The Rundown
While out grocery shopping with his wife in Whole Foods, a middle-aged, male, Floridian spots a young look-alike of his high school sweetheart. He is unable to sleep that evening and recalls the summer before his senior year, where he first fell in love with B. Their whirlwind romance took place in the1980s on Long Island, a suburb of New York City.
The main character’s name is never mentioned. The story is written in first person and B just calls him ‘Mister’.
High school senior, ‘Mister’, is drawn to pretty blonde classmate, B, one day, as he watches her smelling fruit in a grocery store. He’s seen her at his private prep school, but they don’t really know each other well. He decides to speak to her while in the grocery store, and to his surprise, she asks him if he’d like to play tennis with her. Right then. He says yes, she wins the game and he has to treat her to pizza since the loser has to pay for a meal.
Their unexpected friendship blossoms. He is totally into her, but is B into him? His best friends, Hannah and Jean Paul, twins, are shocked and a bit uneasy about B at first, but soon they are all hanging out at his pool, going to Friendly’s for ice cream, and heading out to the beach during the summer between junior and senior year.
‘Mister’ is surprised when he runs into B, and she is hanging out with Mary, a rich, snooty drug user. The problem is, Mary’s brother, Kyle, used to date B. Kyle doesn’t seem to be over B and can’t believe she is dating a ‘Spic’ or Hispanic, like ‘Mister’. Kyle has it out for him now. Will ‘Mister’ have to confront Kyle? Will B confront him or just push Kyles consistenf flirting under the rug? Will this young first love survive or will it be doomed because of Kyle and his past romance with B?
The story is written in a strong voice that exudes wit and playfulness, in keeping with a seventeen-year-old narrator that is coming of age and experiencing his first love.
The Recommendation
LAST EXIT TO MONTAUK delivers a roller-coaster of a ride with some surprises. A Romantic-Comedy with some touching, heart-felt, thought-provoking and heart-breaking, yet relatable, moments.
The story is extremely well-written, full of humor, heart, and a vulnerability that pulls the reader in from the very first page. Words that describe the story would be: Poignant. Deep. Moving. Heart-felt. Funny. Universal.
Fans of John Green, Nick Hornby and romantic coming of age stories, will enjoy this look at the joys and pitfalls of first love.
