Get ready to be transported back to 2019/2020!

Although the pandemic in this book is far more intense than what we experienced with Covid-19, the emotional weight and uncertainty felt oddly familiar.

I can see this book resonating deeply with readers especially young adults who are still figuring out who they are or have just begun to find their place. I was hooked from start to finish, constantly wondering what would happen next in this unpredictable, high stakes world.

At its heart, this book is about survival, not just physically, but emotionally. It dives into what it means to be left behind, to rely solely on yourself, and then be forced to open up and trust others. The journey these characters take is raw, tense, and powerful.

It touches on important themes like identity, friendship, and found family, while also exploring heavier topics such as abuse, sexual assault, and crime.

That said, I’m rating this with the book’s intended young adult audience in mind.

Huge thanks to NetGalley and Sourcebooks Fire for the ARC!

Perhaps another case of this one wasn't for me. This was a pretty long book, so the fact that I still think there were too many characters not enough to really drive the story for me is a bummer. We kind of get a quick label of each teen, but nothing meaty enough to make them memorable and developed. I also thought for such a long book that the writing was a bit stiff and clunky.

I think this would have been better suited to have a bit of mystery to go with the dystopian theme because it was lacking something propelling to make me want to read it and get answers. In the end it was kind of flat and never really went anywhere.

Hope Juvenile Treatment Center is in a remote area, a treatment center for teenagers who are mainly ignored by their families and friend. When the guards and warden start to act strangely, then mysteriously disappear, will the teens be able to find out what is happening?

At the End of Everything has a Lord of the Flies vibe, but set in a world with an extreme version of a pandemic. The complete disregard for the teens housed at Hope is unrealistic, as is the almost immediate spread of the plague. This exaggerated and accelerated illness just could not happen with this speed. Considering the fact that the center has an infirmary, it does not make sense that the basic PPE would not have been available. Additionally, being that they are taking care of their own, the teens would have been more cautious than they ultimately are. Overall, At the End of Everything lacks movement and flow, sluggishly going towards a conclusion that is projected from the beginning. Though it is a fast read, I hesitate to recommend it to other readers.

Disclaimer: I was given an Advanced Copy by NetGalley and the publisher. The decision to review this novel was entirely my own.

At the End of Everything by Marieke Nijkamp is a gripping and emotionally charged young adult novel that explores survival, morality, and the human spirit. Set in a juvenile detention center during a deadly outbreak, the story follows a group of teens who must navigate the chaos and uncertainty as they try to survive and escape. Nijkamp’s writing is tense and thought-provoking, delving into complex themes of friendship, trauma, and the consequences of choices in extreme situations. This is a compelling read for fans of survival stories and psychological dramas with a twist of suspense.

This is the book I've been waiting for every since the COVID-19 pandemic started. Finally a book of disabled rage when a mass disabling event hits. With excellent characters and writing, Nijkamp knocks it out of the park!

UMMARY: teens are locked up for various reasons. The guards disappear. The teens realize there is a plague “out there” and they’ve been abandoned.

Some kids want to break free and take their chances outside. Others want to stay where they have shelter, food, and some security.

Then some of the teens get sick. Some die. Eventually food runs low/out. A few of them leave to loot and learn more about “the plague” and find out what’s happened to the boys that left.

The ending is very vanilla—you don’t know what happens long term, just that they aren’t going to starve today.

Especially coming out of the 2020 adventure, this book hit particularly hard. Really interesting take on the topic, and as always, strikes all the same chords you expect out of Nijkamp. Definitely enjoyed the read.

*At the End of Everything* by Marieke Nijkamp is a gripping and poignant tale of resilience and survival. Set in a world on lockdown, it explores friendship, hope, and humanity in the face of crisis. The characters are richly developed, making it an emotionally resonant and unforgettable read. Highly recommended!

An interesting, gripping blend of sci-fi and mystery by an author who excels at it. It is not a light read at all and one that might hit a bit close to home since the pandemic but a worthy read.

A thrilling and action packed read, taken on from the pov of multiple narrators. Not all were likeable, as to be expected, but they keep you holding on to the very end. A particularly captivating concept, especially so near to the pandemic we faced. Received this ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

This book was good, but not great. It started out pretty slow, picked up towards the middle but it never really had me fully engaged at the edge of my seat. This is a story about a group of teenagers residing in a juvenile detention rehabilitation center who are abandoned by the center's administration and guards after an outbreak has swept the country. It reads a bit like Lord of the Flies during a worldwide pandemic similar to Covid. The ending leaves us with too many unanswered questions.

At the End of Everything by Marieke Nijkamp is a contemporary young adult novel that delves into themes of trauma, survival, and the complexities of human relationships. Set in a juvenile detention center, the story follows a group of teenagers who are faced with a crisis when the facility is put on lockdown following a violent incident.

Nijkamp's narrative is notable for its exploration of intense emotional and psychological states, as well as its focus on diverse characters with distinct backgrounds and experiences. The author effectively uses a confined setting to heighten the tension and drama, pushing characters to confront their pasts and their fears.

The book is structured with multiple perspectives, allowing readers to gain insight into the inner lives of several characters. This approach adds depth to the story but can also create some narrative disjointedness. While the character development is generally strong, the plot can feel somewhat predictable at times.

Overall, At the End of Everything is a thought-provoking read that tackles serious issues with sensitivity and nuance. It may appeal to readers interested in character-driven stories and those looking for an exploration of complex emotional landscapes within a high-stakes environment.

I felt desperately sad once it was over and though I understand that this was probably Nijkamp's desire, I could have used a few more moments of lightness and hope to be peppered throughout this.

This was a struggle for me and I did not finish. I am fully aware that this may have been more of a me problem. Each time I went to pick this book back up I was unwilling to bring up my own childhood issues. I am certain that given the right audience this is a gold star. I just couldn't finish it.

Thank you to sourcebooks and netgalley for the opportunity to attempt it.

I've enjoyed everything that Marieke Nijkamp has written. I enjoyed At the End of Everything but it was missing something that I cannot put my finger on.

We have a book that is very character driven and somewhat dystopian with a bunch of kids stranded and forgotten about at a juvenile detention center after an outbreak has swept through the country.

I really didn't understand how all of the characters could talk to their loved ones but the entire time they complained about being forgotten about and unwanted.

It was a quick read and I actually had a hard time putting it down. I liked it enough to finish but I just wasn't completely awed by it.

This is a unique story line written by a skilled author. A treatment center of deliquent children left to fend for themselves during a pandemic that has made the world outside their compound much more dangerous than the world they live in everyday.

A very interesting and harrowing read. I don't tend to read YA books, not because they're not any good or I have anything against them, but because they just don't tend to stand out to me. The writing in this book was very well done and went along at a fast pace. I definitely will check out other works from this author and would recommend this book for those who want a YA that's a bit darker.

An emotionally charged story that will close your eyes in despair how neglected children can possibly be forgotten.

This story is reminiscent of Lord of the Flies during Covid-19 pandemic. There are a group of delinquent young adults at Hope Juvenile Treatment Center in the Ozarks. One day, the guards don't show up and some of the kids try to escape but are stopped by soldiers posted outside. They don't understand what is happening and why they were left alone and why they are slowly getting sick with respiratory illnesses. They are confronted with deciding who they can trust and determine what actions will keep them alive. They learn that the Center is shut down due to a contagious Black Death Plague; “Y. pestis is a gram-negative bacterium, widely known by the disease it causes: the plague. The plague is known to take three forms: bubonic, septicemic, and pneumonic.”
“The world is crumbling all around us, but we have the chance to build something that is ours. A small outpost against the coming storm, where we’re safe and protected, because we’re the ones who secure and protect ourselves.” Some of them decide to plan an escape past the soldiers and others are determined to stay and tend to the very ill. Both options present the risk of being killed by the soldiers or the plague. There are some very unlikeable characters are there always when put in a desperate situation where the "fight, flight or freeze" response kicks in. It's a story of survival, perseverance and humanity.

You ever read a book and it just feels like it’s just a bit too soon? That’s how this felt. Not that it was terrible, just that it felt too soon especially due to the COVID pandemic. Like it was a COVID book without being an exact COVID book; the plague was different, but it just felt too close for comfort.
I enjoyed the excerpts from health organizations and felt like they were important and there should have been more of them, and felt like the twins who spoke in their own sign language just didn’t really fit in.

Overall, it was just okay. I would probably read another book by this author, but the COVID pandemic theme was just not it for me.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.