The Stark Beauty of Last Things

by Celine Keating

The Stark Beauty of Last Things is set in Montauk, the far reaches of the famed Hamptons, an area under looming threat from a warming climate and overdevelopment. Now outsider Clancy, a thirty-six-year-old claims adjuster scarred by his orphan childhood, has inherited an unexpected the power to decide the fate of Montauk’s last parcel of undeveloped land.

Everyone in town has a stake in the outcome, among them Julienne, an environmentalist and painter fighting to save the landscape that inspires her art; Theresa, a bartender whose trailer park home is jeopardized by coastal erosion; and Molly and Billy, who are struggling to hold onto their property against pressure to sell. When a forest fire breaks out, Clancy comes under suspicion for arson, complicating his efforts to navigate competing agendas for the best uses of the land and to find the healing and home he has always longed for.

Told from multiple points of view, The Stark Beauty of Last Things explores our connection to nature—and what we stand to lose when that connection is severed.

Genres: Fiction, Environment

372 pages, Kindle Edition

Published October 24, 2023

About the author

Celine Keating is an award-winning author living in Rhode Island. Her most recent novel is THE STARK BEAUTY OF LAST THINGS (2023). Portions of the novel awarded her first place winner of the Tucson Literary Festival Award in fiction in 2021 and the 2014 first place winner of the Hackney Literary Award in short fiction. Keating's second novel, Play for Me (2015) was an International Book Award finalist in literary fiction; her first novel, Layla, published in June, 2011, was chosen by both HuffPost and Poets & Writers as a must-read book. Keating is also the co-editor of On Montauk: A Literary Celebration, an anthology of prose and poetry. Her stories and other writing have appeared in Echoes, Emrys Journal, Mount Hope, The North Stone Review, Prairie Schooner, Santa Clara Review, Poets & Writers, Coastal Living, and the Wising Up anthology.

Reviews

[Rosh ~catching up slowly~ · Rating 3 out of 5]

In a Nutshell: A character-oriented contemporary fiction based in the Hamptons. Has great potential and themes, but gets bogged down by too many details and excessive length. Still, could work well as a mood read.

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Story Synopsis:

When a friend invites Clancy, a thirty-six-year-old claims adjuster, to a party in Montauk, he doesn't realise that he will soon have the power to change the fate of the community by deciding what happens to the last piece of undeveloped land in Montauk.
Several characters are involved in the ongoing drama – a bartender whose house is affected by coastal erosion, a motel owner who is also an artist and an environmentalist, an old man who is trying to reconcile with his family, a young couple who is struggling to hold on to their property.
The story comes to us through all their perspectives in third person.

Bookish Yays:
😍 The representation of Montauk and its natural beauty. The author clearly knows the region well or has done her research well.

😍 The characters, representing various age groups and behaviours. All main characters are sketched realistically, being more complex than straightforward. This works well in the character-oriented story.

😍 The small town vibes, complete with community spirit as well as internal clashes. Seeing many of the events from Clancy’s outsider perspective adds to the appeal.

😍 The tackling of environmental issues created by climate change as well as corporate greed. Loved the authentic representation of how small communities suffer when greed overrules common sense.


Bookish Mixed Bags:
😐 Quite a few impactful themes such as climate change, foster homes, parental abandonment, sexual abuse, juvenile delinquency, and many more. Some of these are apt for the plot as they connect with the core premise. The rest, while relevant in general, just clutter the book. Of course, this means that the novel will be a good choice for book club discussions. (There is a list of book club questions at the end of the novel.)

😐 The writing style is quite poetic and descriptive. Every scene is written in such a lyrical way as to bring the setting to life. However, I am not that fond of too much of descriptive prose in fiction, so this approach dragged my experience downwards.

😐 The story comes to us from multiple character perspectives, though Clancy’s pov, as the common thread, is the dominant one. This helps us know the characters well. But the constant shift in perspectives gets annoying after a while, especially as each character is tackling a separate personal problem in addition to the joint issue of safeguarding their homes.


Bookish Nays:
😒 The pacing is terribly slow, mainly due to the excessive descriptions and the extensive character build-up at the start.

😒 The blurb made it sound like the environmental angle was the main one, but the story goes all over the pace, with every character having hidden secrets and issues to be resolved. The focus was missing from the plot development with such an overreaching approach.


All in all, I did like the core story, but the meandering manner in which it unfurled was not to my reading preferences. I might have enjoyed it more had I picked it up at a more relaxed time, but in this busy period, the roundabout development and constantly shifting character perspectives just bogged down my reading flow.

Recommended to readers who would enjoy a slow-paced character-oriented story with multiple contemporary themes.

3.25 stars.


I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author through the Library Thing Early Reviewers Program. This review is voluntary and contains an honest opinion about my reading experience.





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[Moonkiszt · Rating 4 out of 5]

Celine Keating's book The Stark Beauty of Last Things is literally about that. . .the loss of the natural ground at Montauk, New York - that teensy-tip of Long Island slowly being swallowed back by the Atlantic Ocean. At the center of the story is a parcel of land (Moorlands) being pulled five different ways.

The story of Clancy and Otto nests within the larger tale, as do a number of other side stories, all interesting and all tied to the land, waves and history that is the Moorlands, Montauk, New York, USA, North American Continent. Otto's daughter Theresa becomes key when he dies, and all the threads pull tight and tensions rise. Add to that the wild weather of seasons and the sea at every window, human decisions notwithstanding. The story kept me to the very end. . .with the delivery of what remains providing nothing easy or snap-sealed complete. . .and a whispered reminder that if we want to have a hope in hell to change things the natural world remaining to us must be carefully considered as it is disappearing by degrees under our deep and indifferent choices.

*A sincere thank you to Celine Keating, She Writes Press, and NetGalley for an ARC to read and review independently.* #TheStarkBeautyofLastThings #NetGalley

[Jessica McCann · Rating 4 out of 5]

I rarely read contemporary novels because, too often, they seem to only scratch the surface of life’s challenges. That was not the case with this absorbing novel. With lush prose and fully-formed characters, Celine Keating takes the reader deep into the multiple themes of the story. Generational trauma and the evolution of relationships. Man’s complex relationship with nature. The many meanings of home. And the shades of gray that cloak small communities reliant on tourism. Above all, the author’s love of Montauk shines through in her thoughtful, evocative descriptions, creating a strong sense of place and making the setting itself the most captivating character of all.

For a more in-depth review, check out Foreword Reviews’ take on the book.

[Nursebookie · Rating 5 out of 5]

TITLE: The Stark Beauty of Last Things
AUTHOR: Celine Keating
PUB DATE: 10.24.2023 Now Available

The Stark Beauty of Last Things is set in Montauk, the far reaches of the famed Hamptons, an area under looming threat from a warming climate and overdevelopment. Now outsider Clancy, a thirty-six-year-old claims adjuster scarred by his orphan childhood, has inherited an unexpected legacy: the power to decide the fate of Montauk’s last parcel of undeveloped land.

Everyone in town has a stake in the outcome, among them Julienne, an environmentalist and painter fighting to save the landscape that inspires her art; Theresa, a bartender whose trailer park home is jeopardized by coastal erosion; and Molly and Billy, who are struggling to hold onto their property against pressure to sell. When a forest fire breaks out, Clancy comes under suspicion for arson, complicating his efforts to navigate competing agendas for the best uses of the land and to find the healing and home he has always longed for.

Told from multiple points of view, The Stark Beauty of Last Things explores our connection to nature—and what we stand to lose when that connection is severed.

THOUGHTS:

I love a quiet story that is powerful and impactful. Celine Keating writes about Montauk - the land, the people, and how greed and want affect our community and environment. I love a well written story told in multiple POVs that addresses climate change in the veil of a mysterious fire, an outsider given a huge responsibility, and a town teetering in its fate.

I highly recommend this gem for Bookclub readers as the thought provoking themes will demand great discussion.

[Geonn Cannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rounding up to 4 from 3.5, because I was really torn on this book. It started incredibly well. I loved all the descriptions of Montauk and the ocean. Very beautiful and poetic. And I liked how the characters were woven into the early scenes before they became important, like they were just part of the furniture of the town. On that level, it's a five star. But... the characters and the plot fell flat for me. I wanted to care for them, but I just never felt a real connection. And the plot was... odd. There's a weirdly long section where Clancy is a suspect in a murder/arson case which ends up doing nothing but eating up a lot of pages. I guess, realistically, it would make sense for the police to focus on the stranger in town. But it felt perfunctory at best.

By the last third, it just seemed to drag on and on. Every time I thought it was drawing to a close there was another chapter behind it, and another, and another. It just went on too long in the end.

[Debbie Rozier · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a multiple point of view drama that combines a place, a group of people, and the environment to tell the story.

The book is set in Montauk, New York. The history and description of the area are both interesting and pertinent to the story as Montauk has changed in both who populates it and how they’ve impacted the natural environment.

Climate change is also addressed as rising water temperatures have caused many changes in the area including fishing which at one time was Montauk’s main livelihood.

The characters vary in this read, but they all have ties to Montauk.

There is a mysterious fire, a sick man who gives a big responsibility to a visitor, and a town trying to balance inevitable change.

It’s a fascinating book that kept me turning pages because I became invested in the characters.

[Christy Taylor · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a compelling read for me. Clancy grew up in foster care which has always been a topic that interests me. The system is broken in so many ways. I love the connection that Clancy remembered with the man who had served as his Big Brother many years earlier and was so happy that they reconnected. There were several interesting characters and I enjoyed having the story told through multiple points of view. The writing was wonderfully descriptive and made me want to visit Montauk right away. The countless twists kept me guessing throughout.

[Mary Camarillo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Multiple characters in Montauk New York search for home and community in a small fishing town rocked by environmental changes, greedy developers, escalating housing prices and the loss of wild places. A compelling story, beautifully written.

[Agrippina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Keating writes about Montauk with deep love and amazing skill. The prose is intricate and lovely, and nature is as much a character as people. At the beginning of the book, it was difficult for me to determine the timeline in which the story is set. I felt it could be the 1980s or earlier until a few modern details popped up.
To me, the story had a timeless feel to it.
The connections and relationships between the people, both locals and “outsiders” - those who came to Montauk from elsewhere - are complicated enough, but to me, it seemed the only villain of the story is money and greed that take over people.
I spent some time in coastal Massachusetts, and some passages about enormous homes taking over the beaches and the developers destroying nature and endangering dunes to make a buck reminded me of what I saw there. What came before the luxury houses? What was lost so they could be built? Change is not always a good thing.
I truly enjoyed the book. It was a lovely read - through and through. And now I want to go to Montauk.
Thank you, NetGalley, for the advanced copy!

[Kelly Pramberger · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have been to Montauk and know people that live there so I was interested in reading a book about that setting and the people there. Keating did a really good job with uncovering a story and the characters woven throughout. It was enjoyable and intriguing to read her book. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. Four stars.

[Christina McComiskie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written story with an interesting subject and amazing characters who each had their own story. I enjoyed it very much.

[MayaBrooks · Rating 5 out of 5]

A haunting, lyrical meditation on land, loss, and the tangled roots of belonging.”

Celine Keating’s The Stark Beauty of Last Things is the kind of novel that lingers long after you turn the final page. It’s not just a story, it’s a quiet storm of memory, meaning, and the fragile spaces we call home.

Set in the raw, windswept beauty of Montauk, the novel immediately drew me into its layered landscape, both environmental and emotional. I could almost taste the salty air, feel the tension rising from the cracked soil, and hear the urgent, whispering questions: Who owns the land? Who deserves to keep it? And what do we lose when we give up the fight for something sacred?

Clancy, the unlikely heir to a fading legacy, is such a deeply human character, scarred, uncertain, and so achingly relatable. Watching him navigate the thorny moral terrain between profit, preservation, and personal redemption was like watching someone wrestle with ghosts in the mirror. His interactions with the other townspeople, Julienne’s artistic passion, Theresa’s quiet desperation, Molly and Billy’s stubborn hope, formed a tapestry of voices that felt honest and heartbreakingly real.

And then there’s the land itself. It’s not just a backdrop, it’s a character. Breathing, burning, weeping. Keating writes about nature with reverence, as if she’s mourning it in real-time. The threat of climate change and unchecked development looms like an invisible predator, making the novel pulse with urgency without ever feeling preachy.

What I loved most, though, was how The Stark Beauty of Last Things doesn't offer easy answers. It respects the complexity of human motivations, even when they clash. It’s about compromise and conviction, grief and grace, and how hard it is to hold onto anything that truly matters.

This book broke my heart in the quietest ways, and then stitched it back together with threads of hope.

Highly recommended for readers who crave beautifully written literary fiction with emotional depth, environmental stakes, and characters who feel as real as the wind.

[Marnie Mueller · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have long been a fan of Celine Keating’s work. She is on the top of my list of literary political novelists who do not sacrifice storytelling, beautiful language, and rounded, complex characters to the social issue at hand. This book exemplifies the best of her attributes. She uses her craft to present all sides of the story of a struggle to preserve what is left of the open land on the tip of Long Island in a town called Montauk, through a multitude of points of view, which she masterfully depicts through the eyes of five main characters in alternating chapters. The very land that is being fought over is so beautifully rendered, that it too becomes a character, as do the four seasonal descriptions of the climate that begin each section. From EARLY AUTUMN: “…when the white froth of ocean rises up and the sun’s glow sets fire to the thin strand of cloud that rests like a ribbon along the horizon, it would be easy to believe that nothing has changed, that all is as it was, and will remain.” Her exquisite prose subtly foreshadows, by denial and understatement, what will happen in this story of a community and the people who strive to save their magnificent shoreland.
Like the best of novels, to my mind, her narrative threads the themes of family, loyalty, the pull of childhood memories, the ups and downs of marriage, aging, class differences, greed, loneliness, alienation, and the need to belong whether it is to other people, the land or a belief system.
At the novel’s start, a man, an outsider, walks into a town and later that evening a …”wave smashed and hurled him over and over, spun like a weightless bit of seaweed.” And our story rushes on from there.
I was left breathless at the ease with which Keating spun her deep tale, like that lightness of being, bit of seaweed.
Do not miss this valuable book. It is a proud addition to the American literary cannon, as well as being an informative, engrossing read.

[Sandie · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Clancy agreed to go to a party out on Montauk Island, he never expected that the decision would change his life. Once he gets there, he realizes that this is where Otto, his Big Brother, would take him fishing as a child. Clancy lost his parents when he was young and with no other family, grew up in foster homes and institutions. He meets Julianne, a local innkeeper at the party and she tells him Otto is still alive and still living there.

Clancy goes the next day to look up Otto. Otto is overjoyed to see Clancy but tells him that he is dying. He asks Clancy if he would meet with his daughter, Therese, and see if Clancy can bring about a reconciliation. Otto and Therese have been estranged since Otto's second marriage and not speaking. Clancy tries but to no avail.

Clancy has come to Montauk at a critical time. The island is changing from a blue collar fishing harbor to a rich person's playground and local residents are being priced out of the housing market. Climate change and overbuilding is ruining the environment and for every environmentalist, there is another person who wants to cash in on their home and move elsewhere. When Otto dies, he leaves Clancy as his executor of his estate and one of the biggest decisions is what to do with a several acre parcel of land Otto has held for decades with some other local families. Some of them want to leave it as a natural area, others want to sell it to the highest offer. What would Otto want?

This novel hits several themes. It highlights the inevitability of change as new people discover undeveloped areas and want some of the untouched beauty for themselves. It discusses the lives of the existing residents and how their livelihoods are being affected. It also delves into family relationships and the need for a feeling of belonging that everyone has. This book is recommended for readers of literary fiction.

[Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

Exquisitely written, you can smell the briny air of Montauk, feel the crunch of the crushed shell sand, hear the sounds of seabirds around you.

The story alternates between the viewpoint of Clancy, a 30-something insurance adjuster, and the people around him as he takes an unplanned residence in Montauk. Tension is rising in Montauk: the slow erosion of the peninsula, local unease about an artificial sanddune that has been forced upon them, background deals on a parcel of land, and history, so much history. Clancy attends a fundraiser event in Long Island and winds up making connections, including with Otto, a long-lost foster parent, Julienne, an artist who operates a guesthouse with her husband and young son Max, and Theresa, estranged daughter of Otto.

It swirls around, but you never feel lost, the story grows around you and answers appear from the fog. See the land and people of Montauk as they wrestle with the tough questions the region imposes, what the future holds for them, and watch as they grow and develop, gain and lose, over a year.

Not all needs be lost, digging into the history, knowledge and experiences, answers with their own beauty are ready to unfold and flourish. 'The Stark Beauty of Last Things' explores community, uncovering what it is that people want, what they really desire, and letting go of the past to be able to open up now. A warning. A wake-up call, to see and hear before it's already lost.

[Kate Robinson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Perhaps nature was more essential to human beings than he’d ever imagined."

Readers enter this tale on the cusp of deep change in Montauk as the traditional fisherman’s life is in jeopardy, and many residents contemplate the hard choices they must make to create balanced new lives. Clancy, a New Yorker who once enjoyed Montauk during his family-deprived childhood, revisits the peninsula. He rediscovers Otto, the man who mentored him in a program for disadvantaged orphans. This places Clancy in conflict with Theresa, Otto’s estranged daughter, who resented the boy during her childhood. She feels doubly betrayed in adulthood by her father after he cheated on and divorced her mother. Unfortunately, Otto is ill and soon passes away, leaving his legacy to Clancy because Theresa refuses to reconcile with her father or to receive any property. Clancy must balance sorting out Otto’s wishes and gaining Theresa’s trust while navigating Montauk’s social order and the community’s challenges with climate, housing, and open space. . .

Read more at The US Review of Books!
https://www.theusreview.com/reviews-1...

[Susan Ballard (subakkabookstuff) · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such a unique read for me. I loved the beautiful descriptions of Montauk - the sand dunes, ponds, the Hither Woods, and the powerful ocean.

Montauk itself seems to be the central focus. With an 11-acre parcel of undeveloped land coming up for vote for development - coastal erosion, overdevelopment, plus other economic and environmental threats are all called into question.

Throughout the story, we meet several characters who are greatly affected by the changes happening in Montauk. From Julianne, a painter and environmentalist, to Clancy, who visited Montauk as a boy bouncing in and out of foster homes, these characters become intertwined with each other and the fight to save Montauk.

The rich narrative is unhurried as it navigates between the natural landscape and the hearts of the people. I was quickly swept up in the daily lives of these characters and their quest to save their homes and to preserve the natural beauty of this place.

𝑁𝑎𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒, ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑖𝑡𝑦 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑚𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑟𝑦.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A new author for me and very much my style of book. Interesting characters with depth and history. I have come to enjoy books where each chapter is told from a different perspective. Clancy is obviously the main character but all the others rotate around him and his involvement in the town life despite being an outsider. His early life story is important in influencing his decisions but it’s not over sentimentalised.
Interesting history and geography of the area and the impact of environmental changes, local politics and outside interference.
Did find it a little strange that the author would commence on a story thread and then abruptly finish it. For many authors, this is where the novel would go. For instance the suspicion that Clancy killed Otto, set the fire; the disappearance of the boys etc.. I guess this is not where the author wanted to go and I’m glad she didn’t.
Would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys contemporary American fiction.

[Reader · Rating 5 out of 5]

The characters and setting in this novel found places so deep in my heart that I’m still dreaming of them, long after reading the final page. Céline Keating is an expert at creating nuanced, believable characters who reflect various levels of connections to the land and waters of Montauk – from Molly’s quick infatuation with the island and its inhabitants, human and otherwise, to Julienne’s lifelong bond that feeds her soul and art. One of the main characters, Clancy, helps readers to learn about Montauk, its residents and the changes threatening it over time, until the inevitable wonder and love for this special place overtakes him as well. Keating’s subtle yet visceral descriptions of the island over the seasons adds to the depth and beauty of the story, reflecting the essential connections that nature holds in her characters’ and our own lives. Highly recommend!

[Jenni Ogden · Rating 5 out of 5]

This beautifully written novel, while set in a seaside community on the tip of Long Island, New York, addresses issues that are threatening special places in so many countries: climate warming, too many tourists, developments encroaching (along with the sea) and rising home values so that locals can no longer afford to live there, even if their families have lived there for generations. The story is told in the voices of a number of characters affected in different ways by these issues, and every character is nuanced and likeable, such that by the last satisfying but not neatly-tied-up conclusion I felt I knew them all as friends. I live in far-away New Zealand on a remote off-grid island that both depends on the very short tourist season and wishes we never had to have tourists, so yes, this is a story that is universal.

[G.P. Gottlieb · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a lovely novel about nature and landscape, the changing seasons and how the idea of PLACE changes definition depending on who is speaking: someone who owns a piece of land, a home, a business, or someone whose ancestors neglected to purchase property on what would become the village of Montauk in the ridiculously expensive Hamptons of New York’s Long Island. And then there is Clancy Fredericks, an orphan who never knew a home and was shuffled from one place to another, with physical scars to show what kind of childhood he endured. He remembers a few happy moments though, and one of them was in Montauk, where he shows up for a party and ends up becoming immersed in the community.

I was honored to interview Celine for a podast: https://newbooksnetwork.com/the-stark...

[Akemi · Rating 5 out of 5]

This novel is clearly environmentally focused while doing a great job of illustrating the complex factors at play when it comes to preservation. It is a story about a wild and pristine land fighting against being tamed, about the people who live there, and the greater worldly forces that neither can escape. Keating clearly loves Montauk and her descriptions of its beauty are vivid. I appreciate her commitment to showing the reader the importance of preservation while recognizing potential human costs and allowing for the plight of individuals when it comes to fighting development. Still, she has composed a hopeful tale where compromise and working together can mean a solution for everyone. The Stark Beauty of Last Things is poignant, desperate, and hopeful all at once.

[Karen Klink · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm always apprehensive when reading and reviewing a book by someone I know. What if I don't like it?

Needn't have worried. Lovely writing, characters to root for, a plot to hold my interest and, most of all, through sensory narrative I feel I've lived on the northeast coast for four full seasons. Such deft description and feeling for an area (Montauk) I've seldom read. Here is a fellow environmentalist who loves wild things and places and is familiar with the conflict between land developers, community, and environmentalists.

I'm going to hang on to this one for the day I curl up in my favorite reading chair and return to the coast.

[Kathy Averbeck · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book about the past confronting the future in the small community of Mantauk, NY. It could be set in many other locations, where change is happening, from outsiders coming in and tearing down the small houses and building new giant houses, and long-time residents not being able to afford to live in their town anymore, to dealing with the effects of climate change. The character of Clancy is essential to this story and of how he found where he belongs. I loved all the characters who were featured in this book and they all felt real to me.

[Dawnny · Rating 5 out of 5]

This takes place in Montauk, on Long Island New York and tackles climate change issues as well as development and how that impacts local residents. This was a great look at the history of Montauk. The beauty of a place and the changing times. I liked the multiple points of view from the different characters who all make this a great story. This was thought-provoking and I really enjoyed it.


Dawnny Ruby
Novels N Latte
Hudson Valley NY

[Booksandcoffeemx · Rating 4 out of 5]

𝘉𝘦𝘢𝘶𝘵𝘪𝘧𝘶𝘭𝘭𝘺 𝘸𝘳𝘪𝘵𝘵𝘦𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘤𝘢𝘱𝘵𝘪𝘷𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘯𝘨!

I fell in love with this book setting, and it’s impossible not to fall in love with nature after reading this beautiful story. A story about relationships, love and the healing powers of nature.

Thank you Suzy Approved Book Tours and She Writes Press for this tour invite.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝗿𝗸 𝗕𝗲𝗮𝘂𝘁𝘆 𝗢𝗳 𝗟𝗮𝘀𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴𝘀 by Author Celine Keating released October 24, 2023.

https://www.instagram.com/booksandcof...

[Marilyn Goncalves · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’m a fan of a story that has multiple POV’s also the description of Montauk had me feeling like I was right in the middle of this book. Celine Keating wonderfully weaves in the characters as this story realistically unfolds creating an engaging atmospheric-ish and pleasant reading journey. I think this would make a great book to discuss in a buddy read. A set of topics like financial gain and family plans to nature and environment makes for an array of points of view.

[Sandra Adams · Rating 5 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Stark Beauty of Last Things is a powerful, timely novel that captures both the fragile beauty of the natural world and the complexity of human longing. With vivid prose and deeply empathetic characters, it invites readers into a Montauk on the brink-of change, of loss, of hope. Told through intertwining perspectives, this story is as emotionally rich as it is environmentally urgent. A moving, thought-provoking read that stays with you long after the final page.

[Liz · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Stark Beauty of Last Things" is a thought-provoking, emotionally stirring, and exquisitely written novel that resonates long after the final page. It's an absolute must-read for those who appreciate deeply moving stories intertwined with pressing societal and environmental issues. This book is a gem, leaving an indelible mark on the reader's mind and heart.

[Maggie Hill · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful, evocative story -- while it's about place, certainly, it's also about how vividly and emotionally we connect to our environment. In this novel, that connection extends to relationships, in several points of view. The movement through the seasons is a poetical journey; we feel the ebb and flow of the coastline almost inside each character. Such a lovely read!