FIRST IMPRESSION: The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth by Barbara O'Neal

The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth is my first introduction to Barbara O’Neal’s writing. Even just a third of the way through the novel, I find myself completely immersed in its world of loss, discovery, and the healing power of food and travel.

The story is told through the journeys of two women. Mariah, once a rising Olympic snowboarder, finds her life upended not only by the end of her athletic career but also by the devastating loss of her mother, Rachel. Grief-stricken and adrift, she struggles with nightmares and uncertainty until her aunt suggests she take up Rachel’s unfinished culinary project—a book exploring the rich history of Parsi cafés.

Parallel to Mariah’s story is that of Veronica, a middle-aged woman reeling from divorce and searching for a sense of renewal. When she comes across an advertisement for a traveling companion, she embraces it with surprising enthusiasm. What follows is an exhilarating journey through London, Paris, Morocco, and India that reinvigorates her through new cultures, flavors, and connections.

O’Neal’s gift lies in her ability to create characters who feel both flawed and deeply human. Mariah, Veronica, and Henry—Rachel’s longtime friend and a former war photographer—carry their own burdens, but together they form an unlikely trio bound by grief, curiosity, and the late Rachel’s letters. As they unravel the mystery she has left behind, they also find themselves.

There is a richness to this novel that goes beyond its plot. O’Neal’s prose is infused with sensory detail—the aromas of unfamiliar spices, the beauty of unfamiliar landscapes—that makes the journey feel vivid and alive. Reading it has made me want to cook alongside the characters, turning the story into a fully immersive experience.

So far, The Last Letter of Rachel Ellsworth is shaping up to be a moving and nourishing novel—one that speaks to the resilience of the human spirit, the complexities of love and family, and the transformative power of adventure. I cannot wait to see where O’Neal takes these characters next.

I'll do a full review after I finish the book.

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The Cerebral Girl is a middle-aged blogger just digging her way out from under a mountain of books in the deep south of Florida.

I received a copy of this book through TLC Book Tours and the publisher, in exchange for my honest opinion and first impression. I was not financially compensated in any way, and the opinions expressed are my own and based on my observations while reading this novel.