Where You End, by Abbott Kahler

Short Take: For once, the big twist in a story about identical twins wasn’t the twist that’s ALWAYS in stories about identical twins.

(*I voluntarily read and reviewed an advance copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.*)

Happy New Year, my beloved Nerdlings! I’ve decided that instead of resolutions this year, I’m going to go with a sort of personal wishlist - learning things I’ve always wanted to learn, finding some small ways to treat my body better, spending more time with friends. Sort of a low calorie version of resolutions, if you will. I want to focus on some small tweaks to the whole mind-body-spirit thing, without setting myself up with big goals that I’ll probably fail.

And of course, to read and review more tasty books. I’ve been failing on the review front for a while - covid brain fog is a nasty lingering thing - but I want to try to get back into sharing my opinions with the six or so people who enjoy them.

So let’s start with Where You End, shall we? I’ll be honest - I thought this book looked pretty good when I saw it on Netgalley & requested it, then, when my request was approved, I asked myself what I was thinking. Books about identical twins (although Kat & Jude are mirror twins, identical but opposite) that promise a big twist always deliver the exact same twist. No, I’m not going to name it here, anyone who’s read more than like 2-3 thrillers about twins already knows it. So I was understandably annoyed with myself & ready to grumble & slog my way through this book to the oh-so-predictable ending.

Sometimes I love being wrong.

When Kat Bird wakes up from a coma with near-total amnesia, the only person she recognizes is her twin sister Jude. As soon as Kat is released from the hospital, Jude takes her in and begins to tell Kat about their shared past, as well as who Kat was as a person. But Jude has plenty of good reasons to lie…

As I said, this book did not go where I was sure it was going to go, and for that reason alone, it’s better than a lot of what’s out there. My big issue with Where You End, however, was the terribly uneven pacing. We flip back and forth between Kat in the present day, trying to remember herself and getting into various difficult situations, and Jude in the past, recounting their childhood and events leading up to the pivotal car accident.

But there are seemingly long stretches of not much happening, lots of extraneous details, vague hints about things actually happening, ruminations, observations, determinations, and then a bunch of stuff happens at once, then back to crawling sloooooooooooooooowly along toward the next event.

I also didn’t entirely buy into the characters. I understand that the ones who shared Jude & Kat’s upbringing would tend to be pretty black & white due to [spoiler], but others just seemed to lack nuance - they are saviors or bad guys.

All that said, I really felt like the story itself had a lot of originality, and the way many of the pieces came together in the end was beyond satisfying.

The Nerd’s Rating: FOUR HAPPY NEURONS (and a pickled human heart… for science.)

Where You End was an interesting read, though not as twisty for me as I had hoped. I liked the element of Kat pushing to find the truth of herself and the suspicious nature of the twins’ lives. Some things, like Kat’s relationship with Sab, felt entirely too convenient and fairly early on was making guesses that proved true for the twists. There is some interesting stuff here though, especially with the relationship of the twins and the cult.
Note: arc provided by the publisher via netgalley in exchange for honest reviews

This book had all the aspects that would typically hook me and not let me stop reading and yet I found myself distracted throughout this book. Overall, an ok revenge tale, but not one that will stay with me.
Thanks to Henry Holt Books and NetGalley for this ARC in return for my honest review. #arc #netgalley

A huge thank you to the author, NetGalley, and Henry Holt & Company for providing this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

TW: Cults, CSA, CSE, fighting/violence

I would describe this novel as a psychological character study with thriller elements, and would recommend it for readers who enjoy deep character/sibling relationships and converging storylines.

We follow the relationship of two near-identical twins, after a car crash that causes one to have almost complete amnesia (Kat) - with the only thing she remembers being her sister's name (Jude). She must work to piece together both her past and personality - but when Kat investigates, she realizes that there are inconsistencies in her sister’s stories. Meanwhile, we have occasional flashes to the past from the Jude’s POV - and we (as the reader) can piece together the larger story as told between them both.

This story creates more of a personality study between both of the sisters, and tests their trust and belief in one another. Can Kat really trust her sister, who has lied to her the entire time since her accident? Or should Kat trust her estranged family, who finds her after all these years, instead?

Personally, this book worked less for me as I could predict the story from around the 30% mark and was less invested in how the narrative unfolded. However, if you don’t wish for shocking twists of the narrative, then I think this book would work well for you.

I think one of my biggest issues was Kat’s personality. I understand she lost a great deal of herself due to the amnesia, but regardless she makes very questionable choices that I’m still shocked worked out well for her. For instance, Jude tells her not to leave their apartment when she’s gone, or to not leave their small block - both of which I find very reasonable requests when told to someone who has no memory of their life or how the world works. However, Kat makes the decision fairly early on to not only disobey this, but to follow a strange man she just met into the back room of a bar, filled with other men. Nothing happens because this random man is the love interest, but STILL.

I realize it tells us in the synopsis, but I was expecting this to be much more of a thriller with an unreliable narrator who doesn’t know who she can trust. This book tries to be, but with us having flashbacks to Jude’s memories growing up, we (as the reader) have too much information to doubt the sister, even when she is lying to Kat. I think a much more cohesive story might have only been told from Kat’s POV, where we only learn of things at the same time she does - but as it is, when the big twist is finally revealed to Kat, we already know about it, which takes away the impact.

If you like stories that revolve around cults with strong sibling relationships, with only a few thriller elements, then I would suggest this novel. I did not find any of the twists to be surprising, but I don’t think that is necessarily needed if the character building/relationships and interweaving of the past/present is something you enjoy in a story.

This debut fiction is a twisty, suspense novel. I think it's best to go in blind, so I won't elaborate on the plot beyond the synopsis. The alternating timelines and POVs set up a unique structure that feels a little off-kilter and add to the unnerving feel of the story.

I enjoyed the read, but I do think it should have been 20-25% shorter.

Thank you to #NetGalley and #HenryHolt for a free copy of #WhereYouEnd by Abbott Kahler. All opinions are my own.

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt Co. for the audio ARC! I initially requested this arc because the synopsis sounded so intriguing (mirror twins, one with amnesia, creepy/sinister vibes) and Megan Tusing is one of my favorite audiobook narrators.

This did not miss! 👏🏻 So fast paced and engaging, I was deeply intrigued and appreciated that everything wasn’t plainly spelled out. My mind was racing with possibilities and I couldn’t stop listening! I finished this in an evening and I don’t regret it. What a unique and captivating thriller!

Thank you to NetGalley, Abbott Kahler & Henry Holt for a digital ARC of Where You End.

This creepy cover instantly caught my attention and definitely sounded like something I needed to read!

Unfortunately, this one fell just a little flat for me and I'd rate it 3.5-Stars, rounded to 4-Stars for social media promotion.

After a horrible vehicle accident, Kat is left with no memories other than that of her mirror image twin sister Jude. She has to rely on Jude for literally everything to piece her life, that she cannot remember, back together. She soon discovers that Jude may be lying to her or at least lying by omission, so Kat sets out to discover the truth about who she is, what her life was like and why Jude is trying to hide it from her.

The cult-like storyline is becoming stale. I think, for me at least, that if the author had went another route as opposed to the cult-like storyline, it would have been much better. I also feel like we didn't dive too deep into either of the MC even though that was primarily the point of the story. The pacing was good & it kept me interested enough to not get bored with it, but big reveal moments just weren't big & not surprising.

I would still definitely pickup another book by this author. I saw potential that appealed to me, it just didn't quit fully develop with this one.

Thank you netgalley and Henry Holt and Co. for allowing me to read this book. This book was very interesting and different.

This was so good for a debut thriller from an author that has written strictly non-fiction as Karen Abbott.
Kat Bird barely survived a car accident a few weeks back, and her memory has been virtually erased. She can form sentences and understand when people talk to her, but the only person she recognizes is her twin sister, Jude. Slowly, Jude brings Kat up to date on the events that helped shape their lives: their' father's disappearance, their mother's date, their post-high school European vacation. But there are nagging inconsistencies in Jude's narrative. As Kat learns more about herself and as bits of memory fall into place, she begins to harbor doubts that Jude is being truthful. Couple this with newfound evidence of her own propensity for (and expertise at) violence, and Kate is shaken to her core. However much Kat thinks she knows, however much she is able to relearn, there is one person who knows her better: Jude.

*Special thanks to NetGalley and Henry Holt for this e-arc.*

This psychological thriller includes two twin sisters, Kat and Jude. Kat wakes up from a coma and does not remember anything or anyone except her sister, Jude. It's quickly suspected that Jude is hiding something from her while she is trying to uncover her memory of her past.
This story is very dark and intense once the past starts to unravel and things start to come to light. It was a bit confusing at some points, but definitely a unique story line.

3.25 Stars

This was different than what I thought it’d be going into it, but I still enjoyed it.

Kat wakes up from a coma with no knowledge of her past or who she is. The only thing she remembers is her twin, Jude, who is sitting beside her. As Jude helps Kat fill in the blanks of her past, things begin not to add up and Kat questions what is real.

Jude and her sister escaped from a cult and while she has to relive that trauma, she does what she can to prevent Kat from having to. Jude’s chapters are told about the past, and as the disturbing details come to light, you can see why she wanted to keep it from Kat. However, since we get the present (1983) told from Kat’s point of view, as a reader you will also begin to question what is the truth. There are times the author played into the “twins are creepy” stereotype and I’m left unsure if it was effective or unnecessary.

I think the setting was perfect for this book: 1970-1983 Pennsylvania. The era lends authenticity to the story and makes what happened believable for that time.

At the end, everything comes to a head, and we are left with the truth about Kat and Jude’s world and who they are. There were definitely things I didn’t see coming, but I was also left with questions.

I always find books like this one very hard to rate. Luckily, it looks like most people are having the same issue! How do you rate a book that is unique and interesting, but also confusing and campy?

Kat and Jude are set of strange identical twins; they are identical, but in mirror image (think dimples on different cheeks and hair parted differently). The book starts with Kat in a coma after a car accident. When she wakes up, she sees Jude and immediately recognizes her, but that’s about the only thing she remembers.

Now, it’s up to Jude to fill in the blanks for Kat. Who are their parents? What kind of childhoood did they have? Kat doesn’t even remember foods - what does she like to eat? To drink? Was she an athlete, a book nerd, a goth kid? She has nobody to tell her, except for Jude. Problem is, Jude is painting a rosy picture that has very little to do with the truth…

This bordered on having a YA feel, and I think that’s another reason why I think this one wasn’t for me. The plot was original, as were the characters, but overall there was just something missing. I know some twins have their own language, but theirs was annoying and childish. I do think this grew on me as it went along, but the beginning and end were the best parts - the middle was where it got a bit muddy. Still, this wasn’t a bad fiction debut. Three stars.

(Thank you to Henry Holt & Co., Abbott Kahler and NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my review. This book is slated to be released on January 16, 2024.)

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.
Where You End started off very strong and drew me in immediately. Why can’t Kat remember anything from her past other than her twin sister, Jude? Why is Jude lying to Kat? What is she trying to hide? I couldn’t wait to find out! Then about 1/3 of the way in, the tone and flow changed. It was almost as if the book switched genres from a psychological thriller to a more literary fiction. I became bored with the story the more I read. I’m glad the sisters got the closure they needed to move on, but this one wasn’t for me. ⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you to NetGalley and Henry Holt Co. Publishing for the opportunity to read and review an advanced copy of this book.

Imagine waking up with no memories, except for the face staring back at you - your twin sister. For Kat, Jude is her only anchor in a sea of unknowns. But as she relies on Jude to fill in the blanks, Kat starts to suspect that her sister's narrative is more fiction than fact. Their past, shrouded in a sinister cult's dark legacy, threatens to unravel Jude's carefully spun tale. With each thread Kat pulls, the facade unravels, revealing a childhood steeped in manipulation and deadly games. Can Kat unshackle the truth before it's too late? Will Jude's secrets destroy the one bond that can save them both?


Abbott Kahler's Where You End is a spellbinding narrative that will enthrall you from beginning to end. As intricate secrets unfurl, this gripping tale of revenge and moral nuance will keep you riveted and challenge your assumptions. Exquisitely penned and deliciously unsettling, this unforgettable story will linger with you long after the final page. Get ready for a thrilling odyssey that will push the limits of redemption and leave you breathless!

I was totally immersed in this book at its opening. I thought the premise was great - a twin who has lost all memory and the other twin building an entire set of memories for her. I really enjoyed the early sections of the book as Kat tries to piece together a life and Jude is the only one to help her do it. There was great tension and suspense as we very soon realize that Jude is not building reality and that Kat is going to want to build a life beyond what Jude envisions for her. I will admit that I was not as enthralled with cult portion of the book. At first, it was quite interesting but then it just got weird and by the end I was tired of it and felt irritated that the present time period got short shrift. But, all in all, I thought this was a unique and interesting thriller.

This is a story about a set of mirror twins that alternates between the present and the past. In the present, Kat, a new of the twins, loses her memory after a car accident. Her sister, Jude, begins to fill in the missing pieces from her life, however, not all is as it seems.

This book was a bit slower paced than I had hoped. The writing style is also a bit different than I’m used to as well. The premise was intriguing and I was drawn into the story as it unfolded.

This book was dark and delicious! When Kat Bird wakes up from a car accident she remembers nothing except her twin sister Jude. While she knows her mirror twin like the back of her hand, she knows nothing of the 22 years of her life with her sister. As they have no family, it is up to Jude to reconstruct Kat's life for her.

Kat is grateful but soon starts to feel suspicious and things she are told just don't feel quite right.

The book shifts between the sisters now and also Jude's story of there childhood, which is not the same story she paints for Kat.

This book includes all of the elements I want in a book--conflicting narrative, coming of age, and drama!

This book was fantastic! The concept was so interesting and I’ve never read a book with this idea before. I loved the formatt of the Now and Then chapters switching on twin perspectives. It’s been a few days and I’m still thinking about this book!

Kat and Jude are identical mirrored twins. When Kat wakes up from a coma after a car accident, she has no memory and has to rely on her twin to tell her who she is and fill in her memories. However, things are not what they seem in this thriller with dark secrets and chilling truths revealed

This was an interesting one! I feel like the description does it some justice but wow there is a lot more involved. Trigger warning for child abuse, child pornography, and cults. When there is mention of the past, I was getting vibes of the book 'Bunny' from Mona Awad, which was interesting. Overall, good book but there felt like a few holes that were not addressed towards the end, which felt rushed.