They say you never forget your first love, and the romance recounted in LAST EXIT TO MONTAUK is one well worth remembering.
While shopping with his wife, the main character sees a girl who transports his memories back in time to his high school years in the 1980s and his high school love, B. Strolling down memory lane, the main character tells a story of his high school sweetheart while recollecting cassette tapes, boom boxes, Walkman, and 80s fashion. The story is filled with the main character’s nostalgia for the past. Although his love is strong, life is not always made of rainbows and fairy tales. Does a first love ever truly completely die?
This novel is a romantic, fun, exciting, emotionally intense read. All of the characters are keenly described with enough detail for readers to fall in love- or hate- instantly. As the couple begins to explore their growing love for each other, the author includes inner thoughts from our male hero; entertaining and eye-opening thoughts that explain what really goes through a seventeen-year-old boy’s head.
The main character is Latino and, as such, a few of the scenes between him and his mother use Spanish dialect. Despite the fact that these conversations seem true to heart, it may be difficult to understand a few of the discussions if the reader is not familiar with Spanish. Readers who would like to reminisce about their high school years and first loves will not be able to put this book down. It is an exceptional story of teenage passion, love, loss, heartache, healing, and growing up.
5-Star Review
Last Exit to Montauk by Phillip Vega is a mixture of coming-of-age and romance with a strong setting and memorable characters; it is the story that will remind readers of their first love and it is wonderfully told. With a newly bought car from his “Ma” and summer camp over, the seventeen-year-old Hispanic boy could have a lot of fun. Yes, he feels like he could conquer the world. Along the North Shore of Long Island, a dramatic encounter with B, a very popular girl in school, will set him on the romantic ride of a lifetime. Read on to discover the sensations, the turmoil that goes on in a young man’s heart when he first falls in love. But how long can this romance last?
The story is told in the first person narrative, in a language that beautifully captures the youthful spirit of the protagonist and a setting that is colorful and well-developed. Set in Long Island in the 1980s, the story is told in an absorbing style, with beautiful prose and engaging dialogues. Some of the descriptions are terrific. For instance, the narrator describes B in the following words: “She smelled like summer, sunshine, and citrus.” The powerful use of imagery and the descriptive prose allow the reader to get the perfect idea of what takes place in the story. Here is another beautiful example that communicates how smitten the young man feels when he meets B: “There she was — the catalyst for my memory. I hadn't thought about her in years, but there she stood. It was her honey-colored hair and the way it flowed down past her shoulders that first caught my attention.” Last Exit to Montauk is a story that will delight young adult readers and those who still recall the magic of their first love. Phillip Vega’s characters are memorable and the story is as exciting as it is entertaining.
5-Star Review
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.
The Rating Selected as a Top Pick!
Top Pick! 5 Stars (out of five): Freaking amazing. Any agent or publishing house that passed this one up made a big mistake. It was selected by our reviewer as a personal favorite. This is also a nomination for our Novel of the Year award.
5-Star Review
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.
The Rating Selected as a Top Pick!
Top Pick! 5 Stars (out of five): Freaking amazing. Any agent or publishing house that passed this one up made a big mistake. It was selected by our reviewer as a personal favorite. This is also a nomination for our Novel of the Year award.
Phillip Vega – A First Love Story
Getting personal with Phillip Vega
Phillip Vega is a new friend and author to me. I don’t know too much about him yet so this will be an introduction for you as well as me. He is very friendly and has a release party today so come join the fun and show him some support. Please help me welcome Phillip Vega to Roadie Notes……..
1. How old were you when you first wrote your first story?
If you asked my siblings, they’ll tell you I started making up stories at the age of four. I think I wrote my first story, like any other kid, in 1st grade. I couldn’t tell you what it was about, or the grade I received, but I recall writing something around then.
I did also “publish” a cookbook in 4th grade. The assignment was to get your parent’s favorite recipe, and everyone in class turned it in. At the end, we put them all together, and created a bound cookbook. My mom’s recipe was arroz con pollo, chicken and rice, a staple in any Latin household! Of course, it’s even mentioned in Last Exit to Montauk.
2. How many books have you written?
Aside from my aforementioned cookbook in 4th grade, Last Exit to Montauk is my first published novel. That said, as of this interview, I have approximately 13 other books in various stages, which has my publisher, Janet Fix at thewordverve, very excited! It’s funny, I’ve read other authors talk about this, and I couldn’t relate to it until now. I can’t imagine how Stephen King or James Patterson do it. Or even Cheryl Bradshaw and Lawrence Kelter. They’re the masters.
3. Anything you won’t write about?
At this point, nothing is off the table. It’s been recommended that I stay in my “wheelhouse,” so that I can build an audience following, but at this stage of my life, I am interested in a variety of things. So, while some of my works in progress are of the same genre as Last Exit to Montauk, I am venturing into other genres as well. I look at it this way: if you like the way I write, you’ll join me on our journey, wherever that may take us.
Phillip Vega Speaks Up About His Book ‘Last Exit to Montauk’
