Last One Home: A Novel
By: Debbie Macomber
Rating: 5 of 5
“Last One Home” is a stand-alone novel by Debbie Macomber. Most of the books I have read by Ms. Macomber are parts of long-standing series, so it was a treat to read this book.
The story is about three sisters, though the story focuses mostly on Cassie. Cassie is the rebellious one. She ran away from home thirteen years before – abandoning her family to make a new life with her boyfriend and the baby they are expecting. Life turns rough – really rough for her and her daughter and she is trying desperately to find her way home again.
Karen is the older sister, who seems to have life completely under control. She and her youngest sister, Nicole, have pretty much written Cassie out of the picture. When Cassie tried to get into contact with them once again, things begin to happen that no one expects.
The story weaves in so much about this family. By the end of the book, you feel you know each of the main characters quite well. The book is set in the Seattle, WA area; so it is the very familiar Northwest Ms. Macomber specializes in.
There are very serious issues dealt with in the book from physical and emotion abuse to infidelity to grief at difficult losses – both of individuals and of ways of life. Each of the characters has a series of situations which they learn to cope with as they try to find their way back to the threesome they once were.
Cassie stands out in the story as someone who has had to learn to live with the consequences of her actions and to find the strength to come back from a living nightmare. The relationship between she and her daughter is funny, loving, and a joy to read. It is nice to read about a mother who has rules and enforces them so that her daughter can grow up with a firm backing to support her in life.
I enjoyed the book as much as any book by Ms. Macomber, which is to say, I really enjoyed the book. I recommend it to anyone who wants a good solid slice of life book. The issues dealt with are fairly mature but I would think anyone 13 or over could enjoy the book but you may want to be ready to talk about some of the issues with younger readers.
I received a complimentary copy of this book via the publisher.
“Last One Home” is a stand-alone novel by Debbie Macomber. Most of the books I have read by Ms. Macomber are parts of long-standing series, so it was a treat to read this book.