**Review of *The Ends of Things* by Sandra Chwialkowska**

*The Ends of Things* by Sandra Chwialkowska is a haunting and thought-provoking exploration of grief, loss, and the complex ways in which we attempt to navigate the end of relationships and the closing of chapters in our lives. Chwialkowska’s writing is poetic, raw, and deeply introspective, making this novel a powerful meditation on the emotional aftermath of difficult farewells.

The story centers around the protagonist, whose life is disrupted by a significant loss that forces her to reevaluate everything she thought she knew about herself, her past, and her future. Through vivid, often poignant imagery, the author examines the emotional weight of endings, and how they can linger long after the event itself has passed. The writing carries a sense of melancholy, yet there’s a quiet strength in the way the protagonist grapples with these challenges.

Chwialkowska’s prose is lyrical and immersive, drawing readers into a world where emotions are tangled and hard to untangle. The pacing of the narrative allows readers to reflect on the intricacies of the protagonist’s journey, offering moments of introspection and even a sense of catharsis. While the book deals with heavy themes, it never feels overwhelming; instead, there is a delicate balance between despair and hope that makes the novel incredibly compelling.

One of the book’s greatest strengths is its exploration of the nuances of human relationships. The author doesn’t just focus on romantic loss but also delves into familial ties, friendships, and personal identity. These relationships are portrayed with a great deal of empathy and understanding, showing how people can be both a source of comfort and conflict.

At its core, *The Ends of Things* is about the difficult and often confusing process of finding closure, both in our internal world and in our interactions with others. Chwialkowska beautifully illustrates how the end of one chapter can lead to a painful, yet necessary, process of transformation. The novel doesn’t offer easy answers or clear resolutions, but it leaves readers with a powerful sense of what it means to rebuild and start anew after loss.

For those who enjoy literary fiction that delves into complex emotional terrain, *The Ends of Things* is a must-read. With its evocative prose and multifaceted exploration of loss, it’s a novel that will stay with you long after you turn the last page. Sandra Chwialkowska proves herself to be a master of capturing the delicate, intricate dance between pain and healing.

Rating: 3.5 stars rounding to 4
Theme: Psychological Thrillers, Suspense, Murder
Genre: Fiction | Women's Fiction, Thriller, Suspense
Author: Sandra Chwialkowska
Book Publication date: Jan 14, 2025
Page Count: 256 (Paperback) / 251 (Kindle)
Book Cover first thoughts: Love the book cover, it is absolutely beautiful

One Liner: Laura goes on a trip to an island in the Bahamas and ends up in a mysterious investigation.
Story Review / Summary: 
I usually do not read the synopsis except for ARCs but I wish I didn’t as others mentioned. I feel it is a bit confusing and too much is mentioned. (Which is typically why I don’t read them so I go in blind)

I really enjoyed the start, plot and character development of Chloe, Diana and Laura. But I feel like the ending was a little confusing, possibly rushed.

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Thank you to #NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for the ARC (Advance Reader Copy) of #TheEndsofThings by Sandra Chwialkowska
All opinions expressed in this review are my own. Publication date was Jan 14, 2025. This review is being shared on NetGalley and Goodreads

It was a twisty tale and interesting. I would say ok for me. I would like more dark thrillers for me. Overall fast pace and okay read for me.

If you are a lover of dramatic, vacation themed thrillers between strangers in a gorgeous setting.. this one is for you!

What a gorgeous cover! Having read in the winter with snow and cold temps, it was a perfect escape to beachy sunshine! I enjoyed the vacation vibes of this one along with a fresh story. I was drawn in almost immediately and couldn't wait to see what happened. The ending felt a little lackluster for me but the reader does get some closure. Sorry for being vague, don't want to give any spoilers!

Reading the description, this book is described as being a "thriller" and "suspenseful" and unfortunately I spent the entire time reading this book chasing those things. I think if the book description and genre had been different, I would have been able to read and enjoy it for what it is. I think it was a big mistake describing it this way. The Ends of Things looks closely at a woman and her insecurities and also the relationships with the people in her life. I thought the writing was good and entertaining, sometimes a little redundant. I felt like it was always hinting at there being something more behind the scenes but ultimately there didn't seem to be... but that also could have been my "psychological thriller" mindset looking into things more than I should have. In the end, it was an easy read but it left me with an unsatisfied feeling.

It was pretty good. But I wouldn’t read it again personally. I love thrillers but I don’t feel like this one captivated me as much as others. For a debut novel, I’d say 3.5 stars.

Laura and her boyfriend Dave go on a romantic getaway to the Bahamas. At their resort, everyone is a couple, except for one person. Laura befriends her because she is curious why she is alone. When they go on a hike, Diana vanishes. Laura feels compelled to report her missing, even as she knows nothing about her. Now she is a suspect and can't leave the island.

This is a good suspense book that holds your interest.

A big buildup of nothing

I thought this book was going to be awesome
We have a couple who are lawyers that go on vacation together
Laura meets Diana
Diana disappears
Dave, her boyfriend, seems to be hiding something
There's even a weird dude in a truck and perhaps 2 men that could have harmed Diana
But no, nothing nada 😒
I get the moral at the end of this book, but it totally didn't match the plot

Pink sandy beaches of the Bahamas and a captivating synopsis had me wanting to dive in.

I enjoyed this book. I did find that the synopsis over shared some details and found the story to be more character driven, then mystery suspense based on the summary.

This Canadian author did a great job illustrating a beautiful setting, I found I connected with the characters quickly.

Solid 3 ⭐️ for me! Thank you NetGalley & Blackstone publishing for the ARC!

I really struggled to get through this one and almost DNFd. I went into it as it was described a thriller and I found it more literary fiction and did not keep my attention. Thank you netgalley for the advanced copy.

Laura's newish boyfriend invites her on a romantic getaway to the remote island of Eleuthera in the Bahamas. There, Laura befriends the woman, Diana, and as they spend time together, Laura finds herself telling Diana secrets she’s never shared with anyone.

When Diana disappears, Laura finds herself in the middle of the investigation.

This book had promise but quickly moved from a mystery/thriller to just an odd story about the past. I found the characters unlikeable and the book too long.

This is a wonderful beach read! It is far more wholesome than my usual thriller. I wanted the best for Laura and I also want to be on a beach.

The book follows Laura and Dave, two lawyers who are traveling to the Bahamas for a vacation. I went into this thinking it was a thriller, but unfortunately there was really no mystery or thrill. Still a very enjoyable read.
Thank you to NetGalley for the opportunity to review this book.

Laura gets whisked away to a vacation island at the Pink Sands resort. Her boyfriend, Dave seems to be much more used to the luxury style compared to Laura.

She notices one woman, Diana, who appears to be there alone. She befriends her and finds herself making quick friends, so quick that she spills secrets that no one else knows. When in paradise, right ? Well Diana goes missing and Laura is rethinking everything she assumed to be true, how careless to share so much with someone she barely even knew.

Laura becomes obsessed with learning more about Diana’s past, both to see if she can help secure her safety but also justify to herself that she didn’t just trust her most desperate secrets to someone who shouldn’t have been trusted.

To me this is a mystery but with low thriller / psychological suspense elements. This was more low stakes mystery/ women’s fiction. This is short and sweet, would be a great beach read for the summer time !

Thank you to NetGalley and Blackstone publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This book started off fairly strong, but wound up being a skim read for me. I liked setting and found the overall tone interesting. It just didn't really click with me enough to fully hold my attention. It's heavier on the character side of things than the plot, which can be a plus for me sometimes but didn't really work this time, unfortunately. It is a quick read though and there was definitely a lot of promise there, so I can see how other readers might have a more enjoyable experience than I did.

I read an ARC of this book from NetGalley. All comments are my own.

Laura seemed to have it all. As a rising star at a prestigious New York City law firm, she owned her apartment, was dating a fellow lawyer at the firm, and enjoyed being included in girls' nights out with her colleagues. She appeared to be living the dream, checking all the boxes for success and social acceptance.

But everything changed during what was supposed to be a romantic escape to a luxurious couples' resort in the Bahamas. A chance meeting with Diana, a mysterious and enigmatic guest at the resort, set Laura on a path of self-doubt and introspection, forcing her to confront deeply buried traumas from past friendships. Diana’s influence acted as both a mirror and a catalyst, pushing Laura to question everything she thought she wanted and needed—her career, her relationships, and the persona she had carefully constructed to fit society’s expectations.

By crossing paths with Diana, Laura was forced to reevaluate the life she had built and let go of the preconceived notions that dictated her sense of worth and success. In the end, Laura discovered that true freedom came from honesty—being true to herself and shedding the societal pressures to conform. Letting go of who she was "supposed" to be allowed her to embrace who she truly was, free from the weight of expectations.

Sandra Chwialkowska’s The Ends of Things is a thought-provoking exploration of identity, self-discovery, and the power of letting go with some mystery and suspense entwinned. It’s a story that resonates with anyone who has ever questioned the path they’re on and wondered if there’s more to life than chasing someone else’s idea of success.

Will start off by saying that the cover really is what drew me in but after reading this short story I realized it reminded me a bit about another read i had read. The story is based on a what is supposed to be a romantic trip between a couple who have been dating for a short 6 weeks. They seem to be a little off and not clicking as couples do. Until a mysteries women shows up and Laura spills all her secrets to this mystery women that shows up at the beach. Then the worst happens and the mystery woman is killed and Laura becomes the first suspect.

Unfortunately, this was not for me and I did DNF this. It didn't really feel like a thriller and it just didn't hold my attention.

Laura Phillips is a perpetually-single attorney until Dave, a new hire at her law firm, enters her orbit. Laura and Dave have only been dating for a few months when they book a romantic trip to the Pink Sands resort in the Bahamas where Laura notices and befriends Diana, who appears to be at the resort alone. What happens when Diana suddenly disappears?

I felt like this book was sort of confused about its own genre. It was part thriller, part literary fiction, part women’s fiction, some of which are genres I really like, but none felt resolved by the end. There were so many red herrings that ultimately ended up not being relevant, which was fine except that it really felt like there was no movement in any direction by the time we reached the end of the book. The protagonist was kind of dumb and thoughtless in a way that made it hard to believe she was this successful, cut-throat contract attorney that we were told she was. By the end of the book, it was clear that the thriller was a misdirection and the book was ultimately about Laura’s growth and lessons she learned. However, the end felt rushed or maybe just cobbled together, and we were not shown her growth but rather told about it. Finally, I never understood why Laura and Dave were dating (Why did she want to date him? Why did he want to date her?) and there were a lot of unrealistic plot points involving the legal field that drove me (as a lawyer) nuts.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.