Member Reviews

"The Ends of Things" is a gripping and thought-provoking exploration of love, loss, and the fragile nature of human connections. Chwialkowska's masterful storytelling and richly drawn characters make this novel a must-read for anyone looking for a deeply immersive reading experience.
Thank you for the Arc!

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I really wanted to like this book. Upon receiving a gifted copy from Net Galley, I dove right in. I was really excited and the book started out strong, however I found myself wishing I could race to the end by the mid-way point. I found the MC, Laura to be completely obsessive over Diana. I felt as if the entire book was Laura questioning if Diana was dead or alive. I also found the whole friendship between Laura and Chloe to be so random in the plot line of the book. Idk, it all just felt random and the plot line had nothing to it other than the woman who had gone missing simply just left. I was hoping this one would've been better! :(

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This book is good, if you want to read about a young, successful woman who is fixated on something that happened between her and her best friend in their teens. It's good if you want to read about someone growing personally and getting some kind of closure.

I wouldn't have picked that book up - it's not my preference at all.

I thought I picked up a 'thrilling suspense perfect for fans of The White Lotus' where ... 'Laura races to find out what happened'. I love thrilling suspense stories where the main character has to do the investigating; and I loved The White Lotus. This book is no thrilling suspense - yes, a woman is missing and our main character is worried about her and asks around a bit, but there's never any actual clues or danger. The White Lotus connection is that it happens at a fancy resort, where there is a guest who is solo.

The book is fine. I read it to the end and thought it ended well. It's just not at all a suspenseful thriller.

(I can't review this on goodreads as the book is not yet listed)

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The End of Things is an interesting, fast read. Laura, the protagonist, is forced into some deep introspection as a result of incidents that happen while on vacation. She is a disturbed character with some deep emotional issues that have affected her life. Through flashbacks, she reviews the mistakes she has made, the miscommunication and misperceptions she has done and other “misses” in her life. Through disturbing events and conversations, she analyses how these earlier issues have been the driving forces that have made her who she is. And she doesn’t like what she sees in herself. The ending is quite satisfactory as it concludes with Laura becoming more comfortable in her own skin, or so the reader is led to believe. As the title suggests, she is ending the unsatisfactory things and moving on to more positive qualities and self talk. Thematic issues are: fragility of life and friendship, obsession, forgiveness, self reflection, honesty and vulnerability.

This is not a thriller which I was expecting. There is a mysterious occurrence which catapults the storyline to some tension. However, interpersonal relationships, knowing and accepting oneself are the true thematic issues explored. While I wasn’t expecting a story about the nature of human behavior and relationships, I liked how the story is developed. The denouement is a bit rushed and I would have liked a more thorough conclusion.

Fast and easy reading. The author has penned a thoughtful and thought provoking first novel with great style. I look forward to subsequent novels. It would be interesting for her to continue the saga and self actualization of Laura!

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This was a good book. I finished it pretty quickly and it kept me engaged until the last page. It was worth the read.

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"The Ends of Things" is the ultimate summer vacation read! Set against the backdrop of an exotic location and filled with gripping twists, this book kept me on the edge of my beach chair from start to finish. The author's vivid descriptions transported me to far-off places, making it the perfect escape. With its blend of suspense and adventure, "The Ends of Things" is a must-pack for anyone looking to escape into a thrilling summer getaway. Highly recommended!

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I enjoyed this debut novel. It had a bit of a slow start and felt reminiscent of other books I've read, however, as it continued, I was surprised by the directions the author took, and really enjoyed the ride. It's a great story about friendship, obsession, and making amends, with unlikely events and an unpredictable ending. I look forward to reading more from Sandra Chwialkowska. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.
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I'm always excited when I find a book that steps outside the box and this is exactly what I experienced here. There was nothing familiar about the plot and I certainly couldn't pigeonhole the genre. I enjoyed the setting of the story in an exotic location I knew nothing about. And I enjoyed the way the author detailed human behaviour and reactions to events around them. I'm fascinated when regular characters are thrown into situations out of the ordinary. I like that the story wasn't predictable but I would have liked something more clever or twisty at the end.

I received this arc from netgalley in exchange for my honest review.

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I had no trouble picturing this story as it unfolded. The author does a good job of describing setting while crafting compelling rising action. Unfortunately, I found the pay-off lacking. 3 Stars.

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Small things drive me nuts. Through the whole book, the Bahamas are referred to as part of the Caribbean. No. The Bahamas are soundly located in the Atlantic, not a Caribbean island. Second, a law firm would never fire someone as the main character was fired in this story. Very unlikely and silly. The book dragged a bit and wasn't holding my attention. Was a DNF for me.

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I loved this book! The author’s rich descriptions using intriguing words (like performative and quotidian), along with the exploration of relationships, both past and present, made for a delicious book! It is right up there with the best I’ve read! I enjoyed the glimpses into Laura, Chloe, Dave, and Diana’s lives. Outstanding read!

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