The Only One Left – Riley Sager

Boy oh boy… WHERE do I even begin? This book grabbed me by the throat and flung me straight off that cliffside mansion. Anyone who says the beginning was slow is lying — or reading a different book — because this one had me hooked from page one. As my first Riley Sager read, the writing style alone impressed me, but the way this plot was layered? Chef’s kiss. I’m so mad I waited this long to pick it up. I literally started it at 4:30 AM on Thanksgiving Day and then proceeded to read through making deviled eggs, pulling the green bean casserole from the oven (photo proof below), slicing the ham, and while everyone else took their post-feast nap. I devoured this book the way some Americans devour their turkey: quickly, and with zero regret.

We follow Kit McDeere, a home health aide on thin ice after a devastating mistake involving unsecured medications and a patient overdose. After six months of being investigated and socially canceled by basically everyone, she finally gets one last chance at redemption — caring for a woman named Lenora Hope, who was accused of murdering her entire family decades ago. Lenora can’t walk or talk, and communicates using a typewriter… because that’s not creepy at all when you’re living in a mansion that’s literally sliding into the ocean.

From the moment Kit moves in, I was already suspicious of Mrs. Baker (page 97 notes: “strict stepmom energy and probably hiding bodies”). Page 137 rolls around and Kit starts hearing noises at night, like maybe Lenora isn’t as paralyzed as everyone thinks? At this point I’m trusting nobody, including the typewriter. Then on page 142, Kit discovers Mary’s body washed up in the water below the cliffs and my brain officially entered panic mode.

The twists start rolling and do. not. stop. When Mary’s “suicide note” reads, “im sorry im not the person you thought i was,” on page 301, I had to pause and scream internally because I know but do you know I know? Page 303 — “her big blue eyes.” Wait. BLUE? Our girl Lenora has GREEN eyes. What in the Scooby-Doo identity theft nightmare is happening?! By page 308–309, I was fully feral when it’s revealed that Lenora is actually Virginia and that Mrs. Baker is the real Lenora. I KNEW that woman was hiding sins. Then Sager said “let’s get even messier,” because by page 350, KIT’S OWN FATHER was the father of Virginia’s secret baby and I just about threw my Kindle. This is generational trauma with a plot twist.

Page 376: oh my good God this woman has been fully walking and talking the whole time. THE AUDACITY. Page 380: Jessie is her granddaughter and suddenly my heart unlocked a secret epilogue of feelings. The chaos gave way to a surprisingly emotional punch — and I was not prepared.

When I finished, I literally said, “Oh my word,” at least five times and then stared at a wall like I had just been personally betrayed by fiction. This is hands-down my top read of 2025 so far. The atmosphere? Immaculate. The twists? Deadly. The final reveal? I might never trust another character again.

Rating: mentally unwell / 10
Would I recommend? Yes. But only to people prepared to lose sleep and sanity.
🌟5/5

👉 Click here to grab The Only One Left on Amazon.

Photo proof of how I spent Thanksgiving 2025: