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Aquel verano que acabó en lágrimas
Una historia evocadora y nostálgica sobre el amor y la amistad
De niños, siempre eran ellos Miller, Olly y Ash. Inseparables, como si compartieran un secreto. Se necesitaban los unos a los otros. De adolescentes, viajaron en coche hasta Los Ángeles, vivieron junto a la playa de Malibú y fundaron un sello discográfico. Tuvieron éxito, fueron mejores amigos, y Olly y Miller se enamoraron. Antes de saltar por los aires, todo era precioso.
Pero entonces, Olly dejó de mirar a Miller como solía hacerlo. Miller pasó una noche con Ash, y aquello acabó convirtiéndose en un matrimonio, tras lo que regresaron a Wonderland, la isla de la que se habían marchado tiempo atrás. Ahora, Miller tiene cuarenta años, y siente que está desvaneciéndose. Ash tiene una aventura con una presentadora de televisión, y la carrera de Olly ha fracasado. Olly no quiere pensar en lo que él y el resto se deben los unos a los otros. Pero después de todo lo sucedido, Wonderland es el único lugar al que tiene sentido volver.
En el transcurso de un largo verano, Olly, Miller y Ash tratan de averiguar qué es lo que existe entre ellos. Están tan consumidos por su amor, su anhelo, sus pérdidas, y la posibilidad de un tercer acto de redención, que apenas se dan cuenta de lo que ocurre entre el hijo de Miller, su mejor amigo y la chica de la casa de al lado.
Algunos veranos se viven deseando que algo ocurra, mientras que otros están cargados de ese sentimiento aterrador y excitante que parece indicar que todo va a cambiar.
«Cargado de nostalgia, y sazonado con detalles de los 80, Klaussmann evoca una atmósfera inquieta y bañada en calor en la que se mueven sus personajes, donde se desean y se hacen daño los unos a los otros. Una maravillosa lectura de verano». —Anna Hope, autora best seller de Expectativas
«En el transcurso de un verano, Klaussmann juega con la posibilidad de un acto de redención final en esta historia aguda y mordaz llena de detalles retro». —The Mail on Sunday
«Una saga literaria evocadora, impregnada de los sonidos, aromas y éxitos cinematográficos de principios de los 80, con un gancho seductor». —Sunday Times
«Una inquietante novela veraniega. Los lectores que busquen evadirse, o ansíen otra oportunidad de avivar viejas relaciones del pasado, puede que aquí encuentren exactamente lo que anhelan...». —Irish Times
De niños, siempre eran ellos Miller, Olly y Ash. Inseparables, como si compartieran un secreto. Se necesitaban los unos a los otros. De adolescentes, viajaron en coche hasta Los Ángeles, vivieron junto a la playa de Malibú y fundaron un sello discográfico. Tuvieron éxito, fueron mejores amigos, y Olly y Miller se enamoraron. Antes de saltar por los aires, todo era precioso.
Pero entonces, Olly dejó de mirar a Miller como solía hacerlo. Miller pasó una noche con Ash, y aquello acabó convirtiéndose en un matrimonio, tras lo que regresaron a Wonderland, la isla de la que se habían marchado tiempo atrás. Ahora, Miller tiene cuarenta años, y siente que está desvaneciéndose. Ash tiene una aventura con una presentadora de televisión, y la carrera de Olly ha fracasado. Olly no quiere pensar en lo que él y el resto se deben los unos a los otros. Pero después de todo lo sucedido, Wonderland es el único lugar al que tiene sentido volver.
En el transcurso de un largo verano, Olly, Miller y Ash tratan de averiguar qué es lo que existe entre ellos. Están tan consumidos por su amor, su anhelo, sus pérdidas, y la posibilidad de un tercer acto de redención, que apenas se dan cuenta de lo que ocurre entre el hijo de Miller, su mejor amigo y la chica de la casa de al lado.
Algunos veranos se viven deseando que algo ocurra, mientras que otros están cargados de ese sentimiento aterrador y excitante que parece indicar que todo va a cambiar.
«Cargado de nostalgia, y sazonado con detalles de los 80, Klaussmann evoca una atmósfera inquieta y bañada en calor en la que se mueven sus personajes, donde se desean y se hacen daño los unos a los otros. Una maravillosa lectura de verano». —Anna Hope, autora best seller de Expectativas
«En el transcurso de un verano, Klaussmann juega con la posibilidad de un acto de redención final en esta historia aguda y mordaz llena de detalles retro». —The Mail on Sunday
«Una saga literaria evocadora, impregnada de los sonidos, aromas y éxitos cinematográficos de principios de los 80, con un gancho seductor». —Sunday Times
«Una inquietante novela veraniega. Los lectores que busquen evadirse, o ansíen otra oportunidad de avivar viejas relaciones del pasado, puede que aquí encuentren exactamente lo que anhelan...». —Irish Times
416 pages, Paperback
Published July 2, 2024
35 people are currently reading
932 people want to read
About the author
Liza Klaussmann
5 books296 followersLiza Klaussmann worked as a journalist for the New York Times for over a decade. She received a BA in Creative Writing from Barnard College, where she was awarded the Howard M. Teichman Prize for Prose. She lived in Paris for ten years and she recently completed with distinction an MA in Creative Writing at Royal Holloway, in London, where she lives. She is the great-great-great granddaughter of Herman Melville.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 75 reviews
January 31, 2022
This debut novel about complex relationships is primarily based around 3 friends and set in a US beach town. This story goes back and forth in time and involves a number of other interesting characters. Well written with a real musical theme running through the book with some interspersed well known lyrics as narrative. Good characters, good storylines. Overall I enjoyed this and it wasn't too taxing - the perfect read when in busy mode with a tired brain. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book.
January 9, 2022
Miller, Olly and Ash. Three childhood best friends, rarely seen without the others by their side. In adulthood, however, whilst Miller and Ash are not so happily married - Olly is estranged from them completely, until the film Moby Dick shoots in the town they all grew up in.
~
The synopsis of the story seemed so intriguing that I practically ran to request it. I’m sorry to say this was a bit of a let down.
The author juggles multiple storylines and characters, some of which seem entirely irrelevant to the plot - it made for a rather choppy read. I struggled to truly become attached to any character and felt that this was certainly case where less is more should have been applied, the chapters about Nate & his friends just felt like fillers. It felt like a story that should have been domestic, revolving primarily around 3 characters, and yet attempted to tell the tale of an entire town - losing the original basis of the story.
Just wasn’t really what I expected.
Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
~
The synopsis of the story seemed so intriguing that I practically ran to request it. I’m sorry to say this was a bit of a let down.
The author juggles multiple storylines and characters, some of which seem entirely irrelevant to the plot - it made for a rather choppy read. I struggled to truly become attached to any character and felt that this was certainly case where less is more should have been applied, the chapters about Nate & his friends just felt like fillers. It felt like a story that should have been domestic, revolving primarily around 3 characters, and yet attempted to tell the tale of an entire town - losing the original basis of the story.
Just wasn’t really what I expected.
Thank you to netgalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review :)
October 4, 2024
He llegit molt més seguit que de costum, no podia parar!! un llibre molt molt bonic (m’ha agradat molt la manera en que està escrit) que parla de la nostàlgia i dels dies d’estiu, on tot sembla una mica més fàcil i lleuger. 💓💓💓
July 20, 2022
This has all the elements of a great book - gorgeous cover, atmospheric 80s setting, a music theme running throughout with lyrics of 80s songs, strong characters and great writing. It didn’t quite come together for me, but it was an enjoyable read all the same. It reads a little like a play - I could see this being adapted for the stage or screen.
Set in a US beach town called Wonderland, an old Quaker settlement, Ash and Miller are married with a teenage son Nate. Their estranged friend Olly (with whom they fell out many years prior) turns up in town when the production of a movie (Moby Dick) is being made and his Aunt Tassie needs caring for following her expulsion from a nursing home for attacking another resident.
As the three reflect on the long hot summer of 1984 when they came of age, Olly, Ash and Miller’s history is poised to unravel and in unexpected ways.
I struggled with the tangents this book went on - some took me out of the story and stalled the already slow pace of the book. And after quite a slow pace for most of the book, it reaches a dizzyingly swift conclusion that was out of kilter.
The writing is wonderful though, and a good enough reason to pick this one up and see if it’s for you. It reminded me of a few books I’ve read over the past year - Mr Wilder and Me, Something New Under the Sun and The Seaplane on Final Approach. All of these were enjoyable reads but not quite great reads. And funnily enough, this one fell squarely into that category too. I’m 100% here for the 80s vibes though. 3-3.5/5 ⭐️
Set in a US beach town called Wonderland, an old Quaker settlement, Ash and Miller are married with a teenage son Nate. Their estranged friend Olly (with whom they fell out many years prior) turns up in town when the production of a movie (Moby Dick) is being made and his Aunt Tassie needs caring for following her expulsion from a nursing home for attacking another resident.
As the three reflect on the long hot summer of 1984 when they came of age, Olly, Ash and Miller’s history is poised to unravel and in unexpected ways.
I struggled with the tangents this book went on - some took me out of the story and stalled the already slow pace of the book. And after quite a slow pace for most of the book, it reaches a dizzyingly swift conclusion that was out of kilter.
The writing is wonderful though, and a good enough reason to pick this one up and see if it’s for you. It reminded me of a few books I’ve read over the past year - Mr Wilder and Me, Something New Under the Sun and The Seaplane on Final Approach. All of these were enjoyable reads but not quite great reads. And funnily enough, this one fell squarely into that category too. I’m 100% here for the 80s vibes though. 3-3.5/5 ⭐️
May 26, 2022
*thank you so much to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC, I immensely enjoyed it*
"God, the good parts are so good. Even the bad parts can’t make the good parts any less good."
Excuse the irony, but this is exactly what I thought upon reading this quote. WOW. That sums up this book. There are unquestionably parts that could be called bad, or at least not good, but the emotional journey and the world it sucks you into is so worth the good parts.
Miller and Ash are married, with a teenage son, Nate. They live in Wonderland, the quaker seaside town in which they grew up.
Neither of them is happy.
Olly is not married and just got fired, He sees no future, no direction in his life. He tries to end it.
This implies that he isn't happy either.
This story centres around Miller and her past with Olly, and her present with Ash. There are a few side-plots, mostly centred around Nate and his friends Suki, Cam, and Jess, Olly's Aunt Tassie, and a movie - Moby Dick - being filmed in Wonderland, but the core of the story is Miller.
The Characters are, for the most part, well developed, although I wouldn't say that any of them are truly likeable (maybe the point) and because of that, we get quotes like this - "What do you want me to say? I’m obviously not as good a person as you are; in fact, I’m probably a really bad person. I’m imperfect and I have messy emotions and I can’t toe the line and I do disagreeable things sometimes. Awful things, like fall out of love and hurt good people.”
The dialogue is intriguing but sometimes feels a little bit unnatural, which is fine. Like this "Did you know Synchronicity is actually a theory that certain things that happen in life are all connected? You know, coincidences that aren’t coincidences, and signs, and dreams. All that stuff that people try to tell you isn’t real, but you just know it is" is said by a teenager as a form of casual converstion, and while its a stunning sentiment, I think that a teenager being that eloquent is....... unlikely. But we also get lines like this -" You know what girls want? Girls want words. Good words. Great fucking words, words that make them want to die and melt and be madly in love.” - which is just POWERFUL above all else.
I'm a sucker for omniscience and let me tell you that this book delivered on that. I wasn't even sure whose eyes I was seeing through at first, whose head I was in, but I managed to get so many perspectives, some heartbreaking ('there is no point; everyone thinks they’re the hero of their own story when actually there’s no story at all. Just an outline that gets filled in with nonsense and accidents and happenstance and luck. And then, well . . . and then nothing.'), some thought-provoking ('Sure, it was weird, her transformation, as she called it, but then again, why not? If she didn’t want to be Aunt Tassie anymore, who was he to judge? In fact, he sympathized profoundly with wanting to be someone else. He had begun to think that perhaps she was the sanest person he knew), and some hilarious ('Aunt Tassie had said very little from the moment he’d picked her up, only whispering once that something was happening, which seemed to Ash a sensible thing to say, seeing as something was indeed happening.'), but all valuable.
My main critique is on the pacing, in that I found it to be a very slow burn, in a way that I found to be frustrating. And at the end, the last section, the progression was too fast, like it had suddenly been doused in accelerant. While the end made me cry, the speed of events just felt too chaotic.
That's why this book is getting 4 stars, and not five.
I'd recommend this book to fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, as I feel like it has Malibu Rising vibes.
I will be reading some of the author's other work - for sure.
This is Gonna End in Tears surprised me. And I think it might surprise other people, too.
"God, the good parts are so good. Even the bad parts can’t make the good parts any less good."
Excuse the irony, but this is exactly what I thought upon reading this quote. WOW. That sums up this book. There are unquestionably parts that could be called bad, or at least not good, but the emotional journey and the world it sucks you into is so worth the good parts.
Miller and Ash are married, with a teenage son, Nate. They live in Wonderland, the quaker seaside town in which they grew up.
Neither of them is happy.
Olly is not married and just got fired, He sees no future, no direction in his life. He tries to end it.
This implies that he isn't happy either.
This story centres around Miller and her past with Olly, and her present with Ash. There are a few side-plots, mostly centred around Nate and his friends Suki, Cam, and Jess, Olly's Aunt Tassie, and a movie - Moby Dick - being filmed in Wonderland, but the core of the story is Miller.
The Characters are, for the most part, well developed, although I wouldn't say that any of them are truly likeable (maybe the point) and because of that, we get quotes like this - "What do you want me to say? I’m obviously not as good a person as you are; in fact, I’m probably a really bad person. I’m imperfect and I have messy emotions and I can’t toe the line and I do disagreeable things sometimes. Awful things, like fall out of love and hurt good people.”
The dialogue is intriguing but sometimes feels a little bit unnatural, which is fine. Like this "Did you know Synchronicity is actually a theory that certain things that happen in life are all connected? You know, coincidences that aren’t coincidences, and signs, and dreams. All that stuff that people try to tell you isn’t real, but you just know it is" is said by a teenager as a form of casual converstion, and while its a stunning sentiment, I think that a teenager being that eloquent is....... unlikely. But we also get lines like this -" You know what girls want? Girls want words. Good words. Great fucking words, words that make them want to die and melt and be madly in love.” - which is just POWERFUL above all else.
I'm a sucker for omniscience and let me tell you that this book delivered on that. I wasn't even sure whose eyes I was seeing through at first, whose head I was in, but I managed to get so many perspectives, some heartbreaking ('there is no point; everyone thinks they’re the hero of their own story when actually there’s no story at all. Just an outline that gets filled in with nonsense and accidents and happenstance and luck. And then, well . . . and then nothing.'), some thought-provoking ('Sure, it was weird, her transformation, as she called it, but then again, why not? If she didn’t want to be Aunt Tassie anymore, who was he to judge? In fact, he sympathized profoundly with wanting to be someone else. He had begun to think that perhaps she was the sanest person he knew), and some hilarious ('Aunt Tassie had said very little from the moment he’d picked her up, only whispering once that something was happening, which seemed to Ash a sensible thing to say, seeing as something was indeed happening.'), but all valuable.
My main critique is on the pacing, in that I found it to be a very slow burn, in a way that I found to be frustrating. And at the end, the last section, the progression was too fast, like it had suddenly been doused in accelerant. While the end made me cry, the speed of events just felt too chaotic.
That's why this book is getting 4 stars, and not five.
I'd recommend this book to fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid, as I feel like it has Malibu Rising vibes.
I will be reading some of the author's other work - for sure.
This is Gonna End in Tears surprised me. And I think it might surprise other people, too.
June 25, 2022
There were so many aspects of this novel that I really enjoyed; the heady 1980’s atmosphere and the lyrical elements within Klaussmann’s writing style. The two main timelines explain the three MC’s relationships; one in flashback as Miller, Olly and Ash attempt to live the teenage dream and one in the present as the three are reunited as adults.
I’m always really drawn to these types of contemporary stories where nothing is initially told to the reader, instead references to complicated relationships and defining moments are alluded to. I loved the way the dynamics between Miller’s son, the best friend and the girl next door are interwoven to the adult’s recounts of their past. This isn’t a story with a fast paced plotline but instead attempts to chip away at the memories we hold as we grow up and how some things can be romanticized or misinterpreted with time.
A really beautiful style of writing throughout, however on a personal note I didn’t fully believe in some of the MCs characteristics but overall a very enjoyable read.
(3.5 stars)
I’m always really drawn to these types of contemporary stories where nothing is initially told to the reader, instead references to complicated relationships and defining moments are alluded to. I loved the way the dynamics between Miller’s son, the best friend and the girl next door are interwoven to the adult’s recounts of their past. This isn’t a story with a fast paced plotline but instead attempts to chip away at the memories we hold as we grow up and how some things can be romanticized or misinterpreted with time.
A really beautiful style of writing throughout, however on a personal note I didn’t fully believe in some of the MCs characteristics but overall a very enjoyable read.
(3.5 stars)
July 26, 2025
I enjoyed this read, but have read many other similar novels in this style which were better. A good time, but would not necessarily recommend.
September 7, 2022
Having read Liza Klaussmann's books in the past, I was very excited to recently get my hands on a copy of This is Gonna End in Tears which was published July 7th 2022 with John Murray.
A nostalgic tale taking the reader on a journey from the 1950s to the 1980s, this is a story of a beautiful friendship that changed direction over the years. It is the story of Miller, Ash and Olly, three teenagers in the 1950s from a small town on the East Coast of America who dreamed of a life filled with music and excitement. Their bond was strong and in their minds their friendship was forever.
Now as adults, Miller and Ash are married and living back in their hometown of Wonderland but theirs is a fragmented relationship. It's clear Miller isn't happy as she lives a regimental life behind her tinted sunglasses. Ash is living a double life, one that is about to implode. Olly is based in LA but his career is in trouble and he is suffering with his mental health. The dynamic of their youth is long gone but yet the threads still remain.
Jumping from the 1950s to the 1980s with intermittent flashbacks to the 1960s, their complex relationship is spread out over the chapters, revealing the intricacies of their relationship and the long-term impact of certain decisions made. It is all beautifully captured through the gorgeous writing of Liza Klaussmann.
I'm a huge fan of Liza Klaussmann's writing and This is Gonna End in Tears confirms my love of her books. Liza Klaussmann captures an atmosphere of an era with an evocative pen, wonderfully creating a stunning and vivid image in the mind of the reader. Nostalgic, expressive and exquisitely characterised, This is Gonna End in Tears was everything I wished for and more. With an intangible quality throughout, this is a truly sublime read, one I highly recommend to all looking for that something special.
A nostalgic tale taking the reader on a journey from the 1950s to the 1980s, this is a story of a beautiful friendship that changed direction over the years. It is the story of Miller, Ash and Olly, three teenagers in the 1950s from a small town on the East Coast of America who dreamed of a life filled with music and excitement. Their bond was strong and in their minds their friendship was forever.
Now as adults, Miller and Ash are married and living back in their hometown of Wonderland but theirs is a fragmented relationship. It's clear Miller isn't happy as she lives a regimental life behind her tinted sunglasses. Ash is living a double life, one that is about to implode. Olly is based in LA but his career is in trouble and he is suffering with his mental health. The dynamic of their youth is long gone but yet the threads still remain.
Jumping from the 1950s to the 1980s with intermittent flashbacks to the 1960s, their complex relationship is spread out over the chapters, revealing the intricacies of their relationship and the long-term impact of certain decisions made. It is all beautifully captured through the gorgeous writing of Liza Klaussmann.
I'm a huge fan of Liza Klaussmann's writing and This is Gonna End in Tears confirms my love of her books. Liza Klaussmann captures an atmosphere of an era with an evocative pen, wonderfully creating a stunning and vivid image in the mind of the reader. Nostalgic, expressive and exquisitely characterised, This is Gonna End in Tears was everything I wished for and more. With an intangible quality throughout, this is a truly sublime read, one I highly recommend to all looking for that something special.
May 25, 2022
This book wasn’t for me, I’m afraid.
I never really became convinced by any of the characters and didn’t like or really care what happened to any of them.
It started quite promising, and I thought it was going to be a classic story with a triangular friendship where one is left in the cold for a possible variety of reasons. I suppose it’s the story behind why one is out in the cold that makes us keep reading.
I confess that I stopped reading part way through and read another book before picking this one up again. And then I skimmed a lot of the lengthy, and to be honest dull and pointless, conversations about nothing very much. There seemed to be a lot of ‘filling’, and digging into other characters which distracted from the main story, and those characters were no more interesting anyway. The searching for a whale being an example.
The ending was bizarre and, to be brutal, unsatisfying. We never found out the answer to the ‘big question’ and the focus was squarely placed on minor characters.
Maybe my reading something else and my skimming caused me to miss something, if so I can only apologise. But if the book had held my attention I wouldn’t have paused or skimmed, so there’s that.
I hate being so negative about a book, because it is only my opinion, and on a different day at a different time in my life I might have loved it.
Thanks to Netgalley and John Murray publishers for the advanced copy.
I never really became convinced by any of the characters and didn’t like or really care what happened to any of them.
It started quite promising, and I thought it was going to be a classic story with a triangular friendship where one is left in the cold for a possible variety of reasons. I suppose it’s the story behind why one is out in the cold that makes us keep reading.
I confess that I stopped reading part way through and read another book before picking this one up again. And then I skimmed a lot of the lengthy, and to be honest dull and pointless, conversations about nothing very much. There seemed to be a lot of ‘filling’, and digging into other characters which distracted from the main story, and those characters were no more interesting anyway. The searching for a whale being an example.
The ending was bizarre and, to be brutal, unsatisfying. We never found out the answer to the ‘big question’ and the focus was squarely placed on minor characters.
Maybe my reading something else and my skimming caused me to miss something, if so I can only apologise. But if the book had held my attention I wouldn’t have paused or skimmed, so there’s that.
I hate being so negative about a book, because it is only my opinion, and on a different day at a different time in my life I might have loved it.
Thanks to Netgalley and John Murray publishers for the advanced copy.
June 23, 2022
Growing up, it was always the three of them: Miller and Olly and Ash. They stuck together like they were keeping a secret; they were successful, best friends, and lovers. It was perfect - a shining life - until it fell apart.
Over the long, hot summer of 1984, unanswered questions draw the three of them back together. They are all consumed with the possibility of a redemptive third act that they don't notice what's going on between Miller's son, his best friend and the girl who lives next door.
Welcome to Wonderland!
This novel is intoxicating; from the first words to the last, you will be hooked. I finished it in a day, a day spent lying on a lounger in the back garden and soaking up the sun.
Klaussman’s gorgeous writing has such a dreamy quality whilst being true to real-life circumstances and complicated relationship dynamics.
Covering childhood friendship, first loves, hope & promise, betrayal & forgiveness, sex, music, art, film and more. You will feel you're living their long hot summer with its sultry and barefoot vibes, that you're right there with these messy people as their big secrets are revealed gradually.
Klaussman successfully jumps between timelines and characters in a way that kept me interested and emotionally connected to the characters - I couldn't wait to see how their stories turned out.
After all, we all search for self-fulfilment and in the end, sometimes we get lucky, sometimes we fail.
Thank you to Netgalley & John Murray Press for the advanced copy, in return for an honest review.
Over the long, hot summer of 1984, unanswered questions draw the three of them back together. They are all consumed with the possibility of a redemptive third act that they don't notice what's going on between Miller's son, his best friend and the girl who lives next door.
Welcome to Wonderland!
This novel is intoxicating; from the first words to the last, you will be hooked. I finished it in a day, a day spent lying on a lounger in the back garden and soaking up the sun.
Klaussman’s gorgeous writing has such a dreamy quality whilst being true to real-life circumstances and complicated relationship dynamics.
Covering childhood friendship, first loves, hope & promise, betrayal & forgiveness, sex, music, art, film and more. You will feel you're living their long hot summer with its sultry and barefoot vibes, that you're right there with these messy people as their big secrets are revealed gradually.
Klaussman successfully jumps between timelines and characters in a way that kept me interested and emotionally connected to the characters - I couldn't wait to see how their stories turned out.
After all, we all search for self-fulfilment and in the end, sometimes we get lucky, sometimes we fail.
Thank you to Netgalley & John Murray Press for the advanced copy, in return for an honest review.
July 24, 2024
As teenagers the three of them were always together: Miller, Olly and Ash. But then fast forward to 1984 and as grown ups, they have all fragmented. Miller split with Ollie and ended up with Ash. Ash is now having an affair. And Olly’s back on the scene. But this isn’t just a story of a doomed love affair. It’s a tale of friends and families, of growing up and getting old, of regrets and recriminations.
Set against a backdrop of a quiet American coastal town, this book is rich in atmosphere. The characters are well developed and intriguing. My only criticism would be that there’s a lot of jumping around timelines at first, which did confuse me a little, but then I got on board. Lisa Klaussmann writes beautifully detailed books and this was no exception.
Set against a backdrop of a quiet American coastal town, this book is rich in atmosphere. The characters are well developed and intriguing. My only criticism would be that there’s a lot of jumping around timelines at first, which did confuse me a little, but then I got on board. Lisa Klaussmann writes beautifully detailed books and this was no exception.
July 18, 2022
The 80s setting and the fab retro cover were the obvious pull for me towards this novel. (Using Lyrics from Talking heads early on was a winner for me)...
A time hoping story essentially about a love triangle involving Miller, Ash and Olly ...we bob back and forth in their lives making sense of their current situ (current being 1984)
There are numerous time lines, I actually think it would have been a much stronger story overall if a couple of the storylines had been ditched, the love triangle between Miller, Ash and Olly was what I was obsessed with, and I began to skim read other parts as they didn't hold my interest as much.... However I thoroughly enjoyed the story and felt it had a great vibe and feel to it.
A time hoping story essentially about a love triangle involving Miller, Ash and Olly ...we bob back and forth in their lives making sense of their current situ (current being 1984)
There are numerous time lines, I actually think it would have been a much stronger story overall if a couple of the storylines had been ditched, the love triangle between Miller, Ash and Olly was what I was obsessed with, and I began to skim read other parts as they didn't hold my interest as much.... However I thoroughly enjoyed the story and felt it had a great vibe and feel to it.
July 2, 2022
3.5⭐️
July 18, 2023
"(She'd always known being a woman was an impediment, she just hadn't yet realised it was a life sentence.)"
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Miller, Nate and Olly were all very likeable and I enjoyed the movement between decades and between generations. My only criticism would be that it ended very abruptly and without giving much insight or time to the character who caused the final disruption. Well worth a read though!
I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Miller, Nate and Olly were all very likeable and I enjoyed the movement between decades and between generations. My only criticism would be that it ended very abruptly and without giving much insight or time to the character who caused the final disruption. Well worth a read though!
January 19, 2022
Miller, Ash and Olly are childhood friends growing up in a Quaker town, all destined for bigger and brighter things.
When Ollys (adult) life in L.A takes a turn for the worst he returns home to Wonderland where Ash and Miller still live.
With a complicated past to navigate, this story weaves between the past and present to tell the tale of love, heartache and family.
I loved the parallels of both Miller and Ollys first love and Nate and Suki.
Aunt Tassie was a brilliant character and I feel Liza Klaussman captured the perhaps bittersweet side of old age nicely.
I wasnt overly invested in the Moby Dick storyline, I can see where the author was trying to go with it but it was the weakest part of the book for me.
If you like stories about complicated relationships, whimsical beach towns and music this would be a great read.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
When Ollys (adult) life in L.A takes a turn for the worst he returns home to Wonderland where Ash and Miller still live.
With a complicated past to navigate, this story weaves between the past and present to tell the tale of love, heartache and family.
I loved the parallels of both Miller and Ollys first love and Nate and Suki.
Aunt Tassie was a brilliant character and I feel Liza Klaussman captured the perhaps bittersweet side of old age nicely.
I wasnt overly invested in the Moby Dick storyline, I can see where the author was trying to go with it but it was the weakest part of the book for me.
If you like stories about complicated relationships, whimsical beach towns and music this would be a great read.
Thanks to Net Galley for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
June 7, 2022
I loved Liza Klaussmann's Tigers in Red Weather, if you haven't tried it, do, so I was really looking forward to This is
Gonna End in Tears. Unfortunately this didn't hook me like Tigers did, I really wanted to love it but I couldn't connect with the three main characters who I just found irritating, Miller wasn't working for me and Ash was just annoying, and the descriptions of Wonderland didn't hack it either. I usually fare well with a narrative which moves through time but again it just didn't quite work as it should. I'm gutted about this review so please give Liza Klaussmann a read, I couldn't fault Tigers.
Gonna End in Tears. Unfortunately this didn't hook me like Tigers did, I really wanted to love it but I couldn't connect with the three main characters who I just found irritating, Miller wasn't working for me and Ash was just annoying, and the descriptions of Wonderland didn't hack it either. I usually fare well with a narrative which moves through time but again it just didn't quite work as it should. I'm gutted about this review so please give Liza Klaussmann a read, I couldn't fault Tigers.
February 13, 2023
1.5 stars. I just did not find this story or these people interesting at all.
April 1, 2022
I thought I would love, This is Gonna End in Tears. As another reviewer has said, it sounded like a Taylor Jenkins-Reid plot, which are always fabulous. In fact, this novel did have a Malibu Rising feel about it. However, I just couldn't get into it.
Set during the 1980s, it centres around three teenage friends and what has become of their lives since they first hung out in the 1950s. There's a classic love triangle, a great 80s soundtrack running throughout and some nice twists. But ultimately, the point of view character hopping, combined with the multiple time lines, dislodged me from the story line too often.
However, if I judged a book purely on it's cover, I'd give it five stars, because I do love it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.
Set during the 1980s, it centres around three teenage friends and what has become of their lives since they first hung out in the 1950s. There's a classic love triangle, a great 80s soundtrack running throughout and some nice twists. But ultimately, the point of view character hopping, combined with the multiple time lines, dislodged me from the story line too often.
However, if I judged a book purely on it's cover, I'd give it five stars, because I do love it!
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy.
May 18, 2025
tiene una trama interesante, poderosa y llamativa, es imposible que este libro no evoque a la nostalgia. Por momentos no podía dejar de leer. pero, por otros momentos no entendía muy bien que es lo que estaba leyendo ni cual era el aporte para el resto de la historia. definitivamente podría haber sido un libro más corto, tiene mucho relleno innecesario que lo único que aporta a la historia es confusión. tampoco me convenció el final, lo sentí un poco mecanisista por definirlo de alguna manera. podría haber sido un mejor libro.
July 29, 2024
Me ha gustado el estilo de la autora y la ambientación de la historia pero ha sido una lectura muy irregular: por momentos estaba deseando acabarlo de una vez y en otras partes me ha tenido muy interesada, sobre todo pasada ya la primera mitad. Por circunstancias tuve que aparcarlo unos días con lo que también me descolgué bastante al principio.
July 25, 2022
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𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐲 @liza_klaussmann is a nostalgic 80s summer read. We follow three old friends, Miller, Olly and Ash who after years of no contact, all join back together. We have a beautiful california summer backdrop, beaches, sea, booze, music and Molby Dick being filmed. But our story really follows our three characters. Miller whose lost and feels like she's dissappearing. Ash whose having and affair and Olly who just wants out. Over the summer of 1984, these three are pulled back together consumed with unanswered questions, but blind to Millers son, his nextdoor neighbour and his best friend and what's going on with them.
This is in my opinion the perfect summer read, if you like TJR Malibu Rising you will love this. The 80s nostalgia is an absolute treat, the beaches and sea makes you feel like you're on holiday and the music and film references are perfect for music/film lovers out there.
This book spans in parts, 1 being the summer these three as young adults, 2nd part late May of 1984, 3rd June, 4, July, 5 is august and and last part is September. A span of a few months but we watch how friendships break, how they re-establish and young love and old love. It is a book that gives you a rollercoaster of emotions and each character brings an element to this book.
Miller is my favourite character, I just felt her pain and felt that she went down the wrong path and needed to get back on the right one. I loved her style, her attitude and particularly liked how she wrote feelings/quotes/stories all over her body. Ash was the only character I wasn't a fan of, I didn't like that he was having an affair and didn't feel a slight ounce of guilt of doing so. He just seemed selfish in my opinion. Olly I had mixed feelings, he's hurting and struggling and I really felt his emotions through the book, but I was also unsure of whether he just had an agenda. I liked watching his character grow and in time I started to understand him and definitely rooting for him to get a happy ending. I liked that our three main characters also was linked into the younger characters, who were in some ways going through a summer like our trionin 1952. I liked how Nate, Suki and Cam were all interlinked and there summer was a twist and a half I didn't see coming!
This is just a beautiful written story, all the characters are so well done and it is a book that's hard to put down. Each new chapter made you keep turning the page and it was just the most wonderful flowing novel. Everything all tied together and I liked how everything ended in a way the readers could make their own spin on.
This is just a perfect beach read, that will make you feel so many emotions and really think about self love, how communicating in any relationships is so important and how only you can shape your life. I definitely suggest grabbing a copy of this book, take it to the beach and emerse yourself in sunny 1984.
A huge thank you to @tandemcollectiveuk for letting me be a part of this readalong, I've enjoyed every second and this is definitely a 5 star read for me.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐬 𝐠𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐚 𝐞𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐛𝐲 @liza_klaussmann is a nostalgic 80s summer read. We follow three old friends, Miller, Olly and Ash who after years of no contact, all join back together. We have a beautiful california summer backdrop, beaches, sea, booze, music and Molby Dick being filmed. But our story really follows our three characters. Miller whose lost and feels like she's dissappearing. Ash whose having and affair and Olly who just wants out. Over the summer of 1984, these three are pulled back together consumed with unanswered questions, but blind to Millers son, his nextdoor neighbour and his best friend and what's going on with them.
This is in my opinion the perfect summer read, if you like TJR Malibu Rising you will love this. The 80s nostalgia is an absolute treat, the beaches and sea makes you feel like you're on holiday and the music and film references are perfect for music/film lovers out there.
This book spans in parts, 1 being the summer these three as young adults, 2nd part late May of 1984, 3rd June, 4, July, 5 is august and and last part is September. A span of a few months but we watch how friendships break, how they re-establish and young love and old love. It is a book that gives you a rollercoaster of emotions and each character brings an element to this book.
Miller is my favourite character, I just felt her pain and felt that she went down the wrong path and needed to get back on the right one. I loved her style, her attitude and particularly liked how she wrote feelings/quotes/stories all over her body. Ash was the only character I wasn't a fan of, I didn't like that he was having an affair and didn't feel a slight ounce of guilt of doing so. He just seemed selfish in my opinion. Olly I had mixed feelings, he's hurting and struggling and I really felt his emotions through the book, but I was also unsure of whether he just had an agenda. I liked watching his character grow and in time I started to understand him and definitely rooting for him to get a happy ending. I liked that our three main characters also was linked into the younger characters, who were in some ways going through a summer like our trionin 1952. I liked how Nate, Suki and Cam were all interlinked and there summer was a twist and a half I didn't see coming!
This is just a beautiful written story, all the characters are so well done and it is a book that's hard to put down. Each new chapter made you keep turning the page and it was just the most wonderful flowing novel. Everything all tied together and I liked how everything ended in a way the readers could make their own spin on.
This is just a perfect beach read, that will make you feel so many emotions and really think about self love, how communicating in any relationships is so important and how only you can shape your life. I definitely suggest grabbing a copy of this book, take it to the beach and emerse yourself in sunny 1984.
A huge thank you to @tandemcollectiveuk for letting me be a part of this readalong, I've enjoyed every second and this is definitely a 5 star read for me.
July 24, 2022
Fans of the 1980s, particularly music lovers, will find a lot of things to like about This is Gonna End in Tears. There are a lot of songs referenced, and the eighties vibe runs throughout this novel of friendship, fallouts and family.
The setup of the story and the large cast have a Taylor Jenkins Reid vibe to them. The novel centres around three childhood friends, now grown adults at odds with each other. Miller and Ash have married and returned to the small town of Wonderland. Both feel stuck in their marriage – Ash is having an affair with a morning TV host and Miller wears her sunglasses day and night. Olly, former friend and business partner, had a good life in L.A. until it all came crashing down – literally. When he returns to Wonderland to look after his great aunt (evicted from a nursing home and now declaring she is Billy Budd), he finds Millers and Ash frosty. But their son Nate is eager to get to know Olly thanks to his connections with the movie business and the filming of Moby Dick occurring in the little town of Wonderland this summer. Nate also has his own issues with a childhood friend acting oddly and his parents even more strangely.
There is a lot to unpack in This is Gonna End in Tears and not all of it was explored or resolved successfully in my opinion. Miller, Olly and Ash all had a record business that destroyed their friendship, but little reference is made of it. The subplot of the town desperately looking for the giant whale was entertaining, but the reader didn’t see the fever pitch levels that the town went to. Likewise, the neighbour with the shoddy business dealings and worse treatment of his family just disappeared with only a few lines to his demise. Miller and Ash were not particularly likeable characters either. Sure, Miller had some quirks but Ash was a cardboard cut-out of a yes man. I much preferred Olly and Nate who were flawed but honestly trying.
The pace of the book is quite slow and why Miller, Olly and Ash are the way they are takes some time and patience to reveal. I expected the same for Nate’s friends Cam and Suki, but in Cam’s case it’s never quite clear what his true motivations were, I found the finale rather shocking for two reasons – the huge increase in pace and because it didn’t really seem in character with those involved. (Plus, given the situation and recent news events it felt a bit tasteless even though I know those factors can’t be helped). I wasn’t really satisfied with the drama and the quick wrap up after (including the demise of a minor, but loved, character). It’s well written with detailed characters for the most part, but I wish more focus had been given to some characters and subplots (Olly and the movie) with a quicker pace. I liked this book, but I didn’t love it.
Thank you to Hachette for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
The setup of the story and the large cast have a Taylor Jenkins Reid vibe to them. The novel centres around three childhood friends, now grown adults at odds with each other. Miller and Ash have married and returned to the small town of Wonderland. Both feel stuck in their marriage – Ash is having an affair with a morning TV host and Miller wears her sunglasses day and night. Olly, former friend and business partner, had a good life in L.A. until it all came crashing down – literally. When he returns to Wonderland to look after his great aunt (evicted from a nursing home and now declaring she is Billy Budd), he finds Millers and Ash frosty. But their son Nate is eager to get to know Olly thanks to his connections with the movie business and the filming of Moby Dick occurring in the little town of Wonderland this summer. Nate also has his own issues with a childhood friend acting oddly and his parents even more strangely.
There is a lot to unpack in This is Gonna End in Tears and not all of it was explored or resolved successfully in my opinion. Miller, Olly and Ash all had a record business that destroyed their friendship, but little reference is made of it. The subplot of the town desperately looking for the giant whale was entertaining, but the reader didn’t see the fever pitch levels that the town went to. Likewise, the neighbour with the shoddy business dealings and worse treatment of his family just disappeared with only a few lines to his demise. Miller and Ash were not particularly likeable characters either. Sure, Miller had some quirks but Ash was a cardboard cut-out of a yes man. I much preferred Olly and Nate who were flawed but honestly trying.
The pace of the book is quite slow and why Miller, Olly and Ash are the way they are takes some time and patience to reveal. I expected the same for Nate’s friends Cam and Suki, but in Cam’s case it’s never quite clear what his true motivations were, I found the finale rather shocking for two reasons – the huge increase in pace and because it didn’t really seem in character with those involved. (Plus, given the situation and recent news events it felt a bit tasteless even though I know those factors can’t be helped). I wasn’t really satisfied with the drama and the quick wrap up after (including the demise of a minor, but loved, character). It’s well written with detailed characters for the most part, but I wish more focus had been given to some characters and subplots (Olly and the movie) with a quicker pace. I liked this book, but I didn’t love it.
Thank you to Hachette for the copy of this book. My review is honest.
http://samstillreading.wordpress.com
June 13, 2022
3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because while I wasn’t immediately blown away, the book turned out SO enjoyable that I loved being a part of this small town and its weird life, and I never wanted it to end. There are family secrets, old stories that come up to light, a film adaptation of Moby Dick being shot in the small beach town, and lots of 80s music references. The book might start slow, but it’s a slow burn that builds until everything and everyone converges into a big finish -- a perfect summer read.
As I mentioned the first 100 pages or so just didn’t feel hugely compelling to me, in particular the 3 main characters/lifelong-friends-with-a-complicated-history. I found them neither interesting nor likeable, although I eventually grew to really love Olly and his unexpected depth (same Ash, except this happened mostly towards the end). The book also kicks off with so many time jumps (50s East Coast/60s California/80s East Coast) and so many points of view, that I found it too scattered.
Finally, I had a tough time getting into Klaussmann’s writing: everything is so detailed, all the time, that the more she wrote about whichever brand of polo shirt/sunglasses/almonds/drinks the characters prefer, the more those characters felt like an artificial list of facts and stereotypes.
But then, oh boy. Something clicked, the writing turned beautiful, and it was like magic was coming off the pages. This is Gonna End in Tears truly sucks you right into an 80s beach town, through every phase of summer and its long, sweaty and barefoot vibes, that you just feel right in there with those messy people as their big secrets are finally revealed. I love the trio’s complicated dynamics, and how the story brings in a group of teenage friends who are trying figure out what to expect from life and each other after high school. Loved the easy conversations, the relatable awkwardness of teenage years, and how the kids are each trying to quietly overcome their own teenage inner demons. It felt real, relatable and beautiful.
As others have pointed out, if you liked TJR's Malibu Rising you'll likely enjoy this too. It also reminded me of Richard Russo’s Empire Falls (one of my favourite books!) with its small beach town setting where both adults and teens alike try to navigate their own compIicated dynamics . And a big thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy, I've already told several friends to put this on their summer shelf.
As I mentioned the first 100 pages or so just didn’t feel hugely compelling to me, in particular the 3 main characters/lifelong-friends-with-a-complicated-history. I found them neither interesting nor likeable, although I eventually grew to really love Olly and his unexpected depth (same Ash, except this happened mostly towards the end). The book also kicks off with so many time jumps (50s East Coast/60s California/80s East Coast) and so many points of view, that I found it too scattered.
Finally, I had a tough time getting into Klaussmann’s writing: everything is so detailed, all the time, that the more she wrote about whichever brand of polo shirt/sunglasses/almonds/drinks the characters prefer, the more those characters felt like an artificial list of facts and stereotypes.
But then, oh boy. Something clicked, the writing turned beautiful, and it was like magic was coming off the pages. This is Gonna End in Tears truly sucks you right into an 80s beach town, through every phase of summer and its long, sweaty and barefoot vibes, that you just feel right in there with those messy people as their big secrets are finally revealed. I love the trio’s complicated dynamics, and how the story brings in a group of teenage friends who are trying figure out what to expect from life and each other after high school. Loved the easy conversations, the relatable awkwardness of teenage years, and how the kids are each trying to quietly overcome their own teenage inner demons. It felt real, relatable and beautiful.
As others have pointed out, if you liked TJR's Malibu Rising you'll likely enjoy this too. It also reminded me of Richard Russo’s Empire Falls (one of my favourite books!) with its small beach town setting where both adults and teens alike try to navigate their own compIicated dynamics . And a big thank you to Netgalley for the advanced copy, I've already told several friends to put this on their summer shelf.
August 9, 2022
What a nostalgic, close your eyes and take you back to your childhood piece of fiction this is.
An arresting tale of three childhood friends; Miller, Ash & Olly inseparable and marked for something special. From the small town of Wonderland, and a Quaker upbringing, to L.A, the creation of a record label and the lifestyle of the rich and famous..
But all of that is in the past, the glittering high life can be viewed in the distance, through the rear view mirror.. An affair, a marriage, a child, a business that wreaked destruction in the wake of its success....what do the three of them have left that is of any value?
There is Nate, the child, the next generation. On the cusp of adulthood, of his own adventure, with his own friends, Cam, Suki and Jess.
Two storylines, two generations, each with love, life and friendship at its centre.
For me, the strength of this book is in Miller and in Nate. Mother and son; their bond is clear and the maternal love is unflinching.
Where the characters of Olly and Ash are in techni-colour; fully formed in their inadequacies; Miller has a more ethereal quality, we see snapshots of who she is, but they are only ever a glimpse. A subtly clever device used by Klaussmann to mirror a woman's 'place' at that time. Peppered with misogyny and the female acceptance of her role, Miller portrays a poignant indictment of the time.
What is beautiful here though, is that we get to witness a change. For the most part, Miller is the typical dichotomy; she carries weight within that lifelong triangle, but is powerless beyond it, she is voiceless. We see the tide begin to turn, we see a woman regain control and we see it done with poise and with elegance.
Nate, on the other hand, is a beacon to the future. More self aware than his parents, more open, he and his friends, male and female, get to explore who they are, who they want to be or even, who they most certainly do not want to be.
A journey for them all, a visit to the excess of the 80's for us. A novel whose subtlety will have me pondering for a while yet. Always the sign of a book well written.
An arresting tale of three childhood friends; Miller, Ash & Olly inseparable and marked for something special. From the small town of Wonderland, and a Quaker upbringing, to L.A, the creation of a record label and the lifestyle of the rich and famous..
But all of that is in the past, the glittering high life can be viewed in the distance, through the rear view mirror.. An affair, a marriage, a child, a business that wreaked destruction in the wake of its success....what do the three of them have left that is of any value?
There is Nate, the child, the next generation. On the cusp of adulthood, of his own adventure, with his own friends, Cam, Suki and Jess.
Two storylines, two generations, each with love, life and friendship at its centre.
For me, the strength of this book is in Miller and in Nate. Mother and son; their bond is clear and the maternal love is unflinching.
Where the characters of Olly and Ash are in techni-colour; fully formed in their inadequacies; Miller has a more ethereal quality, we see snapshots of who she is, but they are only ever a glimpse. A subtly clever device used by Klaussmann to mirror a woman's 'place' at that time. Peppered with misogyny and the female acceptance of her role, Miller portrays a poignant indictment of the time.
What is beautiful here though, is that we get to witness a change. For the most part, Miller is the typical dichotomy; she carries weight within that lifelong triangle, but is powerless beyond it, she is voiceless. We see the tide begin to turn, we see a woman regain control and we see it done with poise and with elegance.
Nate, on the other hand, is a beacon to the future. More self aware than his parents, more open, he and his friends, male and female, get to explore who they are, who they want to be or even, who they most certainly do not want to be.
A journey for them all, a visit to the excess of the 80's for us. A novel whose subtlety will have me pondering for a while yet. Always the sign of a book well written.
July 6, 2022
Olly, Ash and Miller have grown up together. In their community, they have always been perceived as a unit which nobody could intrude. In their small East Coast town, life is easy in the 1950s and dream are big. Forty years later, things are different. None is left of their friendship, Olly is on his own, now also without a job and Ash and Miller are negotiating their separation. It is Olly’s aunt Tassie that cannot stay any longer in her care home that brings them together again. It is not easy to confront the past, especially while watching a young threesome bunch repeating their mistakes.
I totally adored Liza Klaussmann’s novel “Tigers in Red Weather” and thus was eager to read her latest novel “This is Gonna End in Tears”. She did not disappoint, quite the contrary, the story is the perfect read for a hot summer where you sense that it needs some escalation to be able to breathe again. Full of suspense even though it is not a mystery, you read on to find out how all the tension between the characters will finally dissolve.
“Well, that was the point, what he’d only recently realized: there is no point; everyone thinks they’re the hero of their own story, when actually there’s no story at all. Just an outline that gets filled in with nonsense and accidents and happenstance and luck. And the, well... and then nothing.”
What I appreciated most was how the author detailed the characters. They are all unique in their disappointments of life, in their mixed emotions and inability to actually speak about what goes on in their mind. The atmosphere profits from this, you feel that something must happen, that they cannot just go on like this.
It is a novel about friendship and dreams and expectations of life, about creative minds and everyday chore, about bonds that are strong and bonds that can feel like handcuffs. An intoxicating read from the first page which I could hardly put down.
I totally adored Liza Klaussmann’s novel “Tigers in Red Weather” and thus was eager to read her latest novel “This is Gonna End in Tears”. She did not disappoint, quite the contrary, the story is the perfect read for a hot summer where you sense that it needs some escalation to be able to breathe again. Full of suspense even though it is not a mystery, you read on to find out how all the tension between the characters will finally dissolve.
“Well, that was the point, what he’d only recently realized: there is no point; everyone thinks they’re the hero of their own story, when actually there’s no story at all. Just an outline that gets filled in with nonsense and accidents and happenstance and luck. And the, well... and then nothing.”
What I appreciated most was how the author detailed the characters. They are all unique in their disappointments of life, in their mixed emotions and inability to actually speak about what goes on in their mind. The atmosphere profits from this, you feel that something must happen, that they cannot just go on like this.
It is a novel about friendship and dreams and expectations of life, about creative minds and everyday chore, about bonds that are strong and bonds that can feel like handcuffs. An intoxicating read from the first page which I could hardly put down.
November 7, 2024
I read This Is Gonna End In Tears by Liza Klaussmann, and I’m landing at a solid 3 stars. It was an interesting ride, but it didn’t quite hit all the marks for me. Let me break it down!
First off, the premise had a lot of potential. We’re diving into the lives of a group of friends during a chaotic summer, and, honestly, I was super intrigued by that setup. There’s this vibe of nostalgia and friendship that’s really relatable, especially if you’ve ever had that one summer that felt like it changed everything. Klaussmann does a decent job of capturing the intensity of those friendships, which I appreciated.
The characters, though? They’re a bit of a mixed bag for me. Some were really well-developed and felt like people I could relate to, but others came across as a bit flat or cliché. I wanted to dive deeper into their backstories and motivations, but it felt like I was just skimming the surface at times. I think a little more depth would’ve made me care even more about what happened to them.
The pacing was another thing. There were moments that dragged a bit, and then suddenly, things would pick up out of nowhere, which threw me off a bit. I found myself wanting more consistency in the flow of the story. It felt like Klaussmann had a lot of great ideas but maybe didn’t fully explore them in the way I was hoping.
That said, there were definitely some poignant moments that stuck with me. The exploration of friendship, betrayal, and the complexities that come with growing up is something I think a lot of readers can connect with. And the writing itself has a nice lyrical quality that I enjoyed; it’s just that the plot didn’t always match that vibe.
Overall, This Is Gonna End In Tears has its moments of brilliance, but it didn’t fully resonate with me. If you’re into stories about friendships and the messy, unpredictable nature of life, it might still be worth a read. Just go in with tempered expectations! Happy reading! 📚✨
First off, the premise had a lot of potential. We’re diving into the lives of a group of friends during a chaotic summer, and, honestly, I was super intrigued by that setup. There’s this vibe of nostalgia and friendship that’s really relatable, especially if you’ve ever had that one summer that felt like it changed everything. Klaussmann does a decent job of capturing the intensity of those friendships, which I appreciated.
The characters, though? They’re a bit of a mixed bag for me. Some were really well-developed and felt like people I could relate to, but others came across as a bit flat or cliché. I wanted to dive deeper into their backstories and motivations, but it felt like I was just skimming the surface at times. I think a little more depth would’ve made me care even more about what happened to them.
The pacing was another thing. There were moments that dragged a bit, and then suddenly, things would pick up out of nowhere, which threw me off a bit. I found myself wanting more consistency in the flow of the story. It felt like Klaussmann had a lot of great ideas but maybe didn’t fully explore them in the way I was hoping.
That said, there were definitely some poignant moments that stuck with me. The exploration of friendship, betrayal, and the complexities that come with growing up is something I think a lot of readers can connect with. And the writing itself has a nice lyrical quality that I enjoyed; it’s just that the plot didn’t always match that vibe.
Overall, This Is Gonna End In Tears has its moments of brilliance, but it didn’t fully resonate with me. If you’re into stories about friendships and the messy, unpredictable nature of life, it might still be worth a read. Just go in with tempered expectations! Happy reading! 📚✨
June 30, 2022
If you like Taylor Jenkins Reid, then this book will be perfect for the fans of Taylor Jenkins Reid.
The story is centered around three people--Ash, Miller and Olly. They were inseparable as friends but soon, their friendship turned sour and got separated in their own ways. Ash and Miller got married and is leading a wedded life in Wonderland with their son Nate. But the three friends reunite again when Miller who is now in her forties realize that her marriage wasn't great and Olly comes back into their lives after getting fired.
The story is set in the 1980's and 1950's when the three were thick as friends. so it was kind of great reading a story set in the 1980's. Initially, this book started out a little boring but by the middle of the book, it got interesting. The story is realistic, talking about the complex relationships and the lifestyles. The writing was great and the author did a good job of drawing the reader into the story. I actually enjoyed reading this book. There's a great storyline and the characters are also great as well.
Overall, this book worth four stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
The story is centered around three people--Ash, Miller and Olly. They were inseparable as friends but soon, their friendship turned sour and got separated in their own ways. Ash and Miller got married and is leading a wedded life in Wonderland with their son Nate. But the three friends reunite again when Miller who is now in her forties realize that her marriage wasn't great and Olly comes back into their lives after getting fired.
The story is set in the 1980's and 1950's when the three were thick as friends. so it was kind of great reading a story set in the 1980's. Initially, this book started out a little boring but by the middle of the book, it got interesting. The story is realistic, talking about the complex relationships and the lifestyles. The writing was great and the author did a good job of drawing the reader into the story. I actually enjoyed reading this book. There's a great storyline and the characters are also great as well.
Overall, this book worth four stars.
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC. The review is based on my honest opinion only.
August 2, 2022
This is a wonderful novel focusing on friendships and relationships.
Olly, Miller and Ash were friends from childhood. Miller and Olly had a relationship before Miller ultimately married Ash and had a son called Nate. There is of course a complex relationship here. The three founded a record company together but life got in the way and caused issues between them.
Now, in the 80s, Miller and Ash haven't spoken to Olly in years, Nate is grown up and about to go off to college and they are all forced together again after Olly's Aunt Tassie is essentially kicked out of her nursing home. At the same time, Ash is having an affair with morning television host Candice.
Olly's former colleague, director Rodrigo Rodrigo comes to film Moby Dick at their hometown of Wonderland and the story follows the townspeople's excitement, Nate's newfound relationship with Olly after he gets him a job on the movie set and Nate's relationships with his friends Cam, Jess and love interest Suki. All the while exploring the past and present between Olly, Miller and Ash.
There is a lot to unpack with this novel and it is a beautiful read. It is the perfect summer book with its music references and it transports you straight to Wonderland in the 80s.
Olly, Miller and Ash were friends from childhood. Miller and Olly had a relationship before Miller ultimately married Ash and had a son called Nate. There is of course a complex relationship here. The three founded a record company together but life got in the way and caused issues between them.
Now, in the 80s, Miller and Ash haven't spoken to Olly in years, Nate is grown up and about to go off to college and they are all forced together again after Olly's Aunt Tassie is essentially kicked out of her nursing home. At the same time, Ash is having an affair with morning television host Candice.
Olly's former colleague, director Rodrigo Rodrigo comes to film Moby Dick at their hometown of Wonderland and the story follows the townspeople's excitement, Nate's newfound relationship with Olly after he gets him a job on the movie set and Nate's relationships with his friends Cam, Jess and love interest Suki. All the while exploring the past and present between Olly, Miller and Ash.
There is a lot to unpack with this novel and it is a beautiful read. It is the perfect summer book with its music references and it transports you straight to Wonderland in the 80s.
June 25, 2022
This is Gonna End in Tears
By Liza Klausmann
This is not an easy book to review because a lot of the things that I love about it are just the things that send most people running, screaming. It is slow paced, but deliberately slow. Nothing happens, yet everything happens. All of the characters are deeply flawed, but utterly human. It's hard to find any to like or root for, but the dynamics spark off the page.
If you love small town, backwater settings, you might like this. If you don't like the tete a trois trope, you might hate this. It has a very strong first quarter and then it meanders a lot until the last 15%. As I said, the pace is slow, so if you are hanging in there, waiting for something to happen, it's not going to, but if character driven slice of life is your jam, you won't mind that and the ending is satisfying.
For anyone who was coming of age around 1984 this book will be a real trip down memory lane, studded with song titles and lyrics that you probably have forgotten about but will instantly root you in the time and place.
Thank you to #netgalley and #johnmurraypress for the egalley
By Liza Klausmann
This is not an easy book to review because a lot of the things that I love about it are just the things that send most people running, screaming. It is slow paced, but deliberately slow. Nothing happens, yet everything happens. All of the characters are deeply flawed, but utterly human. It's hard to find any to like or root for, but the dynamics spark off the page.
If you love small town, backwater settings, you might like this. If you don't like the tete a trois trope, you might hate this. It has a very strong first quarter and then it meanders a lot until the last 15%. As I said, the pace is slow, so if you are hanging in there, waiting for something to happen, it's not going to, but if character driven slice of life is your jam, you won't mind that and the ending is satisfying.
For anyone who was coming of age around 1984 this book will be a real trip down memory lane, studded with song titles and lyrics that you probably have forgotten about but will instantly root you in the time and place.
Thank you to #netgalley and #johnmurraypress for the egalley
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