The Last Romantics by Tara ConklinMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
I have a lot of feelings about "The Last Romantics" and to begin, I picked it up because it reminded me of "The Immortalists" by Chloe Benjamin. But beyond the leafy cover that binds the story of four siblings, that's pretty much where the similarities end.
Conklin constructs a beautifully poetic tale of the Skinner siblings that starts with the youngest, Fiona's, story behind her most famous poem at what is considered her final signing in 2079. The four siblings Joe, Renee, Caroline and Fiona have come to rely on each other in the youth as they survived their single mother's 'pause', which seems to be a medical issue that I analyzed as a deep depression (but assume it's much more than that). As they grow, they go their separate ways, until a tragedy strikes that challenges them to think about love, family, honesty and self-identity.
This book was a slow read because I wanted to indulge in it, especially while I was reading through hectic work schedule with little time for reading. And after meeting the author at a signing sponsored by the Carmel Clay Library Foundation, I wanted to give it justice. I didn't expect this book to put into words about how I feel about hopeless romanticism-- "We believe in love because we want to believe in it. Because really what else is there, amid all our glorious follies and urges and weaknesses and stumbles? The magic, the hope, the gorgeous idea of it." And for these words, I am all the more grateful.
If you're a fan of "The Interestings" by Meg Wolitzer, "The Immortalists" by Chloe Benjamin, family oriented literary fiction, or a hopeless romantic, you'll enjoy this one.
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