The Last Resort (Amanda Hewitt, Echo)

Amanda Hewitt’s debut, The Last Resort, opens with Abbey, newly divorced and reeling from the end of her marriage, as she seeks solace in the Maldives. During a late-night swim, she meets Nick, a fellow solo traveller from London who is carrying his own grief, and an unexpected connection begins to form. In this novel told through alternating perspectives, Hewitt allows readers to inhabit both Abbey’s and Nick’s hearts in motion. Nick, guarded and quietly burdened by loss, keeps love at a distance, while Abbey, once defined by others, is now learning to live for herself. Back home in Sydney, Abbey faces life’s practical and emotional demands with strength – juggling an overwhelming mortgage and caring for her daughter. When fate intervenes and Nick becomes her new boss, the tension between them builds. Their chemistry feels both natural and undeniable, strengthened by vivid dialogue and cinematic moments that bring each scene to life. The Last Resort is a warm, emotionally engaging debut that balances heartbreak, humour and second chances. Hewitt captures the beauty of rebuilding after loss, exploring how self-worth and connection can coexist in the wake of change. Ultimately, her message is simple but powerful: sometimes, the most beautiful love story begins when you finally choose yourself. For readers of Jojo Moyes, Beth O’Leary and other character-driven love stories that explore what it means to begin again.

Books+Publishing reviewer: Andrea Kress is a library and information officer and a book reviewer. Books+Publishing is Australia’s number-one source of pre-publication book reviews.

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