Last House by Jessica Shattuck is a historical family drama involving the environment and oil from the 1950s to the present day. The novel is about family secrets and coverups but manages to do it all for love. The Last House serves as both a metaphor and a psychical house. It is the house that gets the family through the storm of secrets and lies also a literal storm. The house is called the Last House due to the precious land owner with the last name Last built the house and land around it as a last refuge, which the next generation will use as well. The book is a little all over the place at times, when the plot is focused the book is great. The book switches focus from oil to family then at the end works hard to connect them. I wanted a lot more consistency throughout the novel to nail the concept. The story tells multiple generations of the Taylor family and how they have changed throughout the years. This book had the worst transitions to next generation characters I’ve ever read. The perspectives of the family change with each generation, but it switches before we can even get to know the characters through a father or mother’s eyes. The book is best when it is in the 1950’s writing about a slice of life. The oil chapters are interesting and based on history. The bulk of the book hangs out in the late 1960s counterculture as everyone was striving to find their own identity out of the shadow of their parents. The book strays from oil and family as it takes a while to get back to this connection. I found the beginning and the end the best parts the middle slows down as the character and the book work to find themselves. Thanks to Netgalley and William Morrow for letting me read Last House in exchange for a review. Last House was published on May 14, 2024.

Plot Summary: Nick Taylor is a former soldier from World War II and is now a lawyer for the oil company set to do work with Iran. The problem is the political leader just elected does not want to rely on oil. Nick meets Carter from the CIA and involves him in a coup to throw out the leader and replace him with the Shah to get better oil prices. Nick does the deal for a better life for his family but the deal has consequences later in life, as Nick’s son and daughter become activists protesting the Oil and what it is doing to the environment. Nick takes the money and buys a remote house called the Last House which will service his family for decades as secrets and lies catch up to the family.

What I Liked: There’s a metaphor about oil or fossil fuels being the ghost that haunts the environment that I found very profound. I liked the slice of life of the 1950’s it was fun to read and see how far we have progressed. Bet, Nick’s Wife, was my favorite character I wish her code breaking during the war was explored more. I liked how the Black Panthers, Abbie Hoffman, and the Weather Underground were used in the story. Harry’s story and where it ended up was shocking but written well. I liked all the secrets that were revealed at the end. I like the ending of Last House.

What I Disliked: this novel is full of great moments, but it is so unfocused at times making it a frustrating read and hard to get behind. The transitions to the next generation were so jarring, at times I was like were following them now I barely got to know them. The pacing was great at the beginning and the end, but the middle was slow and lost the family, oil, and house theme the novel did so well setting up.

Recommendation: The Last House had so much potential, but was just too unfocused for me to recommend. Shattuck has moments of great writing throughout but it was too inconsistent for me. I can not recommend this novel.  

Rating: I rated Last House Jessica Shattuck 2.9 stars out of 5.