"The Last Patient" is a story of family dynamics and relationships with love, loss, and the likes featuring a surgeon and his family in communist Romania. It also explores why some people decide to leave their country, despite their deep attachment and devotion to it. The characters were well-developed, with admirable qualities along with some flaws, that made them feel real and human. I think the narrative was very realistic and honest, and depicted the struggles of the characters as well as their strength during this regime, all while going about their day-to-day lives and experiencing the joys, sorrows, and difficult decisions that come with it.

Kostea is a surgeon, and even in post WWII communist Romania, that amounts to something. He and his wife Clara are forced to maneuvre an oppressive regime - Bucharest’s rampant food & housing shortages, Romania’s Cold War and all its political upheavals, all while building a family, raising children and their careers.

I found Kostea’s character interesting but flawed & insufferable at times – the patriarch of the family; he angered me. Clara was lovable, but even she struggles with Kostea at times. This is like another version of Pachinko, a historical family saga but with a stronger emphasis on the regime & politics than familial relations; and a larger extended family. I felt sad reading this throughout. For some reason, I found I couldn’t connect with the characters in the book.

This is a historical fiction that’s equal parts painful, insufferable & endearing.

I’d give this 3/5.

My thanks to Victory Editing NetGalley Co-op for the e-book.

Wonderful historical novel set in Romania during Communist times. Kostea and his friends and family navigate through difficult times trying to adapt to the new rules. Is defection the way out?

Though immensely interesting as to living conditions in Romania behind the Iron Curtain, this novel focuses on family relationships. This overwhelmed the storyline because of Kostea's powerful personality. I really disliked this egocentric, selfish and know-it-all man! His behaviour was totally unacceptable and it greatly saddened and angered me to see all the damage he caused his family in the name of love. I found it interesting to read about the social conditions (though Kostea's family had money, so it probably didn't reflect the general population). I never knew about bribery being the expected currency (what happened if you didn't have money and needed medical care?). I particularly enjoyed the descriptions of the Romanian countryside. It did sound lovely. A good novel about family dynamics.
I received a digital copy of this novel from NetGalley and I have voluntarily written an honest review.