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A review by allanaentrada
This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp
challenging
dark
emotional
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.0
Started and finished this book within a day and it crushed me. Everything hurt and I sobbed for a good half hour after finishing it. Do not read this book if you are triggered by guns, school shootings, and major character death. It is not a light-hearted read.
Another thing that must be mentioned is that this book does use language that could be perceived as humanizing and attempting to have the reader sympathize with the antagonist (the school shooter) and has come under fire for it— for absolutely understandable reason. The author doesn't write the antagonist in a fully sympathetic light but there may be readers that hate this just for the fact that the author does include details that could have you look at the antagonist in a not fully hating them sort of way. To be fair, I still hated the antagonist wholeheartedly despite the details I learned about their life and traumas but do be aware of this facet of the book.
Overall, it was a good read in terms of the characters and the relationships that unfold throughout the book and the slightly hopeful (?) ending that it has. I find it difficult to say that it has a happy ending because of the tumultuous events throughout the book but it does end on a bit of peace that I find is, most likely, unrealistic for most school shooting survivors. Again, do not read this book if you are sensitive to topics that I've brought up and have tagged because I am and it absolutely crushed me. I was pretty sad for a few days after reading it because it genuinely felt like I lost friends to such a heartbreaking and traumatizing disaster. Read this book critically but don't be afraid to allow your emotions to rise as the book does.
Another thing that must be mentioned is that this book does use language that could be perceived as humanizing and attempting to have the reader sympathize with the antagonist (the school shooter) and has come under fire for it— for absolutely understandable reason. The author doesn't write the antagonist in a fully sympathetic light but there may be readers that hate this just for the fact that the author does include details that could have you look at the antagonist in a not fully hating them sort of way. To be fair, I still hated the antagonist wholeheartedly despite the details I learned about their life and traumas but do be aware of this facet of the book.
Overall, it was a good read in terms of the characters and the relationships that unfold throughout the book and the slightly hopeful (?) ending that it has. I find it difficult to say that it has a happy ending because of the tumultuous events throughout the book but it does end on a bit of peace that I find is, most likely, unrealistic for most school shooting survivors. Again, do not read this book if you are sensitive to topics that I've brought up and have tagged because I am and it absolutely crushed me. I was pretty sad for a few days after reading it because it genuinely felt like I lost friends to such a heartbreaking and traumatizing disaster. Read this book critically but don't be afraid to allow your emotions to rise as the book does.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Child death, Death, Toxic relationship, Mass/school shootings, and Death of parent
Moderate: Homophobia, Mental illness, Misogyny, Sexual assault, and Sexual violence