An epic family saga spanning almost 80 years. This book reflected on almost every major touchstone in American history while also focusing on one family during these major generational shifts. It was beautifully done.

Huge thank you to #williammorrow and @netgalley for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

Last House by Jessica Shattuck was a difficult read for me. I loved The Women in the Castle but this story did not resonate with me. I had trouble staying focused on it and felt like it was disjointed. I really just think that this wasn’t for me. Will I read another by this author? Absolutely.
Thanks William Marrow via NetGalley.

I feel smarter for having read this book. As an American, I learned about important events in the history of our country and plights that are still relevant today with the current unrest in Iran.

I could relate to the mother, Bet, who when asked what she would stock in her end of the world escape house, responded that she would have books, “and chocolate. And a pen and paper so I could write things down and hide them in some bombproof container for future generations.”

But also, the father, Nick, who “did not understand this generation of children – or, rather, this modern version of childhood, so full of privilege and promise so devoid of hard work and responsibility.”

Their daughter, Katherine, and son, Harry, were coming of age in the late 60s/early 70s at a time of much turmoil. They debated the meaning of civilization with their radical tribe and were filled with incredulous disdain toward their parents, and especially their father’s job in the oil industry, which is more than just a job, but a geopolitical force.

Their father could negotiate “delicate agreements between Middle Eastern governments and the various international oil companies” and was invited as a special guest to the biggest party the world had ever seen in 1971 celebrating 2500 years of Iranian history.
I shed a tear when Nick was introduced to his granddaughter, because “despite all the ways his life had molded him to be hard, he remained open to the soft, delicate underbelly of experience that makes us human, to the small irrational fears as well as the bold principles and truths.”

This book is about radical thinking and earth shattering dilemmas, but at its core is a family saga about parenting and loss and the ghosts of the memories of the people that we loved that vanish over time.

I like novels that take place over a period of time and this book was wonderfully written. It reads so smoothly and seems very relatable and honest and the points of view were excellent.

Thank you to @WilliamMorrowBooks and #NetGalley for the digital ARC of #LastHouse. The opinions expressed here are entirely my own.

This is a well-written multi-generational family story, spanning history from the post-war 1950s thru the tumultuous 60s to current day. The story starts with Nick and Bet, meeting and falling in love during the war. Post-war, Nick takes a job with American Oil while Bet becomes a housewife, focusing her attention on their children, Katherine & Harry. The narrative shifts to Katherine as she enters adulthood in the 60s, against the backdrop of the civil rights movement, the Vietnam war and the discontent of her generation. She gets involved with a radical group, participating and reporting on the protests and uprisings. But Katherine struggles to reconcile her beliefs with her privileged upbringing. When Katherine brings her radical friends to their mountain house for a retreat, things take a dangerous turn. The narrative wraps up in 2026 with a few surprises.

I expected more detail on Nick's job with the oil industry. I also wanted more on Harry. The story is about a family of 4, but we never get Harry's narrative. Everything about him is from the others perspective. Maybe that's intentional - illustrating how you can never fully know the people you love. But not having Harry's story was a void for me. Still, I liked the story overall.

This is the story of the generations of a family and their home called the Last house. The story begins after WW2 and the husband works as a lawyer for an oil company and travels a lot negotiating for the oil company. The wife mostly raises their children - a tempermental daughter and a well behaved son. The years go by and the daughter goes off to college and gets involved with the war protests of the 70s, while the son becomes involved in saving the environment.

The evolution of time over the novel along with the different view points were interesting. I had to remind myself that this was fiction because it did read like non fiction and there was parallels that could be applied to current day as well. I thought the story captivated me more in part two when it shifted to Katherine's POV. The ups and downs and of the family saga could stand along but when intertwined with the events of the Vietnam war and the impacts of the oil industry, it was quiet the journey and an interesting one. While sometimes slow for me, it was thought provoking.

At once epic and
intimate, generation
spanning and layered.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️




I write haiku reviews on Instagram but am happy to provide more feedback.

Better start than finish🤔

3.5-4🌟 stars
This multi-generational saga, covering a family from WWII to 2026, really captured my interest in the first third as WWII vet Nick Taylor and Bet marry, start a family and settle in to a privileged life in Connecticut with children Harry and Katherine. Nick's involvement in political intrigues in Iran was particularly informative as I was not familiar with the history and the oil industry's involvement leading up to the Shah's reinstatement in the 50's. The family's yearly escape to the bare bones Last House in rural Vermont as the author describes actually seemed a pretty idyllic way to while away the summer. So much of the fifties and early sixties lifestyle struck a chord with my own childhood. Bet's frustration with the opportunities closed to her once she married and started a family were very realistic.

Once the story POV switched to the couple's daughter Katherine I found the narrative heavier going, especially her attitudes and the intense activism she gets embroiled in. I did not find her roommates and colleagues at all appealing, with the exception of Brent, whose life journey actually turned out better than I had expected. And the tragedy surrounding her brother was not detailed enough for me, probably because it was Katherine who told the story and not Harry.

I also found the last chapter confusing. A lot of new generations and characters are added rapidly at the very end, with a big gap of decades just sketchily covered.

For me, Last House was a worthwhile read but I thought it focused too much on Katherine and her peers.

Thanks to publishers William Morrow and NetGalley for sharing a complimentary advance copy of the book; this is my voluntary and honest opinion.

This novel depicts a post-WWII family and their ambitions, struggles and perspectives as the country goes through the Cold War, the turbulent Sixties. the Vietnam War, and the super dominance of Big Oil. It is the story of Nick Taylor, his wife Elizabeth (Bet), and their two children Katherine and Henry. Spanning the decades from Nick and Bet’s lives before they meet as young adults to Bet’s 79th birthday, this is a character-driven novel that delves into the hearts and minds of Nick and Bet, as members of the Greatest Generation, and how they grow and mature very differently from their children, who are in the group we now know as Boomers. The characters are very well developed, and the novel is beautifully written, focusing on family, acceptance and a changing world. All in all, this was a gripping and compelling read.

This novel explores the lives and struggles of an American family at a time when the country is experiencing growing pains of its owns. When the lines of what is expected and what is desired are diverging for many, each member of the Taylor family finds themselves vacillating between who they “should” be and who they really are. Readers will find themselves considering their own biases and privileges along with the protagonists. It made me reflect on how much has improved in this country and how far we have yet to go. A turbulent tale of an oft-overlooked period in American history, this book is sure to be loved by historical fiction readers.

An ambitious novel, spanning generations of a family through the decades opens in the early 1950s, when Nick Taylor, an attorney for an American oil company in oil rich Iran , marries Bet (Elizabeth) , now a housewife but formerly a US government code breaker during WWII. The story will begin with the Taylors and continue to the lives of their children, grandchildren and even great grandchildren. That is quite a big chunk of family history.

Iranian politics in the Shah’s era through the succeeding leader and finally the religious revolution seemed at first like the main thrust of the book but quickly, back and forth, the reader is thrust into the,lives of their offspring, Katharine and Harry, along with the radical politics of the 1960s USA. The Vietnam War and the civil rights become part of Katharine’s world as she takes on the job of reporter for a very left leaning newspaper. Her life will be forever changed.

Last House itself, is a family retreat in Vermont, once owned by a family with the name Last. It is there that Bet and her loved ones find solace from the daily grind of life in the city. It is also featured (think double entendre ) as the final place of family refuge after an unthinkable power outage takes over most of the country, just as Bet is celebrating her 79 th birthday. Whew. A lot is going on, sometimes so much so fast that it’s hard to ride with the motion. Other times the story slows down making the pace rather uneven- the reason I rated this four instead of five stars.

The Last House is a good read for those who enjoy bold characterization and reading about family relationships and drama throughout the 20 century. There was so much history that rang true for me as I thought of where I was and what I was doing when these historical events took place. My thanks to NetGalley and William Mortow for an advance reader’s copy in exchange for my review. Publication date is soon, May 14, 2024.

In "Last House" by Jessica Shattuck, readers are transported back to the tumultuous 1970s, a time when the world was gripped by the frenzied pursuit of oil and the echoes of war reverberated across continents. Through the eyes of Nick, Bet, and their daughter Katherine, Shattuck masterfully navigates the complex landscape of patriotism, ambition, and the quest for identity in an age defined by the relentless march of consumerism.

The novel opens with a poignant exchange that sets the tone for the exploration that follows. The juxtaposition of ancient empires with the burgeoning American ambition serves as a powerful backdrop against which the characters grapple with their own roles in shaping the course of history. As Nick and Bet embark on their mission to secure oil in the Middle East, readers are drawn into a world where the lines between duty and desire blur, and the consequences of their choices ripple far beyond their own lives.

One of the novel's greatest strengths lies in its ability to blend fact with fiction seamlessly. While anchored in historical events such as the opulent parties of the Shah of Iran, Shattuck weaves a narrative that feels at once familiar and revelatory. The docks of the oil refinery may be a product of imagination, but their significance within the larger tapestry of the story is undeniable.

At its core, "Last House" is a story about family, love, and the pursuit of the American dream. Against the backdrop of a rapidly changing world, Nick, Bet, and Katherine navigate the highs and lows of their relationships, grappling with the tension between ambition and authenticity. Through their struggles and triumphs, Shattuck invites readers to reflect on the enduring complexities of human connection and the timeless quest for meaning in a world driven by progress.

In conclusion, "Last House" is a captivating exploration of the human experience set against the backdrop of a pivotal moment in history. With its richly drawn characters, evocative setting, and thought-provoking themes, it is a novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page is turned. Jessica Shattuck has crafted a masterful work that offers both insight into the past and relevance for the present, cementing her place as a storyteller of remarkable talent and depth.

A very well written historical reminder of where we came from - how we got here and how our problems and mistakes are often the same as those who came before us.
I could identify with the Bet and Nick - they were much like my parents and Katherine and Harry could have been people I grew up with. Very interesting to see that my world view of the 60's and 70's was much the same.
A definite must read and perfect book club selection.

This is the year of the female-focused Vietnam War era book and I am finding them all fascinating; Last House by Jessica Shattuck included. Fans of family sagas will be completely engrossed as the characters are developed through their own coming-of-age stories spanning from WWII to current day. The technique of having a house being a touch point throughout the book gives the reader a unique lends through which to see each character age and evolve to interact with the property and each other in different ways. I will highly recommend this book to all our patrons and am sure it will appeal to a wide variety of readers.

I enjoyed this book, but was really confused how everything was going to wrap up in the end. It felt like some parts were dragged out a bit, but overall I was happy with how it came together in the end.

“The Last House” is a multi-generational story set between 1953 and the present time. It covers the CIA’s involvement in politics in Iran returning the Shah to power, civil rights, radical war protesters, and eco terrorism in the late 60s.

Bet, a code breaker, meets Nick Taylor in 1943 right before he leaves to serve. They marry and have 2 children. Nick is a lawyer for an oil company and Bet is a housewife. They purchase a weekend home named “Last House” in Last Valley and it becomes central to the story of the Taylor family.

The characters are all well-developed and we get a strong sense of what motivates them.

Thank you to NetGalley for my review copy.

Last House by Jessica Shattuck was a beautifully written family saga featuring the Taylors: Nick, a lawyer for an oil company and Bet, a housewife with a secret past, as they raise spirited Katherine and sensitive Harry. The story begins in 1953 when Nick and Bet are getting their family established and purchase "Last House," a rustic cabin in the isolated Vermont woods. The plot moves forward as Katherine and Harry grow up and question their parents' values and way of life. The Vietnam War era brought lots of changes to the family and we as readers are brought along on their journey.

Last House was a character study of the Taylors and how they interacted and how the changes in the world around them affected their relationships. The pacing was even, and the short chapters kept things moving even though there was not a lot of action. The mystery of what happened to Harry kept me swiping the pages.

The writing was eloquent and almost lofty in its philosophical musings. I found myself skimming some of the heavier sections. The jump in time at the end was satisfying to read.

I will recommend this to readers who like literary family sagas.

Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the digital ARC in exchange for my honest review.

The Last House is a family saga that spans multiple decades. The story for me was a slow read and didn’t really hold my attention. The characters were shallow and just boring.
Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow for an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Nick and Bet fall in love and marry; they have two children, Katherine and Harry. Nick, a World War II veteran with memories, works for the oil industry. With ties to Iran, he is instrumental in seating the Shah on the throne. He and Bet are successful; they own two homes and provide their children with “opportunities” and connections. After college Katherine teaches in a private school in Manhattan. Traumatized by the death of Martin Luther King, she reverses direction and becomes a journalist for a radical news source, meeting activists, some militant, even violent. Harry, a lover of nature, drops out of college to join the military. Rejected, he drifts and finds purpose in his sister’s friend group. Jessica Shattuck’s novel has an atmosphere from the outset of discontent and disappointment; no one is satisfied. One generation accumulates material possessions; the other seeks power. Greed dominates while fighting establishments. It takes profound loss to teach them that what they seek can be found in the qualities of each family member. This should have been enough. Only in retrospection and regret do they find answers.