Last Seen: A Novel
“A morally complex and life-affirming exploration of what it means to be alive, and of the enduring power of love to transform, reanimate, and redeem.” —Celeste Ng, New York Times-bestselling author of Our Missing Hearts
“The novel’s immersive quality and intricate structure is reminiscent of Liz Moore’s recent bestseller, The God of the Woods, while the boys’ lyrical voices, told from an obscure afterlife, harken back to such contemporary classics as Alice Sebold’s The Lovely Bones.” —The Boston Globe
Caleb was driving home for Christmas. Steven was pounding beers at a local bar. Matthew was out looking for his ex-girlfriend. Leo was walking in the woods on a winter night. Then they disappeared.
Days, weeks, years later, their bodies turn up in icy rivers hundreds of miles apart. How did they get there? What, if anything, connects them? Some of their loved ones believe the official answers. Some are convinced the boys are victims of an insidious network called the Smiley Face Killers. Some are trying to forget them altogether. Meanwhile, Caleb, Steven, Matthew, and Leo find one other—and other boys like them—in the murky depths of the afterlife. Each tells his story in his own way, speaking his version of truth, confessing his desires and grievances and even his hopes for a future he still somehow believes belongs to him. Each revelation brings the reader deeper into their intertwined fates, along a journey through the landscapes of identity, intimacy, and the haunting echoes of unresolved grief.
From the Publisher
ASIN : B0F929CMBK
Publisher : Viking
Publication date : February 17, 2026
Language : English
Print length : 368 pages
ISBN-13 : 979-8217061037
Item Weight : 1.2 pounds
Dimensions : 6.34 x 1.23 x 9.31 inches
Best Sellers Rank: #289,760 in Books (See Top 100 in Books) #818 in Coming of Age Fiction (Books) #3,019 in Psychological Fiction (Books) #3,536 in Literary Fiction (Books)
Customer Reviews: 3.6 3.6 out of 5 stars (13) var dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction; P.when(‘A’, ‘ready’).execute(function(A) { if (dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction !== true) { dpAcrHasRegisteredArcLinkClickAction = true; A.declarative( ‘acrLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault”: true }, function (event) { if (window.ue) { ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrLinkClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } } ); } }); P.when(‘A’, ‘cf’).execute(function(A) { A.declarative(‘acrStarsLink-click-metrics’, ‘click’, { “allowLinkDefault” : true }, function(event){ if(window.ue) { ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”, (ue.count(“acrStarsLinkWithPopoverClickCount”) || 0) + 1); } }); });
Original price was: $2,810.79.$2,619.66Current price is: $2,619.66.
Rob Hahn –
A story about youth, love, and looking back
I just finished Last Seen and it really stayed with me. I ended up listening to the audiobook first and then reading the hardback because I wanted to experience it again on the page.What struck me most was how honest and real the four young men felt. They’re flawed, immature, yearning, confused — but also beautiful in their vulnerability. The book treats them with a kind of reverence without glossing over their blind spots or mistakes. That balance felt very true to life.I also loved the structure. The story starts in a place of ambiguity and slowly solidifies (though not completely), which kept me thinking even after I finished. The semi-afterlife element worked for me both literally and metaphorically — it felt like a way of exploring how we look back on youth, first love, and the people we once were.The older characters are just as compelling, especially James. The age-gap relationship is so warm and authentic. The ending, in particular, felt quietly beautiful and moving — I teared up.This was my favorite of Castellani’s novels so far. It feels deeply human and emotionally generous. I highly recommend it.
Plyle –
Wanted more
Young men floating in a river dead. Able to communicate with each other sometimes. Their stories are hard and sad, similar and not. Everything you learn has to be pieced together. I thought the story was working toward a reckoning that would tie things together, but that never happened. The stories were interesting and well written but ultimately unsatisfying. I hoped for more.
Tammy –
Last Seen
📚Last Seen✍🏻Christopher CastellaniBlurb:I am one of those boys they keep finding in the river.Caleb was driving home for Christmas. Steven was pounding beers at a local bar. Matthew was out looking for his ex-girlfriend. Leo was walking in the woods on a winter night. Then they disappeared.Days, weeks, years later, their bodies turn up in icy rivers hundreds of miles apart. How did they get there? What, if anything, connects them? Some of their loved ones believe the official answers. Some are convinced the boys are victims of an insidious network called the Smiley Face Killers. Some are trying to forget them altogether. Meanwhile, Caleb, Steven, Matthew, and Leo find one other—and other boys like them—in the murky depths of the afterlife. Each tells his story in his own way, speaking his version of truth, confessing his desires and grievances and even his hopes for a future he still somehow believes belongs to him. Each revelation brings the reader deeper into their intertwined fates, along a journey through the landscapes of identity, intimacy, and the haunting echoes of unresolved grief.My Thoughts:This is a book about life…as told through the dead. It offers a unique perspective in which you learn the stories of four young men, who are all dead when you are introduced to each of them. The older characters are just as compelling, especially James. The age-gap relationship is so warm and authentic. The ending, in particular, felt quietly beautiful and movingThanks NetGalley, Viking Publishing and Author Christopher Castellani for the complimentary copy of “Last Seen” I am leaving my voluntary review in appreciation.#NetGalley#VikingPublishishing#ChristopherCastellani#LastSeen⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Elisa M. Speranza –
A masterpiece of tension and stakes, beauty and heartbreak.
Last Seen is a masterpiece of tension and stakes, beauty and heartbreak. The brilliant, unconventional form drives the action forward, backward, and sideways. The multiple narratives and points of view defy convention, weaving seemingly disparate stories into a compelling whole. This book is one of one, and all of Castellani’s lost souls will stay with me for a long time.
TheBoyNextDoor –
I am one of those boys they keep finding in the river.
Utterly beautiful and haunting. This novel is the definition of ambitious. I loved it and “will never emotionally recover”, as the kids say. I have thought of it constantly since reading it. I plan on sending a friend a copy as a gift asap so that I have someone to talk about it with.
Ellen –
A hauntingly beautiful book
This book reached inside and squeezed my core. The stories told from multiple men who disappeared. I was consumed by their backstories and what got them to where they are now. Told from the viewpoint of all of them, this was a fascinating plot and way to narrate. My heart broke at many times while reading. Mostly because when people really do disappear I wonder if this is the way could they tell their own tales or keep an eye on us. Beautifully tragic and well written. I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.