Tamara Ireland Stone

Fiction – Young Adult

Difficulty Level – Moderate

TW: OCD, Depression, Suicide, Self-harm mentions, Ableism

I read ‘Every Last Word’ nearly a year ago, but it’s the sort of book that sticks with you forever. Not only does it discuss mental health conditions in a very respectful way, but this book is so enchantingly beautiful and touching, with Stone’s words really evoking an emotional response and feel from those who read this book.

The book follows teenager Samantha, who lives with Purely Obsessional OCD, a mental condition that causes her mind to be consumed by dark thoughts and worries, that she struggles to control. With friends who turn toxic over the wrong outfit, wrong crush, or the wrong lunch, Sam is befriended by Caroline, who introduces her to the school’s hidden ‘Poet’s Corner’. Same feels at home within the group of tightly-knit misfits, and for once in her life, she is sure that things are getting better – she can finally live like a ‘normal’ teenager. However, this all changes when she finds an entirely new reason to question her sanity…

I genuinely think that every person needs to read this book, especially those who make jokes about ‘having OCD’ over a messy bedroom or messy kitchen. Because this is not what OCD is. Not only will this book educate you, but it is also a compellingly engaging read, with such emotionally powerful passages that will leave you in tears (or at least feeling very touched). Sam turns to poetry as her muse and sifts through a kaleidoscope of feelings to represent who she truly is – all through the power of words; spoken words, poetry, and communicating / engaging with those who she now considers the truest friends she has ever made.

We have not yet covered mental health conditions in our Psychology lessons, however according to many reviews on this book (and reviews offered by those who either have / know someone with Pure O OCD), I am assured that this representation of OCD is quite accurate, meaning to anyone looking to understand OCD in more detail, and understand what it is like from someone suffering with this condition personally, this is a great place to start.

‘Every Last Word’ is the type of book that has a bit of everything; romance, coming of age, bullying – you get the general gist of it. But it is also a book of healing, of motivation. It is intimate, it is private. It’s the sort of book you don’t come across often, and it would be a huge shame to miss out on reading this lyrical masterpiece.

By Khadija Khalid