Diane Chamberlain is a wonderful storyteller, and this book is no exception. Told via dual timelines (1965 and 2010) and viewpoints, young women named Ellie (1965) and Kayla (2010) it takes the reader through a gauntlet of emotions - it's intriguing and mysterious and heartbreaking and infuriating. While reading it, you know something bad must be coming, because the opening chapter or two is full of foreshadowing. But you become invested in the characters and have to keep reading (with more than a bit of trepidation) to find out where their paths will lead them. I was 14 in 1965, and grew up in Georgia (with deep family roots in North Carolina) so I recognized much of what I was reading, both in the descriptions of the locales and the heat of a southern summer, and - for better or worse - in the characters. When the mysteries are revealed, there are definitely some surprises. It isn't always an easy read, but it's an excellent one that I highly recommend.
My thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for providing a copy for an unbiased review.

As always, Diane Chamberlain's writing is excellent in this book. She draws the reader in to the story - in this case, two stories since there is a dual timeline. The characters are believable for the most part and well-developed. The only part I found a bit less than realistic was the very fast, very intense relationship between Ellie and Win. It seemed somewhat contrived to fit the story. Just my opinion and probably not one shared by many readers.

The feeling of the two time frames felt authentic with some horrible things happening - in both of them. I guessed at some of the eventual revelations - but not all of them. There were a few shocking surprises.

I loved the way Chamberlain gradually wove the two timelines and their characters together to reach a satisfying conclusion. Chamberlain has become one of my favorite go-to authors.

Sometimes the hardest decisions come at the greatest cost.

Ellie is 20 years old in 1965 and lives in eastern North Carolina. Her life has already been planned - a job at her father's pharmacy and a marriage to her high school sweetheart. When she becomes interested in civil rights while at the University of North Carolina things begin to change. She changes while the world she has known shows itself to be darker than she ever could have guessed.

Kayla is a young aspiring architect in 2010. She and her husband have just build a spectacular home in eastern North Carolina although he has accidentally died before they move in. Strange things begin to happen and she begins to fear their dream home. Why does it seem the property is haunted?

This novel with a dual timeline is similar to other Chamberlain novels. Although too melodramatic or saccharine at times, it does show the danger many faced during the civil rights movement of the 1960s. Changing a culture is not simple. Changing hearts is only the work of Christ which was not in the scope of the book. Those choices can reach into future decades and continue to cause pain.

The ending tied up many lose ends when hatreds were exposed, but I can't say I enjoyed this novel. Was it supposed to be a thriller? A romance? A moral lesson against racism? Overall it was just sad.

I enjoy dual timeline books and the author has done an excellent job of having you invested in each time period. As someone who grew up during times of racial tension in North Carolina, I could relate to the earlier time in the book. I was impressed by Elli’s sense of justice and her willingness and dedication to the cause of allowing blacks the right to vote. I think we have too easily forgotten the fear the families experienced as they only wanted something that was a right … not a privilege. The present day storyline is also wrought with emotion. The tears were streaming down my face and I found myself gasping in horror and shock. And what a twist at the end. Though not an easy and light read, it is definitely one to put on your to-be-read list.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for my advanced review copy. All opinions and thoughts are my own.

I had a hard time getting into this one, while the characters were fine, at times the whole plot seemed very forced, but by the halfway mark, I was very interested to see where the story went. Extremely sad, but good overall.

Diane Chamberlain is hands down my #1 go to author for a dual timeline book. She masterfully pulls you in to both the modern and historical timelines--there are so many dual timeline books where I prefer one storyline over the other, but she always fully draws me into both. I also love that she adds a mystery element where it isn't entirely clear how everything will tie together immediately. She is an auto-read author for me, and the Last House on the Street confirms that!! An excellent follow-up, with some similarities, to her last book, Big Lies.

I really enjoyed this book - it gave a little bit of all the good things! Some historical fiction, mystery, and romance. I found myself rooting for the main characters and really invested in the outcomes.

The Last House on the Street
by: Diane Chamberlain
St. Martin's Press

I learned, grew, and was incredibly moved by this dual time-line mystery set in North Carolina by gifted writer Diane Chamberlain. From inexplicable happenings on a street and surrounding woods in 2010, to the racial injustices and secrets of a small community in 1965, she completely and profoundly immerses readers by connecting the two stories.
Although her husband died as they built it, Kayla Carter and her young daughter, Rainie, settle into their modern, architecturally stunning new house in Shadow Ridge Estates. A series of unsettling, frightening events unfold, making the move anything but comfortable for Kayla and Rainie. Ellie's life is forever changed when she joins the Summer Community Organization and Political Education Project, known as SCOPE. She has ambitious aspirations, but a dangerous goal to help Black people register to vote during the racially charged mid 1960s.
As I followed these two women's lives, I was captivated but often left speechless and horrified with the happenings in Ellie's journey and how it tied in to Kayla's world. Ellie stood up for equality, and both freedom to vote and freedom to love who one chooses to love. In doing so as a white woman in the South during this time period, danger lurked at every corner. This book is thought-provoking and significant in portraying the darkness of civil rights history, social justice and prejudice. Capturing me from page one, it is not to be forgotten and deserves all of the recognition that I know it will receive.

Thank you to Net Galley and St. Martin's Press for the advance reader's copy and opportunity to provide my unbiased review.
#NetGalley #thelasthouseonthestreet

This book was everything I expected and more from a favorite author. The 60s were tumultuous years in the fight for civil rights throughout the country, but much more so in many southern states. The small southern town depicted by Ms. Chamberlain in this book was an example of the fear, hatred and bigotry of the times. We are also introduced to one young woman, Ellie Hockley, who went against her family and friends to stand against those things. In two time periods, 1965 and 2010, Ms. Chamberlain tells the stories of Ellie and recent widow Kayla Carter, whose lives intertwine because of the property that Kayla has built her new house upon....a wooded area down the street from the Hockley home, where Ellie's family lives. Rumors are that the area is haunted, and as strange things begin to happen to Kayla at her new house, she becomes more certain that she needs to find out the history of the area, and the past relationship between her father and Ellie. Time-hopping the story gives the reader insight to the the young people who fought for the civil rights of black people, as well as the danger and hatred surrounding those activities. As Ellie develops a deep relationship with one young black man in her group, Win, danger and threats escalate into scenes not uncommon of the times. And in 2010 as Ellie and Kayla become more friendly, stories that Ellie has to tell bring the two time periods crashing together. This was a well-written book defining characters from opposite sides of the movement and how their beliefs bring the story to its conclusion. Definitely a high-recommendation to read. Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read and review this advance reader copy. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. #NetGalley #TheLastHouseOnTheStreet

This review was originally posted on <a href="https://booksofmyheart.net/2022/01/11/%f0%9f%8e%a7-the-last-house-on-the-street-by-diane-chamberlain/" target="_blank"> Books of My Heart</a>
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<i>Review copy was received from NetGalley. This does not affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review.</i>

I tried this author's work for the North Carolina settings.  The books I have read are historical fiction and deal with the aspects of racism and mistreatment of minorities, including women.  The characters are well developed whether they are compassionate and caring or angry bigots. I was in suspense as I waited to see what would happen to these people.

<strong>The Last House on the Street</strong> tells its story of two women. Ellie in 1965, from a well to do family. She is studying pharmacology at UNC Chapel Hill. She's in a relationship with a bank manager.  She gets involved with the civil rights movement, which her family and boyfriend would rather she didn't.  She takes a summer job working with marginalized people to educate them on their rights to vote.  She works with a young black man and falls for him.  I could see the dangers and how horrible this could be.

Ellie's story is interspersed with the current story of architect Kayla Carter, who is the daughter of the "bank manager" Reed.  Kayla is a widow with a little girl, and her father has recently lost his wife.   Kayla is moving into a home on Hockley Street, on the other end from where Ellie grew up.  Ellie is back to take care of her ailing brother and mother.  Kayla's home is  one she and her husband designed and built together and then he died in a construction accident.  There are people who don't want Kayla to live there.

Ellie and Kayla meet.  We learn of Ellie's past and the history of the woods and lake behind Kayla's home including a treehouse originally used by Ellie and her brother.  It's a heartbreaking story, for many reasons.  I guess one of the villains easily, but there were many prejudiced people in the town.  Ellie and Kayla become friends and they find the truth about the past.

What a compelling and informative novel with well-developed characters and interesting storylines. I couldn't put it down!
The stories of Ellie and Kayla are told in alternating chapters and different time periods - Ellie in 1965 and Kayla in 2010. Ellie grew up in the small town of Round Hill, North Carolina as the daughter of a pharamacist and librarian. Her high school was integrated, but just barely, and her views of the social climate and conditions of the time were fairly narrow. Ellie's eyes were opened to the civil rights movement while attending UNC, with her oldest childhood friend as her roommate. A lot happens to Ellie over the course of one summer when she decides to volunteer for the SCOPE project, clearly against the wishes of her family, the best friend, boyfriend and much of her community.
Kayla's story begins in 2010, following the accidental death of her young husband in the house they're building. It's in a new development, right next to the house where Ellie grew up, and we quickly learn that someone doesn't want Kayla and her young daughter to move in.
Many parts of the book are disturbing and it was hard to believe the atrocities that took place in the US, on a number of different levels (the racism, violence, horrible living conditions, and duplicity of people who presented themselves as outstanding citizens). The SCOPE project was real and Ms. Chamberlain's research was thorough.
While some elements were a bit predictable, they didn't detract from the story. The Last House on the Street was not an easy book to read, but it is an important and well written one. Many thanks to Netgalley and St. Martin's Press for the introduction to Ms. Chamberlain and the opportunity to read The Last House on the Street in exchange for an honest review.

I have enjoyed this historical fiction book with a twist. The two time periods one in present day and the other in the 50s were really appealing and worked well. This was a page turner for sure.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion. Happy Pub Day!

In my mind, Diane Chamberlain can do no wrong. She is a great storyteller and this novel was no exception.

I had no idea that the SCOPE project was a thing, I thought her subject was very timely considering all of the voter information/abuse that we have seen in the last few years. I learned a lot about the SCOPE project and received the message loud and clear that we need to do more to help the underserved obtain the equity that we all talk about.

I enjoyed the dual timeline (my usual, if a book had a dual timeline it goes in the TBR immediately). I really wish there was more of the 1965 timeline over the 2010 timeline. I wanted more information, I wanted to know how it ended. Did it get better for people of color? I wasn't completely satisfied.

Overall, it was a great read and again, I will read anything by Diane Chamberlain.

This book follows two parallel (and intersecting) narratives - of Ellie's 1965 efforts to help Black residents of her county to register to vote and of Kayla's 2010 moving in to a new house just after her husband died. Ellie's old family home and Kayla's new home are the only inhabited houses on the street, and the narrative unravels old mysteries connecting the past and present as creepy things keep happening around Kayla's new home.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Genre: thriller/mystery with historical and contemporary fiction
Location: North Carolina
Pub Date: January 11, 2022 (TODAY!!)

I really enjoyed this book - I was hooked with the multiple timelines - the 1965 story of how Ellie defies her family to go try to help register Black voters on the other side of her county with SCOPE, a civil rights organization; and the 2010 story of Kayla trying to grabble with her husband's death while moving in the house they designed together. I loved seeing Ellie's and Kayla's stories and lives overlapping and intersecting while I tried to puzzle out what happened in the past and what was happening in the future.

This book is filled with a mix of sadness and hope and will give you all the big feelings; especially as you consider the legacies of race and racism in the South (in the past especially). I wish the racial issues / activism continued into the present a bit more clearly, and I was left with a few unanswered questions, but overall I really enjoyed this read!

Read this if you like:
⭕️ thrillers with multiple POV's and timelines
⭕️ strong family plots
⭕️ books that reflect on race and racism

Thanks to St. Martin's Press and #netgalley for an eARC of this book!

I think this was a good book. I also think a lot of people will love this one. I appreciate it. However, I don't think it is for me.

It took me some time to get into and I can't put my finger on what it was missing. But she is a beloved author and I am sure this book will be loved by her many fans.

So do not take my word for it, give it a go for yourself.

Haunting, topical, sorrowful and set during a time of horror. The timeline switches between 2010 and 1965. I haven't read a Diane Chamberlain book in some time and have no idea why as I've always enjoyed her stories. This one has crawled into my heart and it will reside there. A beautifully written book that should stop us in our tracks and make us reflect.

Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for this ARC!

BOOK REVIEW: The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain
Publication Date: January 11

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐⭐️

T.I.M.E. Favorite Books To Read
T.I.M.E. Best Book Club Books
T.I.M.E. Most Anticipated Books of 2022
T.I.M.E. Recommended By Genre: Historical Fiction

CONNECT WITH THIS BOOK | T.I.M.E. SIMPLE LIVING TIP
Blame is an all-inclusive chain... You blame someone for your experience... And someone else blames you for their experience... But how you respond to either one is on you... ✨😎✨

T.I.M.E. Brief Review: Riveting story that unfolds with each page to reveal more insight about the historical truths of this story... And the modern day parallels that continue to reveal each of us have more work to do... ✨😎✨
Pages: 346
Genre: Historical Fiction
Sub-Genre: Civil Rights
Time Period: 1965 | 2010
Location: North Carolina

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All my reviews can be seen at This Is My Everybody | Simple Living | Denise Wilbanks at www.thisismyeverybody.com

♡ Thank you to NetGalley for this ARC. I voluntarily chose to review it and the opinions contained within are my own.

My 5-star ratings are reserved for books that make a lasting impression on me. Even though I finished this book days ago, I can't stop thinking and talking about it. It was a pretty tough subject to read about, but such a timely topic. We need to be reminded about the shameful parts of our country's history, especially since this aspect apparently continues to the present day. Historical fiction brings it to life much more so than a history textbook does. I had no idea how much the Ku Klux Clan had extended to the upstanding members of a community as well as their wives and children. Thank you so much to NetGalley, the author and St Martin's Press for an advance copy of this eye-opening novel.

This was my first book by this author and I am already a fan. I loved the storytelling and character development. I will be recommending this book to everyone I know.

I received this from the publisher in exchange for an honest review. Diane does it again! I held off on reading this so that I could review it on pub date. It was just what I needed to pull me out of my after Christmas slump. Diane has such a fantastic way of writing about difficult subjects and making it real. I never felt in this book like she shied away from talking about how people really thought about racisim and the right to vote back in the day. She presented a real and emotional story told in two different story lines of past and present. I have to say that I really engaged with both stories where as I usually lean to liking more one than the other. Not in this one, I was equally involved and invested in both. I love Diane's books and was so glad to get to review this.