Review: Every Last One

Every Last One by Anna Quindlen

Summary: Mary Beth Latham is first and foremost a mother, whose three teenaged children come first, before her career as a landscape gardener, or even her life as the wife of a doctor.  Caring for her family and preserving their everyday life is paramount.  And so, when one of her sons, Max, becomes depressed, Mary Beth becomes focused on him, and is blindsided by a shocking act of violence. What happens afterwards is a testament to the power of a woman’s love and determination, and to the invisible line of hope and healing that connects one human being with another. Ultimately, in the hands of Anna Quindlen’s mesmerizing prose, Every Last One is a novel about facing every last one of the the things we fear most, about finding ways to navigate a road we never intended to travel, to live a life we never dreamed we’d have to live but must be brave enough to try.

My Thoughts: Upon finishing this book, I feel like I did when I finished The Time Traveler’s Wife – so glad I read it, but so sad and depressed. This book touches me on a MUCH deeper level than The Time Traveler’s Wife ever did. Just thinking about it actually makes me cry, whereas I just got sad when thinking about The Time Traveler’s Wife. Perhaps it’s because I have three children and a wonderful husband, all of which I tend to take for granted at times. God forbid I ever can relate to this story in any way!

The first half of the book details Mary Beth’s everyday life. How things are in her family, what she does for work. We get to know her, her husband, and her children. We get to join her in worrying over Max’s depression. There’s a point where she says that Ruby, her daughter, is special because she’s the oldest and Alex is special because of what he can do, and that Max seems to get lost between them. I totally get that. I feel that way about my oldest. She’ll always be extra-special to me, because she is my first-born child. And my youngest will always be extra-special to me because she’s my last baby. Fortunately, the one in the middle is my only boy – his extra-special thing. But, I could see how Max, Alex’s less-remarkable twin, could feel lost and insignificant. And I could see Mary Beth’s worry and I could worry right there with her.

By the time the big turning point occurs in the novel, I am completely – 100 percent – blindsided! I did NOT see it coming (despite the synopsis mentioning a “shocking act of violence”). I got so caught up in her day-to-day life, so caught up in her concerns over Max, the issues with Kiernan and Ruby, etc. that I just did not see anything so shocking coming. I read that chapter and didn’t realize what was happening until the last two or three paragraphs. And from that point on, all I wanted to do was read – despite my broken heart. Throughout the book I just loved Mary Beth’s voice, and that definitely helped keep me going, even though it was so sad.

Oh, yes, this story will break your heart. Especially if you have children and/or a husband. I don’t think it would have touched me quite so deeply if it was written 10 years ago, before I had my children. It still would have saddened me, but I don’t think the tears would be so hard to fight back.

I absolutely LOVE this book. Love it. It’s a tour book, and I’m sad to have to pass it on to the next person. This book is a keeper. It’s the best I’ve read since The Time Traveler’s Wife, the singular book that has stayed with me ever since I closed the last pages. I believe Every Last One will be a book I never, ever forget. I plan to purchase this (or ask for it for Christmas) so that I can read it again and again.

My Rating: 5 stars

Source: Received through Crazy Book Tours for review.

Read It: You can get your own copy HERE. (This is an Amazon link, and purchase through this link will result in my receiving a small commission. Your support is appreciated!)

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FTC Disclosure: All items reviewed were either obtained by me for my own enjoyment or sent (from the author, publisher, publicist, via tour sites, etc.) in exchange for an honest review. I receive no monetary compensation for my posts. All opinions expressed are my own.

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