The Last First Day

“Quietly powerful. . . . Exquisitely written. . . . There is lucidity and depth in each observed or remembered moment of their lives, giving an overall view of a beautiful landscape seen through clear water, a scene of truth and transformation.”—The Washington Post

“Beautifully written, with deeply memorable characters, The Last First Day is a powerful examination of love across the years and a heartfelt story of the strength of unbreakable bonds.” —Booklist
 
“Brown has accomplished one of literature’s most difficult feats—to write compellingly, and convincingly, about human happiness. The Last First Day is marvelous.” —Ron Rash, author of The Cove
 
“Brown’s writing . . . conveys intense events and emotions with a deceivingly gentle touch.” —USA Today

“[A] difficult but incisive exploration of what it means—and what it takes—to be a woman of a certain age.” —The Huffington Post

“In a beautifully composed novel, Carrie Brown reminds us of the concessions made for love, of hope and fear shared and endured alone, of joy and sorrow as the undercurrents of life. This is an intimate novel to be relished and remembered.” —Yiyun Li, author of Gold Boy, Emerald Girl

“[Brown] is a novelist who understands that the forest is in the leaf.” —The Christian Science Monitor

“Quiet, understated, and restrained, not without slow moments, but also peppered with beautiful ones. . . . It is a treat to delve into the layers present in this novel, and get to know its multifaceted protagonist at a depth few books ever achieve.” —Bustle.com

“A beautiful piece of writing: bittersweet with nostalgia, surprisingly sensual and sharply nuanced in its depiction of the strains and rewards that shape any long marriage. . . . A restrained yet emotionally powerful portrait of enduring love.” —Kirkus Reviews