Review: The Last House on Sycamore Street by Paige Roberts

As intriguing as it is relatable, Paige Roberts' compulsively readable novel delves into the secrets and ties that lie between friends--and neighbors.

When Amy Kravitz opts to leave Washington, D.C., behind in favor of a less stressful life in the Philadelphia suburbs, she has a certain kind of house in mind. And on a charming street in a
family-friendly neighborhood, she and her husband Rob find it. It's a perfect brick colonial with plenty of space, a beautiful yard, and great schools nearby. The sellers, Julian and Grace Durant, are eager to make a deal. In an unexpected bonus, the Durants' young son, Ethan, strikes up a friendship with Amy and Rob's introverted four-year-old, Noah.

Soon, Amy is unpacking boxes in her new home and arranging playdates for Noah and Ethan. But as weeks go by, Amy suspects something isn't quite right. Julian's mail keeps arriving at their old address, and Amy can hardly miss the "Final Notice" stamped on the envelopes in big, red letters. Behind the
laid-back veneer projected by the Durants, Amy senses lives reeling out of control. But how much does Grace know, how much is she choosing to ignore--and is there more at stake in Amy speaking up or in staying silent?

Paperback, 352 pages

Expected publication: September 25th 2018 by Kensington Publishing Corporation 

Genre: Fiction

Kristine's Thoughts:
 

** I received an advanced readers copy from Kensington via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Thank you!**

The synopsis  for The Last House on Sycamore Street really intrigued me and was the reason I decided to read it. It sounded like it would be a little mysterious and exciting.

While reading I kept waiting for something exciting to happen and for the story to gain momentum but it never did. It detailed every little movement of the Kravitz family which you can appreciate in real life but it was extremely dull and monotonous in the novel. I kept waiting for something to happen and instead I got a detailed account of every step and thought that Amy had throughout each day.

I had a really hard time connecting with Amy. If I'm being completely honest, she bugged me. She was incredibly naive and continuously projected her insecurities on to her son. Her desperation to foster his one friendship with Ethan (and hers in turn with her mother) was ridiculous. It was made even more ridiculous by the fact that there were other options for both of them. Her need to help Grace even with the thousand red flags made her seem more like a needy pre-teen than a married adult with a family.

I won't pretend that I didn't want to give up on this book many times. However, I kept with it because I thought that it would pick up. It didn't and there really wasn't any climax to speak of. The best word to describe this book would be boring. It definitely was not for me.

About the Author

Paige Roberts is a writer, journalist and author of VIRTUALLY PERFECT and THE LAST HOUSE ON SYCAMORE STREET. She lives outside Philadelphia with her family.  

Connect with Paige

Website/Twitter/Facebook/Goodreads