The idea and premise of this book had something promising but I really wish I could say I loved it. It took me months to get through it felt like a lot of filler...while some of the content played into the main characters history other parts seemed way too repetitive and it was torturous to get through because it was literally just the two main characters. There are A LOT of REAL topics/themes that get brought up in this book and it opens up a lot of discussion. Some of it could be debated and countered but it is a science/dystopian where anything is possible but there is some reality to consider when writing something so close to current issues. The author is absolutely amazing with words but I just wish I could say I personally liked it.

The Beauty of the End poses the ultimate mortality question: What if we knew that our species had only a few generations left on this Earth? How would we live our lives? Would we even have children?
Stienstra explores these questions through vividly imagined characters who make their way in a richly imagined world that may not be as different from ours as we might think. She weaves in themes of personal morality, ambition, climate change, the bureaucratic state, and romantic and familial love that will stay with you long after you've come to the end of this story.

2.5 stars

This has an interesting premise but needed better execution. There was just something lacking in the POV and an off page death that was extremely confusing. I couldn't figure out what this book wanted to be and Everytime I got intrigued it felt like that plot just petered off.

I enjoyed! I think this had a very strong premise and explored concepts and themes that are very top of mind right now. I do think this book could have used more editing to straddle the line of over-explaining and asking audience to suspend disbelief for the story to continue. I fluctuated between being bored and being brought out of the story by large stretches of the imagination. Over all though I do recommend!

I found it quite entertaining but - i'm sorry to say - a little boring: maybe too "scientifically accurate", I don't know - perhaps I thought it was something entirely different, I'm not sure. i'll definitely would give it another try

Thank you to NetGalley for the free arc of this book.

I appreciate the deep themes this book tackled: adoption, fertility, suicide, and medical reproductive rights. The book's first half had excellent pacing, and I sometimes thought I might give this 5 stars, but I think the climax and resolution were not what I expected. It veered off in another direction. I like that it addressed difficult subjects, but I don’t feel it brought a conclusion to the topics set up in the book's first half. It would be a great story for a book group or young adult discussion. There are a lot of themes to talk about. Overall, a good book and I would recommend it.

thank you netgalley for the e-arc of this upcoming read.

Lowkey, I am scared. I am terrified. I am bewildered. This is a speculative fiction read, it talks about politics and gender rights and its ridden with things so close to our reality that it can be alot to digest. I cant say much but what the h***

is a haunting and atmospheric novel that explores themes of grief, love, and the fragility of life. The story follows a young woman who is grieving the loss of her beloved grandmother, and who begins to see glimpses of the future.

What really struck me about THE BEAUTY OF THE END, was how much of humanity struggled to accept its fate, and how so many people ignored the signs. Sometimes, sadly, ignorance is as much of a choice as action is (and this book raises several ethical questions about how we might define "right" action, and how far is "too" far). The choice to narrate such an emotional story (and a prescient one) through the more reserved twin felt like both a "literary" decision and a right one. This book had me thinking about climate change, about women's bodies, about my loved ones, and about how this election will impact all of the above. The heavy themes might have felt like "too much" through Maggie; Charlie made me feel like I could trust her to navigate me through such a turbulent world, one not far off from our own. THE BEAUTY OF THE END is both an entertaining read and a thought-provoking one. I would recommend it for fans of STATION ELEVEN and THE HANDMAID'S TALE.

It’s rare to find clinically plausible sci-fi books that are also emotionally-charged stories about love, growth, and loss. A work of speculative fiction, this book asks: if we knew that the human race was set to go extinct (and when), what would change? If you know me, you know I’m a sucker for a good peri-/post-apocalyptic novel, particularly insofar as it relates to human behaviors, and this qualifies. This book was the perfect mix: it tickles your left brain with science, and warms your right brain with friendship, sisterhood, and ethical dilemmas. I really enjoyed this one (and would have snagged it on the gorgeous cover alone!), and recommend it to anyone looking for something akin to The Handmaid’s Tale and Station Eleven. Shout out to @laurenstienstrawrites for thinking of me to review an advanced copy of this absolute gem - it will be available in April of 2025, and it so worth the wait!! Or, you can pre-order now, and surprise yourself on pub day with some book mail!


SYNOPSIS: Charlie and her twin sister Maggie live a typical teenage life in rural America, raised by their adoptive, overprotective parents and primarily concerned with boys, parties, and graduation. They notice a strange tension mounting, until finally it breaks: the human race has incurred a DNA mutation that will render all people infertile in a set number of generations, known as “The Limit.” After mandatory government testing, Charlie and Maggie are noted to have a particularly high limit, and are of great value to the government. They both elect to embark on a career within an organization known as the Mendelia, which is part IVF and part genetic testing, in order to find a counter-mutation adequate to defeat The Limit. Maggie takes to the work immediately, making more and more ethically questionable mutations in a frenzied effort to find a “cure,” where Charlie struggles with the implications of those choices. Charlie must decide if the deep bond that she shares with her sister and the mounting pressure to save humanity is enough to make her set aside her own sense of morality.

First of all, the premise of this book is fantastic. Scientists have found out exactly when the human species and all other creatures are going to go extinct. Some people will live to witness a few other generations after them, while others are the last of their family line. This creates worldwide chaos and births an institution that takes it upon itself to avoid certain doom.
In this apocalyptic setting, we follow twins Charlie and Maggie. They are trying to create a life for themselves, find purpose, and maybe contribute a solution against total extinction. But the reason I've been struggling to write a decent review for quite a while is that I didn't believe in the strong connection these sisters are supposed to have. I appreciate their grey morality and unlikeability but I simply couldn't get attached to the overall story or characters.
I admired Charlie for wanting to be child-free in this world which in theory puts much more pressure on the reproductive choices of women. She ends up working towards convincing other people to have babies, which one would say makes for great internal conflict. But in the end, I didn't find her journey compelling.
The world-building seemed to be lacking. Humans are volatile when it comes to reproduction and so it felt like our main characters were living in sort of a bubble while the world continued without that much extreme behavior - or that behavior was never deeply dissected.
Overall, "The Beauty of the End" is an interesting read and I would recommend it to someone who is not squirmish when it comes to discussions on motherhood.

Thank you to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for giving me access to a copy of this book.

"The Beauty of the End" by Lauren Stienstra is a speculative fiction novel I found to be absolutely fascinating and thought-provoking! The story centers around adopted twin sisters, Charlie and Maggie, who, as young children, learn of the collapse of the global population and how this changes their childhood. Everyone is tested, and for many, they will never be able to have children. For others, their bloodline may only last one, two, or three generations before ending. The same thing is also happening with animals and plant life. A government science-based program comes into place to try to extend generations while using egg and sperm donation, embryo creation, and selective genetics to create babies with a higher generation number.

All of this begins to throw families into disarray as the government program provides financial incentives for those with higher numbers or certain characteristics to have babies, but that doesn't always mean the spouse has a high number as well or has characteristics that will create multiple generations. Higher numbers can also create dangers as women can be trafficked and babies sold. People begin to question their beliefs about love, family, and reproductive ethics. What are people willing to do or overlook to either have a baby or to help save the world?

The story itself is hauntingly beautiful as it explores love, loss, and the intricate tapestry of human connection and the destruction created by human disconnection. Charlie's journey, especially through grief and self-discovery, is poignant and moving and, at times, had me questioning what I would do in this situation.

Stienstra’s character development is masterful. Each character is nuanced and compelling, making their struggles and triumphs feel genuine and impactful. The book has many twists and turns, which kept me reading for more. The surprises were definitely a surprise!

Overall, "The Beauty of the End" is a fantastic book and one I will not soon forget!

Thank you, #NetGalley, #LaurenStienstra, and #LittleA, for the ARC in exchange for my honest review of #TheBeautyoftheEnd . I voluntarily read and reviewed an advanced copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

A very spectacular book l read it in one sitting.
Loved every aspect of it.
It had great haracters and plot
I

The beauty was the end. The end thank goodness finally came. I felt this to be incredibly silly, the writing especially so at times to the point where it should be labeled young adult. The FMC had no agency. People were surprised when she, a doctor, could solve problems. But they weren't old enough to drink? I can suspend a lot of disbelief but if the future of our species was in the hands of people this age we would be doomed.

Then the FMC referred to someone as someone she "almost loved," and I actually laughed! Out loud. A true lol. A few sentences later, the person is referred to as a cadaver. Heart of steel!!!!!!!

It's also a serious red flag when simple verbs are exchanged with ones that make zero sense in the context simply to mix things up? Like subbing waltz for walk. He waltzed in the room. Did he waltz???? Doubtful.

I made it to about 80% and really started to dislike it. I, hand to god, whispered to my kindle, please why won't you end?

I love science fiction and fantasy and a good dystopian end of the world plot. This wasn't it.

I received an e-arc from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

First of all, thank you to netgalley and the publisher for providing me with this ARC, it was an insightful book! I enjoyed the overall premise of this book and how it explored humanities morality. I am sure everyone can find a connection to it, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. Also, from the standpoint of a STEM girly, I loved the tie in to genetics, Mendel, and his experiments. The way that passion is depicted through Maggie and her experiments, and desire to help/do good is very relatable! However, I do wish the pacing of the book was more consistent as it wasn't until a main character passed away that the book started to more faster. The only other comment I have is that at the beginning of the book, the main characters are 5-8 years old, but the way the story is told, from Charlies pov, makes it seem like they are much older. I feel like word choice and sentence structure during that time period would make a big difference. With all of that being said, I would rate it a 3.75(Had to round up below)! I would recommend this book to someone who is looking for a dystopian book that will leave them thinking.

The Beauty of the End is one of those dystopian books where you are so mad that you didn't come up with the idea yourself. Riffing off of the current decline in population fertility, it supposes a world where people can be analyzed to see how many generations they will bare, which signals the end of the human species. The book tells the story of one woman, a twin, who has entered into a job to try to reverse the course of humankind by finding out what characteristics could help to spur more generations. I loved this book. It was super smart, a little bit twisty, and well-paced.

Charlie and her twin sister Maggie were only eight when the news broke : The Human race was on the brink of extinction. With only 4 to 6 generations left before Humans wouldn’t be able to procreate anymore, it became crucial to find a way to find a solution to humanity's reproductive decay. The Mendelia, an organization dedicated to the promotion and the study of Human reproduction was created, with the hopes of making the scientific breakthrough that would save Humanity.
While Charlie was uncertain about her purpose and future, her sister Maggie knew from the get go that she would be enlisting in the Mendelia and contribute to find a way to save our specie.
Charlie ends up following her sister in order to stay close to her, but as she starts working as a reproductive consultant at the Mendelia, she finds herself questioning the morals of the organization.

A compelling and thought-provoking premise, I was really excited to read it, but was disappointed by some aspects of this book :

I can't understand why the author chose to have Charlie as narrator, instead of her more charismatic sister who was at the center of most of what happened in the book. Charlie's character couldn't carry the story alone.

I was very curious to know where the book was going, but reading it was a bit of a struggle. Some chapters were extremely boring, especially towards the end of the book. I feel like everything that happened towards the end (no-spoilers) should've been written in two chapters max.

Finally, I know that the book addresses the question of reproductive ethics and all, but I found it incredibly difficult not to be triggered by this passage : "No doubt my sister was already contemplating the outrageous combinations she'd put together.
A Sudanese egg with a Swedish
sperm. A felon's egg with a
Mensa sperm. An athlete's
egg with an obese sperm. The
genetic material of all sorts of
people were stored in a bank
and soon, she'd be drawing
down from it to make all sorts of
embryos for worthy naughts. All in the name of the Limit."

Thank you NetGalley and Little A for providing this e-arc for review consideration. All opinions are my own.

thank you to netgalley for providing me with an arc for this book!

the beauty at the end is set in a dystopian world where humanity finds out they only have a finate amount of generations left before they die out and follows two twin sisters as they work to figure out a way to stop humanity from extinction.

all of the critiques i'm reading for this book are valid, but also mostly the reason i loved this one. the writing style is very dry and to the point, the main character feels detached and emotionless and the book is incredibly slow in its build-up. but all of that just works together so beautifully. i really loved the main character's dry and expresionless explanations, because i felt like they really showed who she was as a person and how she dealt with all her trauma. setting this book over many decades also just makes it hit that much harder because you really get to live with these characters for such a long time and go through life with them.

i really love when sci-fi books focus on just a single character and their perspective on things. it makes it feel very insular and slice of life. i'm not really interested in the wider scope usually when it comes to sci-fi, just love a good character arc. really made me think about reproductive rights and seeing how almost easy it seemed in this book to just take women's rights to their own choices away was fucking scary. terrifying how the options truly just were joining the system or yielding to it.

Overall, this was a pretty good book. I’ve been on a dystopian novel kick and this one was really interesting. Looking at morality, the end of civilization I really like how this book opened up my mind to think a bit more. I wish that the Limit was discussed more, more history of what happened to society. There was a mystery, too, to Maggie.

***Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ebook. /Review contains spoilers

I thought this was novel was well done. Twins Charlie and Maggie are growing up in a world where the end of society is predicted in the next 4-5 generations. The company they end up working for Mendalia, is trying to stop that "Limit," and end up doing shady things to continue their research, even if it exploits families. Maggie is "bold and bright," and Charlie (FMC) is timid and isn't character strong suited to live her life the way she actually wants.

Having read "Never Let Me Go," by Ishiguro, I felt a similar narrator voice as that novel but not nearly as well developed. I didn't feel much sympathy for our FMC because as time develops...there isn't much change in how her voice is carried. There are also few concrete timelines explaining their ages, especially when Maggie commits suicide/Nolan's death and her carrying forward 3 pregnancies' with her sister's embryos.

A lot of the really interesting ideas are not well flushed out either, at least on the scientific side of things. I think this would have had a higher impact if more details were given. The adoption/coercion of their biological parents was maybe the most detailed portion of the story and clearly a matter of deep importance to the author.

I'd say the book still sits with you a bit, and touches on similar dystopian settings as Brave New World, Never Let Me Go, Handmaid's Tale--our world/"biological responsibility," etc. I felt like this was missing something for me, personally and got a lot more from those titles above (sorry, a bit unfair).