I was drawn to The Last Book Party because it's a story about books. Eve loves book and wants to work in the publishing industry. She takes a job as an assistant for a famous writer. The job is an eye opener. The writer's life is not as great as Eve thought. The story portrays a time when Eve is trying to figure out who she is. She wants approval from her family, a mistake in my opinion. She is lost in her search for identity and makes some bad decisions. Live and learn and all that. The story is well written and does talk about books. It's predictable at times but still engaging enough to keep you reading until the end. It's a good read overall, especially for book lovers. Thanks to NetGalley for an arc in exchange for an honest review.

When Eve Rosen goes to authors Henry and Tilley Greys literary party in Truro, her whole world changes. Eve is given a glimpse of the world she would like to inhabit. She has a one nighter with their son Frannie, and as she waits in vain to hear from him she decides to leave her current job, and work as Henry’s assistant for the summer in Truro. Immersed in Henry’s world, she is very happy, feeling as if she finally fits in her skin.
When the Greys annual end of summer, dress as a book character party, takes place she once again meets one of Frannys friends, a new author she worked for in NY. On this last night many of her preconceived notions about this family are shattered, and secrets revealed.
I loved this book. First because it is set in Truro, and the author ( unlike so many others writing about the cape) captures the essence of this special place, and I know it well. For me It made the story extra special. Secondly because I enjoyed Eve. Eveis young and trying to find her way making a few big mistakes, but I found myself rooting for her. And third because the book is packed with wonderful literary references.
I highly recommend The Last Book Party.

3 1/2 stars

I received this ARC in exchange for my honest opinion. My thanks to the author, her publisher and NetGalley.

If you are looking for an easy beach read, this one might just fit the bill. The author has a very pleasant style of writing, and it makes this novel very engaging and approachable.

If I had a complaint, it would be that I only wish that there had been more written about the actual Book Party - since that was the lure which drew me to this novel in the first place. It seemed incidental to the plot.

I am going to attempt to review this book without giving away too much.

What I loved about this story was to rawness of emotion. Eve is a strong character. She’s a little lost and unknowingly seeking the acceptance and approval of her family. She’s eager to be seen and wanted. The combination of these lead to some questionable, cliché decisions.

The Last Book Party kept me engaged but I so wish it hadn’t been so predictable. The ending did leave me completely satisfied. Honestly, nothing makes me happier than a real ending. You know, the kind of ending that you could see happening in your own life or a friend’s? That’s my idea of a perfect ending.

This is a book that appealed to me on many levels = as a reader, as a writer and as someone who loves a good book about the publishing industry. Throw in life in a beach town and I'm hooked. I enjoyed the story and the characters. quite a lot. Karen Dukess has a keen sense of observation and I look forward to more of her work.

I was lucky enough to get an advanced copy of this book, which comes out in July, and I loved it! The protagonist is a young woman named Eve who works in publishing and then becomes the assistant to a semi-famous writer, and it's set during one summer in 1987 in Manhattan and Cape Cod. The characters all felt like such real people, and there is a strong sense of time and place while at the same time the book feels very timeless, like the story could happen today too. There's also a lot of discussion of writing, reading, and books, which gives the book a pleasantly intellectual feel without being pretentious or heavy. So it's light enough to be a perfect summer book, while still just so smart. If you're a fan of smart insightful authors like Curtis Sittenfeld and Meg Wolitzer, I think you would like this too. Highly recommended. 4.5 stars.

The Last Book Party is a powerful tale, a coming-of-age story of ambition and a bittersweet summer romance. It details Eve’s summer in New York as she discovers that the literary world she wanted to be a part of is not all that it seems. I really liked this book, it had great character development and heart wrenching twists and unexpected turns. It turned out to be a fascinating book that held my interest until the end. I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

Thanks to Netgalley for this ARC, in exchange for my honest review.
This story is about Eve, and aspiring writer, stuck in a seemingly dead end job at a publishing company, that is slowly draining her love for books. When she's offered an assistant position for a famous writer, she jumps at the chance. However, I felt a lot of her mistakes and "growing up" were pretty predictable. I also felt Eve was pretty naive in a lot of ways for a 25 year old, but perhaps that was intended since she was a "bookish" type? There were a few surprises thrown in, and I did enjoy the ending, finding out where she was a year after "that fateful party," but on the whole it was just alright. Not a bad read, but it probably won't stick with me too long. #TheLastBookParty #Netgalley

Lovely, fun read, especially if you love books. When a young editorial assistant decides to become the research assistant for an author she admires, she gets to see the life of a writer up close and personal. Eve learns that being a famous author isn't all it's cracked up to be and she also learns that her personal power doesn't have the reach she thought it did. Set on the beautiful shores of Cape Cod, Dukess does a great job of imbuing the reader with visions of sand between their toes and the sea breeze in their noses. Great vacation read.

I received an advanced reader’s copy in exchange for an honest review

This book had its ups and downs for sure. It had some entertaining moments, but generally adds nothing to the already over-stuffed genre of tales of upper-middle class kids from loving yet bourgeois families trying to make in the big city. White whine and then some.

I feel so fortunate being among the first to review this extraordinary novel. I was unable to put the book down for a moment.

Eve Rosen works for a publisher, dreaming of becoming a writer. It is a visit to a party among the literary elite in Truro that changes the course of her life. Rather than inspiration, Eve becomes entangled in the lives of the Grey family. It is in the few summer months, following the party that she learns difficult life lessons. . The story is not a typical coming of age saga, rather a beautifully written novel about the maturation of a young woman and very well drawn studies of the people who change the course of her life.

So many of the characters don’t do what is expected, nor are they who we assume. Every page brings exciting revelations that propel the plot and engage the reader.

The author uses foreshadowing, in a nuanced and intelligent way, preventing the book from becoming trite or predictable. Eve expects life lessons but on the night of THE LAST BOOK PARTY, Eve’s world is upended.

I loved the way it was written, Karen Dukess is a writer who will have a fabulous future walking in the footsteps of other great female authors. I eagerly look forward to her next novel.
I know that my book groups and seminar will love reading and discussing Eve’s struggles and the actual process of becoming a writer.

Thank you Netgalley for this privilege!