“Last Stop on the 6” by Patricia Dunn brought back to me a childhood memory. In 1964, my Midwestern family braved a trip to New York City! We saw the major sights and then took a bus trip to New Jersey to see some relatives. I was disappointed to leave NYC but the ride on the bus ended up being the highlight of our vacation. My quiet and sedate family sat near the back of the bus right in front of a large, loud and extremely happy Italian family. The kids (so many of them) were about our age and we all quickly bonded and had a rousing time together on bus. I missed them when our journey was over.

So after reading “Last Stop on the 6” I felt like I caught up with that Italian family I enjoyed so much. Interesting to see how they all grew up! Family is the heart of this humorous and painful family story- especially when their love is buried by pride, and misunderstandings. Can this big Italian family navigate their memories and connections to find the dreams and desires that bind them together?

I will introduce you to the family in this book. They are from Pelham Bay, The Bronx, the last stop on the 6th. Angela is 30 and has been in Los Angeles for 10 years. She left Pelham because of a tragic experience that badly injured her brother Jimmy. When her mother sends her a one-way ticket, she decides to return home. Her family includes her mother, her dad, her mother’s second husband (who is a great cook- I could smell the wonderful aroma of his gravy), good friend Billy and then there are the neighbors, friends and other interesting characters. Angela is convinced that her brother shouldn’t marry Julie and she also fears that the mafia is after Jimmy. She worries about her Dad and her Mom. She sees dysfunction, guilt and blame. Angela is also an activist and is very concerned about the pending Iraq war to overthrow Saddam.

As Angela discovers she is wrong about many of her assumptions, she struggles to find her place in her family and her purpose in life. This book is written in the first person and features much realistic dialogue between the characters. This made me feel like I was right there, part of of the events. But, it also made the story somewhat confusing to me and I couldn’t get into the flow of it and lose myself in the story. Still, this book will appeal to many people who like gritty, unique characters and a bird’s eye view of New York City living.

Thanks to NetGalley and Meryl Moss Media for an advance review copy. This is my honest review.

I very much appreciated being given the opportunity to read an advance copy of Last Stop on the 6 by Patricia Dunn. This is the story of Angela Campanosi, who escaped her close-knit Italian-American family in The Bronx after a horrific accident involving her beloved brother. Jimmy wanted to be a movie star, but after the accident, he wasn’t able to. Instead, Angela has found some small success in California, where she mostly spends her time and energy protesting the American buildup to the war in the Middle East (the book was placed in the 1990s). When Angela is commanded home by her mother, she returns to her childhood home and we are immersed in the world of her youth. It’s richly drawn, from her father’s successful business as an exterminator to the Mafia undertones in everything. Coming home, she lands in the middle of a mystery: where is Jimmy, anyway? His wedding is a couple days from now but nobody’s saying. As Angela introduces us to her weird world, she is learning to let go, to stop controlling everything (a lesson her mother must also learn), that sometimes it’s not about you and the guilt or other negative forces that drive you are misplaced. I especially enjoyed the sweetness of her relationship with her brother. The dialogue is hilarious, and everybody’s got a secret, deflecting Angela from her mission. It’s also heartfelt and emotional, catching the reader by surprise at times. Really well written novel about a young woman maturing. Thanks to Netgalley for allowing me to enjoy this advance read.

5 stars! I was really surprised by this book. Super Fast, plot driven read, that I didn't want to put down. Main character, Angela is headed home to the Bronx since moving to California ten years prior and an accident that left her brother injured. From the moment she steps into her family home they chaos begins and secrets start to unravel. Angela finds she has missed so much after being gone, and before she can figure out how she still fits in with her family, uncover their secrets, deal with her own guilt, she has to find her brother, who went missing right before she arrived. The Campanosi family is full of life and zest and all the quirkiness we know and love. I felt like one of the family by the end. And I need Mike's gravy recipe!! This book had it all, a bit of humor, some mystery and family drama. I will be recommending this book to everyone!

Thank you to @netgalley and @meryl_moss for an advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review.

I’m always honored to be asked to read an advance copy of a book. Angela, the main character, ran away from her complicated Italian American family in New York 10 years ago. Typical family misunderstandings and assumptions. Superstitions. Everybody knows everyone’s business in this neighborhood, yet just about everyone has a secret. Who you were as a kid is rarely who you are as an adult. The bond of family. I want some of Mike’s gravy!!! While there is a lot of language and politics, there is a tremendous and quirky wit. Some of the visuals are so great that you wish you could actually be there! This is one book that just might be incredible on audio with authentic accents!