Reviews

At The End of Everything by Marieke Nijkamp

chasingholden's review

3.0

The teens at Hope Juvenile Treatment Center all have one thing in common, they've broken the rules and ended up residing at a "treatment center" that isn't really treating them or cultivating hope; In fact the only thing the treatment center does for these kids is force a routine and strict rules on the young adults. Every day is exactly like the previous day....until it isn't.. Suddenly the guards don't show up at all. A deadly plague tears through their ranks and they must act quickly as supplies dwindle and panic spreads.

At the End of Everything is full of suspense as we follow the teens left alone in a world that didn't want them to begin with. Tackling many social questions with expertly written prose this post-apocalyptic novel is scarily relevant.. With brilliant metaphors hiding between the lines, At the End of Everything is sure to keep readers intrigued, and on the edge of their seat.

A big thank you to Netgalley and publishers for providing an e-copy so I can share my honest opinion with all of you..

elizabethzj's review

4.0

A group of diverse teens in a residential rehabilitation center are abandoned by the staff when a respiratory plague sweeps the globe. They aren't necessarily safe where they are, but aren't safe to leave either. Some of the most engaging aspects of the book were the elements of the past year and a half that were so recognizable: supply chain disruption, stay-at-home orders, masking, essential workers risking themselves, people that don't believe the virus exists, etc. I don't much YA, but I was really impressed with At the End of Everything. Content warning is included for readers to decide if the book is a fit for them.

Thank you to Sourcebooks FIRE and Netgalley for digital copy for review.

gamermonkey365's review

adventurous dark tense

4.0

derijdendeboekenwurm's review against another edition

2.0

Het boek 'Als de nacht valt' is geschreven door Marieke Nijkamp. Het gaat over een jeugdinstelling genaamd Hope. Waar op een dag opeens geen bewaking meer is. In een aantal staten van Amerika is er een epidemie uitgebroken. De groep die opgesloten zit in de jeugdinstelling moeten hun best doen om samen om te gaan met deze situatie.

Het boek is geschreven uit meerdere perspectieven, zodat je van meerdere mensen weet hoe ze het ervaren. En net als bij corona zijn er mensen die het bestaan van het virus ontkennen. Het leest vrij vlot maar persoonlijk vond ik het een minder leuk boek.

'Als de nacht valt' krijgt van mij twee sterren.

deedoodah98's review against another edition

challenging emotional medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

✧ L E T M E S U M M A R I S E ✧

At the End of Everything follows several young adults at the end of the world as we know it. Plague has broken out, people are dying and there’s no medications that can beat the disease. Left unattended and without any aide other than that which was already existing, the teens of Hope Juvenile Treatment Centre have two options. Leave the centre in hopes of finding food and safety away from the plague, or staying put and attempting to survive while they can.

✧ W H A T W O R K E D W E L L ✧

Considering the whole Coronavirus pandemic, the book provided quite an honest portrayal of the fear and mass hysterics that follow the outbreak of a pandemic. I felt like I was reliving early 2020 memories at the start of the book, and the confusion and concern hits you quite quickly. It’s raw and honest – harrowing for those of us who did lose someone we love to the pandemic. I really enjoyed the plot and the idea that these teens who had already been rejected by society had been left to die by the establishment. I think they are referred to as ‘not worth the risk’ and that really made me feel for them.

The characters are incredibly likable. The books switches between the POVs of Logan, a non-verbal girl with autism and twin to Leah, the first to contract the plague; Emerson, a transgender Catholic who finds solace in burying the dead; and Grace, who is suddenly forced to take on the role of leader throughout the outbreak. Each individual character had such depth and my heart broke for them all. You quickly start to like the secondary characters as well, like Casey who becomes the doctor, or Josie who steals food in an attempt to save her friend who has caught the plague.

Although At the End of Everything is told through multiple POVs, the story is easy to follow and written quite well. Phone calls, news announcements and typed computed documentation from Isiah are placed throughout the book which also works well at breaking the story down into manageable parts. It was quite interesting to see how the secondary characters were feeling through their phone conversations with family and friends – and how little bits of information about the pandemic were trickled into the centre.

I liked how the teens of the centre are supposed to all be selfish and only out for themselves, but suddenly pull together and form a community which cares for each other. Everyone seemed to take on a crucial role and play their part. Where you would have expected anarchy and distress, they handled the situation quite well.

Just a little side note, but I also appreciated how there was a content warning at the start of the book. Whilst I don’t have many triggers, I appreciate that there will be a lot of people out there with specific triggers – so for the author to provide these before starting the book, it allows people to consider whether it is a suitable read for them.

✧ W H A T N E E D E D W O R K ✧

I think towards the end of At the End of Everything, the plot seems to slow down a little and loses some of its momentum. It wasn’t incredibly off-putting to me, as I had been gripped by the story line, but I do note that it may affect anyone who struggles to get into the story from the get-go.

✧ W H A T T H R E E W O R D S ✧

Covid inspired dystopia.

✧ T O C O N C L U D E ✧

I’ve had real issues with some of the authors previous works so I didn’t pick up this book expecting to enjoy it as much as I did. At the End of Everything is a harrowing pandemic tale of apocalypse, survival and pulling together. Providing such an honest account, the multiple POVs and characters really make you feel something for them. The book flows really well, is easy to read and can be enjoyed in one sitting. I’ll admit there are some slow moments, but this doesn’t take away from the story or the overall enjoyment. 

abicasee's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

ktag's review

challenging dark emotional hopeful sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

Honestly I found this to be a bit boring. I think it’s because I have read plenty of other books in the past that are quite similar to this one. I liked it at the time but when you have so many books that are so similar it gets boring. 

ashleysumm's review

5.0

They won't be forgotten...

Life is anything but hopeful for the teens at Hope Juvenile Treatment Center. The guards are rough and callous, and one day, they all start acting very strange. When they don't show up the next day, and the door is slightly cracked open, the teens think they may have a chance at escaping and making new lives for themselves. The group of soldiers at a nearby roadblock shut them down, telling them that a a highly infectious disease is spreading like wildfire and no one can leave their homes. The kids realize they have been left to fend for themselves and that no one cares. They are determined to survive, despite limited resources and tensions between them. Can they work together and keep each other safe? And what happens when someone starts coughing?
This was the most terrifying book I have read in a while. I was glued to each page, desperate to know what was going to happen to the Hope teens. This novel was heavy with survival, grief, friendship, sacrifice, and desperation. I was blown away by each of the characters and was very emotional about their situation. This book was really beautifully written and I cannot wait to read more of Marieke Nijkamp's work. I recommend this to anyone who loves YA thrillers.

There is a content warning at the beginning of the book for anyone who may be triggered by certain topics.

ashylibrarian's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.0

housedominic's review

challenging dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.0