad there was a epilogue!! I did enjoy reading this book and Penny and Christopher are a cute couple it was like they was reliving old times 🥰

Please check trigger warnings of this book 🤍

Quotes I loved:
“I'm the reason those hazel eyes I love so much just filled with dark shadows when he remembered what I did to him.”

“Beauty is about so much more than what a mirror shows you.”

"Penny, you are the most beautiful girl in the entire world."

“The funny thing is, I never stopped loving him, even during all those months apart, but this still feels like a new beginning. Like everything we're doing is for the first time all over again.”

Tropes:
📸 Second chance romance
🩵 Friends to lovers
📸 Small town romance
🩵 He falls first and harder
📸 Mutual pining
🩵 He falls first and harder
Profile Image for Joy.
78 reviews
January 12, 2022
Absolutely adorable! I didn't think I could get into the book because of the wintery setting and I wasn't really in a mood for that but it blew my expectations away! Super cute story about love and friendship 🤭
Profile Image for Kirsty Wilson.
31 reviews3 followers
October 28, 2023
⭐⭐⭐⭐.5
Tw: eating disorder,toxic friendships,body shaming
This has been on my TBR for a little while and I'm so glad I picked this up as the first book out of my reading slump also even though it's a wintery-themed book and we are in spring I really did enjoy this book it's the first book by Catherine I have picked and read it was sad with funny bits made me feel for both penny and Christopher touched on some hard topics in a sensitive way that was not too in your face definitely also had a soft spot for Christopher he seems so beyond sweet 🥹 Lindsay kind of grow on me in the end but still didn’t like how she treated Penny at the beginning
Will definitely be picking up more books by Cathrine excited to read Don't Say Forever when it comes out in June
Also has I read this on kindle I have ordered a hardback version for my bookshelf has generally think later down the line I will probably end up rereading this
Profile Image for Bella.
15 reviews
September 21, 2022
This book kept me on the edge of my seat. I don’t usually read cheesy romance stories such as this one- but I am really glad I read this!

I first came across this book on tik tok, and I was so enticed by the name of the book, I preordered it instantly. When I found out it was a romance story, my excitement dwindled a bit, because in all honestly this book begins like a very basic love story- and it continues to stay that way.

But- although it is a basic love story with heartbreak and heart mends- it captures you in the life of Penny- someone you could find yourself relating to in some ways.

I loved this book, and would definitely recommend that anyone who reads it reads the last page- its very much worth it!
Profile Image for Alisha.
Author 2 books
February 12, 2022
Although this definitely is a romance the underlying current was more about being true to yourself and figuring out what you want in life.

I completely understand the main characters struggles with voicing her opinion and just going with the flow of what her controlling friend wanted. I’m definitely the type of person that hates confrontation and usually just clams up.

To me this was about working through emotions, finding oneself and having the courage to forge your own path. All in all an enjoyable read.

Profile Image for Becca shybookstagramer.
643 reviews20 followers
March 9, 2024
4.5 stars

This was a really cute second chance romance! I loved how it was done. The characters were great and they had some great character development, especially Penny. The only character I did not like at all was Lindsay. Even as the story progressed, I still couldn't stand her. Christopher is so sweet and a perfect book boyfriend if you're wanting a sweet caring guy! My favorite parts were all the photos that Penny and Christopher took for his photography contest. Oh how I wish I could have seen visuals of these! Over all a really cute wintery small town second chance romance. I'm so glad that I discovered this book through bookstagram and finally got a chance to read it. It was worth the wait.

Content warning: toxic friendship, eating disorder, body shaming
Profile Image for M. Jane.
Author 4 books95 followers
February 24, 2022
It took me awhile to get thru this, mostly because I didn’t really feel a connection between Penny and Christopher. I was hoping there would be more banter or chemistry but unfortunately it fell flat. There were cute scenes here and there, I just wanted more.

I hated that the main character let her best friend run her life but was glad when she finally took charge and did what she wanted to do.

There is a ton of descriptions and they definitely make you feel like you’re in the scene, but the dialogue is a little lackluster and felt forced at times.

If you like 2nd chance romance in a small town, give it a try!
Profile Image for Lyric.
109 reviews
January 27, 2023
This was a pretty cute read! It's very cozy, and the descriptions of the setting and atmosphere easily transport you right into the small town of Rayou. I just had a few minor issues, like the repetitve use of "golden/blonde locks," "hazel curls," "caramel gaze," that kind of thing. There could also be better distinction between the voices of characters. Other than that, it's a sweet read that definitely had me spiraling towards the end. It has cheesy moments in a very fun way, as is always good to see in romances like this
Profile Image for Julie DeFisher.
Author 3 books14 followers
April 29, 2024
It took me two tries to get through this audio book. one due to life and the second I was like Penny. I didn't want Chris and Penny to head down that road again. but I am happy I gave it a second chance and it was amazing. I was both flabbergasted and happy with the ending. even if i wanted to reach into the book and smack the hell out of Penny at the end. Over all I really enjoyed it.
Profile Image for Shana Dorgelo.
169 reviews32 followers
January 15, 2025
I started to really enjoy this book. No major surprises but that's not required! It was cute! Got a little less right at the end, I felt a little let down for some reason, but that's fine. Couple editing issues and please stop calling the car an SUV constantly (Irritated me in the beginning)


I finished a book! I actually picked it back up! What the heck.
Profile Image for Hayley.
166 reviews1 follower
March 18, 2022
I needed this book today. I needed to escape into a light, fluffy world of romance and remember how it feels to read a book without obligation or expectation. I loved the temporary escape, I loved Penny and Christopher. I loved the HEA. My heart feels full.
Profile Image for yarniabook.
391 reviews1 follower
December 21, 2023
This was SLOW. I also feel like I am not the target audience. I never had to leave for college and break up with my boyfriend, so I feel I could relate. Also, her friend controlled WAY too much of her life.
Profile Image for Briana Stone.
48 reviews2 followers
February 9, 2022
This book was so slow and to be quite frank, uninteresting, until the final 1/8th which I quite liked. Not sure it made up for the laborious rest of the book though.
Profile Image for Kathleen Cox.
15 reviews
December 28, 2022
A sweet winter romance book. I’d recommend to someone who wants a book that is just happy, nothing really goes wrong. Definitely more for younger readers
1 review
January 2, 2023
Second chance love!

Such an easy and beautiful read. Christopher and Penny were such a joy to get to know and root for with every page!
Profile Image for Nora Lopez.
94 reviews2 followers
March 8, 2022
I really wanted to love this book. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t a book that grabbed your attention and made you not want to put it down. I liked Penny and Christopher as characters and how they rebuilt their relationship, but I wasn’t “hooked” onto the book until almost 70% through.

The concept of the book, was adorable! That was what kept men wanting to read ‘the last page’.
Profile Image for Jennifer Leigh.
Author 7 books33 followers
February 11, 2024
I truly wanted to enjoy this book and for a bit, I did. However, Don’t Read the Last Page didn’t deliver the way I had hoped. The characters were mostly enjoyable, until they went out of character to further the plot. The plot dragged on. Though the second chance romance plotline kept me reading, other plotlines felt like filler. The middle of the book was the best part. I like that this book kept me reading until the end even if I didn’t enjoy the ending.
Full review at: https://www.boundtowriting.com/review...
Profile Image for Sarah.
56 reviews
February 23, 2023
I did enjoy this, just a lot of minor things that added up and took away from the reading experience a bit.

I thought there was a lot of "telling" in regards to Penny and Christopher's interactions - ex. she makes it a point to say that he says something because he knows her well, etc. I also definitely felt the pining that Penny felt, which made me root for them, but I'm not sure how much of their love would stand on its own without her inner monologue about things. Like, would I as the reader be able to believe in them without Penny's input on their interactions kind of thing.

It's a little slow, and while it does have some heavier subject matter like discussions of toxic friendship and eating disorders, I think it's still a lighter read and would be perfect for the in-between wintertime period after New Year's and before Valentine's Day.

I've seen a lot of people say they didn't like how much Penny let Lindsey control her life - but that's the POINT. Honestly, I thought it was a little strange that Lindsey doesn't really give Penny any grief near the end when she explains why she took the semester off. The way their friendship was written made it seem like Lindsey would have definitely doubled down instead of accepting and apologizing.

All in all, still an enjoyable read.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 31 reviews

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