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?
 
Praise for Virtually Perfect
 
“Newcomer Paige Roberts serves up a fresh take on reinvention and acceptance. Light and satisfying, Virtually Perfect is the perfect weekend read!”
—Amy Sue Nathan, author of Left to Chance
 
“Entertaining and incisive . . . Readers are treated to ample helpings of snappy dialogue and vivid characters.”
— Publishers Weekly
 
“Roberts’s spot-on debut novel delves into the virtually perfect façade of an internally imperfect family. The author also eloquently splashes in a dash of humor.”
—Library Journal

Genres: Fiction

306 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 25, 2018

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.

Reviews

[Sunflowerbooklover · Rating 2 out of 5]

Whomp whomp..... this definitely was not worth my reading time.

Of course.. what initially intrigued me to this novel was that white picket fence. I've always been a huge fan of horror.. and was totally playing out a horror flick with this cover. Sadly... my horror flick was not brought to life in this novel.

I was waiting and waiting for something... anything frankly to happen in this novel! Yikes... talk about waiting for a decade. This book detailed every moment of the Kravitz family... which wasn't the author's best play by play. If I have to hear about Amy's unpacking and freelance work one more time I think I was going to vomit. I felt like I was watching the Truman Show.... us being detailed on every single aspect of this family's life (in reality..... this family was super boring and dull)... YIKES.

I should probably have DNFe'd this book but I was hoping and praying that it would pick up and have some spice!

2 stars

Thank you to Netgalley and Kensington Publishing for the opportunity to read this in exchange for my honest thoughts.

Publication date: 9/25/18
Published to GR: 9/3/18

[Kim · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5 stars

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed Paige Roberts' previous novel, Virtually Perfect, so I was excited to see that she had a new one available. Her sophomore novel is equally, if not more, impressive.

The story was engaging the entire time and always kept my interest. Amy was easily relatable and felt her stress about making friends for both herself and her son. I also would have lost my cool during the same moments she did when her son was being difficult. I cringed during the awkward moments because I could see myself doing the same things sometimes.

The only part that didn't work so well for me was the scene at the urgent care center. It seemed so bizarre and over the top with how unsanitary it was and how unprofessionally the staff acted. I get why it was in the story to begin with, but it felt exaggerated.

I was initially under the impression it was going to be a thriller, but it was more of a domestic drama, akin to Desperate Housewives. There was maybe one part that was scary, but not enough to deter readers who don't like thrillers. The main theme I got out of the novel was friendship. I liked that angle of the story, showing how far some women will go to hold on to a connection with a new friend, even in a potentially toxic situation. I recommended it to the women at Girlfriend Circles, as we're encouraged to share novels about female friendship that we enjoyed. I'll also recommend it right here!

Interesting personal connection: At one point, Amy goes to Rhode Island to visit her family and mentions Autocrat coffee syrup and making coffee milk. A month earlier, some friends from RI bought us a bottle of Autocrat, as it can only be found there. My husband and kids enjoy having coffee milk now. I just found that mention to be funny because of the timing.

With Paige's use of genuine dialogue and characters and locations that are easy to visualize, I am already looking forward to her next novel. She has a strong talent for writing, and it shows!

Movie casting suggestions:
Amy: Amber Tamblyn
Grace: Meghan Ory
Rob: Jason Segel
Julian: Jack Huston
Emily: April Bowlby
Jess: Ari Graynor

[Quirkybookwormkat · Rating 3 out of 5]

I honestly thought from reading synopsis that this would be a thriller. I just assumed which I shouldn't have. When I looked closely at the cover and read the synopsis again after finishing the book today, I was wrong. It was more of a suspense and a literary novel.

This book was well written. I was able to get into it easily. There were some parts which were funny I chuckled. I was able to relate to the main character, Amy, even though I wanted to strangle her at times.
To my irritation, the author chose to use the political correctness words or phrases how drug abuse is a disease. I wanted to scream, it's NOT a disease. When will people understand the word? Before any of you jump all over my case, I DO understand, have seen some of my friends and family suffer from different types of drug and alcohol abuse. So, don't lecture me.

This is is the book of new friends who are learning about each other and discovering secrets and how they're handling it until Amy fully realizes what is going on with her new friend and the family and how Amy chose to handle the whole thing at the end. The is the tapestry of trust, understanding, friendship, love, family, self realization, forgiveness, and moving on with grace.

I'd give it a 3 3/4 stars. I wouldn't mind reading her other books.

I received this ARC from Kensington Publishing Corporation through Net Galley in an exchange for my unbiased and honest review. Thank you.

[Dawnny · Rating 4 out of 5]

Amy and Robert are house hunting. They buy a house and meet Grace and Julian. They have boys around the same age and Amy and Grace become friends as the boys have play dates. Amy thinks that Grace lives the perfect life until mail keeps arriving for Grace and Julian with final notice written all over them. This is story of friendships,family and family secrets that rip things apart. I liked that it covered the issue of Opioid dependency. The characters were likeable and feelable. It held my attention but somewhat just boring.
I was given a copy of this from NetGalley for my honest review.
Dawn Ruby-BookGypsy
Novels N Latte Book Blog

[Kristine · Rating 2 out of 5]

Original review can be found at https://kristineandterri.blogspot.com...

** 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.

[Kathleen Gray · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a low key tale of two women who become friends when one- Amy-buys the other's -Grace- house. Roberts has woven domestic drama with kids and the ongoing opioid crisis into a story where there's always menace lurking but it never goes over the top. Amy learns early on that Grace's husband Julian has an addiction problem. Sadly, Amy's brother Tim is also an addict. Grace and Amy become quite close largely because their sons Ethan and Noah are also friends. Something is not quite right, however, in Grace's world and things eventually come to a head. Roberts could have gone big with this plot but she didn't because this is a story of ordinary people both denying and dealing with a huge problem. That's a good thing. Thanks to Netgalley for the ARC. This is a well written story of what's underneath some of those smiles in the pick up line.

[Sally Coles · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Amy and Rob are looking to move out into the suburbs to bring up their young son they think they have found the perfect house in Sycamore Street and they soon make friends with the couple that are selling the house who also gave a young son of the same age. Everything is going perfectly at first but then they start to realise that everything it's not as it seems!

A good story with interesting characters but I did feel that it was slightly missing something, maybe I was expecting more suspense which just didn't happen, but I still enjoyed reading it.

[Melanie McGrade Davidson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I was intrigued with the summary and description of The Last House on Sycamore Street and though I was captivated, it was with a slight sense of unsettled frustration. I kept waiting for a big shocking scene or a breakthrough that would bring me to the edge of my seat. But it was a good book and I did enjoy reading it. It flowed easily, the characters were relatable, and the plot and story were interesting, to say the least. Very engaging read!

[Pgchuis · Rating 2 out of 5]

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This was an odd read - I'm not sure exactly what genre it qualifies as. For most of the novel nothing happens at all. Amy and Rob buy a house and move in with their son Noah. Amy unpacks, Amy does freelance work, Rob's parents babysit so they can go out for dinner, Noah starts preschool. Noah has a fever - it is 99.9F in the evening and 100.1F in the morning. Amy passes on mail the previous owners have failed to get redirected. It was like reading the journal of some one living a normal life - very dull to an outsider.

Then the plot appears to thicken as the mail Amy receives for the previous owners reveals they are in financial difficulties, but even this drags for ever without anything coming of it. Amy accidentally opens one of these letters and agonizes about what to do about her knowledge of the contents.

Towards the end things do come to something of a head, but even then it is all smoothed over and it seems as if everything will work out in the long run. Not a terrible read (although the writing is unsophisticated), just very dull.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book in exchange for an honest review. You can get your copy here: https://www.amazon.com/Last-House-Syc...
WOAH BABY! I have been reading books by Kensington Publishing for a LOOONG time, but most of the books that I read are romance by them. This is Kensington Publishing’s 46th year in publishing! This book was not the typical book by them. This was straight up fiction with a little twist.
Amy and Rob have been searching for a house in Philadelphia for three months. They have been searching for a house from Washington, D.C. remotely and making weekend trips up to find the house of their dreams. I have moved a few hours away, so I remember drooling over the houses online and then you see them up close and you are like-damn that was a great photographer to capture all the good parts and then you see the backyard is all front yard. The walk-in closet that you loved is balanced out by a kitchen that barely one can fit into or that AMAZING kitchen is all the house had to offer. This house that they are looking at is complete with a cigarette smoke smell, slanted floors, rodents included, musty stinky bathroom and in need of a loving touch. Not quite what they are looking for with their son in tow. While they are looking and encounter said rodent, the agent mentions that there is a four bedroom, two and a half bathroom, brick colonial that is just being listed. The family has a son about their son’s age. The only thing it isn’t completely on the market yet. The address is 120 Sycamore. Normally, when you see a house, the owners are not home, but because Amy and Rob are there on a limited time, the real estate agent manages to get them a showing, but the family is home. They are introduced to the owner, Grace Durant. They get to the son’s room, who has his name ETHAN hung above his bed, in his space themed room. The house was everything that they were hoping for-it felt like HOME, immediately! The sellers were looking to settle as quickly as possible-a little odd since when they saw the home, it actually wasn’t fully on the market at the time. Noah is quite curious for a four-year-old. The two couples ended up sitting across from each other at the signing. Amy and Rob Kravitz and Grace and Julian Durant. They ended up realizing that Grace and Rob grew up around there and are about the same age. Their boys were also brought to the signing and end up playing together. Ethan and Noah end up watching Minions on Ethan’s iPad together. Noah doesn’t normally socialize with other kids. They end up talking Preschools and Amy mentions that they are looking for a place to send Noah. Interesting when new homeowners and old homeowners end up as friends. Doesn’t seem like a bad thing since they have kids the same age. Things start to get a little awkward when Amy and Rob start receiving PAST DUE notices for the Durants. They come off as such well-polished people, why would they receive PAST DUE notices? This is a great question that we soon find out about as the book and mystery unfolds. This was so well written and had me wanting more!

[Claire, The Slow Reader · Rating 3 out of 5]

Diving into "The Last House on Sycamore Street" by Paige Roberts was like settling into a cozy chair with a cup of tea, not quite knowing the emotional journey I was about to embark on. This book, with its layers of mystery, human emotion, and a vivid sense of place, captured my heart and imagination in equal measure. Paige Roberts masterfully crafts a narrative that is as deeply touching as it is intriguing. The story revolves around the lives of the residents of Sycamore Street, focusing on themes of family, secrets, and the search for belonging. From the outset, I was drawn into the intimate world of the characters, each with their own struggles and secrets that felt so real, I found myself thinking about them long after I had put the book down. The book becomes a character in its own right, a silent witness to the lives of its inhabitants. Roberts' ability to weave the past and present together, revealing secrets and truths layer by layer, was nothing short of mesmerizing. There were moments of suspense that had me on the edge of my seat, eagerly flipping pages to uncover the hidden mysteries of the house and its residents. What I particularly loved about this book was its exploration of the complexities of human relationships. Roberts has a gift for portraying the nuances of friendship, love, and rivalry, making each interaction between characters rich with meaning and emotion. I found myself deeply invested in the fate of each character, cheering for their successes and feeling their losses as if they were my own. It's a book that invites reflection on the nature of home, community, and what it means to truly know someone. Paige Roberts has delivered a story that is both engaging and thought-provoking, making it a perfect read for those who love their mysteries with a hearty dose of heart and soul. Trust me, by the time you turn the last page, you'll be looking at your own neighbors with new eyes.

[Debi Stout · Rating 3 out of 5]

I fell in love with the cover of this book when I saw it available for review on NetGalley, so I immediately requested the opportunity to review it. Once I had requested it, then it occurred to me to read the synopsis of the book.  Thankfully, when I read the synopsis, I realized that I did want to read the book after all.

Here's the story:

Amy and Robert are house hunting when they meet Grace and Julian and buy their house.  Amy and Rob move in with their son Noah. Both couples have boys around the same age, which causes Amy and Grace to become friends as the boys have play dates together. 

At first, Amy thinks that Grace lives the perfect life until mail keeps arriving addressed to Julian and Grace with final notice written all over them. Amy accidentally opens one of the letters and worries herself about what to do with her knowledge of the contents.  The mail situation together with Julian's odd behavior helps Amy come to the realization that Julian has an addiction problem. Sadly, Amy's brother Tim is also an addict. 

I'll be honest - I kept waiting for something more to happen in this story line, but it really never did. It seemed like this book would be a tension-filled thriller, it never got there. I really wish there would have been more, more drama going on and more character development to help achieve a bigger story line.  

I was provided with a complimentary electronic advanced reader copy through Net Galley in exchange for my post.  I was not required to post a positive review. Thank you!

[Jenny Pierson · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last House on Sycamore Street by Paige Roberts is a story of friendship and motherhood with some added suspense. Amy and Grace meet when Amy and her husband purchase Grace and Julian’s home. Amy and Grace develop a friendship that starts with their children connecting with each other. Amy admires Grace’s style and looks up to her, however, it becomes clear early on that things with Grace are not exactly what they seem. Julian, Grace’s husband, exhibits odd behavior and past due notices keep showing up in the mail for Julian and Grace. I found Amy to be an annoying character with her insecurity and Grace was difficult to connect with as well because details about her were not forthcoming. The pace of the book picked up a bit at the end, however this is a book that I kept waiting for something more to happen but it really never did. I do believe an important subject was touched upon with the opioid epidemic being a subject that is brought up in this book. I just wish there would have been more, more drama, more character development, more of a storyline. Thanks to Netgalley for an ARC.

[Angela · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Last House on Sycamore Street frames up a slice of life as a suburban mom. You’ve got the preschool /playdate social stratosphere, the how-much-should-i-work dilemma, and the keeping up with the Joneses drama. Except the Joneses are the former owners of the last house on Sycamore Street.

I liked this book – I could identify with the mom and her struggle to work but not work too much. I LOVED that she and her husband had a great marriage – something not every contemporary novel ensures. And the kids were cute – their smarts, their antics, and their occasional obnoxiousness.

But the former homeowners. Whew. What a piece of work those two are. And there’s the rub. I thought with a nutty couple like that, there would be bound to be a plot twist or a psychological thriller element. No such luck, and so I was a bit disappointed. (But to be fair, it was an expectation I came up with from thin air!) So… not a very climactic story, but a contemporary look at life in the suburbs from a people-pleasing mom’s perspective.
https://randombookmuses.com/2018/10/2...

[Jessica]

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.

The Last House on Sycamore Street fell a little flat for me. I was expecting more of a thriller after reading the synopsis. I couldn't relate to Amy at all and I think that's why I couldn't get into the story as much as I wanted. This was my first book from Paige Roberts but I would definitely give her other books a try.

*I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for my honest review.

[Big Time Book Junkie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was kind of a letdown because I'd read the synopsis and it sounded so very good. That's why I requested an ARC. The Last House on Sycamore Street did have a nice, easy flow to it and I enjoyed most of the characters, but while it seemed like this book was going to be tension filled and a fun thriller, it never quite got there.

I'm not sure that I've read anything by Paige Roberts before, but I'd certainly be open to more of her work in the future. There was nothing negative or bad about this book. The writing was good, the author is obviously talented and knows what she's doing. I related to the characters and felt the plot was a good one. Maybe I was just expecting more and that's why I'm a little disappointed.

I struggled with a rating and feel like it's about a 3.5 for me, rounded to 4. Thank you to the publishers, author and Netgalley for an ARC.

[Patty Nobles · Rating 5 out of 5]

The newest novel by Paige Roberts, “The Last House on Sycamore Street,” is a well written suspense novel that discusses a growing epidemic in our country. Amy is a stay at home mom who with her husband Rob have finally found their dream home in which they can raise their young son. Amy befriends the former owner of the house Grace because their sons have found a special kinship, but Amy soon finds out that there is a dark secret lurking in their past that quickly puts her own family’s life in jeopardy. Ms. Roberts explores how destructive it is to love someone who has an addiction problem and she does it in a way that she has put real human emotions into a devastating subject. I was given an advanced copy of this book, and all of the opinions expressed in this review are my own.

[Frannie Burd · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the ARC.
This was my first book by Paige Roberts, and she definitely has a way of drawing you in. Great writing that's easy and enjoyable to read. That said, the subject matter of this book really wasn't my cup of tea. It's basically an insider's view of what can happen to a family as a result of opioid addiction. I was expecting a twist that never happened, which left me feeling a bit let down. The author was very careful to weave in the politically correct opinion that addiction is a disease, which tends to annoy me to no end. When all is said and done, while this was not my favorite due to the subject matter, I can see many people being able to relate and find it interesting or helpful.

[Beth Hunsberger · Rating 3 out of 5]

I received an advanced copy of this book.

Amy and Rob move from the city and find the perfect house with very eager sellers, Grace & Julian. While their eagerness was a little odd, the move happened and Amy & Rob began to get settled in. Some strange things happened though, such as receiving Julian's mail and several overdue bills. It became obvious that there were several secrets and odd things happening and Amy and Rob were starting to feel a little on edge.
The story has a sense of urgency and suspense to it, but it never quite hit the level I expected it to get to. However, when I had a free day to devote to reading, this book did draw me in and was a good read.

[Fluff Smut & Murder · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps the description of this book makes it seem a little more suspenseful that it really is. Basically - nothing happens to/for/about/any prepositional phrase Amy until almost 70% into the book. Everything is about Grace and Amy is just passively living her life.. Then a few things actually happen that actively involve Amy and then its back to being passive again.

It had amazing potential but every time Noah yelled I just wanted to tell him to STFU...so I was telling a fictional four year old how to quiet down every other page.

Overall Grade: C+

[Ann · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book. I've been on such a cozy streak lately that it was nice to read something a little more involved and intriguing. I liked the characters and the way they interacted with their children. Amy and Rob are moving from DC to the Philadelphia area with their young son to be near Rob's family. They find the perfect neighborhood and home and start to get involved with the selling family. This story covers lots of areas including family loyalty, friendship and drug addiction with resulting aftermaths. I received a copy of this ARC in exchange for a fair and honest review.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

When Amy and her husband, Rob buy the last house on Sycamore Street, Amy is taken in by the couple selling it. Amy want to be like Grace and Julian Durant: they seem to have everything. At the signing of the escrow papers, Amy's son, Noah seems also enamored of the Durant's son, Ethan. Any sets up play dates but something seems just a bit off with the Durants. Still Amy wants to be friends with Grace and is determined that those things that seem a bit strange have a logical explanation. Will Amy be blindsided by the Durants?

[Vnunez-Ms_luv2read · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book could have been better. The storyline was a good one, characters were well developed, but it lacked something. Couple moves into house, get to know the previous owners who are something else THe wow factor that was lacking could have been wrapped around the previous owners. I thought this book would be a thriller, but to me it was not. OK read, holds your interest. Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for the ARC of this book in return for my honest review. Receiving the book this way had no bearing on my review.

[Kate Vale · Rating 4 out of 5]

Moving is a big deal, made bigger when seller and buyer keep running into each other at their children's school and the little boys' friendship.

What looks innocent at first soon becomes worrying when Amy Kravitz begins to suspect that all is not right with the sellers' family.

When drugs and missing money become entwined problems, Amy has to admit that her husband, Rob was right, but how can she divest herself?

What happens after the fundraiser bring everything too close to home, the home that was supposed to be so happy.

[Nicola “Shortbookthyme” · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGallery, the publisher and the author for the opportunity to read and review "The Last House on Sycamore Street." All opinions expressed are solely my own.
I really am at a loss with this book. I found it pretty disjointed and really just dragged on and on and on........had a hard time finishing it. I kept thinking it has to get better but, it didn't.

[Mary Christoff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved the complex relationships in this novel (Amy and Grace, Amy and her mother, etc) and read this book in a day. Paige Roberts crafts a novel that made me think about my own relationships and how I would handle the issues experienced by the characters in The Last House on Sycamore Street. I will definitely read more books by this author in the future.

[Bno · Rating 2 out of 5]

I'm enjoying this book but find myself so frustrated at the lack of sex = roommates comment. Sex is just one of many ways to connect in a relationship. It's not the only valid form of connection. There's also no one right way to have a relationship. Some people prefer lots of sex, others prefer less or none in a relationship. All is completely okay.

[Jolene · Rating 5 out of 5]

A realistic, engaging read! I loved this book. The writing style is fantastic, and the story is so real, it could be about anyone.

Excited to read more from Paige Roberts.

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC!

[Dar · Rating 1 out of 5]

Should of read the reviews on this one. If you want something to put you to sleep (or comatose) try reading this book. I gave up after about 50 pages because if by then my imagination hasn't been captured, well there are too many other books to move on to.