Title: The Last Romantics
Author: Tara Conklin
Publisher: William Morrow
Publication Date: February 5th
Summary
In order to explain the inspiration behind one of her most famous poems, Fiona Skinner must go back to her childhood. After her father passed away, her childhood was defined by the Pause: a time when her and her siblings ran free. The Pause makes them closer than your ordinary siblings, and drives many of their relationships in their futures.
Fiona’s later life is defined by her blog: The Last Romantics. Here, she documents her romantic interactions, developing herself as a writer. Twenty years after the Pause, Fiona and her siblings find themselves once again confronting a crisis. This time, their strong bonds will be tests.
Review: The Last Romantics
I received an ARC copy of this book thanks to a giveaway, and I’m so happy I did. While it’s outside of the genre I usually review (YA), I found that there were aspects of YA lit in the text. Conklin essentially gives a coming of age story featuring the Skinner siblings: mainly Fiona, but Renee, Caroline, and Joe all make an appearance as well. Including points of view from each sibling helps to create rounded characters, drawing us into the story more effectively.
Aside from the characters, my favorite thing about this book was the way that it examines the concept of love. We get love from all different angles: friendship, family, romance, lust, self. You name it, there’s probably some form of it in the book. What’s most endearing about this is the characters that portray these different types of love. Fiona, Renee, Caroline, and Joe are all so dedicated to each other, and that love and dedication permeates the story.
From the moment Fiona flashes back to her childhood, we’re immediately drawn into the vivid imagery and description that Conklin uses to support her colorful characters. Between the writing style, the characters, and the relatable struggles, the Skinner’s story will lodge itself in your heart and stay there.
4.5/5 stars