#TheEndOfGettingLost:⁣
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“Face with losing her.. Duncan had been reckless and desperate. Love, she believed, had nothing sensible about it”⁣
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Duncan, you got some ‘splaining to do!⁣
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Honestly, I kept thinking how in the hell is this a thriller? And then, the other shoe dropped and whoaaaaa, that’s why. My mind was blown, my brain rattled, and that slow burn build up was worth it. The middle part was more of the slow build with another bigger reveal at the end, but the book is a fairly quick one, so the pacing wasn’t bad. ⁣
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This book has so many twists and turns. So many people are just deceitful. But, there’s always two sides to a story. It is a good reminder that sometimes what our eyes see might not be the full truth. You’re forgiven, for now Dunk, maybe. ⁣
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Michael David Axtell and Alex Allwine were so good on the audio. I had an electronic copy, but I loved their narration so much, I didn’t even look at it. They truly captured the physiological manipulation so well and had almost a menacing tone to their voice.⁣
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Overall, quick read with twists I had no idea would hit. While I’m over the amnesia trope, this was executed well and gave me Gone Girl vibes. Thank you @simonaudio for the gifted copy. The End of Getting Lost is out Tuesday, 2/15!

3.5 stars. The year is 1996, and young married couple Duncan and Gina are on a romantic adventure, traveling throughout Europe. As the story unfolds, told in Duncan and Gina's alternating perspectives and switching between the past and the present, we learn that Gina is suffering from memory loss after an accident in Berlin, causing her to forget most of the past year of her life. She begins to have the sense that Duncan is keeping secrets from her...but he might not be the only one with something to hide.

Several years ago, at the height of the psychological thriller boom, the market became somewhat saturated with amnesia stories -- books where the main character had lost her memory and had to figure out the truth about the nefarious people around her before it was too late. I got pretty tired of the trope, and I almost decided not to read this based on the memory loss aspect of the plot. But I'm so glad I didn't pass on this, because The End of Getting Lost is so much more than just another amnesia story. With quiet suspense and a looming sense of dread, Robin Kirman explores the darker side of love and marriage, how love can make a person vulnerable, desperate, or dangerous -- and how easily the lines between love and obsession can be blurred.

Kirman's writing evokes a strong sense of time and place, while also keeping the reader off-balance due to our (likely) unfamiliarity of the European cities in which it's set. She makes us feel swept away right along with Gina, not certain where we're headed next. The book's structure allows Kirman to explore multiple perspectives of the same situation or issue, and also to see our two core characters through each other's eyes. It's a deeply psychological, sophisticated, intimate character study exploring the ways people manipulate, deceive, and love each other -- a thoroughly original take on some common themes, with an ending that felt completely satisfying.

I voluntarily reviewed an ARC of this book -- thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster for my digital copy.

Thank you to Netgalley, the publisher and the author, for an ARC of this book, in exchange for an honest review.
The synopsis of this book sounded intriguing to me so I requested a copy to read.
Unfortunately, I have tried reading this book on 2 separate occasions and during this 2nd attempt, I have
decided to stop reading this book
and state that this book just wasn't for me.
I wish the author, publisher and all those promoting the book much success and connections with the right readers.

The End of Getting Lost by Robin Kirman

Published: February 15, 2022
Simon & Schuster
Pages: 285
Genre: Psychological Fiction
KKECReads Rating:
I received a copy of this book for free, and I leave my review voluntarily.

Robin Kirman studied philosophy at Yale before receiving her MFA in writing from Columbia, where she also taught for several years. Her curiosity about human psychology has led her to combine work in psychoanalysis with writing fiction.

“The only point in living is to follow your passion.”

Gina is a dancer, up and coming, with promise and talent. She married Duncan after the loss of her mother, and their romance was tumultuous at best. When Gina suffers a terrible brain injury, Duncan is more convinced that they can be happy together.

This was an unconventional love story, filled with chaos and lies. The plot shifts so smoothly that it is twice as shocking and so unexpected.

The characters were both very well developed, with their identities very intertwined, almost uncomfortably.

Both Gina and Duncan had qualities that made them unlikable, though they were drawn together by such a force.

The scenery descriptions were beautiful, and the imagery used was very much a part of the story. I enjoyed the descriptions of Gina and Duncan's travels, the things they saw, and the places they stayed. It was very well done.

The twist in this story will quite literally slap you in the face and leave you speechless. I did not see it coming, and I did not expect the way things shifted.

Marriage is forever, much like madness.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster ​and NetGalley for providing me with an advanced copy of this book.
The End of Getting Lost had promise but I can't say I was in support of either character. It was problematic for my overall enjoyment of the story. Gina was far too self-centered and Duncan too weak. I'm all for an alternating story line; however, the characters didn't provide enough depth (as I said, leading to a problematic reading experience). I think I wanted the story to be better than it was. Massive pro were the various European cities! Loved that element.

3.5 Stars!

Gina Reinhold and Duncan Lowy are on a belated honeymoon in Europe. Or at least we think they are. She’s had an accident while there and her memories are vague. Are they really in love? What is Duncan hiding? What does Gina really remember? Is she hiding something too? I questioned it all, not really sure if I should be rooting for them as a couple. He was obviously keeping things from her, but so was she. Told in dual POV, each chapter gave you the slightest leanings either way. Love or obsession? To what lengths will they go to make the marriage work and prove to those who said it never would that it will and can? Some of those lengths are extreme. Some scenes are even over the top. They both struggle with independence, separating themselves from their families. The title is apt, both Duncan and Gina are lost to some extent and need to be found. It was quite an interesting read, never really a complete thriller or romance, but kept me engaged and reading until it was through.

Oh, I am so disappointed by this one. I think it was a case of expectations hurting my reality of this book. It was so slow, to the point where I considered putting it down a few times. This is not the psychological suspense I thought it would be, despite having an element of mystery. I thought it was almost noir, a literary character study. I liked where it ended up, but it took too long to get there for me. I can see the appeal of this though!

I am glad this book was over. I felt bad for the wife in this book, though she had her own secrets too. The husband is a despicable person as well. VERY UNLIKEABLE CHARACTERS!! I did like the dual POVs and the you got a good chunk of the backstory in the more beginning of the book versus the end, but there were too many over bogged down details to keep my attention. Disappointng.

I liked the cover and the premise which made me request this. Other readers might enjoy this more than me. To each their own. I miss Mary HIggins Clark to be honest. She was the best!

Thanks to Netgalley, Robin Kirman, and Simon & Schuster for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Available: 2/15/22

This book remained in my queue for months, and I just couldn’t bring myself to finishing it. Maybe I’m in a slump and need a reading break, but this just wasn’t for me.

I thought this book was going to be predictable, but it really surprised me. I loved that they told you the whole backstory fairly early in the book instead of waiting until the end. The plot was really well paced and the characters were interesting.

This book was not really for me. It has very unlikeable characters who do things to each other that I can’t begin to understand. That said, this book was well written with a pacing that kept you wanting to read to find out what happens next. I’m giving it four stars, not for how I enjoyed or didn’t enjoy it, but for the author’s ability to spin a wild story. I’m sure it will do well with its audience.

I tried to get into this story but I really struggled. I ended up DNF'ing this title about 40% of the way through. I would possibly go back and finish this book at some point but it was not holding my attention.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an e ARC of this book.
Interesting premise that had promise. Unfortunately it became too bogged in details and took forever to get where it was going.

This book was certainly a different read, because it took place before cell phones, so it took my mind a little extra effort to get in that mode! Nevertheless, I really enjoyed this...the setting and the characters. Even though the amnesia story line is getting a little worn out in a lot of the books I have been reading lately, it didn't have an effect on me rating this 4 stars! Looking forward to more from this author!

Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC of this title. On the whole, I very much liked the premise of the book and the switches in narration between the two main characters. The book could have been very thrilling and very psychologically intriguing, but I feel it got too bogged down in less significant details, particularly in the sections that took place in the past. And then the ending felt super rushed.

;The End of Getting Lost is the story of Gina and her husband Duncan, who are on vacation. A vacation, during which, she has a fall and loses the last year of her memory. As the story unfolds from both of their perspectives, the reader is able to see the fear in not knowing all the details, and the fear of knowing them, depending on who you ask.
The book takes place before cell phones, so Duncan evades people looking for them without her knowledge, including Gina's father, Duncan's best friend, and a man named Graham. As the story unfolds, the reader learns the history of their relationship and how they got to where they are, and why Duncan is avoiding the people looking for them.
The book definitely had an interesting premise, and it kept my attention, but didn't capture it. Because of hearing both sides, it wasn't a book with a ton of plot twists and turns, so I would classify it more of a cozy mystery. A good book to read if you aren't in the mood for something stressful or too heavy.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Set in 1996 before cell phones makes this somewhat more interesting because our MCs can't get in touch with people as quickly as you can now. More of a psychological manipulation than a psychological thriller to me.

Duncan and Gina are in Europe in 1996, supposedly on a late honeymoon (not saying anything else bc I don't want to ruin the book). Both are not totally on the level with each other. What's a little lie here or there between husband and wife?

I have to say that Kirman got me with this book. I honestly was surprised when I got very close to the end. You may wonder why I only did 4 stars, of I was surprised. Well, the ending was to me just a little rushed. I would have liked a little more. Plus, I wanted an epilogue about what happened a year or so later. But, alas, I didn't get that. The main characters weren't very likeable either. They seemed immature to me. Overall though, it's a solid 4.

It publishes March 30, 2022

Thanks to Netgalley, Simon & Schuster and Kirman for the Kindle Version of the book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

The End of Getting Lost by Robin Kirman

It's 1996 and Duncan and his wife, Gina, are traveling Europe on a delayed honeymoon. Gina had a head injury not too long ago and needed rehab at a European facility. She's out now but still suffers from dizziness and huge gaps in her memories. Things are starting to come back to her in bits and pieces and she realizes her husband is being less than honest with her. As the evidence piles up, more memories become clearer.

It's obvious to us, too, that Duncan is being deceitful and hiding things, not only from Gina, but from friends and family. But Gina isn't on the up and up, either, revealing little about her returning memory, to Duncan. They both seem eager to stay on the move, landing in one place, with plans to sightsee, but then rushing off to another location.

Neither Duncan or Gina are likeable and seem mostly selfish and immature to me. But I really didn't find any of the characters likeable. Part of what keeps the mystery going in this story, besides the fact that both Duncan and Gina can't be trusted, is that there are no cell phones in 1996, which makes it easier to evade anyone who might be trying to communicate with either spouse. At first I was worried for Gina but then realized she can take care of herself just fine. By halfway into the story, I thought I had things mostly figured out and I was correct. I think this story might be of most interest to folks who enjoy watching the psychological manipulations by one or more of the characters in this book. This was in interesting buddy read with Jayme and DeAnn.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster and NetGalley for this ARC.

3 European amnesia stars

We meet Duncan and Gina in the late 1990s as they are in Europe for a belated honeymoon. They met at Yale and spent time in New York growing their careers in the arts.

It soon becomes clear that there are some problems with their relationship. Gina has suffered a head injury and has forgotten a big chunk of her recent past. She’s a dancer and has had a promising career while Duncan is a composer. It seems that Duncan is keeping quite a few secrets from Gina, and he sweeps her off to different cities when it seems she’s going to remember things or get answers from friends now in Europe.

The book alternates timelines as we see what’s going on in the present and then we get the backstory of the character’s lives. Will Gina remember her past, or can Duncan keep up the charade and keep her away from the truth? How far is he willing to go for the woman that he loves?

This one mostly kept my interest, but I never really developed strong affinity for either character. It did end on an interesting note, but it wasn’t enough to turn the tide on this book for me.

The End of Getting Lost by a new to me author Robin Kirman. I didn't know what to expect going into this storyline but it sounded intriguing. It was only a okay book for me but still glad I read it. I enjoyed the settings, the story did drag at times for but I kept reading it.