The Last House on the Street

I’m a huge fan of Diane Chamberlain, so I was beyond thrilled to receive an advanced copy and audiobook of her latest historical fiction novel, The Last House on the Street! This is a unique and unforgettable story set during the Civil Rights movement, and it will hold you captive from the very beginning!

Synopsis: When Kayla Carter's husband dies in an accident while building their dream house, she knows she has to stay strong for their four-year-old daughter. But the trophy home in Shadow Ridge Estates, a new development in sleepy Round Hill, North Carolina, will always hold tragic memories. But when she is confronted by an odd, older woman telling her not to move in, she almost agrees. It's clear this woman has some kind of connection to the area...and a connection to Kayla herself. Kayla's elderly new neighbor, Ellie Hockley, is more welcoming, but it's clear she, too, has secrets that stretch back almost fifty years. Is Ellie on a quest to right the wrongs of the past? And does the house at the end of the street hold the key?

What appealed to you the most in this story?

I loved the dual timelines, following the lives of Ellie in the mid 60s and Kayla in 2010, and how their narratives come to connect the tragic past with the present. Ellie was my favorite, and I found myself connected to her story and living right beside her as she stepped into her own shoes and began working towards making the world a better place.

I also appreciate how the sensitive issues including racism, interracial relationships, and activism were approached and written about.

How was the pace?

This book held a steady pace with fast page turning moments.

I was completely captivated by the raw honesty of this narrative from the beginning and found myself caught up in learning about the tremendous obstacles in place to keep Black citizens from registering to vote, along with Martin Luther King Jr’s SCOPE initiative to help them register.

How was the audio version?

I’m so glad I went with the audiobook! Susan Bennett is just a phenomenal narrator and has done another amazing job. I think listening to the story really brought even more emotion to the each of the character’s lives and drew me deeper into their lives. I was in tears by the end, as the 1965 timeline drew to a close.

Did the author do her research?

Yes! Not only did she do a fabulous job bringing history and facts to life, but she also got me to read more history and research SCOPE more too! I love how Chamberlain wrote this fictional story with layers of factual history to educate and inform readers. The fact that this occurred within the lifetime of my parents and so many others still alive today is beyond my comprehension.

Do you recommend this book?

I cannot recommend this unique, riveting and wonderfully written book enough! Fans of Diane Chamberlain and those who have yet to read one of her books should definitely pick it up as soon as it hits the shelves on January 11th!

Thank St Martin’s Press and NetGalley for providing a gifted ARC in return for my honest review.