*A July 2019 Indie Next List Great Read* *One of Parade’s Most Anticipated Books of Summer 2019* *An O Magazine Best Beach Read of 2019**A New York Post Best Beach Read of 2019* “The Last Book Party is a delight. Reading this story of a young woman trying to find herself while surrounded by the bohemian literary scene during a summer on the Cape in the late ’80s, I found myself nodding along in … scene during a summer on the Cape in the late ’80s, I found myself nodding along in so many moments and dreading the last page. Karen Dukess has rendered a wonderful world to spend time in.”
–Taylor Jenkins Reid, New York Times bestselling author of Daisy Jones & The Six
A propulsive tale of ambition and romance, set in the publishing world of 1980’s New York and the timeless beaches of Cape Cod.
In the summer of 1987, 25-year-old Eve Rosen is an aspiring writer languishing in a low-level assistant job, unable to shake the shadow of growing up with her brilliant brother. With her professional ambitions floundering, Eve jumps at the chance to attend an early summer gathering at the Cape Cod home of famed New Yorker writer Henry Grey and his poet wife, Tillie.
Dazzled by the guests and her burgeoning crush on the hosts’ artistic son, Eve lands a new job as Henry Grey’s research assistant and an invitation to Henry and Tillie’s exclusive and famed “Book Party”– where attendees dress as literary characters. But by the night of the party, Eve discovers uncomfortable truths about her summer entanglements and understands that the literary world she so desperately wanted to be a part of is not at all what it seems.
A page-turning, coming-of-age story, written with a lyrical sense of place and a profound appreciation for the sustaining power of books, Karen Dukess’s The Last Book Party shows what happens when youth and experience collide and what it takes to find your own voice.
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The Last Book Party is a delight. A story of a young woman trying to find herself while surrounded by the bohemian literary scene during a summer on the Cape in the late 80s, I found myself nodding along in so many moments and dreading the last page. Karen Dukess has rendered a wonderful world to spend time in.
Loved loved loved this book! The character driven story is pitch perfect! Interestingly, I recommended it to my husband (long time editor) and loved it as well. The literary references/ research was amazing.
Looking forward to the author’s next book!
The Last Book Party – I loved the concept as in the story writers, publishers and friends came to the party dressed as a character in a novel. That’s what this story built up to by sharing with us the relationships of successful writers, wanna-be writers, publishers at the top and others trying to work their way up the publishing ladder. As one might imagine, the day to day, back and forth of people in the publishing industry came across a little boring, but then there were hints of behind the scenes politicking and the occasional dalliances to spice it up a bit. But where the author, Karen Dukes, really caught my attention was how she integrated a huge number – 52 to be exact – of book titles into this story. From Daphne du Maurier’s Rebecca to Amelia Bedelia by Peggy Parish, I found myself mentally checking off titles I had read and writing down titles I need to add to my reading list! That, to me, was the best part of this book!!
This is a coming of age book, set in the late 1980s, about Eve Rosen, an aspiring writer, who gives up her job in NYC to be an assistant to Henry Grey. Henry is an established writer, having published in The New Yorker. His wife, Tillie, is also a writer. Henry and Tillie live on Cape Cod, where Eve’s parents also have a home. So, Eve travels to Cape Cod for the summer to be Henry’s assistant. One reason she left NYC is because she had a one-night stand with Henry’s son, Franny. Another reason is that she knew she wasn’t going anywhere with her job in the publishing house.
Jeremy is another writer, about Eve’s age, that has just written a wonderful novel about a leper, and the novel is about to be published.
Once Eve gets to Cape Cod, she easily falls into step with Henry’s needs, and things become involved between them. Eve is also watching Henry’s relationship with Tillie, and noticing that it seems strained. Eve is also stung by Franny’s lack of interest.
As the summer winds down, Eve is planning for her costume to attend The Book Party at Henry and Tillie’s at the end of the summer. The book party is where everything comes to a head, including the relationship between Henry and Tillie, Henry and Eve, Tillie and Lane, Jeremy and Eve, Franny and Eve, and Franny and Lil. There are lots of things that are said and broken apart at the party.
Eve learns a lot in those summer months, recognizing that what she thought of the world of writing and publishing is not what she expected.
This book had a real feel of “summering on Cape Cod” to it. The author captured the essence of life there.
#TheLastBookParty #KarenDukess
In the publishing world of the 1980s, Eve Rosen is stuck as an editorial assistant while yearning for her own writing career. Hoping that literary genius will rub off on her, she jumps at an invitation to a Cape Cod summer party hosted by New Yorker writer, Henry Grey, and his enigmatic poet wife, Tillie. At a summer home in the same town as her parents’, Eve begins to explore another world, full of artists, writers, and creatives.
Upon returning to the city and her normal life, Eve receives a rude awakening when she is passed up for a promotion. Driven by this rejection and her drive for something more, she agrees to work as Henry Grey’s research assistant for the rest of the summer. Relishing the chance to work alongside a writer she admires and break out of her mold, Eve becomes an intimate observer of the Grey’s house of literary acclaim. As the summer comes to a close, Eve and the rest of those close to the Grey’s look forward to the famed Book Party, where the exclusive guest list dress as famous or obscure literary characters. However, the night does not unfold as expected, and secrets and truths about the publishing world and Eve’s relationships come to light.
The Last Book Party is the debut novel of Karen Dukess and delivers a coming-of-age narrative any book lover will enjoy. The expressive use of place immerses you in Cape Cod, and the behind the scenes of publishing will keep the pages turning. This book is an exploration of what happens when ambition, experience, and youth collide.
This is a beautiful little gem of a novel. The story follows Eve Rosen, a young woman who works an an editorial assistant in the publishing industry, but longs to be a writer herself. One big problem stands in her way—she has nothing inspiring to say. On a whim, she quits her job and moves to Truro on Cape Cod for the summer to work for an intriguing older writer. What follows is a summer of sexual exploration, discovery and coming of age. I enjoyed going along with Eve on her journey and I especially loved the way Dukess described the scenery of the Cape—the morning light, the dunes, the summer grass. This slim book packs so much into only a few pages and I enjoyed every one of them.
This novel is largely set on Truro, which is close to the outer tip of Cape Cod, a place I happen to have spent what probably adds up to years of my life. The author has captured the land and seascape–the rural hills, the marshland, the beaches, the arts people–established, up-and-coming, and wanna-be–who gravitate to the area, especially in the summer. I’d have loved it for that alone. However, Karen Dukess has done more. She’s also written a novel about the confusing process of becoming a writer when one is both called by the genuine and lured by the shiny-object aspects of a life in the arts.
The first person narrator, Eve, wants to be a writer but is filled with angst, longing, and insecurity about her ability–and, it turns out, job dissatisfaction. She is a young, NYC editorial assistant who finds–when she attends a party while on a weekend visit to her parents–that she truly longs to be part of the self-assured writer community on the outer Cape (where her parents are among the other “summer people”, businessmen and women who are simply wealthy enough to have a second home away from a city in Truro, by ocean, bay, and dunes.)
When Henry, a much older writer for The New Yorker whose memoir is presently being edited (or not) by Eve’s boss, and at whose Truro home the party (crammed with successful artists and writers) is held, mentions that he needs an assistant for the summer, she rather impulsively quits her Job with the NY publishing company and accepts. She becomes entangled in Henry’s life, and tangentially in that of Tillie, Henry’s very successful poet-wife. And she also becomes involved with Henry’s son–and with his his former protege, Jeremy, whose novel is about to be published by Eve’s former company, and will likely be a huge best seller. She reads an advanced reader copy finds it brilliant, until later, when she discovers something quite shocking. Along the way, she also discovers the problematic lure and complexity of sexuality in the world of the arts.
The novel starts slowly–and later, I found that slow beginning to middle to have been deceptive, and I was glad I’d stuck with it. When the characters begin to collide–at the great end of summer book party at Henry’s–it is nearly impossible to put down. I hesitate to say that writers, in particular, will enjoy this book–as will Cape people–but as that is my perspective, it’s difficult for me to separate myself. I certainly enjoyed it, and found it very, very well done.
I really enjoyed the book it was a quick read for me. I thought it’s was well written and easy to read.
The Last Book Party was a pleasantly captivating read. It was like a walk on the beach at sunset, a beautiful stroll that you are sad to see end. And while the themes of this novel have been done before, it was refreshingly hypnotic. I was completely invested in this coming of age story. I’ve read several books lately that have been simply about life. Nothing too shocking or unrealistic, just well-written characters with a story to tell. I’m hoping this is a new trend, because I am loving it.
Karen Dukess has written a modern yet timeless coming-of-age story about friendship, romance, and one young woman’s complicated relationship with a wickedly charming family of literary superstars. Emotional and evocative, The Last Book Party left me aching for the hard lessons of youth, trembling with hope ― and utterly transfixed until the final page.
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 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.
Like its beach-tanned cover, The Last Book Party is a golden glimpse into the summer life of Cape Cod. Told from the point of view of a twenty-five year old aspiring writer who’s spending the summer as the personal assistant to a famous journalist. Through this contact, the protagonist, Eve, is drawn into the literary high society of successful writers and learns that writing is more about showing up, putting ass in chair and working, not waiting for her Muse to strike. There is a truly vibrant sense of place with details about the ocean, the landscape, the breeze, and Cape Cod’s glorious beaches. I took true delight in all the bookish details: descriptions of books, discussions of their protagonists, cool literary allusions, and simply the experience of holding a book in one’s hands and getting lost between the pages.
This is a gorgeous debut coming-of-age novel with fantastic prose that slowly unveils the facades of the famous writers she meets and reveals that all is not perfect in the Eden of Cape Cod. Both timeless and nostalgic, The Last Book Party is a delightful coming of age story.
The summer of 1987 is full new jobs, new loves, new stories to be told but all comes to head during one book party. A quick read that keeps your interest from beginning to end.
If your looking for a quick summer read to escape the heat look no further….THE LAST BOOK PARTY is a lightweight love story, the book is a genuine coming-of-age story. I really enjoyed all the characters and the surroundings of Truro, it really was a page turner. The perfect literary companion to a relaxing day on the sand. This was Karen Dukess debut novel and I look forward to seeing more from this author.
Two words encapsulate my sentiments for this story: oddly fascinating.
I’ve spent the last several books immersed in tales of novelists, poets, journalists, and bookshops. And this one was decidedly different from those other reads. For the first two-thirds of this books, I was compelled to turn each page based upon the plot: what was happening. While the characters were not necessarily shallow or under-developed, it was the sense of what was occurring, where it was happening, and how it was unfolding that captivated me.
And then… over the last third of the book, the revelations presented to the reader, and the accumulation of hints over the course of the story fleshed out each of the character’s stories in a way that would make a re-read highly intriguing, if only to see the completed story through each character’s eyes with the knowledge gained over that final third of the book.
While the story seemed to meander at times, in a sense, it’s reflective of real life, especially when we’re fighting to find our place in the world. Eve’s perspective, her complicated journey, and the way she stumbles through it felt authentic, complete with its faux pas and endearing revelations.
As an author myself, the lessons learned throughout this story remind me that no matter where we are or what path we take through life, we each have a story to share, and we each need to find our own unique way to do so.
/ 5
The Last Book Party by Karen Dukess was such a fun novel, and one that I greatly enjoyed reading!
What it’s about: 25-year-old Eve Rosen wants to be a writer but is currently stuck in a less-than-stellar job at a publishing company. When she is invited to a party at the Cape Cod home of a famous New Yorker writer, Henry Grey, she ends up also landing a job as his assistant for the summer. She moves back in with her parents and starts work for Henry. Summer is to end with his and his wife’s famous ‘Book Party’ but before that happens, things for Eve are about to get interesting.
The Last Book Party was a lot of fun to read and would certainly make for the perfect beach read. Set in the ’80s as opposed to being a contemporary novel also gave it a certain something for me and I was very intrigued by that choice. The build up to Henry Grey’s ‘Book Party’ made for very interesting and salacious reading! Eve was quite the character, and while I didn’t approve of all her decisions, I couldn’t help but like her. This is not a book about sex though, this is definitely a coming-of-age story that focuses on reading, books, and the power of the choices we make.
It was also nice that The Last Book Party was such a short book, I was able to read it in just over 3 hours which is like a day at the beach! I loved the Cape Cod setting but I didn’t think the scenery overpowered the plot of the book. I almost wish I could have had even more detail about the setting, but I was still very happy with what I got. There is a gorgeous map on the inside cover of the book and that was a great touch.
Song/s the book brought to mind: Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This) by Eurythmics
Final Thought: The Last Book Party is a lovely, whimsical novel that made me laugh out loud a few times. If you are looking for a break from heavier books this would be a great one to pick up. I read it as the weather is getting cooler and it was no longer beach weather, but this transported me to somewhere nicer… and beautiful! I fell in love with Dukess’ writing and will be looking forward to reading all the books from her.
Thank you to the publisher for providing me with an advance review copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
The Last Book Party captures a world tantalizingly close to the surface of memory, in which things now lost to time mattered a great deal, and the Internet era was slouching toward us to be born. This Orphic book goes down to retrieve a beloved New York, and the pleasant ache at its heart is that it can’t bring it back forever. Charming, lovely, and written with a light touch, this book captures the longing and unease of summer romance amid the complexity of post-graduate life. Shades of Goodbye, Columbus, The Mysteries of Pittsburgh, and Bright Lights, Big City haunt its pages.
Read this book. Read it alone ― you’ll laugh out loud. And read it slowly, because you won’t want it to end. Through heart-wrenching twists and hilarious turns, The Last Book Party tells the ultimately uplifting universal tale of the breakthrough that comes of a young woman’s shattered illusions.
The writing is as breezy as the air in this Cape-Cod-meets-Fifth-Avenue publishing world bildungsroman.
This bittersweet summer romance had me turning pages right up to the end. If you love books about books ― and if you’ve ever dressed up as your favorite literary character ― this is a party you won’t want to miss.