Book Review -- The Last Romantics

The Last Romantics: A Novel by Tara Conklin An epic novel that revolves around the Skinner family. When the father suddenly dies the three daughters, son, and wife are left untethered. With dwindling resources they move to a smaller place is a not so great neighborhood and Noni, the mother disappears into her room for a three year “Pause.” Forming an even tighter bond than before, the children take care of each other and life carries on. What happens though during those years impacts the remainder of each of their lives. And not everyone makes it to old age alive. Conklin is a beautiful writer and I was swept away for the first third of the book. After that I found myself losing interest and then being pulled back into the story. The ending was rushed and I didn’t care too much what happened to the characters. I don’t hesitate to put a book down unfinished and I do it often. I finished this one but kept wishing the end was as good as the beginning. Carol Lloyd is the Director of the Churchill County Library and is always looking for the next best read.