An absolutely beautiful book, so many heartbreaking but also heartwarming moments. Two women at different stages of life who help each other in very different ways, but who make each others lives better. The subject matter was tough for me for personal reasons, but at no point did I want to stop reading. Because you cared about the characters, you wanted to find out their stories, you wanted the answers and you knew that there may not be a 'happy ending' entirely, but what you did have at the end of this book was hope. It is a story that shows that bottling things up can fester, and that in the end, sharing the hardest things, those that weigh on you throughout your life, can bring you some peace, it just takes finding someone who will listen, show kindness and care and not judge. And when we unload ourselves of those things, we can make our lives better, or at least find some peace. A beautiful piece of writing! 4 stars.

Rating: 3.5 stars (rounded up to 4)I love the preimise of this book. The description and gorgeous cover drew me in right away!

The pacing felt a bit slow to me, and I’m sure that was intentional. However. I found myself wishing we could skip some of the mundane parts and get on with Annie’s story. I felt myself not wanting to read it a few times because the pace was a little slow.

I adored the characters. Henrietta gave me very strong The Maid vibes (by Anita Prose). I also loved Annie’s spunk and loved hearing her story. Her development and growth throughout the story was fun to witness in reference to it being put into a book.

I actually don’t typically enjoy books set in London for some reason, but I enjoyed this setting. You mostly felt like you were sitting in a cafe with Henrietta and Annie! The backstory was the perfect amount of mysterious.

My favorite part was the writing style. Everything flowed very well and wasn’t descriptive without the overuse of similes. I was shocked to discover this was a debut author. I am very excited to jump into more of her books!

A stunning novel of two very different women who are brought together by memories and a haunting mystery. I was first drawn in by the voice of Henrietta, who is reminiscent of Eleanor Oliphant and just as witty! Her personality juxtaposed with strong and colorful Annie made them a wonderful pair! As Annie's story unfolds, I became just as invested as Henrietta and finished the novel over just a couple days because I too had to find out what happened. Jo Leevers has written a fantastic study on grief, regret, the things we choose to leave behind... and the people we can never forget.

This was such a sweet and heartfelt read. The characters are lovable. The story sucks you in! It has great writing! Highly enjoyed!

This was a lovely heartwarming read just a little bit sad at times I loved Annie and Henrietta and could have read a bit more about them I feel it ended too soon

Tell Me How This Ends is not only a dramatic mystery, it's a book about sisters and the things we do in the name of love to protect them. When Henrietta takes a job at Rosendale Drop-In Centre for cancer patients as an interviewer and transcriber for The Life Stories Project she meets Annie, who is a patient there. As Annie tells Henrietta all the secrets she held inside and about her missing sister, they soon find out there was more to all that happened than what Annie thought. This book had me hooked from the first page. Thanks to author Jo Leevers, Lake Union Publishing, and NetGalley. I received a complimentary copy of this ebook. The opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.

Henrietta applies for a job as an interviewer and transcriber for other people life stories and having to strictly stick to facts and keep her emotions at arms length.
That is until Henrietta meets a terminally ill woman named Annie. The two ladies strike up a friendship as Annie delves into the most traumatic time in her life.
Annie reveals that her sister drowned in 1974 which Henrietta can't help wanting more being revealed...
But will this open up alot of unwanted dark truths being told?

This book was an enjoyable mystery. Kept me wanting more the further I got into the book. It's written in a way that you really get to know the characters within the book.
Loved how the book was written in multiple POV (Point of view.) Mainly between Henriette and Annie. Kept me guessing the entire time for the story to all come together..
Sensitive read in certain areas of the book and how tragic life can be at times. Would recommend to others.
#NetGalley #TellMeHowThisEnds

I received an ARC of this novel from Netgalley in exchange for an honest review.

An eccentric young woman obtains a job at an elder care center writing life story books for people to leave to their loved ones. She gets caught up in the mysterious tale of one dying woman and makes it her mission to sort out some parts of the story. The storyline is compelling, and the ending is perfection.

Wow! I just finished reading "Tell Me How This Ends" by Jo Leevers, and I couldn't wait to share my thoughts. The premise is totally unique, starting off with a job-seeking protagonist who's struggled to connect with others.

But get this—a chance encounter with a terminally ill patient and an unsolved family mystery changes everything. I found Henrietta's redemptive journey so touching, and can we talk about her parents? Total Dursley vibes! The twist at the end wasn't mind-blowing, but it definitely caught me off guard. And I'm always a fan when there is a lovable dog character, too.

But what really stole my heart was Henrietta's neurodivergent vibes—her blunt outlook and no-nonsense approach to life had me nodding along. Exploring the delicate balance between tact and honesty in end-of-life conversations was eye-opening. Give this one a read, mamas—it's a heartfelt journey you won't want to miss!

Beautifully written, wise, often funny, and very moving, I loved Jo Leevers debut. Annie and Henrietta show that it’s never too late to connect with others and bring meaning to even the most challenging parts of life. 'Tell Me How This Ends' also reminds us that, when it comes to the big problems, the deepest comfort and understanding may sometimes be found outside our immediate circle of family and friends. This is an incredibly hopeful book, emphasising the deep bonds we can forge with others, even in the darkest of times, when compassion fosters trust. A brilliant exploration of grief, friendship, and the ways in which we might live life to its fullest – whether we have one hour or one hundred years remaining. It will stay with me for a long time.

I adored this book, from the loveable characters who I instantly become invested in, a well written & easy to follow story that drew me in instantly & a lovely pace this book kept me interested from the beginning & throughout right till the very last page.

I received a copy of this novel from the publisher via NetGalley.

This features Henrietta, who takes up a new job interviewing people at the end of their lives and then turning their life stories into books for their families to keep. One of her clients is Annie, whose sister Kath disappeared, presumed drowned, when they were teenagers. Annie's husband died a couple of years ago, but she seems less troubled about that. Henrietta determines to find out what happened to Kath, and along the way she finds a friend in Annie and reveals some secrets about her own past.

I found this touching and I liked the 'unusual' Henrietta and her extremely anti-social dog, Dave. Henrietta is I think intended to read as being on the autism spectrum, but she develops as a character through the book and overcomes many of the limitations she has put on her life. I found this a quick read, although the shape of the plot got messy towards the end. I'm not sure we suddenly needed chapters from the perspective of Cerys. The resolution to the mystery of Kath's disappearance was convincing though.

Well-written with well-rounded main characters. I quite like the idea of the Life Story books too.

Absolutely charming, unique, well-done. So refreshing the premise of this book is SO UNIQUE. Enemy to lover tropes, etc. are so boring and over done. But this was wholly unique, very well-written, and interesting.

3.5 stars ⭐️

“Grief is the price we pay for Love” 💔

Henrietta lives by a strict set of rules and routines, which are meant to keep her safe. But, they also keep her on the sidelines of life, observing rather than participating, with just her equally unsocial dog, Dave for company.

That is one reason why she applied for her new job.

Henrietta’s new position may not be everyone’s dream job, but it’s perfect for her-with no team building exercises or team targets. All she has to do is transcribe the memories of terminally ill patients and turn them into “Life Story books” which they can leave to their loved ones upon their passing. No time to get too attached, or disappointed.

Or, so she thought.

But Annie Doyle refuses to fill out the questionnaire, preferring instead to use her book to remember her sister-Kathleen Doyle, 18, last seen on the 21st of December, 1974. Kathy’s clothes had been found beside the Grand Union Canal, folded in a neat pile. Police didn’t bother to wonder what happened to her then, nor has anyone but Annie, wondered what had happened to her, since.

But, how can Henrietta put together a proper story when there are so many loose ends?

Henrietta may be a “failed librarian” but she learned how to conduct research in her past career, and she decides to seek answers for Annie, since nobody else ever has.

During the process, she may be able to offer Annie a new perspective on the events of her life and in turn, she will be given a fresh take on the events that have shaped her own life, as well.

The story is actually more uplifting than depressing, but unfortunately for me, the denouement of what happened to Kathleen was so similar to another book that I recently read, that I was feeling déjà vu, and that is probably why it didn’t have the emotional impact for me, that others have felt.

Still, it’s a story that should please readers who love a heartwarming story with a quirky protagonist, and it’s available now!

Thank You to Lake Union Publishing for the gifted copy. It was my pleasure to offer a candid review!

This cannot be dismissed as just any debut novel. The title got me intrigued and as I started reading the book, I loved the writing style and the story. The author has narrated a beautiful tale of loss, terminal illness, sorrow and heartbreak in a beautiful and capturing manner.

The story is about Henrietta who works at a hospital grief center that is engaged in writing life stories of terminally ill patients. She comes across Annie during a session and is encaptured by her past and the unresolved mystery in it. In spite of her boss' repeated warnings to not get personally invested in a client's personal life, Henrietta falls into Annie's interesting life head on. Not only that, she also decides to solve the mystery that has been disturbing Annie since she was 18.

The rest is a roller coaster of emotions and how mystery is finally solved.

The characters are so beautifully written that one cannot help but fall in love them. Also the writing style is very simple yet beautiful. A definite 5 star read.

Tell Me How This Ends by author Jo Leevers is about a woman named Henrietta. She’s a strange, quirky kind of lady that made me think of Eleanor Oliphant. She’s an introvert who gets hired to write the life stories of people just before it’s time for them to pass. These books are meant to bring comfort to the family and friends after they have lost their loved ones. It’s a strange job but it made for some interesting reading! One day she meets Annie, a very old lady that has quite the story to tell. She once had a sister that suddenly came up missing and was believed to have drowned. Annie has lived a horrible life, she lived with an abusive husband that was keeping secrets. Henrietta takes a liking to Annie and takes it upon herself to investigate into the disappearance of Annie’s sister. She’s actually really good at it, almost as if she’s a real private investigator. She ends up tracking down the missing sister but finds she has already passed away. But she does find the sisters daughter and is able to reunite her with Annie just before Annie passes away. Being able to give these answers to Annie about what happened to her long lost sister brings her peace. And between this job and the friendships that Henrietta makes while doing it, changes her whole outlook on life. She becomes more outgoing, happy and normal so to speak. This was a really enlightening story and I enjoyed it a lot. I’d like to thank NetGalley for the arc to read and review. This is a book I would recommend and I’m giving it a 4 star rating.

Four lives full of regret, missed opportunities, lost family bonds. Abuse and false guilt took reign, but nobody talks about it - until Henrietta starts Annie's Life Story Book. Slowly she uncovers all those things, Annie's finally glad to get rid of what she knows, but she doesn't know all there is. And Henrietta finding friendship for the first time since a tragic accident when she was a child.
It's no good keeping things under wraps and enduring unsufferable circumstances for the sake of superficial peace.

Great Debut Novel.
What a great story. It had me hooked from page one.
Its a story of two women who become friends.

Henrietta starts a job as a "This is your life" transcriber when she meets Annie.
It takes them a while for them to trust each other because they are dealing with very sensitive topics.
This book has mystery, friendship, love and all kinds of emotions. I wish there truly was someone like Henrietta for everyone. I would love to know stories from my families past.

Thank you NetGalley for allowing me to receive this book and review.

An emotional story of grief and loss, a lifetime of grief and.regret. The characters were well written and I cared about them. A beautiful book by an author whose books I look forward to reading in the futute.

Tell Me How This Ends - Jo Leevers

A beautifully written story about Henrietta, a little bit quirky, socially awkward and definitely set in her ways (she buys exactly the same food items from
Poundland each week), who takes a job as a transcriber, where she is tasked with interviewing terminally ill patients and writing their life story for their loved ones to remember them by.

When Henrietta meets Annie, who has only weeks left to live, she discovers that Annie’s life doesn’t fit the standard interview template.

Widowed after an unhappy and controlling marriage, Annie starts to tell Henrietta about the death of her sister, Kath, in 1974 and how the mystery of her drowning was never solved. Henrietta is intrigued by Annie’s past and it forces her to confront her own uncomfortable memories.

Exploring domestic violence, control, guilt, friendship, grief and regret, this is a great debut from Jo Leevers.
The book is engaging from the start with great characters and depth. I really enjoyed it and it reminded me in some ways of The Cactus and Eleanor Oliphant.

A beautifully written story about Henrietta, a little bit quirky, socially awkward and definitely set in her ways (she buys exactly the same food items from
Poundland each week), who takes a job as a transcriber, where she is tasked with interviewing terminally ill patients and writing their life story for their loved ones to remember them by.

When Henrietta meets Annie, who has only weeks left to live, she discovers that Annie’s life doesn’t fit the standard interview template.

Widowed after an unhappy and controlling marriage, Annie starts to tell Henrietta about the death of her sister, Kath, in 1974 and how the mystery of her drowning was never solved. Henrietta is intrigued by Annie’s past and it forces her to confront her own uncomfortable memories.

Exploring domestic violence, control, guilt, friendship, grief and regret, this is a great debut from Jo Leevers.
The book is engaging from the start with great characters and depth. I really enjoyed it and it reminded me in some ways of The Cactus and Eleanor Oliphant.

4 ⭐️ Thanks to Netgalley, the author and the publisher for an ARC in return for an honest review.