Tony, a film student in 1970s California, learns love isn’t simple—and desire is rarely straightforward. First seduced by his roommate’s fiancée, the captivating Isabel, and then by her impossibly handsome fiancé, Grant, Tony must confront not only the tangled emotions of those around him, but also his own sexual identity and the life he truly wants to lead.
What begins as playful exploration quickly exposes jealousy, repressed desire, and hidden truths at the heart of Isabel and Grant’s relationship. Over the semester, Tony’s secret affairs build toward a tense and unforgettable climax: a Valentine’s Day wedding that threatens to unravel the web of love, lust, and betrayal he has been navigating. The Last Californians is a daring, intimate exploration of desire, identity, and the complicated truths of the human heart.
Praise for The Last Californians
“The Last Californians by Lee Patton is a poignant and deeply introspective novel that explores themes of identity, love, loss, and the search for belonging. Set against the backdrop of 1970s California, the story follows Tony O’Flaherty, a young film student grappling with his sexuality, the complexities of relationships, and the shifting cultural landscape of his home state. Patton’s use of humor is subtle yet effective, often emerging through Tony’s sarcastic inner monologue and his interactions with other characters. This humor provides levity to the heavier themes of identity, loss, and self-discovery, making the story more accessible and relatable. Patton also employs vivid imagery and symbolism to enhance the emotional depth of the novel. The California landscape, with its sprawling suburbs, smoggy boulevards, and fading orchards, serves as a metaphor for the characters’ internal struggles and loss of innocence. The author’s ability to juxtapose the beauty of nature with the artificiality of modern life creates a striking contrast that mirrors Tony’s own journey of reconciling his past with his present. Dialogue is another strength of Patton’s writing. The conversations between characters are sharp, often tinged with humor, and reveal their personalities, insecurities, and desires. The author’s use of flashbacks and introspection adds layers to the narrative, allowing readers to delve into Tony’s psyche and understand the weight of his choices. Overall, Patton’s writing style is engaging and multifaceted, blending humor, vivid descriptions, and emotional resonance to craft a story that is both entertaining and deeply moving.”
—Larry Bograd, author of Blood Flow
“In this poignant and funny novel, naive film student Tony O’Flaherty finds himself on a ‘semester long misadventure’ with his roommate’s fiancée––as well as roommate––in early ’70s California. I loved following Tony from his grandfather’s orchard to a collegiate suburb where everything was ‘playfully devouring the very end of nature.’ Lee Patton’s crisp, vivid prose captures Tony’s journey to an evolving vision of himself as ‘gay, faithless, and iconoclastic.’”
—Sharon White, author of If the Owl Calls
