Kate Robb’s latest offering, Kitty St. Clair’s Last Dance, is a tender waltz between what was and what could be—a story that asks whether we’re brave enough to choose our dreams over our fears. Following her charming debut Prime Time Romance, Robb has crafted a more introspective tale that weaves magical realism into the fabric of contemporary romance with the skill of someone who understands that the most profound journeys often begin when we think we’re standing still.
The story follows Jules DeMarco, a young woman working at a retirement home who unexpectedly inherits a dilapidated dance hall from recently deceased resident Kitty St. Clair. What begins as a simple bequest transforms into something far more complex when Jules discovers the building is worth enough to fund her dream of medical school—if she’s willing to sell it to a developer who wants to transform it into luxury condos. The developer’s representative? Reeve Baldwin, the man who shared one magical night with Jules two summers prior and then vanished without explanation.
The Magic of Parallel Lives
Where Robb truly excels is in her handling of the mystical elements that anchor the narrative. Through Kitty’s diary, Jules finds herself transported into the 1970s dance hall during its heyday, experiencing young Kitty’s romance with local boy Knots while she navigates her own complicated feelings for the wealthy Beau. These dream sequences aren’t mere flights of fancy—they’re perfectly crafted mirrors that reflect Jules’s contemporary struggles with love, ambition, and the courage to choose an uncertain future over a safe present.
The author demonstrates remarkable restraint in her magical realism, never over-explaining the mechanism behind Jules’s nocturnal visits to the past. Instead, she allows the dreams to unfold naturally, creating an atmosphere where the supernatural feels as comfortable as breathing. The parallel love stories—Kitty torn between security and passion in the 1970s, Jules grappling with similar choices in the present—create a compelling resonance that deepens both timelines.
Character Development That Rings True
Jules emerges as a protagonist who feels achingly real in her indecision and self-doubt. Robb avoids the trap of creating a heroine who simply needs the right man to unlock her potential. Instead, Jules’s journey toward self-actualization is deeply personal, rooted in her own fears about reaching for more than life has handed her. Her relationship with Reeve serves as a catalyst rather than a solution, which makes their eventual romance feel earned rather than inevitable.
Reeve himself is refreshingly three-dimensional. Unlike many romance heroes who arrive fully formed and emotionally available, Reeve struggles with his own compromises and dreams deferred. His evolution from a man who settled for family expectations to one willing to risk everything for both love and artistic fulfillment provides genuine stakes to their relationship.
The supporting cast shines particularly bright:
- Zoe, Jules’s best friend, delivers sharp wit and unwavering loyalty without falling into the “sassy sidekick” trap
- Young Kitty emerges as complex and sometimes frustrating, embodying the universal tension between following your heart and securing your future
- Old Kitty remains an enigmatic presence whose final gift to Jules speaks to themes of second chances and chosen family
Prose That Dances on the Page
Robb’s writing style has matured considerably since her debut. Her prose maintains the accessible warmth that made Prime Time Romance such a delight while incorporating a dreamlike quality that serves the story’s magical elements. She has a particular gift for capturing the sensory details that make settings come alive—the lake town of West Lake feels as authentic as the vintage dance hall with its polished floors and glittering chandeliers.
The author’s handling of dual timelines deserves special praise. Rather than jarring transitions, Robb creates smooth passages between present and past that feel like natural shifts in consciousness. The 1970s sequences pulse with period authenticity without falling into heavy-handed nostalgia, while the contemporary storyline addresses real economic pressures facing young adults today.
Themes That Resonate Beyond Romance
While romance provides the story’s emotional core, Robb explores deeper themes about gentrification, economic inequality, and the tension between progress and preservation. Jules’s dilemma about selling the dance hall isn’t simply about choosing between love and money—it’s about weighing personal dreams against community impact. The author doesn’t offer easy answers, instead presenting the genuine complexity of these decisions.
The book also serves as a meditation on how the past informs the present. Through Kitty’s story, Jules learns not just about love but about the courage to create rather than simply accept opportunities. The dance hall itself becomes a character—a repository of dreams and memories that asks whether some things are too precious to abandon to progress.
Where the Story Occasionally Stumbles
Despite its many strengths, the novel isn’t without minor flaws. The resolution feels somewhat rushed, with Jules’s financial obstacles solved perhaps too neatly through convenient scholarship opportunities and business arrangements. While the art gallery solution for the dance hall is thematically appropriate, it arrives with less organic development than the rest of the story.
Some readers may find themselves wanting more exploration of the supernatural elements. The diary mechanism works beautifully, but deeper understanding of why Jules specifically experiences these visions could have added another layer of meaning to her journey.
The Final Dance
Kitty St. Clair’s Last Dance succeeds as both a satisfying romance and a thoughtful exploration of how we balance dreams with responsibility. Robb has crafted a story that honors both the dreamer who reaches for more and the pragmatist who weighs consequences carefully. The resolution—with Jules pursuing medical school while the dance hall becomes an art gallery—feels true to both characters’ growth and the story’s themes.
The novel’s greatest strength lies in its understanding that the best love stories aren’t about finding someone to complete you, but about finding someone who supports you in becoming who you’re meant to be. Jules and Reeve’s relationship develops against the backdrop of each pursuing their authentic dreams, creating a foundation that feels sustainable beyond the final page.
For readers who enjoyed the time-slip elements, this book will appeal to fans of The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid and The Midnight Library by Matt Haig. Those who appreciated the small-town setting and community themes might also enjoy Beach Read by Emily Henry or The House in the Cerulean Sea by TJ Klune.
Kate Robb has delivered a sophomore novel that demonstrates significant growth while maintaining the heart that made her debut so appealing. Kitty St. Clair’s Last Dance is a story that will linger in readers’ minds long after the final page, inspiring them to consider their own dreams deferred and the courage it takes to pursue them.
Similar Reads for Your TBR
If you loved this magical blend of romance and time-slip fiction, consider adding these titles to your reading list:
- The Ten Thousand Doors of January by Alix E. Harrow – For lyrical magical realism and strong heroine journeys
- The Invisible Bridge by Julie Orringer – Historical romance with dual timelines
- The Time Traveler’s Wife by Audrey Niffenegger – Classic time-slip romance with emotional depth
- Oona Out of Order by Margarita Montimore – Contemporary magical realism about life choices
- The Midnight Girls by Alicia Jasinska – For readers who enjoy folklore woven into romance
