The Last Book Party

Many mispronunciations - ugh. Kind of a terrible narrator.

Another coming-of-age type novel that really showcases that you don’t know what you don’t know and the folly of youth. I was a 25-year-old woman once and remember how thinking that youth was the end-all-be-all and trumped everything. That my youth and vigor could overwhelm and dominate any sort of situation. The inherent self-centeredness of being young, it's cute if maddening in how much she doesn't see/understand/notice. Eve thinks her affair with Henry should obliterate everything else in his life and her realization that it hardly touched him was cringe-worthy to watch (could I get any more hyphenated phrases in this review?).

Overall though, not much happens except that show more Eve comes to realize that she was fooling herself all along and that there’s no fool like an old fool - this is pointed at Henry who is left adrift in his life after decades of being the center of attention. At least Eve wasn’t as timid and afraid as the last young fictional woman I read about. show less

The Last Book Party is a fun summer read for those who like bookish stories. Set predominately in Cape Cod, readers get immersed in the publishing world of eccentric writers, ambition and social pitfalls.

Eve Rosen, the main character, is an aspiring writer that has been in a bit of a writing rut. She can’t seem to finish anything she starts, so she works as an assistant at a publishing firm until circumstances prompt her to leave the firm and spend the summer working as a research assistant to a famous writer.

By the end of the summer when the writer holds his famous “book party” some difficult situations come to the surface that cause a fracture among some of the people in the group and prompt Eve to reevaluate her life and make show more some much needed changes.

Readers will enjoy a peek into the world of publishing and all the references to other books that are made throughout the story.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt & Co. for allowing me to read an advance copy and give my honest review. show less

The perfect beach read! We visit Truro at the Cape every year. Due to Covid-19, we might not get there this year, so it was a treat to virtually visit familiar places through this book. Add to that a want-to-be writer, book and author references, and a late 1980s literary scene (that has changed in many ways, but with industry truths that remain the same), and you've got a delightful read.

You also get Eve, our 25-year-old main character who thinks she has the casual side of romantic relationships figured out. (The older me wants to have a heart-to-heart with her and steer her in the right direction!) But she's fun and hesitant, strong and vulnerable, outgoing and unsure. She takes chances. Sometimes I cringed at her decisions and show more sometimes I laughed out loud or marveled at her insight about complicated relationships, career paths, and moral choices.

Ultimately, I bet you'll cheer for her as I did. show less

I have complicated thoughts about this book that I'm pretty sure will only apply to me and not most readers. Parts of the book I wanted to give a solid 5 stars, but other parts I wanted to give 3. It was riveting - and I read it in less than 24 hours - but it felt bland in the end. I loved Eve's personal writing journey and professional career struggles, I loved how the author wrote about her struggles and doubts and insecurities, but...I found the "romance" portions of the book weirdly predictable and flat. I really felt like all of the characters were well developed and likable in very different ways, and I wanted to spend more time with all of them...it really was just the romance portions of all of their lives that I felt secondary show more when I wanted to know more about their creative stories and their other relationships not involving Eve.

This one was tricky to rate. A very enjoyable read for sure, but my personal taste varied greatly throughout. show less

Eve is a young woman struggling to make it as a writer. She is in a dead end job in publishing and she just can’t take it anymore. So, she QUITS! She takes a job as an assistant to a famous author and his poet wife. She entangles herself into their lives and she gets invited to their famous Book Party. Eve slowly discovers she is in over her head.

I started out enjoying Eve. I really felt for her. But, like all good characters, she makes a STUPID, STUPID mistake in this story. As a reader, I saw it coming. The author did a great job building up to it. (Can you tell I am trying not to give it away). Also, like all good characters, she realizes she has made a mistake and she takes matters in her own hands, even if it will be painful.

Give show more me a story about books, authors, and publishing and I am in love. This story is fantastic in my eyes. I loved the setting, the characters (well, except when Eve does something REALLY stupid) and all the book references. Did I mention the book references?!?! It really take you on a ride you will not soon forget.

Grab this one today!

I received this novel from Henry Holt and Company for a honest review. The book releases July 9, 2019. show less

3.5 - 4.0 stars for The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess

The old coming-of-age story gets a modern, bookish, facelift in The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess. The main character, Eve is a 25-year-old woman trying to find herself in the outrageous, over-the-top 80s. Set in New York, Dukess paints a stunningly accurate picture of life in NYC, Cape Cod, and Truro. Eve dreams of being a published author. Famous, beloved, and idolized by others. When Eve is offered the opportunity to spend the summer of 1987 as author Henry Grey's assistant, she is overjoyed. Working closely with the famous Grey family is an eye-opening, heartbreaking experience. Eve learns there's a lot of ugliness going on behind the flawless facade put on display for fans. show more

The Last Book Party is narrated by Eve, a naive booklover dreaming of the day her book will sit on the top shelf next to the authors she loves. Her path is convoluted at times and her naivety (at age 25) a bit frustrating. She makes a few bad decisions resulting in unforeseen detours and hard truths. But it was a learning experience -- mere stepping stones on her life's path. The ending was realistic and satisfying, despite feeling rushed. I liked Eve. I loved that she loved books and her adoration of writers mimics my own. All the bookish references were like extra icing on an already delicious cake. I devoured this book in one sitting and cannot wait to see what Karen Dukess serves up to readers next. I just hope the next book is longer.

Happy Reading,

RJ show less

Loved that this novel was about books, writing, and publishing, set in the late 1980s. During a summer on Cape Cod, 25-year old Eve Rosen takes a job as research assistant to New Yorker writer Henry Grey. Eve's view of herself & her life's ambitions change when she becomes wrapped up in Henry's family & literary circle. A breezy summer read.