What do you think?
Rate this book
The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach: A Novel
From the New York Times bestselling author of The Lost Girls of Paris comes a moving story of love and sacrifice set on sandy shores of America and London in the mid-twentieth century
Young Adelia Monteforte begins the summer of 1941 aboard a crowded ship bound for America, utterly alone yet free of Fascist Italy. Whisked away to the seaside by her well-meaning aunt and uncle, she basks in the noisy affection of the boisterous Irish Catholic boys next door. And although she adores all four of the Connally brothers, it's the eldest, Charlie, she pines for. But all hopes for a future together are throttled by the creep of war and a tragedy that hits much closer to home.
Grief-stricken, Addie flees—first to Washington and then to war-torn London, where she finds a position at a prestigious newspaper, as well as a chance for a new beginning. But the past always nips at her heels. And in a final, fateful choice, Addie will discover that the only way home may be a path she never suspected.
"The kind of book that absorbs you from the beginning and doesn't let go." —Beatriz Williams, bestselling author of The Beach at Summerly
Young Adelia Monteforte begins the summer of 1941 aboard a crowded ship bound for America, utterly alone yet free of Fascist Italy. Whisked away to the seaside by her well-meaning aunt and uncle, she basks in the noisy affection of the boisterous Irish Catholic boys next door. And although she adores all four of the Connally brothers, it's the eldest, Charlie, she pines for. But all hopes for a future together are throttled by the creep of war and a tragedy that hits much closer to home.
Grief-stricken, Addie flees—first to Washington and then to war-torn London, where she finds a position at a prestigious newspaper, as well as a chance for a new beginning. But the past always nips at her heels. And in a final, fateful choice, Addie will discover that the only way home may be a path she never suspected.
"The kind of book that absorbs you from the beginning and doesn't let go." —Beatriz Williams, bestselling author of The Beach at Summerly
384 pages, Paperback
First published July 28, 2015
764 people are currently reading
8071 people want to read
About the author
Pam Jenoff
33 books6,740 followersPam is the author of several novels, including her most recent The Woman With The Blue Star, as well as The Lost Girls of Paris and The Orphan's Tale, both instant New York Times bestsellers. Pam was born in Maryland and raised outside Philadelphia. She attended George Washington University in Washington, D.C., and Cambridge University in England. Upon receiving her master’s in history from Cambridge, she accepted an appointment as Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Army. The position provided a unique opportunity to witness and participate in operations at the most senior levels of government, including helping the families of the Pan Am Flight 103 victims secure their memorial at Arlington National Cemetery, observing recovery efforts at the site of the Oklahoma City bombing and attending ceremonies to commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of World War II at sites such as Bastogne and Corregidor.
Following her work at the Pentagon, Jenoff moved to the State Department. In 1996 she was assigned to the U.S. Consulate in Krakow, Poland. It was during this period that Pam developed her expertise in Polish-Jewish relations and the Holocaust. Working on matters such as preservation of Auschwitz and the restitution of Jewish property in Poland, Jenoff developed close relations with the surviving Jewish community.
Having left the Foreign Service in 1998 to attend law school at the University of Pennsylvania, Jenoff practiced law at a large firm and in-house for several years. She now teaches law school at Rutgers.
Following her work at the Pentagon, Jenoff moved to the State Department. In 1996 she was assigned to the U.S. Consulate in Krakow, Poland. It was during this period that Pam developed her expertise in Polish-Jewish relations and the Holocaust. Working on matters such as preservation of Auschwitz and the restitution of Jewish property in Poland, Jenoff developed close relations with the surviving Jewish community.
Having left the Foreign Service in 1998 to attend law school at the University of Pennsylvania, Jenoff practiced law at a large firm and in-house for several years. She now teaches law school at Rutgers.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 589 reviews
Read
August 19, 2016I found Addie frustrating. Her avoidance of issues by constantly running away was annoying despite her forced and abrupt departure to a new country alone, not completely understanding her parents insistence she flee Italy. I had empathy for her up to a point, quickly it manifested into annoyance and disappointment. Her strength, intelligence and somewhat independence did not match her poor decision-making in the romance department or her overall character. Part 3 is where Addie fell apart for me, I did not like her at all.
The romance twist bothered me terribly. Addie crossed a serious line, a move seemingly based on desperation more than love, emotional rebound in my opinion. Frankly the twist ruined the entire narrative, also it was fairly predictable but I kept hoping I was wrong, ultimately not the case.
I loved the setting – the tension and fear permeating London. The chaos and desperation of WWII palpable. Addie, Teddy, Claire and Charlie’s roles added texture and really made WWII come to life, air raids, bombings were felt with the turn of every page.
I enjoyed the story, I only wish Addie wasn’t flighty and such a contradiction. No surprise the romance element was a miss for me. I wish Jenoff ended it differently. No doubt this novel will appeal to fans of historical fiction, WWII and war romances.
http://ravenhairedgirl.com
The romance twist bothered me terribly. Addie crossed a serious line, a move seemingly based on desperation more than love, emotional rebound in my opinion. Frankly the twist ruined the entire narrative, also it was fairly predictable but I kept hoping I was wrong, ultimately not the case.
I loved the setting – the tension and fear permeating London. The chaos and desperation of WWII palpable. Addie, Teddy, Claire and Charlie’s roles added texture and really made WWII come to life, air raids, bombings were felt with the turn of every page.
I enjoyed the story, I only wish Addie wasn’t flighty and such a contradiction. No surprise the romance element was a miss for me. I wish Jenoff ended it differently. No doubt this novel will appeal to fans of historical fiction, WWII and war romances.
http://ravenhairedgirl.com
December 13, 2019
A sweeping historical that takes us from Italy to America to London and back to America.
Originally published in 2015, The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach introduces readers to Adelia( Addie) Monteforte, a young teenage girl in Italy. It is 1941 and Italy is at war and for their daughter's safety, Addie's parents decided to send their daughter to her aunt and uncle in America. Adjusting to life living with strangers and a new culture, Addie soon befriends the boisterous Connally brothers, an Irish-Catholic family that lives next to her relatives' summer home. Drawn to the eldest brother, Charlie, Addie soon begins a romance, but America's entrance into the war and a personal family tragedy keep the two apart. But a chance meeting later in the war may give them the opportunity they need.
What I thought
Pam Jenoff has a tendency to make me forget about my to-do list and I keep myself flipping the pages. However, Addie and I didn't necessarily connect and I felt that I would have liked to see her growth and experiences a lot more than just a focus on bringing her back to the Connally family. Overall, not a favorite but it holds enough Jenoff magic that I don't regret diving in!
Goodreads review 13/12/19
Originally published in 2015, The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach introduces readers to Adelia( Addie) Monteforte, a young teenage girl in Italy. It is 1941 and Italy is at war and for their daughter's safety, Addie's parents decided to send their daughter to her aunt and uncle in America. Adjusting to life living with strangers and a new culture, Addie soon befriends the boisterous Connally brothers, an Irish-Catholic family that lives next to her relatives' summer home. Drawn to the eldest brother, Charlie, Addie soon begins a romance, but America's entrance into the war and a personal family tragedy keep the two apart. But a chance meeting later in the war may give them the opportunity they need.
What I thought
Pam Jenoff has a tendency to make me forget about my to-do list and I keep myself flipping the pages. However, Addie and I didn't necessarily connect and I felt that I would have liked to see her growth and experiences a lot more than just a focus on bringing her back to the Connally family. Overall, not a favorite but it holds enough Jenoff magic that I don't regret diving in!
Goodreads review 13/12/19
July 19, 2015
I devoted a significant portion of my day to reading this book - when I really needed to be doing other things - and in the end, I didn't even like it very much.
It did hold my attention, but the main character and her frequent running away got to be a bit much, and she sounds so meek and plain and yet these wonderful men are crazy in love with her. (To the author's credit, at one point a character does very bluntly say to her that she can't quite figure out why it is two great guys are falling all over themselves for her.)
I would have liked the book much better if it had ended before part three. I could have handled the book ending with the conclusion of part 2, it was sad, but it made sense to me and made Addie seem like a stronger character. But part 3 is what sort of ruined the rest of the story for me. It just made me angry.
What I did enjoy about this book was the London setting during WWII and the characters' involvement in the war. That's what kept me reading. The writing really brought this era to life.
Overall the story is okay. Other people may not feel the same sort of disappointment I felt at the way the story ended.
I received a review copy of this via NetGalley.
It did hold my attention, but the main character and her frequent running away got to be a bit much, and she sounds so meek and plain and yet these wonderful men are crazy in love with her. (To the author's credit, at one point a character does very bluntly say to her that she can't quite figure out why it is two great guys are falling all over themselves for her.)
I would have liked the book much better if it had ended before part three. I could have handled the book ending with the conclusion of part 2, it was sad, but it made sense to me and made Addie seem like a stronger character. But part 3 is what sort of ruined the rest of the story for me. It just made me angry.
What I did enjoy about this book was the London setting during WWII and the characters' involvement in the war. That's what kept me reading. The writing really brought this era to life.
Overall the story is okay. Other people may not feel the same sort of disappointment I felt at the way the story ended.
I received a review copy of this via NetGalley.
August 28, 2015
I really want to find the positive in this book, which I expected to like much more than I actually did.
The bare bones of the plot seemed promising: A young girl escaping wartime Europe on her own ends up being taken in by the rowdy boys of the family next door. Addie loves all of the Connally boys, but falls in love with Charlie. War gets in the way, as does a family tragedy, and Addie ends up running away again and again, always looking for meaning and a place of her own.
The problem I had with this book is that none of the relationships felt convincing. In particular, Addie has at different points in the book three different love interests, but they all seem rather circumstantial. I never really got the emotional intensity that should have been there, and Addie's decision-making appears illogical at times.
As I turned the final pages, I still didn't understand why Addie had made some of the choices she'd made, and certainly never connected with her feelings. Perhaps there was too much telling and not enough showing: We're told about Addie's thoughts and motivations, but it all seemed very surface-level.
The time period and settings are all very dramatic, as you'd expect for a novel set during WWII, but for a historical romance, the romances themselves were dry and not terribly interesting or compelling.
The bare bones of the plot seemed promising: A young girl escaping wartime Europe on her own ends up being taken in by the rowdy boys of the family next door. Addie loves all of the Connally boys, but falls in love with Charlie. War gets in the way, as does a family tragedy, and Addie ends up running away again and again, always looking for meaning and a place of her own.
The problem I had with this book is that none of the relationships felt convincing. In particular, Addie has at different points in the book three different love interests, but they all seem rather circumstantial. I never really got the emotional intensity that should have been there, and Addie's decision-making appears illogical at times.
As I turned the final pages, I still didn't understand why Addie had made some of the choices she'd made, and certainly never connected with her feelings. Perhaps there was too much telling and not enough showing: We're told about Addie's thoughts and motivations, but it all seemed very surface-level.
The time period and settings are all very dramatic, as you'd expect for a novel set during WWII, but for a historical romance, the romances themselves were dry and not terribly interesting or compelling.
July 21, 2016
I have a bit of a soft spot for Pam Jenoff's novels. They are just my cup of tea; romance and drama during wartime. This latest read succeeded in living up to my expectations having read The Kommandants Girl series some time ago.
When young Italian Addie is sent suddenly across the atlantic to live with relatives in the US once war breaks out, she befriends the lively Connelly family and in particular, their eldest handsome son Charlie. The story is very much a coming-of-age one, set against the backdrop of a world at war. The author was careful, as ever, to respect the era in which the story was told. She delivers a compassionate story and vividly describes each of the cities and countries Addie visits.
There are a few supporting characters who I felt deserved more reconciliation towards the end of the story; chiefly the charming Teddy and Addie's new found friend, Claire. However, the gripping storyline of the main characters is enough to keep the reader interested until the very last page.
Highly recommended for fans of romance and historical fiction. An easy read, yes, but still a brilliant one.
When young Italian Addie is sent suddenly across the atlantic to live with relatives in the US once war breaks out, she befriends the lively Connelly family and in particular, their eldest handsome son Charlie. The story is very much a coming-of-age one, set against the backdrop of a world at war. The author was careful, as ever, to respect the era in which the story was told. She delivers a compassionate story and vividly describes each of the cities and countries Addie visits.
There are a few supporting characters who I felt deserved more reconciliation towards the end of the story; chiefly the charming Teddy and Addie's new found friend, Claire. However, the gripping storyline of the main characters is enough to keep the reader interested until the very last page.
Highly recommended for fans of romance and historical fiction. An easy read, yes, but still a brilliant one.
January 13, 2016
This story was based in a believable history with an unbelievable storyline. Addie relates to everything as so far in the past when in reality everything occurred recently -- within 3 years. That is no lifetime. I like her as a person, but the amount of depth of emotion she has for things that require more time to build is not accurately displayed. More years should have gone by. The relationship between her and Charlie is just not developed enough for the actions she takes and you can't help and wonder about the rebounding with his brother. There just seemed to much complexity that was not executed well in the book. I needed more depth. More time in developing a substantial relationship with her and the characters in the book. I still do not understand how she had three men in love with her when she was kind of portrayed as simple and reckless. Then she ends up with the brother kind of as an after thought. She just seems to be drifting and trying to take control, yet running to and away from people that she claims to have feelings for.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 25, 2021
Pam Jenoff is one of my favorite authors. But this book was not one of my favorites. It had me all over the place emotionally but seldom happy. By the end I was angry. Pretty sappy to have ended with Charlie. Just seemed wrong to end with Liam. A lot of sadness in between.
July 28, 2015
Adelia Monteforte was put on a boat alone to America in 1941 as WWII was underway. Her mother forced her into leaving Italy and living with her aunt and uncle that she had never met.
Adelia was grateful for her aunt and uncle's love, but she felt out of place with them and with her accent. When she met the Connallys, things changed. There were children her own age, children to play with, a family she felt very comfortable with, and their son she fell in love with.
Her aunt and uncle seemed distant but very kind to Adelia. Mrs. Connally was more of a mother to Adelia than her aunt, but I think Adelia made that happen as she chose to be closer to a stranger than her own relatives. She did upset me how she was closer to the family that lived next door at the beach than her blood relatives.
We follow Adelia who is a very strong-willed character and who makes decisions on her own even though she is quite young. I was surprised at her quick, poorly thought-out decisions. Some were decisions I definitely would not have made.
Adelia had become unsettled in her town after a while and also with the Connallys and left for Washington, D.C. to escape Charlie Connally. She then moved on to London when Washington, D.C. wasn't far enough away for her.
London wasn't what she expected, but Adelia was able to make new friends and continue to work at the same newspaper she worked for in the USA. Adelia never thought London would be as war torn as it was, but no matter what the circumstances or how far she went, she never could get Charlie out of her mind.
THE LAST SUMMER AT CHELSEA BEACH is filled with loss, growing up, learning about life, and a love story.
THE LAST SUMMER AT CHELSEA BEACH had a lesson about the importance of family and the importance of following your heart.
As always, Ms. Jenoff's books are well researched and very well written. You become part of her books and want to be one of the characters simply because of the marvelous way Ms. Jenoff tells a story.
If you haven’t read THE LAST SUMMER AT CHELSEA BEACH or any of Ms. Jenoff’s books, what are you waiting for? :)
You won't go wrong with any of her books. ENJOY....I know you will. 5/5
Read
July 25, 2015DNF at 40%
I cannot tell you how much I wanted to like this book. Everything about it sounded like something I would enjoy - lost love, WWII and a story influenced by Little Women.
At almost halfway through, I didn’t care about a single character. I couldn't wrap my head around any of Adelia’s decisions - falling for Charlie so easily, abandoning her aunt and uncle with no warning, and fleeing to London. Adelia and Charlie’s connection was lackluster and nothing more than insta-love, which I despise. I didn't like the development of the story or that the WWII aspect felt like an afterthought. Simply put - this just wasn’t for me.
*Complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
I cannot tell you how much I wanted to like this book. Everything about it sounded like something I would enjoy - lost love, WWII and a story influenced by Little Women.
At almost halfway through, I didn’t care about a single character. I couldn't wrap my head around any of Adelia’s decisions - falling for Charlie so easily, abandoning her aunt and uncle with no warning, and fleeing to London. Adelia and Charlie’s connection was lackluster and nothing more than insta-love, which I despise. I didn't like the development of the story or that the WWII aspect felt like an afterthought. Simply put - this just wasn’t for me.
*Complimentary copy provided by the publisher in exchange for an honest review*
September 10, 2015
This was a gorgeous romantic story of first loves, lost love, and second chances set in one of my favorite time periods, WWII. The prose was beautifully written. The characters were well-developed, complex, and lovable. Every ingredient was there to make this a stunning literary masterpiece, and it was. I highly recommend this book to fans of historical fiction and women's fiction.
August 1, 2015
War stories are sometimes hard for me to read, but this one blew me away, and in a good way! Pam Jenoff's prose is gorgeous, and her characters are so real. I highly recommend this one.
March 25, 2024
a page turner book! ✨
August 20, 2015
Find the full review at http://aliteraryvacation.blogspot.com.
I read Pam Jenoff's novel The Winter Guest last year and it was one of my favorite books of 2014. It was the kind of book that had me adding her backlog to my wish list, it was that good. She has a way of presenting complex, unusual stories set during WWII that somehow give you a new angle on a much discussed topic while also making what the characters go through seem relatable and entirely absorbing. I just couldn't put the novel down and I am happy to say The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach was just as captivating.
What I appreciate most about the characters in this novel is how imperfect and therefore realistic they all are. These are fully formed beings that are trying to live and love, the best they can, in a time in history that made life anything but predictable. Addie and the Connally boys, especially Charlie and Liam, make many mistakes across the novel, running away from pain and grief, changing their minds about what they should do and where they should go as well as who they should love, and for me this makes them endearing even as I want to shake them around sometimes until they stop making their lives so complicated. People are not perfect so I love novels that don't try to make the characters appear that way.
For as much as occurs within the novel, it really doesn't eclipse that much time, just three short years. During that time we see our Addie go from feeling like an outsider in America to feeling like a part of a family with the Connally's, and then we see her go full circle with those feelings once again. We see a few love triangles, some poor decisions and one tragic accident that will break any reader's heart. While the war is always in the background and some of our characters do experience it head-on, The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach really isn't about the war as much as, say, The Winter Guest was, and for me this made it a very different read. At times I felt like I just had to hold on and weather the myriad of emotions these characters go through - love, joy, loneliness, acceptance, anger, jealousy, blinding sadness, duty, acceptance - in order to reach the conclusion they all had to get to eventually: the past cannot be changed and should not be ignored, but should be accepted for what it is so you can move on to the future you are meant, and want, to have. Without the hardships and heartaches they each went through they wouldn't have become the people they needed to be.
Clearly from my review you can see this was a character-driven novel for me, which isn't to say that the plot wasn't solid. I was completely immersed in the settings as they shifted from America to war-torn Europe and Ms. Jenoff did a great job, as I expected, of creating this well drawn world in which her story could unfold. There were a few parts that I didn't know quite why they were included, such as a portion dealing with Addie's need to rescue some orphaned children from France, but even those parts were enjoyable and didn't pull away from the central story being told.
I've said it before and I'll say it again now, Pam Jenoff's novels are top shelf historical fiction. If you love novels that incorporate history, especially WWII, and want something unlike the usual novel set during this time pick up her novels. The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach was a little heavier on the romance than I was expecting, but even those that aren't big on romantic themes will find much to love here. I'm a firm follower of Ms. Jenoff's and I look forward to reading much more from her.
I read Pam Jenoff's novel The Winter Guest last year and it was one of my favorite books of 2014. It was the kind of book that had me adding her backlog to my wish list, it was that good. She has a way of presenting complex, unusual stories set during WWII that somehow give you a new angle on a much discussed topic while also making what the characters go through seem relatable and entirely absorbing. I just couldn't put the novel down and I am happy to say The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach was just as captivating.
What I appreciate most about the characters in this novel is how imperfect and therefore realistic they all are. These are fully formed beings that are trying to live and love, the best they can, in a time in history that made life anything but predictable. Addie and the Connally boys, especially Charlie and Liam, make many mistakes across the novel, running away from pain and grief, changing their minds about what they should do and where they should go as well as who they should love, and for me this makes them endearing even as I want to shake them around sometimes until they stop making their lives so complicated. People are not perfect so I love novels that don't try to make the characters appear that way.
For as much as occurs within the novel, it really doesn't eclipse that much time, just three short years. During that time we see our Addie go from feeling like an outsider in America to feeling like a part of a family with the Connally's, and then we see her go full circle with those feelings once again. We see a few love triangles, some poor decisions and one tragic accident that will break any reader's heart. While the war is always in the background and some of our characters do experience it head-on, The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach really isn't about the war as much as, say, The Winter Guest was, and for me this made it a very different read. At times I felt like I just had to hold on and weather the myriad of emotions these characters go through - love, joy, loneliness, acceptance, anger, jealousy, blinding sadness, duty, acceptance - in order to reach the conclusion they all had to get to eventually: the past cannot be changed and should not be ignored, but should be accepted for what it is so you can move on to the future you are meant, and want, to have. Without the hardships and heartaches they each went through they wouldn't have become the people they needed to be.
Clearly from my review you can see this was a character-driven novel for me, which isn't to say that the plot wasn't solid. I was completely immersed in the settings as they shifted from America to war-torn Europe and Ms. Jenoff did a great job, as I expected, of creating this well drawn world in which her story could unfold. There were a few parts that I didn't know quite why they were included, such as a portion dealing with Addie's need to rescue some orphaned children from France, but even those parts were enjoyable and didn't pull away from the central story being told.
I've said it before and I'll say it again now, Pam Jenoff's novels are top shelf historical fiction. If you love novels that incorporate history, especially WWII, and want something unlike the usual novel set during this time pick up her novels. The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach was a little heavier on the romance than I was expecting, but even those that aren't big on romantic themes will find much to love here. I'm a firm follower of Ms. Jenoff's and I look forward to reading much more from her.
August 18, 2015
I loved it. Adelia "Addie" has come to America to live with her Aunt and Uncle. Her parents are still in Italy, but they send her over to protect her. Addie is taken to her Aunt and Uncle's beach house where she meets the Connally family. Four Irish Catholic boys. Over the years she becomes like a daughter/sister to the Connally family even with people looking at them because they are different. It makes no difference. Then Pearl Harbor. The eldest Connally boy, Charlie wants nothing more than to fight. Promises are made. The family is afraid of what war would mean especially with all the boys, but it is an unexpected accident that throws the future of the entire family into a tail spin. Addie runs. She runs to Washington and later to London not wanting to deal with her own grief.
Addie wasn't a character I really took too right off. She seemed always a bit of a misfit. As she slowly evolved into part of the Connally family, the more I took to her. When the unexpected accident occurs (sorry not going to ruin the book by telling you!) My heart breaks for Addie. Once again she is left alone--the little girl sent off on a boat without her parents. Addie doesn't sit around feeling sorry for herself, but takes off to Washington. When her past shows up, she takes off in order to protect her heart. She runs of to London and a possible new future. Ok I would LOVE to start giving some major story details, but I will refrain.
Basically, the story is a hit and miss love story. There is a war. There is devastation. Addie is trying desperately to help someone in a way she couldn't help someone she lost. All through the book I kept wondering if the two loves would find there way back to each other. Would she choose the new man who loves her and is desperate to help her? I got half way through this book and then couldn't put it down. What would happen? I sat reading thinking of course true love, young love wins...but then you see a love that is more devoted to her, more adult...is that enough? I won't tell you what happens, but I will tell you I was not prepared for how all things would end. It has a perfect and unexpected ending that I was personally thrilled with. A MUST READ!
Addie wasn't a character I really took too right off. She seemed always a bit of a misfit. As she slowly evolved into part of the Connally family, the more I took to her. When the unexpected accident occurs (sorry not going to ruin the book by telling you!) My heart breaks for Addie. Once again she is left alone--the little girl sent off on a boat without her parents. Addie doesn't sit around feeling sorry for herself, but takes off to Washington. When her past shows up, she takes off in order to protect her heart. She runs of to London and a possible new future. Ok I would LOVE to start giving some major story details, but I will refrain.
Basically, the story is a hit and miss love story. There is a war. There is devastation. Addie is trying desperately to help someone in a way she couldn't help someone she lost. All through the book I kept wondering if the two loves would find there way back to each other. Would she choose the new man who loves her and is desperate to help her? I got half way through this book and then couldn't put it down. What would happen? I sat reading thinking of course true love, young love wins...but then you see a love that is more devoted to her, more adult...is that enough? I won't tell you what happens, but I will tell you I was not prepared for how all things would end. It has a perfect and unexpected ending that I was personally thrilled with. A MUST READ!
March 29, 2016
There are many engaging moments in this story by Pan Jenoff and the premise is really quite interesting! I was very excited to get this book from the library but as the story developed I became frustrated. I can certainly understand the challenges that Addie faces with her being dropped suddenly into a new life without her parents (they remained in Italy in WWII) in America with an unknown Aunt or Uncle. It's odd that Addie spends so much time with the neighbors and that she doesn't seem to make a connection with her Aunt and Uncle. It's extreme. Then Addie has a crush on one of her neighbors and he ends up returning the affection the day before he leaves for war. While all of this is easy to grasp the story becomes complicated as Addie "runs" away, doesn't learn from her mistakes and we see her as stilted or stunted emotionally. We lack information about her feelings and why she makes the poor decisions that she does. And she continues to make them. The last portion of the story was horrible. I couldn't empathize with the characters in this last portion - Charlie and Addie should have been together - their abandonment of one another after the book has built us up to having them together was cut short, lacked necessary information and besides being abrupt, it seemed poorly written/developed. Odd. Her friend in London was well developed and his expression of his feelings, intents, and the way his life was impacted by his feelings was very good! Overall, this story has left me in a funk today. I am bothered by the ending. Addie was a disappointment and just simply didn't make sense. I feel sorry for the Connally family.
March 6, 2016
Adelia Monteforte boarded a ship, alone, during the summer of 1941 in Italy. Her parents sent her to America to escape the political situation in Italy. She made the entire voyage on her own and met up with her aunt and uncle whom she has never met. Adelia now lives in Philadelphia, but for the summer she is spending it at her aunt and uncle's beach house in Atlantic City. There she meets four Irish-Catholic brothers, the Connallys. They become her first real American friends; she even hits it off with Mrs. Connally forming a special bond with her. During the summer, the boys help Adelia break out of her shell and even smile again. Once summer is over and they return to Philadelphia, but things change as war is looming. Adelia's secret crush on Charlie Connally becomes even more real than she ever thought imaginable, but then tragedy strikes. Adelia flees to Washington D.C. to try her luck at a newspaper and then finds herself in London, which is even closer to the war than before. Pam Jenoff's epic historical romance swept me away. The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach is one of my favorite books of the year.
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
Read the rest of my review here:
http://www.confessionsofabookaddict.c...
August 16, 2015
This is an exquisitely written portrayal of life during World War II and yet encompasses so much more.It is a beautiful, heart wrenching story of love and forgiveness. It is about all the ways that fate and circumstances shape who we ultimately become, who we are meant to be. It gave me a true sense of what it was like to live during the upheaval of war. It's historical accuracy makes this book touch your very soul. These could very well be real people and not just characters in a book. That's how richly developed the characters were. I felt what they felt, they were real to me. To me, the sign of an extraordinary book is it makes you feel. This book pierced my heart. Only a great storyteller can get to me like that. Pam Jenoff is a storyteller of the highest caliber. This is a book that will stay with me for a very long time. This is the first book that I have read by this author, it will definitely not be the last. I highly recommend that you read this incredible book.
August 3, 2024
The pages turned quickly and it held my attention, but didn’t find anything in this book convincing. The relationships weren’t believable, I wasn’t wrapped up in any of the romance or friendships, and the descriptions of war didn’t put me there. I haven’t read a Jenoff book before, but it felt like a novice’s writing.
May 19, 2021
When I picked up The Last Summer at Chelsea Beach by Pam Jenoff, I realized that I am quickly running out of books by this author.
Young Adelia Monteforte (Addie) flees fascist Italy for America, where she is whisked away to the shore by her well-meaning aunt and uncle. Europe appears to be on the verge of war but that seemed so far away from the peace and safety of the United States. Here, she meets and falls for Charlie Connally, the eldest of the four Irish-Catholic boys next door. But all hopes for a future together are soon throttled by the outbreak of war and another tragedy that hits much closer to home.
As Charlie secretly enlists in the US military, grief-stricken Addie flees—first to Washington and a job with a newspaper and then to war-torn London—and a position at that prestigious newspaper, as well as a chance to redeem lost time, lost family…and lost love. In London Addie runs into Charlie and they spend time together and he proposes and wants to get married before he has to ship out. But Addie goes home to get ready; her train gets delayed on the way back; and Charlie had already departed by the time she gets there. They become the stereotypical star-crossed lovers as their story continues. The past continues to nip at her heels, demanding to be reckoned with. And in a final, fateful choice, Addie discovers that the way home may be a path she never suspected. Now I'll have to wait to see what this author comes out with next!
Young Adelia Monteforte (Addie) flees fascist Italy for America, where she is whisked away to the shore by her well-meaning aunt and uncle. Europe appears to be on the verge of war but that seemed so far away from the peace and safety of the United States. Here, she meets and falls for Charlie Connally, the eldest of the four Irish-Catholic boys next door. But all hopes for a future together are soon throttled by the outbreak of war and another tragedy that hits much closer to home.
As Charlie secretly enlists in the US military, grief-stricken Addie flees—first to Washington and a job with a newspaper and then to war-torn London—and a position at that prestigious newspaper, as well as a chance to redeem lost time, lost family…and lost love. In London Addie runs into Charlie and they spend time together and he proposes and wants to get married before he has to ship out. But Addie goes home to get ready; her train gets delayed on the way back; and Charlie had already departed by the time she gets there. They become the stereotypical star-crossed lovers as their story continues. The past continues to nip at her heels, demanding to be reckoned with. And in a final, fateful choice, Addie discovers that the way home may be a path she never suspected. Now I'll have to wait to see what this author comes out with next!
August 10, 2025
I loved the story and the settings of this beautifully written historical novel. The nostalgia of Chelsea Beach was enchanting. The romantic relationships, however, were somewhat distracting….and a bit hard to believe. It is worth the read though, if for no other reason than to gain insight into the human struggles of love and life challenges.
February 18, 2019
Good story, thank you Jenny B for letting your Sis borrow your book!
February 11, 2018
Hated this book. I was totally invested, even though Addie annoyed me with her running off and avoiding dealing with her life. Where the author dropped the ball was how Addie's relationship ended with Charlie. After all they had been through... Charlie gets engaged to a nurse that he has known for a few weeks because he couldn't imagine why Addie didn't show up to their last second wedding. That is how easily he gives up on her... after a year of him saying she was the only one for him, their finding their way back to each other after a deceit that kept them apart, which was never explained or dealt with. And that is how it ends???? And the fact that she says nothing to him, no anger or tears... all of a sudden she realizes that they were never meant to be? The man she called out to in her unconscious state after being injured??? And then a week later she gets with his brother, and realizes he is the one she truly has loved this whole time???? The whole scenerio would have been more believable if Addie had had a REAL reaction to Charlie's betrayal... if more TIME had passed between her and Charlie's break up and her getting with his brother. There were just too many stupid twists and reveals that made no sense, not with what we were given through more then half of the book. Waste of my time. Felt truly betrayed by the author. So disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
October 29, 2018
This book is set in the U.S. and England during WWII, which is always an interesting to period to read. Beginning in the U.S., we meet our series of characters, mainly centered around Adelia Monteforte, who is an immigrant from Italy living here in the U.S. with her aunt and uncle. She quickly becomes friends with a family of boys who live nearby and spend their summers at the beach, as do her aunt and uncle.
Although the book spans two continents and several countries, the main conflict is between Adelia and the brothers from this neighborhood. Their lives all go in very diverse (but somewhat predictable) directions as the U.S. enters WWII and needs more young people to fuel our fight against global fascism.
Overall, I liked this book, but was frustrated by the ending. The beginning of the novel is so wrapped up in developing Adelia's relationship with the neighbor boys, that you feel very close to all of them. Once the main conflict brought on by war takes place, it's easy to predict where things are headed for the boys in the family; however, the romance and tension that has been built across the first 2/3 of the novel doesn't quite deliver in the last 1/3. As invested as I was in Adelia and the neighbors, I was frustrated by the way it all wrapped up and I'm not sure I can overlook that in my final review of the book as a whole.
Although the book spans two continents and several countries, the main conflict is between Adelia and the brothers from this neighborhood. Their lives all go in very diverse (but somewhat predictable) directions as the U.S. enters WWII and needs more young people to fuel our fight against global fascism.
Overall, I liked this book, but was frustrated by the ending. The beginning of the novel is so wrapped up in developing Adelia's relationship with the neighbor boys, that you feel very close to all of them. Once the main conflict brought on by war takes place, it's easy to predict where things are headed for the boys in the family; however, the romance and tension that has been built across the first 2/3 of the novel doesn't quite deliver in the last 1/3. As invested as I was in Adelia and the neighbors, I was frustrated by the way it all wrapped up and I'm not sure I can overlook that in my final review of the book as a whole.
November 14, 2016
I love a good historical fiction novel and this one did not disappoint. 4.5 Stars
Starting out in the summer of 1941, during WWII, I was quickly swept up in the story of Adelia "Addie" as she traveled alone, young and scared, from her home in Italy to America to live with her Aunt and Uncle. Through her meeting and falling in love with the family next door and their oldest son, to one tragedy and heartbreak after heartbreak, back across the ocean right in the middle of the war and then back to America again, this book tugged at my heart all the way. Great characters. This was the first book by Pam Jenoff I've read. Can't wait to find another.
Starting out in the summer of 1941, during WWII, I was quickly swept up in the story of Adelia "Addie" as she traveled alone, young and scared, from her home in Italy to America to live with her Aunt and Uncle. Through her meeting and falling in love with the family next door and their oldest son, to one tragedy and heartbreak after heartbreak, back across the ocean right in the middle of the war and then back to America again, this book tugged at my heart all the way. Great characters. This was the first book by Pam Jenoff I've read. Can't wait to find another.
May 21, 2015
I received an ARC of THE LAST SUMMER AT CHELSEA BEACH and quickly devoured it. Pam Jenoff has an incredible ability to bring together lush love stories within the desolation and devastation of war. Her characters are rich and authentic, and the setting and history so lifelike I felt I was living in the midst of World War II through the pages of the book. Can't wait to go back and read more of Pam's work (and see what she comes up with next)!
July 30, 2015
I absolutely loved THE LAST SUMMER AT CHELSEA BEACH.
It's the story of Adelia Montforte, who is forced by her mother to flee fascist Italy for America. Once there, she lives with her aunt and uncle, and meets the Connally family, who will have a lasting impact on her life.
Set against the backdrop of WWII, THE LAST SUMMER AT CHELSEA BEACH is a story of bravery and romance, family and friendship. If you like historical fiction or romance, you will absolutely love this book.
It's the story of Adelia Montforte, who is forced by her mother to flee fascist Italy for America. Once there, she lives with her aunt and uncle, and meets the Connally family, who will have a lasting impact on her life.
Set against the backdrop of WWII, THE LAST SUMMER AT CHELSEA BEACH is a story of bravery and romance, family and friendship. If you like historical fiction or romance, you will absolutely love this book.
May 12, 2025
Meeehhh. It was okay until the last 20% or so. I was not a fan overall, but I do appreciate Jenoff’s writing style and am definitely fine with reading more of her books. It was the love square - not even a triangle - and also the timing… I know that in wartime, a year feels a lot longer than it does in peacetime. But the majority of the book covered like two years during the height of WWII and yet it was written like that was 12 years instead of two. That did bother me also.
July 8, 2024
I love WW11 historical novels but this novel and Addie’s ability to run from every problem ( weddings) death, but run to orphans in war torn Europe was so unbelievably frustrating and not believable. just ended up being a give me a break. Sorry did not really enjoy this arduous book
September 18, 2017
Loved this book!!
March 17, 2021
A better ending would have earned it 5 stars but a good book just the same.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 589 reviews