Helen and Evelyn have different backgrounds and beliefs but have to come together when their children marry. they both vie for their granddaughter's attention.

3⭐️ This multigenerational tale of three generations of women was interesting and well written.

The first chapters about the early lives of Evelyn and Helene were very good. Evelyn and Helene are connected when their children Ruth and Tom get married. There is an ongoing rivalry between the two after the birth of their granddaughter Francie. The stories of the two grandmothers were engaging and at times humorous.

There was a story I wish would have been expanded on when Ruth translated some letters in German written to Helene’s husband. When Helene’s husband died she hired Ruth to translate but it was never addressed any further. It appeared maybe her doctor husband may have had another life before he immigrated. I kept waiting for the answers, but they never came.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the eARC in exchange for my honest review

At Last is an easy-to-read study of two primary characters who live very different lives - or so they think. While I thought the book was difficult and slow to engage with, others may like the story for the settings and the personalities.

Thanks to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the opportunity to read this ARC.

3.5
totally fine, occasionally lovely, not a stand out in any real way. Here are some additional characters so this review is accepted by the netgalley algorithm machine.

I tried again and again to really get into this book, but simply could not get myself to remain interested. This is not to say it isn’t a good book, but perhaps not my cup of tea.

At Last by Marisa Silver is what I would call a character driven book. It follows the intertwined lives of two matriarchs, Helene and Evelyn. The book begins with the place the women’s lives cross paths, their children’s marriage. Then, Silver jumps through each of their lives, their childhoods, pivotal moments, recent experiences, and especially meditating on their love for their granddaughter.

As I said, I kept trying at remaining focused on the book, but finally decided that it isn’t sticking (and maybe it’s one of those books I need to come back to later?). I do enjoy a good character driven book, but in this case found myself uninterested in Helene and Evelyn. If more were happening plot wise I may have been able to stay more invested, but as it stands don’t find myself excited to read this book. I stopped reading around 64% through the book. Maybe one day I’ll try again!

I think the writing itself is great. The detail of each character is wonderfully described, and there is a beautifully poetic nature to the portrayal of each character’s experiences—no doubt Silver is a talented writer! But this book didn’t hit the nail on the head for me personally.

Thank you NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for the ARC, always greatly appreciated 🤍

At Last is a character study of three generations of women in the midwest. There's not a lot happening, except for a description of the lives of some very unhappy people. There is very little joy in the story and it was a bit of a slog for me.

The lives of two strong women with conflicting backgrounds and beliefs become entwined when their children marry. Their backstories, their interactions with their children and each other and their fierce competition for the love and favor of their granddaughter are told with wit, empathy and wonderful prose: “…like right now, as she sat in a room perfumed by Comet and Windex with a sharp undertone of decay…” This is a great read.

At Last relies more on character development than plot. If you enjoy deeply drawn characters, this book is for you.

At the same time, I didn't particularly Iike any of the characters. This story is populated with a lot of unhappy people who don't seem to like one another very much.

I did enjoy the very accurate telling of the mutual jealousy of the two grandmothers. That's not a relationship that gets a lot of attention from novelists.

The book is well-written. The novelist is skilled; I would be open to reading something else from her. But in the end, the story itself didn't move me.

A moving saga about 3 generations of women, each a product of their time. Ruth and Tom are the in-between generation and draw the novel together through marriage. The characters are well-developed and the relationship nuances between Helene (Tom's mother) and Evelyn (Ruth's mother) drive much of the story....2 very different women who come of age mid-century. Family, love, loss and redemption are all explored. in this quiet, somewhat slow moving family drama.

At Last is a multi-generational saga of two families joined by the marriage of their children. While some parts were quite engaging, it seemed as though more scenes were somehow lacking, however, I kept powering through it. The parts that garnered my attention were not strong enough to give it more than three stars.

This saga is filled with lives that are unfulfilled, trauma passed on through the generations, and societal differences between families. Although set in the 1930s and on, the troubles facing the characters were much the same as today: addictions, mental health issues, loss and grief, and family drama. The characters are realistic, yet should have been more fully developed and more care given to tying up loose ends.

While this book was not my "cup of tea", I believe that there is definitely an audience that will find this just right for them.

This book about three generations of women started out interesting. Evelyn and Helene are connected through the marriage of their children Ruth and Tom.

I expected more drama between the two grandmothers. I don’t think this description of the book hits the mark. While the novel touches on important themes, character development is lacking; both grandmothers remain trapped in unfulfilled roles, and Tom and Ruth struggle in an unhappy marriage. Francie faces identity issues and addiction.

Overall, I had hoped to enjoy this book more, but I ultimately found it disappointing.

At Last by Marisa Silver

What an engaging story! I felt like I was within every scene,as Ms Silver’s writing was so extraordinary. Two women, thrown together by the marriage of their children, go through decades at odds never really knowing why, but finally realizing the senselessness of it.

The competition escalates with the birth of granddaughter Francie who has severe OCD. Helene is grandma, while Evelyn is nana. I enjoyed the characters which I found to be richly developed. I got a good sense of who they were.

The storyline could be anyone’s, so it’s very believable. I have found a new favorite author and am pleased to give At Last a five star rating.

Helene and Evelyn grew up around the same time, in different locations, with very different backgrounds. Helene was strait laced and a rule follower, while Evelyn was laid back and free. Helene had a son, while Evelyn had three girls. Both women were later widowed but, unlike Helene, Evelyn had many boyfriends. Helene’s son Tom married Evelyn’s daughter Ruth. Now, these two completely different women, with extremely different views of childrearing must figure out how to get along and how to raise their beloved granddaughter.

Try as I might, I couldn’t get into this book. The back-and-forth narrative, memories from past to present, and the way each woman talked about themselves, and others were just too blah for me. I’m sure there’s some symbolism I’m missing, but I don’t read for symbolism. I read for enjoyment. This was not enjoyable to me.

However, I will leave it up to my Adult readers to decide if you want to read it or not.

3.5 Stars

At Last is a character driven, multi-generational story that follows two families during the ups and downs of life. This is a slower paced story that spans from the 1930s to modern day, with multiple POVS and timelines. I enjoyed the tension that Silver created in the story, with the two families having vastly different upbringings and societal expectations, and following the lives of each of the female characters.

While I did really enjoy the story, I did feel like there were time jumps that left me wanting more details and relationship development between the characters. I found the tension and competitiveness between Helene and Evelyn could have been explored more, to add depth to their individual characters and the differences between the two women. Much of the story also has a very melancholic tone, with most of it focusing on the hardships and complexities of life, but does end with a hopeful promise.

𝐖𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐨 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭:
* Complicated Families
* Mental Health & Dementia
* Drug Addiction
* Midwest Setting
* Parent/Spouse Loss
* Character Driven Story

𝐈𝐬 𝐈𝐭 𝐒𝐩𝐢𝐜𝐲?
🥶 (No)

If you enjoy family saga stories that focus on real life issues and complicated characters, then I would recommend reading At Last.

Powerful portrait of two matriarchs brought together by their children's marriage. Well-developed characters who are such opposites, and. deal with and compete for their beloved granddaughter so differently! A slow but steady story that is satisfying in its resolution.

Evelyn and Helene. Two very different women who never would have met while living in Ohio, but for their children, Ruth and Tom, marrying. At times barely able to tolerate each other, they are united in their love for their granddaughter, Francie. This novel follows their lives, both before and after they meet, all the way through to the death of one of them. A poignant look at their highs and lows, with something of a mystery thrown in for good measure (did Helene’s husband have a family that he left behind in war-torn Germany?) Worth a read.

✨Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for a digital ARC of At Last!✨

This is a character-driven story covering the span of two women’s lives and the dynamic of their families. I particularly enjoyed the second half of this book, and felt that it got better as the novel progressed. I would recommend this book to those who enjoy slice-of-life stories.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. I absolutely loved both of the women in this book! Their personalities, their actions, everything. Even though it takes place before today, it’s still a very relatable plot. I loved how the timeline jumped to give us a look at what made these two women who they are today. Definitely a good escape in the form of a book.

Interesting story about two women who were thrown together when their children got married. Follows along their paths for the rest of their lives and their reasons to continually be a part of one another’s story. A few unresolved things that I would have liked to hear more about, but overall I really enjoyed this book!

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the Kindle ARC. Evelyn and Helene are very different women who are drawn together reluctantly when Evelyn's daughter Ruth and Helene's son Tom get married. The book follows the two women and adult children through several decades. Evelyn and Helene don't regard each other well but try to tolerate each other for the sake of Tom and Ruth and eventually their granddaughter. Over the decades the story becomes a slice of life family drama with ups and downs, secrets that are uncovered and the trauma that a young woman can experience when her world feels out of her control. I liked At Last more as I continued to read it and its a quiet drama full of real life issues.