Okay, so I just re-read this, and while I originally gave it three stars, I’m bumping it up to four because End of August has stayed with me in a way I wasn’t expecting. Yes, it’s a long book, and yes, it took me forever to finish because sometimes it felt like I was wandering through the same emotional cul-de-sac over and over, but the writing? Stunning. Paige Dinneny’s prose makes you want to sink into every melancholic sentence like it’s the last sunset of summer.

This book gives Shameless if it were directed by Greta Gerwig in her Mistakes Were Made era. Aurora is magnetic—she’s the kind of character you root for even when you know the odds are stacked against her. But everyone else? They feel like they’re stuck in the background of a Lana Del Rey music video, important to the aesthetic but not much else.

For a book about three generations of women, it spends a suspicious amount of time on men and romance. Like, we’re all here for yearning, but why does it have to be the centerpiece when the mother-daughter dynamic has so much more to say?

Let’s talk pacing. Reading this book is like driving through a town that’s just one endless stretch of stoplights. It’s slow, but in a way that makes you linger, that forces you to feel the ache of every stalled moment. It’s giving The Florida Project, but with even more dead-end streets and dreams held together by wishful thinking.

If you like books that lean into vibes—moody, small-town Americana with layers of generational trauma—this is for you. It’s not perfect (justice for female character development not centered on men), but it’s the kind of book that leaves a mark.

Thank you to Alcove Press for the advanced copy. End of August comes out February 11, 2025, and it’s worth adding to your TBR if you like stories that feel like a Midwest Polaroid in slow motion.

This is a multi faceted story. Firstly, it's about Aurora, a 15 year old girl who has moved to more towns that she can count because of her unsettled mother. But it's also about the relationships of Aurora, her mother and her grandmother living in a 3 generation home in Indiana.

Aurora is an innocent girl with a sensible and mature mind set. My heart goes out to her because all she wants is a stable home life, friends and everything else a 15 year old should have. She wants to stay in Monroe. She has a contentious relationship with her mother. Aurora is the voice of reason. Her mother is mentally absent. It is a role reversal. And, she has a sweet relationship with her grandmother, even though Gran has her own issues. Sometimes it's easier to get along with someone who is two generations away from you.

The setting plays a big part in the story. Monroe, Indiana is a small town, population 545 when I Googled. It has all the characteristics of a small town. Neighbours care for each other but everyone knows everyone's business. Not always a good thing. But, it adds interest.

The story is a bit of a slow burn. While it was well written, I felt that the story dragged a bit at times. But it all leads up to a very dramatic ending.

Things worked out the way Aurora thought they might. She looks forward to her future with acceptance and hope.

My rating is 3.5 stars, upgraded to 4 stars.

And, totally irrelevant, I love the cover of the book!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the Advance Readers Copy

Aurora Taylor is fifteen years old, her mother Laine was only a teenager when she was born and they don’t stay on one place for long. Aurora is getting sick of her mums nomadic ways, and they have moved eighteen times in her lifetime. When Laine shows up at school with the car all packed, Aurora assumes her mum’s latest boyfriend has dumped her and she’s wrong.

Laine hates Monroe, Indiana, the small town where she grew up, she has no choice but to return, see how her mum Katherine is coping with her loss and attended her step-father's funeral. Katherine was an alcoholic and is now sober and both Laine and Aurora worry she will fall off the wagon. Aurora assumes they will stay a week and her mum will get itchy feet and have an argument with Katherine. Laine has started flirting with the town’s married mailman, and this makes Aurora anxious and she knows it’s going to end in disaster.

Aurora is happy living in Monroe and in her grandma’s blue house, and can’t believe it when the pastor’s son asks her on a date and despite her being “a Taylor”, started a summer job and she has a sinking feeling this could change in an instant. Aurora’s mother’s bad decisions have always affected her and this time she has much more to lose, she has a home, she and her grandmother get on well, Aurora wants to be a normal teenager, attend school and learn to drive, she’s met the nicest boy and he introduces her to his friends and parents and she knows if anyone finds out what her mother’s up to she’s going to be a social outcast and they will be run out of town.

I received a copy of End of August by Paige Dinneny from NetGalley and Alcove Press in exchange for an honest review. Wow, I can’t believe this is the authors debut novel, at the start I was thinking this might be a three star read and I was incorrect. A multi-generational narrative set in 1979 and you can imagine what people thought about a thirty one year old single mother with a fifteen daughter, and people all assume the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and they are wrong.

A story about family and conflict, abandonment and addiction, breaking the cycle and finding a home, and first crushes and young love. Katherine’s, Karl’s, Claire- Anne’s, and Harry’s and Aurora's characters are delightful and in different ways and they made me laugh out loud and five stars from me and I highly recommend.

End of August by Paige Dinneny
This was an awesome book!
Aurora Taylor’s mother runs at the sight of trouble, usually of her own making, She’s been on the run for Aurora’s entire life, skipping out on dead end jobs and dead beat boyfriends, never looking back. At 15, Aurora has adapted to traveling light with most of her life fitting into a cardboard moving box.
Laine shows up one day after school with everything packed, not on the run but to say goodbye to Aurora’s grandpa, Jay, who had just passed.
Monroe, Indiana, a small town, even smaller when Laine and her mother, Katherine, are together. They are like oil and water, only erupting in explosions of emotion most of the time they are together.
This time is different, this time Aurora blooms and becomes more than just “Laine’s kid.” Aurora finds hope, home, and family, things she has never had. She loves the small town her mother has spent a lifetime running from. Laine clings to a toxic relationship, risking everything. Aurora dreads the next take off and run. This time everything is on the line, the town, Gran’s hope, Aurora’s future, and Laine has a choice for redemption.

I loved this story! I was captivated by the characters. The story was so real and raw with emotion. Paige Dinneny did a phenomenal job with capturing the multigenerational relationships and the raw feelings of a fifteen year old and her grandma. I give it 4.5/5⭐️

I would like to thank NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to review this ARC. This novel will be released February 11, 2025.

Set in the summer of 1979, “End of August” follows the life of fifteen-year-old Aurora Taylor, who has spent her entire life on the move with her single mother, Laine. Laine has a pattern of abandoning bad relationships and dead-end jobs, leading to a nomadic lifestyle that has left Aurora longing for stability and a sense of belonging. When they return to Monroe, Indiana, for the funeral of Aurora’s grandfather Jay—whom Laine has been running from for years—their visit quickly becomes complicated.

The choices made by Laine could destroy not only their family dynamics but also Aurora’s chance at redemption and stability. The novel explores themes of generational trauma, addiction, infidelity, and the complexities of familial love through the lens of three generations of women navigating their intertwined lives.

Whew! Talk about deep! This is a very character-driven novel. This novel explores three generations of women and shares their complex relationships. Very good read!

Paige Dinneny’s End of August is a poignant and beautifully crafted debut novel that explores the deep emotional bonds and traumatic legacies that span three generations of women. Set in the summer of 1979, the book follows fifteen-year-old Aurora Taylor as she navigates her nomadic, unstable life with her mother, Laine, who drifts from place to place, leaving behind terrible relationships and unfulfilled promises. However, their latest move—back to Monroe, Indiana—where Laine’s mother, an alcoholic battling her own demons, lives, turns out to be more than just another brief stop.

Dinneny’s storytelling deftly explores themes of generational trauma, abandonment, addiction, and the longing for stability. Readers are quickly drawn into the emotional world of Aurora, who has spent her entire life moving from one town to another, never allowing herself to dream of permanence. Her character is richly developed, embodying both the quiet resilience of a young girl forced to grow up too fast and the vulnerable hope that comes with the possibility of belonging. The decision to return to Monroe after the death of Aurora’s grandfather, Jay, forces Laine to confront the past she has long avoided and compels Aurora to reevaluate her own desires for family, community, and love.

One of the novel’s greatest strengths is how it brings the tension between the three women—Aurora, her mother Laine, and her grandmother—into sharp relief. Their interactions are fraught with history and pain, yet Dinneny gives space to each woman’s point of view, allowing readers to understand the generational wounds that shape their fractured relationships. Gran’s recurring battles with alcoholism, Laine’s restlessness, and Aurora’s yearning for a place to call home all tie together in a complex emotional web that resonates with authenticity.

As Aurora forms bonds in Monroe, including a deep friendship and a budding romance with the pastor’s son, she allows herself to imagine a life beyond the constant movement and transience of her past. This development is a tender exploration of teenage dreams and first love, made more poignant by the fact that it stands in stark contrast to her mother’s increasingly dangerous and destructive relationship with the town’s married mailman. The novel expertly balances Aurora’s newfound hope with the looming threat of her mother’s self-sabotaging behavior, heightening the tension as Laine’s choices threaten to undo everything Aurora holds dear.

Dinneny’s prose is lyrical, yet grounded, creating a vivid sense of place and atmosphere in Monroe, Indiana. The novel’s pacing is deliberate, allowing the simmering emotions and conflicts between the characters to build organically. The small-town setting, with its close-knit community and undercurrents of tension, feels like both a sanctuary and a ticking time bomb, adding to the novel’s gripping intensity.
Fans of Mary Beth Keane’s Ask Again, Yes and Kai Harris’s What the Fireflies Knew will find much to love in End of August. Like those novels, Dinneny’s work delves into the complexities of family and personal trauma with tenderness and insight, offering readers a window into the struggles of women burdened by past hurts but seeking redemption and connection.

End of August is an emotionally powerful, character-driven novel that doesn’t shy away from the messiness of familial relationships or the pain of inherited trauma. It’s an interesting exploration of what it means to find home—not just in a place, but in people—and the tough choices that can either bind or break us. Paige Dinneny has crafted a debut that is both heart-wrenching and hopeful, and it will leave readers thinking long after they turn the last page.

A must-read for anyone who enjoys richly drawn characters and multigenerational narratives filled with both heartbreak and the possibility of healing.

One of my best reads of 2024!!

This book was so very good. I was quite impressed with the writing style and the characters in this book. I rated this book 5 stars and I will definately be reading more by this author. This was an all around great book.

Really enjoyed this character-driven novel. Although not marketed as YA, I think it would make a great read for high school students as well. This novel explores the relationships of 3 generations of women, how they fail each other, but also how they show-up. I loved how authentic this novel was and although it may not be the reader's lived experience, you can imagine that for many it will strike a note close to home. I found it heartwarming and a joy to read. Mark your calendar for its release in February 2025!
Thank you NetGalley and publishers for providing a digital ARC for review!

The adultification of Aurora is the main theme of this book that looks at three generations living under the same roof with each woman being dysfunctional in her own way. Yet, as a family they are entirely lovable and plausible. Great writing and each woman's own demons really shine through. I thought it was an excellent portrayal of a situation that could exist in anybody's own neighborhood. I'd love to see a sequel on how Aurora manages high school. It's a different sort of read that should appeal to readers who like to dig deep into a character's psyche. It would also be an excellent choice for a book group as there is plenty to discuss.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. It is lovely and I hope to see a follow up.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I enjoyed this book, from the characters and their development to the plot. The main character Aurora and the friendships and relationships she forms draws readers in. I highly recommend. This book deals a lot with complex mother and daughter relationships and how these affect other members of the family. Overall a great story

I read End of August as a digital book and gave it 4.5 stars. Thank you to Netgalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book in exchange for an honest review. I was super excited to read this book as the blurb sounded really good and I was not let down. I really enjoyed this book, from the characters and their development to the plot. One of my favourite things in the book is the main character Aurora and the friendships and relationships she forms. I loved Paiges writing style and will definitely be reading more from them in the future as I did really enjoy reading End of August. This book deals a lot with complex mother and daughter relationships and how these affect other members of the family. I definitely supported some characters more than others and was just so happy with the ending. Overall, I really enjoyed reading End of August and would recommend for other people to read, I would recommend also checking TWs before reading though.

This was such an emotional read. I loved it. It covers so many themes especially dysfuctional families , and teenage pregnancy. I do prefer historical fiction that is set from 70's onwards so this book really connected with me. This book is all about acceptance and I will never forget it.

Thanks, NetGalley, for my ARC! I really enjoyed the multigenerational family storyline. Gran's wit reminded me of my Nana's. Laine was an unlikable character, but almost in a sad way. Aurora was a wonderful main character, and I was cheering for her the whole time, as she navigated the hardships caused by her family.

The blurb sounded interesting and I love the cover. However, I couldn't get into the story/the writing didn't capture me, so it's a DNF for me unfortunately.

This is a multi-generational story set in the late 70s in small town Indiana. It follows teenage Aurora, her mom Laine and Grandma Katherine as they come together for the first time in years one summer after grandma's husband passes. Laine and Aurora have moved 18 times in 15 years and Aurora is ready to put down roots. Will Monroe, Indiana, the town her mom grew up in and "escaped" be the town she finally gets to stay in?

This is a character driven story and man do you fall in love with these characters and this town. I highly recommend.

I can't wait for this one to come out in February and see what everyone thinks.

Great read. Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC. This book is a coming-of-age book set in 1979. Fun to go back to a time of innocence- no cellphones, remotes, or internet. Beautiful story of three generations of women as they each go through their own challenges and as they navigate each other.

I adored this book.

I am usually not the biggest fan of literary fiction but I was looking for a summer read to accompany me during vacations and picked it up on a whim. What an amazing decision it turned out to be!

I feel in love with the characters instantly, and I was pulled into their lives and their story fully. This book made me laugh, it made me cry, it made me worry and it made me hope, and it will stay with me for a long time. I can tell I will grieve the loss of these characters for a while.

I will without hesitation follow this author and read whatever they publish next, I believe in Dinneny's ability to craft a compelling and beautiful story and I am so excited to see what she writes in the future.




Thank you so much NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read this book.

Unfortunately, not a fan of this book. I understand that the author might have been using the monotony of a small town for a teenager as a plot device, I ended up skipping from the 30% mark of the book to the 90% point of the book and didn't feel like I missed anything important.

Again, I see that the boringness was appealing to the teenage main character Aurora, but it was so plodding and painful for the reader.

Thank you to NetGalley and Alcove Press for the opportunity to read this deeply moving book.

"End of August" is a poignant and immersive novel that follows three generations of women—Aurora, her mother Laine, and her grandmother Katherine in a small Indiana town.

Aurora, just fifteen, is starting to see the flaws in her family’s life. The novel explores how Katherine’s struggles with alcoholism have shaped Laine’s restless nature. The constant moves from one town to another, coupled with a parade of boyfriends and admirers who follow her mother wherever they go, have left Aurora longing for a sense of stability and belonging that has always seemed just out of reach. As Laine’s poor impulsive decisions threaten to unravel the fragile life Aurora has started to build, she is faced with a tough choice: to stay by her mother’s side or seek stability on her own in Monroe with her Gran.

This novel deftly captures the complexities of love and the burdens that women often carry in silence. The characters' stories are woven together with warmth and insight, leaving a lasting impression.
I highly recommend reading it to anyone looking for a short paced impactful read.