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At Last Count
A GLOBE AND MAIL BEST BOOK OF 2022
AS FEATURED IN TORONTO STAR, ZOOMER MAGAZINE, AND ON CBC'S ONTARIO MORNING AND GLOBAL TV
For readers who love Mark Haddon, Miriam Toews, and Sally Rooney
Paisley Ratchford is trying to keep it together, but in eight weeks, the Toronto apartment building she lives in will be demolished. A last-ditch effort to reclaim her abandoned childhood home on Amherst Island plunges Paisley into memories of growing up in the tight-knit community, and into the obsessive compulsive disorder that has only ever offered a semblance of control. Her compulsion to count in sets of eight had little effect on thwarting bullies, her father’s bad luck, and her mother’s mental illness—all of which return to haunt her.
When help arrives in the form of Paisley’s old classmate and tormentor Garnet Mulligan, her predicament only worsens. For a shot at a future, Paisley needs to stare down her past, including all the habits that have stopped her from thriving. At Last Count is a wise and often laugh-out-loud funny tale that proves we don’t always need to believe everything our brain tells us.
AS FEATURED IN TORONTO STAR, ZOOMER MAGAZINE, AND ON CBC'S ONTARIO MORNING AND GLOBAL TV
For readers who love Mark Haddon, Miriam Toews, and Sally Rooney
Paisley Ratchford is trying to keep it together, but in eight weeks, the Toronto apartment building she lives in will be demolished. A last-ditch effort to reclaim her abandoned childhood home on Amherst Island plunges Paisley into memories of growing up in the tight-knit community, and into the obsessive compulsive disorder that has only ever offered a semblance of control. Her compulsion to count in sets of eight had little effect on thwarting bullies, her father’s bad luck, and her mother’s mental illness—all of which return to haunt her.
When help arrives in the form of Paisley’s old classmate and tormentor Garnet Mulligan, her predicament only worsens. For a shot at a future, Paisley needs to stare down her past, including all the habits that have stopped her from thriving. At Last Count is a wise and often laugh-out-loud funny tale that proves we don’t always need to believe everything our brain tells us.
289 pages, Kindle Edition
First published June 14, 2022
13 people are currently reading
266 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews
July 27, 2023
The book takes place on Amherst Island—in Lake Ontario, near Kingston—where Paisley spent her childhood, and in Toronto, where she moved at the age of 18. The book alternates chapters between THEN—during her childhood in Amherst Island—and NOW—at the age of 39, as she prepares to be evicted from her apartment, scheduled to be demolished within days.
To summarise her early years, Paisley was raised by parents wholly unprepared to care for her.
4.5 rounded to 5 “Birds-of-a-feather-flock-together” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
To summarise her early years, Paisley was raised by parents wholly unprepared to care for her.
“... parentification (was) how some kids get through absentee parenting by parenting themselves… You’re a kid, and no one’s watching you, so you find a set of rules to parent yourself. Like counting light switches and checking stove elements.”As a result, she was teased and spurned by the other kids. Her only friend was Rory—a man in his forties whose only friend was Paisley. Her Dad told her that:
Rory had lost all his smarts in that moment [at 11, when he fell from a bale wagon], as if they’d just dropped out of his head and into the field, sown there beside the corn. Since then, Rory had been simple.There was one other person who showed an interest in Paisley, and that was Garnet Mulligan, and only because he liked to test his bullying tactics on her. He would remain her scariest nemesis and, as luck would have it, he’d reappear in her life later on. And I’ll say no more, except that you should read it too! It’s a quick, very fun read, and I highly recommend it!
4.5 rounded to 5 “Birds-of-a-feather-flock-together” stars ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
June 28, 2022
At Last Count is a beautiful and heartbreaking story about Paisley Ratchford, a young woman with OCD. Faced with eviction from her long time Toronto home, Paisley’s OCD, manifested in her compulsion to count, renders her paralyzed. And to make matters worse, she discovers that the lawyer taking on her case to help her reclaim her childhood home is her childhood tormenter, Garnet Mulligan. Garnet says he’s changed. But Paisley’s not so sure. Through patience and understanding Garnet becomes a confident, and then a witness to Paisley’s struggles. Isn't that what we all want, to be seen? To be loved for who we are? Finally, with the support she never had as a child, Paisley is able to dip her toe into a life without counting. She becomes that rare bird that can change migration patterns and land just where she needs to be. This is a novel for anyone who has ever felt different.
June 19, 2022
I couldn't put this down! It broke my heart and then put it back together again. It spoke to my brain which can be equally wild and complicated and it means so much to sit with a messy, witty, neurodivergent main character. It can be lonely with brains like ours (it definitely is for me sometimes) Representation is everything. Also huge bonus points for lovely descriptions of birds and wonderful bird facts.
January 1, 2025
Great story with compelling characters. Glad to have it be my last of 2024 and first of 2025. I recommend.
July 19, 2024
I loved it 😍
December 20, 2023
it started a bit slow and the romance for me felt pretty abrupt (and also sort of suddenly gross at one point 🤢) but i did like the overall story and it was very sad
February 20, 2023
A perfect recipe - Ontario summer time, family chaos, mental illness, struggles and triumphs, and ultimately, a character you’re rooting for and a story that you can’t put down... I felt all the feels with this one!
Please write more books, Claire Ross Dunn! 😍
Please write more books, Claire Ross Dunn! 😍
April 29, 2024
Loved it! Set on Amherst Island, so local folks will enjoy it even more.
August 3, 2024
I loved this book! Read it slowly to savour it all the more.
July 4, 2022
An affecting and highly empathetic portrayal of OCD - mixed with a love letter to Amherst Island and its vibrant community. We have someone to root for in our heroine birder Paisley Ratchford, whose obsessive tendencies are flaring up as the date of her eviction approaches. Cue the entrance of Garnet Mulligan, Paisley's childhood-bully-turned-attractive-lawyer, who's now looking for the chance to win back her trust. Through her protagonist's eyes (or rather, brain), Claire Ross Dunn takes the reader through the meticulous, painful, spiralling process of coping with OCD, or as she calls it, the "hydra gift that keeps on giving". The counting, the repetition, the rules - many times, I felt the urge to give vulnerable-yet-resilient Paisley a hug and tell her that everything is going to be okay. At Last Count tackles the big topics: mental health, childhood trauma, disillusion, redemption, romance - with WIT, no less. I had a great time devouring this book.
July 12, 2022
This book was such a beautiful execution of the ways in which we have to face our past in order to look ahead to our future and move on. It was sad, joyful, and funny all wrapped into one. One of those books that I know will sit with me for a while. RUN to go read it!
July 24, 2022
A seriously impressive first novel with a wonderfully redemptive vibe.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
December 3, 2022
Lovely!!!!
4.5 rounded up to 5
4.5 rounded up to 5
July 6, 2022
At Last Count took me back to 1980s rural Ontario to present-day Toronto through Paisley’s struggles and successes with family, OCD and figuring out how to move forward in life. I was hooked from the beginning and couldn’t put it down! A great read and highly recommended. Pick this one up today!
September 11, 2024
This was a recommendation/staff pick from a local bookstore that did not disappoint! Loved it
August 1, 2023
Written by an author who herself suffered from OCD, this is very probably the best description of the disorder I've ever read. As someone who has tried to depict OCD myself (in a short story) I appreciate how hard it is to capture. Dunn does a fantastic job. It's compassionate without being sentimental. Funny without straying into parody. Worth your time.
February 10, 2023
At Last Count is Toronto writer, Claire Ross Dunn’s first novel but she is no stranger to the Canadian writing scene. She is an accomplished TV script writer who has worked on Degrassi, Little Mosque on the Prairie, and several rom-com movies. It may be this experience that gave her the skill to create the powerful protagonist in At Last Count. The character of Paisley Ratchford is so masterfully written she seems to jump off the page.
As the story begins Paisley, a single 39-year-old woman, is about to be evicted from her soon-to-be-demolished Toronto apartment. She has lived in the building for her entire adult life and hates any kind of change so her housing crisis has left her paralyzed with indecision. As her anxiety increases, she is hit with a full-blown resurgence of the obsessive-compulsive disorder that has plagued her since childhood. She refers to herself as “a big bag of crazy”.
When stressed she is haunted by images of fires breaking out everywhere and is convinced, she must count everything in sets of eights in order to prevent catastrophe. The counting, the repetition and the rules are exhausting and all-consuming. At times the OCD symptoms prevent Paisley from leaving her home.
With nowhere to go she decides to explore the option of returning to her vacant childhood home on Amherst Island. Traumatic memories from her childhood and recollections of her mother’s mental health problems have kept her away from the island for twenty years. Since she doesn’t own the house, she contacts the local law firm who manages the property. Unfortunately, the lawyer assigned to her case is Garnet Mulligan, the classmate who bullied and tormented her ceaselessly. In order to find a place to live she will have to return to Amherst Island and face all the sources of her childhood trauma.
At Last Count is a masterfully crafted, captivating page-turner. It’s a character-driven story and what a fabulous character we are given. I root for Paisley from the beginning and have the urge to wrap my arms around this heartwarming soul and tell her everything is going to be okay.
The first chapter is set in present day Toronto and the next chapter is set on Amherst Island when Paisley is 13-years-old. The chapters alternate with this back and forth timeline, giving the readers insight into the root of Paisley’s challenges.
The author had OCD symptoms when she was younger and this may have contributed to her highly empathetic portrayal of the disorder. The author describes the painful, spiralling process of living with OCD with particular authenticity. The novel is also a nod to Amherst Island, a real island on the eastern side of Lake Ontario. The author was first introduced to the island when visiting some of her husband’s family members and the island’s majestic beauty inspired her to use it as the setting for the novel.
As the story begins Paisley, a single 39-year-old woman, is about to be evicted from her soon-to-be-demolished Toronto apartment. She has lived in the building for her entire adult life and hates any kind of change so her housing crisis has left her paralyzed with indecision. As her anxiety increases, she is hit with a full-blown resurgence of the obsessive-compulsive disorder that has plagued her since childhood. She refers to herself as “a big bag of crazy”.
When stressed she is haunted by images of fires breaking out everywhere and is convinced, she must count everything in sets of eights in order to prevent catastrophe. The counting, the repetition and the rules are exhausting and all-consuming. At times the OCD symptoms prevent Paisley from leaving her home.
With nowhere to go she decides to explore the option of returning to her vacant childhood home on Amherst Island. Traumatic memories from her childhood and recollections of her mother’s mental health problems have kept her away from the island for twenty years. Since she doesn’t own the house, she contacts the local law firm who manages the property. Unfortunately, the lawyer assigned to her case is Garnet Mulligan, the classmate who bullied and tormented her ceaselessly. In order to find a place to live she will have to return to Amherst Island and face all the sources of her childhood trauma.
At Last Count is a masterfully crafted, captivating page-turner. It’s a character-driven story and what a fabulous character we are given. I root for Paisley from the beginning and have the urge to wrap my arms around this heartwarming soul and tell her everything is going to be okay.
The first chapter is set in present day Toronto and the next chapter is set on Amherst Island when Paisley is 13-years-old. The chapters alternate with this back and forth timeline, giving the readers insight into the root of Paisley’s challenges.
The author had OCD symptoms when she was younger and this may have contributed to her highly empathetic portrayal of the disorder. The author describes the painful, spiralling process of living with OCD with particular authenticity. The novel is also a nod to Amherst Island, a real island on the eastern side of Lake Ontario. The author was first introduced to the island when visiting some of her husband’s family members and the island’s majestic beauty inspired her to use it as the setting for the novel.
January 6, 2023
There is an Alice Munro-vibe to At Last Count. It's the story of a woman from a small town in Ontario, it deals with families and first crushes. And also, some mental illness. It's there, and it's leading Paisley's life to crash in slow motion. But there is also a lot more to Paisley.
She's a birder. For one thing.
Nothing but praise for the way the story unfolds. The delights of small town life that might be boring for Paisley, but and joy and colour for the reader.
I also enjoyed the way Paisley's OCD was handled. The pace of the story picks up as Paisley's eviction gets closer and her anxiety gets worse. What in the opening chapters is just worth mentioning in passing becomes the driving force by the last half of the novel. A lot like real life.
It also felt entirely believable to me that Paisley would develop OCD and anxiety issues after what we learn about her life growing up.
Lastly, my favourite part of the story was the hope. It wasn't artificial. Paisley wasn't walking off into Happily Ever After. But she was on her way to being back on the right track. I also loved that we saw a redemptive arc for Garnet. Sometimes misspent youth is just that - I love that the book saw better things for both those characters.
Highly recommend reading with a Prince Edward County white, in view of a bird feeder.
She's a birder. For one thing.
Nothing but praise for the way the story unfolds. The delights of small town life that might be boring for Paisley, but and joy and colour for the reader.
I also enjoyed the way Paisley's OCD was handled. The pace of the story picks up as Paisley's eviction gets closer and her anxiety gets worse. What in the opening chapters is just worth mentioning in passing becomes the driving force by the last half of the novel. A lot like real life.
It also felt entirely believable to me that Paisley would develop OCD and anxiety issues after what we learn about her life growing up.
Lastly, my favourite part of the story was the hope. It wasn't artificial. Paisley wasn't walking off into Happily Ever After. But she was on her way to being back on the right track. I also loved that we saw a redemptive arc for Garnet. Sometimes misspent youth is just that - I love that the book saw better things for both those characters.
Highly recommend reading with a Prince Edward County white, in view of a bird feeder.
July 25, 2022
In At Last Count, Claire Ross Dunn has created an engaging and vulnerable character in Paisley Ratchford, a young woman suffering from obsessive-compulsive disorder who’s passionate about birds and who’s dealing with a difficult family situation. Told from the perspectives of “then” and “now” and sprinkled with ornithological information, the story follows Paisley’s childhood on Amherst Island near Kingston where she was relentlessly bullied and her current life where she is facing imminent eviction from her unheated apartment in Toronto. In this captivating page-turner, the reader is rooting for Paisley to somehow come through it all. Dunn has written for television shows such as Degrassi and Little Mosque on the Prairie, along with romantic comedy movies for streaming.
July 2, 2024
Every NOW and THEN a book comes along that takes you back several years perhaps to your own childhood or early family days. At Last Count by Claire Ross Dunn did just that for me.
As children Paisley and Garnet lived on Amherst Island. This rural community is close to Kingston Ontario. Community residents and local activities, seen through the eyes of these characters come to life. Memories of those days are shared when Paisley and Garnet reconnect as adults in Toronto. These memories are not all pleasant. Their past troubled childhood relationship means that they understand the people they have now become.
I didn’t want this novel by Claire Ross Dunn to end. Her first novel is outstanding. I’ll be recommending this to friends and I anxiously await her next book.
As children Paisley and Garnet lived on Amherst Island. This rural community is close to Kingston Ontario. Community residents and local activities, seen through the eyes of these characters come to life. Memories of those days are shared when Paisley and Garnet reconnect as adults in Toronto. These memories are not all pleasant. Their past troubled childhood relationship means that they understand the people they have now become.
I didn’t want this novel by Claire Ross Dunn to end. Her first novel is outstanding. I’ll be recommending this to friends and I anxiously await her next book.
August 25, 2022
Paisley Ratchford has not had an easy life. She was bullied as a child, her parents have died, her apartment building is being condemned, and she suffers from OCD.
Paisley is also someone who loves birds and birding and has a part-time job in ornithology in Toronto. She is fascinated by her neighbours, yet finds it difficult to overcome her OCD habit of counting in eights.
A well-developed protagonist who tries to carry on despite her limitations.
I learned a lot about the world of birds and about how difficult it is for someone who must listen to their brain despite them knowing that what they are doing is often useless.
I recommend this book!
Paisley is also someone who loves birds and birding and has a part-time job in ornithology in Toronto. She is fascinated by her neighbours, yet finds it difficult to overcome her OCD habit of counting in eights.
A well-developed protagonist who tries to carry on despite her limitations.
I learned a lot about the world of birds and about how difficult it is for someone who must listen to their brain despite them knowing that what they are doing is often useless.
I recommend this book!
January 5, 2023
I really loved At Last Count by Claire Ross Dunn. Paisley was a remarkable character you were amazed by. She was brave in a world that threw obstacles at her and I started to understand what the world looks like through the eyes of someone struggling with OCD. I could cheer for her through some of the struggles she would encounter. The book was balanced with humour elements and was a real page-turner. The structure of the book was amazingly unique and something I have never seen before, contrasting her childhood and adult life. This kept me engaged throughout the book which is something I appreciated dearly. It finishes with an amazing, positive ending.
August 3, 2023
At Last Count
At Last Count has plenty of story to satisfy. There are a good number of very witty bits, such as the one on Pg. 71 that made me snort my morning coffee. There are heart wrenching bits, in particular, for me, on Pg. 244. From the beginning of this book, I was able to connect to Paisley. I cheered for her, I made wishes on her behalf, I waited for someone to come along and fill that very necessary hero spot. You won't get any spoilers from me, I suggest you read this book.
Paisley is completely engaging, edgy and believable. Regarding the rest of the cast, I think you'll run the roller coaster of emotions when it comes to them, just as I did. This is a book of flaws accepted, lives changed and celebrated for what they are, the day to day lives we struggle to deal with good and bad, good and better.
At Last Count if a relatively quick read and definitely a book I will read more than once.
At Last Count has plenty of story to satisfy. There are a good number of very witty bits, such as the one on Pg. 71 that made me snort my morning coffee. There are heart wrenching bits, in particular, for me, on Pg. 244. From the beginning of this book, I was able to connect to Paisley. I cheered for her, I made wishes on her behalf, I waited for someone to come along and fill that very necessary hero spot. You won't get any spoilers from me, I suggest you read this book.
Paisley is completely engaging, edgy and believable. Regarding the rest of the cast, I think you'll run the roller coaster of emotions when it comes to them, just as I did. This is a book of flaws accepted, lives changed and celebrated for what they are, the day to day lives we struggle to deal with good and bad, good and better.
At Last Count if a relatively quick read and definitely a book I will read more than once.
October 30, 2023
At Last Count is a fine story about a young woman who survives a desperate upbringing and an obsessive compulsive disorder. I came away with a better understanding of the level of grief that someone with OCD encounters.
When I select books, I have some checkboxes.
• Will I emerge with more wisdom?
• Will I become more compassionate?
• Will I be more informed?
This book ticked two of the three. And if I'm entertained along the way, which I was, I'm satisfied.
Bonnie Lendrum is the author of Autumn’s Grace, the story of how one family manages the experience of palliative care with hope and humor despite sibling conflicts, generational pulls and career demands.
When I select books, I have some checkboxes.
• Will I emerge with more wisdom?
• Will I become more compassionate?
• Will I be more informed?
This book ticked two of the three. And if I'm entertained along the way, which I was, I'm satisfied.
Bonnie Lendrum is the author of Autumn’s Grace, the story of how one family manages the experience of palliative care with hope and humor despite sibling conflicts, generational pulls and career demands.
January 2, 2024
Claire Ross Dunn's book At Last Count was a book my wife and I purchased after a reading by Claire at a book festival. I enjoyed her presentation and was eager to read the book. I got to read it first, before my wife did and couldn't wait until she was finished so we could talk about it. It was a beautifully crafted novel of believable and intriguing characters. The struggles of the protagonist, Paisley, were real and profound and I rooted for her right from her introduction. The settings felt familiar and tangible as the story moved between settings and time lines. An excellent book I highly recommend!
August 22, 2022
Dunn draws you in to a world that's both common and uncommon. Paisley Ratchford struggles through OCD and finds a way to cope. I'm amazed how Claire is able to weave together anecdotes and make a compelling story. As a reader you are taken on a journey of joy and pain, of hope and despair. I learned about birding and laughed at the characters. I cried at the tragedy and was sad the novel was over when I came to the last page. I hope Claire Ross Dunn writes again soon so I can experience once again the interesting lives she has imagined and put so poetically on the page.
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December 13, 2023I read Claire Ross Dunn's beautiful book 'At Last Count' this past summer. It is a captivating story that skillfully vacillates between the heartbreaking and raw truths of the protagonist's childhood and mental health struggles and the joy she finds in birds and their natural habitats in the breathtakingly beautiful setting of Amherst Island. Humour is sprinkled throughout this story–just enough to let you take a breath before the story plunges into the next reveal. In the end the story is hopeful and ends just like I wanted it to!
November 12, 2025
Listened to this relatively well narrated Canlit for book club,
I almost abandoned it several times until I got just over 50% of the way through. If it hadn’t been for Book Club, it probably would’ve been DNF, but I persevered and to my surprise I started to like this book in the second half. It grew on me. The characters made more sense. The story started to unfold and I think it’s actually a sweet little book. I think it needed better editing at the beginning but the premise for the book and the story itself was really quite charming.
I almost abandoned it several times until I got just over 50% of the way through. If it hadn’t been for Book Club, it probably would’ve been DNF, but I persevered and to my surprise I started to like this book in the second half. It grew on me. The characters made more sense. The story started to unfold and I think it’s actually a sweet little book. I think it needed better editing at the beginning but the premise for the book and the story itself was really quite charming.
May 30, 2023
This is the best representation of OCD in a fictional story I’ve read. The way it’s explained as a mental illness is so well done that I found myself saying “oh, that makes so much sense!” at several points as I listened. Definitely recommend just for the sheer better understanding of an illness from which many silently suffer.
Thanks to Librofm and Invisible Publishing for this complimentary audiobook. My thoughts are my own.
Thanks to Librofm and Invisible Publishing for this complimentary audiobook. My thoughts are my own.
November 28, 2024
This is the sweet, heartwarming tragi-comic story of Paige. Oh, how I rooted for her and wanted her to find her slice of happiness. This was so expertly done with a sprinkling of serious issues and themes addressed authentically, wisely and brilliantly.
I felt my heart grow and burst and runneth over.
One of my favorite books from recent times. Can't wait to see what this author writes next!
I felt my heart grow and burst and runneth over.
One of my favorite books from recent times. Can't wait to see what this author writes next!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 61 reviews