The Last Book Party is the perfect summer read. It doesn't take itself too seriously, yet there is enough substance to keep the pages turning. It's characterized as "coming of age", which I am unsure about, but it definitely deals with a young, twenty something woman who works in the publishing industry, trying to find a direction. It's debatable if she ultimately reaches one, but I think that's open to interpretation.

Book lovers will really appreciate the behind the scenes look of the publishing industry and all the bookish references. I think another positive aspect is that this book took place in the late 80's, but it really could be relatable to any time period. Yes, there is an absence of social media and cell phones, but that can be easily overlooked. If you're looking for a lot of action or something big to happen, this isn't the story for you, but for the length (this clocks in at a little over 200 pages, it's paced perfectly and keeps your interest just fine. If you just read a very heavy book and you feel stuck in a book coma, I would highly suggest picking this up! The writing is good and overall, this is a great debut.

Thank you to Netgalley, Henry Holt & Co., and Karen Dukess for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book!

Review Date: 6/29/19
Publication Date: 7/9/19

Absolutely mesmerizing and engaging. I loved every page of this novel.

This book made me yearn for a place I’ve never been to, and a time in the publishing industry I did not live. It’s emotional and easy to read, the pages flew by. I did not care as much about the plot as I did about the characters. Think late 1980s, New York, Cape Cod, summer, publishing, books, and growing up. Romance? maybe but this is much more than that.

Absolutely loved it and highly recommend it.

Received ARC from the publisher via Netgalley

Set in the summer of 1987, Eve Rosen, who dreams of becoming a writer, is an editorial assistance for a publishing company in New York. Being stuck in a rut, she jumps at excepting an invitation for an early summer party at famed New York writer Henry Grey's house. His wife Tillie, is a famous poet who Eve is very fond of. Eve finds herself falling in love with they their home and develops a crush on the hosts son, Fanny. Fanny is the complete opposite of his parents. Fanny is an artist and is not particular fond of books.
Soon Eve has returned to New York, meeting an up and coming new novelist Jeremy Greenburg. Jeremy is unfriendly and has personal connections to the Grey family. Jeremy lets it slip that Franny has whisked his girlfriend, Lil, off for the summer on some island. Not wanting to work with Jeremy anymore, Eve finds herself calling Henry and taking him up on the offer to be his research assistant for his new novel. Towards the end of the summer, the Grey's throw their famous "Book Party" where everyone has to dress up like a literary character and the person who can guess them all wins. But the night of the party, Eve discovers uncomfortable truths about her summer entanglements and understands that the literary world she found herself wanting to be immersed in is not all that she thought it would be!

Review: The romance aspect was such a great surprise in this book! I thought it was going to be more centered about classic novels but it was more focused on the relationships aspect, with bonding over classics. Honestly, I kind of want to go read some now! Eve is a young adult trying to navigate her love life and her work all in one summer. I felt for her and her decisions and cringed when some of them blew up in her face. The publishing/writing industry aspect of this book reminded me of "Surfside Sisters", which is a theme I have stared to enjoy a lot more in books lately. The setting on Cape Cod in the 1980's had me yearning to be apart of that era! I also wanted to go take a dip in the ocean and spend my time reading literary classics afterwards. That era had such poise and elegance which were reflected in the characters perfectly. Eve was portrayed as a little naive, which fit well with her age for these times. This book was hard to put down and perfect paired with some sunshine! Such a bold and intelligent beach read!

I absolutely adore this book! That cover of course, and the luscious writing, the engaging coming of age story of Eve, a publishing house assistant in the literary garden of 1987. Enveloped me like a cashmere throw, as I lost hours in the tale of this charming twentysomething’s transition to assistant to a renown Cape Cod writer. The beach, the books, the blow out party thrown by the author and his wife, both artistic luminaries in a storied world. Made me long for youth, a simpler time, a crazed creative tribe despite Eve’s complicated relationships and sobering truths learned. My TBR pile now groans with the many titles mentioned, as the author woos us with her literary love. 5 of 5 Glittering Stars!

Dukess’ backstory compels as well: Tour guide in the former Soviet Union, magazine publisher in Russia, UN speechwriter on gender equality, degree in Russian Studies from Brown and a Master’s in Journalism from Columbia. Whew!

Pub Date 09 Jul 2019.

Thanks to Karen Dukess, Henry Holt & Company and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are mine.

#TheLastBookParty #NetGalley

The Last Book Party is basically the recipe for a book I’m sure to love. It’s a book about books and the publishing world, complete with bookish characters. I loved this about it, as well as the 1980’s setting that gave it more of a fun, historical fiction feel.

This is a coming-of-age story as we come alongside a 25-year-old adult who is discovering what she wants out of life and realizing more and more who she is. I didn’t necessarily like this main character and had a difficult time clicking with her, but I did enjoy beginning to see her grow more into herself over the course of the story, albeit some questionable choices that had me rolling my eyes. I guess what really knocked this one down the board for me was the ending that left me disappointed. I was left wanting and waiting for so much more to happen that never did, which almost ruined the whole thing for me.

I can still say that this book was unique, absorbing, and interesting with sharp writing that could make for a good companion to bring on a summer vacation or just to enjoy curled up in your favorite reading spot.

Thank you NetGalley and Henry Holt and Co. for the complimentary copy in exchange for my honest review.

Like its beach-tanned cover, The Last Book Party is a golden glimpse into the summer life of Cape Cod. Told from the point of view of a twenty-five year old aspiring writer who’s spending the summer as the personal assistant to a famous journalist. Through this contact, the protagonist, Eve, is drawn into the literary high society of successful writers and learns that writing is more about showing up, putting ass in chair and working, not waiting for her Muse to strike. There is a truly vibrant sense of place with details about the ocean, the landscape, the breeze, and Cape Cod’s glorious beaches. I took true delight in all the bookish details: descriptions of books, discussions of their protagonists, cool literary allusions, and simply the experience of holding a book in one’s hands and getting lost between the pages.

This is a gorgeous debut coming-of-age novel with fantastic prose that slowly unveils the facades of the famous writers she meets and reveals that all is not perfect in the Eden of Cape Cod. Both timeless and nostalgic, The Last Book Party is a delightful coming of age story.

As I was reading this book I continually had the feeling that “I’ve read this before, heard this before”. I think this would be a good beach read but there is nothing really fresh or new here. I don’t even think I would call it a coming of age book because the young woman is out of college and has been working for a while, aged 24 or 25.

The novel is about Eve who has been working as an editorial assistant at the New Yorker Magazine. She has aspirations of becoming a published writer but doesn’t have the self confidence to really put her work “out there”. She becomes increasingly bored with the work and when given a chance at being a summer intern working with Henry Grey as his research assistant, (a well known, well regarded author), she decides it would be a good change and a learning experience. She learns things alright, but not necessarily that much about the publishing industry! She lives with her parents who have a home on Cape Cod but spends a lot of her time at the Grey house. She is extremely infatuated first with Grey’s son Fanny and then with Henry.

For book lovers like me there are many, many references to different books and their characters and this was a fun part of the book.

There were some other interesting characters, I particularly liked Jeremy, whose character changes the most over the course of the book, or at least we understand him better and the choices that he has made. However even the new book that he is writing about a leper colony and a man and woman who are in love sounded a lot like a book I have read and loved, “Molokai” but in a different setting.

Since the book is entitled “The Last Book Party” I was willing to keep reading through the quite predictable book to get to that last, hopefully incredible ending! Well there were secrets revealed (most of which were actually pretty obvious) and some flashes of what could have been a better ending, but all in all, it was not really very exciting. I’m not quite sure why it was titled “The Last Book Party” unless it is referring to the couple who host the party????

If you want something light to read this is the book for you. The setting on Cape Cod is wonderfully described and gorgeous and the characters are likable enough.

I received an ARC of this novel from the publisher through NetGalley.

Will post to Amazon upon publication.

Thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Company for an ARC of this book! Release date - July 1, 2019

I do think there are people out there who will love this book, but I don't think those people are me. Admittedly, I did like the writing style, and there were parts that made me want to keep reading to find out what would happen. But overall, this book has no plot. There didn't seem to be a point to it. The description says it's a "coming of age" story, but the main character is just as lost at the end as she is at the beginning. Things happen in the middle of the book, but it's not like they're leading anywhere. The book feels like a random snapshot of someone's life with no purpose or storyline.

I did like the characters, kind of, although they made questionable choices I couldn't really agree with. And the book was well-written. But overall I can't say I liked it all that much because I don't really know what the plot was or why it was written.

4.5 stars. Bookish, nostalgic, fabulous timeless narrator and setting. Highly recommended for anyone who loves to read about writing and the publishing industry, and for anyone who adores books set in beach towns as much as I do.

As a voracious reader, I have to admit the title of this book grabbed my attention. From chapter one, though, I was delighted to find it was about so much more than just books. It tells a story of a struggling writer trying to find her voice, while watching more experienced writers struggle not to lose theirs.

Eve Rosen is the editorial secretary for Malcolm Wing at Hodder, Strike. What she really longs to do is write, and become an author herself. Eve’s confidence in her writing is rock-bottom. Having not led a charmed life, nor a tortured enough life, she feels her ordinary life could not possibly afford her a story worth telling.

Yet, being a secretary to Malcolm does allow Eve the opportunity to attend many parties in the book world. At one such party, Eve meets the Greys and many of their friends. Henry, Tillie and their adult son Franny, are eccentric and seem to live by a different set of rules. Eve becomes entangled with these creative people and the crowd they run with. Some will encourage and support her as a writer, others will challenge her with truth and boldness. But her personal decisions may give her the best stories of all.

As a reader and a writer, I truly appreciated this book. First off, Karen Dukess has an easiness to her writing, where I could personally relate to Eve. And, being set mainly on the shores of Cape Cod, her descriptions were vivid, but not overdone. Second, since it is a book about books, my TBR list grew with the many book references. And I would love to attend a book party such as the last book party that Henry and Tillie threw. But here’s what I really appreciated, Dukess did a nice job of adding the human factor. She reminded me that behind the books are people with families, with heartaches, with insecurities, with dreams. That gives me hope.
Thank you @Netgalley and @HenryHoltbooks for this opportunity to review this ARC.

This charming story, The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess, is a wonderful romp in the 1980's. It's perfect for anyone, like me, who love books, reading and reading about books! It's a delightful story of young adults, writers or want to be writers, paving their way through the authors world. I highly recommend this story of Eve! Thank you to #NetGalley #TheLastBookParty #HenryHoltandCo

Too heavily chicklit for my taste. It is not the fault of the book, as it is a fine choice for the right audience. I'm just not a member of that audience.

What a breezy, summer read! I couldn't put it down because I had to know how everything ended up for Eve. This was a great coming of age story and wasn't entirely predictable, which is always nice. This would be a good choice for someone who enjoyed "Summer Hours" by Amy Mason Doan. Thanks to NetGalley for the digital arc.

Coming of age story that missed the mark for me. Not believable storyline with cardboard characters that seemd too much of something..not angst but maybe just rang untrue

This is a fun summer read for anybody who loves books. Set on Cape Cod in the 1980s, it follows an ambitious, but floundering 25 year old in the publishing and literary world. This is a beach read with substance.

I did not finish this book. To be fair...it is not the book. I was not connecting with the story and have given it two tries...so in my world, that means it is time to set it down. I have several friends who really enjoyed it and thought the writing was very well done. I would be more than happy to share those reviews as I don't think it is fair that I give this novel a poor review based on my connection alone. @lonestarwords wrote a glowing review and I actually picked up this book based on her. I trust her. I would absolutely pick up a novel by this author again. The writing was well done.

The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess is a story about 25 year old aspiring writer Eve. In an effort to boost her creativity in her writing aspirations, Eve begins a job at a publishing house. She soon realizes that she will need to find other means so find inspiration for finishing her stories. She beings a job with a writer named Henry as his personal research assistant. Eventually, she gains an invitation to Henry and his wife Tillie's annual summer book party. On the night of the book party Eve realizes truths about herself and those around her that make her realize the mistakes she has made. This story was a coming of age story. I did not necessarily relate to Eve's personal choices along the way, but I did find her journey interesting. The prose is very whimsical, which makes it perfect for a summer read.

I was excited for The Last Book Party! I mean I’m a lover of reading and have a blog reviewing books! Then I found out the book takes place in the 80s.... boom I ❤️ the 80s then this books takes place in some of my favorite places.... Boston, NYC and Cape Cod!!

Karen does an amazing job writing this book. It was the right book at the right time for me and I really enjoyed reading it. I can't wait to read more from Karen. The Last Book Party needs to be on everyone's summer read list!

The Last.Book Party has two good things: the ending and the time frame. It was fun to read a book set on 1987-1988 and how much different life was., especially in the publishing industry pre- Amazon. The ending was a good wrap up with the main character having taken control of her life and pursuing a career that was worthwhile. I really didn't like any of the man characters in the story. I found them to be shallow and uninteresting. I think the only one who was realistic was Danny.

I enjoyed this. It's whimsical, nostalgic, illicit, peculiar, and worldly. The writing entrances you as it sweeps you to the Cape with a coming-of-age tale of a young woman discovering who she is and what she wants from life. She's weary and down trodden when the book opens which leads to questionable decisions and mistakes. It's an interesting dichotomy with this character because I didn't particularly like her but I liked her story, which makes not a lot of sense I realize but it's true. Even though I didn't relate to her or her choices I found her story interesting, mysterious, and compelling.

I wish the ending was more conclusive however. I was waiting for a big revelation or something, maybe an epilogue. It feels incomplete although it's not, again I'm being contradictory, and really detracted from my overall rating for this review. However, as stated the plot was intriguing. It was fun to see how the other side lived in the 80's and what this young woman faced in becoming who she really wanted to be. It's told completely from her point of view and falls under the category of historical fiction. It's not solely a romance to me although there is some romance to it. More women's fiction. A truly engaging, unique read.