The Last House on the Street

 This review is by Jennifer – I received this book in exchange for an honest review. You can purchase yours here :

 January 11, 2022.

OK- if you are looking for my typical light and fluffy book, look elsewhere. This book automatically buckles your seatbelt for you, no need to strap in. This was a DOOZY. Please note that this book toggles between present and past, so if you aren’t one who likes those, well.. this is not for you, but this book was so riveting that I have such a bookover after reading this book. This book addresses so many systemic issues! It is funny how things come full circle in life. Funny how the past always comes back to haunt us. 

This book begins in 2010 in North Carolina with Kayla on a call with a contractor. At this point, Kayla has been through quite a lot. A ransom woman comes into her office knowing her personal business, allegedly asking for renovations on a sunroom. This woman mentions the death of Kayla’s husband and seems to know how he died and about her daughter, Rainie. 

Our next chapter toggles back to 1965 with Ellie (Elenor) home from UNC spring break. She was there with her brother, Buddy, best friend, Brenda and her parents. Brenda was flipping through bridal magazines. Brenda was having the obligatory shotgun wedding that was happening the following weekend.  The bridal party would consist of Kayla as the maid of honor and her boyfriend, Reed who was the groom’s best friend. Reed was on his way with finishing college in three years and working at Richmond’s biggest banks with his suit and tie. Poor Brenda wouldn’t get any one of these fancy gowns, as her parents would never indulge her. As the girls ooh and ahh Iverson dresses,  Kayla’s father announces that “white students are spending the summer registering Negroes to vote.” Kayla’s mother reflects on how this was right up Aunt Carol’s alley. Kayla and Carol had understood each other. Aunt Carol was the wife of Kayla’s dad’s brother. She was an army nurse and Pete was a soldier. They had lived with them since Kayla was 1 and stayed, even after Pete had died 9 years later. Carol stayed to soften the blows from Kayla’s parents. Kayla was an avid activist, writing articles, etc. She drags Brenda with her to sign up for SCOPE and help get the minorities registered to vote.  Kayla had a long history of fighting for rights of others, even to the point of getting detained, but she managed to change a Cafe’s policies of who they served. 

We are then led on a road and we find out how Kayla and Ellie’s lives are intertwined. Past meets present and all the tangled webs that are weaved. Woah, baby. Unfortunately, this book was amazing and now I am going to be searching for the next amazing book, until Diane sends me her next book. Until next time…