Our Last Wild Days

Thrilling Thriller

There’s something deeply satisfying about sinking into a book and not resurfacing until the final page. Our Last Wild Days by Anna Bailey was exactly that kind of experience—a gripping, atmospheric read I devoured in a single sitting. It’s rare to find a novel that pulls you in so completely and finishes strong, all in the span of a few hours. But this one nailed it.

If you're into Southern gothic thrillers, consider this your next must-read. Bailey’s writing is vivid and textured, especially her portrayal of the Louisiana bayou. The setting doesn’t just serve the story; it is the story. The thick heat, the tangled wetlands, the ever-present sense that something is lurking just out of view—it all feels eerily real.

Bailey masterfully blends suspense with a slow-burning mystery. At the heart of it is the discovery of a young woman’s body, written off as suicide. But our protagonist suspects otherwise and digs deep into the secrets of the Labasque family and the insular, decaying town they seem to control. What follows is a layered narrative about poverty, grief, family dysfunction, buried violence, and the lies small towns tell to protect their own.

The characters are messy, flawed, and emotionally raw—exactly the kind that stick with you. The way Bailey writes them, you can’t help but care, even when they make terrible choices. It’s the kind of story that makes you feel like you’ve been somewhere—muggy air, secrets heavy in the silence, danger in the shadows.

I give it a solid 3.5 stars, and I’m already looking forward to whatever Anna Bailey writes next. Any author who can get me to finish a book in one go gets an automatic thumbs-up from me. This one’s dark, sharp, and absolutely worth the read. Add it to your TBR—you won’t regret it.