This book was so enjoyable and really held my attention more than I expected. Im excited to read other books by this author!

Diane chamberlain can do no wrong. She always writes a great novel and has done that again. Always have loved her books and can’t recommend them enough

ALL THE STARS!!

I don't know why it took me so long to read this. Diane Chamberlain is one of my favorite authors and I'm always super excited to read her books. Somehow life got away from me and I overlooked it.

Until this past weekend! I picked it up and read it in just a few sittings. I LOVED IT!

The story alternates between 1965 and 2010. Both timeframes were well written and gripping. The story was very emotional and had me in tears many times. I always feel a connection with this author's characters and this time was no different. Many of her novels seem to have that past and present storyline. It always seems to work out great.

I don't read a lot of historical fiction but there are a few authors that I will read whatever they write. Diane Chamberlain will always be one of those authors.

This was such a great read. In one way I'm glad I waited to read it as hopefully it won't seem so long between her books now. Next time I won't lose track.

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain is based on the history of voting rights in the South. I see the history identified in the story, read nonfiction articles about the history, and come back to the story with a better understanding of its context. For me, the book works because the parallel stories Ellie and Kayla work. It once again leaves me thinking of the divisions we create based on race and the atrocities that leads to.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2023/02/the-last-house-on-street.html

Reviewed for NetGalley.

This book was just okay for me. I really wanted to enjoy it more, but while the subject matter and history lessons were interesting and informative, the writing just didn't give the impact I wanted.

While I'm not a huge of Historical Fictions, I do love a good mystery/thriller. I loved that it was narrated from two different timelines - 1965 and 2010. Both of these timelines take place in the same town in North Carolina. Both storylines intertwine with each other to create a beautiful masterpiece.

This story really opens your eyes to a lot of historical information. The overall plot keeps you glued to the pages. It's a great book that everyone should pick up.

If you are going to pick up a book by Diane Chamberlain, you better be ready for the emotional fallout. Her books will follow you for awhile.

The Last House on the Street starts out following two women. Kayla, in 2010, is recently widowed and in the process of moving into her new home with her young daughter. Processing the loss of her husband is even more complicated by the fact that the home she is moving in to was actually designed by her and her husband. The other woman is Ellie during 1965 and her experience volunteering in the Civil Rights movement.

An interesting twist to this historical fiction gem is that Ellie is also present in Kayla's timeline. It is very clear that something tragic happened to Ellie that summer. When we first meet Ellie, she is a young girl eager to help make a difference. She juggles all sorts of emotions as her eyes are opened to the extremes people are willing to go to make sure African Americans don't receive the same rights as the white folk in her southern town. Ellie in 2010 is very guarded and untrusting. You can tell she has put up several walls and the family dynamic is just beyond repair.

As the reader, you kind of get a sense of what really happened before the characters do. I can't even describe the anguish I felt for Ellie when the pieces started falling together and the truth started to roll out of everyone. How people can live with those kind of secrets is mind blowing but not as disturbing as how people can have that much hate for others just because of how they were born.

There really is a lot to unpack from this emotional read but not without spoiling some major plot points. All I can say, is that Diane Chamberlain is a must read author.

What took me so long?! I’ve had this book sitting for the LONGEST time waiting to be read and I’ve skipped over it countless times!! Why?!!!! This book was so well done and I definitely want to read more from Dianne Chamberlain after reading this story. The Last House on the Street was a little bit of everything rolled in to a beautifully written story about racism, perseverance, love, hope, and mystery. I felt ALL the emotions while reading this one and definitely recommend to anyone thinking about reading this!! Definitely try out the audiobook!! First 5 star read in a long time and first 5 star of 2023!!

This isn’t a usual story line I’d be attracted to but I’m so glad I gave it a chance. Wonderfully well developed characters and story!

Creepy and keeps you interested. Highly recommend. Thsi book kept me wondering. Twists and turns along the way.

I've read other Diane Chamberlain books and this one really held up in comparison. The story was well paced, the characters well thought out, the story made sense. I really enjoyed it and will be looking for more books from the author in the future.

A thought-provoking dual time line novel with a decades-old mystery. In 1965, college student Ellie volunteers for the SCOPE (Summer Community Organization and Political Education) project to help educate Black citizens in rural counties about their right to register and vote, now that the Voting Rights Act is about to be signed into law. In 2010, recently widowed single mother Kayla is about to move into the dream house she and her husband just built, but she’s getting threats warning her to sell it or tear it down.

This is my first Diane Chamberlain novel. Her intense research and devotion to her subject matter is evident. I appreciated learning about SCOPE. I admired Ellie and found her story riveting. She is strong, kind, and brave, and a fighter. The Kayla sections are not nearly as strong--I don't think that both narratives in a dual time line story have to have equal weight--but I wanted to at least connect with her and I didn't. This novel is tragic, hopeful, emotional, page-turning, it made me angry, it made me think. Not an easy read but I learned a lot.

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlin
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is my third Diane Chamberlin book and she hit it out of the park once again. She has quickly become one of my very favorite authors. She brings life to tough subjects through complex characters and incredible storytelling. As in her last two books I read, this book goes back and forth between two narrators: one in the present and one in the past. In the present Kaylah is a young, recently widowed architect moving into her dream home. In the past Ellie is a young white woman in North Carolina at the precipice of the Voting Rights Act of 1965 becoming law. She spends the summer working with SCOPE, a real life organization that worked in the south to register black people to vote. The story and the history is fascinating and infuriating. There’s some mystery in the story and it unfolds masterfully. I was literally gasping out loud at the end. I can’t say enough good things about this book, especially in light of current events and the move in many states to make voting more difficult, especially if people of color. Diane Chamberlin’s books sweep me away and keep me up late reading just one more chapter. I’d read her grocery list! I’m glad she has a good backlog of books for me to read.

I tried this one but it felt so slow. I normally love DC and some of her books are my favorite, but this one was not for me.

I’ve read quite a few good books lately that have taken some time to get into, this is absolutely not one of those books. Diane Chamberlain had me entranced after the very first chapter and I couldn’t put it down.

The book has two timelines/points of view; Ellie in 1965 and Kayla in 2010. I loved following along as the connection between these two women and their families became apparent. I found myself equally sad and excited every time the point of view would change. The 1965 timeline was, of course, emotional and compelling, but I also enjoyed the switch to 2010 to continue uncovering how the people and events of the past are connected with the characters in the future.

Chamberlain did a fantastic job tackling events surrounding the Voting Rights Act and the SCOPE project. I felt like I learned so much about the history of this time, while still being emotionally connected to the story and the characters.

I don’t think I realized when I started this book just what an important read it would be. I will be thinking about The Last House on the Street for quite a long time I am sure.

Two stories- one in 1965, another in 2010. in 1965 Ellie is a volunteer working to enroll Blacks for voting.
In 2010, Kayla her family move into a new house that seems to have "secrets". The two stories intertwine for a
successful read.

I really enjoyed this one! The dual timeline was very well done and it felt like I was watching a movie as I read it. Awesome job! Loved it so much!

The Last House on the Street is a book with parallel timelines, we follow Ellie in the 60's and Kayla in 2010. Both have clearly experienced personal tragedy and find themselves neighbors with Kayla in a newly built, one time dream home and Ellie coming home to take care of her dying brother and mother. The two have intersecting lives thanks to this small town and a 45 year old mystery for Ellie is stirred up.

I have to be honest, I didn't reread the synopsis of this book before I picked it up to read and I think that was a good thing. Sometimes I steer away from emotionally heavy topics until I feel prepared to take them on and I don't know that i would've started this yesterday had I realized the timeline with race relations and freedom fighters. I am so glad I started this, I couldn't put this book down. I live in NC, where the main characters are from and still sometimes feel quite naïve about what other races and cultures experience in rural, small town life. The story is so well written and though there is no shortage of heartbreak, you have characters you love and are hoping are truly as decent as they seem and some characters that are just difficult to like at all.

This may be the book that I recommend to people over and over again this year.

I requested this title because I have really enjoyed the author's prior work, and I enjoyed this one as well. The story is a mystery told in dual timelines. In the present, a recent widow is trying to decide whether to continue building the house she and her late husband started. In the past, a young woman joins the Civil Rights movement against the wishes of her family, with terrible consequences that tie into the present timeline. I loved the themes of social justice that the author wove throughout. This book reminded me a little of Dreamland Burning, by Jennifer Latham.

Another compelling story from Diane Chamberlain! It is told on two timelines:

2010: Kayla and her husband are building their dream home in North Carolina but while it is being built her husband is killed there in an accident. Right before Kayla and her three year old daughter move in a strange woman visits her at work and warns her not to move into the house. Shortly after they move in they begin to be plagued by vandals. And they find the woods behind their house are said to be haunted. Kayla wants to live in the house she and her husband so lovingly designed and built, but are they safe there?

1965- Ellie was raised to be a Southern lady. Her future is all planned out-following college she will be married to her banker boyfriend and establish a home in her North Carolina home town. But Ellie becomes aware of the racial injustice that exists in her community. She decides to spend her summer break volunteering to register Black voters, in spite of the adamant opposition of her family and friends. Because of her work she sees the prejudice of those around her, even those she loves.

The author blends these two stories in a powerful way and you will continue to think of this story long after you finish it.

My thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.