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There are currently 46 member reviews
for The Last Romantics
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Diane H. (Leawood, KS)
Totally Engrossing
This book is amazing!!! I very much enjoyed "House Girl" and was looking forward to this read. I honestly had a hard time putting the book down and went to bed thinking about the characters. Tara Conklin is a superb writer and draws you into her family and all of its issues. There are so many themes that, probably each of us, can relate to. Love, forgiveness, security, hope and awareness of self are all brought to the forefront of this book. It belongs on book club lists.
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M K. (Minneapolis, MN)
The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin
This book begins with an underground seismic event: the death of small town dentist Mr. Skinner, and the reverberations stretch onto every page all the way through this gorgeously written novel. Ostensibly this story is about the Skinner family: Antonia (mother, called Noni), and the children, Renee, Joe, Caroline, and Fiona. Tara Conklin in her delicious prose takes us into the family dynamics of what happens during loss, how each of them configures a life very much unlike the life they imagined would be their childhood maturing into the rest of their lives. I became immersed in the story so quickly given Tara Conklin's sublime character development that even a week after finishing it I still knew the intimate details of each of the children's lives. It's not a book that I would have read given its title but once twenty pages into it was an experience that I fully gave myself to and have no regrets at all. It's a book that I would highly recommend.
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Gina T. (natick, MA)
A book about Love ,in all its configurations..
I was immediately drawn to this novel and couldn’t get enough of its poignancy, reflection and wisdom. The characters are expertly developed and the plot well conceived. I do not remember reading a novel that explored sibling relationships so vividly. I reread many passages several times...This book emphasizes the importance of compassion and forgiveness. Highly recommended. Why we read.
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Teresa G. (Canal Winchester, OH)
I love this book!
I enjoyed every page of this book! I loved following the lives of these 4 siblings from their early childhood into their adulthood. It's interesting to watch the different relationships develop between the siblings and to see how the different decisions they all make affect their current and future lives. I highly recommend this book.
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Sheila Schreiber
The Last Romantics
The Last Romantics is an engaging, well written book featuring the dysfunctional Skinner family. As children, the four Skinner siblings survive a horrendous period of time which they later refer to as the Pause. It is during this period that the sisters and brother forge their strong love and reliance on each other, and the reverberations from the Pause last well into their adult years. The characters are well developed, interesting, and likable. The one part of the novel that I didn’t care for was the background for the scene set in 2079 with the power outage, sirens, armed soldiers, and shelters. None of it was explained, and it didn’t advance the plot so I felt that it was unnecessary. I think that this book can generate good discussions on any number of topics, and I will definitely recommend it to my book club.
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Sylvia G. (Scottsdale, AZ)
Not a romance, something much better
Excellent novel. The writing is beautiful, the characters are complex and the story of this family moving. There’s much to admire in this story of four siblings and their lives both with and without each other. Highly recommended.
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Beth B. (New Wilmington, PA)
A Masterpiece
I would rate The Last Romantics as a 10 if I could. Please give this book to yourself and everyone you know --- it's that terrific!! Devour it as you would a scrumptious crème brulee.
The four Skinner siblings are the heart and that heart beats through the years with secrets, choices, searches, responsibilities, and coping skills. Author Tara Conklin excels at fleshing out these siblings whose father died early on at the age of 34. The children learn to depend on each other (are knit together) for reasons I will leave for the reader to discover. One says, "What is my high shelf and what will I discover there?" Another must discover what is crucial with a mate. Another realizes that life is complex and how and what we choose will be different for each.
The wisdom and definitions of LOVE, POETRY, and AGING are sprinkled throughout this magnificent novel. The author's ability to portray each character is outstanding, so much so that I had come to know them and will truly miss them.
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