A dramatic and engaging read told in a dual timeline manner. The mysteriously entwined stories of two brave women with the added element of a fight for justice and the rights of those oppressed.

Thank you St Martins Press and Netgalley for an ARC of The Last House On The Street by Diane Chamberlain in exchange for my honest opinion.

When I had seen that this book was available to request from Netgalley, I immediately requested it. Everyday, several times a day, I logged onto Netgalley to see if my request had been approved. I was so excited when I was! I have absolutely fallen in love with her writing. This book did not disappoint at all. It is definitely one of my favorites by Diane Chamberlain.

The Last House on The Street is a page turner. A heart breaker. A dual timeline book that will open your eyes to the racial injustices of the 60’s. A time of segregation in the south. A time when it was dangerous for a black man to be seen in certain parts, especially with a white woman. To the present time and all of those that have been affected by events in the past.

Chamberlain infuses this domestic thriller with echoes of southern gothic and adds a dash of historical fiction for a thoroughly satisfying read.

The two story lines don't converge until about a third of the way through. One is the contemporary story of Kayla, a widow who is moving with her young daughter into the very house where her husband died during the home's construction. The other is the story of Ellie Hockley's experience as a young woman in the south in the 1960s who become involved in the civil rights movement.

I found Ellie's chapters initially more compelling. But the book's pace and intrigue intensified when the connection between the two women became evident. Chamberlain kept me reading to find out the promised "secrets of the past," but the book also does a good job of exploring the subtleties of race relations in the south, both past and present, through characters who feel fully realized.

🌟Book Review🌟

Thank you to @netgalley and the publisher for the Advanced Review Copy.


After Kayla's husband dies during the construction of the home they designed together, Kayla is apprehensive about moving in with her 3 year old daughter. When an unexpected visitor advises against her living in the house, her fears are elevated, but are they warranted?

Meanwhile, back in 1965, Ellie leaves the comfort of her parent's home to  become a freedom fighter volunteer worker for a program that helps People Of Colour get registered to vote in the south. This heroic task comes with great risk as the Klan sets out to show they are not pleased about this Civil Rights movement.

Are the two women brave enough to move forward with the paths they've planned?

I LOVED this book! Told through multiple timelines, this first person POV story had it all. It was a historical / contemporary novel with just the right touch of mystery and suspense weaved throughout. The story alternated between 1965 (Ellie's story) and 2010 (Kayla's story) and as the reader tried to figure out the connections between the characters, the tension built.

The characters were so well developed, they could have done anything, and I'd have followed them in their journey.

The 1965 plot was rich with social issues that are relevant today, and the pacing  kept me so engaged the entire time.

The story lines of Ellie and Kayla are very segregated; for the first half, or so, of the book, I felt I was reading two separate books. Normally, this would bother me tremendously, but I equally loved both so didn't mind this. And once the storylines intersected, it all felt even more chilling and real.

A page turner that you'll surely not want to put down.

Wow, what a book! Beautifully written, with such emotional character development and plot! I’ve nor read a lot of Diane Chamberlain, but must say that the ones I’ve read definitely do not lack in any area, including this one! Quite a powerful story, which is sure to bring some emotional turmoil, as well as give you a few shocks! Highly, highly recommend!

I love a story with dual time lines but I must say, each story must be equally compelling and the connections strong. Despite my misgivings about Ellie’s characterization, I felt her story-line, as a young lady and what she experienced with SCOPE, her relationship the young man Win and her family was considerably more engrossing than Kayla’s story. While in the modern-day story, loose ends were tied up, the story felt awkwardly told throughout. I understand why the author chose to use a dual timeline, but I couldn’t help feel the 1960’s story-line would have been enough, if fleshed out.

Had I known this story was so racially motivated, I probably wouldn’t have picked it up. At least, I couldn’t help feel that it was and that there was an agenda pushed with Ellie’s, “whiteness”. That seems to be the norm in our society and personally, I’m tired of it all. It does absolutely nothing to heal hearts, nor does it make a positive impact. The narrative is not only polarizing but just adds more fuel to the flames of discontent and division. That said, I am not diminishing a person's right to telling a story how they see fit and who knows, maybe I'm making a false assumption about the author's intention.

How is it that Ellie seemed to be the only white person in her town with redeemable traits? Really? That doesn’t fly with me. Furthermore, it was disturbing that she was questioning her own creation and felt this intense burden for being white and what she felt as a privileged life. Guilty by what many would consider association because of her skin color and where she was born? No. I wanted to tell her she is who she-like anyone is- by the way she lives her life, her belief system and how she treats herself and others. The privileges she felt she was born with because of her ethnicity doesn’t make her culpable. Furthermore, acknowledging racism, doesn’t nor shouldn't require a certain skin color to feel guilty, though as society shows, it happens more times than not.

Ellie recognized the oppression of the black community and wanted to take part in making a change. While she was not responsible for creating the broken and unjust system, she felt strongly about her decision to take a stand and made a huge sacrifice that cost her and all parties involved a devastating loss. Powerful and emotional story-telling there...Chamberlain brilliantly portrayed cause and effect.

My feelings about how the story was told is not to say I don't have interest in reading about civil rights and different views on social issues. Far from it....My beef fully lies in the manner in how Ellie's ethnicity was portrayed. That said, I rallied on and read the story all the way through.

There were a few scenes in the story where I felt there was missed opportunities and in truth, I felt no connections to any of the characters to my dismay. To put my complaints aside and a rocky start, I became invested in the story, and the development of Ellie’s growth and experiences with SCOPE. Many aspects were gut-wrenching, poignant, and heartfelt. I have no doubt many readers will find this story extraordinary.


Stephanie Hopkins

I loved The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain! This novel is written in a dual timeline, which I enjoyed. It allows you such insight into the past and current story. A historical and very moving novel that will leave you thinking long after you've finished reading!

Many thanks to Netgalley for an ARC of The Last House on the Street. This was my first Diane Chamberlain book and it will definitely NOT be my last. How have her books escaped my radar until now?? This book was absolutely stunning from start to finish. I was completely engrossed from the first few pages and this pulled me out of my book slump. Told in a dual timeline, the story seamlessly shifts from Ellie's story in 1965 Round Hill, North Carolina to Kayla's story in 2010 Round Hill, North Carolina. I was riveted by each timeline and the story weaves together perfectly. The character development is very strong and Diane Chamberlain's impeccable research is apparent.
In 1965 North Carolina, we meet Ellie, who comes from a wealthy Southern White family. She is working towards a pharmacology degree at college, but she decides to spend her summer working as a civil rights activist to encourage Blacks to register to vote, much to the dismay of her family and her small town. In 2010 North Carolina, we meet Kayla, who is a recent widow with a 3 year old daughter. She lost her husband tragically and is still picking up the pieces months later.
Although much of the novel takes place in 1965, so much of the issues are ones that our world still grapples with today. Themes explored are activism, civil rights, racial injustice, interracial relationships, bigotry, Southern values, friendship, the importance of family, first loves, loss, and what it means to live in a small town Southern community.
I stayed up late many nights as I was captivated by this book. She could have taken this story in so many different directions, particularly in the 2010 present day timeline, and I respect the path that she chose for her characters. It's a flawless novel, in my opinion, and one of those books that will stick with me for years to come.
Expected Pub Date: January 2022

This was a very interesting book. Ellie Hockley is all about SCOPE. Which is an organization to help colored people register to vote. While helping out with SCOPE she falls in love. Can this love last?

Diane Chamberlain fails to disappoint her readers in her latest novel that goes back in forth between alternating viewpoints and eras to weave a wonderful story together. From the beginning, I easily connected between the main characters of Ellie and Kayla and loved how the story and other characters wove together!!

The Last House on the Street by Diane Chamberlain is an insightful tale of what it was like to be part of the civil rights movement in the 1960’s American south and what it’s like to find all the hate has not gone away over the years in 2010. Two stories are woven together and in the end we finally see the damage that racism causes for everyone involved.

Yes I love Diane Chamberlain,...and this was one powerful story!!
I always know when starting one of her novels, I am in for a ride and a heartfelt journey!
"The Last House on the Street" did not disappoint me! Thank you!!!
I am still thinking about this book! THAT is how I define great read!!!

I have enjoyed every Diane Chamberlain book I have read and The Last House on the Street did NOT disappoint. This book definitely makes the reader care about the characters and has the twists and turns Ms Chamberlain is known for. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to read this book early. I will continue to tell others about this wonderful book. But like many of Chamberlains books, after I finish I like to continue to think about and research the issues from the book. I have currently been reading more information about the SCOPE program and civil rights movements because of this book.

I picked this up as a read now after a friend had mentioned reading it. I went in completely blind, expecting a twisty thriller which this definitely was not but the story was captivating right from the start.

There are dual timelines in this book; First, there is Kayla in 2010 moving into a house she and her late husband designed and built in Round Hill, NC. Then there's Ellie in 1965 who lives on that same street and finds herself in the middle of a civil rights movement to try and help black southerners register to vote.

Their stories eventually connect and I found myself deeply invested in the outcome. There are a lot of things from that civil rights movement in 1965 that are sadly still relevant today, if not as in your face as it was then. This story is definitely one that tugs at the heartstrings and that I would recommend for everyone to pick up when it releases in January.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

Huge amount of thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s press for an advance copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion/review.
Diane Chamberlain does it right, y’all! Once again, I found myself reading a fabulous story that I couldn’t put down.
This is story, told between dual timelines, about love, loss, civil rights, and secrets.

Ellie (1965) is from a small southern town, expected to be the quintessential southern woman, but she years to be something more. She finds fulfillment and more while volunteering to help the black community to register to vote. Unfortunately she also finds out that members of her small town aren’t what she thought they were.
Kayla (2010) is grieving for husband, who died while building their dream home. Although she doesn’t want to move into the home he died in, she’s determined to honor his memory while doing exactly that. However, nobody seems to want her to do that. A mysterious woman vaguely threatens her, vandals pay her a few visits, and even her own father tries to persuade her from moving in.
Eventually the two women’s paths cross and secrets are exposed, rocking each of them to their cores.
I really liked this book. Diane Chamberlain is one of my favorites and she writes an excellent mystery. Publication date is January 11, 2022, so make sure this goes on your TBR list!

Diane Chamberlain has crafted an exquisitely poignant, heart-wrenching book that is easily one of the best I have read this year.

The use of two different points of view across two periods of time that are nonetheless intricately connected helps to make the book riveting from beginning to end. The characters are complex and realistic, the settings are both spell binding and educational, and the story reels the reader in and keeps her turning the pages.

The glimpse into the southern states and the black voters rights issue is an eye-opener, as little of such detail as found in the pages of the book is covered in modern history classes. I earnestly believe books such as this one, that humanize and bring to the forefront the human toll of history, are as important as the actual facts and dates that are taught in schools.

Chamberlain aptly illustrates in this book how one decision can not only affect a person for the rest of her life, but have consequences that resonate throughout the lives of all those around her, and echo throughout future generations as well.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys historical fiction, mysteries, and literature in general. Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to read this magnificent book! I would give it 10 stars if I could.

ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

“The Last House on the Street” is an example of a dual timeline novel at its best. In this novel, we are introduced to two women: Ellie Hockley, who is navigating the world of a Southern girl in 1965, and Kayla Carter, who is reeling from the death of her husband while moving into the dream home they built in 2010. Both timelines take place in and around Round Hill, North Carolina.

In 1965, Ellie, a young college student, decides to volunteer for the Summer Community Organization and Political Education (SCOPE) Project, a voter registration civil rights initiative helping to register black voters as the country waits for President Lyndon B. Johnson to sign the Voting Rights Act. In doing so, Ellie is confronted with the prejudices of the people who surround her and the horrifying repercussions of same.

In 2010, Kayla and her three-year-old daughter move into the dream home she designed with her recently deceased husband. From the days before the move and as they settle in, strange and alarming events occur that leave Kayla scared for herself and her daughter. As Kayla befriends her neighbor, Ellie Hockley, the past rushes into a collision course with the present.

Diane Chamberlain presents a stunningly beautiful and heartbreaking story that kept me so enthralled I devoured this book in one sitting. Chamberlain weaves together the true history of the SCOPE Project and the fight for black voter rights in 1965 with the fictionalized story of one volunteer traversing the prejudice and violence of the times. It is an eye-opening look into a piece of history I wasn’t familiar with (the SCOPE Project) that draws you in and has you hooked, riding the emotional roller coaster of events that left me near breathless. Not to be outdone, the 2010 timeline reads like a mystery/thriller that had me guessing until the very end. I couldn’t walk away from the escalating disquieting events that Kayla faces while still swimming in grief. As the story unfolded and the connecting threads of the two timelines were revealed, I was on the edge of my seat, fully engaged and emotionally invested in the characters and plot.

Overall, I was caught in the web weaved by Chamberlain in this emotional and turbulent story. I simply could not put the book down. If you’re a fan of historical fiction and/or multiple timeline novels, this book is for you. If you’re looking for a book that will suck you in and leave you reeling in a sea of emotions, this book is for you. Quite simply, this book is a must-read. I will definitely be buying a copy of this book when it comes out, and I am highly recommending it to everyone I know.

I can see this book as a good read for a high school class studying the civil rights movement. Teens would instantly become engaged with the mystery and suspense while it incorporates a strong story arc about those who risked their lives working towards ending prejudice and hatred. I highly recommend this book with strong characters and plot.

In all honesty, I only finished 51% of this. I really enjoyed Chamberlain’s previous book and a few others but this one fell short for me and I found myself on the verge of skimming before deciding to just quit.

This is a dual-timeline book; one story is Ellie’s from 1965 as she canvasses as a white woman trying to convince Black people to register to vote. Ellie has had some recent epiphanies regarding racial inequality and wants to do something to work against injustice. The other timeline is Kayla’s from 2010 as she grieves her young husband’s death and moves into a brand new home on property and near neighbors who have connections to the 1965 plotline.

I think my biggest issue with the story is twofold. First, the story moves incredibly slowly. The 2010 plotline feels mostly irrelevant although it probably connected further into the story than I was willing to commit to reading. Secondly, (and this is what killed it for me), I felt like the characters were flat and the narrative was dry despite a clear attempt to awake emotions. I should have felt fear and doubt and angst and yet, I was bored. Thirdly - and I’m not even sure how to express this - there is something very uncomfortable and almost cringey in Ellie’s wrestling with issues of racial injustice. I really wonder if Chamberlain had any sensitivity readers and if so, what advice they gave her. Ellie came across too noble, too aware, too…something. I never quite got the sense that her awakening really led her to see Black people as equals. Again, I don’t know that I can put a finger on what bugged me here so hopefully someone else can put it into words better than me.

I loved this book. Two timelines 1960s and 2000 woven beautifully tovether. The ending was a surprise.