Every Last Word by Tamara Ireland Stone

Narrated by Amy Rubinate

Every Last Word is the story of sixteen-year-old Samantha McAlester, a high school junior with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It’s a well-written and well-researched look at mental illness, and how it affects young people.

Everyone who knows Sam thinks she’s got the world by the tail. She’s part of the popular crowd at school, and has excellent chances of earning a swimming scholarship for college. What no one knows is that every day, Sam is forced to fight with her own mind. A single thought can send her into a tailspin, often culminating in an anxiety attack. At the age of ten, Sam was diagnosed with OCD. Since then, she’s been on numerous medications and must see a therapist weekly. She’s hidden her secret well, but what if all that hiding isn’t necessary?

On the first day of junior year, Sam meets Caroline, a meeting that literally changes her life. Over the ensuing months, she embarks on a journey of personal discovery that teaches her many things about herself and those around her.

Every Last Word is the story of first love. It’s warm and sweet, with just enough grit to keep things real. Ms. Stone creates believable characters who deal with real life problems.

I’m no stranger to narrator Amy Rubinate’s performances. I’ve heard complaints about her somewhat flat reads, but, honestly, I find this understated way of narrating quite refreshing at times. There are times when I just want to listen to someone read without a ton of drama thrown in. Ms. Rubinate is my go-to narrator in these situations.

Please don’t get me wrong. She does create believable character voices for both genders. It’s just that she suggests the differences rather than hammering them home the way some narrators do. I realize some consider this a bad thing, but it did not detract from my enjoyment of the story.

Ms. Rubinate’s depiction of Sam was wonderful. I felt like I was right in her head. She amped up the tension with a slightly increased rate of speed when Sam’s thoughts are spinning out of control. The tender moments Sam shares with A.J., the boy she falls for, are soft and incredibly sweet.

If you’re looking for a Young Adult novel that’s light, but not lacking in substance, I highly recommend Every Last Word. If you’re interested in teenagers with mental health issues, this is definitely the book for you.

Shannon

Narration:  B+

Book Content:  B+

Steam Factor:  You can play it out loud

Violence:  None

Genre:  Young Adult

Publisher:  Ideal Audiobooks

Every Last Word was provided to AudioGals by Ideal Audiobooks for review.