The Last Applicant: When Parental Ambition Turns into Obsession

The last applicant by Rebecca Hanover is her first Adult debut and it was everything and more

The story is told from two points of view: Audrey Singer, who works in admissions at Easton Academy, and Sarah Bex, a parent who will go to great lengths to get her son into the school. The first part of the book focuses on Audrey, and honestly, it felt a bit slow at times. But once the story shifts to Sarah’s side of things, things really pick up and get more intense.

The Last Applicant Characters:

• Audrey Singer works at Easton, a super prestigious school in Manhattan. Once a student is admitted, their siblings are pretty much guaranteed a spot in the future. Audrey is really focused on her job and how she’s perceived at the school. She’s married to Luke Singer, has a teenage daughter named Hazel from a previous marriage, and a young son named Calvin with Luke. Hazel can be a bit of a challenge to deal with, her teenage attitude reflecting Audrey’s own struggles.

• Luke Singer is Audrey’s husband, and he comes off as pretty distant and uninterested. His character takes a surprising turn from a seemingly supportive husband to someone much less pleasant. The background on his first marriage to Piper and the details about her death add some unexpected drama.

• Sarah Bex is the parent who’s determined to get her son, Eli, into Easton. She goes a bit overboard, doing things like paying for Audrey’s manicure and sending her strange gifts. At first, Sarah seems completely out of line, but as we learn more about her, her actions make more sense. Eli has a severe peanut allergy, and Sarah’s past struggles with infertility make her protective instincts understandable.

• Adam, Sarah’s husband, doesn’t get much screen time and initially seems almost mythical due to his absence.

• Samuel, Audrey’s first husband and Hazel’s dad, is mentioned occasionally, and Piper, Luke’s first wife and Audrey’s former boss, adds some surprising twists to the plot. The story reveals that Piper’s death was not as it was originally told, which adds more layers to Luke’s character.

• Chippie, Audrey’s best friend, provides some support for Audrey sometimes

Themes and Plot:

The book’s take on the competitive world of elite school admissions from a parent’s perspective is really unique. It dives into how far people will go to secure a place for their kids and the pressures involved. Midway through, the story takes an unexpected turn with Sarah developing a crush on Audrey, which felt a bit sudden and out of the blue, but it adds an interesting twist.

Who Will Love This Book:

If you’re into adult fiction with a dark academia vibe and enjoy a good dose of suspense, you’ll probably love The Last Applicant. It’s perfect for anyone who’s fascinated by the drama of high-stakes school admissions and enjoys stories about obsession and the lengths people will go for their loved ones.

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Dark academia posts on the blog to check out:

• A Closer Look at “The Cloisters”: A Book Review
• Where sleeping girls lie