What do readers think of The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin? Write your own review.

Well, I loved Tara Conklin's "The House Girl". This book not so much. It was beautifully written which is why I made it to the final page. I was not particularly attached to any of the characters even though they were very well developed. The book may be interesting to some Book Clubs.

This novel had so many different aspects to it. Told from the voice of Fiona , one of the four Skinner siblings, their interactions pull us into their diverse worlds. They certainly depend on each other, which begins when their mother went through her "pause". Throughout this time their brother Joe becomes their hero and a lasting thread holding them together. However, their solidarity is extremely tested when Joe has drug problems and eventually dies. Fiona seems on a quest her entire life for the love she was seeking and starts a blog to find her answers. I wish the author had not veered into the direction of Fiona's blog. It reminded me too much of "Sex and the City" which belittled Fiona's talent. There is a huge question at the end of this novel which would certainly keep a book club busy discussing. The lives of Caroline and Renee, Fiona's two sisters, are also integral to the story and not to be dismissed.

Overall, I very much enjoyed The Last Romantics by Tara Conklin. The sibling relationships were well-developed and it was interesting to watch the various relationships ebb and flow, after a difficult time in their lives that they refer to as “the Pause”. The novel has a sad overtone throughout and yet remains very readable. A page turner even. I would have easily given it 5 stars if not for the occasional unusual moments of storytelling in 2079. This admittedly small part of the novel felt confusing and unnecessary. Otherwise, a terrific story. I would definitely recommend it for book clubs.

The Skinner family sure had their trials and tribulations in this story. Lots of unrecognized mental illness. I enjoyed the interactions and craziness. The loss of a sibling throws this family into a wild ride. The siblings raised themselves while their mother went through "the pause" and the result of their childhood and how they learned to love.

The Last Romantics is a story of four siblings, set over a period of nearly 100 years. The relationships between the family members are relatable and the characters are well developed. The story drew me in very quickly and has continued to linger since I finished it. Recommended to readers who enjoy family sagas.

Family dysfunction is at it's best in The Last Romantics! An entwining, realistic family saga centered around the Skinner siblings and their lives after a traumatic childhood event. Conklin takes us along on a turbulent, twisting ride with the Skinner siblings. If you like family drama, pick up this book, you won't be disappointed!!

This is a strange book, beginning in 2079, when the narrator is 102 years old, and jumping back to her childhood with three older siblings. The kids' lives take various tangents, as one might expect. The mood throughout is sombre, with the feeling that disasters are inevitable. Although the writing is good, I found the characters unappealing and the plot wandering. I was left feeling frustrated, and wanting more reader involvement somehow. Sort of a bleak read.

I was really intrigued by the development of the 4 main characters as children experiencing and surviving the death of a father and debilitating depression of a mother. The story takes a dark turn as the siblings grow into adults. Joe's decline into drug and alcohol use was steeped very much in reality and the tone of the book changed drastically. The author introduces a touching twist toward the end that I loved, but can't say I agree with Fiona's decision to keep it from her sisters. Had she really evolved enough to make such a mature choice? The dysfunction depicted in this family seemed realistic- sad and normal at the same time. I would like to have seen more time devoted to a Noni as an empty nester and how she came to view her children as they encountered their complicated adult lives and if she ever attributed The Pause and her part in it as a cause of her children's difficulties. She acknowledges it at her death but too little-too late for me. I agree with a previous review- the last page and last paragraph save the book.