Riley Sager meets M.L. Rio’s If We We’re Villains is a highly apt description for this dark academia novel.
It has the same suspense and thrills of Sager’s works, and the prestigious college setting/group of Rio’s.

But that’s where the similarities end. Don’t go into this book thinking about Shakespearean prose or theatre performances. This group of PhD students don’t act on the stage, they’re all pretending/hiding something in real life too.

This Is How We End Things may be slow to start, and can be a little clunky in some passages and dialogue, but the story is quite engaging. I’ve always enjoyed psychology, from the physical (eg brain develop) to behavioural, and of course social aspects. The questions of why people do the things they do has infinite answers and while morally grey, the Deception experiment sounded interesting (if delivered a little drily).

Once things began to heat up though, and by heat up, I mean murder, the story really starts to take off. The last half of the book is definitely better than the first half.

Many red herrings, many false trails, many insinuations planted, many histories covered up.

There were some disappointments though. Going by the blurb I thought the snow storm would have played a bigger part. And that the group would be tight-knit, like in If We Were Villains. And the head hopping was a little frustrating at the beginning, took some time for me to get into the rhythm of who was who and where.

Still though, I enjoyed it and am grateful to R.J. Jacobs, Sourcebooks Landmark and NetGalley for the opportunity to read an arc of this book.

This is How We End Things by R.J Jacobs follows a group of graduate students who are studying the psychology of deception. Soon one is dead, and the others become instant suspects.

The premise of this book drew me in immediately, personally loving dark academia-esque plots. Within the first few pages my mind was already spinning trying to see if I could piece the puzzle together, thinking I knew what was going on. After the first bit, the middle seemed to drag a little, and I found myself putting the book down a lot to go back to later. However, the end of the book really picked up, as more puzzle pieces were revealed and they started to click together.

I felt as though too much of the excitement and adrenaline was squished into the last little bit. This left me to question if the whole book had been enjoyable, or if the last action packed moments gave me a hit of dopamine that always leaves me satisfied in a thriller. In the end, I decided that this is definitely worth a read. It may not be as bingeable as some other thrillers, but I think fans of the genre will be generally happy that they picked it up.

I'd like to note that I think this would be great in an audio format, and could also 100% see it working as a movie or mini-series! Dakota Johnson as Scarlett, Penn Badgley as Robert,
Amanda Seyfried as Elizabeth, Will Poulter as Chris, Kristen Steward as Britt and, Eric Dane as Joe. Add in Brie Larson unironically as Officer Larson, Jeff Bridges as Officer King, and Miles Teller as Mark and I'm sold!
3.25/5

This psychological thriller follows a group of graduate students studying the psychology of lying. When one of them is discovered dead, they all become suspects.
Good quick read. Recommended for fans of the genre.

* I received an advanced reader’s copy of this book from NetGalley and SOURCEBOOKS Landmark, Sourcebooks Landmark in exchange for my honest review.

Thank you to @suzyapprovedbooktours for having me along for this tour, and to the publisher for my #gifted copy!


𝐓𝐡𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬:
I am such a HUGE fan of R.J. Jacobs and his books, and this one did not disappoint! This is one of those books that you can easily binge read in a few hours, which was the case for me. I loved the premise of the book and thing that R.J. did such an amazing job with developing the characters, and the setting which takes place at a university. This was a fun read that plays out like a locked room mystery, with many questionable suspects-which I loved! This is full of secrets and lies, and questionable characters. R.J. did a great job with creating an eerie feeling and atmosphere throughout, and including just the right amount of suspense and mystery throughout to keep me on the edge of my seat. However, I will say that the culprit was pretty easy to guess, so that was the only downfall. Overall, I enjoyed this dark academia whodunit and highly recommend it as well as any of R.J.’s previous books!

𝐖𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐨𝐧𝐞?
Any one who enjoys thrillers with a dark academia setting and a great whodunit read should pick this one up!

𝐌𝐲 𝐑𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠:
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️4/5

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with this copy to review.

"This is How We End Things" by R.J. Jacobs is a gripping thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat from the very first page. With its masterful storytelling, complex characters, and a plot filled with unexpected twists, Jacobs has crafted a compelling narrative that is sure to satisfy fans of the genre.

The story follows Dr. Malcolm Roth, a brilliant psychologist who specializes in treating patients with extreme phobias. He is haunted by a tragic incident from his past that has left him emotionally scarred. When he is approached by the enigmatic yet charming FBI agent, Laura Fourreau, to assist in a peculiar case involving a young woman named Sara who has a debilitating fear of the dark, Malcolm is drawn into a web of mystery and danger that he could never have imagined.

One of the strengths of this novel is the depth of its characters. Malcolm is a flawed protagonist, struggling with his own demons while trying to help his patients confront their fears. Sara is a complex character in her own right, and her phobia becomes a central element of the story, adding a unique psychological dimension to the plot. The dynamic between Malcolm and Sara is both intriguing and emotionally charged, making their interactions a highlight of the book.

Jacobs excels at building suspense and tension throughout the story. The pacing is well-balanced, with each chapter unveiling a new layer of the mystery. As the narrative unfolds, the reader is constantly left guessing about the true nature of the threat and the motives of the characters involved. The author skillfully weaves together elements of psychological horror and thriller, creating a narrative that is as psychologically engaging as it is thrilling.

The plot is filled with unexpected twists and turns, and just when you think you have it all figured out, Jacobs throws another curveball your way. The resolution of the mystery is both satisfying and thought-provoking, leaving the reader with lingering questions about the nature of fear and the human psyche.

However, one minor drawback of the novel is that some of the secondary characters are not as well-developed as the main protagonists. While this doesn't detract significantly from the overall enjoyment of the story, a bit more depth to these characters could have added further dimension to the narrative.

In conclusion, "This is How We End Things" is a compelling thriller that combines elements of psychological suspense with a well-crafted mystery. R.J. Jacobs demonstrates his skill in creating complex characters and a plot that keeps you guessing until the very end. If you're a fan of psychological thrillers with a unique twist, this book is definitely worth a read. It's a thought-provoking and suspenseful journey into the darkest corners of the human mind.

WOW. This book was incredible - I was hooked from the start. There were so many twists, so many tricks (red herrings galore - a mystery readers dream LOL) - whatever I thought or expected to happen, didn’t (+ normally I’m pretty good at predicting plots/storylines). I was on the edge of my seat for the entire book, hence why I finished in 3 days - I could not put this down. And the ending! The action in the last ~50 pages had my heart racing so fast. The way @rjjacobs tied this story together is so impressive - everything connects + makes sense, there were no questions left unanswered.

Actually, my only question is - WHEN is this going to be made into a series/movie?! I’ve already started thinking about actors to cast LOL.

I HIGHLY recommend this book! + I am SO looking forward to reading more from @rjjacobs !

Thank you to @netgalley + @sourcebooks for this eARC!

When picking up This Is How We End Things, I had a strong memory of watching Urban Legend. Remember that university scene? They're all discussing horror and urban legends themselves and Joshua Jackson pops a packet of Pop Rocks in his mouth and swallows down a swig of Pepsi, following it up with his pantomimed death.

With the university/academia setting in this book and the experiments on lying and its impacts on people, I expected a similar vibe. There's a ton of super-interesting academic experiments gone awry - the Stanford Prison Experiment was another. So, yeah, immaculate vibes.

I'm not sure that this book really delivered on the promises of the description, unfortunately. What I thought was going to be a cool exploration of lying and how it can be used for both good and evil turned into what read like a really confusing police procedural for me. It was so coded that way I went to check that this was a standalone novel and not the beginning of a series about a police officer.

For me, the lying experiments were the selling point and... barring an early scene that directed your attention at a specific character for a possible culprit of the inevitable murder, there really wasn't anything toothsome to that part of the plot.

From then on, we're introduced to a variety of characters who, frankly, I found indiscernible from each other for the most part. I had to flip back when our victim was discovered because in the next chapter (oh yes, too may alternating POVs here) that character was suddenly alive, it felt like. But no - that's just how each perspective read.

Was it a good time? Sure. It wasn't bad. This was fine, but I do think it struggled from a cool cover and plot with contents that didn't exactly deliver.

Graduate psychology students are involved in an experiment in lying and deception, when one of the participants has an outburst during a session. After feeling the experiment may be compromised, Professor Joe Lyons decides to put the experiment on hold for the time being. He is met with opposition from his students for the decision. Later that evening, the only student that had his back is brutally killed. The only people that had access to the building she was found in are her fellow psychology students. As the police dive into the investigation, the readers get a glimpse that all of the students have their own secrets. Secrets that may or may not have led them to murder. Joe thinks he might have remembered something that would aid in the investigation. But does he have something that will help, or does it just add more questions?

Definite dark academic, psychological thriller with a twist at the end. A bit of a slow burn start, but once it got going it definitely held my attention. I always enjoy a book where the various characters all seem to have something to hide. It keeps me guessing at who the murderer could be. Especially when I have a strong feeling for one character and then my opinion totally changes with more information about another character. The story is told by different POVs for the different chapters, which I like. It gives the reader a chance to learn a little about each character that wouldn't always be as obvious with a singular narrator.

This book takes place during a spring break at college when a late season snowstorm hits, so will be a perfect cold weather read for mood readers like me. It's also set in a fictional college town in North Carolina. I love anything set in my home. Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark publishers for this digital ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I was hooked from page one.

I enjoyed the writing style, characters, and pacing for this book…I definitely felt the “if we were villains” vibe but might have enjoyed these characters a little more. I appreciated how information about the students background and relationships were only disclosed when it was to drive the story forward…and honestly, I still am unsure about how I feel about them as people.

I had an idea of where things were heading at about the 50% mark, but I was still on the edge of my seat until things were resolved and enjoyed the events that led up to the conclusion.

3.5 This was my first book by R.J. Jacobs. It is a dark academia suspense novel centering around six students studying the "psychology off lying" theme, which I am not sure I knew when I requested it. I was very drawn in by the prologue, someone confesses a murder in the first pages. But I had a hard time transitioning to the rest of the book after that and it took me some time to get back into it. All of our students have secrets to hide and it was a quick read that kept me turning the pages. Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an advance e-copy in exchange for my honest opinion. This is How We End Things will be available on 9/12/23.

I loved the psychological aspect, as I was a psychology student and can get really into that. The plot took me some time to get into. THere seemed to be so many characters in the beginning and it was hard for me to follow.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

3.5 stars

This was my first read by R.J. Jacobs and I enjoyed it. In my opinion, the subject matter was unique and I thought the inclusion of psychology was well thought out. Although it was a little slower to start, I found the plot to be interesting and I enjoyed the writing style. I do think there were times when the story dragged, but I was never bored. I wasn't totally blown away by the reveal, but that didn't hinder my enjoyment of this book. I look forward to reading more of the author's work.

3.5 STARS

R.J. Jacobs has quickly become a favorite author of mine in the psychological thriller genre. As someone who has firsthand experience in psychology, his books give off the authentic vibe of someone who knows what they’re talking about, all while making it feel less text book and more armchair detective. While this wasn’t my favorite of the author’s books, as the culprit felt more obvious in this story than his previous ones, he does a fantastic job of creating a cool atmosphere that plunges the reader directly into the setting. If you’re looking for a reliable read, give this one a shot.

3.25 stars

Marketed as Riley Sager meets "If We Were Villains", this is a dark academia murder mystery set on a snowed-in college campus in North Carolina, where six grad students are studying the psychology of lying. Binge-reading this in a few hours led to me having weird stress dreams that I was back in college and being told I had to transfer from NC State even though I didn't want to, so that was fun. Go Pack.

The prologue of this was the transcript of a past psychological evaluation with a sociopath, and I was instantly intrigued. Don't judge me. It then segues into present day, where the six grad students conducting morally questionable experiments to study the psychology of lying and if they can prompt it in subjects by manipulating them into mental duress. This topic was something that I was hoping would be a lot more prevalent in the book, as it was such a fascinating concept. It was really used as a backdrop more than anything else, and had little bearing on the overall mystery, other than highlighting that each of the six had their own secrets to hide, and the research on exactly how to do so. Almost every character got a POV, though, and while it was interesting to get to see everyone's perspectives, I didn't feel like I got enough time with any of them to get attached to any one character, despite some of them having really compelling backstories.

I love a good locked-door mystery, which was what I was expecting here, but that's not exactly what it ended up being. The setting was great, I loved the small town NC vibes, but the snowed-in part didn't occur until after the first dead body showed up, and things happened at multiple locations.

Overall, this was a fun, quick read with eerie winter vibes, and I recommend it if you like dark academia and thrillers! I loved the concept, but only liked the execution, if that makes sense.

Thank you to NetGalley, the publishers, & the author for the advance copy in exchange for my honest review.

I love that This Is How We End Things by @rjjacobs75 is set in North Carolina and that it involves research. I’m a born & raised Charlottean and have a Master’s of Science in Clinical Research Management from the Wake Forest School of Medicine, so this psychological thriller was right up my alley!🖤 Even if you don’t have a background in NC or research, I still highly recommend grabbing and reading this book.

I switched back and forth between the book and the audiobook. You can’t go wrong with either one; the audiobook is well narrated. The story involves a research study being run by graduate psychology majors and explores lying and deception. However, a member of the research team is murdered and it seems everyone has something to hide. The story is told from multiple POVs and is a fast paced read with excellent twists!

Thank you @bookmarked @highbridgeaudio and @netgalley for allowing me to read and listen to this book and audiobook ahead of publication in exchange for my honest review.

There is a fine line between a lie and the truth? Here are reasons to read this thriller book:

Psych Experiment - At a college in North Carolina, 6 students are conducting a psych experiment study

Grad Program - hoping to publish some findings in their papers for their PHD

Multiple POV - we follow a series of events which changes everything from many of the grad students POVs as well as a detective who is investigating

Lies - because everyone lies, and some people may kill to hide their secrets

If you are looking for something in dark academia to kick off the fall, this might be one to pick up. The action is so intriguing and I really couldn’t put it down. I did guess the ending pretty early on because it is a “locked door” mystery and there really is only a finite amount of people among the suspects. However, go into it just for the thrill of losing yourself in the story, and you may really like where it’s taking you.

3.5 stars rounded up.

On a college campus bracing for a snow storm, five graduate assistants are in the process of running a psychological study to determine the factors that would lead someone to lie. After a very heated situation with one of their test subjects, one of the graduate students is found murdered. As the storm rolls in and secrets begin to unravel, the local PD find themselves up against a ticking clock and a group of people trained to deceive.

THIS IS HOW WE END THINGS is my first read by R.J. Jacobs and I quite enjoyed it!

The academic setting was superb and the impending storm created such a nice atmosphere. I loved the jumping perspectives and I liked getting to know this cast of characters!

However, the psychology aspect of the story wasn’t fleshed out as much as I wanted it to be (and even felt random at times) and the reveal of the killer had me hoping for more.

Overall, a fun dark academia thriller that I would recommend.

Thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Publication Date: September 12

1.5 stars

Comparing a book to Riley Sager and If We Were Villains is both a surefire way to get me super hyped when picking up the book and to be massively disappointed when the book is literally nothing like either of those books.

To be fair, there is actually two similarities in that both If We Were Villains and This is How We End Things are set on college campus and feature six students doing controversial things under the supervision of an enigmatic professor. However, while If We Were Villains is a gripping character study that is full of tension, This is How We End Things is a fairly by-the-book murder mystery with far too many perspectives, a setup that is severely underutilized, and characters that are not particularly well-developed or interesting.

The idea of This is How We End Things is definitely interesting enough, which is why I will give it the one star for concept. However, its execution personally just did absolutely nothing for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Landmark for an ARC of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review!

Thanks to #NetGalley and #SourceBookLandmarks for the ARC #ThisIsHowWeEndThings by RJJacobs. This is a dark psychological thriller of who-done-it with a twisted ending. I was a little lost at times in the book, but it made sense in the ending.

Thank you NetGalley, Sourcebooks Landmark, and R.J. Jacobs for the advanced copy of This is How We End Things in exchange for my honest review.

I'm a big fan of all of Jacobs' books so far and his latest release is no exception. I loved getting POV chapters from so many of the different characters in the book, and I found the psychology aspect of the plot super interesting. I was also never quite sure who to trust and that made the ending very satisfying for me.

Jacobs has definitely cemented himself as an auto-buy author for me! Don't miss This is How We End Things on US bookshelves September 12.