Tell Me How This Ends by Jo Leevers was a wonderful debut.

Jo crafts a story of heart that is told so well. I was immediately pulled into these characters story.
The characters are all relatable and they draw you into this very creative, cleverly written story.
The author does a wonderful job with her clever writing of the story.
I found her writing style to be engaging, and the pacing of the story is excellent.
I’m excited for the next book already.

"I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own."

Thank You NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for your generosity and gifting me a copy of this amazing eARC!

4.5⭐️ rounded up.

Tell and How This Ends tells the story of Henrietta, who begins working for the Life Stories Project, and meets Annie, a dying woman who wants to share her story at last.

The two spend time together and discover some similar past traumas, developing a friendship and revealing long-buried secrets.

This is a poignant and lovely, if at times sad, story, with some nice character development along the way- Henrietta especially proved an endearingly awkward character.

* I received an ARC of this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

Amazing read. I really enjoyed this one. Its my first read by this author but I don't think it will be my last!

Tell Me How This Ends was a great debut novel written by Jo Leevers. The premise of this story was unlike anything I’ve ever read before.

Henrietta begins working for a business who transcribes people’s life stories. Within her first few days on the job, she meets Annie. Annie is an older woman who is dying of cancer. During their first meeting, Annie mentions her sister’s unsolved disappearance from many years before. Henrietta latches onto this piece of Annie’s story, and makes it her mission to figure out what happened to Annie’s sister.

As the story unfolds, you can’t help but love the connection Annie and Henrietta share. Tell Me How This Ends is a story of unexpected friendship and family. While I enjoyed the book overall, I did think it was a little slow to start. With that being said, I would still recommend this sad, yet feel-good, heartwarming book.

Thank you NetGalley for giving me the chance to read Tell Me How This Ends!

*TW for cancer and domestic abuse*

Im nearing the end of my vacation...

I have been away for just about 5 days and I have read over 10 books . I know this might sound wild but this is my vision of the perfect vacation. I can also say that so far, Tell Me How This Ends, has been amongst my favorites.

This story was absolutely heartbreaking. I felt every emotion possible and found myself tearing up quite often. The character development was so on point, I started talking about the characters as real people. The mystery elements also kept me well engaged and interested in what had actually happened to Annie's sister all those years ago.

Jo Leevers is a true storyteller and Tell Me How This Ends, makes that clear! I am extremely excited to see what comes next! I have become an instant fan.

Tell Me How This Ends, is FREE on kindle unlimited (run!!!) , this is a book you do not want to miss.

Teaser:

Can Henrietta find out what happened to Annie’s sister—before it’s too late?

Haunted by the past, Henrietta throws herself into a new job transcribing other people’s life stories, vowing to stick to the facts and keep emotions at arm’s length. But when she meets the eccentric and terminally ill Annie, she finds herself inextricably drawn in. And when Annie reveals that her sister drowned in unexplained circumstances in 1974, Henrietta’s methodical mind can’t help following the story’s loose ends…

Unlike Henrietta, Annie is brimming with confidence—but even she has limits when it comes to opening up. Ever since that terrible night when her sister left a pile of clothes beside the canal and vanished, Annie has been afraid to look too closely into the murky depths of her memories. When her attempts to glide over the past come up against Henrietta’s determination to fill in the gaps, both women find themselves confronting truths they’d thought were buried forever—especially when Henrietta’s digging unearths a surprising emotional connection between them.

Could unlocking Annie’s story help Henrietta rewrite the most devastating passages in her own life? And, in return, can she offer Annie a final twist in the tale, before it’s too late?

Henrietta starts a job transcribing terminal patients' life stories and meets Annie, whose sister disappeared nearly 40 years prior. Annie wants to get rid of all the bad memories before she dies, but Henrietta is hung up on finding out what happened to the sister. This was good, not great. I enjoyed it overall, but maybe I shouldn't read terminal cancer stories right now? 3 stars.

A nice easy read. The story was compelling, and I really enjoyed the main characters. This was definitely an interesting topic.

I have real mixed feelings about this book.
There were times when reading when I was completely hooked, and it felt really cosy and warm - and then there were other times when it was like I completely glazed over and the pacing was super slow and a bit dull.

The main premise of this book was really intriguing to me, and I love the idea of the 'grief cafe' and the books being written - how come there isn't anything like this in the real world?! I'd love to do it!!!
But I just thought the book had too many plot points that it didn't really execute any of them brilliantly. There was a lot going on, and I think with less subplots I would have been more engaged.

Overall I enjoyed reading this, but only certain parts will stay with me and I keep thinking about - the rest of the book has already left my brain...

I'm so grateful I was given an arc of this novel! What an intriguing book!

This cozy mystery is told from multiple POVs but mostly focuses on Henrietta and Annie. Henrietta takes on a new job turning people's life stories into books before they die but quickly turns into an unlikely detective when she meets Annie, who has a mystery buried in her past. Annie has been haunted by her sister's disappearance for years and feels terrible guilt for never finding out what really happened to her.

Throughout seven interviews, Henrietta becomes addicted to Annie's story of her sister, even ignoring her job's careful structure as she uses her personal time to do her own investigations into the case. The person Henrietta becomes is far different from the person she thought she was at the beginning of the story, and in the best way!

What I love about this story is how every interview revealed some aspect of the mystery, even when the story did not seem to be about Anne's sister. Leevers kept me guessing what actually happened and who was really involved! The way this story came together did not disappoint!

This is a wonderful, emotional story of two women who become unlikely friends.
The world is crashing down on Annie and time is of the essence for her.
Henrietta has started a job as a "This is your life" transcriber where these two ladies meet.
Trust is very slowly gained for both of them as they share some very difficult topics.
There is heartbreak, mystery, love, friendship and closure as each chapter alternates between them to give us perspective on their thoughts and fears as the weeks progress.

This debut novel will stay with me for a long time since does anyone actually know how long we will be here on earth?
My takeaway? Perhaps we all need to find a Henrietta to help us divulge our past for people who care about us will one day read.
Thank you to @NetGalley and to @Amazon Publishing UK for this stunning ARC and for allowing me to read and provide my own review.

Henriette and Annie are brought together after Henriette starts transcribing. She hears Annie's tale of her missing sibling and is determined to help.

This one wasn't my favorite. I was expecting more suspense from the get-go, but that's not what this book is. I think maybe there could've been a longer prologue/intro that could've hooked readers more.

Henrietta has just got a new job for a charity who write the life stories of terminal patients. One of the first people she meets at the Grief Cafe is Annie who doesn't have much time left and has a lot of life to tell Henrietta about. What she wasn't expecting was for Henrietta to become so invested in Annie's life, particularly what happened to her sister when she went missing at 17, that she would set out to get Annie some answers before she dies.

This was an absorbing page-turner that had two brilliant characters that you can't help but root for. They are just what each other need at this point in their lives and it was heartwarming to see their stories unfold together. I also have to give a shout out to Dave the dog who I am glad found his calling too!

Tell Me How This Ends by Jo Leevers is a novel that revolves around mortality and how we have lived our lives. The book follows Henrietta, who throws herself into a new job transcribing other people's life stories, vowing to stick to the facts and keep emotions at arm's length. However, when she meets the eccentric and terminally ill Annie, Henrietta finds herself inextricably drawn in. Annie reveals that her sister drowned in unexplained circumstances in 1974, and Henrietta's methodical mind can't help following the story's loose ends.

Henrietta is relatable and her character alone got me enamored until the end. However, I feel like the ending was all of a sudden because I wanted more of Henrietta's story! The author's writing style makes the it an enjoyable read. Despite the potentially depressing subject matter, the author manages to make the stories positive and light.

Overall, Tell Me How This Ends is delightfully written debut novel that covers some difficult topics. The author did a very good job handling the sensitive topics. It is a novel that is sure to resonate with readers and is recommended for those who enjoy stories that explore the human condition.

This was an okay read. Some of this was incredibly interesting and mysterious and the rest of it was meh at best. Writing style wasn't my favorite and it was hard to keep my attention on the story.

I love this book! It is so absorbing that I had to stay up half the night to finish. I love the concept of the Grief Cafe and Life Stories Project in the present, as well as the characters and sisters' mystery from the past. The story has themes of shame and trauma along with friendship, reconciliation and the power of examining one's family lineage. What a great debut novel! I highly recommend this. Thanks to NetGalley for the ARC. #TellMeHowThisEnds #NetGalley

Well, I think this might just be the easiest 5 stars I have given this year so far. Henrietta and Annie will now forever hold a place in my heart (and my head - I can't seem to shake them!)

For me, the friendship between these two women is what sets this book apart from the rest. It's so relatable and real. Small moments in the novel, silent moments, moments that made me pause and take a breath allowed me to really feel the emotion behind the words. I found myself watching for the words unsaid as well as those so perfectly crafted on the page.

I am really looking forward to interviewing Jo for my upcoming podcast so we can delve into all the delicate ways she managed to discuss grief, abuse and friendship in a way that made these characters dig in and set up home within my mind.

A truly superb debut. Accomplished, delicate, raw and real.

Big thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Henrietta has a new job transcribing the Life Stories of cancer patients – and she vows to carry it out without getting emotionally involved. But then she meets Annie, whose life story hinges on an unsolved crime from 1974 - and Henrietta finds herself drawn into a murky past. Can she solve the mystery before it’s too late?
I hope readers enjoy Tell Me How This Ends. Thanks for the lovely reviews on here so far.

A wonderful heart-warming and life-affirming novel.

I absolutely loved this book-it's a beautifully written gentle story, about socially reclusive Henrietta, who starts a new job writing down the life stories of terminally sick people, to turn into books for their loved ones, and Annie, an eccentric patient, who has tragedy in her story-her twin sister drowned in circumstances still unexplained many years later. Dealing with a secret from her own past, Henrietta throws herself into solving the mystery for Annie before it's too late.

With shades of Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine meets 100 Years of Leni & Margot, this novel draws you into the lives of its characters, making you care deeply about them and their stories whilst keeping you guessing about what really happened on the fateful night that Annie describes.

A wonderfully crafted debut from a fantastic new writer.

Jo Leever’s debut is about grief, loss, and regret. But as I tumbled into the story of Henrietta and Annie, I quickly realized it’s also a beautiful meditation on forgiveness, friendship, and living life to the fullest.

When she starts work at a drop-in clinic for cancer patients transcribing their life stories, Henrietta isn’t exactly known for her empathy—or social graces. Annie is terminally ill and desperate to offload the secrets of her painful past. When the two meet, an unlikely friendship forms, one that re-opens a decades-old unsolved myster and pushes both women to share the unseen parts of themselves.

The mystery is compelling and will keep you turning the pages, but it’s the characters that stay with you after the end. I found both Henrietta and Annie so lovable despite their flaws (or perhaps because of their flaws), and the author does an incredible job differentiating their voices on the page. Overall, Tell Me How It Ends is a heartwarming and compelling read.

A lovely novel about the stories we tell each other and the ones we tell ourselves. Henrietta and Annie are compelling and relatable in their character quirks and long-held beliefs about themselves and their worlds, and following along as the two women interact to sometimes strengthen and sometimes dispel these beliefs creates a story that’s at once tense and emotional and hopeful. I loved it!