The Last Dreamer

The Last Dreamer: a novel by Barbara Solomon Josselsohn. Seattle:Lake Union, 2015. 259 pages. ****

In this debut novel, Iliana Page has it all, but after 15 years, she is questioning her suburban housewife life. She loves her husband and children, is active in her community, has supportive friends and always thought she would return to her journalism career. Has life passed her by, is she "old school" and her main purpose now is to support her husband in his quest to get a promotion? Iliana revisits an old crush when she looks up the heartthrob star of an old TV show on the Internet and discovers that he lives in New York. Is this the break that will get her byline back, TV star becomes successful businessman of a textile company? Through miscommunication and luck, Iliana scores an interview and discovers that he is as attractive and charming as she hoped. Iliana has to decide whether to risk her safe life in the suburbs or to follow her dreams.

Who hasn't Googled old boyfriends or been curious about people from the past? I found the story to be believable and understandable. Some woman who have a career that they love and give up to be a stay at home Mom probably expect to return to that career at some point. I know I did and was fortunate enough to be able to do so, I was really cheering Iliana on in pursuing her lead story. An enjoyable, entertaining read.

I received an Advance Reader's Copy from BookSparks for a review.

Barbara Solomon Josselsohn is a magazine writer specializing in articles and essays about home and family. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Consumers Digest, Parents, American Baby, was well as on numerous websites. She and her husband live in Westchester County, New York, and have three children and a lovable shih-poo. The Last Dreamer is her first novel.