I am always eager to read the next Diane Chamberlain book and The Last House on the Street was another one that I enjoyed. This book is a historical fiction novel, written in two timelines. One storyline is set in 1965 and shares the story of Ellie Hockley and her involvement in SCOPE, a group that recruited college students to educate Black citizens about their right to register and vote, as well as help them register. Ellie was a proper, white girl raised in well-to-do Round Hill, N.C. I have read books about this time before, but was shocked by the happenings in this book. You never know what the people you live with, your family and neighbours are capable of. In 2010, Architect Kayla Carter and her 3 year old daughter, Rainie, are moving into what was supposed to be her dream house. She and her husband designed it, but he died in a freak accident and she isn't sure if she still wants to live there. Several things happen to scare her off, including a strange woman showing up at her office to warn her off. What happened on that property all those years ago?

The last line of the blurb is a perfect line about this book: Two women. Two stories. Both on a collision course with the truth--no matter what that truth may bring to light

I did not know anything about the Scope Project and learned a lot about it. I did do a bit of googling to learn more. I loved the 1965 timeline the best. Learning about Ellie and what she went through as interesting and at the same time appalling. She was such a strong character, doing what she thought was right, even alienating her family. Win was also a wonderful character, doing what he believed in and helping others. Watching their relationship bloom, was sweet, but a disaster waiting to happen. I have to say, I didn't enjoy Kayla's storyline as much until the end when the two timelines come together. I would have liked a smoother transition between the two times, but I still very much liked this book. The setting was creepy. An overgrown yard, a brackish pond/lake and noises gave me chills at time. This was an emotional read and it punched me right in the gut several times. This was a good read with a strong message about the civil rights that are still being fought for today. I definitely recommend this book.

I love this new book by Diane Chamberlain so much!!!!!!! I have been a huge fan of hers for yrs now and she never disappoints me!! Her books are magical in a way I can't even put into words. If you haven't read any of her books you need to start on that now. I highly recommend this book.

What a great way to kick of my year of reading! Truly a book I didn’t want to put down. If work and life in general didn’t get in the way, I probably would have read this in one sitting. I was just drawn to the main characters, especially Ellie. She was by far my favorite, especially the 1965 version of her. Her drive, compassion, and wish for a better world for others to live in consumes her and then changes her. She’s a person I would want to be friends with in real life.

This story is told in alternating timelines, both taking place in the same county in North Carolina. And as you can imagine, 1965 NC is a much different place than 2010 NC. In 1965, Ellie is drawn to volunteer for SCOPE against her family’s wishes. It was an organization that brought in white college students to help the black communities register to vote – and in Klan territory, that is not a simple task. In 2010, Kayla is a recently widowed single mom, moving into a new house, trying to make a fresh start for her and her daughter. But there is history on the land her house now sits. History that will bring Kayla and Ellie together to find answers to exactly what happened on that plot of land in 1965.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for an advanced copy of this wonderful book. I had only read one of Ms. Chamberlain’s books prior, although many are on my to-read list. Those books now need to come to the front of that list because I’m sure I’ll enjoy them too.

Ms. Chamberlain beautifully weaves the past with the present not only with the lives of the two main characters but also the property where the one used to live and the other currently does. Ellie is a civil rights activities in the 1960's and Kayla is a successful architect. Ellie left the south for San Francisco after tragic events surrounding the presumed death of her loved one and never returned until her mother's and brother's ill heath brought her back.. Kayla and her husband designed and had built their dream home only to lose her husband in a tragic accident. The story is well crafted and a very good pace. Reading this during the holidays made it difficult as I wanted to keep turning the page plus enjoying the festivities. I should have waited and curled up on the sofa in front of a fire.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an early access copy.

I finished this a week ago. I enjoy books about life in the south and I really wasn’t sure until I started what this book was about. This book is told in 2 different time lines, one 1965 and the other in 2010. Upon reading this all the way through I kept thinking “ How is this going to come together at the end”. I had no idea until I was almost finished.
In 1965 there was a group of young adults that decided to band together and help “ colour folks” vote. In the process, some of these volunteers were white and stayed with black families. As a result, they saw horrors first hand just because of the difference in skin colour. Sometimes because they were living with black families themselves, they too were targeted. There is a terrible event that happens to a coloured boy in the very spot architects couple in 2010 decide to build their new home. Through various strange happenings around the property the story merges together.
I enjoyed this book and would definitely recommend it! I was told not to retell the book just give highlights and your opinion. I hope this helps readers decide to open this book.

Loved this dual timeline historical mystery. The story follows Kayla, a young and newly widowed mother moving into the house of her dreams, while getting to know Ellie, a 65 year old woman coming back to town to care for her family. The story goes back and forth between Kayla learning the history of her house and the town and Ellie as a 20 year old woman helping canvas Black voters during the civil rights movement. I cared so greatly about the characters, and the mystery within was expertly crafted.

Diane Chamberlain. She’s my gal.

Her storytelling has the power to sweep me away, completely. When I get my hands on one of her books, I spin around in circles like Snoopy doing a happy dance. I did that with her latest, The Last House on the Street, but then a weird thing happened. I set it aside and read dozens of others ahead of it. I just NEEDED it to be so good that I was scared to read it.

Fortunately, it is good. Really good. In true Chamberlain fashion, The Last House on the Street is a dual-timeline narrative set in North Carolina. The contemporary story features a young grieving widow, Kayla, piecing together a new life for herself and her daughter, and the historical story focuses on a 20-year-old white woman, Ellie, in 1965 who goes against her family’s wishes to dedicate her time to SCOPE. The Summer Community Organization and Political Education project was a voter registration civil rights initiative conducted in six southern states. The goal was to recruit white college students to help prepare Black Americans for voting and to maintain pressure on Congress to pass what became the Voting Rights Act of 1965.

Typically dual-timeline narratives have one treasure and one turd, but I found both women’s stories equally compelling. Kayla and Ellie are likeable and easy to root for, and it was satisfying to see how their lives intertwined at the end.

As for the inclusion of the SCOPE project as a central plot point, I'm happy this aspect of American history has been brought to my attention. Chamberlain just scratches the surface of it by using it as a backdrop for a forbidden interracial relationship though, thus my desire to learn more about the project will send me to nonfiction resources in the future.

So will The Last House on the Street be recalled as one of my favorite Diane Chamberlain novels? No, she’ll be hard pressed to top Necessary Lies and The Secret Life of CeeCee Wilkes in my eyes. I will always recommend her books to people looking for page turners though, and this is no exception.

This is a dual timeline novel, set in Round Hill, North Carolina, in both 1965 and 2010. In 1965, Ellie has decided to volunteer for SCOPE (Summer Community Organization and Political Education), which organized students in an effort to help African Americans in the South register to vote. She expected her family to object, but was not prepared for the level of anger aimed her way. In 2010, Kayla has just lost her husband to a tragic accident and is in unbelievable pain, continuing their plans to move into their new house in Round Hill. Then strange things begin happening, and it appears that someone does not want her there.

I enjoyed the description of and research into events in 1965. I was impressed with the character development of Ellie and Win. However, I felt the plot of the 2010 timeline was not fully realized and sort of fizzled out. Although there was a surprise at the end, the plot wasn't completely developed or resolved. So much could have been added to make this a complete novel, such as more representation of the African American community in the 2010 timeline. This was a surprise, as I have loved all of Diane Chamberlain's books prior to this one.

I received a free copy of this book from St. Martin's Press. My review is voluntary and my opinions are my own.

4.5 stars

Diane Chamberlain does it again, at least for me. Like most (all?) of the books I've read from her, this one is told from two different points of view in two different timelines and the timelines/POV eventually merge. In my opinion, she does this well and I never become confused about the POV or the timelines and always look forward to the denouement, when they end up merging. What was coincidental for me is that I was reading Black, by Joan Vassar while reading this book, and it was interesting reading about the black struggle from two different points of view. Diane Chamberlain is a white woman, as opposed to Joan Vassar, who is a black woman, but one of the main protagonists in this story is a white southern rich girl from North Carolina who becomes passionate about helping change things for blacks in the 60s by working to get them the vote. She is the lone white voice in her community speaking for the change, and a lot of ugliness is revealed as we explore both the past and the present. The author did a good job of mixing in the past and the present and I really felt the atmosphere of those woods and that lake. I would totally have been creeped out if I had been there. The only reason I did not give this 5 stars is because I predicted much of the ending, and while that's not necessarily a bad thing (usually have a hard time predicting the ending), it was not a surprise to me what happened in the past and what was happening in the future. I would still recommend this book and I will continue to read any Diane Chamberlain book I come across. With her large body of work, it's more about which one I will read next.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

* Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this ARC. *
Kayla, who is recently widowed, is moving into her dream house with her young daughter, but the loss of her husband on the property, and additional strange circumstances have her feeling uneasy about their plans.
Ellie, grew up on the same street and her family has thus far refused to sell their house to make room for the new development. She has returned to care for her declining family. Ellie and Kayla’s lives intersect as they discover the things they have in common through family and the land.
We follow both women in a 2010 timeline and Ellie in 1965 when she volunteered for a civil rights group called SCOPE working for equal voting rights. She witnesses racist atrocities in ways she didn’t even know existed and is exposed to an entire new world of inequality and fear without even leaving her county. As the story builds, we see how the events of the past continue to haunt the characters in the future.
Diane Chamberlain writes incredibly rich characters you will care for deeply. There is so much heartbreak in our country’s history, I appreciate authors who share stories of brave, resilient people who faced more adversity than anyone should ever have to. As always,
from this author, we have amazing storytelling that is packed with emotion and heart.

My last book for 2021 was The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain. I finished it New Years Eve before I went to sleep which was before midnight. I've read one or two other books by her and really enjoyed them. This one was good but, I don't think it had the wow factor and maybe the author intended it that way.

This book took place in two different time periods. One was in 1965 and one of the main characters was common to both time periods and stories. Her name was Ellie. Back in 1965 she was from an influential family in a small town in North Carolina. Her father was the Pharmacist in town and owned a drug store. Ellie wanted to volunteer with a group called SCOPE. It stood for Summer Community Organization and Political Education. Their purpose was to take racism out of politics. President Lyndon B. Johnson was suppose to sign the Voting Rights Bill Act which would allow folks to vote without passing a reading test among other things. Ellie wanted to volunteer to work in the black communities to educated and urge more blacks to register to vote. Her parents were against it because she would be canvassing and living in the poor black communities. The other time period was in 2010. Ellie has returned to her hometown to take care of her mother and her brother. The land around the home where she was raised has been sold off to a developer to build a new neighborhood. Kayla and her husband bought the lot at the end of the street to build their dream home. Strange things begin to happen to her family and home. Kayla eventually meets Ellie. The chapters of the two time periods rotate back and forth.

I like both time periods but, I think both of them fell a little short. Let me tell you why.

The time period of 1965 is one I remember well. I was almost 11 years old that summer. I remember moving from North Dakota to Florida a few years earlier. On that trip I remember the first signs that warned Negroes were not allowed to use white restrooms, drink out of the water fountains or eat in the restaurants. As a young child, I did not understand that and remembered asking my mother about it. Ellie had the same feelings I did. I think this was a great story but, would have been just as great on its own.

I felt the time period taking place in 2010 was trying to be Psychological Suspense. So many freaky things started happening to Kayla. I think this coulld have been a story developed into a novel of its own. I understand how they both tie into each other and it could have been an outstanding book. It was good but, I just think it fell a little flat. The 1965 era was an important one and frankly, I think we still have a long way to go. I think this book could have presented that in an easily digestible fashion. Diane Chamberlain has important things to say in this book but, stopped a little bit short.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from #StMartinsPress via #Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

I received an ARC of this book. A complex story with enough suspense to keep me turning the pages until the end. Very good read, I highly recommend!

Diane Chamberlain is very much a reliable author for me. I know I’m going to get a neighborhood drama, some hidden, mysterious scandal, and a story with friendship and love. That’s exactly what you get here. I usually really like books with dual timelines, but here I had a strong preference for the story set in the 60s - much more interesting time & characters. The present day story was too drawn out and and portions unbelievable. The earlier time period alone makes this a worthwhile read

3.5 stars

The Last House on the Street was an interesting story with a dual timeline. Ellie is a young woman living in North Carolina in the 1960s who decides she wants to join in with the Civil Rights movement, much to the disappointment of her family. Kayla is an architect living in Ellie's hometown in 2010. Moving into a new home, she learns that her new neighborhood is full of secrets from the past.

Typically with dual timeline stories I find myself liking and becoming more invested in one timeline more than the other. That was the case for me in this book. I really found the historical fiction parts of this story set in the 60s to be very interesting, but I was not as interested in the modern day story. I found myself a little bit disappointed when the book moved back to the modern day timeline. I think I would have preferred for this to be just a straight historical fiction novel set in the 1960s North Carolina setting.

However, this was a highly readable and engaging novel. I did enjoy it and I felt like I learned a little bit more about this period of history during the Civil Rights movement. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys historical fiction!

This book was told through dual timelines. In 2010, Kayla Carter is moving into her newly built home where her husband had recently died. An exciting and new time in her life turned into grief and despair. Kayla and her 4-year-old daughter are moving into their new estate, despite the passing of their loved one. But the house has an unsettling feeling like something is hiding in the deep woods behind the house.

In 1965, Ellie who lives in the same location as Kayla is throwing herself headfirst into the Civil Rights Movement. She joins the SCOPE project to help register Black families to vote. Every person in Ellie's life does not approve of her passion, especially those in her small community.

I really enjoyed this book. I did find myself more gripped when reading Ellie's story, however, I did grow to like Kayla's POV towards the end of the book. While some parts of the book were difficult to read, I learned a lot and gained some new perspectives.

Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for providing me an ARC through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Expected Publication Date: 1/11/22.

In absolute Chamberlain style, an astonishing rhythmic writing of epic proportions.
In both eerie fashion, and heartfelt words, Chamberlain lays it all out on the line as she introduces us to some dynamic women of both young and old.

Ellie is a dreamer, if not naïve, as a young white woman in the 60s living a privileged southern life. Against her families wishes, she joins the civil rights activists group, SCOPE to petition and advise her black neighbors of their upcoming voting rights and encouraging them to register to vote. Paired with a young black man to assist in introductions to her door to door petitions, Ellie is shocked to find that not all of her neighbors live the life she does. And as she spends her long days walking miles of dirt track, she discovers a new love for the kindly young man next to her.

Simultaneously, we meet Kayla in current times. A recent widow with a young child, Kayla is preparing to move into the home herself and her late husband designed on a large wooded plot of land. Kayla soon discovers that not all is what it seems as strange events start happening in and around their property, she cant help but think that someone or something doesn't want them there.

Soon, Kayla meets the elderly Ellie, who happens to be home taking care of her brother and elderly mom in her childhood home at the end of the street Kayla has built on. And through her relationship with Ellie, Kayla discovers her humble new home has a dark history.

Though some may not, I thoroughly enjoyed the time hops that propelled the storyline forward without interrupting the flow of the plot or its characters and it especially helped you connect with them on a different level as you see their realizations grow.

Special thanks to Netgalley and St. Martins Press for the advanced copy.

This book is fantastic! It is one of those books that once I started to read it, I didn’t want to put it down. Such a huge twist at the end that I was not expecting at the slightest. I love the dual timelines and perspectives, both always add something extra to the story. The characters are all amazing - each with their own history and tragedy. It was so cool to read about their different backstories, and then watch how they come together in the more current time period. Another masterpiece by Diane Chamberlain!

This was a very thoughtful, well written but slow story. I’m a fan of dual timelines that are far enough apart that there’s a clear distinction between them and this one was perfect for that. One was set in the 60s and one was more present day. As with other dual timelines, one story was more prevalent than the other. Elly’s work with Scope and the Voting Rights Act was definitely the focus of this story; Kayla’s story was pretty weak and probably not even needed for most of the story. I enjoyed this enough but felt that it moved way too slowly.

When I first picked this up, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I ended up really enjoying it.

The dual timeline worked well. The 1965 storyline focused on the Civil Rights movement and while I’m aware of it, this gave me a better understanding of what it was like and the types of things that happened. It was eye opening and at times a little difficult to read. The present day timeline worked well too and added to the story, that sometimes doesn’t happen with dual timelines.

The first 40% was a little low, but once the main action started taking place, the story grabbed your attention and it was hard to put down.

Overall, I’d recommend this to people, especially those who enjoy historical fiction or are interested in the Civil Rights movement.

I received this book free of charge from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review

Thank you to @stmartinspress and @netgalley for the opportunity to read The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain. I honestly didn't know what I was getting myself into with this one and boy do we have a winner on our hands!

This one is told in dual timelines 1965 and 2010 by two different POVs. In 1965, Ellie leaves her home to advocate for voting rights and gets involved with the SCOPE movement. She falls in love with Win, an African American male, who is also involved in the Civil Rights movement. Ellie's family and best friend aren't happy about her involvement; this is the South and white people do not get involved in such matters. But, Ellie follows her heart until one night changes her life forever and Win's. A most horrific act is committed in her hometown by the Klan. and Ellie discovers more than she wants to know about the people of her town; including her own family.

In 2010, Kayla and and her young daughter move into a home where the secret to the past is buried. She doesn't know it at the time But, when she meets Ellie who is now taking care of her elderly mother and her best friend Brenda; the past and the present collide and what comes to light is dark ugly secret that is unforgivable.

This book will leave you questioning so many things and will leave you questioning: Do you really know the people you love and your neighbors?