This book is DARK. I'd call it a literary mystery, but less mysterious. The characters are memorable and the plot moves.

It's not often that I find myself sitting back and really appreciating the beauty of the words in a novel. I tend to read mysteries and thrillers and true crime books which aren't generally known for gorgeous prose. I mean, it happens but it's not what I expect. But sitting back and appreciating the narrator perform We Begin at the End is exactly what I did.

The story is told from the alternating perspectives of Walker, the sheriff of a small California town, and Duchess Day Radley, the 13 year-old daughter of one of Walk's childhood friends. Duchess is a tough young person who has become primary caretaker of her 6 year-old brother, Robin, and, with Walk's help, keeps her mother, Star, together, too. Star is a mess and the whole town appears to be aware of it since they see the ambulances called out for accidental overdoses…

I loved everything about this book. The story, the characters, the setting, the twists and turns, and the narrator. I was emotionally gut-punched a few times and nearly dropped a tear towards the end. I can see myself listening again. I'm sure there are bits here and there that would have new meaning now that I have all the information. I love that. There's so much to this book and all is not what it appears.

I'd recommend We Begin at the End to everyone. I don't recall anything particularly graphic or violent or sexual so it would be appropriate for teens and up. Of course, my memory is shit so I could be wrong…

Huge thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for hooking me up with the audiobook. I loved it.

Duchess Day Radley is only 13 years old. But she is in charge of so much. Her mother is unable to cope with Duchess and her little brother, Robin. So, Duchess has had to step up and be responsible for just about everything.

Duchess and Robin tear your heart out through this whole book. Their life is just not the best. And when it turns worse and they end up at their grandfather’s farm you think it is finally going to get better. But as usual, life twists and they once again are in the wind.

Walk, the local sheriff, is struggling with his own medical condition. But he is determined to help these children and hopefully mend a wrong.

Oh wow! That is one heck of a good book! Especially the ending. Geez! This will have you all over the place. This is a multilayered story which is amazing from start to finish. Your heart will be broken, fixed and broken again.

I listened to this one and the narrator, George Newbern, could not have been better. I am going to have to search this narrator out.

Grab your copy today! You do not want to miss this one.

I received this audiobook from The publishers for a honest review.

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker is truly beautiful. Heartbreaking, intense, and riveting. Our main focus in this book is Duchess Day Radley, who calls herself "The Outlaw". She's fiercely protective of those she loves and has unfortunately not been dealt the best hands in life. I felt so deeply for this young girl as we navigated through the trials and tragedies of her short life. This story is so rich and complex with many characters that lives are interwoven together. This story is very emotional and thought-provoking. Be prepared to shed a few tears when reading this one.

This was an okay story for me, and I was so disappointed. This book was so hyped, and I was really excited to jump into it. It felt so sluggish, when it was claiming to be an action-packed thriller. I was really expecting a completely different story line. I did enjoy the character Duchess, but I don't think that is enough for me to highly rate this story. I was disappointed in the ending, and overall, this book just did not hold my attention.

I was provided a gifted copy of this book for free. I am leaving my review voluntarily.

Wow...What a book.

If I book makes me cry, it has to be 5 stars. I have never felt for a character they way I felt for Duchess and Robin. What they go through was breaking my hard. This author really knows how to play on the emotions. I could not put this book down. The short chapters kept me reading but so did the storyline. I was routing fo these kids in everyday possible.

The one downside is I did not get along with the audiobook. I felt the narrator's tone did not match the story being told. I ended up reading this in print and loved it much more that way.

Terrific, heart-breaking, riveting! I can't say enough good things about this book. At the center of it is a thirteen-year-old girl named Duchess Day Radley who likes to call herself 'the outlaw,' a real badass who doesn't tolerate much guff from anybody as she tries to protect her brother Robin who's six, and deal with her beautiful but broken mother, Star.

The lynchpin of the story though is Vincent King, who has been in prison for thirty years for a crime he committed when he was 15 and is about to return home to their town of Cape Haven, California. Nothing will ever be the same once he arrives.

I won't mention all the other wonderful characters by name but one way or another, Duchess Day Radley affects all their lives by her actions. This is a coming-of-age story for our times: shocking, tender, tragic, yet strangely uplifting because of basic human goodness. This may end up being my favorite book of the year. Highly recommend!

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker is a must read. This story is so complex I don’t even know how to describe it. We Begin at the End is a great story with many different aspects. I felt every emotional while reading this book. I felt really bad for all of the characters. I really enjoyed all of the characters and how complex they are. All of the characters are struggling and trying to do the best they can. This is an emotional and thought provoking read.

I listened to the audiobook and while I enjoyed it I felt like I would've preferred reading the book more with the different character perspectives.

Thank you Macmillan Audio for We Begin at the End.

I really enjoyed the writing in this character driven novel. It was extremely emotional and the audiobook was so well done. It may have been a bit confusing while listening since it jumps around between places and characters but the story was still great!

Duchess is very strong willed and does everything to protect her brother but she is rude to everyone and I think she acts like a 5 year old sometimes. It was hard to listen to a lot of what she says to people for no reason and she can’t always use her mom as her excuse. People like Walk are trying to help and she just pushes them away. I really loved Walk though! He was so great to the kids and was always there if they needed help. Hal, Dolly and Thomas were great additions and I love that you learn so much about each and every character no matter how small. As much as this was a suspenseful mystery, it was deep and emotional and made you care for so many of the characters. I may not have been a huge fan of Duchess but I was still wanting her to get a life that her and Robin deserved after what they had been through.

I loved the audiobook and the narrator was great. He was perfect for this type of story and I loved that he didn't try to use girly voices for some of the other characters. It was defintiely an easy listen. I would love to read his other books after this one!

I tried really hard to get into this audiobook, especially because I heard so many amazing things about it. But I couldn’t. I usually love character driven stories, but this one was not for me.

4.5 epic stars rounded up
We Begin at the End is a novel with spirit and heart, warmth and devastating sadness; a mystery, a western saga, a genre-defying beautifully told tale. It grabbed me and did not let go.

It’s been a long while since I got so thoroughly caught up in the story arc and characters of a book, that I actually found myself praying for something good to happen to Duchess. I admired her feistiness and coping strategies.

The narrator was clear to understand, pace was excellent, characters were clearly differentiated.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for providing an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker (Author), George Newbern (Narrator)

Thirteen year old Duchess Day Radley is the protector of her five year old brother, Robin. Their drug/drink addicted mother, Star, has never been able to take care of herself and never been able to take care of them. Duchess forgoes food so her brother can eat, she spends her school lunch period watching her brother, she arranges for him to sit with a teacher for three hours, in the afternoon, until she gets out of school and can take him home. Her mother doesn't even remember they exist most of the time. Kids make fun of them, towns folks talk of calling Social Services about them. Duchess doesn't help their reputation by stealing to provide food for Robin. Her life is misery, every single moment, but she's determined to give Robin the love and life he deserves. She's determined to hide how things really are from him. The only thing that keeps her from breaking more rules or laws is that she doesn't ever want to be separated from her brother. 

Their guardian angel is Chief of Police Walk. Thirty years ago, when his best friend, Vincent, killed Star's sister, Walk's testimony is what sent fifteen year old Vincent to prison. Vincent and Star loved each other and neither one of them has gotten over the other. Walk, Vincent, and Star seemed to be stopped in time in some ways, never able to move on from that time in their lives. Walk's main goal in life is to protect Duchess (who will cuss out anyone who tries to help her or give her any sign of kindness or mercy) and Robin. Nothing else is important to him other than keeping Star from sinking even lower into the cesspool of her bad habits and getting Vincent out of prison and back to their hometown. 

Now, thirty years after he went in, Vincent is out of prison and home. But there is trouble and Walk's protection isn't enough for Star, Duchess, and Robin. This story is heartbreaking, for Duchess and Robin, for Walk, whose body is failing him, for Star and Vincent, who are never going to crawl out of their depression and guilt. I listened to the narration of this story and it was wonderful, putting me right there in this hopeless and sad situation. Duchess could have been unlikeable because she wants to be unlikeable but my heart broke for her and her fragile brother, Robin. And Walk, always the good, honest, reliable person, never wanting to change, has a body that is changing too soon. Now, to save Duchess and Robin, he's going to have to go against everything he's ever believed. 

Publication March 9th 2021

Thank you to Macmillan Audio and NetGalley for this ARC.

This book has been so hyped up in the book community and I hate when I have to go against the grain on my reviews. I was one of the few that did not enjoy this book. It started really slow for me and although at the start I wondered if we were going to see some ‘All The Ugly and Wonderful Things’ vibe, no luck. I didn’t really feel attached to the characters so their build don’t payoff for me.

One of the best audiobooks I have listened to this year. The narrator, George Newbern was a perfect match for this multi-layered drama.

The story takes place in a small Californian town on the coast, Cape Haven. The story centers around a feisty, self proclaimed outlaw, 13 year old, Duchess and her younger brother, Robin. Their mother, Star is a struggling single mother with lots of problems that force Duchess to take on the role of guardian and protector to Robin and sometimes even Star. Duchess is fiercely protective of her family which leads her to many combative exchanges with fellow students and town residents. Her quick temper eventually leads her to make some poor decisions. The police chief, “Walk” grew up with Star and tries to help the family as best he can. Duchess looks up to Walk as the only adult in her life that is truly there for her. Walk’s best friend, Vincent is released from prison after serving 30 years, the murder he committed was the beginning of Star’s downward spiral.

This story is full of great characters that are very well written and developed. It is well paced and will leave you feeling emotionally drained by the end. The vulnerability of Duchess and the innocence of Robin are at the center of this drama. Walk must attempt to save them by facing the past and solving a mystery that may force him to sacrifice part of himself in in the process.

Thank you to NetGalley for the audiobook in exchange for an honest review.

Thank you @henryholtbooks @macmillan.audio @netgalley for this #gifted audiobook.

I wasn’t sure what I was walking into with this book other than I’d heard good things about it. I’m definitely glad that I gave this book a chance!

We Begin At The End is a beautifully written, character driven story about protecting those that you love, even if it means sacrificing yourself for it. This was a slow burning story with a bit of a suspense element to it. Although it’s a slow burn, I never felt bored with the storyline. We’re introduced to a wide range of complex characters, which really helps to builds the stage for this story.

𝙰𝚞𝚍𝚒𝚘𝚋𝚘𝚘𝚔 𝚃𝚑𝚘𝚞𝚐𝚑𝚝𝚜: I enjoyed the audiobook of this. The narration was crisp and easy to understand. The storyline was also easy to follow, especially with the shorter chapters.

This novel had good plot and character development. It was well-written, but profoundly sad. I enjoyed reading the digital copy more than listening to the audiobook. The narrator of the audiobook was not my favorite. Thank you to NerGalley and the publisher for an advanced reader’s copy of this book (both the digital copy and the audiobook) in exchange for an honest review.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for providing me with We Begin At The End by Chris Whitaker in exchange for my honest opinion.

Best described as a story about two people who deserve so much more, you quickly connect with Walk and Duchess. Walk, the local law sheriff, is a man haunted by a troubled past. Thirteen-year-old Duchess, a self-proclaimed outlaw, fills the void for her mother by always picking up the pieces every time her mother falls apart by being the parent her younger brother needs. When real trouble arrives, Duchess’ path to make sense of the world and her life , and Walk’s struggle to save someone who doesn’t want to be saved are stories that will grab you.

Whitaker writes about when life tries to break you, what it does to a soul, and what it takes to persevere and survive. While you want the story to come to a conclusion, it’s a story so good you don’t want it to end. One of my favorite reads this year.

This book is great! Would definitely recommend. Thanks so much to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC.

I started reading We Begin at the End thinking it was a thriller but was pleasantly surprised to find that it was so much more... crime fiction, coming-of-age, family drama, mystery, etc all wrapped up into one. The characters are well-developed and likeable (or hateable in the best way). The intricate plot full of tragedy, suspense, and twists kept me engaged until the very end. I found the names to be distracting and the format of this book did not lend itself to the audio format. It would move from one scene into another without any separation and it would take me a minute to find my bearings.. Also, unfortunately, I did not care for the narrator of the book. It wasn’t the narrator himself per say, because I think I would enjoy him on another type of story, but more that I felt his voice and style did not match the atmosphere/mood of the book. I had a digital copy of the book as well and felt myself preferring it to the audio version which is not the norm for me.

I have not seen a less than five star review for WE BEGIN AT THE END. I’m always skeptical because, c’mon, I have to be that person. But, alas, I’m joining the masses and coming in with a popular opinion. WE BEGIN AT THE END is absolutely heartbreakingly beautiful.

Long story short, we’re in the smallest of hometowns. Walker (Walk), as a teen, turns his friend Vincent for the murder of Star’s sister. (Sissy) Vincent is released many years later and goes down the path of destruction, taking Star with him. Walk (now sheriff) tries to save Vincent and the town, but just can’t save everyone. Now, Vincent is accused of killing Star, leaving behind kids Duchess and Robin. Walk tries to find another suspect to get Vincent off, but his intentions are blurry. Duchess is a mother freaking outlaw that takes no crap. She’s loyal and stands up for her brother. She’s dealt with things in her 13 years that most folks are privileged enough to never have to even think about. She takes it on the chin and raises it a little higher each time. Duchess is the best character in this book.

At first, I thought I would have a different opinion than my friends. It took me a minute to really get into it. I had to re-read a few pages. However, once we hit that stride, I was sucked in. You couldn’t pull me away. I wanted, no, needed these characters.

At the end, I closed the book. Pushed it gently off my side of the bed, then sobbed. Uncontrollably. That’s all you really need to know. The reader from MacMillan Audio was phenomenal, the writing was heartbreaking, I’m a mess. I can’t believe I let y’all rope me into WE BEGIN AT THE END and loved it as much as I did.

Thank you MacMillan Audio and Henry Holt books for the gifted copy. WE BEGIN AT THE END is out now, and I’m sure you’ll never stop hearing it’s praises.