In Anna Todd’s latest novel, The Last Sunrise, readers are transported to the sun-drenched shores of Mallorca, where twenty-three-year-old Oriah “Ry” Pera embarks on what she believes will be her final summer. With her characteristic emotional depth and vivid prose, Todd crafts a story that transcends the typical summer romance, delving into themes of mortality, family secrets, and the courage it takes to truly live when time feels desperately finite.
What sets this novel apart from Todd’s previous works is its mature handling of weighty subjects—chronic illness, parental relationships, cultural identity, and the complex nature of love when facing an uncertain future. Fans of Todd’s wildly popular After series will recognize her talent for creating chemistry-laden dialogue and emotionally charged scenes, but The Last Sunrise represents a significant evolution in her storytelling.
Plot: More Than a Summer Fling
The story follows Ry, a young woman with tuberous sclerosis who has spent her life under her mother Isolde’s protective (and often suffocating) wing. When they travel to Mallorca for her mother’s business venture, Ry sees it as her opportunity to finally experience life on her own terms, especially since she’s secretly stopped taking her medication after learning her condition has worsened.
What begins as a rebellious beach excursion leads to her meeting Julián Garcia, a proud local fisherman with his own emotional baggage. Their initial antagonism gradually transforms into something deeper, complicated by Ry’s limited time in Mallorca and her hidden health condition. The plot thickens dramatically when Ry discovers her mother’s business venture involves destroying Julián’s family fishing business to build a luxury resort—and that her mother and Julián’s father share a complex romantic history.
Todd expertly weaves these storylines together, creating a narrative that balances personal discovery, family drama, and a tender romance. The final act, where Ry suffers a major seizure and undergoes risky surgery against her previous wishes, heightens the emotional stakes to a fever pitch.
Characters: Layered and Authentic
Oriah “Ry” Pera
Ry emerges as one of Todd’s most fully realized protagonists. Her inner monologue reveals a young woman who’s both resigned to her fate and desperately seeking meaningful experiences before it’s too late. Her journey from passive acceptance to actively choosing to fight for her life feels earned rather than melodramatic. And her heterochromia (different colored eyes) serves as both a physical trait she tries to hide and a metaphor for her dual nature—the compliant daughter versus the woman yearning for independence.
Julián Garcia
Unlike some of Todd’s previous male leads who veer into toxic behavior, Julián represents a more balanced masculinity. His pride in his heritage and family business is matched by his vulnerability about his mental health struggles. His evolution from tourist-hating local to someone willing to fight for Ry’s life makes him a compelling romantic partner rather than merely a brooding love interest.
Isolde Pera
Perhaps the most surprising character development belongs to Ry’s mother. Initially presented as the cold, career-obsessed antagonist, Isolde’s layers are gradually revealed, showing a woman shaped by loss and fear. Her eventual reconciliation with Mateo (Julián’s father) and her desperate prayer for her daughter’s recovery provide some of the novel’s most moving moments.
Strengths: What Makes This Novel Shine
Setting as Character
Todd’s depiction of Mallorca feels authentic and immersive. The island isn’t merely a picturesque backdrop but a living entity with complex social and environmental issues. Through Julián, we understand the tensions between tourism and local life, and Todd skillfully avoids romanticizing poverty or simplifying cultural differences.
Honest Portrayal of Chronic Illness
The novel handles tuberous sclerosis with sensitivity and research-backed accuracy. Ry’s condition isn’t used merely for dramatic effect but shapes her worldview and choices in believable ways. Her seizures are described with unflinching detail, and the aftermath feels true to the exhaustion and disorientation that follows such episodes.
Cultural Tensions and Identity
Todd explores how Ry’s disconnection from her Spanish heritage has left her feeling incomplete. The scenes where she recreates her mother’s childhood photos and visits her grandmother’s home provide touching insights into the immigrant experience and what is lost when cultural roots are severed.
Areas for Improvement
While The Last Sunrise represents Todd’s most mature work to date, a few aspects could have been strengthened:
- Pacing issues – The middle section occasionally meanders, with several beach outings and meals that could have been condensed without losing emotional impact.
- Supporting characters – While Amara (the hotel receptionist) provides welcome comic relief, her character and relationship with Prisha remains somewhat underdeveloped compared to the depth given to the main characters.
- Medical logistics – The emergency surgery sequence, while emotionally powerful, glosses over some medical realities about international healthcare that might distract medically knowledgeable readers.
- Resolution speed – The epilogue’s neat tying up of loose ends feels somewhat rushed after the deliberate pacing of the rest of the novel.
Writing Style: Emotional Intimacy and Sensory Detail
Todd’s prose has matured significantly since her early works. While she maintains her talent for emotionally charged dialogue, in The Last Sunrise she adds:
- Rich sensory descriptions that bring Mallorca to life through smell, taste, and texture
- Thoughtful introspection that balances the external action
- Effective use of metaphor, particularly relating to water and light
- Dual perspectives that enhance rather than repetitively rehash pivotal moments
Her writing is strongest in the intimate moments—both physical and emotional—between characters. The scene where Julián and Ry watch their first sunrise together combines physical desire with existential appreciation in a way that feels both authentic and poetic.
Who Will Love This Book
The Last Sunrise will appeal to:
- Fans of emotional contemporary romance with substance
- Readers who enjoyed books like Me Before You by Jojo Moyes or The Light We Lost by Jill Santopolo
- Those interested in stories that explore cultural identity and family secrets
- Anyone who appreciates romance that goes beyond physical attraction to explore deeper connections
If you’ve followed Todd since her After series, this novel demonstrates her growth as a writer who can maintain emotional intensity while tackling more complex themes.
Final Verdict:
The Last Sunrise stands as Anna Todd’s most mature and nuanced work to date. The novel successfully balances sweeping romance with grounded reality, creating a story that remains with you long after the final page. While not without minor flaws, the emotional authenticity and character development make this a standout addition to Todd’s bibliography.
What saves this novel from melodrama is Todd’s commitment to honesty—about illness, about family complications, and about the messy nature of love. Ry and Julián’s relationship isn’t presented as a magical cure but as a powerful reason to fight for life, however long or short it might be.
In a literary landscape filled with forgettable summer romances, The Last Sunrise distinguishes itself by asking deeper questions about what makes life worth living and how love transforms us even when time is limited. Todd reminds us that sometimes the most beautiful sunrises come after the darkest nights.
Similar Books to Explore
If you enjoyed The Last Sunrise, consider reading:
- Five Feet Apart by Rachael Lippincott (for another romance complicated by medical conditions)
- The Sea of Tranquility by Katja Millay (for emotionally damaged characters finding healing through love)
- Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone (for mental health representation in a coming-of-age story)
- Todd’s own Brightest Stars trilogy (for her previous work exploring complex relationships)
With The Last Sunrise, Anna Todd proves she has grown beyond her fanfiction origins to become a novelist capable of crafting stories with genuine emotional resonance and thematic depth.
