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novelvisits's review
3.0
My Thoughts: I had high expectations for The Last Book Party, both from the title and from that gorgeous cover. I also love coming-of-age stories and hadn’t read one in quite a while. Top all of that off with a books set over a Cape Cod summer and everything should have lined up just right for a great summer read. Should have. Instead, I’d have to say it was just fine. I had no trouble finishing the story of Eve, a struggling writer who leaves her ho-hum job at a publishing house to work for a well known writer for The New Yorker. For me, the problem this debut was that it unfolded exactly the way you would expect. It was usual and so, disappointing.
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy of this book.
For more reviews and bookish news: https://novelvisits.com/clearing-the-shelves-for-june-july-2019-reviews/
Thanks to the publisher for a review copy of this book.
For more reviews and bookish news: https://novelvisits.com/clearing-the-shelves-for-june-july-2019-reviews/
shelbynik's review
dark
emotional
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
whatbluereads's review
The rating is pending...
The Last Book Party was quite an interesting story. I really liked the writing style. It was fast-paced--you can definitely read it in one sitting (I did not because I struggled a bit.) However, Karen Dukess has a way of describing places and characters that I could truly see it.
I can't really place my feelings for this book. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it.
This book would be a great scandalous movie or series. It was very witty and each character is eccentric. The Last Book Party feels very realistic, in the sense that it shows how in your mid-twenties or even your late twenties, you don't have to have everything figured out. You are allowed to make mistakes, change your mind, or even switch careers during this period of your life.
Honestly, I do not justify Eve's decisions or actions, but I think she's allowed to screw up and realize her mistakes, and simply start over.
I can't seem to find the actual words to describe my feelings--do I give it 2 or 3 stars? What I can say is that while reading The Last Book Party, felt like a rollercoaster. But if you think about it, life is like that as well.
The Last Book Party was quite an interesting story. I really liked the writing style. It was fast-paced--you can definitely read it in one sitting (I did not because I struggled a bit.) However, Karen Dukess has a way of describing places and characters that I could truly see it.
I can't really place my feelings for this book. I didn't love it and I didn't hate it.
This book would be a great scandalous movie or series. It was very witty and each character is eccentric. The Last Book Party feels very realistic, in the sense that it shows how in your mid-twenties or even your late twenties, you don't have to have everything figured out. You are allowed to make mistakes, change your mind, or even switch careers during this period of your life.
Honestly, I do not justify Eve's decisions or actions, but I think she's allowed to screw up and realize her mistakes, and simply start over.
I can't seem to find the actual words to describe my feelings--do I give it 2 or 3 stars? What I can say is that while reading The Last Book Party, felt like a rollercoaster. But if you think about it, life is like that as well.
etakloknok's review against another edition
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.0
qkjgrubb's review
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
2.75
lindseyslittlelibrary's review
2.0
I’ve never been more annoyed with a main character than I was with this book.
allysonbogie's review
3.0
3.5/4
It’s a particular kind of story, and it was enjoyable as that sort of story goes. I thought the beginning was flat and a bit dull. And I would have liked several of the characters to be a little more developed, but I get that it was a short book, with an intense focus on just a few people. I am looking forward to discussing Eve with my book group buddies.
It’s a particular kind of story, and it was enjoyable as that sort of story goes. I thought the beginning was flat and a bit dull. And I would have liked several of the characters to be a little more developed, but I get that it was a short book, with an intense focus on just a few people. I am looking forward to discussing Eve with my book group buddies.
redhdlibrarian's review
1.0
I bumped this book to the top of my TBR pile after I read a Twitter review stating it was a book they couldn't out down, finished in one sitting and highly recommended reading it. I do not recall if it was s sponsored post or one from a fellow Librarian, but I wish I had left it on the bottom of my TBR pile.
The protagonist was very immature, judged adults circling within her life, judged her parents, judged her peers, and ultimately suffering no repercussions from her actions yet stating she had to leave town to start over. She made internal comments on how her parents lived boring lives or that she would have made a better decision given the chance. She judged her employer's wife for what she chose to write about and how she chose to liver her life, while sleeping with her employer!
Ultimately, this is a short book about an immature girl who works as an editor/secretary/research assistant helping others write because she won't write unless it is easy. She works the bare minimum while judging the decisions of the adults around her without offering assistance or input. She then begins an affair with her employer and leaves town in the end to "start over" even thought the affair was never made public, her parents never found out, and she suffered no repercussions. The adults within the book suffered repercussions from their actions but she never did. She continued life as is and still somehow in the end has a romantic interest.
Would not recommend. It was, however, a quick read and could be finished within one sitting or one afternoon.
The protagonist was very immature, judged adults circling within her life, judged her parents, judged her peers, and ultimately suffering no repercussions from her actions yet stating she had to leave town to start over. She made internal comments on how her parents lived boring lives or that she would have made a better decision given the chance. She judged her employer's wife for what she chose to write about and how she chose to liver her life, while sleeping with her employer!
Ultimately, this is a short book about an immature girl who works as an editor/secretary/research assistant helping others write because she won't write unless it is easy. She works the bare minimum while judging the decisions of the adults around her without offering assistance or input. She then begins an affair with her employer and leaves town in the end to "start over" even thought the affair was never made public, her parents never found out, and she suffered no repercussions. The adults within the book suffered repercussions from their actions but she never did. She continued life as is and still somehow in the end has a romantic interest.
Would not recommend. It was, however, a quick read and could be finished within one sitting or one afternoon.
rmarcin's review
4.0
This is a coming of age book, set in the late 1980s, about Eve Rosen, an aspiring writer, who gives up her job in NYC to be an assistant to Henry Grey. Henry is an established writer, having published in The New Yorker. His wife, Tillie, is also a writer. Henry and Tillie live on Cape Cod, where Eve's parents also have a home. So, Eve travels to Cape Cod for the summer to be Henry's assistant. One reason she left NYC is because she had a one-night stand with Henry's son, Franny. Another reason is that she knew she wasn't going anywhere with her job in the publishing house.
Jeremy is another writer, about Eve's age, that has just written a wonderful novel about a leper, and the novel is about to be published.
Once Eve gets to Cape Cod, she easily falls into step with Henry's needs, and things become involved between them. Eve is also watching Henry's relationship with Tillie, and noticing that it seems strained. Eve is also stung by Franny's lack of interest.
As the summer winds down, Eve is planning for her costume to attend The Book Party at Henry and Tillie's at the end of the summer. The book party is where everything comes to a head, including the relationship between Henry and Tillie, Henry and Eve, Tillie and Lane, Jeremy and Eve, Franny and Eve, and Franny and Lil. There are lots of things that are said and broken apart at the party.
Eve learns a lot in those summer months, recognizing that what she thought of the world of writing and publishing is not what she expected.
This book had a real feel of "summering on Cape Cod" to it. The author captured the essence of life there.
#TheLastBookParty #KarenDukess
Jeremy is another writer, about Eve's age, that has just written a wonderful novel about a leper, and the novel is about to be published.
Once Eve gets to Cape Cod, she easily falls into step with Henry's needs, and things become involved between them. Eve is also watching Henry's relationship with Tillie, and noticing that it seems strained. Eve is also stung by Franny's lack of interest.
As the summer winds down, Eve is planning for her costume to attend The Book Party at Henry and Tillie's at the end of the summer. The book party is where everything comes to a head, including the relationship between Henry and Tillie, Henry and Eve, Tillie and Lane, Jeremy and Eve, Franny and Eve, and Franny and Lil. There are lots of things that are said and broken apart at the party.
Eve learns a lot in those summer months, recognizing that what she thought of the world of writing and publishing is not what she expected.
This book had a real feel of "summering on Cape Cod" to it. The author captured the essence of life there.
#TheLastBookParty #KarenDukess