Every Last Word
Author: Tamera Ireland Stone
Published Date: June 16th, 2015
Page Count: 368
I received an ARC of
this book for an honest review.
Synopsis: (Found on Goodreads)
Samantha McAllister looks just like the rest of
the popular girls in her junior class. But hidden beneath the straightened hair
and expertly applied makeup is a secret that her friends would never
understand: Sam has Purely-Obsessional OCD and is consumed by a stream of dark
thoughts and worries that she can't turn off.
Overall Rating: 5/5
(Would totally add more stars)
I had
the opportunity to read this out loud to my parents on our drive to see family
for 10hrs. Maybe it’s because I was able to slow down and process more of the
book because I was talking out loud but the emotions Every Last Word evokes is so strong and provoking. Highly
recommend.
Cover: 5/5
I love
the cover. It is so simple yet fits the plot of the book so well. The only
thing that could be different is adding in a fry wrapper or something to
represent the humor in the book as well. I also love that the title is said in
the book. It makes it mean so much more.
Characters: 5/5
Samantha: or Sam as she
likes to be called during the summer is struggling to leave the safety net of “friends.”
Her struggle with perfection and not being “crazy” is well written. Having OCD
or Pure-O isn`t something that you want everyone to know about so her being to
open up using poetry and making new friends shows such growth.
AJ: He
is shy in the hallways but if you give him a guitar and mic stand he sweats
confidence. He teaches Sam about growing up and moving on. He stands by her
even though they didn’t start out on the right foot. He keeps the key to Poet`s
Corner and keeps the tradition of the room alive.
Caroline:
She is everything that Samantha is not. Brave and opinionated. I love that
Caroline offers the best advice at just the right time. She makes it possible
for those in need to make friends and find themselves. She is creative and
funny and probably the perfect best friend.
Plot: 5/5
Stone writes such relatable
characters and they experiences they have most teens have gone through. OCD is
seen as not as serious so this sheds new light on an illness that some don’t know
much about.
This isn`t just about OCD, its about
moving on and realizing that having toxic people in your life isn’t healthy.
That no one is ever going to be perfectly normal. Samantha grows so much in
this novel.
Poet Corner, Freaking incredible. It sounds absolutely
magical and whimsical and I could probably spend hours down there, reading
every single poem pasted to the walls.
Social Media Reactions: Watch the panic of reading out loud
to my parents occur in twitter and goodread updates.
Twitter Updates:
@tamaraistone @HyperionTeens
reading #EveryLastWord out
loud to parents on 10hr drive to Washington. 175 pages in and loving it. :)
@tamaraistone pg 245/355 reading out loud was a big
awkward but we got past it. I'm feeling a crushing moment coming and I'm
nervous.
@tamaraistone Oh My God... I just can't... My mom
audibly gasped, my dad said "no fucking way" only 50pgs to go and I
already want to reread
#EveryLastWord Last update. Finished in
rest area and there were tears. Amazing story and I can't wait to pass it on. Thank
you @tamaraistone
Goodreads
updates:
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page
228
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61.0%
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"The
swimming part. Oh Lordy. :) managed to read it straight faced outloud. I like
AJ and I really don't want to see anything get messed up between Sam and Him.
There is a sinking feeling that something will happen."
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page
303
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82.0%
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"https://twitter.com/bookz4nerdz/statu... Literally
twitter has become this books journey. I'm just said it's over in 50pgs. Lots
of feelings right now in the car"
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Let me know what you
think in the comments below. Have you read ELW yet? What outlets do you use to
channel your feelings?
TTFN,
Ashley
Aww I love that your parents were so into it too! I agree, I thought that the fact that Sam was able to realize that her "friends" were so toxic was HUGE. And it doesn't seem like it happens enough in YA (or any book, really) so it was really refreshing! Great review, I really enjoyed this one too- AND had the feels (to answer your question, I have no good outlet, I just sob) ;)
ReplyDeleteShannon @ It Starts At Midnight
You`re right it doesn't really happen in YA books and it should.
DeleteI had friends that were super toxic and it was really hard to let them go but when I did I felt like i removed a mask that I never realized i had on.
thanks for stopping by
Ashley