Preteen girl looking at a cell phone with her parents

Family movie night? There's an app for that

Download our new mobile app on iOS and Android.

Get the app
Parents' Guide to

Every Last Word

By Sandie Angulo Chen, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 14+

Touching tale of girl with OCD finding love through poetry.

Book Tamara Ireland Stone Contemporary Fiction 2015
Every Last Word Poster Image

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

Community Reviews

See all
age 14+

Based on 2 parent reviews

rachelhansen000
rachelhansen000 Adult
June 15, 2020
age 14+

AMAZING STORY

I love this book. I've read it countless times and it's always amazing and relatable to anyone with a mental illness. It is beautifully written and so inspiring. This is by far my favorite book even years after the first read. Tamara Ireland stone is truly an artist. I would highly recommend this book.
CkelseaJane
CkelseaJane Adult
August 22, 2016
age 13+

Must Read

I really enjoyed this book. Samantha is a great main character. I enjoy how the story talks about a girl who is popular, but doesn't exactly carry that same confidence. However, the book does have an unexpected scene in Poet's Corner which may not be appropriate for immature tweets/teens (although it is only a few paragraphs). There is also a lot of kissing which may bother younger audiences. This book is for mature tweens/teens. Overall, there are some really good messages. This is a must read for anyone who is interested in a story about acceptance with friends.
See all 2 parent reviews

What's the Story?

EVERY LAST WORD is a contemporary romance about 16-year-old Samantha, who's one of the most popular girls and best swimmers at her high school. She and her queen-bee besties have called themselves the "Crazy Eights" since middle school, even though only five girls remain in the clique. The thing is, Sam really does feel "crazy" because she suffers from purely obsessional OCD, a form of the disorder that manifests mostly internally with overwhelming and obsessive thoughts. As her friends begin to let her down junior year, Sam meets the quiet and contemplative Caroline, who introduces her to a hidden room in the school where a group of misfit, artistic kids hold secret "Poet's Corner" meetings. In the Poet's Corner, the students read their poetry without fear of judgment or ridicule. One of the members, AJ, is skeptical of popular girl Sam's interest in the club, but soon they're getting to know each other in a way she's never let anyone get close to her. As Sam draws closer to Caroline and Sam, she must decide whether to be completely truthful about her anxiety and mental illness.

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (2 ):
Kids say (22 ):

Compelling for its romance, nuanced portrayal of mental illness, and valuable description of the difference between fair-weather friendship and real support, this is a lovely and memorable story. Inspired by a teen with OCD, romance specialist Tamara Ireland Stone chronicles Sam's inner turmoil -- her impulse control; her difficult-to-control, spiraling thoughts; and her need to count and write and think, think, think, sometimes darkly and other times simply repetitively about everything.

It will be hard for some readers to understand why Sam stays in the Crazy Eights when they can be such mean girls (or worse, enablers of the head mean girl), but Stone expertly contrasts the way Sam relates to them with the way she interacts with the kids in Poet's Corner, particularly Caroline and AJ. When she's with them, she's herself, no matter how vulnerable she must be to tell them the truth. Stone makes sure Sam's journey is believably strewn with obstacles she needs a lot of help to conquer, and in Sam she has created a character of empathy and inner strength who should encourage teens to be truthful and surround themselves with true friends.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about books about mental illness. Why are they important for teens to read, even if they make readers uncomfortable? How are Bea and Beck an unlikely romance in contemporary YA fiction?

  • Do you think Every Last Word could help readers recognize obsessive-compulsive behavior and anxiety disorders they might be struggling with? How can readers learn from Sam and her therapy sessions?

  • How does the book portray teen sexuality? What do you think about the fact that AJ is more sexually experienced than Samantha? Is their relationship's development believable?

Book Details

Did we miss something on diversity?

Research shows a connection between kids' healthy self-esteem and positive portrayals in media. That's why we've added a new "Diverse Representations" section to our reviews that will be rolling out on an ongoing basis. You can help us help kids by suggesting a diversity update.

See all recommended book lists

Related Topics

Want suggestions based on your streaming services? Get personalized recommendations

Common Sense Media's unbiased ratings are created by expert reviewers and aren't influenced by the product's creators or by any of our funders, affiliates, or partners.

See how we rate