Best, First and Last by Amy Matthews

Heather Russo’s life is a chaotic mess. Her work is plentiful but monotonous, her love life has become destructive, especially when she keeps breaking up with her boyfriend and then sleeping with him again. Her long-suffering mother has just separated from her womanising husband, and Heather’s grandmother, Bon-Bon, has just turned seventy and carries the ashes of her third husband everywhere.

Sick of everyone’s moping, Bonnie decides the responsibility rests on her shoulders to unite the three women, help them all get over their respective losses and move on. She organises a girls’ tramping trip. Not just any tramping trip though. They’ll be hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu! This causes mixed reactions from Heather and her mother, Sandy, and at Bon-Bon’s age, will she even be able to make it?

Arriving in Lima before the others, Heather has time to explore. On the first night, she wanders the streets, soaking in the atmosphere and looking for a restaurant, and comes to a famous bridge. Local belief says that if you hold your breath as you cross the bridge and make a wish at the same time, your wish will come true. “Surprise me, Bridge,” she thinks. “Send me something completely, unexpected and totally wonderful.”

That same night, she is drawn to a man drinking alone in a local bar. She introduces herself as Juliet, and when asked, he tells her his name is Romeo. She can’t believe that this gorgeous man shows as much interest in her as she does in him. They spend some wonderful days together before her mother and grandmother arrive, and they have to leave.

But as the three women begin their adventure together, family secrets begin to reveal themselves. Will the holiday together help to heal their respective heartbreak, or will the secrets tear them apart? It’s time for Heather to reconsider what she really wants from life.

Best, First and Last has some beautiful images in it. The author has crafted the story in a way that I could feel the music and taste the local foods. I’d love to visit Peru after reading this story!

Amy Matthews is an award-winning author who loves to write books about complicated people and love. She is a Professor of Creative Writing at Flinders University and lives in Adelaide.

Reviewer: Carole Brungar

Simon & Schuster