Reviews

The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess

hippiechick56's review

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2.0

2.5 stars even thpugh it had a been there done that feel to it. Not bad though if you want a quick read.

tmleblanc's review

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Not much of a plot. Love the literary references, but that’s about it.

readingwithmygoldens's review

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3.0

3 stars to this great summer read!

The Last Book Party is the perfect summer read. It doesn't take itself too seriously, yet there is enough substance to keep the pages turning. It's characterized as "coming of age", which I am unsure about, but it definitely deals with a young, twenty something woman who works in the publishing industry, trying to find a direction. It's debatable if she ultimately reaches one, but I think that's open to interpretation.

Book lovers will really appreciate the behind the scenes look of the publishing industry and all the bookish references. I think another positive aspect is that this book took place in the late 80's, but it really could be relatable to any time period. Yes, there is an absence of social media and cell phones, but that can be easily overlooked. If you're looking for a lot of action or something big to happen, this isn't the story for you, but for the length (this clocks in at a little over 200 pages, it's paced perfectly and keeps your interest just fine). If you just read a very heavy book and you feel stuck in a book coma, I would highly suggest picking this up! The writing is good and overall, this is a great debut.

Thank you to Netgalley, Henry Holt & Co., and Karen Dukess for the opportunity to read and provide an honest review of this book!

Review Date: 6/29/19
Publication Date: 7/9/19

manaledi's review

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3.0

So much of this was predictable and yet a lot of the context and characters had some depth and cleverness. Fairly straightforward read.

jjones76's review

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lighthearted reflective medium-paced

4.0

misrael_reads's review

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3.0

3.5 stars. This was an enjoyable bookish look at coming of age journey of a young aspiring author/publisher. I liked the 1980’s nostalgic feel and the scenic Cape Cod backdrop of this book. I did not particularly buy into transformation that occurred within the main character over the course of the summer and I didn’t feel particularly drawn to the characters. However, it was a fun end-of-summer book. I listened to this book rather than reading it, which may have influenced my review.

karenreads1000s's review

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3.0

A story about characters in publishing and writing. Also books, bookstores, and libraries for plot and setting. Are all writers tortured? I doubt it. There were some "extra" characters. but I suppose they helped flesh out the others.

amandamitchell6's review

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2.0

Very slow moving. It did not live up to all of the hype.

notoriousesr's review against another edition

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i have no memory of this book

taylorevans's review against another edition

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medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0