
Member Reviews

Respectfully….no. Just no.
I wish I could tell you at least one thing I liked and/or can appreciate about this book, but honestly I can’t come up with one. I wasn’t a fan of the writing style. I wasn’t a fan of the clear “mommy issues” that drove our main character to do some pretty odd things. Most of all, I wasn’t a fan of this ever being written in the first place. To put it bluntly.
Maybe this book has an audience and it just isn’t me, but I was so glad when it was over.

This is so deeply perverse and unsettling. I always appreciate horror that engages with how grotesque and violent pregnancy is, and also treats women's bodies as horror in a non-sexist way. The way the main character finds Rachel's postpartum body so beautiful, though the descriptions are defamiliarized, juxtaposed with her mother's description of her own vile pregnancy and ensuing postpartum depression really highlight the cycles of violence rather than women themselves. The MC's sick, homoerotic mothering relationship is also remarkably well wrought.

The island says that this is where I end…
A tragic,disturbing and brilliant horror story. At some points I didn’t think I could go on,yet at the same time,I was transfixed.
Readers get immersed in the haunting world of Aoileann, a young woman grappling with the unsettling dynamics of her isolated life on a remote Irish island. Living with her grandmother, Móraí, Aoileann navigates the caring of her eerie,catatonic mother, who exists in a state that blurs the line between life and death.
Crunch.
This novel was rich with tension and dread, characterized by striking imagery and the most disturbing thoughts that reflect Aoileann's internal struggles. As she confronts her responsibilities towards her mother aka the bed-thing, the narrative delves into themes of neglect and the burden of care, encapsulated in Aoileann's own struggle with confinement and decay.
Gurgle.
The island people itself became a character, harboring a deep-seated hatred towards Aoileann and her family. This hostility underscores Aoileann's isolation and the existential questions surrounding her mother’s fate. When Aoileann befriends Rachel, a young transplant to the island , something in her is awakened- a feeling deep within that she can’t explain yet can’t stay away from. Aoileann’s relationship with Rachel adds layers of complexity and emotional turmoil.
Squish.
The novel's climax reveals Aoileann's desperate attempts to reclaim her freedom, ending in a chilling act of liberation. The story blended realism and psychological horror into a poignant narrative that questions the nature of identity and survival.
Nothing.
Where I End is a terrific and terrifying exploration of familial ties, trauma, and how it affects the mind, and it left me with a lingering sense of unease and reflection on what it means to truly end.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for my copy of this book.
'Where I End' was a lot darker than I thought it would be. It tells the tale of Aoileann, a young woman living on a isolated island where half the town keep their distance from her. She, along with her grandmother, take care of her bed-ridden mother (who is unable to speak as well) while her father occasionally checks in from time to time.
White goes into harrowing detail about the daily ordeal of taking care of the "bed-thing" as Aoileann calls her mother and the toll it takes on her. This is all Aoileann has ever known and she never really has understood why her mother is this way. Over time, she ends up resenting her mother for the situation she has put them in - as none of the town know she is here (as they believe she had died some time ago).
At first I began to sympathise with Aoileann and her situation, given she has never left the island or been educated due to her home situation. The book takes a turn when artist Rachel moves to the island with her newborn baby and Aoileann begins to fixate on her - to the point where she develops an unhealthy obsession.
It is here that we start to see a darker side to Aoileann and this is when she becomes truly terrifying.
The first half of the book was a bit of a slow burn for me and I often wondered what it was all leading up to. Once Rachel's character was introduced - this is where it hooked me and inhaled the rest of the book to finally arrive at a grim end to the story.
This is my first book by Sophie White and I am definitely interested in reading more of her work after this.

Where I End is an oddly compelling, dark, and disturbing tale of isolation, family, obsession, and the ties that bind. I had a hard time putting this book while at the same time being a wee bit creeped out by it. The isolation, the shunning, the wetness in the air coupled with the obligation of caring for the "bed thing" makes for a sad existence for Aoileann.
Aoileann lives with her grandmother and her mother who she refers to as the 'bed thing' on an island that she has never left. Her father lives on the mainland and visits once a month. Aoileann wants to belong, to be liked, to have a friend, to be accepted. She has no friends so when she meets Rachel and her new-born baby Seamus on the beach, she becomes obsessed.
This is a dark book which is seeping with atmosphere. The isolated island off the coast of Ireland is a great setting for this dark book. The chill and salt in the air, the home on a cliff, the isolation, and the shunning from their fellow islanders make for a creepy gothic book. There are undercurrents of tension and dread which flow throughout the book. This is a book you don't read but you feel. It is unsettling, eerie, strange, and compelling.
If you are looking for a gothic and dark book, Where I End might be right up you alley.
Dark, riveting, hard to put down and gripping.

Where I End by Sophie White is an exceptional work of horror that delves deep into the human psyche and the twisted complexities of motherhood. Set against the backdrop of a bleak, isolated Irish island, White masterfully crafts an atmospheric and claustrophobic narrative that leaves readers disturbed, yet unable to look away.

I can’t say that I enjoyed this read, which is a really big compliment. The feeling of dread pervades every word, every phrase, every horrific image. Three women who are trapped in terrible circumstances, some of their own making, others just bad luck. The author doesn’t describe the desolation of an Irish island as much as transfers the images, like Gothic paintings, in the reader’s mind. An island steeped in superstition that has made Aoileann the symbol of a curse. She is trapped as her mother’s caregiver, with an unfeeling grandmother and the enmity of the whole village. Her mother is alive, but gone. She is a misshapen thing that Aoileann loathes. One day, a painter and her baby come from the mainland and change her world. But is it too late? The characters are not likable, relatable or easy to root for in any way, and yet I couldn’t stop reading. The text was making me queasy and I still had to know what was going to happen. Powerful images in a short novel that will give you nightmares and take you to a dark, dark place.
I chose to read this book and all opinions in this review are my own and completely unbiased. Thank you, NetGalley/Kensington Books | Erewhon Books.

A perfectly brutal and messed-up read for the start of the season of hauntings -highly recommended but absolutely not for the faint-hearted!

4 out of 5 stars!
Oh my lord. At first I thought “oh, this is just a dark little Irish story”. And then it turned horrific.
TW: child abuse, emotional abuse, pregnancy, murder, domestic violence.
Yikes on bikes, the MC was written to be something to pity and then it just took a turn for the worse. My eyes kept getting wider and wider and visibly cringed in certain spots.
This is written pretty uniquely. It was interesting reading actual Irish words in conversation and description and I’m so thankful that the author put translations in the back.
Thank you, NetGalley, for another great ARC

WOW. SOPHIE WHITE. I have wanted to get my hands on this book for so long, and was concerned that my expectations were too high. I worried I might be disappointed, but she blew me away. I really think this book is incredible. It is so well-written, and my goodness, so disturbing. When I thought the novel couldn't get worse, it did. I felt persistently uncomfortable. And yet, I could not put it down.
I'm not always a fan of horror about motherhood. I just don't connect and relate to the theme, so the book has to stand on its own, be incredible, and do a lot for me to get a 5 star rating. Where I End is one of the best horror novels I've read. As visceral and difficult as this book is to get through, it manages to be as beautiful as it is unsettling. I was constantly pausing over passages to appreciate the author's gorgeous writing.
This was one of the most haunting books I've read. Fair warning, this book is really bleak and discomfiting. Everyone I've spoken to felt uneasy and stressed reading Aoileann's descent into dark obsession and depravity. Save this book for a sunny day when you're mentally ready to be devastated. This one will stick with me; this is one of the few horror novels that I feel 'changed my brain chemistry'. I haven't read anything that really disturbed me while being a wonderful, effective read since To Be Devoured. It contains grotesque body horror if that is a way you like to be scared-- I personally do-- but the emotional weight is so much worse than the physical descriptions.
I very rarely have such a positive review for a novel that is on this level of disturbing. It actually upset me, and pushed my boundaries with its many miserable moments. I also think this is one of the best-written, most effective books I've ever read. I could say this book was TOO heavy and dreadful, but it was done so well and came together into such a powerful narrative that I can't criticize it. If you enjoy intense, weighted, claustrophobic, psychologically disturbing and repulsive horror, please read this. I needed to be in a comfortable and prepared state to read this one, and still think you should read it if you can handle the themes.
TWs for <spoiler>dehumanization of the disabled, ableism, horrible caregiver practices, confinement, chronic illness, child abuse, domestic abuse, physical abuse, mental and emotional abuse, neglect, torture, gore, excrement, vomit, and mental health struggles.</spoiler> This spoils a lot of what happens in the book, so only view these spoilers if you want to know all major trigger warnings and don't mind: <spoiler>death, murder, sexual assault, rape, psychosis, stalking, sexual violence, child death, self harm, suicidal ideation, suicide.</spoiler>
Many thanks to Kensington and specifically Erewhon Books and to Netgalley for allowing me to read this ARC. I received a digital Advanced Reader Copy to read in exchange for an honest and unbiased review.

This book has such an unnerving, creepy feeling!
If you like books that are unsettling and kind of confusing at the same time, you’ll love this! You want to know what’s really going on but you are also scared of how messed up it will be.
Thanks to Sophie White, Kensington Books, and Erewhon Books for the opportunity to read Where I End. I have written this review voluntarily.

I was not prepared for this book to be as disturbing as it was. The writing was absolutely beautiful and I could picture this island so vividly in my mind… but unfortunately, the story itself just wasn’t for me. The subject matter felt wrong to read.

An intriguing horror novella that really creeps you put. It's not scary per se (scary is rather subjective, If I am being honest) but is definitely dreadful and suspenceful. Some bits of it did make my skin crawl. The atmosphere is bleak and dark, something that heightens the effect of the book. Loved this book a lot and highly recommend.

I am really conflicted with my feelings for this book overall because the last third of the novel was so so so good - almost so good that it made me forget the difficulties I had with getting into the novel in the beginning. The strongest aspect for this novel is White's vivid descriptions. Often, they were so disgusting and gross that I needed to pause reading to collect myself, something I of course love in novels. I think it made for the discussions surrounding motherhood and the fragility of it to be really intriguing. I also loved that White looked into the "othering" of womanhood and motherhood and how often it makes pregnant individuals feel lost and horrific. I think it was hard for me in the beginning as a lot of the relationships between our main characters family was a little confusing and I struggled to understand where we stood in the plot, but once it clicked and I was into the story, I was hooked.

Thank you, Kensington and NetGalley, for my free E-book for review.
Intrigue gripped me from the very first paragraph of the synopsis: "At night, my mother creaks. The house creaks along with her. Sometimes in the morning, we find her in places. We never see her move. We just come upon her." How could one not be captivated by such an eerie premise?
Delving into this novel, I found myself plunging into depths far darker and more profound than I had anticipated. The author masterfully crafts an atmospheric narrative that unfolds like a haunting black-and-white film in the reader's mind. Set against the backdrop of a remote Irish Isle, the story weaves local superstitions and beliefs into a tapestry of suspicion, with our protagonist, Aoileann, at its center.
The author's deliberate pacing further enhances this rich atmosphere. While the initial progress may seem languid, the ambiguity of the events allows for a meticulous layering of tension and mystery. Each revelation is carefully doled out to keep readers teetering on the edge of understanding, creating an undercurrent of unease that propels one to keep turning pages.
As the narrative gains momentum, we're drawn deeper into Aoileann's world, where the author's disturbing portrayal of her character truly shines. Aoileann's journey of self-discovery is far from the typical coming-of-age tale; instead, it's a descent into the shadows of her family's past and her own psyche, mirroring the dark tone set by the novel's setting and atmosphere.
What makes Aoileann truly terrifying is the gradual unveiling of her character throughout this journey. As she unearths the truth about her family, her obsession with the enigmatic newcomer intensifies, revealing the lengths to which she'll go to assert her significance. This transformation is chilling, further deepening the novel's unsettling atmosphere. Ultimately, the result is a haunting exploration of identity and the darkness that can lurk within the human psyche.

I’ve never read anything quite like this and was absolutely disturbed and horrified by it, yet I can’t stop thinking about it. If you like the type of horror that burrows under your skin for a bit and makes you think about the nature of being monstrous, this is an excellent and propulsive read.

Creepy, thrilling, and a true examination of the complicated bonds between mother & daughter, Where I End was a real delight. To me, it feels like the perfect autumnal read, and I think what this book truly excels at is nailing atmosphere.
I definitely plan on picking up a physical copy. Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Aoileann, a lonely and neglected girl living on a remote Irish island, grapples with isolation and caring for her ailing bed-ridden mother. She has dehumanized her mother to protect herself, thinking of her as the “bed-thing.” It doesn’t help that she is considered a pariah on her island. She yearns for love and a closeness she has never experienced.
Her bleak existence takes a darker turn when she meets a new woman on the island who has a baby. Aoileann becomes fixated on the woman, longing to possess her and the life she represents. As dark family secrets emerge and her obsession deepens, the novel explores themes of motherhood, trauma, the blurring of physical and emotional boundaries, and the darker corners of human emotion. This book contains some unsettling elements of body horror and other WTF moments. Please read trigger warnings.
The novel's exploration of postpartum struggles, the expectations placed on mothers, and the consequences when we don't know how to give or receive love are particularly poignant. As a mother, these themes make the story not only unsettling but emotionally resonant as well.
While this story may not be for everyone due to its disturbing elements and slow-building tension, it is undeniably gripping, with a haunting, almost poetic beauty. Sophie White masterfully blurs the lines between horror and literary fiction, earning this novel a solid 4 stars.
A big thank you to Net Galley and Kensington Publishing for providing this complimentary ARC in exchange for my honest review.

4.5
I’ve heard great things about this one, so I was really intrigued to see what it was all about.
It’s such a strange little novella, but it definitely packs a punch. I love the mother/daughter relationship that was explored in this.
I loved that, while you didn’t agree or condone the main characters behaviors, there was a good explanation as to why they occurred.
I had heard it was disturbing and I didn’t expect the story to go where it went.
My only complaint is that it wasn’t longer, I would have loved a little teeny bit more from this one.

Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for this ARC!
I love a good 'crawling' horror novel. I don't know how to better explain it, but essentially the kind of horror novel that you can smell in the mildew and moss in the corners of dark places, the kind that sends a delicious shiver through your bones. This book delivers on that feeling tenfold, and I loved the sense of general unease that it provided throughout.
Aoileann lives a sheltered life, and, to be quite frank with you, it's the kind of life that doesn't much allow for managing the ebbs and flows of discovering that you're maybe a bit different to everyone else, and in more than one way. The twists in this story and the undercurrent of menace throughout, even when discussing the most innocent of things, is prevalent. The claustrophobia of the island setting lends much to the tone as well, and reminds me of 'Eynhallow' by Tim McGregor.
Her daily tasks in caring for her mother wear her down, and, when Rachel and her infant come to the island, they represent a change that is both welcome and dangerous. The book takes it from there, and weaves a lovely, twisted little web, full of dread and misery. While the writing style can be somewhat jarring at times, there's definitely success in creating the kind of atmosphere that White is aiming for. The book as a whole is wonderful, although I did wish it were sometimes a little more explicit about the action and less so on the descriptions.