One Final Vinyl

by Savy Leiser

One teenage girl.
One 90-year-old woman.
One final night together before the next chapter of their lives.

At eighteen years old, Emma Pelican is pretty sure she's already experiencing a midlife crisis. She's spent the summer after her senior year listening to her depressing vinyl record collection and isolating herself from her friends, so it's not much of a surprise when no one shows up to the graduation party Emma throws the night before leaving for college; no one but Daisy Lycroft, a ninety-year-old stranger with mild Alzheimer's who escaped from her retirement home in the middle of the night.

When Emma leaves to drive Daisy home, the two end up on an unexpected all-night road trip, complete with Canadian whiskey, Billy Joel mixtapes, romantic interludes, near-death experiences, and lots of impromptu dancing, causing them to find some much-needed companionship in each other, and revealing that they have a closer connection than they ever could have expected.

Genres: Young Adult

230 pages, Hardcover

Published October 15, 2024

Reviews

[Savy Leiser]

just me openly admitting that i'm giving myself 5 stars
i wouldn't have spent 4 years on this book if i didn't love it, LOL

[R.K. Gold · Rating 5 out of 5]

full review coming soon. I read this book when it was on Swoon Reads and if you enjoy character driven road trip stories you'll love it.

[Dal Cecil Runo · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received an ARC to give this an honest review. Now, how much honesty? To clarify, I'm partially blind, and I use a screen reader, with a robotic voice.
Why did I give this 5 stars? I'll use my usual rating system:

1. Did I put the book down?
Yes and no. I did stop for brief moments, because the narrator goes on tangents and back and forth between present moment and backstory. I am not at my best time right now, and because I related so much to this way of thinking, I had to take some healthy breaks. But, I wanted to know what happened next. As soon as I felt like I could go on with it, I did. Finished this in less than 24 hours. There goes one star.

2. What about the characters?
I couldn't relate more. This is where I'm fearing that I'll get too personal. I'll try not to.
Emma, the protagonist and narrator, suffers from anxiety, with hints at depression, and a sense of being born in the wrong time and place. OCD runs in the family, too. This is why all the going on tangents.
I'll just say that I'm dealing with my own anxiety and depression. I'll just leave it at that so I don't spoil other things.

Daisy, the old lady who shows up at Emma's home in the middle of the night, is suffering from Alzheimer's.
I'm currently working with an old lady who's going through advance stages of senile dementia and Alzheimer's.
This story hit home, and it hit hard. There goes a second star.

3. Structure?
Tangents...tangents everywhere. For the first time I see why it is narrated that way, and it fits the portrayal of Emma's psyche so well, that I can sense it comes from a real life perspective and I'm here for it. There goes the third.

4. Writing?
Savy's prose feels like a new friend that you just met at a bar, and you end up chatting through the night, only to realise that you're the last 2 to leave the bar after the music stops and the owner's like "ey-yo we're closing in 5!" Natural flow, no snob pretentiousness...I'm here for it. Fourth star.

5. Purely subjective stuff
Like I said in point 2, this book hit home, hard. Not only about the stuff I talked about, but also, music. I'll not spoil things, but there were parts where I could almost see my younger self walking in Emma's shoes, or like Emma was walking in mine. When I said "I need this book" and signed for an ARC, I just knew this, and I'm glad the book delivered.
It's a must read for 2020.

[Lachesis Pagès · Rating 5 out of 5]

I recieved an ARC for this book. And I'm so very happy that I had the luck to get such an amazing first ARC. I'm sorry if my review contains a few mistakes, I am French and sometimes it happens.

SAVY has the immense talent to write living, breathing characters. I related 100% with the main character, Emma, right from the first few pages and couldn't stop reading. In less than 24hours I had finished the book and wanted more. More of this kind, true and melancholic story.
It shows that SAVY drew from IRL experiences as the anxiety Emma struggles with was so well portrayed. With subtlety and honesty. It was part of her and felt real. Suffering from that disorder myself, that's why I connected so easily with her.
Daisy, also, reminded me so well of my great grand-mother who was taken from me by Alzheimer and another disease a few years ago. The joy, the moments of remembering, the moments where she was lost, the sudden changes in character. All so well done.

But even if you don't suffer from anxiety, even if Alzheimer hasn't been a part of your life, you will still be able to enjoy that ride. Because SAVY knows how to make you laugh, to make you cry and to make you wonder. The balance between the humour (sometimes acid, sometimes sweet) and all the other emotions is masterfuly handled.

Also, this book goes back and forth between past and present tense. An exercise not that easily done. And the read was fluid, felt natural and logical even for a non native reader.

All I have left to say is bravo and thank you for this amazing book that made feel so many things. And most of all made me feel understood.

[T.A. · Rating 5 out of 5]

I discovered this book through the author's YouTube channel (which is lots of fun, by the way), but as soon as I heard the premise, I was immediately drawn in. A teenage girl and a 90-year-old woman go on a road trip together that leads to self-discovery and the development of a beautiful friendship? Sign me up!

The road trip actually ends up being a lot shorter than I imagined it would be, and this is a pretty quick read, but it worked well and everything came together in a way that made sense. I would have liked to maybe spend a little more time with Emma and Daisy, but the story doesn't feel rushed, and the characters' relationship developed in a natural way.

I absolutely loved both of these characters. Daisy is beautifully written as someone struggling to cope with the loss of her memories, and the more I learned about the life she led and some of the challenges she had in her younger years, the more I admired her strength and vivacity. Emma serves as a compelling protagonist with a strong narrative voice that really shines a light on all her inner insecurities and anxieties, and it was so interesting to learn where some of those things come from and how her experiences with Daisy help her grow and change by the end of the story.

I absolutely loved this book and so appreciate being able to read an early copy. I definitely want to read more of this author's work in the future, and I hope everyone else who reads this book loves it just as much as I did when it releases.

[Elyse (ElyseReadsandSpeaks) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hmmm I struggle with how to rate this one. In full disclosure, I adore this author - her YouTube channel is fabulous and I love how passionate she is about a variety of things. I want to love everything she throws herself into. That being said, I'm a very honest person and I can't give something 5 stars just because I think the author is awesome.

Overall, I liked this one. It was a quick, fun read, Daisy was a delight, and it hit on the mess of emotions I remember feeling when I was about to graduate from high school. I liked the connection between Emma and Daisy and I liked how their one night together made Emma relax and accept just being herself.

The one glaring problem I had with this is that no one in their right mind would start driving 3 hours away to an old folks home without first Googling the name of the place. An old woman who clearly has dementia shows up on your doorstep and you don't first make a phone call to where she lives? I suppose with that one detail, we wouldn't have gotten this cute story, but it requires a large suspension of disbelief and I simply just can't stretch that far.

Although I found each relationship/friendship interesting, I thought each was just lacking a little something. It's like each started off with a great foundation and I really enjoyed the flashbacks and then.... I was left hanging. I don't know. Something was just missing.

There's some good stuff in here and I'll for sure read Savy's other stuff, but this was just a middle of the road book for me.

[Bug · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you enjoyed any of Savy's other novels, or if you enjoy Savy as a person, you're gonna love this book! Her writing style is just so strong and distinct, it's almost like a stream-of-consciousness look into the character's mind.  I feel like we learn so much about the main character so quickly, Emma instantly feels like a friend! (Well maybe not a FRIEND, because we're both too introverted to actually make the move to become friends, but we'd probably follow each other on Twitter and like each other's tweets all the time or something) Especially if you like deep existential-crisis thoughts and social awkwardness.

Also, Daisy is so much frigin fun! I loved her personality and her sense of humour and just how much she lived her life. With her Alzheimer's it was a roller coaster ride going from laughing along with her and then suddenly feeling so heartbroken to smiling through my tears. I wish I could go on a roadtrip with Daisy too!

The plot was definitely fun too, but the characters shone so bright that they stole the spotlight. If you're a fan of character-driven stories, this is 100% for you!

[joja · Rating 3 out of 5]

Let me be clear: despite giving it a rather mediocre rating, I still think it's a good book - it just doesn't match my taste. I bought it to support Savy, one of my favorite content creators, curious to see if her wit translates into writing. With that being said, my review is tainted by my slight aversion to YA-teenage-coming-of-age genre (due to having read wayy too many in my preteens), but also by my (positive) bias towards the author.

I'll start with my criticisms because I only have a few:
• Narration: so I’m not saying the choice of writing style is not suitable (on the contrary), just that certain phrases or expressions seem.. forced? From what I can see, the author aimed for the portrayal of a teenager’s inner dialogue and tried to put it on paper. And I get it, it must be hard to perfectly write in this particular type of tone without a few awkward wordings here and there; and the reason why they initially stood out to me was probably due to the disparity between how you’d normally express yourself talking vs. in writing, which is not something I’m personally used to. However, I got used to it pretty quickly and my appreciation for the way the book was narrated grew stronger as the pages went by! (More on that later, but I’ll just note that eloquence does not equate good writing. Sometimes simplicity is key to getting your point across and even giving a believable (and unique!) voice to your main character when they’re the one narrating the story.)
• Not a fan of the occasional “everything-going-wrong-at-the-same-time-but-also-these-miracles-allow-the-plot-to-move-further” mechanism. [ car breaks down, *then* the phone dies, *then* Daisy loses consciousness in the taxi cab… to get to the hospital for..? it’s been a few days since I read the book so I might be forgetting something, but other than giving the reader a bit of something to worry about, I do not see the purpose of this plot line?] If I were to give one constructive criticism to the author it would be to improve these segments in her upcoming books so that they don’t feel misplaced and interrupt the fluidity of the novel. One of her videos talks about creating tension in stories, and she had many conflicts in One Final Vinyl (e.g. Emma and Haley’s friendship) that actually did feel genuine and show that she is well versed in writing them (without having to force an over-the-top situation).

And now for the (many!) good shots:
• The story-telling is funny and lighthearted, contrasting with the protagonist’s critical (and even depressing) thoughts. The playful tone makes the reading experience enjoyable without seeming out of place in a book that occasionally touches upon more serious topics. It actually made them more digestible, now that I think of it. Plus, it helped build a truly endearing main character; and I feel like, even if as readers we don’t necessarily relate to Emma on all aspects of her personality and interests, the writing allowed us to feel nostalgic for the little bit of Emma inside of all of us. I found myself constantly reaching for the book (& must have finished it in two days), yearning to know what the endearing main character had to say or was about to do next.
• There is a particular, natural flow to the narration that is very show-not-tell-like. Savy does not need to rely on fancy words to compensate for poor storytelling because she is actually genuinely good at it (makes me wonder if writing short, imaginary children’s books helped her improve this skill?). The way characters, setting, and anecdotes are introduced in the book fit perfectly into the narrative. One of the early passages I highlighted to support this is:

“I don’t think there’ve been any Ednas in this neighborhood since, like, the 40s. Or in all of Atridge, Illinois. Not that there’s that much in Atridge, Illinois to begin with.”

There’s nothing exceptionally special about it, I agree, but it is more engaging than just straight up saying “I’m Emma and I live in Atridge, Illinois.”
• I also appreciate how Savy incorporated issues that matter to her personally into her work (running of a small business, exposing MLMs, LGBTQ+ struggles, mental health). It also gave an insight of her creative (and perhaps artistic?) side (Emma’s poem) and made me wonder if the musical and cultural references were also reflecting her personal tastes. But I also enjoyed how she challenged herself as an extrovert to write an introvert character. As an introvert myself (that hates the stereotypical “I hate being around people because I’m an introvert.. I’m so quirky!” trope), I actually found Savy’s depiction of Emma’s introversion quite accurate and relatable.
• My stance on discussing mental health issues in a novel is that you either commit to describing them properly or you don’t bother including them at all. Savy did the former, by realistically describing the struggles without romanticizing them (especially when it came to panic attacks). And I respect the author’s note at the beginning of the novel that states that the depiction of OCD does not represent it in all of its complexity and that Savy wishes to explore it in a future work of hers.
• Emma’s character arc is executed beautifully, and her individuality does not step over the reader’s connection with her personal growth as a teenager. As a college student myself, I’m close enough to her age to recognize the authenticity and familiarity in her ~adolescent epiphanies~. It was quite heartwarming to accompany her on her discovery of her own worth and the act of letting go: forgiving friends and family (their mistakes, their differences), but also learning to assert herself, telling people what bothers her because she *does* matter. And the way in which Emma’s personality simultaneously merged and contrasted with Daisy’s was so pure and charming. Not to mention the lessons the teenager learned by absorbing Daisy’s past.

One Final Vinyl allows the reader to embark onto the adventure of an elderly woman’s lucky encounter with a young girl whose soul is fed by her pure innocence. And while they both learn about one another during an unexpected road trip, they also learn a little bit more about themselves. Emma’s journey extends beyond a timeless car ride, though: she follows a journey of self-reflection, forgiveness, and ultimately, an acceptance for growth.

[Julie Reis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. It felt like I was reading a script for something slightly better than your average teenage disney movie. It feels like Napolean Dynamite, because it does feel dated for when it was published (2020), the author spent years developing the story, but it really does convey a simpler time technologically and it tells a compelling story. (Slightly spoily beginning)
Emma is a really introverted, inexperienced person who is about to leave for college. She sets out to take Daisy, an elderly stranger who just wants to go dancing at Mabel's Diner, back to what she thinks is Daisy's retirement home, after her attempted graduation party just ends up being herself and a bunch of balloons.
They hit the road on the night before Emma heads off to college, using Emma's subpar phone to complete what she thinks is a three hour road trip. It turns out that Daisy has dementia, and a story to tell....

I liked this book because Emma, and Daisy, and most of the characters that Savy mentions are fleshed out really well, and as Daisy tells her story Emma thinks about hers. Her relationships with all of her friends, her family, what her life has been like, and how she sees the other people in it. I like that although Emma is introverted, she is portrayed as very capable, which I feel is helpful for anyone at any life stage, but its super crucial for younger readers. Relatable characters they can model and all that. Also, Emma isn't portrayed as someone who has had zero problems in her life up until this point. I really like that Emma has a potential love interest, and I feel like that part of the story was handled well (So well that there needs to be a sequel!).
Savy does talk about OCD, anxiety, and depression, as well as dementia, which I think are great things to bring more awareness to. I like how she has Emma's mom selling makeup through an mlm, because that runs counter to the anti-mlm content on Savy's youtube channel, but the reasons why anyone would be drawn to an mlm are explained.
This book was a quick read, with constant action, and a few subplots that you have to have to read to the end to see resolved. I wish that Jen, Emma's other best friend had been fleshed out a bit more, and that there would have been a little bit more explanation of the Conflict/action on Emma's part between Emma and her best friend Hayley, but that probably comes down to me missing something on my read through. There are LGBT themes and themes about sexualities that often aren't discussed (correct me if I'm wrong). Also, Daisy's story is deep, and sad, but its a story of a life well lived/of getting through no matter what life throws at you, and I really appreciate the juxtaposition of her and Emma's stories.
All in all I think this is a really great book, and I cannot wait to reread it.

I recently discovered Savy and her youtube channel due to her book review content,which I did not intentionally seek out, and I purchased the book on Savy's site on Bigcartel.com. I love Savy's personality, and I watch her content whenever I can. I like supporting the youtubers that I watch, Savy especially, because she owns her own business, furever home friends. She writes books that help dogos get rescued!!

[D.L. Stewart · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an ARC copy from the author in exchange for an honest review.

This was the first piece of writing that I've read from Savy, so I went in not know exactly what I was getting myself into. But I had heard others talk about liking her books, so I gave it a shot.

I'm not going to go into too much detail about what the book is about, you can read the blurb if you want that lol. But I chose to receive an ARC copy of One Final Vinyl because the premise seemed to be something that I'd be interested in. In my mind, I thought it was going to be like a young adult version of Harold & Kumar mashed with Golden Girls. That's not what I got though.

Even though it was not what I had initially anticipated that it would be like, I did, however, enjoy the story. The characters were well developed, and I felt like I could relate on a deeper level with Emma than I feel like I do with a lot of characters from other books that I've read. The dialogue was also a plus, and it felt natural and appropriate for the characters.

The only downfall for me was the flashbacks that were placed throughout the story. I understand that the story is supposed to give nostalgic vibes, and I assume that's why the author placed them in there. But after a while, I felt that there were too many flashbacks, or at least that they drew on for too long without seeming like there's any real purpose to me.

Even though I didn't care for the flashbacks, they were still written really well; as was the entire story. I recommend this story for anyone who likes young adult stories with a nostalgic and vintage feel.

And if Savy writes another story that sparks my interest, I will definitely be willing to read it.

[Ariel [She Wants the Diction] · Rating 3 out of 5]

Shoutout to this book for breaking my quarantine reading slump! It was just what I needed: lovely, short, and sweet. Honestly, Savy's books are like John Green but better, because they're feminist and deal with a lot of serious issues in a genuine way - namely mental health and queer identity. She nails it every single time.

Being an anxious introvert, I could really relate to the character of Emma, right down to letting someone call her the wrong name. This feels like a love letter to late bloomers, and I'm 100% here for it. I love that these two lonely women from different sides of the generational spectrum can connect over music and give each other some much-needed insight on this serendipitous road trip. My one complaint is that we never really got a follow-up on Emma's romance with Scotty, or Daisy's medical condition. And although I understand that wasn't the point (the point was that her mindset changed), it still would've been nice.

If you've read Savy's previous books, the growth here will be really obvious. While I usually hate flashbacks, these were well-written and kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat, wanting to push on and find out what happened next. Oh, and I loved the anti-MLM messaging she snuck in there - really cool Easter egg for fans of her YouTube channel!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received this book as an arc for review.

It is a well written book with a rather diverse cast of characters as far as personalities. The pacing was perfect and even the flashbacks didn't slow break the flow. There were some pretty funny moments that went a long way to breaking up the main characters rather heavy thoughts.

That being said there were a few things I didn't care for. While I did warm up to her, in the beginning I really struggled with the main character. She came off as whiny to me and just generally immature even for a teen. Second, some topics were handled a bit heavy handed. The first to pop into my head is MLMs. I know the writer hates them, but it is repeated several times in a way that you just start to gloss over instead of pay attention.

That aside, I genuinely enjoyed this book. I don't normally read outside of the fantasy/romance genres but I had a good time reading this and I would recommend it.

[Lucifer "Argyle · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. I was shocked to see how wuickly the book seemed to fly by me. I did take 5 days to read it because there were times when I had to put the book down because the book does talk about some heavy stuff that I already struggle with, so reading a book where the protagonist is dealing with those feelings and thoughts definitely can be a struggle, so I would take breaks to kind of separate myself from that for a while, but the story is so good.

Essentially a high school graduate throws a graduation party the night before she leaves for college, and nobody shows up except for this sweet little old confused lady. Emma, our main protagonist, decides to drive Daisy home, back to her ALF and what ensues is the adventure of a lifetime. Lots of laughs were had and a fair amount of tears were shed. Overall, I really loved this book and I genuinely recommend it to anyone that needs a little inspiration for adventure in their lives.

[Eli Roy · Rating 5 out of 5]

At points this book was a disorienting read because of the way it would without warning go off on tangents, though that is definitely part of the charm and seems to aim (and succeeds in my opinion) to emulate the thoughts of someone with anxiety/OCD/ADHD. Most of this book is an enjoyable but slightly chaotic experience but towards the end it hits an emotional crescendo, that left me more impacted by a book than I have been in awhile. There is something so relatable about Emma’s outlook on life and her alienation from everyone around her. This is less conventional than Savy Leiser’s other books but it’s definitely the most personal and has the most unique style.

[Joey Paul · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked this up because I adore Savy’s writing and couldn’t wait to dig into the story. Emma is an amazing character and one I loved from the first line of the book. I was pulled into the story, along with Daisy and couldn’t put it down, I just wanted to read and read, and find out how this road trip ended. It was a delightful read, and tugged at the heartstrings, I loved the glimpses back into Emma’s life, getting to see how she came to the point she’s at now. Overall, an amazing book from this author, who is one to watch! Highly recommended!

[Audrey Henley · Rating 5 out of 5]

***I received an advanced reader's copy.
One Final Vinyl is about what happens when a graduating high school senior goes on a road trip with a senior citizen. This is a beautiful stream-of-conscious, voice-y YA novel. I love the ace representation and the fact that it covers that liminal time between high school and college. It feels honest and heartfelt without being tragic or melodramatic. Highly Recommend :)

[BurritoChris · Rating 5 out of 5]

A really nice teen novel. I think the style takes a little while to get used to since there is far more of Emma having flashbacks and thoughts than there is plot. But once you realise that that resembles the nature of Emma's depression it makes for a compelling read.

It's very sweet and short enough that the sweetness doesn't get old. Savy is so good!

[Beth Hill · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fun read. I recommend this book even if you're not a young adult or ever read YA lit. It's a great story of an unlikely friendship between an 18-year-old and a ninety-something-year-old. Their personalities work well together and they learn from each other. Their tastes in music are impeccable. This book has heart, soul, laughs, and an unexpected road trip.

[Amy Potts Ostrowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Emma pulled me in from page one, and when Daisy joined in there was no stopping until I had turned the last page. One Final Vinyl is a great read for anyone who's ever felt like they don't know where to go in life--so, like everyone--and just needs a Daisy to help them find their way.

[Samantha · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book. Emma's inner dialogue reminds me of how I thought for a while in middle, high school, and even through college. It was liberating to see others thinking this way too (even literary characters).

[Meltingpotofbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a great coming of age story with beautiful representation of mental health. I loved the relationship between the two and I didn't want the book to end and wanted to see how they handled the next portion of their lives! Great book from a fun and representative author!

[Amanda Keefer Dunn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I laughed. I cried. I thoroughly enjoyed Daisy and Edna--I mean Emma's journey. I have so many feelings. Ah, I just loved it!

[Pennina-Lynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a really good book. Definitely recommend it!

[Connor Stompanato · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this basically in one sitting and really liked it. One Final Vinyl is a lighthearted, easy to read story that also touches on a few more serious topics. I enjoyed the story and it really gave me booksmart vibes (an excellent movie).

It was very character focused not plot focused, there is lots of time spent going through Emma’s memories of different events and kinda exploring why she is the way she is. She is an interesting character though so this was a good thing!

Sometimes I felt like there was a little too much description for some things that didn't really need it (like her best friend for example) but overall I really liked this book.