The premise of this story is extremely interesting and instantly grabbed my attention. Overall I found it to be very thought provoking and moving--but to a certain point. I felt like it was lacking a true depth to many of the points that were brought up. Another round of edits could have made this work more fleshed out.

This was a really introspective read about grief, loss and personal growth. The writing was thoughtful, the themes were powerful, but the pacing felt slow and I slogged through it for a bit. Some moments still felt distant, even with the deep emotional topics, which led to me not engaging as much as I'd like to in a book.

3.5/3.75 stars
Initially drawn to the front cover, I put in the application to read this ARC due to my love for dystopia and new concepts. I wasn't disappointed - this novel had rounded character development, unrequited love, tragedy, sibling rivalry and revelry, governmental mistrust, yet none felt particularly cliché which is remarkable.

The novel follows the perspective of Charlie from when she is a young girl playing with her twin sister Maggie and friends to joining the government in their scientific research to break the "limit" - a limit embedded in the DNA of all humans resulting in the end of the line for the species. Charlie, never keen on the idea of children, and Maggie, dedicated to her education and the possibility of finding the breakthrough cure commit to each other that they will both endeavour on the journey together and never grow apart. Then, as aforementioned, much turmoil, tragedy, unrequited love, chaos and secrecy develops into an interesting and thought-provoking novel. Providing you have the moral understanding of the character's predicaments.

I found myself falling off somewhere around the middle but I think this is because it was on my kindle (I'm definitely a physical book kinda person). When I jumped back in, the second half of the book was outstanding and had the pace which I felt the first half didn't have. This can be expected of Dystopia - where the idea of the world is trying to be conveyed. So I recommend sticking to it.

Spoilers below:
A few inconsistencies were a bit jarring for me - primarily the interactions of young Charlie and Maggie made me unable to establish how old they were. Their language well, well above their years (and somehow when they're older they speak much more simply). I get that they are essentially child prodigies but even so, 6 year olds do not speak the way they did. The other inconsistency was a line saying they "spread ashes" at the pier but as far as I could make out, they hadn't found a body (as Charlie kept repeating that she thought she could still be alive)

'The Beauty of the End', written by Lauren Stienstra, follows the story of Charlie and Maggie Tannehill, twin sisters growing up in a dystopian world where the human species is generations away from extinction as a result of the progressive inability to gestate. Faced with this future outcome, the government establishes a programme of assisted reproduction based on the donation, with financial exchange, of all the eggs of some women to others.

'The Beauty of the End' is a book that hooked me from beginning to end because it speaks not only of our present but also of a future that could become our own. A book that introduces the ethical debate on the use of the female body for purely reproductive purposes, as if it were a vessel, and the social hierarchy that is established according to the greater or lesser capacity of these women to gestate.

Despite the more than interesting premise, I missed a little more feminist reflection (a perspective that I consider key to this story) on a general scale and not so focused on the case of the two sisters. Still, it is a book that I recommend 100% and one that I am glad to have read.

(Thanks to NetGalley and Amazon Publishing for this ARC).

Giving this a 3.5 out of 5 stars. Thank you NerGalley for the ARC.

As a trained biologist who in another life would have pursued public health/epidemiology, the concept of this book immediately drew me in: scientists have discovered a genetic alarm clock that is counting down to the extinction of the human race. Given the current political and social climate in America, specifically surrounding reproduction, this book was a novel take on an age old human issue. The first third of the story has me absolutely spell bound, but unfortunately the pacing in the middle after the twins graduate just dragged on.

There is so much speculative science weaved into the story that is clearly well thought out as a plot device and as part of the world building. And with any science will come questions about ethics and morals, and the human aspect of the story really delves into these characteristics.

I can't quite put my finger on why the execution overall fell a bit flat for me. There were pacing issues, especially in the middle portions, and the ending to me felt very antithetical to one of the character's arcs.

This book explores a fascinating concept: the human race is facing extinction within four generations, and twin sisters, Charlie and Maggie, must navigate a world in crisis as they grow up. The novel delves into how different people react to this devastating news, with some choosing to help and others exploiting the situation for personal gain. The moral complexities and gray areas are a strength of the story, especially when the characters struggle with their involvement in finding a solution.

While the pacing started strong, the middle of the book felt like it dragged on, and by the time the action picked up again in the final third, I had already started to lose interest. Despite the slow sections, the book’s premise and exploration of human behavior in the face of extinction kept me engaged overall.

It's an intriguing read with plenty of moral dilemmas, though it could have benefited from a tighter pace. I’d recommend it to readers interested in dystopian scenarios and complex characters.

Thanks to net galley for providing an ARC copy of this book !

I enjoyed reading this book, and really wanted to know the end, but after reflecting on it, I feel that this book doesn't go in-depth enough, I liked the story and I liked the theme but I feel like there was so much more to explore and to say. Especially when it comes to the way the Mendelia functions.

I really believe the story has much more potential and could develop into a deeper analysis of our world, politics and healthcare.

It was still a very enjoyable read but I wished for a little bit more.

“There could be no relaxation while humanity sat on the threshold of extinction’s door.”

How far are we willing to go to save the human species? What morals are we willing to sacrifice?

Charlie and her twin sister Maggie are only children when the world learns the human species will be extinct in just four generations. As adults, they join a government organisation dedicated to figuring out how to prevent this extinction event from happening. The lines between what is right and what is wrong quickly become blurred.

I really enjoy reading speculative and dystopian fiction, and this book was no exception, the premise intrigued me. I appreciated the application of science within the story, it made everything seem so much more probable and real.

“Reproduction had been the shared purpose of all living things for so long that even extinction could not derail it … procreation allowed creatures to persist beyond their individual lives and infinitely elude an inevitable fate.”

Particularly in the first half, the tension and suspense kept building with such an ominous sense of foreboding I couldn’t put it down. This story really made me think, and the moral conundrums and sacrifices faced by Charlie and other characters brought the question; where do we draw the line in the name of survival?
I do wish however that the government organisation was a bit more fleshed out and some aspects of the story felt rushed or glossed over.

What a captivating and intriguing story! Thank you Netgalley and Little A for this ARC.

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.