Last House by Jessica Shattuck is a rich, multi-generational family saga packed with history, heart, and moral complexity. Set across decades—from the 1950s to the turbulent '60s and '70s—it centers on the Taylor family: Nick, a WWII vet turned oil–company lawyer; Bet, his former codebreaker-turned-housewife; and their kids Katherine and Harry, coming of age in an era of protest and upheaval .

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an advance copy of Last House by Jessica Shattuck in exchange for my honest review and opinion. This is not my typical genre as I am not a huge fan of historical fiction however I thought this sounded like a great book from the description. I wasn't wrong - very good book that kept me engaged from the first page to the very last.

I very much enjoyed reading Last House, the first novel by acclaimed writer Jessica Shattuck that I’ve read. My thanks to Ms. Shattuck, HarperCollins, and NetGalley for giving me an advanced reader’s copy for free. I look forward to reading more by this terrific author.

Although I vaguely recall learning about the factual events relating to the United States’ involvement in returning Iran’s Shah to power in the 1950’s and then, of course, his downfall during the revolution and subsequent rise of religious extremists, Ms. Shattuck does an excellent job of bringing the machinations and motivations to light, as well as the consequences. The book is full of complexities and competing ideologies and takes a look at how different generations and financial circumstances lead to different attitudes and opinions. There’s a very human, emotional element as the story follows the lives primarily of one nuclear family from World War II until the present. I found it interesting and entertaining.

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Last House is a thoughtful and emotionally rich novel that explores family, history, and the secrets that shape us. Jessica Shattuck’s writing is warm and immersive, drawing you into a story that feels both intimate and wide-ranging.

The way Shattuck unpacks complex relationships with care and honesty makes the book really resonate. It’s a great read if you enjoy stories about connection, memory, and how the past lingers in unexpected ways.

If you like character-driven novels with emotional depth and subtle tension, Last House is definitely worth checking out.

The pursuit of happiness, success, and comfort become the catalysts in Nick Taylor's decision to work for American Oil in the Last House by Jessica Shattuck. He grew up with modest means and now can afford all the trappings of an upper middle class existence in the 1950s with his wife Bet in tow and their two children Katherine and Harry. Once they reach a certain pinnacle of success, they purchase Last House in Vermont as a comfortable and quaint escape from the vagaries of modern life. Could it even be the escape they need if the world ever turns asunder?

Throughout the years, times, mores, and quests for happiness become different from what was once favored. Katherine and Harry get swept up in the counterculture of the 1960s to the chagrin and curiosity of their parents. They're not in line with what their parents deemed important and may make choices that jeopardize all that Nick and Bet desired. Will their family stay intact and remain unscathed from these different pursuits and ideas?

I found the writing of this book to be incredibly well-done. I love how the author balances spare enough language with apt descriptions of people, places, and notions. I felt lulled along with the story until events happened that changed that lull to more like a dull roar. Something was changing, and you could feel that as the story moved along.

The characteristics of the four principal characters felt well-developed, and I could understand what they were about and where they were coming from. Nick's life had many tinges of austerity and sadness. You know he hoped that his ways of providing for his family would make everyone, including him, happy. Bet's had the air of some dreams that may not have come to fruition although she loved her family and husband. I liked how the kids rejected some of the ideas and lifestyle choices. It reflected the change in times well yet, again, you knew that they loved their parents.

For a while, I thought there wasn't really much of a point about the oil company and Nick's dealings with it. Once the book gets rolling along, I had a clearer idea of what was going on. I didn't necessarily know what was going to happen, but there was an underlying purpose, which I didn't get until 80 percent in. That was the one issue I had with the book. How was this going to pan out in the book? It took too long to get to that point. The background and exposition gave you a lot before anything really happened.

Same with an unexpected yet potential relationship twist. I suspected something, but it wasn't revealed until so late in the book. I really thought there would be more to it.

Except for those two issues, I really liked this book and the family saga aspects of it. While there was a lot of love between the family, it examined the vagaries of families. I definitely would consider reading the author's other books after this one.

Last House is a slow building, character development historical fiction novel about an interesting couple of decades in US history!

I really enjoyed this book! The characters were compelling and the way that the story moved through time meant that I was engaged the whole time. It's an emotional and moving book, and I think it does a good job of painting a scene of what those times were like. Thank you William Morrow and Net Galley for this ARC!

This book makes me so mad. I highlighted so many phrases (uncorrected Kindle proof); the writing was gorgeous. But I couldn't identify with almost any of the characters. I liked Nick. I could understand his journey, empathized with and wanted more of him. I know the hypocrisy of individuals is a theme of the book - so many people railing against oil and corporations, while living a good life due to just that. Even the eponymous Last House is a product of Nick's job. And even Nick - who, it turns out, became pro gun control, but yet keeps and owns a gun. I just don't know how I feel, even a day after I finished. I couldn't imagine living with the self-imposed constant outrage that so many of the characters carry. Not that things don't matter, and you should live with your head in the sand - but this angry wringing of hands, it made me tired just reading it. I think that's why it took me so long to finish. I wanted to read the beautiful language, but the angst wore me out.

This covers a lot in terms of eras, from the 1940’s to the 2020’s, and includes pretty much every noteworthy change in the world, from politics to wars and how these changes have reshaped this country, as well as others. Early on, this centers around a family, a family who have recently come into money, and how that changes their lives. They buy an old home while on their vacation, and this becomes their refuge from the world and the realities of things happening outside this place. Nick and Bet’s lives together are, in broad strokes, the story (from an admittedly White perspective) of America in the last half of the twentieth century to our own time. “Last House” chronicles how a generation shaped by battle in World War Two and the Cold War and gifted with unprecedented wealth, opportunity, and national power, created a flawed and morally blinkered New World Order. How this Greatest Generation gave birth to the Boomers who saw themselves as morally obligated to challenge that world order and correct the mistakes of their parents. How the Boomers in turn gave birth to another generation that is both like and unlike the two that came before. In the stories of this family we see enacted how each generation understood the world — how they reacted to their parents, what mattered to them, what they feared, what frames of reference they relied on in forming moral opinions, what shaped their identities, how they viewed the country tey lived in. Thanks to the author, Netgalley and publisher for the opportunity.

Oh wow, I just finished and gave this book a hug. Well-developed family sagas with historical elements are always my favorite. Definitely was reminiscent of The Dutch House and Great Circle.

A poignant and heart-wrenching work of historical fiction that revolves around a WWII veteran’s privileged family and the incremental steps that lead them to a tragedy that rocks their foundations.

WWII Veteran Nick Taylor has built a stable post-war future for himself and provided for his family by working for the oil industry. As his children grow and unrest spreads in the U.S. through the Civil Rights movement and Vietnam era, his role in the oil industry leads his children to question his quiet conservative ideologies and embrace a more radical, polarizing belief system.

This book wasn’t what I expected at all. Initially it reeked of simple ennui and infidelity and I almost stopped reading. Fortunately, I was rewarded for my perseverance as it broadened into an artful, generation-spanning work exploring political and social movements, environmentalism, and personal relationships. Switching between a first and third person narrative, Last House provides an introspective commentary on the complexities of society, racial injustice, and the multigenerational consequences of our actions. Most importantly, for me, it reflects on the necessity of asking difficult questions, having someone in our lives who grounds us, and making the best decisions we can with the knowledge we have at the time. Though slow at times and undoubtedly tragic, this was an unexpectedly moving and relevant work.

Last House by Jessica Shattuck is a poignant and sweeping family saga that explores the intersection of personal history and national change, set against the backdrop of mid-20th century America. The novel follows the Taylor family, from Nick Taylor, a WWII veteran turned lawyer, to his wife, Bet, a former codebreaker, and their two children, Katherine and Harry. The family is deeply entrenched in the comforts of post-war suburban life, with their secluded country retreat, Last House, symbolizing both their material success and the ideal of safety and stability they crave in a world still reeling from the effects of war.

Spanning from 1953 to 1968, Shattuck captures the social upheaval of the 1960s as Katherine grapples with the idealistic movements of the time, questioning the very world her parents have built for her. As America faces mounting protests over issues like the Vietnam War, civil rights, and environmental degradation, the Taylor family is forced to confront the contradictions in their lives and the costs of their choices.

Shattuck’s writing is rich with historical detail and emotional depth, exploring themes of privilege, idealism, and the burden of inheritance. The novel delves into the complexities of family dynamics, examining how generational beliefs are passed down, challenged, and ultimately reshaped. The Taylors’ story is both deeply personal and profoundly reflective of larger societal shifts, capturing the tension between progress and preservation, comfort and responsibility.

Last House is a beautifully crafted narrative that will resonate with readers who enjoy historical fiction that thoughtfully engages with both intimate family drama and the broader social forces that shape our world. Shattuck masterfully navigates the intersection of personal ambition and collective history, making this a compelling and thought-provoking read.

I received this as an advanced reader's copy through Netgalley and truly enjoyed the book. I'm coming to realize that I prefer character-driven stories to plot-driven stories. I like reading about someone's life as a whole - their thoughts, aspirations, feelings, interactions, etc. This novel revolves around the summer house of an oil-wealthy family. It's been a bit since I read it but I would say it had a lot of good drama (as opposed to roll-your-eyes drama), deep characters, interpersonal conflict and resolution, and interesting family dynamics. Pick it up if you're looking for an immersive family story.

Despite a promising beginning, Last House is spread too thinly across time, events, and themes to have a lasting impact. This is particularly disappointing because it's so well written. Jessica Shattuck offers a multi-generational saga that begins in 1953 and ends in 2026. It's rushed at the end, with several undefined characters thrown in, in an attempt to create resolution and a full circle that ties to the novel's opening chapters.

This family saga covers three generations. The story follows the family though the Cold War, the Viet Nam era with its protests , and into the more recent era with attention to environment, pollution, and climate change amid the background of school shootings, The titular Last House is a family refuge from the end of the world as it is in an isolated in a corner of the country. The takeaway from this book is that the different generations have different crises to avert, different values that are important, and different ways to go about changing. The book is engrossing and not without humor. Those of us of a certain age will find the setting and background familiar.

A sweeping generation tale! The family and cast of characters were so vibrant and the author allowed us to develop a genuine connection with each of them. Which made every perspective and time period fascinating.

Thank you! Thank you! Thank you! No spoilers. Beyond amazing I enjoyed this book so very much. The characters and storyline were fantastic. The ending I did not see coming Could not put down nor did I want to. Truly Amazing and appreciated the whole story. This is going to be a must read for many many readers. Maybe even a book club pick.

I read a lot of WWII historical fiction. I was intrigued by this one because it takes place post war and into the Civil Rights Movement. Not only do we learn about Nick and Bet’s involvement in WWII and their secret roles that they weren’t allowed to discuss, even with each other, we all see their children and how they navigate a time of unrest in the US. Katherine wants to be involved in the movement, but how does that change her life, and the lives before her? Their different beliefs also have an effect on the relationships they have with each other.

I enjoyed reading their stories. It was interesting to see the snowball effect of the decisions and roles they played in the past and how it changed what was happening later in their lives.

Thank you William Morrow for my ARC of this book.

This book completely pulled me in. It’s one of those stories that makes you reflect on life, family, and how our pasts shape who we are. The characters are so well-written—flawed, real, and so relatable in their struggles to find connection and meaning.

What I loved most was how beautifully the little, everyday moments were captured. The writing has this quiet power that makes you stop and feel everything, from the heartbreak to the hope. It’s emotional without being overdone, and it leaves you thinking about your own choices and relationships long after you finish.

If you’re in the mood for something heartfelt and deeply human, this is one of those books that stays with you in the best way. It’s a quiet gem.

Last House by Jessica Shattuck is an ambitious historical novel that spans nearly eight decades, intricately weaving the personal lives of the Taylor family against the backdrop of American history. I am a fan of a sweeping multigenerational tale, so this one was right up my alley.

Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for sharing this book with me.