I’m a huge fan of Diane Chamberlain and I felt that this book was very well researched and written.
Most of the story takes place in 1965, where race issues and racial tension are at an all time high.

A white young woman joins a protest group who try to persuade more colored persons to vote, but are met resistance and even had violence from other white individuals.

Some of the book is set in 2010, when a widowed woman moves into a house near the family home of the young woman who had joined the protest so long ag0.

I felt like the author really brought the 2 time frames together very well, and really made the book hard to forget. It's nice to read a book without having the author try to sway your opinion one way or the other.

This book was amazing and I truly enjoyed the story! I also learned a lot about the Voting Rights Act movement history and everything that people had to go through in order to make it happen.
In 1965, Ellie is a young college student who has decided to spend her summer working to help Black people to understand the Voting Rights Act and guide them through what it entails. Growing up in North Carolina, Ellie understands the intricacies of race division and civil rights, and she wants to fight for Black people's right to vote even though her own family doesn't think she should get involved in the movement. As she gets to know the other students from other more progressive areas, Ellie falls in love with a Black young man. And as her feelings grow deeper, she also has to face the realities of segregation and living in an area heavily influenced by the KKK. In the present time, Kayla has just moved back to the place her dad grew up in the 1960's. Her late husband had designed the beautiful home in a revamped neighborhood just a few blocks from her father's home before tragically passing away in an accident. But the home she loves so much has also brought her negative attention from someone in the community. This person has threatened Kayla and her daughter and hindered her sense of security at her own house. While Kayla investigates who is behind the threats, she discovers the dark secrets that the community has kept while getting to know Ellie, who has come back to the place that stole everything from her.

I truly loved this book and enjoyed the dual storylines much more than I expected. The story is told from Ellie and Kayla's POVs. Ellie's story is focused on her life as a Civil Rights movement activist and the struggles she faced as a white young woman falling in love with a black man in the peak of this historical political movement. At first, I wasn't clear about Kayla's part in Ellie's story, but as the story progresses it becomes clear how their lives intersect. I was in awe how Chamberlain wrote such an interesting story implementing historical events and writing well-rounded characters, I truly loved this book and can't wait to read more of this author's work.

I know that a lot of people loved this book, but for me it was just ok. I found the historical part with the history of racial injustice sanctimonious and the modern storyline didn't pull me in.

A pretty good drama/suspense book. Kept my interest and the characters were well-developed. Diane Chamberlain is a reliable author and this book is another example of her great work.

This book made me smile and made me cry more times than I was expecting for a Friday night. Once I clicked to open it, I couldn’t put it down. While some of the plot points were fairly predictable, it was an engaging story. The characters stayed true to themselves throughout and were well developed. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to read this.

I was definitely excited to start Diane's newest book when I was invited by the publisher to read it on NetGalley early. A great read!

In 1965, Ellie works for voting rights of blacks in North Carolina and falls in love. In 2010, Kayla builds a home in a North Carolina small town. These ladies end up with something in common. This is a very good book about “racial “ issues.

This was my first book by this author and I really enjoyed it. The story itself is tough. My heart broke for Kayla having to move into her dream house without her dream husband who died while the house was being built. From there, my heart just seemed to break for every character who came onto the scene after that. This one stuck with me and will for awhile.

I love Diane Chamberlain…. This book was no exception. While it took me a bit to get into, once I did I couldn’t put it down. Ellie’s story fascinated me. Her bravery and persistence in her choices and lifestyle were so admirable. My heart truly broke for her at times and I absolutely love the ending.
Great read

I absolutely loved this book. It was heartbreaking at times but such a necessary topic to speak about now, and I thought the author did an excellent job of creating well-rounded characters who were easy to root for.

Diane Chamberlain books..... consistently move me to sniffles and tears - but in a good way. Her insight into history and social emotions are amazing and there is no ones who ties the past to the present like she does.

A highly entertaining, heartwarming and fun adventure filled with witty and engaging charters, heart racing twists and exciting emotional turns. This journey was so emotionally thrilling and so hard to put down.

This book was SO good!! I always know I am going to love what this author writes. She just has a way with her words and writing. Once you start this book, you won’t be able to put it down! I loved that it was dual POV as well. I highly recommend checking it out!!

Great dual timeline with alternating POVs: Ellie in 1965 and Kayla in 2010. Ellie fighting for civil rights and Kayla uncovering secrets that lie buried in her new neighborhood while also trying to find a woman who seems to be stalking her. The timelines are weaved beautifully bringing the characters together in this historical fiction mixed with mystery. I couldn’t put it down.

Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC!

Diane Chamberlain never disappoints! I really enjoyed this book and the development of the whole story. It kept me intrigued throughout. The author did a great job of going back and forth between Ellie and Kayla and depicting the Civil Rights Movement. I always look forward to Diane Chamberlain books and as usual could not put this one down.

A haunting story told in alternating timelines which tell the story of lives and loves lost, through very different circumstances. This book stuck with me for a long time after I finished it and I would highly recommend it!

Thanks so much to the publisher and to NetGalley for giving me access to this book. I really enjoyed this novel. This historical fiction reaches back to 1965 and the fight for civil rights. I t goes back and forth through current time and the past. The author did a great job of writing this novel and bringing the characters to life. Strong recommend from me.

I'm not sure what I was expecting with the one... but it far exceeded my expectations! I find myself recommending this over and over again!

4.5 stars. I loved this book. Such a difficult story line and time on our Nations history. 1965, civil rights, race division, KKK so ugly.
The story line was so well written and I felt all the emotions as Ellie was taken into a new world as she began to work to register black voters in 1965. At a time when races were separate and definitely not equal her eyes were opened and her heart broken on every level.
Kayla's story of carrying on after the death of her husband is hard, and yet the way she begins to come out of her shell and build a new life is lovely.
Some of the secrets I figured out, but all of them left me heartbroken.
Highly recommend.

See why @sallyhepworth says “Chamberlain at her absolute best...Sensitively and unflinchingly told, this novel will make you cry, seethe, swoon and rage. I’ve loved every book Diane Chamberlain has written, but The Last House on The Street is, without doubt, is her masterpiece.”

🇺🇸 This novel has it all: dual timelines that seamlessly fit together, tension roiling in America's 1965, a college student wanting to get rid of guilt and do more for her fellow man, and then a present that isn't so clear. Chamberlain is a master at story-telling and extracting emotion you didn't know you were holding in.

📝I loved the perspective, the attention to detail through meticulous research all while with the plot keeping the pulse of suspense and emotion. As many of her novels are, she sets the story in North Carolina at the time in history where LBJ is in the process of signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Throw in a local Southern girl who is trying to help out the Negro community to get registered to vote, and all hell is going to break loose. Dealing with a hostile family members, the ever-growing NC KKK as well as bigoted friends, Ellie has stepped into more than she imagined. The author explores relationships, race, hatred, bigotry, family, love and so much more that it's hard to encapsulate this into a summary.

💬If you love history with a little mystery, this is your novel. Her writing is beautiful and meaningful. Thank you Netgalley, Diane Chamberlain and St Martin’s Press for

🎧 @therealsusanbennett was a phenomenal narrator and only adds to the experience! You can't go wrong with this 4.5/5 ⭐️ read!