Reviewed by Dinorah Blackman for Readers' Favorite

In The Last Virgin Alive, Stephanie Crosby tells the story of a young girl with very low self-esteem, among other issues. Symphony has experienced rejection and criticism from those closest to her to the point that she even rejects herself. One of the problems that Symphony faces is the fact that she’s still a virgin, and hence feels unlovable. In fact, she sincerely believes she’s the only young woman her age that has not had a sexual encounter. This belief affects many aspects of Symphony’s relationships with males because it influences how she acts around them. Symphony constantly berates herself and puts herself down. After losing her mom at a young age, Symphony has to deal with a sister who may or may not be mentally ill, a dad who does the best he can under the circumstances, and friends who do not always have her best interests at heart. Add to that her habit of having weekly conversations at the graveyard with her dead mom and you can understand why this young woman seems to be stuck in a rut. Will Symphony find love and discover that she is worthy of love just as she is?

Stephanie Crosby tells a compelling story that is not at all foreign to young women these days. The pressures many women face to be accepted by their peers is oftentimes powerful enough to destroy even the strongest. Society’s expectations and demands lead many, like Symphony, to believe that it’s mandatory to be and do as everybody else. On the other hand, Stephanie Crosby illustrates how a dysfunctional family can have lasting effects on its members and how words do hurt more than sticks and stones. The Last Virgin Alive presents the age-old problem of self-acceptance from a modern perspective. The story also illustrates the value of real friendship and the importance of having a loving and supportive family.