The Last Book Party reminds us that literary fiction can still make a great beach read. Eve is an incredibly well-written character. She is likeable but flawed when we meet her, and while she grows up significantly over the events of the novel, she is still flawed at the end. This gave her a dynamic and interesting trajectory while keeping her grounded and believable. The story gives an insider’s view of the publishing industry which is fascinating yet stays realistic, unlike many novels set among the literati. I was impressed with the writing and enjoyed the novel immensely!

This book was perfect for me. First, the beachy setting made for a perfect summer read. I loved getting insight into the publishing world of the 1980s. The main character, Eve, was young, naive, and at times frustrating, but I found myself invested in her life. The rich, cape cod lifestyle was addicting. Basically, a fun, light read for book lovers.

The Last Book Party centers around Eve and her summer on Cape Cod working under famous writer Henry Grey and his his wife, poet Tilly. Eve is an aspiring writer but hasn't written anything worthwhile. Eve is drawn into this literary world with its intellectual elite and talented writers that she finds herself in a situation that she never thought she would be in. She falls for Henry and Tilly’s son but soon finds her sights on someone else, someone she never imagined but the situation is one that will change things.

The spotlight of the summer is the “Book Party” hosted by Henry and Tilly that has the who's who in the literary world invited. This is the place when all of the secrets that have been ongoing finally come to the surface and not only will Eve’s secret come out but all of those around her. She finally realizes that this world she has been wanting for as long as she can remember isn't what’s it's cracked up to be.

The Last Book Party drew me in with the promise of all things literary and it didn't disappoint. We get a glimpse of this world but also so much more, Eve is a young woman who just wants to do what she loves, which is writing and being around all these great writers is something she could only dream of. However, this life she thought she wanted isn't so wonderful as she had imagined and realizes there has to be a better way. She is simply learning to come into her own and finding her path to being able to do what she loves. This read is a great coming of age novel that has a great storyline and characters that give us reasons to hate but also love them. This is an easy and quick read that is perfect for these last days of Summer.

I thank you for the opportunity to read and review this book. This author was new to me and I was not let down. It was a great story and very well written. The characters were easy to relate to and I thoroughly enjoyed it. I highly recommend this to everyone!!

With clear and breezy storytelling, The Last Book Party is set in the 1980s high-stakes publishing world. Readers are immersed in a world of summer romance, yearning, and ambition when recent ivy grad, Eve Rosen, returns home to Cape Cod for the summer. First person narration makes for a suspenseful read. Eve takes a job as research assistant to the famous yet reclusive author, Henry Gray, and discovers that personal and professional boundaries can be extremely blurry, like water rippling at low tide. This is a novel about ambition, coming-of-age, love, and disappointment. The story also explores many ways that fiction springs from complicated versions of truth. Debut novelist Karen Dukess delivers a summer romance with some fun twists and a satisfying, unexpected ending.
There's an excellent reader's guide for book groups on the author’s website. Highly recommended!

My Thoughts: I had high expectations for The Last Book Party, both from the title and from that gorgeous cover. I also love coming-of-age stories and hadn’t read one in quite a while. Top all of that off with a books set over a Cape Cod summer and everything should have lined up just right for a great summer read. Should have. Instead, I’d have to say it was just fine. I had no trouble finishing the story of Eve, a struggling writer who leaves her ho-hum job at a publishing house to work for a well known writer for The New Yorker. For me, the problem this debut was that it unfolded exactly the way you would expect. It was usual and so, disappointing.

This book is billed as a coming of age story, however, the main character Eve is 25 so for me this wasn't coming of age at all. While the premise seemed to be one I'd be interested in, an aspiring novelist gets a job as an assistant to a popular author on Cape Cod, the execution was predictable and somewhat boring. I felt like I had read bits and pieces of this type of story before, I was hoping for something more original. While I did like Eve as well as the inclusion of book characters and books, I wasn't overly invested in finding out what happened to her. I'd consider this a light, predictable summer read

Quick summer read. I enjoyed getting a sneak peak behind the scenes of the literary world. I enjoyed Eve’s growth through her summer experience. Great read!

I have a daughter this age who is struggling trying to get her life to start. She always complains that everyone else seems light years ahead of her in terms of progress. The line: “Everyone seemed so confident. It was like they were preparing to become the ‘voices of their generation’ and I was struggling to clear my throat.” made me think of my daughter. Set in the 80's, the book takes place on Cape Cod,which is wonderfully described. If you want something light to read this is the book for you.

This story was about an idealistic young woman working in the literary world who learns some harsh realities about the people around her.

The overall setting and vibe of the book were great – I’ve spent a fair amount of time on Cape Cod (though not back in the 1980s) and since this summer has me stuck in the city, I loved being transported to the Cape. The literary setting was fun too – Eve works at a publishing house in New York for a bit of the story. I wished for even more 80s details, though!

Coming of age-type stories often feature a main character who discovers that someone he or she looks up to isn’t what they seem or that his or her idealistic version of the world is all wrong – and as I read, I could pretty much guess how this story was going to play out. I also think this book would have worked better with a younger main character, like a college-age intern. For a 25 year old, Eve struck me as almost too naive for her age (I was her age in the 80s and don't think I was this sheltered. Maybe I'm wrong!) If you’re looking for a dramatic, twisty, page-turning story, this isn’t the one for you. But if you think you’d like an atmospheric story with a beachy, retro setting, definitely give The Last Book Party a try!

Reading The Last Book Party will transport you to Cape Code/Manhattan in 1987 - particularly into the literary world. Some books draw you in with the characters, some with the plot - but I think it’s less common to be drawn in so completely by the setting.

While reading this book - I was completely absorbed in Eve’s world - a 25 year old editorial assistant who suddenly finds herself drawn into the world of the literary elite. She finds herself drawn into the world of Henry and Tillie Rosen - a writer for The New Yorker and a published rising star poet, respectively.

I loved the atmosphere of this book and how completely I felt a part of each scene - culminating in the amazing Book Party the Rosen’s throw at the end of each season - where every guest comes dressed as a character from a book.

I really enjoyed this read and recommend it if this sounds intriguing to you. Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the advance reading copy.

3.5 stars

This book was a quick read for me, but there wasn't anything in particular that stood out as amazing in my eyes. It's a great escape from your every day world and took place in a great setting that will have you itching for a beach vacation.

Things I enjoyed about this book:

~I enjoyed the peek into the publishing world of the 80s and getting to know the authors of that era. While Eve was unsure of what she wanted to do with her life, she had figured out publishing wasn't it. I'm not sure I could have stuck with it either after she described how it took the joy out of bookstores and pub days for her. Seriously that sounds like an awful existence. I did enjoy all of the book mentions and managed to add a few to my TBR. You will especially love this book if classic literature is your jam.

~The different settings were all dreamy and I have yet to visit any of them, but the authors descriptive writing made it easy for me imagine them all as if I were right there. I'm definitely a sucker for a great setting. Warning: you may crave lobster and want to take a Beach vacation after reading this book.😂

~This book talks a bit about mental illness in the 80s and you realize just how far that aspect of the medical field improved since then. Are we at the finish line? Definitely not, but the awareness it brings is great. Depression was written accurately and you definitely empathize with her brother. In that instance Eve realizes life in his shadow may have been better than being in the spotlight.

What kept me from giving it 5⭐?

~The love affairs were a bit of a part of the book that were difficult to read and I would have liked a more conclusive ending. An epilogue would have been perfect.

Honestly this is a solid story and I liked a majority of the characters. It's worth reading, but it won't be one I'll ever reread.

Thank you Netgalley and Henry Holt for a copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Last Book Party is a lovely look at a young woman coming of age in the late 1980's. It's set on the cape, in the elite literary circles. I found it a fun glimpse into how the other half lived in those days. The Last Book Party is narrated by the heroine, and I found her voice to be clear and engaging. The ancillary characters are fully dimensional as well, with all their flaws and foibles. Karen Dukess kept me engaged throughout this entertaining read. If I had one issue, it would be with the ambiguity of the ending, it left me a bit unsatisfied. 3.5
I received my copy through NetGalley under no obligation.

I was provided an advance copy of this novel from the publisher, Henry Holt & Company, through Netgalley.

The Last Book Party was a pleasantly captivating read. It was like a walk on the beach at sunset, a beautiful stroll that you are sad to see end. And while the themes of this novel have been done before, it was refreshingly hypnotic. I was completely invested in this coming of age story. I've read several books lately that have been simply about life. Nothing too shocking or unrealistic, just well-written characters with a story to tell. I'm hoping this is a new trend, because I am loving it.

Already being touted as the “book of the summer,” THE LAST BOOK PARTY by debut author Karen Dukess is a page-turning, sumptuous read for anyone who appreciates the power of books, the draw of illicit love and the breezy setting of Cape Cod.

The year is 1987, and 25-year-old Eve Rosen is at a bit of an impasse. She enjoys her job as an editorial secretary at Hodder, Strike and Perch, a publisher in New York City, but longs to make the jump to writer, and finds that her low-level job is holding her back rather than inspiring her. In June, she manages to snag an invitation to a party held at the home of Henry Grey, a writer for The New Yorker who is also one of Hodder, Strike’s most groan-worthy authors; his endless memoirs were contracted by an editor long ago and have yet to be published. Still, Eve is excited to visit Henry’s home in Truro, a scenic Cape Cod town where her family has summered for years. Eve’s family is more conservative, so while they enjoy their cocktail parties with friends from back home, they have never crossed paths with Truro’s summer elite --- namely Henry, his poet wife Tillie, and their posse of intellectuals.

At the party, Eve meets Henry’s son, Franny, and they share a brief but sensual night together that seems full of possibilities to bored, ambitious Eve. Although her dreams of a summer fling with Franny are soon dashed (shockingly, the long-haired, privileged boy is not the type to stick to one place), she receives a pseudo-job offer from Henry for the summer. Upon returning to New York, she quickly becomes disillusioned with her low-level job, the ease with which she is overlooked, and the publisher’s most recent acquisition: a love story set in a leper colony. The author of the book, Jeremy Grand, is a young up-and-comer with a surprising connection to the Greys and Franny. Although he and Eve get off on the wrong foot, he manages to surprise her with his wit and wordplay, and the two strike up a casual friendship.

Dreaming of a more artistic life, Eve quits her publishing job to stay in Truro for the summer, helping Henry with his research projects and memoirs. Arriving there, she is positively vibrating with excitement at the prospect of spending a summer watching Henry and Tillie create while hopefully finding some inspiration of her own. As Eve becomes entrenched in the literary world of the Greys, she finds an intellectual partner in Henry and a cold, distant idol in Tillie. Her admiration of the two borders on obsession, and the inevitability of lines being crossed presents itself nearly instantly. With the couple’s most famous end-of-summer party --- the eponymous Book Party, where everyone dresses up as an obscure but recognizable book character --- approaching, Eve finds a sense of purpose and uncovers a series of uncomfortable truths about creativity, passion and her own ambitions.

THE LAST BOOK PARTY is a fun and easy read, but Dukess also unpacks a lot of weighty and intelligent themes over the course of Eve’s Cape Cod summer. As a girl who grew up completely enamored of books, Eve has been struggling since college to feed her love of literature. At Brown, she hated the intellectual conversations that ripped books apart critically and without respect to the authors; at Hodder, Strike, she feels overwhelmed by the slush pile, the endless supply of poorly written work, and the sense that she knows every book out there already. So why bother? Publishing professionals will immediately recognize themselves in Eve, but those who know nothing about the industry will love the behind-the-scenes look at the editorial and publicity processes. Dukess’ research is enlightening without being overbearing. In this way, the book feels a lot like the television show “Younger.”

Through it all, THE LAST BOOK PARTY is driven by Eve’s quiet reflections. Though she certainly blossoms during her summer with the Greys, she is still a quiet, bookish girl at heart, reminiscent of Anne of Green Gables or Matilda. Her awe at rubbing elbows with the Greys’ posse of artists and writers, and discovering new books in Henry’s office, the local library and her office’s storeroom, will endear her to any reader. Plus, Dukess peppers in plenty of glorious literary references throughout the book.

Bookish or not, Eve still makes mistakes, and her romantic entanglements had me covering my eyes as I flipped pages, hoping she would not make the missteps I expected her to make. The men in her life --- flighty Franny; tortured, witty Henry; and pretentious yet insecure Jeremy --- all play their own roles in her development, and each one stands on his own thanks to Dukess’ wonderful descriptions and backstories. At once a coming-of-age story and a summer romance, THE LAST BOOK PARTY is a lovely beach read for book lovers, romantics and anyone trying to find his or her own voice.

perfect summer weekend read classic story and so enjoyable to read about the late 1980’s. I can’t imagine that anyone that likes
books/ publishing wouldn’t be a fan. Books and writing and the power of the story and it’s place in the culture with no mention of social media a lovely escape from the business of books 2019. I like the theme of journalism vs novel writing and the celebration of the iconic imaginary characters in fiction. it’s a joy to make more of what really is a summer reading pleasure.

The Last Book Party is a coming of age story about Eve Rosen, who is "stuck" in a position as an assistant to an editor at a book publishing company. When she is passed up for a promotion, which was given to a man, she begins to rethink her future as well as her past.

Since middle school Eve has wanted to write stories...short stories and novels. But unfortunately her fear of failure has always gotten in her way and with her brother who is a math genius and who has always been cheered on by her parents, she is afraid of not being able to live up to what she perceives are their expectations for her.

Then by chance she is invited to a party on Cape Cod where her parents summer and is introduced to renowned writer Henry Grey, his wife, a famous poet named Tillie and their handsome son Eric. And her life is changed. She quits her job and becomes Henry's assistant as he tries to complete his memoir. She becomes obsessed with their lives and their writings while always feeling she could never be as good a writer as Henry or Tillie. Seeing them only superficially and from the outside.

As she assists them in planning their annual end of summer "Book Party" where everyone dresses as book characters, secrets begin to become exposed and Eve has the realization she has not been living her life as an adult, but as a girl who has barely grown up. Always living in her brother's shadow and having no confidence in herself she sees that everyone has flaws and she is not as alone as she thought.

Thank you #NetGalley #HenryHoltandCo #KarenDukess #TheLastBookParty for the advanced copy. The book is out now.

*3.5 stars rounded up. This is the perfect kind of novel for summer reading: easy, quick and interesting--especially for book lovers. And aren't we all here??

In June of 1987, Eve Rosen, assistant to publishing editor Malcolm Wing, at Hodder, Strike, and Perch, attends a party on Cape Cod given by Henry Grey, one of the authors with whom she corresponds, a man who has written a column for the New Yorker for many years. She immediately falls in lust over Henry's handsome son Franny and they have a brief affair.

When Eve is passed over for promotion at work, she decides to take Henry up on his offer to become his research assistant for the summer on Cape Cod. As she gets to know Henry and his rather standoffish wife Tillie, she finds them to be a strange match: 'a fact-heavy journalist with a taste for light satire' with 'a serious, obscure poet.'

Things develop as you might expect (hence the reduction of a half-star in the rating) and events finally come to a head on the night of the Grey's big book party over the Labor Day weekend. Guests are expected to dress as a literary character and Henry does his best to guess each one. It is also a night when many secrets will be revealed.

I enjoyed this story very much, especially the literary discussions that Eve and Henry have while working together. Eve's family is a bit dysfunctional and it's interesting how she deals with being the less 'brilliant' child in the family. Sometimes it's better not to be noticed.

I received an arc of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley for an honest review. Many thanks for the opportunity.

There are three kinds of readers: The ones who only read non-fiction, the mostly fiction readers who will take a gander at non-fiction from time to time (just to prove we can), and finally, we have the ones so inspired by stories that they want to craft some of their own. In The Last Book Party, our protagonist Eve Rosen is an avid reader who yearns to be a writer, but has been encouraged to believe that writing takes genius and isn’t for the merely mediocre.

Eve has always been in the shadow of her brother – his brilliance as well as his struggles with depression. So when her work at a publisher gets her into the social circle of Henry, Tillie and their son Franny, she feels ever so starstruck and is made to feel special in her connection with them. Refusing to play it safe, she dives recklessly into these relationships, caught in the carefree hues of summer. An outsider to all this is Franny’s friend Jeremy, who is all edge and thorns with her, with none of Franny’s easy presence.

As Eve navigates the waves of all these relationships, we wonder who she will end up with before realising that’s not the point. Eve is not Eve with any of them, wanting them to recognise her creativity and wit but diluting herself in the process. With the exception of Eve, there is no character really likeable enough in The Last Book Party to warrant my sympathy. These gatherings of literary folk come across as pretentious and superficial, where none of the relationships feel authentic, and their behaviour feels so contrary to what writing and storytelling should be about.

It is heartbreaking to see Eve turning over the pieces of herself after that summer, trying to figure out who she is and where she exists in the world of writing. It is a painful thing to recognise you are a writer, since at times it is an experience akin to Sisyphus and the arduous pushing of a boulder to get nowhere. However, its siren call cannot be avoided as we throw ourselves against the rocks for a taste of literary glory.

Karen Dukess is a debut novelist. I had to remind myself of that fact many times as I read The Last Book Party, because her prose is intricate and far from green. There is none of the usual pitfalls most debut writers face, which is a need to excessively deliver on the exposition. She is also excellent at crafting chemistry and anticipation on a page, painting sensual strokes so skillfully that a simple hair tug can feel combustible.

It is the kind of book to gobble up in one seating, probably on a beach somewhere under a big red umbrella, with the water lazily licking the sand. Or you can read it the way I did, while standing in queue for cup noodles in Japan – you are guaranteed a fantastic experience either way.

4 summer reading stars

For me, this was a perfect summer read, a refreshing break from thrillers and historical fiction. Much is set on Cape Cod, a favorite summer location for me and the author does a great job of putting us in the setting. We meet Eve in the late 1980s as she’s toiling away as an assistant in a publishing house in New York. This was a fascinating look at life working in publishing, another dream of mine. Eve is an aspiring writer but can’t quite bring herself to write anything. Eve’s older brother is considered the genius of the family and this doesn’t help her self-confidence.

She ends up meeting a glamorous Cape Cod literary family and decides to work for the author for the summer. There’s some summer love and betrayal in the story and Eve gets entangled in some complicated issues. Per the title, the Book Party hosted by the artistic family each summer is the big culmination of the storyline.

I did enjoy how Eve did a lot of growing in the late part of the book and I enjoyed another character, Jeremy, a young author, as well. This is my first read from this author and I will definitely read more from Karen Dukess.