Rating: 
Summary: Read Weight of Water--it ties in with this book
Review: I think that this book is much better if you read Weight of Water immediately after finishing this one. They are related and add to each other. I wasn't happy with this book's ending but then I went on to read Shreve's Weight of Water and it made me feel differently about this one. Try it.
Rating: 
Summary: I felt ripped off!!!
Review: It is hard to discuss the reasons why I felt betrayed by this book without giving away too much, but suffice it to say that the ending of this book left me with a feeling of "Why did I bother?" In addition to the let down I felt at the end, I found that Shreve described every detail ad nauseum. I felt the need to break out the thesaurus on more than one occasion just to make sure I really knew what she was driving at.
I haven't read Weight of Water, so I did not know Thomas going into this book. Maybe if I had, I would have felt more connected, but in the end, I really felt as though the whole novel was a waste of time; a waste of my time, a waste of Shreve's time and especially a waste of time and energy on behalf of these characters.
In my opinion: Not one of Shreve's best.
Rating: 
Summary: Breathtaking imagery matching a shocking ending
Review: I bought this and The Pilot's Wife at the same time. Read The Pilot's Wife first and hated it so was almost reluctant to get into The Last Time They Met. Yes, it's a little heavy-going at first, but oh! the character development, Thomas and Linda's obsession. I had to read the final page three times to really comprehend what had happened. And then immediately returned to the beginning to look for clues. They were there, they were so subtle it's little wonder they were missed; they are meant to be missed on the first read.Read this book, experience it. Do not peek ahead to the end - you'll ruin it for yourself if you do.
Rating: 
Summary: possible explanation
Review: I also loved this book - for many of the same reasons already expressed by others. I am still trying to justify the end, however. I know that I need to re-read this and The Weight of Water for more clues - but - what if this book is really about Thomas' struggle not only with what might have been, but also with his own mental illness? It seems plausible to me that he is slowly going mad, from that crucial moment that for us occurs on the last page on. There surely are hints of that in The Weight of Water, and his demise in the end of this book fits this picture. Perhaps the events that we are led to believe occurred later in time are a product of his psychosis, from which he briefly breaks away both during his marriage to Regina in respose to her pregnancy, and then to Jean, but which slowly and fatally consumes him following Billie's death.
Rating:
Summary: Heart renching ending
Review: Most books that start in present time and go backwards usually start with a big event and then preceeds to show how events unfolded to get there. This book actually reveals bigger events the further along you go into the past of the two main characters. You learn more about the characters the more you travel through there past. Also most times it's easy to figure out the big event that's expected at the end of a book but this book draws you to an unexpected and huge surprise.
Rating:
Summary: ug!
Review: I'm sorry. I wish I could get my money back on this book. It was far too depressing, so had to toss it in the garbage after halfway through the catterwolling and moaning! What a waste, and the author obviously detests fat people and old people. save your money
Rating: 
Summary: Run That By Me Again
Review: Having read a few of Shreve's earlier works I expected more from this book. I was disappointed in "Fortune's Rock" but really disliked the ending of this book. Since this was suppose to be a continuation of an earlier book the ending made me feel like I wasted my time twice. I had to re-read the end three or four times because I didn't think my understanding of it was correct. It made a mockery of the intensity and complexity of thier love story and was insulting to the reader. I just picked up "Sea Glass". If Ms. Shreve doesn't redeem herself here I won't be reading anymore of her books.
Rating:
Summary: I loved/hated this book...
Review: A beautiful story idea, I will admit. The writing, although slow at times, was not dull or boring to me. The ending, definitely a surprise. What I hated about the book was simply the fact that the surprise ending made the entire love story meaningless. I love the idea of two people so connected, they can't help but cross paths. But the ending as is turns the story from a romantic tale to the fantasy of an guilt-stricken alcoholic. Had the ending been different (I was expecting it to return to the future and drawing some sort of meaningful conclusion) I would have loved it through and through, but as is, I remain disappointed.
Rating:
Summary: One of the most memorable books I've read
Review: This is the first book I've read by Shreve, and certainly won't be the last. Her writing is like poetry -- every page a descriptive melding of action and emotion. She is wonderful at pinpointing the human psyche and explaining why we do the things we do. This book would be excellent for a book club, as it lends itself nicely to long, philosophical discussions.
Rating:
Summary: 5 stars for the ending alone!
Review: In reading the reviews, I became aware that I could expect a shocking ending, but nothing can prepare you for what Anita Shreve dishes out. At first the book was kind of hard to read, as this work is so well written, but once into the work, it's a joy-ride. Nothing exciting (until the end), just a nice stroll the history of a star-crossed couple. And to top that off, it's backwards! Starting with the last time they meet and going back to the first. However, the ending was so shocking I had to do a double-take and read the very last page again, to make sure I read right. It's so hard to imagine that I'm sure I'll find myself reading it again one day to catch the clues that I'd missed. A fabulous book!
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