Cover Image: My Last Innocent Year

My Last Innocent Year

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Member Reviews

My Last Innocent Year is one of the most engaging and thought provoking novels I've read this year. In the same vein as Isabel Kaplan's NSFW, this book explores the complexities of power, ego, consent, and class. There is so much to talk about and so many moral dilemmas to unpack. It's a coming-of-age story that I thought was extremely readable – a mixture of great writing and a compelling plot. I like how the main character's (Isabel's) story was told with flashes of future Isabel's perspective. It's a clever way of illustrating these formative moments of Isabel's life and it left me as the reader wanting more.

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very quiet kind of novel, not flashy, but does what it does with skill and nuance. I really liked this novel, I think this was such an immersive campus novel. That being said, I don’t know if it’s something I would ever come back to, but made for a great afternoon read.

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I was immediately drawn in by the story the characters.The author has. a very strong very clear voice A young woman thrown into a disturbing sexual situation at her school.An author I will be following.and recommending.#netgalley #henryholt

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I liked the idea of the book but I didn't feel like it quite lived up to the description. It didn't really deal or grapple with the issues as described. They happened but they weren't really examined or dealt with. Which may be realistic but isn't what I felt the book was being marketed as. I did feel like it all came together at the end (I was skeptical it would) but I felt like it was a very surface level look at consent and age gap relationships.

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This is a summary of a full review of this novel that I will release around the time of its publication:

My Last Innocent Year is a debut novel by Daisy Alpert Florin. The beauty and succinctness of Ms. Florin’s prose demonstrates a budding talent. But her story telling needs some work. The novel is written in the first person, the narrator being the protagonist Isabel. The plot moves chronologically, although chock full of backstories, from a dorm room incident, just before senior year winter break in 1997, to a point in her womanhood in January 2017, although the last nineteen years of those events take place in the novel’s last chapter, after Isabel’s college graduation day in 1998. That last chapter ends, seemingly, in the character’s present day after a metaphoric dream of the protagonist as “a girl in dusty sandals and denim shorts, chipped nail polish and cigarette breath,” about to embark on the journey that has just been recounted to the reader. Would that the novel had ended with Isabel’s self-realization, and its accompanying equilibrium, that occur soon after the anonymous tip about Tom’s whereabouts. The last chapter adds only exposition to an otherwise vibrant story and cheapens the narrative drive of the novel. Casual readers will delight in the story’s political allusions, its sexual themes, and the happily ever after view of a successful forty year old woman. But serious readers may be disappointed with the novel’s cursory treatment of what they hoped would be the character development of a confused or disconsolate person, like Holden Caufield or Jay Gatsby, who achieves her self-revelation in the novel’s penultimate chapter.

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I really liked the writing, the time, and the story. The writing is warm and approachable. I felt immersed from the start. I really love a book that dives into someone's else life - granted most books do - but you really cannot experience the turmoil or happiness quite like reading. Overall, I feel like this is going to a new 20something living life popular book!

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Thank you to Henry Holt and Co. Publishing and Netgallery for the digital ARC in exchange for a review!

First, I would like to say I was incredibly excited to read this novel. The cover is gorgeous and the summary is super intriguing.

I love Daisy Alpert Florin's prose. She has a beautiful way of focusing on certain details, phrasing the inner monologue in just a way that is just right for Isabel, our main character. The novel is written in first person point of view, which I normally hate, but Alpert Florin did a great job of balancing the inner commentary with keeping the plot alive.

The story does start out slow — it took me a while to get fully invested. I was along for the ride but not rushing to pick it up and continue. The story is written from Isabel looking back, her present-day self injecting commentary on the past. While Alpert Florin was clearly setting up the characters, the plot, the tension for our second act, it felt a bit like it was dragging.

However, once the secondary plot came into play, I felt like we were flying. The interweaving of the two plots worked so well and kept me on my toes as a reader. And though I was able to figure out one of the twists, it wasn't too obvious. The set up was perfect that the reader could figure it out but not feel like everything was out in the open.

Overall, I enjoyed the work a lot. It's different from what I usually read, but the prose was there and though the novel tended to drag in the first half, the second act is where Alpert Florin's prose, character development, and storyline shine.

Real rating: 3.75

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*3.75 stars*
Initially going into this I expected a plot similar to "My Dark Vanessa" By: Kate Elizabeth Russell however that wasn't what this story was. While having some similaries they ranged into point of view and topic. I believe they are for the same audience however they do not showcase the same story
"My Last Innocent Year" follows Isabel, who is a college student getting a degree in writing. The novel follows her throughout her senior year of college and her relationship(s) throughout.
This book wasn't what I expected. The tone is quite melancholy and monotone in some ways. Isabel is an interesting character as even when she makes bad decisions you somewhat feel the need to route for her and/or excuse her wrongdoings. Isabel's relationship with Connelly was dynamic and unique which I enjoyed along with the conversations around it.
Overall, the plot and topics were interesting however throughout the book I had the feeling of meh. This book was very easy to put down and I never quite felt invested completely. This book has value and the writing is beautiful however there was problems within it that made it between a 3 and 4 stars.

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This wasn't my favorite, but I am a picky reader. I am a bit tired of seeing this plotline - while it is an important one (and obviously one that far too many of us women can relate to), it is starting to feel trite and "done". Still, we will be getting a copy for our collection.

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My Last Innocent Year is a bleak coming of age story set in the background of a prestigious New England college.

Isabel Rosen is first introduced during a seemingly nebulous sexual encounter between herself and another student. This event becomes a catalyst for further developments in her final semester of her undergraduate career.

She tumbles into an illicit affair with her professor. A relationship that she uses to shape her final months at school and later causes further conflicts in her adult life.

Florin’s storytelling is crisp and lyrical. The plot moves along diligently with no rushed urgency. Flowing beautifully. We learn along with Isabel the power of consent and strength behind your voice.

Thank you to Henry Holt & CO and NetGalley for this ARC in exchange for an honest review.

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The Last Innocent Year was a book I did not know I needed to read until I read it. Daisy Alpert Florin’s lyrical writing captivated me from the beginning. The pace and writing make it so easy to sit and take in every detail. I devoured this book in one sitting. Afterwards, I had to take a day long break before I could even pick up my next book just to process solely the ending. Dark and heartbreaking in the perfect consumption, the coming of age and loss of innocence is shown through Isabel’s eyes. Listening to the narrator speak about the haunting past and how it affected her future shows beautiful character development. I find it hard to believe that this is a debut novel. The pain felt in Isabel’s words, watching her struggle, and losing a part of her she never knew she had, all aided in the process of breaking me. “You were never the victim.” I think the most heartbreaking sentence in that entire book. It made me sick to my stomach. Such a short sentence but one repeated to so many victims that they eventually believe themselves. I think it is important to be in a good headspace when reading this book, but if you get a chance, I highly recommend.

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I received an ARC of this book in exchange for a review. This book totally sucked me in. It ended up being different than I thought, but still by the ending I felt like it was well done & relatable to some of my own experiences.

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My Last Innocent year follows Jewish college student Isabel Rosen through her final year at Wilder College- where a nonconsensual sexual encounter and the introduction of a new professor change her life.

Readers of My Dark Vanessa will likely enjoy this book as it covers similar subject matter, though this book is a lot less heavy than MDV.

The writing style made this book easy to get sucked into and once I got started, I read the book the whole way through in a single sitting.

After her nonconsensual experience with a fellow student Isabel is left to battle with her own feelings over what happened to her and whether or not she truly wanted it. Was it rape? Was it consensual? If she didn't make it clear she didn't want it- should she even feel this way?

And while she is still dealing with this, Isabel meets Professor Connelly. He makes her feel seen- talented. Praised. After a lifetime with a mother more dedicated to her art than her daughter and a father who has spent all of his time keeping the family afloat, well, it isn't too hard for Isabel to fall for this mysterious ex-poet.

I don’t have any major complaints about this book, but I do feel that we could’ve gone a bit further with the story? By the end it just rang a tiny bit hollow in a way that I find hard to put my finger on.

However, I did enjoy the use of the first person POV and found it to be done in a compelling way that enhanced the story. There was also a light use of past and present timelines that I think were useful in helping the reader understand why it is this affair was so easy for Isabel to fall into.

Overall, this is a well written book and I'd recommend it! Solid four stars.

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The novel follows a Jewish, female student as she treks through her final semester of college, and all the ups and downs that can come with that. The feeling of completion, the uncertainty for the future, the friendship strain, the job searches. However, she experiences situations of greater magnitude as well, from a nonconsensual sexual experience with a perceived friend to an affair with a trusted professor.

I found the pacing and writing of this novel to be beautiful. It flows through the year without rushing her story and drawing the readers attention in when needed. We were able to see our main character grow and change (not always in the best way) as well as process her childhood through current experiences.

All of that being said, I struggled to see any wrap-up of this story. It feels as though there should be more, and I left myself wondering how all the moments that were detailed in the novel were connected, aside from being events in her life. This gave me deep My Dark Vanessa, vibes and what that novel did so well, this novel was lacking.

Content warnings for sexual assault/dubious content, domestic violence, death, and suicide.

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This is a powerful and perceptive debut novel. Isabel has long felt like an outsider on the campus of her prestigious northeastern college. Beginning her last semester on campus, she feels like she has finally made a place for herself, until a nonconsensual encounter with a fellow student fundamentally unsettles her world. Still reeling, Isabel meets and then begins an affair with R. H. Connelly, her new writing teacher who is hiding several secrets of his own who seems to be the one person who truly believes in her talent and her future as a writer. This relationship, and Isabel's partial entry in Connelly's world, ends up having far-reaching consequences for the two of them and several others.

Highly recommend this well-written coming-of-age story, which explores important themes with strongly developed characters.

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This novel was a stunning reflection of what it means to be on the cusp of adulthood and coming to understand choice -- being robbed of it, claiming it, and not knowing when it's actually yours. Isabel is both naive and jaded and while she could easily come off as a passive protagonist in her own story we see as she becomes more comfortable with her desires the ways that she takes control over her life. The backdrop of the late 90s and the Clinton affair add a rich social context that isn't heavy handed. My Last Innocent Year is the best campus novel to come out in the past decade and deserves a spot among the greats.

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Isabel's story, at first, seemed to have no true direction. During the first third of the novel, i wondered what the purpose of the story was. I think that it took too long for the story to really take off, and some of the beginning moments could've been left out. However, once Connelly entered the story, it began to take off. I was able to see more of Isabel's characterization and how her past reflected on her present, then her future. Overall, I would pick up another book by this author.

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I really enjoyed this book. it was beautifully written and flowed nicely.
The author paints a beautiful picture of the setting of Wilder College.
I love coming of age books where young women feminists are exploring sex and consent and asking themselves these kind of questions. I also appreciate a young Jewish woman POV.

I look forward to more from Daisy Alpert Florin.

Thank you to Netgalley and Henry Holt and Co. for providing me with this ARC in exchange for my honest review.

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Truly, the most true-to-life depiction of small liberal arts college in a small town life I’ve ever read. This book was ENTHRALLING. I couldn’t put it down. Daisy Alpert Florin’s debut My Last Innocent Year is compelling and fast-paced. My only complaint is the lack of character development on behalf of many of the characters; I was excited to read every moment, but I can’t say that many characters changed as people by the end. That said, a very fun read and an absolute 4.5 stars recommend to any lover of academia and thrill.

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This type of book goes in the same category for me as My Dark Vanessa, which is an excellent and poignant tale of sexual assault and it’s impacts. This one lacked the emotional drive to push through the style of narrative we are given. The writing is beautiful, sure, and the topics are complex and painful — but it just didn’t take it home in the way I expected. However, I always love a honest discussion of coming of age, where the main character has to tackle traumatic circumstances, so I appreciate what My Last Innocent Year brought to the table.

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