Nick and Bet barely had a chance to get to know each other before he left for World War II but like so many, they got engaged while he was overseas fighting for his country. Upon his return, they pursued the American dream in the suburbs and created the ideal family amidst the Cold War. However, underneath the image of having it all portrayed to the public is a quiet yearning for more. Bet’s dreams of a PhD are replaced by motherhood and “publishing” The Modern Mapleton Household. When the opportunity to buy Last House in Vermont to escape during the summer, a new hope is awakened for their family. As the decades continue and the next generation ages, the same beautiful yet daunting themes transcend through time. Last House is a tragically beautiful novel, a rare gem that encapsulates a family’s experience across generations juxtaposed with constant pursuit of the allusive American dream amidst war, civil turmoil, and family grief.

From the start, it’s engaging. It follows the Taylor family, who become wealthy thanks to the oil industry. They have a special retreat, called Last House, where they can escape the world's troubles. But as the years go by, the family faces challenges and changes that make them question their beliefs and values. A wonderful read, about family, change and acceptance.

Hard to get into, just not for me. I think I’m a minority though since it’s gotten mostly higher reviews.

Last House is a very interesting and thought provoking saga. It depicts a family with opposing values and yet held together by love. The father Nick, a lawyer who deals with oil deals in Iran and his daughter who is an activist who opposes everything he stands for. The book encompasses much of the current events from 1953 to 2026 and the development and changes the family goes through. Last House represents a sense of peace and survival.

I received a free ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

In the book "Last House" by Jessica Shattuck, we follow the Taylor family through the 1950s and 1960s, a time of big changes in America and the world. Nick, a lawyer working for an oil company, buys a house in Vermont called Last House. But their ties to the oil industry bring both good and bad for the family. The story focuses on Nick, his wife Bet, and their children, Katherine and Harry. Each chapter gives us a different perspective on their lives and struggles.

While the book does a great job of telling a captivating family story, it sometimes gets a bit too focused on big ideas. Characters talk about their lives in a way that feels forced, and parts of the book set in the future feel out of place. Overall, though, "Last House" is a compelling read that draws you into the Taylor family's world and keeps you hooked until the end.

4.00/5 stars! Comes out May 14, 2024!!

Pefect read for someone that likes a family saga, which I typically enjoy, but this one was just too much for me. I couldn't get into the story.
The words just didn't flow well for me. Thank you for an advance read!

In the postwar 1950s veteran Nick Taylor’s focus is on family. That is what keeps him grounded. His wife, Bet, who misses her war work as a cryptologist is now a homemaker and mother of two. The world is an uncertain and frightening place, Nick is often off to Iran doing oil deals. When an opportunity to purchase a rustic home in remote Vermont they jump on it.. In the 50s and 60s this becomes a retreat and sanctuary for them and their children, Katherine and Harry. But time moves on, politics and society changes. Big oil and and the clandestine negations he was part of take on a different tone. Katherine becomes a radical and her brother, Harry gets pulled in with tragic results. Through all the decades the nous remains as a sanctuary.
Thanks to NetGalley for an eGalley of this title.

As the world begins the transition away from oil toward renewable energy, Jessica Shattuck reflects on the greed, hubris, and optimism of the Age of Oil in Last House, a historical fiction novel that follows an American family whose fate becomes inextricably intertwined with the oil industry. Upon his return from World War II, veteran Nick Taylor prioritizes material and domestic stability. He finances a house in the suburbs for his wife, Bet, and their children, Katherine and Harry, with his job as a lawyer for an American oil. As part of his work, he plays a small but not insignificant role in the CIA-backed coup in Iran that places the Western-friendly Shah in power. Nick buys a house in rural Vermont called Last House as a summer retreat alongside several other American power brokers in Iran. Last House alternates between the perspectives of Nick, Bet, and Katherine as their family’s connections with the oil industry prove to be their greatest blessing and their greatest source of sorrow throughout the 1950s and tumultuous 1960s.

Although it positions itself as a meditation on themes of ambition and hubris, at its heart Last House is an engrossing historical family saga. Shattuck paints Nick, Bet, Katherine, and Harry as complex and vibrant characters who struggle to navigate the challenges of their time. She demonstrates a strong sensitivity to the rifts and bonds that develop between the characters throughout the story. The chapters from Katherine’s perspective are particularly compelling. She captures Katherine’s voice so vividly and completely that it’s easy to forget that we are not, in fact, reading the words of an aging Baby Boomer reflecting on her life. Part of what makes Katherine’s chapters so remarkable is that Shattuck recaptures the unique socio-political atmosphere of late-1960s America in a way that feels authentic and textured. These elements combine to make an utterly riveting story that chronicles how the Taylor family’s connection to oil inches them closer and closer to tragedy.

Last House succeeds brilliantly as a family story, but Shattuck stumbles when she attempts to bring broader thematic commentary into the narrative. At times, her characters philosophize about their lives in a pointed and inorganic matter; at others, Shattuck simply asks the novel’s thematic questions outright rather than let her readers come to them on their own. Additionally, the chapters at the end of the book, which take place in 2026, feel shoehorned in to connect the story to present-day political and climate concerns. Not every literary fiction book needs to explicitly meditate on the current state of the world to be considered worthy; sometimes, it’s enough to just tell an emotionally impactful and engaging story, which Last House undoubtedly accomplishes.

TL;DR: Last House is an engrossing family historical drama with complex and vibrant characters, a riveting plot, and an evocative setting. Much like some of its characters, however, it fails to realize some of its more grandiose ambitions.

Thank you to NetGalley and William Morrow for providing me with an advanced reader copy of Last House by Jessica Shattuck in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very well written, very dark and surprisingly apocalyptic novel. We are taken through the post WW II years with an American family whose lives are inextricably tied to the oil industry and CIA involvement in tge burgeoning oil industry.

Nick Taylor becomes a central figure in this era, yet with no connection to the politics and future damages that this kingdom of oil and plastic will provoke. This turbulence of these years becomes a whirlpool surrounding his own children. Told through the eyes of the Taylor family that lived and died because of the petrochemical industry and the connected politics.

It is THE LAST HOUSE, a family retreat in rural Vermont, that is central to the lives of the family.

This is an unusual study of this era. The author has managed to include the real historical events of the era to be the framework for this story.

Thank you Netgalley for this extremely prescient novel.

"Last House" by Jessica Shattuck is a haunting and atmospheric novel that explores the lingering scars of war and the secrets that lie buried within a family's past. Set in the aftermath of World War II, the novel follows the lives of the Muellers, a German-American family grappling with their complicity in the horrors of the Nazi regime. As they navigate the shifting alliances and loyalties of postwar Germany, they must confront the ghosts of their past and reckon with the choices that have shaped their lives.

Shattuck's writing is elegant and evocative, capturing the devastation of war and the fragile bonds of love and loyalty that endure in its wake. The characters are vividly drawn, their struggles and triumphs resonating with emotional depth and complexity. The novel explores themes of guilt, redemption, and the search for meaning in the aftermath of trauma, offering a poignant meditation on the power of forgiveness and reconciliation.

"Last House" is a powerful and thought-provoking novel that sheds light on a dark chapter of history while offering a message of hope and healing. Jessica Shattuck has crafted a haunting and unforgettable story that will linger in the minds of readers long after they've turned the final page.

Wow. How have I not read other books by this author? Last House is one of the best books I have read in years and I will remember it for years to come. A story about several generations of a family, with the primary plot based on growing up in the 1970s with Vietnam protests and unrest in the U.S. I was generally surprised that I did not learn in my history classes about Weather Underground and the 2,500 domestic bombings that took place. Part of the book also highlights the Iranian domestic issues at the time, fueled by the American oil industry (this book had me researching so much of American history that I should have known at a much deeper level- I always love a novel that teaches me something new). And through all of that, we are hooked by the amazing characters that we learn to love and intense plot lines that make this an introspective, colorful, and thought-provoking story. I would give this more than 5 stars if I could.
Thank you Netgally for a ARC.

"Last House" follows the Taylor family saga from the 1950s to 2026, focusing on Nick and Bet navigating marriage and parenthood amidst Nick's work in the Middle East. They purchase Last House, a retreat in Vermont, which becomes central to their lives during the Cold War. The narrative alternates between generations, leading to a tragic event that shapes the family. While the build-up is engaging, the conclusion feels rushed, especially with the leap to 2026. Despite this, the book offers compelling characters and subplots. Special thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for the electronic ARC. This wasn’t a genre I typically read but I really enjoyed it.

Jessica Shattuck’s newest historical fiction, Last House, examines the political shift of the country from the 1950s to the 1970s through the lens of the Taylor family. Nick and Bet marry as soon as he returns from WWII, and they soon find themselves living the American dream in the suburbs on Nick’s job with a large oil company. Their two children, Katherine and Harry, enter the 1970s filled with protests — some even aimed at their own father’s business. Readers who enjoy historical fiction will find an emotional book about generational change at a complicated time in US history, and the intricacies of family legacy.

Thank you Net Galley for giving me the opportunity to read the Advanced Copy of Last House by Jessica Shattuck.
The author vividly creates a family during the 1950’s. Nick and Bet Taylor have two children and their lives seem good. They purchase a home called Last House which is off the grid in Vermont to serve as a safe place for the family to retreat to.
This story follows Nick’s career in oil and Bet’s who previously helped in WWII with code breaking.
It takes us through the turbulent era of the 60’s which we see their daughter protesting the Vietnam War.
It kept my interest throughout this story. This is a novel that I can relate to since growing up in the 60’s. Well written!

Last House is a family-based saga, starting in the early 1950s as Nick Taylor and his wife Bet navigate their marriage and early parenthood while Nick is a lawyer for a Big Oil company, spending most of his time in the Middle East negotiating contracts. Bet is an unsatisfied mother to Katherine and Harry, giving up on her own ambitions to fulfill her role as a wife and mother. Nick and Bet eventually purchase Last House from Nick's friend Carter, a man who works for the CIA with dealings in the Middle East as well. Last House is off the grid in Vermont and gives them a retreat from the real world and the threats therein during the "peak" years of the Cold War and thereafter.
The book is told in alternating chapters from different perspectives, jumping from Nick and Bet in the 1950s to Katherin and Bet in the 1960s, eventually building up to a discussion about a tragic incident that has a huge impact on their lives as a family. The build up to this event was drawn out but also got me invested in the story quite quickly. There are side characters and stories that don't necessarily further the plot, but still contribute to the overall interest of the book. Once this tragedy happens though, the book is quickly concluded. We jump forward in time to 2026, and the book is just wrapped up. I almost felt like that jump forward in time wasn't necessary and didn't really add much to my overall enjoyment of the novel.
Thank you to William Morrow and NetGalley for the electronic ARC of this novel for review.

this book blew my mind!!!!! completely unlike anything else i've ever read before. go into this book without knowing anything and you will be so drawn in

This is a five. The words are powerful. It feels like the book transcends time so that we can once again experience the past and sort out opinions on where we’re headed in our country.

The reader learns all about one family. Nick Taylor, a veteran of the war, and graduate of Yale, is married to Bet, graduate of Vassar. It starts in 1953 with their two young children, Katherine and Harry. They are comfortable with their lives in a small town of Connecticut and they bought a vacation place called: Last House in Vermont. It’s surrounded by beautiful trees, trails, creeks for fishing and it’s an ideal getaway from the big city. They were thinking that it would be a great place to escape -- just in case -- the world falls apart.

While Nick’s career involved meeting with powerful Middle East leaders to discuss oil and government support, his adult daughter Kat has taken another direction in protesting the Vietnam war and big oil. Overtime, their lives changed but Last House was there as a stabilizing structure and retreat for the family.

There’s a lot to take in with this book. Jessica Shattuck’s last book, “The Women in the Castle” made such an lasting impression with the development of her characters. This book does the same with a plot closer to home. It makes you feel immersed with the family’s achievements and shortcomings.

From the start, it’s engaging and makes you remember all sorts of music and news from the 60s. Yes, I remember drive-ins, hippies and Nixon as president. It feels like you could be in the kitchen discussing mundane or world news with them. It’s very well written and the story stays with you especially at the end. It gives you a lot to ponder and is a great book for a discussion.

My thanks to William Morrow and NetGalley for allowing me to read an advanced copy of this book with an expected release date of May 14, 2024.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advanced readers copy in return for an honest review.

In Last House, we follow the Taylor family during America’s post war years. I think that the author did an excellent job with the story in regards to the background research she had done. I especially liked how Bet’s background showed how extremely bright women were recruited during the war efforts as code breakers- this is something that did go on in America during WW2.

The author did an excellent job of taking a period in America, and diving deep into many topics. I didn’t see them as rushed but rather contributing to the bigger picture.


I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys novels of family sagas, history and the golden years of America.

Beautiful and heartwarming. Excellent writing! Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. This will be good for book clubs.

Thank you William Morrow and NetGalley for this advanced reader copy ebook.

Unfortunately, this one was not for me. I spent the majority of the book wondering what the point was. There were interesting parts here and there, but the majority of the book was a bit slow paced for me. I thought it became the most interesting by the last part, but the ending seemed rushed to me and I wish there was more of the book dedicated to that instead of parts in the middle. 2⭐️.