Every Last One Book

4.5 stars

I can't believe I forgot about this book! Granted I read it over 5 years ago, but when I saw a friend had recently reviewed it, it all came flooding back.

I remember after I read it, it was all I could think about for days.....

Mary Beth Latham is a devoted mother of three children. Lately she finds herself thinking more and more about how fast life goes. She feels like her children have grown into teenagers almost overnight.

Told from Mary Beth's point of view, the first half of novel is about the Latham family. We learn about each family member and what happens in their daily lives. I know that some people found the first half really slow but I feel that the author wanted the reader to really know this family......before

When I first started reading this novel, the only thing I knew was that is was about a family tragedy. I didn't even read the description on the back of the book.

Honestly I don't think there's much more I can say about it as I don't want to spoil it. However, I will say that I was gutted by the events in the book. I was an emotional mess. Some people may find it too upsetting but I'm still glad I read it. It's a book that will make you cry, make you angry and make you think....

This novel made me question the way I parent and also parenting in general. How and when to discipline, when to intervene, when to let go and about a thousand other questions that came to mind in regards to the different ways in which we all parent. Now that I'm the parent of a teenager I question it even more.

A Quote from the book:

"I never thought anything really bad would happen. It was all the good things that seemed real to me --- where they'd go off to college and where they'd live and what my grandchildren would call me."


The writing is authentic, the characters so well-developed. I was completely engrossed in this book from beginning to end. This may be a hard read for some. It is a tragic, emotional, and powerful read that you won't soon forget.