The Last Romantics - Tara Conklin

The Last Romantics

By Tara Conklin

  • Release Date: 2019-02-05
  • Genre: Literary Fiction
4 Score: 4 (From 629 Ratings)

Description

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.

Reviews

  • You won’t want to stop reading…

    5
    By kibblenbits
    I was captivated from the first page, and I read the book within a day, into the night. I just this second finished it, and my mind and heart are full, and searching. I’m searching all that I’ve read and trying to put it in order. I will think of this writing for a long time. I loved this book very much.
  • Family, Forgiveness, Future

    5
    By Funkwench
    I’m officially a Tara Conklin fan. Having read, The House Girl, I found repeat enjoyment in this novel. Beautifully written with pearls of wisdom and little nuggets of humor, it is a story of forgiveness, allowance, and potential seen through the eyes of those who suffer a devastating loss. The characters are well written with dimension. As with all good stories, the conclusion is extremely satisfying but the final page still leaves you craving more. I’m eager for Tara’s next project.
  • Puts life in perspective

    5
    By 743k47
    This was an eye opening read. It makes you think just how long life can be and how much can happen in a lifetime. It was beautifully written and I highly recommend. I will probably read it again and again.
  • The Last Romantics

    5
    By C&LH
    One of the best books I’ve ever read❤️
  • A beautiful story about family and the ties that bind

    5
    By kaykaybean13
    Beautifully written with extraordinary characters and the tribulations and fierce love that family’s everywhere can relate to. I read the book from start to finish in one sitting...it was impossible to put down

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