Loved "The Last House on the Street". There is romance, suspense, hidden pasts, and the present. The present is about Kayla Carter. When Kayla's husband dies while in the house they are building in a new subdivision, Kayla is torn about what to do with the house.. Strange things happen, beginning with a visit from a woman who is very ominous. She warns Kayla that she should not move into the house. The past is about Ellie Hockley who has moved back into her childhood home after being away for over 50 years. She ran from her family after a horrendous incident. As the past and present begin to meld, secrets are unhidden. The ending blew me away! Thanks to Ms. Chamberlain, St. Martin's Press, and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The Last House On the Street by Diane Chamberlain is comprised of two storylines told 45 years apart but with a connecting thread. Ellie’s tale is set in 1965 and involves reading relations. Kayla’s tale is set in 2010 and deals with the repercussions of Kayla suddenly losing her husband. This book tells both tales effectively and rings them together in a very satisfying conclusion. Read and enjoy!

Diane Chamberlain is so amazing with historical fiction storytelling. I loved her book Dream Daughter. I still have some books of hers to read. This book is told by two timelines Ellie's POV in 1965 and Kayla's POV in 2010. This book shows how blacks and whites fight for Civil Rights in the South. I feel this was a time in our history no one will never forget.. The ending was hopeful.. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to read Diane's book. I am a fan of hers and I was so excited to read her new release. I still plan on buying the hard copy when it is release on January 11-2022. Thank you Net Galley.

Diane Chamberlain's latest story is set in the small town of Round Hill, North Carolina, and is told in two intertwining timelines: 1965 and 2010. It is the story of two young women, Ellie and Kayla, and their families. In 1965, Ellie upsets her family and community by volunteering to work for a civil-rights cause. In 2010, Kayla and her little girl are moving into her newly-built home after the accidental death of her architect husband. She knows little of what happened on her property in the past but can't help but feel a sense of foreboding and brooding menace in the surrounding woods. At the end of her street is a family who have lived there for years. It seems the daughter Ellie has returned home after an absence of 45 years to care for her ailing mother and brother. Kayla gets the impression that her father Reed and Ellie have had some past history but neither is willing to reveal what happened. Does Kayla need to untangle the past in order to feel safe in the present?

I would call this historical fiction with a little bit of mystery and romance woven through the story. The past is my favorite part of the novel but it is so gripping that it is very hard to read at times. The love story is very tragic, a Romeo and Juliet of the American South. Ellie is idealistic and willful but rather naive and ignorant about how deep-seated prejudice and bigotry are amongst her family, friends and neighbors and how dangerous this could be to those she loves.

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

Thank you to Net Galley for providing me with an ARC of this book. Kayla and her daughter Rainie are just moving into their new house at the end of the street when mysterious things begin happening to deter them from living there. When they meet Ellie, they begin to learn about the history of the small town. But what really happened at the end of the street? It took awhile to build the story and I felt the first half of the book moved quite slowly. Once things began to fall in place, then the pace picked up. One thing Diane Chamberlain did that frustrated me (in a good way) was finally reveal all the clues to solve the mystery to the reader without the characters being able to figure it out. I highly recommend this historical, social justice, mystery novel!

Although I’ve loved some of Diane Chamberlain’s books in the past, this one wasn’t for me. I loved that it was set in a turbulent time and it gave me a great insight into race relations and struggles. I just had trouble connecting to the main characters. As usual with Diane Chamberlain, the story took some turns which were so well written and totally unexpected. I think long time fans of her work will love this one!

Chamberlain has once again proved what an amazing writer she is. The dual timeline absolutely works and I had no idea how these two lives were going to come together. The ending was such a shocker, yet makes perfect sense. This the second of Chamberlain’s books that I have read and will definitely read more. She never disappoints

The Last House on the Street is a vividly detailed story told in two separate time periods that ultimately end up tied together unexpectedly. It’s 1965 and the high of the civil rights era and Ellie is the only white southerner has joined to help register voters. Ellie becomes close to the other freedom fighters she’s paired up with especially one, a young man by the name of Winston. As you can imagine, Ellie’s involvement in the organization has put everyone’s life in danger. It’s 2010 and Kayla is a recent widow about to move into the dream house she and her late husband designed and that ultimately took his life. Strange things have been happening around her home and she was indirectly threatened by an odd woman about moving into her home. Can Kayla figure out what is going on or will something happen to her as well?

I haven’t read a book by Diane Chamberlain in awhile and for the life of me I can’t think why. Her writing style is engaging and effortless and really draws you in. I enjoyed Ellie’s timeline much more than Kayla’s; it was much more detailed and I love the perspective it gave into the time period. The Last House on the Street is a solid read-it’s got a little bit of everything in it from the history of the time period, a few mysteries and a young love story.


Thank you @stmartinspress and @netgalley for this eARC in exchange for my honest feedback.

The Last House on the Street, by Diane Chamberlain, is a mesmerizing story set in both 1965 and 2010. I was hooked by the first few pages and remained immersed until the very last page. Chamberlain creates characters that are nuanced and so authentic that they remain embedded in memory and soul. Chamberlain’s pacing is impeccable as she weaves together mystery, murder, family drama, and history, building a plot that slowly gains speed before a cataclysmic and emotional conclusion.

This was a five-star plus read for me which I highly recommend. Beware of deep immersion likely to cause “book hangover.” After reading several other of her novels, I am persuaded that almost anything she writes is worth reading! Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for the opportunity to read a digital ARC. It was a pleasure.

Kayla Carter is still mourning the recent death of her husband when a mysterious woman warns her not to move into the house she and her husband designed together and poured their hearts into. The house had in fact been spooking her out, especially as it was the place where her husband had the tragic accident during the construction that cost him his life. In her efforts to uncover the mystery of the strange woman, Kayla befriends Ellie Hockley, an older woman who lives up the street, and together they reveal decades old horrific events from right in the neighborhood where her beloved dreamhouse was built Told through dual timelines and narratives, The Last House on the Street weaves mystery, thriller, family drama, and social injustice into a truly unforgettable story.

This was my first book by Diane Chamberlain and I was not prepared for how much I would love it and how much it would destroy me. It was a bit slow going for me initially: I struggled a bit with the two vastly different storylines in trying to understand how they might eventually fit together. Once the connections started falling into place, it grabbed me by the hand and pulled me along for quite the thrill ride! I enjoyed the fabulous character development, the build up of tension and drama, the lovely unlikely relationships that blossomed, and even the way the heart-break gutted me. This story had so many layers and so much to unpack. I was enchanted and broken all at once. Ellie and Win are characters I won't soon forget.

Notes: this was quite hard to read in some places due to racial injustices and violence, including some involving children. Hopefully none of the above are a dealbreaker as this is one not t9 be missed.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book in exchange for my honest review. It was incredible.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for an egalley in exchange for an honest review.

Diane Chamberlain's latest novel is a dual timeline that intersects the lives of a young widow in the 2000s with the memorable summer of a young woman in the 1960s. It is a memorable tale that explores the Civil Rights movement in North Carolina while also exploring the relationships of parents, their children, and fighting for what you believe in.

Diane Chamberlain is just one of those authors that I fall deeply into her storylines every. single. time. In fact, there is only of her novels( Lovers and Stranger, 1990) that I have not read as of yet. In a period of time where so many authors are using the dual timeline to tell the story of two main protagonists, Chamberlain just manages to do it flawlessly. Although I would admit that the history enthusiast that I am could not help, but always be eager to jump back into the Ellie timeline and her work with SCOPE. A truly memorable novel!

Publication Date 11/01/21
Goodreads review published 08/01/22

To say that The Last House on the Street is a profound and touching book is an understatement.

The book alternates between Ellie a white young woman in 1965 who has decided to aid in POC being registered to vote by joining SCOPE for the summer and canvassing to help encourage them to register and peacefullly protest for their rights. Kayla in 2010 who has recently become a widow and is now preparing to move into the house her and her late husband designed but where he also died in a freak accident.

Their stories diverge when they realize they are neighbors and strange things are happening to Kayla to warn her away from moving into her new house.

There are deep dark secrets that many people will do anything necessary to keep hidden. When the secrets begin to surface not only will you be shocked by what was done but also who did it.

This is a beautifully written book that will evoke some very intense and powerful emotions.

**Received ARC through NetGalley. Voluntarily reviewed**

A thank you to Netgalley for sharing the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I won't take the time to summarize the story as it has been done in numerous reviews. I have incredibly mixed feelings about this one because it's not at all what I thought it would be. It's good, don't get me wrong, and I while some of the subject matter was timely and intense, part of the problem was that I was in the mood for what I anticipated - in a nutshell, a mystery. A mystery it is not. There are secrets to be uncovered, but I consider it to be much more of a social history/commentary and domestic drama. Had I been in a different reader mentaliy, I may have appreciated it more. And, while I often (but always) enjoy a dual narrative, but I found one to be much more interesting than the other, and found myself skimming through certain section as my attention waned. I really like Diane Chamberlain, but this wasn't one of my favorites.

I love Diane Chamberlain and this book did not disappoint me. The book centers around two woman, Ellie and Kayla. Most of Ellie's story is set in the 60s and revolves around her family and her work with civil rights. Kayla's is set about fifty years later and has to do with her moving into her belly built home after just losing her husband. I enjoyed this book a lot.

I'm still digesting this one. I will say it kept me up due to part of the storyline.

The book travels between two timeframes, 1965 and 2010 North Carolina. The times are labeled with Kayla 2010 and Ellie 1965. I like that they do intersect further into the story and it is a necessary thing.

2010 finds recently widowed architect preparing to move into the dream house she and her husband designed. She has a sweet little girl and a helpful dad. The story opens with an odd threat made on her and she does report it to the police. There are other events further in and they make you wonder why except that someone doesn't want them living there.

1965 is Ellie's story. Ellie is in college to be a pharmacist like her dad and all goes well until one day she questions the world around her and becomes involved in civil rights. It's a disturbing story she is involved in but to say more would spoil the book.

Read it, enjoy it but do know you may have trouble letting it go from your mind.

*thank you to NetGalley for the chance to read this book.

4.5 Stars

Wow, this was not at all what I expected but in the best way. I went into this thinking it was a typical mystery, however I was pleasantly surprised with the complexity and depth that The Last House on the Street provided that truly enhanced the story.

Told in dual timelines, the stories of Ellie and Kayla collide in 2010 when Kayla moves into the house at the end of Ellie's street, where her childhood home still stands. After her husband dies in a tragic accident in the home. Kayla is already apprehensive to move her and her 4 year old daughter into the house, and then finds she is being told that she should not live there and it is "haunted'. She runs into Ellie, who has recently returned to care for her ailing family members after being gone for over 40 years. But why did she leave, what secrets is she hiding, and why is it that Ellie and her "best friend" Brenda seem to know something about Kayla's dad, Reed? Secrets are hidden and the stakes are being raised when Kayla and her daughter have mysterious and dangerous activity around their house, and a town full of people who are advising them to leave...

Initially the dual timelines were confusing to me, I kept wondering how social injustice in the 1960s could relate to the house at the end of the street, however as that started to become clear almost halfway into the book I was entirely hooked. This is not a typical mystery that I have read, as it is unique in the fact that it ties history in and unveils the secrets of the past. What really happened in the woods behind the house 40 years ago, and who really is to blame? I could not put this story down, and loved the depth and intrigue that Diane Chamberlain provided throughout.

Thank you to NetGalley, Diane Chamberlain, and St. Martin's Press for an advanced ebook copy in exchange for an honest review.

'The Last House on the Street' is an ambitious foray into melding the murder-mystery-suspense genre with historical fiction. In 2010, recently widowed Kayla is trying to move into the next phase of her life - the one without her husband. They designed and built their dream home in a new development on Hockley Street that has a dark but unknown history. In 1965, Ellie lives in the only house on Hockley Street. She spends her summer working to help black residents of Derby County to become registered voters. The novel melds the two stories together and culminates by uncovering the link between the danger Kayla is currently in and a the dark history Ellie ran from four decades prior.

Generally, I enjoy a dual-timeline story. I found the civil rights storyline a little tedious for the first half of the book. Ifound myself skimming through a lot of this sections (it's clear a lot of research went into getting the experience of becoming a civil rights activists in the 60s accurate). However, once it got going the story became an intoxicating page turner! The writing is lovely and the ending is well-paced and wraps up neatly.

Should you read it: Yes for fans modern historical fiction& mysteries. Also, you need to notmind a slow build.

My first 5-star read of 2022, The Last House on the Street tells the story of Ellie in 1965 North Carolina and Kayla in 2010 in the same town. Ellie lives in the segregated South, but gets involved with an organization trying to register black voters. I appreciated her dedication to the cause and thought she was a strong character. I couldn’t imagine living life like she did and having to choose between her family and doing what she believes is right.

In 2010, Kayla is moving into a new home after losing her husband, a home which happens to be up the road from Ellie’s family home. Ellie is now 65 and the two become friendly. When Kayla starts getting threats about staying in her home we realize there’s a connection between Ellie and Kayla.

This is my second book by Diane Chamberlain, and both were 5-star reads. She does a great job writing dual timelines and getting her readers invested in her characters. This is an emotional story about racism and what it can lead to. It was hard to read parts of it which I can’t mention due to spoilers, but those parts are important to the story. Although this book covers tough subjects, it is beautifully written, and I loved how the two timelines were intertwined.

Diane Chamberlain has become an auto buy author for me, and I look forward to reading some of her backlist this year.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain. I've enjoyed past books by this author. This book is enjoyable but not a favorite of mine. It kept me intrigued a story of forbidden love, violence and civil rights movement done in dual timelines. The dual timelines is usually not a favorite of mine but I know it has to be done for the storylines.

This book was fantastic! It was very well researched and drew me in right away. I haven't read a ton of Chamberlain's books, but I have enjoyed every single one I've read, and this one was no exception. It centers around two timelines, one in 1965 and one in 2010. I was shocked towards the end when the two timelines intersected. All in all this was a great and timely story that I really liked. 4 stars!