A review by lindsayharmon
Every Last One by Anna Quindlen

4.0

Trying to describe the plot of this book makes it sound like a Jodi Picoult novel--and I hate Jodi Picoult novels. For me, the major difference is that Quindlen is much more focused on characters than on plot, so she doesn't need to rely on crazy plot twists to carry the novel. The "shocking act of violence" mentioned in the jacket copy is almost secondary--there's no mystery to solve and no manipulative revelations. The focus is simply on the family and the way they react to and slowly rebuild from what happens.