Thank you Netgalley & William Morrow Publishing for an eARC ♥️♥️♥️

"Last House" is a sweeping story that spans many years of American history. It follows the Taylor family, who become wealthy thanks to the oil industry. They have a special retreat, called Last House, where they can escape the world's troubles. But as the years go by, the family faces challenges and changes that make them question their beliefs and values.

I'm a total sucker for family sagas, and this one hooked me from the start! I love how the story unfolds through the eyes of different family members, showing how their lives intersect and influence each other. Jessica Shattuck’s writing is beautiful, making the story come alive.♥️You'll be drawn into the Taylor family's struggles and triumphs, and you'll finish the book with a new perspective on life.

If you're like me and love getting lost in a good family saga, "Last House" is a must-read. It's a story that will stay with you long after you finish reading it, making you think about your own family and the legacy you want to leave behind.

This story is not a unique plot yet it is told differently enough to feel unique. The characters are complex and they evolve (like most humans) and I enjoyed and learned a bit while reading about the many historical times portrayed through the book.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an early release in exchange for a fair and honest review.

I would like to thank NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advance e-galley of this book in exchange for an honest review. Look for it in your local and online bookstores and libraries on May 14, 2024.

I have just read three superb books about Vietnam by women, written from women’s’ points of view and from three different perspectives. What a trio! Kristin Hannah, Alice McDermott and Jessica Shattuck have created three novels about this era in our history that are all worthy of praise. Shattuck’s book is the most literary. I had to stop and reread so many paragraphs that were so clever and insightful I took notes to reread later. Her novel is brilliant. Sometimes one word suffices. The Taylor family is her focus and the novel spans the forties to the present… 2026 is the end date so Jessica takes us beyond the present. Frankly, I wondered about her motives in added that fillip at the end. The family dynamic is related in sections devoted to each member and we are introduced to mother, father, sister and brother from mostly Katherines’s point of view. She is the hippie, anti war, anti establishment daughter who personifies the young people who so vociferously opposed the Vietnam war and its atrocities. She takes us on our journey through this era in our history and although I grew up in this era, I felt I never experienced it as I did reading this novel. I was again appalled at our country’’s involvement. A concurrent theme is her father’s history as a lawyer for the oil industry involved with the Shah of Iran and his reinstatement as leader of this oil rich nation. Both intersect as we meet the cast of characters. LAST HOUSE is their summer home in Vermont and a crucial part of the family history. I found the title ironic and meaningfully chosen. I have chosen this book for my book club discussion. The combination of history, family dynamics, and politics makes for an unforgettable literary experience.

When I read the description of this book I recognized myself as the target audience for such a tale.

A family drama set across decades yet it feels incredibly intimate. It’s a love story, both romantic, platonic, and familial that the reader experiences from various angles of a persons life. You don’t fall in love once, but you choose love over and over in the moments that make up your life; this book beautifully explores that and all of the complexities our relationships entail.

Over the course of this book you not only meet a family but feel as though you’ve joined them. Each characters voice was so distinct that reading it in my mind felt like listening to an audiobook with various narrators thanks to the strength of Jessica Shattuck’s writing.

The eco/environmental fiction presence is strong in the internal thought embedded within each character’s point of view. What I found refreshing, beautiful, and helpful to the books pacing was that each character, just like people, had their own way of viewing the same issue or topic. Stemming from their unique individual life experiences, but more than anything, the change a generation can have on an era, or the other way around.

This book was anything but monotonous. With various plantings throughout the book all being paid off by the end I felt my time was never wasted.

I found myself highlighting so many passages, it’s unbelievable. I will miss this group and all they taught me.

This book is American, this book is international, this book is familial. This book will ring true for those that are parents, children, siblings, and anyone who cares about this world and feels life deeply.

In other words, everyone should read this book.

This talented author has written a page turner. It was intriguing to read about the years I have lived...America and all of its changes...historical fiction that reads like nonfiction...even the title is "different"...the Last House...that is what caught my eye at first. Then reading about the happenings during the time that I was growing up...that was the icing on the cake...seemingly historically accurate...that made the book even better. Curl up by a cozy fire and be whisked away to the past...enjoy...Thanks Netgalley.