The Last Girls Standing

By: Jennifer Dugan

Narrated by: Mia Hutchinson-Shaw

Length: 9 hrs and 39 mins

Publisher's summary

This queer YA psychological thriller from the author of Some Girls Do is now in audio!

“Shocking, captivating, and utterly chilling. A delicious thriller that will have you tearing through pages to get to the end, where you won’t be disappointed.” —Jessica Goodman, bestselling author of They Wish They Were Us and The Counselors

Sloan and Cherry. Cherry and Sloan. They met only a few days before masked men with machetes attacked the summer camp where they worked, a massacre that left the rest of their fellow counselors dead. Now, months later, the two are inseparable, their traumatic experience bonding them in ways no one else can understand.

But as new evidence comes to light and Sloan learns more about the motives behind the ritual killing that brought them together, she begins to suspect that her girlfriend may be more than just a survivor—she may actually have been a part of it. Cherry tries to reassure her, but Sloan only becomes more distraught. Is this gaslighting or reality? Is Cherry a victim or a perpetrator? Is Sloan confused, or is she seeing things clearly for the very first time? Against all odds, Sloan survived that hot summer night. But will she survive what comes next?

©2023 Jennifer Dugan (P)2023 Listening Library

Critic reviews

“Enthralling . . . A solid addition to the camp horror genre, boasting urgent mystery and queer romance alongside its psychological thriller foundation.” —Publishers Weekly

“A thriller that grapples with the loneliness of trauma and the bonds that, for better or for worse, are forged there. The slow spiral to an unsettling, well-earned end will leave readers with much to think about.” —Booklist

“A feral Sapphic psych thriller slasher that digs into how well we can ever know the people we love.” —Paste Magazine

A bloody good time

Last Girls has great characters and a really interesting twist on the slasher genre. (kind of a reverse-slasher starting with the survivors). Mix in a little romance for a really unique take on an old horror trope. I want to read more horror from Jennifer Dugan. Loved it!

left me unfulfilled because you get no answers

the ending just....ended with NO answers to the mystery but was exciting until then.

I think I got it?

Weird ending. I think I understood it.
None of the characters are likable. Which is fine, just wasn’t expecting it. Narrator did a great job. Fun ride but weird ending.

Also loved it until the ending

It just seemed so abrupt and didn’t answer anything. Was Cherry in on the whole thing or not? Was her mother? What happened when Sloan was taken to the police station? Was the ritual real or not? Sloan seemed to put all the pieces together, yet it was never truly confirmed whether or not her suspicions were correct. Great story with a truly dark and horrific feeling, but an unsatisfying ending.

I (also) loved it until I didn’t

The storyline was great, the characters were great… the ending was not. I learned a word in literature class—denouement—which means a quick and abrupt ending. This book is that. I loved it all until the very confusing ending.

What a ride!

A very wild ride with a unique view of mental illness and trauma. Definitely worth a listen

Loved it until I didn't.

Loved the main characters and the angle of the story. The ending was ultimately disappointing, in my opinion, as it took away everything I was hoping for from the book.

The performance by the narrator was well done.

I hated it

the whole book i rooting for the main character but that was a mistake. I feel gaslit and annoyed.