Tara Conklin

A Novel

The Last Romantics

A Read with Jenna Today Show Book Club Pick! “A richly observed novel, both ambitious and welcoming.” -- Meg Wolitzer An Instant New York Times Bestseller Named a Best Book of the Month by Goodreads • Lithub • Refinery29 • InStyle • HelloGiggles • Real Simple • Parade • PureWow • Bustle A sweeping yet intimate epic about one American family, The Last Romantics is an unforgettable exploration of the ties that bind us together, the responsibilities we embrace and the duties we resent, and how we can lose—and sometimes rescue—the ones we love. When the renowned poet Fiona Skinner is asked about the inspiration behind her iconic work, The Love Poem, she tells her audience a story about her family and a betrayal that reverberates through time. It begins in a big yellow house with a funeral, an iron poker, and a brief variation forever known as the Pause: a free and feral summer in a middle-class Connecticut town. Caught between the predictable life they once led and an uncertain future that stretches before them, the Skinner siblings—fierce Renee, sensitive Caroline, golden boy Joe and watchful Fiona—emerge from the Pause staunchly loyal and deeply connected. Two decades later, the siblings find themselves once again confronted with a family crisis that tests the strength of these bonds and forces them to question the life choices they’ve made and ask what, exactly, they will do for love. A novel that pierces the heart and lingers in the mind, The Last Romantics is also a beautiful meditation on the power of stories—how they navigate us through difficult times, help us understand the past, and point the way toward our future.

Kendall McClain

Beautiful writing and sad story, but I just know In a month or so I’ll forget everything that happened

Cheri McElroy

This book was all over the place. The was no character I identified with or liked. The point of view would sometimes change, mid-chapter. I definitely can’t recommend this book.

So, I've been burned twice by this Barnes and Noble book club. Im not sure if I'll get the next book if it's the same vein.

This isn't a saga spanning generations with a single family. This is a time-hopping story following one generation, with some tragedies along the way.

There is a "pause," wherein the adults in the lives of the children essentially ignore them. This apparently shapes their lives and turns the protagonist/narrator into what she is today. And we jump backwards in time to explain the poem that made her write it, then forward to a weird future where things aren't good, but aren't explained to the point of distraction.

It just seems like this book doesn't have a plot. Its character driven, which would be fine, but the characters aren't as linked as you would expect for family members. The loose threads seem like different colored strands that just don't blend well. It just doesn't make sense.

It's reaching for something like The Casual Vacancy, Truly Madly Guilty, and Little Fires Everywhere. I was personally hoping for another One Hundred Years of Solitude or The House of the Spirits (or any All ends novel, really). It fell woefully short of any of those. Things just weren't well crafted. The descriptions were good, I guess, but even the characters felt like paper cutouts of their stereotypes. The woman who can't get her life together, the one obsessing over the past, the one who lost herself, the workaholic, etc. It just wasn't something I wanted to invest my time.

Maybe if we hadn't jumped to the future and back, maybe if we had been told more of a basic story, from start to finish, it would have been better.

b.andherbooks

Alas, while I appreciate being given the chance to review an early copy of this book, it was not really for me.

I love family dramedys, but I've read others I've enjoyed more. I liked the first half of the book focusing on the four siblings growing up on their own during a time period they call referred to as "the pause," a time when there mother was bed bound due to mental health issues and grief.

But, the second half when everyone goes their separate ways felt uneven. I didn't care about Fiona's poetry, her sex blog, or really anything about her. I didn't care about golden boy Joe's fall into disgrace, nor did I find the "betrayal" as shocking as I guess was intended? I was also distracted by the changes in narrative structure for each character. Fiona was in first person (as she is the main character) and then it would switch to third for the other characters. I guess I understand why, but usually I don't notice and here I wasn't clicking with the book so I did.

That said readers, of which I'm sure there will be many as the marketing push on this is HUGE, will definitely be flocking to pick this one up from libraries.

Thank you to the publisher and LibraryReads for the ARC.

Megan Thompson

A really interesting book, with a unique storytelling format. I felt a few times that the foreshadowed events would end up being bigger than they ended up, but I guess that could be said to show how normal, life events truly shape people and a family and it doesn't always have to be a grand and horribly dramatic event to leave a mark on someone.

One fateful summer. Four lives changed, forever. ‘A modern epic ... A sweeping look at what binds families together’ Glamour The perfect read for fans of Little Fires Everywhere and We Were Liars.

Rachel Andrews

The book was very long, it seemed to go on forever

Chelsea White

This story, from the perspective of the youngest of four siblings, is a beautiful tale of the strength of family love, coming of age, and realizing those you love and hold on a pedestal are only human. The way the story was woven together was lovely and felt cinematic.
My only complaint: I’m not sure what type of emergency kept popping up in the “now” portion of the story. Maybe I just didn’t pay attention when it was brought up, but it will bug me until I learn what it is.

Scott Taylor

Not going to lie, I put this book down for months while in the middle of it. I am so thankful that I picked it back up and finished it! The story follows several family members all seeking a successful and meaningful life - a struggle I believe that many of us can identify with. The characters face many struggles (some brought on by random, others brought on by the characters themselves) on their individual paths which I enjoyed. While some authors favor deus ex machina moments, Mrs. Conklin allows her characters to struggle and fight for a better ending. A very realistic portrayal of life that I appreciated a lot. I won't spoil the ending here but it was worth the read and picking it back up. As to why I only rated this book three stars, I think that the time jumping aspect at the beginning would have been better left off for the end.

Renee Blankenship

Thank you to the publisher for my free copy! 

I read The Last Romantics in just a few days, once I started the story I was completely swept up into the lives of the Skinner siblings and couldn't put it down. Something about the writing (which I loved) and the way the story moves really caught my attention right off the bat. It has been a while since I picked up a story like this, one that spans decades and explores relationships, love, secrets and pain within a family. 

"The love of your life is always the one you have betrayed the most. The love that defines you is the one upon whom you once turned your back." p. 78

What I loved about The Last Romantics was, although Fiona is clearly the one guiding the story along, I felt equally attached to and invested in the stories of each of the other siblings. This can be hard to achieve in such a long reaching story and with so many other important players. Conklin's masterful writing made the transition between characters feel fluid and natural. 

I also loved how easy it was to connect with the story on a personal level. As the oldest of four siblings, all grown up now, it was a unique experience relating to some of the emotional struggles and expectations between the Skinner siblings. We carry so much of what happens in our childhoods or the roles we play as children (oldest, middle child, baby, spoiled one, responsible one, etc.) into adulthood I think without often realizing it. And it can come out easily when interacting with the same siblings- all grown up but still fulfilling some of those same roles. I feel like Conklin did an amazing job portraying this, especially as the sisters finally break apart for a few years and each of them is finally able to change and grow without the others around. 

A story that is able to span from childhood to adulthood and ultimately the end of life and do it WELL is I think a true gem. The Last Romantics left me feeling completely satisfied with the lives of the Skinner siblings, with those in relationships with them and those affected by their love. Seeing their stories play through to the end was a treat that I don't find in a lot of stories. 

And then there is that last page. I've read it three times, to fully grasp the magnitude of Conklin's words and how it so eloquently sums up the lives of these characters but I think ourselves as well, the choices we make every day because of love. 

"...it is about real love, true love. ...it is about the negotiations we undertake with ourselves in the name of love. Every day we struggle to decide what to give away and what to keep, but every day we make that calculation and we live with the results." p.352

Ana Couto

Thank you to William Morrow for the free book in exchange for an honest review!

I really enjoyed this book (which wasn’t surprising considering complicated family dynamics are my jam). It hooked me right from the start, and I found myself reading large chunks of it at a time because I just couldn’t put it down. @lavieestbooks on Bookstagram mentioned how this book reminded her of A PLACE FOR US (which is totally what convinced me to read this book), and I definitely think that if you enjoyed that one, you should give THE LAST ROMANTICS a go. In a previous post I talked a little bit about how this book is a solid 4 stars for me, which I still standby. While in general I thought this book was great, I found the last part (it’s split into 3 sections if I remember correctly) wasn’t as captivating plot-wise as the first 2 parts. Nevertheless, I think it’s pretty much undeniable how talented Conklin is as a writer. I’ve seen quite a bit of hype surrounding this book, and in my opinion it’s well-deserved. Definitely one of the best books I’ve read so far this year.

The Last Romantics A Novel

Reviews