Reviewed by Sefina Hawke for Readers' Favorite

The Last Stop by Patricia Street is a memoir that would most appeal to a diverse audience of parents and professionals looking to assist others dealing with addictions and who do not mind some explicit language. Patricia lost her son David to addiction and then later to death when he passed away at the young age of thirty-nine. Patricia shares the story of her struggles with her son, who almost became a stranger to her due to his habit. This raw account of the pain-filled impact of addiction is designed to help others cope with the pain of having a loved one who struggles with dependency.

The Last Stop by Patricia Street is a well-written account that took me on an emotional rollercoaster ride as I followed Patricia while she dealt with her son’s manipulation and deceit following his drug addiction. As a psychology professional, I found this book to be a treasure trove of information on the realities of addiction. It proved more useful to me than any textbook in understanding the emotional impact and the toll it takes on loved ones. I felt connected to Patricia throughout her journey and I could not help but feel her pain and loss. I enjoyed the second part of the book, which featured David’s writings. Reading his essays and poems, his talent and his writing made me feel his loss quite keenly. Overall, while this book was not always easy to read due to the pain within its pages, I feel that it has helped me to become a better psychology professional and that I am now better equipped to help those touched by addiction in their lives.