A truly beautiful book with characters I won't forget. Such a fantastic read - memorable, heartbreaking and one that really makes you feel.

A lot of people LOVED this book. I... did not. I started it and stopped at about page 40, just to pick it back up, start from the beginning and finally finish.

I don't quite know what this book lacked for me. I didn't mind the setting and the storyline. I did have a hard time following the book at a few points. There were a lot of characters introduced at the beginning (and sometimes someone mentioned throughout that I feel like I should have known but didn't and didn't care to go back and find). There were a few times when I couldn't follow who was saying what and I had to go back and count every other line to figure it out, which takes away from not only the dialogue, but the reading experience.

I just was never "grabbed" by this one. I wasn't compelled to keep reading at any point. Duchess, at times, seemed like a young 13 year old, and at other times, like a 33 year old. It is hard to imagine a 13 year old speaking and doing the things that she did. The character I loved the most was Hal, but unfortunately, we didn't get a lot from him.

This book has a lot of heart and I could tell from just the first few chapters that it would be a popular one. All the ingredients for a good generational/family drama are there — a small town, a broken family, a soul-shattering crime, nosy neighbors, spunky kids, and a good ol' fashioned murder mystery.

Getting immersed in the setup of this novel left me eager to sink my teeth into it: Duchess Day Radley is a 13-year-old girl and an outlaw that will do anything to protect her younger brother Robin. When the man responsible for the death of their aunt 30 years prior is finally released from prison, it causes a chain of events to ripple through their idyllic California town, unraveling everything Duchess and Robin know, and leaving them to fend for themselves in a world that seems cold and unforgiving.

The first thing I noticed about this book is that Chris Whitaker's voice is very unique — his imagery is so vivid and alive, I felt like I was right there with each of the characters as they moved throughout the story. I also forged a strong connection with each of the characters because of how richly developed they were — especially with Duchess. I was rooting for her the whole time and even cried a little when things got tough for her. Her relationship with Robin was so endearing, it made me reconsider what it means to be a good sibling, making me yearn to reconnect more with my own.

The plot itself was also gratifying — each point was resolved cleanly and there weren't any holes left to ponder at the end. Such finely woven storytelling can feel rare in this age of more avant garde, character-driven narratives and it was refreshing to read something so complete and well planned.

My only real complaint with the novel is the dialogue. At times, it felt unnatural, and because there are so many long conversations in this book that often leave the speakers unlabelled, it could be hard to follow the conversations and know exactly who was talking each time.

In the same vein, the ending of the book felt a bit rushed because so much was just casually revealed in conversation. Like... the characters worked so hard to find things out throughout the plot, only to have some quiet guy at the end tell them everything they wanted to know with little fuss. Because of this, some resolutions to the more mysterious elements of the story felt hollow and unearned.

Overall, though, this was a compelling story with compelling characters that will certainly leave you feeling something by the end. I would recommend it to anyone who enjoys small town stories, light mysteries, contemporary fiction, or stories about children overcoming hardship.

I struggled with the beginning of this book, but by the halfway mark, I was wholly invested in the lives of these characters. It’s not often that I shed tears while reading, but I did for Duchess. The character development in this book is incredible. And while there were a few slow parts, the plot kept me engaged throughout. Highly recommend.

We Begin At The End by Chris Whitaker is my favorite book of the year so far! I rarely give out a 5 star rating but I’m gladly doing so for this book. Duchess and her young brother, Robin, are in a very unstable home with a mother who isn’t up to the job of parenting them as they deserve to be. Luckily they have Walk, the local chief of police and lifetime friend of their mother, keeping an eye on them. However, even Walk can’t protect them when Duchess stirs up some trouble that she’s too young to realize the consequences of. Definitely pick up this book to savor each and every page. I’m really hoping a sequel is quickly arriving.

When I start a book, I generally read the reviews to see how well it has been received by others. I have to say I was surprised by the reviews. I did not find this book as spectacular as others had. I liked the prologue but not much else. I didn't find the characters very likable and the story just was ok.

This is the story of Duchess Radley and her brother Robin, who have lead a difficult life as their mother has had to deal with the heartbreak of her love accidently killing her sister. Star has never fully recovered from the heartache, causing the Outlaw Duchess Radley to grow up quickly. This is also the story of Walk, police officer of a small town and best friend of a man who has spent many years in prison for an unintentional death. Walk's health is fading and he is doing is best as the cop of a small town where some bad things are going on. When tragedy strikes again, Duchess and Robin's story heads a different direction, but Walk is still fighting for the friendships he formed when he was a child. This is a story with heartache and pain, and memorable and beautifully written characters. This was a strong, well written story that kept me interested in how things were all connected and what would happen next. I have not read anything else by this author, but if this book is any indicator, I will be adding to my tbr pile! Thank you netgalley for this arc in exchange for my honest opinion.

I struggled to finish this as I did not find the characters that likeable. The group of friends struggled a lot with the way their life's became after the murder. The story was bogged done with a lot of descriptions. Not really a mystery but more of a book about dealing with life’s challenges.

An epic saga, a murder mystery and the agonizing tale of Duchess Day Radley, Outlaw, all of 13 years old. This is a novel with several compelling characters and more than one storyline, but Duchess steals the show and I felt this book belonged to her. Early in the book, I was engaged as a reader. Toward the middle, the writing became a bit slow for me. Yet I wanted to keep reading. I wanted to know who the murderer was and I needed to know what would become of Duchess. I was that invested in her character. There are so many details to this book that I don't want to give away. I will say that through much of this very original work, it felt as though many of the characters were cursed, one family in particular. I want to go on and on about Duchess (the ache in my heart that I felt for her on a continual basis and my awe at the strength of a 13 year old girl who really never had a chance at being a child).
I also felt for Walk's character, yet the contrast between Walk and Duchess has him come across as almost passive. Again, without giving too much away, the relationship between Duchess and her grandfather, Hal was quite something to witness. The love between the two of them was palpable, even when their relationship was strained. The final quarter of this book flew by. Each time I thought I knew what happened, the author would surprise me. I felt myself holding my breath at times.
4.5⭐️ out of 5⭐️ Thank you to @netgalley and @henryholtbooks for the complimentary e-version of this book. My opinions are solely my own. #netgalley #webeginattheend #chriswhitaker #henryholtbooks #bookstagrammer #bookreviewer #booksandmrdarcy #withhernosestuckinabook❤️📚

Overall, the story was very good. It really makes you think. However there were a lot of parts that I felt were way too detailed and I skimmed. Then there were other parts that made you feel like you got no information at all. It was like someone just sketched out their ideas and forgot to go back and write the details.

I love this one! This story was everything. It was so good! He definitely delivered, I can’t wait to read more by him. I’d highly recommend it to people and I think people are gonna love it!

Thirteen year old Duchess Day Radley considers herself an outlaw, following the rules of her own choosing. With her mother Star largely absent, Duchess must take care of herself and her five year old brother Robin.

Walk is the chief of police and a childhood friend of Star. He has had to live with the guilt of helping to send their other friend, Vincent King, to prison years before. Trying to see to the needs of Duchess, Robin, Star, and Vincent, will Walk end up neglecting himself?

When Duchess becomes involved in her mother's complications, will the result implode the life that she has worked so hard to maintain?

There is a lot packed into this novel, but not in a good way. Duchess is totally unlikable and, though it is sometimes good to have a main character with whom readers cannot find common ground, the young girl's dialogue is bitter and cringe-worthy at times. Walk's illness seems to be there for explanation of his behavior instead of character development, leaving me to wonder the motivation behind the inclusion in the story. The main plot is so drawn out that the book is sluggish in the middle, with the conclusion almost too quick once the author decides to get there. For these reasons, I would not recommend We Begin at the End to other readers.

Disclaimer: I won a copy of We Begin at the End through a Goodreads Giveaway. Additionally, I was given an Advanced Reader's Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to review this novel was entirely my own.

5 stars - What an incredible book. Such a beautiful story.

This book has been all over the gram as well as book media and it absolutely deserves it. This is one of those books you have the fortune of reading once maybe twice a year where everything just clicks and you find places to hide (like in a bathtub with the shower curtain closed) to read just a little more. The characters in this story are ones that you are sad to walk away from. You intimately know them and cry with their hurt and pain and feel relief and joy when things go their way. I will remember this book for a long, long time. Particularly, because not only did it make me cry, but it also made me really laugh. (Thank you Thomas Noble.)

While I stand by my 5 star rating, this one does come with some caveats. I think transparency in reviews is really important, particularly for that reader who isn't sure if they should take the plunge or not. I do understand in some respect why there are people out there who struggled with this book. While I don't agree overall, there are some things I would note:

1) I found the writing at times kind of clunky. I had to go back and re-read certain parts because there was a break in the flow and I didn't quite pick up that we were starting with another character and setting entirely (and sometimes someone we had never met before) so I would double back with that understanding and then press on. It all made sense in the end, but again - transparency.

2) This isn't necessarily a criticism, but I wasn't always sure at times where the book was going. It took a little while to get its groove, but I urge you to be patient and know that there is a grand plan.

3) It also doesn't fit real neatly in a genre box so that might be a challenge for some, but I think if you keep an open mind you will be alright.

Overall, this will absolutely be one of my favorite books of 2021. I am so grateful to Henry Holt Books and the author for a gifted review copy as well as Netgalley.

Review Date: 03/12/2021
Publication Date: 03/02/2021

Couldn't put it down! Compelling writing with characters full of depth, especially Duchess. To view the world through her story was powerful and gut-wrenching. This book made me cry but in the best way possible. Tragedy, triumph, and a satisfying ending. I didn't want it to end!

WOW! I am so blown away by the storyline in this book. Heartbreaking rollercoaster ride, and an ending I didn’t see coming. Gorgeous prose. I am definitely a Chris Whitaker fan now! I loved the Montana scenes.

3 Stars

I picked up this book quite frankly because I saw a lot of my Goodreads friends giving it 5 Stars...and did not want to miss out. Otherwise, I would have passed this up... and that would have been OK.

As I first delved into this book I didn't feel a natural pull to it at all, and probably would have abandoned it were I not reviewing it for NetGalley. But I invested more time into it and finally got to a point where things were starting to look up in the story. I said to myself, "Self...I'm glad you hung in there!' Then to my utter surprise it went off into a totally different direction than I was hoping.

This is an incredibly sad story involving a group of friends whose lives changed forever after a child's accident. One of the parties involved was a guy named Walker (called "Walk") who as a child always wanted to be a cop, and that's what he grew up to be...the town cop. His friend Vincent went to prison for causing the death of a little girl named Sissy. Vincent left behind his girlfriend Star, Sissy's big sister. Star stayed in town, now having two children in tow: a 13 year old daughter named Duchess and a 6 year old son named Robin. Star is NOT mother material and Duchess basically has to raise her little brother, caring for his every need. It's a heartbreaking story and Duchess is so hardened by life at a young age. It's painful to hear the way Duchess talks, with such a chip on her shoulder. She calls herself an outlaw and doesn't trust anyone.

When I started participating on Goodreads I realized that a lot of people liked murder mysteries. I don't. I gleaned from other reviews that there would be some redeeming value to this story, but when I was on the cusp of experiencing that shift it all came crashing down. It never really recovered, and in retrospect I would have invested my reading time elsewhere. Life can be depressing enough without reading about it.

Thank you to Henry Holt & Company for providing an advance reader copy via NetGalley.

What a powerhouse of a novel! Nearly everything has already been said about this book that will stick with me for a good while: memorable, believable characters, intricate plotting, and emotional wallops every few chapters. An ambitious novel, it required Whitaker to live in the mindsets of each of his characters simultaneously. Representing the character of the damaged yet invincible Duchess Day Radley, though, had to be the author’s greatest challenge- and was his greatest achievement. An exceedingly sad but rewarding reading experience.

Absolutely beautifully written, cohesive book in regard to the storyline, characters and the flow of the book.
The young female protagonist "Duchess" describes herself as an Outlaw and by gosh she sure is. At her age she has had to witness and endure way too much, I found myself totally rooting for her throughout the book.
This book is a highly recommended keeper!
Thank you to Netgalley, Henry Holt and Company and the Author Chris Whitaker for an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This was a great book that, while fiction, served as a reminder to me as an educator that our students are dealing with so much more than we know or we think we know. Our students are dealing with real life. Duchess is a student, a sister, a caregiver, and a broken child. I am sure that throughout the course of my teaching career, I will encounter a Duchess. It is my job to be mindful of this and focus on social emotional learning just as much, (if not more) than academics.

As for the story, I was moved. I found myself cheering, crying, hoping, and stunned. This book served as a reminder that no matter how much you think you know someone, there is always a struggle, battle, or story you don't know. I would recommend this book to anyone.

This book will be in my Top Ten for 2021.

The third novel from Chris Whitaker is a New York Times bestseller. And deservedly so.

We Begin at the End is a heartbreaking and compelling saga about friends who grew up together in the little town of Haven Cove on the California coast. They were just ordinary kids until one tragic night changed all of their lives. And the repercussions of it are also impacting the next generation -- this children of Star. Thirteen-year-old Duchess has had to grow up too soon in order to take care of her mother, who drinks too much, gets involved with the wrong men, and is unable to competently mother Duchess's little brother, five-year-old Robin. Duchess adores Robin and makes sure he is fed, clothed, and comforted when he is frightened, which is frequently. She walks him to school and intercedes when he is bullied. Neither child has any idea as to the identity of their father.

On that horrific night, Star's sister, seven-year-old Sissy Radley, died, and Vincent went to prison for her death. Vincent and Star were then fifteen years old, and boyfriend and girlfriend. Walker ("Walk") was Vincent's best friend, but his unfailing sense of right and wrong demanded that he take the stand during Vincent's trial and testify truthfully.

As the story opens, Duchess, clutching Robin's hand, finds Walk, who knowingly says, simply, "Your mother." They race to the house where Star is on the couch, an empty pill bottle next to her. At the hospital, Duchess tells Walk that Star wants to die. "I can't decide if suicide is the most selfish or selfless act." Star survives and they return to the house Star rents from Dickie Darke, who owns a bar where the locals hang out. Their next-door neighbor is Brandon Rock, who is employed at Tallow Construction but still works out constantly in his garage, dreaming of recovering from the knee injury that ended his football hopes. He drives his father's classic Mustang and Walk tells the just-returned Vincent, "The hair, the clothes, the guy still lives in '78. You see, he hasn't changed, Vin. None of us have, not really." Milton, the butcher who can never completely shed the smell of blood, lives across the street.

Duchess is deeply angry about the way in which they live and the fact that Star will not tell them anything about their father, but she does love and is protective of Star. And when she believes that Star is being mistreated, she will not tolerate it. She will seek revenge. Her temper has gotten her in trouble all of her life, but this time is different. She inadvertently sets in motion yet another series of tragic events that put her and Robin in danger.

As a result, she and Robin come to know the grandfather they had never previously met -- Star's widowed father who lives on a ranch in Montana. He is a man of quiet strength who lives with the pain of losing his family, and knows exactly how to handle Duchess's anger, gradually breaking down her defenses before catastrophe strikes again. Duchess and Robin are placed in a foster home where they are not permitted to interact as members of the family. The couple who are fostering them only want the money they receive for doing so. Eventually, they find themselves in a children's home and Duchess, whose grief, anger, wisdom far beyond her years, and undiminished determination compel her to make an unspeakable decision about their future.

Whitaker has deftly found Duchess's voice -- her tone and vocabulary are believable, and Whitaker compassionately reveals the internal struggles that fuel her.

Back in Haven Cove, Walk is harboring a secret as he searches for answers. He must solve a crime for which Vincent has been -- Walk is convinced -- wrongly accused and prevent him from returning to prison. But Vincent won't participate in his own defense. And he will only consent to being represented by one attorney: Martha May. She and Walk dated for three months back in high school, but things did not work out between them. Back then, she and Star were best friends. Unlike so many of their classmates, Martha left town and never looked back. Now she has a successful career as a family law attorney, focusing her practice on women who have been abused. She's not a criminal attorney, which is what Vincent needs in order to avoid the death penalty. Eventually, Walk wears her down and she agrees to help. As Walk continues investigating, he and Martha have a chance to finally talk about what happened when they were teenagers.

Each of Whitaker's characters is fully developed, complex, and compelling. Whitaker demonstrates the myriad ways in which the adults' lives have been entwined since they were children and the ways their relationships have, in most instances, never changed. They've stayed in the same little town where everyone is acquainted and their personalities, formed so many years earlier, have also stayed the same, even though several of them have secrets that the others would never guess.

As the story progresses, Duchess and Robin find their circumstances getting worse and worse, and Whitaker heartbreakingly portrays their reactions to their plight. Robin, so young, naive, and hopeful, clings to and relies on Duchess for all of his needs, but wants and still believes that it is possible for them to find a loving, forever home and family. He has nightmares, though, and cannot recall what happened on one particularly horrifying night. No one is sure what, if anything, he witnessed because he cannot remember any of the details. Duchess, hardened by what she has endured, no longer believes in happy endings but will do anything necessary to ensure that Robin has the chance to realize his dream. Even if it is the hardest thing imaginable . . . and breaks her.

Whitaker convincingly illustrates life in a small town and the demons that haunt Walk, a man who is principled, committed to his career in law enforcement and the values undergirding it, but also unyieldingly loyal to his friends, especially Vincent. As boys, they were so close that they were like brothers. And he will work tirelessly, at the risk of his own health and well-being, to prove that he has not misjudged Vincent's character. Even when Vincent, a man has spent the bulk of his life consumed with guilt about the mistake he made thirty years ago, refuses to make any effort to save himself.

We Begin at the End is an utterly consuming, absorbing story that will leave readers heartbroken, but hopeful, and richer for having gotten to know Walk, Duchess, Robin, and Whitaker's whole impressive cast of supporting characters. Aside from being a masterfully constructed character study, We Begin at the End is also an engrossing mystery full of expertly-timed, surprising plot twists. Readers experiencing Whitaker's evocative prose and emotionally resonant dialogue for the first time will want more after finishing the book. And hopefully, Whitaker, an extremely talented writer who resides in England and works in a library part-time, will publish another book for readers to enjoy soon.