This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills is a warm, witty story about friendship, family, and self-discovery. When introverted Sloane moves to a new town, she’s unexpectedly drawn into a close-knit group and embarks on a mission to recover a lost painting. With sharp dialogue, humor, and heartfelt moments, it’s perfect for fans of character-driven contemporary YA with charm and depth.

Thank you NetGalley for the ARC! Emma Mills delivers with this compelling read of starting over, developing frienships and family. An excellent YA contemporary from Emma Mills.

At first, I thought this would be just another generic realistic fiction YA book. However, MC Sloane's unique self-imposed status as a loner and her sense of humor made me love her. I also fell in love with each and every one of the secondary characters. I feel that this was a love story, but in the way that it showed the true love of friendship rather than romantic love. I would recommend this to any reader who enjoyed Paper Towns, You Were Here, or anything by Sarah Dessen.

This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills was so, so sweet. I loved all the characters and the pop culture references made me smile. It's just a happy, feel-good book with some deeper conversations that make you feel all the feelings.

There’s a always something about Emma Mills books that just draws me in and this one was no exception, I loved it!

This Adventure Ends by Emma Mills is a story of discovery - of life, of friendships, and of one's self. While there are many stories about revelations, I always find that the focus is primarily on one topic. But Mills touches on so many relevant points. Individually, self-discovery, friendships, self-esteem - they all resonate meaning to someone, but collectively, Mills hits all those buttons in a fluid motion. Her words are told so lyrically that they just flow into a calming and meaningful song.

This was a fantastic YA novel, with well-developed characters and a look at the real emotions that teens face with even the most basic social and familial problems.

I quickly started skimming this and didn't end up finishing it. I wasn't drawn in.

A story of friendship, family and loyalty. When Sloane’s family moves to Florida from New York City she discovers something she has never had before, friendship. But sometimes being friends is hard and Sloane learns about herself and being a friend.

THIS ADVENTURE ENDS was amazing!!! This is the first book by Emma Mills that I've read and I loved it! The writing, the characters, the plot. Definitely one that gives you *the feels*!

This Adventure Ends is a great book. This contemporary novel is part romance, part mystery, part adventure, and 100% life. Teens will relate to these likable characters and their trials and triumphs. Great read!

I'm not usually one for contemporary YA romance, but the cover was too gorgeous to resist! Mills' dialogue is sharp and the relationships authentic. I do wish that more attention was given to Sloane's music and personal ambitions. Overall, a sweet and breezy read.

How does Emma Mills manage to just capture everything about the human experience so perfectly????? I swear, at this point I would read this woman’s to-do list [and probably find it fascinating].

I often tell people that First & Then was my most surprising read of 2015 – I am not a huge Jane Austen fan, and I loathe sports, so when I saw that it was billed as a book for Austen fans, and that it involved high school football, I was like, “NOPE.” I didn’t care that the cover was gorgeous, I was most certainly not going to read it. But then I received it in an Uppercase box, and I started reading it kind of on a whim, and the next thing I knew I was looking up and it was several hours later and I was at the end. Not only that, I needed more.

So I was waiting with baited breath for her next book, This Adventure Ends, and it did NOT disappoint.

This is perhaps my new favorite Emma Mills book. Sloane is a sassy, sarcastic narrator whom I wanted to be best friends with almost immediately. In fact, I would really really appreciate it if she would come narrate my life – it would certainly become much more interesting if she did.

Sloane’s friend group is the kind of eclectic breakfast-club-esque bunch we all like to think we could be a part of – Vera and Gabe, the enigmatic twins; Remy, the son of a pastor trying to find his way in life; and Frank, who is freaking amazing in every way and needs no introduction.

Gabe and Sloane’s relationship was so adorkable and sweet – it had the perfect romantic tension and build-up, and I never once felt annoyed by it. I wanted more and more and more of them together. But the beauty of this book is that the romance, which is central to the story in a lot of ways, never overpowers the book or becomes its defining characteristic. All of the relationships are well-built and fully formed, and no character suffers for the benefit of another character getting the spotlight. I felt like I got the perfect balance of all of them throughout the course of the novel.

Then, there’s Sloane’s dad, the famous Romance novelist, whom I adored. He’s trying to write his next book, but is suffering from major writer’s block. I adored how immersed in fandom culture he became, and thought it was a perfect portrayal of what it’s like to fall into a fandom unexpectedly and become obsessed.

Overall, because of the witty dialogue, incredibly rich characters, and moving plot, this is a book that you’ll remember long after you turn the final page. I know that I’ll be coming back for a re-read often, and I can’t wait to see what Emma Mills turns out next.

Sloane's family has transplanted from NYC to the panhandle of Florida, with its white sandy beaches, small town charm, and memories of happy vacations. Her dad, a successful but floundering author, needs a change of scenery, and Sloane doesn't mind being uprooted because she keeps her own company, free of friends with all their high school drama and neediness.

It's a surprise to everyone--especially Sloane--that she's immediately taken under the wing of a gorgeous maven of social media. And, just like that, Sloane has friends. Complicated, appropriately self-absorbed, nuanced friends. There's the preacher's son who doesn't understand why his girlfriend left. The social media queen who is both superficial and deeply loyal; her twin brother whose taciturn moodiness reveals a strong character despite iffy social skills. The party organizer who knows a good scene. And Sloane fits in there, sometimes uneasily.

Family developments flit around the edges of Sloane's story, which is mostly one of self-exploration. Parents, siblings, and future plans for all of the main cast are more ornamental than important. The exploration of personal motivation and the power of friendship is the engine for this story. It's a good, deep dive into one high schooler's worries and hopes and romantic surprises.

Recommended for YA fans who like real people and weighty conversations about the finer points of fanfiction.