Just as World War Two spawned the war novel, so Covid 19 has bred the virus novel. And, well, yes, Last One at the Party will join the new genre’s ranks even though the story isn’t really about a virus. As the author explains in her introduction, a deadly pandemic triggers the end of civilisation, but it could just as easily have been a nuclear explosion or an alien invasion. A virus is the means to catapult the main character into a post-apocalyptic world.
Going mad in Harrods takes on a whole new meaning when a Londoner finds herself the only one left alive after a virus nicknamed 6DM (6 Days Max) kills the rest of the world in less than a week. More like a Bridget Jones than a Lara Croft, our heroine embarks on an alcohol-fuelled rampage through five-star hotels and upmarket shops. Thanks to her pre-virus recollections, we soon realise this is a woman who was neurotic long before dystopia hit town. And it isn’t long before decay and danger encroach on her drug-enhanced cocoon of denial. Will she find an inner-strength to survive when all her life she’s relied on the support of others?
There’s lots of backstory to explain why the woman is like she is, but I found myself racing through it to get back to her adventures in her less-than-brave new world. Descriptions are vivid, toe-curling, stomach-turning and, at times, laugh out loud. And, frankly, uncomfortably believable.
Well-realised dystopia mixed with dollops of horror and dashes of chic lit. It worked for me.
With thanks to the author, publisher and Net galley for allowing me to read an advance copy.

This book is set in 2023, the start of the end of the world. A new virus 6DM (6 Days Maximum) takes over the world and all of the people in it, except from our main character.

I liked the style of this book, kind of like a diary with flash backs to times where she wasn’t alone. With only the company of a stray dog she names Lucky they go in search for anybody who could be alive.

This is going to be as much as I say about this book, other than read it. It wasn’t only about death, virus’ and loneliness, it was about finding the inner survivor in you and learning how to cope in order to stay alive.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this ARC. I would definitely purchase it for others to read.

I really enjoyed this book, and think its a fantastically written examination of what it would be like to be an average person and the last left alive after a global pandemic - something that I will admit to have thought about occasionally during this unusual year!

There is obviously a significant focus on the main character, but there are enough flashbacks to get a feel for who she was and how she interacted with those around her. She isn't the most likeable, but she's very normal which I think was quite refreshing.

Unfortunately, this was a difficult book to get through because of the obvious parallels. I think I may re-read it in a few years when things have (hopefully) settled down somewhat, since I think in usual times, it would be a real favourite.

I received a copy form the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

Very well written and I liked the fact that some modern day things - covid-19 and brexit - were written into the story line. It was not my favourite book I've read but I think that's because it didn't grip me! Thank you to Bethany and Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC!

I couldn’t put this down so that’s a definite indication of a good book and I wanted to know more throughout. However, some of the gory descriptions were a bit too much and I almost gave up at several points. My curiosity won out and I continued to learn of the trials of this poor woman who finds herself totally alone in a world of dead people. People who have died during a pandemic of epic proportions that wiped out the population of the world in weeks. Her family, friends, neighbours, the whole of London. Gone. What to do? Get drunk, break into expensive shops, live in a luxury hotel and enjoy visitor free tourist attractions. Of course, this lifestyle could not last and her journey begins. A story of survival, fear, heartache and despair. I didn’t like her. I was annoyed by her stupidity, her hedonistic lifestyle and her self obsessed pity. As time went on however, I warmed to her and by the conclusion of the book, had actually started to want her to succeed. The end of the book was many things; a relief, annoying, heart warming, heart rendering all in one. Would I recommend this book? Yes. After the year we’ve had in 2020, it makes me quite relieved that most of us are continuing in relative normality but also makes me think about what I would do if such a devastating pandemic occurred. I always thought I would want to be the survivor, but maybe that is actually the more difficult option. This is thought provoking and with the first hand knowledge that we all now have, different considerations can be imagined.

A global pandemic is working its way around the world in the year 2023.
If you catch it you have six days to live. Most of the population are now dead.
One woman is left alone in London with the rotten corpses.
After the shock she decides to find out if she is the only one left alive or are there more survivors.
A story that is shocking and hard to read in parts.
I read this book in one day because I wanted to know if she would have to courage to survive.
Thanks you to NetGalley and Hodder & Stoughton for my e-copy in exchange for an honest review.

Gosh I LOVED this book. I scurried through it in one sitting, couldn’t stop reading it for the life of me. Then at the end I cried because it was over. Look, its 2020, I can cry if I want to…

Last One At The Party starts, yes, with an apocalyptic event, maybe you would think it a bit close to home given our current situation but be reassured. That may be the inciting event but this one is entirely character driven. It’s not that easy to pull off a one woman show but Bethany Clift did just that.

You want to know what happens? Nope I am not spoiling a single beautiful, scary, horrifying, uplifting, edge of the seat moment of this one. It is brilliant, clever, emotionally demanding yet inspiring and is written so so well.

I make no promises on whether this is triumph over adversity or one woman’s final stand…but I will promise its worth the journey.

Highly recommended.

It's 2024 and the world is in the grips of another pandemic where everyone dies within six days maximum (hence the nickname 6DM), but our narrator has somehow survived.

You'd think reading a dystopian novel during the 2020 global pandemic wouldn't be the wisest choice, but I feel like this took you away from the realities of what we're living with. I liked the throwbacks to our current situation with social distancing, mask wearing etc.

I've always enjoyed a dystopian novel, and whilst I haven't read past the usual Handmaid's Tale, Hunger Games, etc I feel like this is a bit different. It's also not like your usual post-apocalypse zombie chases and people fighting each other - the worries are a little closer to home.

It left me with a bit of a book hangover and wondering how I'd deal with the situations our protagonist was presented with. I'd really recommend to everyone - it's funny, heart wrenching but so enjoyable.

<i>Thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for an advanced digital copy in exchange for my honest review</i>

This book is superb and very well written. Although I found the subject matter quite upsetting to deal with at times, I was compelled to continue reading and follow the central character on her life-changing journey of self discovery. Will look forward to reading more by this author.

Get your hands on a copy of this book as soon as you can.

Wow, this is one of the most disturbing yet amazing books I’ve ever read! In equal parts terrifying, depressing and hilarious.

This book is set around 10years into the future and another global pandemic has hit. There is reference to our current pandemic (COVID19) and this new one is called 6DM (6 days max).

It tells the tale of a woman in London who seems to be immune to the virus/disease that is killing off the world. America is hit first and slowly it makes its way to the UK. In some senses this book might still be a bit raw but I think you need to have courage to be able to write like this in the world that we are in.

It's a bit of a slow start and the pace still plods along but it's a good read overall and worth the time spent on it.

Thanks for letting me read and review the arc.

Will be posting on Goodreads, my blog and amazon

I didn't think I'd particularly feel like reading a book about a pandemic just now but I'm so glad I did. It's the year 2023 and a virus is spreading around the world. Pharmacies are giving the option of a suicide pill which many people take before they get infected but the lead character decides not to and instead lives her life as the lone survivor of the pandemic. I don't want to compare this to other dystopian novels as I don't think it would quite do it justice. I found this book so gripping and mildly terrifying- loved it!

It was only a matter of time until we had a pandemic novel. The pandemic that hits the UK in 2023 is somewhat worse that Covid 19 and ends up wiping out the global population - just about. As the title tells us there is at least one left at the party and it is her experiences and problems in coming to terms with surviving when you are entirely on your own that is the theme of Clift's novel. Whilst there are some vignette moments for us to enjoy there is nothing truly insightful in this story. Maybe if the plot line and character had been made more believable there would have been more engagement but, for this reviewer, I'm afraid it only merits 2 stars.

Oddly prescient post-pandemic tale with lots to recommend it for fans of apocalypse stories, but quite bleak to read during Covid lockdown! I enjoyed following along with the protagonist and her choices, and the past/present perspectives worked out quite effectively.

Go on Rebecca, read a book about a deadly disease in the middle of a global pandemic.

I didn't know what I was getting myself in to but the description of this book had me curious. I loved it and devoured it in two sittings.

I've laughed out loud, cried, wanted to spew and fallen in love with how great dogs are, all all 4 often within the same entry. I hate/love the ending but I do think its very, very cleverly written.

I'd recommended this book to anyone, whether living through a pandemic or not. One of the books I've enjoyed reading the most this year.

What a book! I absolutely loved it. It was scary, funny, sad and entertaining. I couldn't put it down. Given the current pandemic it was that much more believable and although it is based on this premise the story is more about the journey the main character takes herself. Even though she is not hugely likable to begin with you warm to her as time goes on and the situation changes her.
Absolutely gripping and a great debut.

A scary, funny funny which will have you thinking 'what would I do?' all the way through This is a story of our time. We have already have had to question the way we live, this book goes deeper and darker with added humor and humanity.
December 2023 and the world has been hit with the virus 6DM (6 days maximum to live). The pandemic has no cure and no survivors. The government has issued free suicide tablets, it is the end of the world...except...what if you are the only survivor? What if you have to come to terms with never having human contact, or hearing a human voice again? What if it is the making of you?... A great read and a great bookRead it!

Oh my god!!!.... sniffles... I mean wow!!! What a book... I was shocked, stunned, gripped, hooked and terrified and saddened. I know for a fact I would not have lasted that long before I would have hurt myself or even just wanted to die. My family mean so much to me and also my friends that knowing I was alone.... no I would have tried to find ways to go. I gradually over the course of the book did not like the main character I just found her a bit annoying... I did sympathies with how upset she was about her parents death but I don’t know didn’t quite like her. It’s still good just bloody hell... what a tear jerker.

What would you do if everyone was dead after a world pandemic & you were the only person left? A book that make's you seriously think what could happen. One woman who tells us her story of what happens to her & I want to know more! A great read that I finished after two sittings. Recommended read.

Given the subject of the tale and the times we're living through, this was surprisingly easy to read and, I found, equally compelling. It was well written (even if the formatting on my old faithful kindle let it down here and there- words running into each other, sudden gaps and unexpected double line spacing making it look like I'd come to a new paragraph in the middle of a sentence, etc) and bold in places, not shying away from nastiness. I did wonder a little how quickly she became adept at smallholding- I'm sure I wouldn't have managed so well, especially in those circumstances. The character of Susan was an absolute delight.