This is the first Diane Chamberlain that I have had the pleasure to read, and it leaves wondering how on earth I hadn't heard of her before. This book takes place in small town North Carolina, alternating between 1965 and 2010. Ellie grew up in Round Hill, and the summer of 1965 changed her forever. She made up her mind to aid in the civil rights movement by helping Black individuals register to voter, ahead of the voter reform act to be signed by LBJ, no matter what it might cost her or those close to her.

Fast forward to 2010 and Ellie has return home to care for aging loved ones, and finds the neighborhood she grew up in has expanded with a bunch of new homes being built. Kayla Is just moving into the dream home she and her husband built, and the end of Ellie's street. Kayla is told not to move in, that her property is cursed. Ellie befriends Kayla after Kayla's daughter is threatened, and her property is vandalized. As we learn more about what happened in Round Hill, in 1965, we begin to understand why Kayla was warned about the property, and why the land is believe to be cursed.

I really enjoyed the sections set in 1965. Although some parts were hard to read, they are an important reminder of the horrors and atrocities that befell Black individuals at the hands of the KKK, and those who chose to turn a blind eye rather than be an ally. It is a stark reminder that racism is lurking everywhere, sometimes in those we least expect. I was pleasantly surprised that I knew many of the freedom songs that they sing at their peaceful protests, it gave me a new appreciation for them.

Once I started reading this, I could hardly put it down. It's definitely a page turner, and I highly recommend it.
I also highly recommend using this book as a reminder to not tolerate hate in anyone, not even our friends and loved ones. And, that not choosing a side always supports the oppressor. Channel your inner Ellie, and speak up when racism occurs in your presence.

Wow! I know when I pick up a Diane Chamberlain book I won’t be disappointed. But The Last House on the Street surpassed all expectations.

This is a novel with dual timelines. One takes place in 1965, where a young white girl in North Carolina volunteers for the Scopes project, much to the dismay of her family. Her eyes are opened to the hardships of the black families she meets. The second timeline involves a young widowed architect who is moving into a home she and her husband built, in which he died in a tragic accident. Their stories are interwoven, and there is a sad and shocking history of the architect's new house that is tied to the other protagonist.

The best stories make you feel, make you think, and stay with you. This book is all that and more. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for this free ARC.

A few months ago, I eagerly read my e-ARC and what I remember is that I loved it. I found it intriguing and complex. Unfortunately, I didn't take notes so my review is a little faulty in remembering all the details of the story but I do remember how I felt. I enjoyed the pacing and this was a binge read for me - I needed to know how all the characters' histories intersected and I enjoy Chamberlain's way of expounding on difficult historical issues head-on. I appreciate how she brings an era of history to life through an intimate story that helps you imagine a little more thoroughly what life was like than just dry pages in a textbook that focus on a single event. I appreciate that she does her research and then weaves a compelling, thought-provoking story that enthralls and infuriates.

Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin’s Press, and Diane Chamberlain for the e-arc of The Last House on the Street in exchange for an honest review.

I have mixed feelings about this book. It is well written, but very predictable. As events were unfolding, it was pretty clear to me what was going to happen next. And for the most part, I was spot on. I DNF’d this at 35% the first time I read it, but after seeing all of the raving reviews, I gave it another chance on audio after it was released. I did finish it, but it played out almost exactly how I expected it to.

Given all of that, this is still an important book. It examines race relations in the 60s and how events from the past can shape the future. We follow 2 separate timelines in the story. The first is Kayla, in the present, whose husband just passed and she is getting ready to move into the dream house they designed together. She starts receiving threats telling her that her house should not be there and she needs to leave. Our second timeline is Ellie in 1965. As the Civil Rights Movement is heating up, Ellie joins SCOPE to help educate Black citizens on voting and try to get them to commit to registering to vote after President Johnson signs a law making it easier for them to register. Something happens to Ellie during her time with Scope that forces her to leave home and not return for 45 years.

Ellie’s story is definitely the more interesting and compelling one. As bad as I wanted to feel for Kayla after the death of her husband, I really was not invested in her character much at all.

The Last House on the Street. Is told told in duel time lines. (1965 and 2010).
"Themes cover racial prejudice, interracial relationships, forbidden love, resentments, small town community, love, loss, death, activism, social justice, family, friendships, heartbreak, warmth, and humor."
This was a book that I enjoyed immensely. MS. Chamberlain has a wonderful way of telling truth in a fictional story that touches your heart.

Diane chamberlain never disappoints. Another best seller sure! Thank you for letting me read this for free in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you NetGalley and St Martins Press for the opportunity to read an ARC of The Last House on the Street by author Diane Chamberlain for my honest review. This is the first book I've read by this author.

This story is of two timelines, 1965 and 2010. The dual narratives come to connect the tragic past with the present. A historical drama about voting rights and a related mystery.

I highly recommend this read.

Another amazing book by this author! This is a very impactful story told with dual timelines.
Kayla is preparing to move into her new house that she designed with her husband. Unfortunately Kayla’s husband died in the house in an accident during the building phase so she is understandingly hesitant about the move. She is also getting strange warnings that she shouldn’t move in. The other timeline is with Ellie during the time of the civil rights movement. Ellie’s story is horrifying and heartbreaking. The two stories merge seamlessly. The writing keeps your interest throughout the book and the characters are well rounded. This is an impactful book that will stay with me and is an important time in history we should all know more about and reflect where we are now.

The emotions are very real in this story. Diane Chamberlain knows how to pull together the past and present. This type of historical fiction is still relatable to current events happening in society. It was a great read and hard to put down.

Unfortunately, I did not get a chance to read this one because I changed my kindle email address and forgot to update it on Netgalley, so it never arrived to my device. *facepalm*

I'm already on the library wait list for this one and can't wait to read it once I get approved there. Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors and I'm so sad about this little blunder.

Thank you to Net Galley, the publisher and author for the ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.
I thoroughly enjoyed The Last House on the Street. It kept me interested. It is told in dual perspectives, 2010 and 1965. I learned a lot about the SCOPE program ( a program where college kids come from the north to register black folks for voting), which I had not heard about. This story was part love story, part family drama, and lots of mystery and just a creepiness with the house. I highly recommend it.
Though not necessarily a young adult book, the part of 1965 is about Ellie, a college student, and it's about a time in history that might interest students.

I wanted to love this book but I just can’t get into it. It’s definitely very unique with how the story is told. I will see recommend this book to people, I feel it’s a good book. Just not for me.

Wow!!! This book was my first 5 star read of this year, and will definitely be in my top 10 of this year! If you are looking for that read that will stay with you long after you finished it, I would highly recommend this.

Told in a dual timeline and from the perspective of Ellie (1965) and Kayla (2010), this story intertwines these 2 characters almost perfectly. Ellie is a young woman in the era of Civil Rights and the SCOPE Act. A white woman, in a southern state, who stands against her family and community, to follow her heart and what she thinks is right. The consequences and the events of that time will forever change Ellie and her perspective. Then there is Kayla, who is recently widowed, and just trying to make it day to day. Just moving into her new house, the house her husband died building, she meets her elderly neighbor, Ellie. As their lives collide, they find out the past never stays buried and the wounds don't heal over time.

Let me be real, there really isn't a bad thing to say about this book! I loved every aspect. I will say that I did prefer the 1965 timeline over the 2010 timeline, for the history and emotional impact that it had on me. I was so invested in Ellie's storyline. One of my favorite things about historical fiction reads, is I always learn something new. I had no idea the SCOPE Act was a thing and this movement to educate blacks on voting!

There were times that this story punched me in the gut and left me feeling breathless and raw. There were times I was so angry and couldn't wrap my head around what I had just read. Other times, I was so heartbroken and bawling like a baby. The Last House on the Street will leave you with all the feelings! I will definitely be reading more by Diane Chamberlain!

Diane Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors and this novel should elevate her to national heights. Told in two timelines, one in the 60’s and one now, we meet two women, and learn their lives, emotions beliefs and realities. In the midst of the racial justice movements in both eras, understanding and terminology changes but intent never does. Haunting characters who stay with you long after you are fully satisfied by this brilliant book.

This book is not something I typically read, but the back cover intrigued me. This story is told in dual perspectives and dual timelines. First, we have 2010 Kayla, who has had tragedy in her life and needs to change up some things to get a fresh perspective. Ellie was a little girl in 1965 and participated in the Scope project, which was a very controversial project that wanted to bring different races and cultures together.

I struggled to flip between the two stories because they were so different even though they were connected. I would have to take a few minutes to wrap my head around the time jumps to get back into the correct timeline. But, overall, it was a good story, with a mystery that spanned time to bring the stories together.

This was an emotional gut punch! So real and raw, and utterly devastating. This is a dual timeline story, and I really enjoyed the older storyline that focused on civil rights. The newer storyline was fine, and they came together beautifully in the end, but it wasn’t my favorite. I feel the book could have been stronger without it. The civil rights aspect was done impeccably and really showed the truth behind life during that time period. While hard to read, it was a wonderful reminder of how far we’ve come- and how far we still have to go. My thanks to the publisher for the gifted copy in exchange for my honest review!

The Last House on the Street tells the story of 2 women that lived on the same North Carolina street many years apart. Kayla is there in 2010, a widow with a small daughter and Ellie was there in 1965 longing to escape and help with the Civil Rights Movement. This book was a well written page turner as you must find out the fates of Kayla and Ellie.

I have only read a couple of books by Diane Chamberlain and have found them both well-written and compelling. Ms. Chamberlain is an expert at weaving together two different stories, masterfully bringing them together at the end. The suspense skillfully builds in both story-lines, keeping this reader invested in both Kayla and Ellie's stories.

One of the signs of a good author is that they can write a story with a timeless message that will challenge the reader. In this case, she handles the topics of racial injustice and prejudice set against the atmospheric backdrop of the 1960's with a truthful pen. Emotionally charged, this book will captivate its readers' attention from the beginning to the end.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author/publisher through Netgalley and was not required to write a review. All opinions expressed are my own.

I have read all of Diane Chamberlain novels and loved each and every one of them.. I was caught up in the story line and was educated about the happenings in civil rights era. I was shocked by somethings that went on and how some times a cover up was needed. Give this novel a try and I think you will like it.

I love Diane Chamberlain's books! I love how she incorporates history and research into her books and I feel like I learn from each of them. This book did not disappoint. Written in dual time frames, 1965 (Ellie's story) and 2010 (Kayla's story), the story comes together at the page turning end and so many questions are answered. Very hard to read some parts and very heartwarming in others. So many emotions and I know this book will stick with me and be one I talk to my friends about.

Thank you Netgalley for a copy of The Last House on the Street in exchange for my honest review.