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The Ending Writes Itself
A PROPULSIVE DEBUT MYSTERY FROM EVELYN CLARKE, THE BRILLIANT AND DIABOLICAL CREATION OF CAT CLARKE AND V.E. SCHWAB
Six authors.
One private island.
Seventy-two hours to write the ending that will change their lives.
Arthur Fletch, one of the world’s bestselling novelists, is a reclusive genius known for his iconic protagonists and fiendish twists. When six struggling authors are invited to spend a weekend on his private Scottish island, they arrive to discover a shocking secret: Arthur Fletch is dead . . . and his last book is unfinished.
Desperate to publish the novel, Fletch’s agent and editor have summoned these writers in the hope that one of them will imagine a worthy ending for this final book. To sweeten the deal, they are offering an irresistible prize: in addition to ghost-writing the last chapter––for a mind-boggling sum––they will also help the lucky writer successfully re-launch their own career, guaranteeing future bestsellers. The catch: the writers have just seventy-two hours to finish Fletch’s magnum opus.
It’s the perfect plot. All it needs is a killer ending.
Six authors.
One private island.
Seventy-two hours to write the ending that will change their lives.
Arthur Fletch, one of the world’s bestselling novelists, is a reclusive genius known for his iconic protagonists and fiendish twists. When six struggling authors are invited to spend a weekend on his private Scottish island, they arrive to discover a shocking secret: Arthur Fletch is dead . . . and his last book is unfinished.
Desperate to publish the novel, Fletch’s agent and editor have summoned these writers in the hope that one of them will imagine a worthy ending for this final book. To sweeten the deal, they are offering an irresistible prize: in addition to ghost-writing the last chapter––for a mind-boggling sum––they will also help the lucky writer successfully re-launch their own career, guaranteeing future bestsellers. The catch: the writers have just seventy-two hours to finish Fletch’s magnum opus.
It’s the perfect plot. All it needs is a killer ending.
343 pages, Hardcover
First published April 7, 2026
About the author
Evelyn Clarke
1 book431 followersIt was a dark and stormy night (well, it was actually an unusually warm evening in Edinburgh, Scotland) when New York Times bestselling author V.E. Schwab proposed an absurd idea to longtime friend and screenwriter Cat Clarke: that they should write a book together. V had made quite a name for herself, with more than 20 books, including the Shades of Magic series, The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue, and Bury Our Bones in the Midnight Soil, but had sworn she'd never co-write a novel, let alone one without fantasy. While Cat, following a tumultuous career as an editor and the author of several YA novels, including Girlhood and Entangled, had fled the publishing industry to work in the even more tumultuous film industry, swearing she'd never return to books. And yet, fate—and an irresistible idea—made liars of them both. That night, as they switched from tea to something stronger, Evelyn Clarke was born.
source: Amazon
source: Amazon
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 1,673 reviews
September 13, 2025
I’ve read this book so many times by now, I feel I should definitely get credit (I’m one half of Evelyn Clarke).
April 25, 2026
Huh. So you guys didn't like this one? Well, that's a bit awkward, cause I'm over here having a pretty good time with it.
Now, usually I'm on Outlier Island having to apologize for hating on a book everyone's loving. But this time, it's the opposite. Consensus seems to be that this story didn't quite reach its potential, but you could've fooled me. In fact, I had so much fun with The Ending Writes Itself, I'm kind of sad it's over.
After giving it some thought, I do have a few theories as to why it worked for me but maybe not for a lot of other readers out there, so let me have a crack at explaining.
1. This book is by an author duo, one of whom is V.E. Schwab (of Addie LaRue fame). Schwab is known for writing fantasies with lyrical, descriptive, verbose (take your pick) prose, and this is definitely not that. Truth be told, I actually wasn't that big of a fan of Addie, so it was a relief to read something from Schwab that was less long-winded and more straightforward. But if you're a big Addie fan and came here wanting more of the same, this may not have anything to offer you.
2. Across the board, I'm a big fan of stories that peek behind the curtain into the world of writing and publishing. And if that peek happens to be a bit satirical and tongue-in-the-cheek? Even better. So I had a great time following along as these writers competed to finish a dead author's greatest work. But I can also see how, if that topic doesn't interest you, then this would seem like much ado about nothing.
3. This is a riff on And Then There Were None, and I think in order to fully understand and enjoy the way this tale unfolds, you do have to have read the classic first. Otherwise, this doesn't really make much sense and can come off as somewhat random and unhinged. I'm a huge Agatha Christie fan, and And Then There Were None is one of my all-time favorites by her, so this was right up my alley. This isn't the first riff I've come across, nor is it the best, but it was a fun one and definitely scratched my infinite itch for anything Christie related.
So there you go. Hopefully that gives you a better idea of whether this book might be for you. But if my experience is any indication, sometimes you can never tell. At the end of the day, we are all individual readers, and the only way to know for sure if you'll like a book is to pick it up and see for yourself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
Now, usually I'm on Outlier Island having to apologize for hating on a book everyone's loving. But this time, it's the opposite. Consensus seems to be that this story didn't quite reach its potential, but you could've fooled me. In fact, I had so much fun with The Ending Writes Itself, I'm kind of sad it's over.
After giving it some thought, I do have a few theories as to why it worked for me but maybe not for a lot of other readers out there, so let me have a crack at explaining.
1. This book is by an author duo, one of whom is V.E. Schwab (of Addie LaRue fame). Schwab is known for writing fantasies with lyrical, descriptive, verbose (take your pick) prose, and this is definitely not that. Truth be told, I actually wasn't that big of a fan of Addie, so it was a relief to read something from Schwab that was less long-winded and more straightforward. But if you're a big Addie fan and came here wanting more of the same, this may not have anything to offer you.
2. Across the board, I'm a big fan of stories that peek behind the curtain into the world of writing and publishing. And if that peek happens to be a bit satirical and tongue-in-the-cheek? Even better. So I had a great time following along as these writers competed to finish a dead author's greatest work. But I can also see how, if that topic doesn't interest you, then this would seem like much ado about nothing.
3. This is a riff on And Then There Were None, and I think in order to fully understand and enjoy the way this tale unfolds, you do have to have read the classic first. Otherwise, this doesn't really make much sense and can come off as somewhat random and unhinged. I'm a huge Agatha Christie fan, and And Then There Were None is one of my all-time favorites by her, so this was right up my alley. This isn't the first riff I've come across, nor is it the best, but it was a fun one and definitely scratched my infinite itch for anything Christie related.
So there you go. Hopefully that gives you a better idea of whether this book might be for you. But if my experience is any indication, sometimes you can never tell. At the end of the day, we are all individual readers, and the only way to know for sure if you'll like a book is to pick it up and see for yourself.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
See also, my thoughts on:
The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue
~~~~~~~~~~~~
✧ Connect with me ✧ Instagram ✧
April 11, 2026
4.25 stars!
Knives Out/ Murder on the Orient Express but make it authors on an island vying to write the ending of a book for a famous author who tragically died 👀
This was a not so subtle satirical dig at the publishing industry and the difficulties of making it as a writer. This book wasn't just written with the readers in mind, but also authors kinda? Any author reading this book will relate on some level to what these writers go through to try to make it in this industry, but it still also appeals to the general reader in different ways like fitting in, familial troubles, marriage and figuring out who you are.
I liked how the authors were of different genres and you got to see the thought process of each one, the way the author of each genre is perceived by their peers, their egos, and internal struggles. They were all insufferable btw😅 and none of them could be trusted but I guess that was the whole point.
However, it took a while for the story to pick up. This is definitely not a heart-pounding thriller, but more of a simmering pot that boils over towards the end. Also, the characters in the book were almost kind of blasé about some of the events going on around them or just not reacting the way you would expect a person to in that situation. They just moved on so quickly? I'm guessing this is intentional but I could be wrong who knows😅
Overall, this was a very fun time...almost cozy in a way?😅 If you enjoy an out of the box whodunnit, you might like this one.
P.s The audiobook narrator was amazing! This would been such a good one to have a full cast for though!
________________________________________________________
Pre-read:
V.E Schwab bamboozling all of us and co-authoring this book under a pen name is one of my favorite discoveries this year.
Knives Out/ Murder on the Orient Express but make it authors on an island vying to write the ending of a book for a famous author who tragically died 👀
This was a not so subtle satirical dig at the publishing industry and the difficulties of making it as a writer. This book wasn't just written with the readers in mind, but also authors kinda? Any author reading this book will relate on some level to what these writers go through to try to make it in this industry, but it still also appeals to the general reader in different ways like fitting in, familial troubles, marriage and figuring out who you are.
I liked how the authors were of different genres and you got to see the thought process of each one, the way the author of each genre is perceived by their peers, their egos, and internal struggles. They were all insufferable btw😅 and none of them could be trusted but I guess that was the whole point.
However, it took a while for the story to pick up. This is definitely not a heart-pounding thriller, but more of a simmering pot that boils over towards the end. Also, the characters in the book were almost kind of blasé about some of the events going on around them or just not reacting the way you would expect a person to in that situation. They just moved on so quickly? I'm guessing this is intentional but I could be wrong who knows😅
Overall, this was a very fun time...almost cozy in a way?😅 If you enjoy an out of the box whodunnit, you might like this one.
P.s The audiobook narrator was amazing! This would been such a good one to have a full cast for though!
________________________________________________________
Pre-read:
V.E Schwab bamboozling all of us and co-authoring this book under a pen name is one of my favorite discoveries this year.
February 12, 2026
3.75
This was fun! I was expecting something moodier for some reason, but this surprised me with by having a more comedic tone. Sort of felt like a Knives Out situation.
The first third of the story starts as a critique on the publishing industry. It sort of felt like VE Schwab and Cat Clarke were just airing out all their woes and dumped it all into this book. The mystery thriller part starts later on, and while fun to read - I did end up guessing the major twist pretty easily, so I do wish that was just a bit twistier.
Overall, this was surprisingly humorous, easy to read, addictive to follow (with unlikeable characters for the most part), and I enjoyed it! Was so curious to see VE Schwab in particular write a thriller because she’s one of my fav fantasy authors of all time. I’m curious if this duo will write more together!
This was fun! I was expecting something moodier for some reason, but this surprised me with by having a more comedic tone. Sort of felt like a Knives Out situation.
The first third of the story starts as a critique on the publishing industry. It sort of felt like VE Schwab and Cat Clarke were just airing out all their woes and dumped it all into this book. The mystery thriller part starts later on, and while fun to read - I did end up guessing the major twist pretty easily, so I do wish that was just a bit twistier.
Overall, this was surprisingly humorous, easy to read, addictive to follow (with unlikeable characters for the most part), and I enjoyed it! Was so curious to see VE Schwab in particular write a thriller because she’s one of my fav fantasy authors of all time. I’m curious if this duo will write more together!
Want to Read
April 19, 2026Just when I thought that my V.E. Schwab era is over for good, she co-authors a mystery thriller and has my full attention again.
April 11, 2026
It gave me And Then There Were None vibes with the setting and premise, but as far as theme goes, this is an analysis/critique of the publishing system constructed as a mystery.
It took a while before people started dropping dead, but I found the first part very enjoyable, before it became a true mystery with a rush to know in what order people would die and what the reactions would be and what the resolutions, when it focused on the struggles writers have to face in the industry, the passion for writing and the perception on genres; I enjoyed the setting and this weird sort of camaraderie/competition to write the best end. There was also in a couple of moments an eerie atmosphere, being in this big house on a deserted island with few people, which you don’t know if you can trust, and just feeling that soon someone will die.
It’s a good mystery book, I liked the story and I enjoyed the character work; they were for the most not particularly likable people but all interesting. (I was frustrated with them sometimes, for some behaviors or not seeing something, but I guess it’s easy to do from a reader perspective)
P.S. I know it was not the only point of the story but I’m kind of sorry that characters dying took us away from the competition to write the end, I was actually invested in these people and knowing who would write the best one😋
It took a while before people started dropping dead, but I found the first part very enjoyable, before it became a true mystery with a rush to know in what order people would die and what the reactions would be and what the resolutions, when it focused on the struggles writers have to face in the industry, the passion for writing and the perception on genres; I enjoyed the setting and this weird sort of camaraderie/competition to write the best end. There was also in a couple of moments an eerie atmosphere, being in this big house on a deserted island with few people, which you don’t know if you can trust, and just feeling that soon someone will die.
It’s a good mystery book, I liked the story and I enjoyed the character work; they were for the most not particularly likable people but all interesting. (I was frustrated with them sometimes, for some behaviors or not seeing something, but I guess it’s easy to do from a reader perspective)
P.S. I know it was not the only point of the story but I’m kind of sorry that characters dying took us away from the competition to write the end, I was actually invested in these people and knowing who would write the best one😋
April 21, 2026
Ever wonder what it costs to want to write for a living?
The Ending Writes Itself offers a rather darkly comic answer.
And who would know better than Evelyn Clarke, a pseudonym for the powerhouse duo of V.E. Schwab and Cat Clarke.
Six struggling authors accept invitations to an exclusive literary retreat on Arthur Fletch’s private Scottish island.
Unbeknownst to them, Fletch — a reclusive titan of the thriller world — has died without finishing his final novel.
Now his agent and editor want one of these folks to ghostwrite the ending, competing against a 72-hour clock for a life-changing million bucks and a future book deal under their own name.
These are people who have been underpaid, overlooked, pitted against each other, and told that their failure to break out is simply a matter of talent (or lack thereof) rather than marketing.
I think you can guess where this is heading...
Clue: imagine And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, the original isolated-island ensemble where the guest list dwindles with accelerated efficiency.
Dun, dun, dunnnnnnn.
Yep, a killer is among them on the fog-wrapped remote island of Skelbrae. WiFi is nonexistent. And of course, a storm has cut off all escape.
Each author has their own chapter sections, their own narrative cadence, and their own very good reason for wanting to win.
That these voices remain distinguishable across a cast of six main characters, against a compressed timeline no less, is one of the novel’s achievements.
Everyone wears a mask, and the book explores how writers construct personas both on and off the page.
I love how each author views others through their own genre biases: the horror writer sees threats everywhere, while the romance writer reads flirtation into just about everything.
The first half of the novel is a slow-burn.
The rhythm accelerates (violently) in Part Two, echoing the countdown of the 72-hour clock: short chapters and bodies dropping.
The Ending Writes Itself is a fun locked-room mystery wrapped up in a savage satire of the (ahem) cut-throat publishing industry.
The Ending Writes Itself offers a rather darkly comic answer.
And who would know better than Evelyn Clarke, a pseudonym for the powerhouse duo of V.E. Schwab and Cat Clarke.
Six struggling authors accept invitations to an exclusive literary retreat on Arthur Fletch’s private Scottish island.
Unbeknownst to them, Fletch — a reclusive titan of the thriller world — has died without finishing his final novel.
Now his agent and editor want one of these folks to ghostwrite the ending, competing against a 72-hour clock for a life-changing million bucks and a future book deal under their own name.
These are people who have been underpaid, overlooked, pitted against each other, and told that their failure to break out is simply a matter of talent (or lack thereof) rather than marketing.
I think you can guess where this is heading...
Clue: imagine And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie, the original isolated-island ensemble where the guest list dwindles with accelerated efficiency.
Dun, dun, dunnnnnnn.
Yep, a killer is among them on the fog-wrapped remote island of Skelbrae. WiFi is nonexistent. And of course, a storm has cut off all escape.
Each author has their own chapter sections, their own narrative cadence, and their own very good reason for wanting to win.
That these voices remain distinguishable across a cast of six main characters, against a compressed timeline no less, is one of the novel’s achievements.
Everyone wears a mask, and the book explores how writers construct personas both on and off the page.
I love how each author views others through their own genre biases: the horror writer sees threats everywhere, while the romance writer reads flirtation into just about everything.
The first half of the novel is a slow-burn.
The rhythm accelerates (violently) in Part Two, echoing the countdown of the 72-hour clock: short chapters and bodies dropping.
The Ending Writes Itself is a fun locked-room mystery wrapped up in a savage satire of the (ahem) cut-throat publishing industry.
April 11, 2026
Dreadful. Lots of telling instead of showing, barely anything happens for the first 50% of the book other than various characters making tea/ coffee/eating. Plus, soooo much backstory. The characters are so flat there is no reason to keep beating the reader over the head with endless iterations of their character traits told in their past.
Midway through we get a twist that makes me think the Parent Trap writers got with the Scooby Doo writers and did too many gummies. It’s so bad it made me skip right to the end where my guess on whodunit and whydunit was correct.
The big twist at 50% expects the reader to believe these authors, all endlessly knowledgeable about their host writer and/ or the publishing industry, all recognize the author’s white agent, but not his black editor….because she’s black and people confuse her for other black editors…..and she’s wearing pink glasses that she never wears. FML. You have to be actually high. We’re also meant to believe she’s one of the top editors in the country. This is so beyond gross.
I suppose this is all supposed to be satire, but the book comes off as cynical. Like, two successful writers endlessly beating us over the head with the things they don’t like about a system that has rewarded them in ways most writers dream of?!?
Midway through we get a twist that makes me think the Parent Trap writers got with the Scooby Doo writers and did too many gummies. It’s so bad it made me skip right to the end where my guess on whodunit and whydunit was correct.
The big twist at 50% expects the reader to believe these authors, all endlessly knowledgeable about their host writer and/ or the publishing industry, all recognize the author’s white agent, but not his black editor….because she’s black and people confuse her for other black editors…..and she’s wearing pink glasses that she never wears. FML. You have to be actually high. We’re also meant to believe she’s one of the top editors in the country. This is so beyond gross.
I suppose this is all supposed to be satire, but the book comes off as cynical. Like, two successful writers endlessly beating us over the head with the things they don’t like about a system that has rewarded them in ways most writers dream of?!?
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 6, 2026
A mystery thriller written by VE Schwab and Cat Clarke.
When a famous, reclusive author dies before finishing his final book, 5 mid-list authors from different genres (thriller, romance, YA, sci fi, and horror) are invited to secretly spend 72 hours on the author’s isolated island, with no access the outside world. They must finish his manuscript, competing against each other to get a million pounds deal.
This doesn’t start off as a mystery or thriller. Rather, it is an insider’s look at the publishing industry. This is a common motif throughout. Similar to RF Kuang’s Yellowface, this is a cutting portrayal of the glamour and facade of being an author.
With the variety of genres present, this also comments on the perceptions of genres too. From editing, to marketing, to readers, to other authors. There is a snobbery and hostility towards genres that exists. This has been made clearer with the rise of booktok and the rising hate against romantasy - or faerie porn.
Each character has a reason to pursue the prize. Anyone not in the industry, not an author or hopeful, may never know how brutal publishing is. Becoming a published author is not ‘dream accomplished’. Getting that job in a publishing house does not mean you can glide through life on a high.
I do wish this touched more on the diversity aspect of publishing which it breezed through despite having a black romance author and editor.
I liked how each perspective changed depending on the genre each character wrote in. I especially enjoyed the horror author’s drier, wittier outlook.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the plot twist. I guessed it as an option, but quickly disregarded it as being too cheap and completely against the commentary in this book.
However, the epilogue slightly redeemed this.
Fast-paced and biting, this thriller kept me hooked.
PR Arc box gifted by HQ Stories.
Bookstagram
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When a famous, reclusive author dies before finishing his final book, 5 mid-list authors from different genres (thriller, romance, YA, sci fi, and horror) are invited to secretly spend 72 hours on the author’s isolated island, with no access the outside world. They must finish his manuscript, competing against each other to get a million pounds deal.
This doesn’t start off as a mystery or thriller. Rather, it is an insider’s look at the publishing industry. This is a common motif throughout. Similar to RF Kuang’s Yellowface, this is a cutting portrayal of the glamour and facade of being an author.
With the variety of genres present, this also comments on the perceptions of genres too. From editing, to marketing, to readers, to other authors. There is a snobbery and hostility towards genres that exists. This has been made clearer with the rise of booktok and the rising hate against romantasy - or faerie porn.
Each character has a reason to pursue the prize. Anyone not in the industry, not an author or hopeful, may never know how brutal publishing is. Becoming a published author is not ‘dream accomplished’. Getting that job in a publishing house does not mean you can glide through life on a high.
I do wish this touched more on the diversity aspect of publishing which it breezed through despite having a black romance author and editor.
I liked how each perspective changed depending on the genre each character wrote in. I especially enjoyed the horror author’s drier, wittier outlook.
I wasn’t a huge fan of the plot twist. I guessed it as an option, but quickly disregarded it as being too cheap and completely against the commentary in this book.
However, the epilogue slightly redeemed this.
Fast-paced and biting, this thriller kept me hooked.
PR Arc box gifted by HQ Stories.
Bookstagram
Tiktok
April 15, 2026
4 stars - a very solid "locked-room" style mystery-thriller with Christie overtones from this author duo. Also it's quite the send up of the publishing world and really highlights how it chews up & spits out authors. I liked the "And Then There were None" vibe, but do kinda wished there had been a smart detective or cop also. Loved the fast pacing and could barely put it down - quite enjoyable overall
August 9, 2025
When requesting this book, I did not know about the hype currently surrounding this one and the ongoing mystery of who the person (or persons should I say?) behind Evelyn Clarke really is.
All I know is whoever they are, they can write a hell of a thriller.
This is packaged as a mystery/thriller but also a satire on the publishing industry and, having read it, I can only be glad I'm a reader and not a writer. That does not sound like a good industry to be competing in!
The novel tells the story of the death of Arthur Fletch, famous, bestselling author who recently died having left the unfinished manuscript for his last novel. Determining that the book must be finished, 6 authors are invited to Arthur's remote island to compete for the honour of finishing his last novel. As the competition ramps up, so do the bodies and it's clear that someone would kill to finish off Arthur's last book.
First and foremost, this is a brilliant mystery, with red herrings, twists and turns galore. Just when you think you have it sussed, it's clear that you don't! But it also seems to be a great satire of the cutthroat nature of the publishing industry, of which I know next to nothing, but it seems like a very difficult industry to thrive in, although I'm sure many people love it.
All in all, a great novel and I can't wait until it's released next year to find out the real Evelyn Clarke!
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
All I know is whoever they are, they can write a hell of a thriller.
This is packaged as a mystery/thriller but also a satire on the publishing industry and, having read it, I can only be glad I'm a reader and not a writer. That does not sound like a good industry to be competing in!
The novel tells the story of the death of Arthur Fletch, famous, bestselling author who recently died having left the unfinished manuscript for his last novel. Determining that the book must be finished, 6 authors are invited to Arthur's remote island to compete for the honour of finishing his last novel. As the competition ramps up, so do the bodies and it's clear that someone would kill to finish off Arthur's last book.
First and foremost, this is a brilliant mystery, with red herrings, twists and turns galore. Just when you think you have it sussed, it's clear that you don't! But it also seems to be a great satire of the cutthroat nature of the publishing industry, of which I know next to nothing, but it seems like a very difficult industry to thrive in, although I'm sure many people love it.
All in all, a great novel and I can't wait until it's released next year to find out the real Evelyn Clarke!
Thanks to Netgalley and HQ for an ARC in exchange for an honest review
April 12, 2026
I knew this book absolutely, 100% was not my preferred genre and I was unsure about reading it. I’ve never read an Agatha Christie novel and that whodunnit, “there’s a mystery afoot” type of story has never appealed to me.
But I love VE Schwab so dearly, I was willing to give it a shot.
I struggled with it. Then I understood the overall point of the book and the message it was sending, and appreciated it for what it was. And then continued to struggle with it some more.
This is a well crafted story. The plot, the pacing, and the prose are all really well done. The character development is non-existent. This book is character driven in the way that Burn After Reading is character driven (why do I always compare books to movies I’ve seen? My brain just goes there, send help). Every character is surface level, some are given large chunks of the novel, some get a back story that lasts a few pages. But ultimately they are there to fulfill their role in the hijinks that are ensuing.
As someone that needs really deep characters in my novels, this was difficult for me. (Thus being why The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is what started my obsession with VE Schwab in the first place.) The one grounding point for me was the overall message of the book itself. I realized slowly and then more clearly that just like La La Land was a love letter to Hollywood, The Ending Writes Itself is a love letter to writing, editors, the entire publishing industry as a whole. (More movie comparisons, send more help.)
I appreciated that a lot, and I think without that I would have had little interest in this book at all. Ultimately that’s what this book is, a very frustrated but loving ode to what it means to be a published author. The good, the bad, why you should do it, and why you should not. I can see why this book came out of a co-authorship by Schwab and Clarke, seeing as Schwab is published, but struggled with her YA novels, and Clarke has sworn off writing novels entirely.
Overall, worth reading. Not one of my favorites, but I enjoyed it.
The ending was the best part.
But I love VE Schwab so dearly, I was willing to give it a shot.
I struggled with it. Then I understood the overall point of the book and the message it was sending, and appreciated it for what it was. And then continued to struggle with it some more.
This is a well crafted story. The plot, the pacing, and the prose are all really well done. The character development is non-existent. This book is character driven in the way that Burn After Reading is character driven (why do I always compare books to movies I’ve seen? My brain just goes there, send help). Every character is surface level, some are given large chunks of the novel, some get a back story that lasts a few pages. But ultimately they are there to fulfill their role in the hijinks that are ensuing.
As someone that needs really deep characters in my novels, this was difficult for me. (Thus being why The Invisible Life of Addie LaRue is what started my obsession with VE Schwab in the first place.) The one grounding point for me was the overall message of the book itself. I realized slowly and then more clearly that just like La La Land was a love letter to Hollywood, The Ending Writes Itself is a love letter to writing, editors, the entire publishing industry as a whole. (More movie comparisons, send more help.)
I appreciated that a lot, and I think without that I would have had little interest in this book at all. Ultimately that’s what this book is, a very frustrated but loving ode to what it means to be a published author. The good, the bad, why you should do it, and why you should not. I can see why this book came out of a co-authorship by Schwab and Clarke, seeing as Schwab is published, but struggled with her YA novels, and Clarke has sworn off writing novels entirely.
Overall, worth reading. Not one of my favorites, but I enjoyed it.
The ending was the best part.
April 21, 2026
rounding this up to a 5 because its very close
i found it inspiring as a writer despite being (rightfully) critical of the publishing industry and i could have read double the page count with these characters
and i'm seeing both halves of evelyn clarke on friday in london yippee
i found it inspiring as a writer despite being (rightfully) critical of the publishing industry and i could have read double the page count with these characters
and i'm seeing both halves of evelyn clarke on friday in london yippee
November 13, 2025
ARC for review. To be published April 7, 2026.
3 stars
This little mystery, by authors Cat Clarke and V.E. Schwab, begins with the tale of Arthur Fletch, a famous crime novelist. He’s working on his very last book when….he dies, leaving it unfinished. This book is the biggest thing in publishing and his publisher and agent don’t want to admit that it is unfinished so they decide to have a secret contest of midlist authors to see which one can come up with the best finish….that person will get two million dollars and a contract and the whole event will take place on Fletch’s Scottish island.
Competing are two thriller writers (that will be explained,) a romance author, a YA scribe, a sci-fi writer, a horror author and someone who is an up-and-comer, but, for whom, it would be their debut work. However, some people are lying and some are murderers.
This was cute, even though I felt like I had seen some (but not all) of it before. Still enjoyable, though. I was very worried about SPOILER! (you’ll know when you read the book) but it all worked out.
3 stars
This little mystery, by authors Cat Clarke and V.E. Schwab, begins with the tale of Arthur Fletch, a famous crime novelist. He’s working on his very last book when….he dies, leaving it unfinished. This book is the biggest thing in publishing and his publisher and agent don’t want to admit that it is unfinished so they decide to have a secret contest of midlist authors to see which one can come up with the best finish….that person will get two million dollars and a contract and the whole event will take place on Fletch’s Scottish island.
Competing are two thriller writers (that will be explained,) a romance author, a YA scribe, a sci-fi writer, a horror author and someone who is an up-and-comer, but, for whom, it would be their debut work. However, some people are lying and some are murderers.
This was cute, even though I felt like I had seen some (but not all) of it before. Still enjoyable, though. I was very worried about SPOILER! (you’ll know when you read the book) but it all worked out.
March 20, 2026
A low 3, if fact a generous 3 because given a look at all the rave reviews here I wondered if either I didn’t get it or the narration was all wrong (it was but more later)
I was so disappointed in this title, I’m prone to be an outlier but I can usually understand exactly what went wrong for me or put it down to wrong time wrong book, or even see a bit of a pattern in that I tend to enjoy the same books as certain reviewers but this was way off. I had actually forgotten that it was a big well kept secret collaboration so I was really confused it that it read like it was written by two people who didn’t necessarily get together to discuss the plot, which was convoluted and overly complicated. I actually couldn’t wait to get it over with and on to my next read. I hated the way the book was broken into sections, I didn’t like a single character and I hated the plot. As for the narration there was so little care taken that I can’t help but wonder if it was the main reason for the complication. The narrator frequently forgot which character she was narrating and given that they all have different accents was just a complete mess, she also mispronounced several words leading to further confused, perhaps she was also bored.
I think this is the harshest review I’ve ever written and I really take no pleasure from leaving it here, but it’s truly not intended to be cruel, it’s honest and had I not received an ALC in return for a review I probably would’ve just rated it and moved on without words.
Sorry.
Many thanks to HarperCollins U.K. audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC 🎧
I was so disappointed in this title, I’m prone to be an outlier but I can usually understand exactly what went wrong for me or put it down to wrong time wrong book, or even see a bit of a pattern in that I tend to enjoy the same books as certain reviewers but this was way off. I had actually forgotten that it was a big well kept secret collaboration so I was really confused it that it read like it was written by two people who didn’t necessarily get together to discuss the plot, which was convoluted and overly complicated. I actually couldn’t wait to get it over with and on to my next read. I hated the way the book was broken into sections, I didn’t like a single character and I hated the plot. As for the narration there was so little care taken that I can’t help but wonder if it was the main reason for the complication. The narrator frequently forgot which character she was narrating and given that they all have different accents was just a complete mess, she also mispronounced several words leading to further confused, perhaps she was also bored.
I think this is the harshest review I’ve ever written and I really take no pleasure from leaving it here, but it’s truly not intended to be cruel, it’s honest and had I not received an ALC in return for a review I probably would’ve just rated it and moved on without words.
Sorry.
Many thanks to HarperCollins U.K. audio and NetGalley for the opportunity to listen to this ALC 🎧
April 12, 2026
3 stars for Kenzo! Otherwise, landing on a 2.75.
April 20, 2026
4⭐️
A very delicious and entertaining premise. A bunch of unlikable characters. And my fingers are crossed that a sequel is on its way!!! 🥰🥰🥰!!!
“A good story is a good story, regardless of who it was written by, or for.”
“Everyone lies, of course, but writers lie well.”
“He who hold the pen tells the truth.”
“When people hold us back for too long, we start doing it for them.”
“Imaginations need ingredients.”
“This industry doesn’t care how hard you work. It will break you, or you will break yourself.”
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** Most Anticipated Book #4.
A very delicious and entertaining premise. A bunch of unlikable characters. And my fingers are crossed that a sequel is on its way!!! 🥰🥰🥰!!!
“A good story is a good story, regardless of who it was written by, or for.”
“Everyone lies, of course, but writers lie well.”
“He who hold the pen tells the truth.”
“When people hold us back for too long, we start doing it for them.”
“Imaginations need ingredients.”
“This industry doesn’t care how hard you work. It will break you, or you will break yourself.”
~~~~~~~
***Pre-Read:*** Most Anticipated Book #4.
Currently Reading
April 16, 2026This looks soo good!!
Want to Read
November 9, 2025♡ signed b&n copies (available as of november 9th + this is ve schwab and cat clarke's collab pen name!)
April 24, 2026
★★½ [2.5/5]
”I’ve never understood the hostility between genres. They have more in common than people think. Fantasy. Horror. Thriller. Crime. They’re all just different versions of the same game, varying backdrops for the characters and the conflict, constructs for the fear and the need and the suspense...”
oh well, I really wanted to love this novel because the idea behind it’s so good and clever; writers stuck on an island trying to finish a dead author’s book to win a huge book deal??! that sounds amazing, right!? And I was 100% invested and could not put it down at the start, but then around 40% I just lost interest… it started feeling really slow and I kept finding myself reading the same page twice because my mind kept wandering. I finished it but I will be honest I was mostly just pushing through at that point, maybe my expectations were too high, or maybe it was just bad timing since I had just read another satire mystery.
Just so you know what you are getting into, this is basically a mystery thriller / satire about how stories shape reality, how messy and fake the publishing world can be, and how the truth can get twisted depending on who’s telling it. There are a lot of characters and the story jumps between their different povs, there are secrets and some twists and dark humor mixed in which I actually enjoyed... my main problem was that so many of the characters felt the same to me and I had trouble caring about most of them, a few storylines really got me but the rest just did not land, I think if you go in with lower expectations than me you will probably have a better time with it and honestly the concept alone makes it worth giving a shot! I guess this is one of those books I would love to see on screen 🎥 but reading it… this one was just meh. 🤷🏻♀️
“She’s heard it said that in life, as in love, chemistry is everything. And chemistry begins with first impressions.”
Just so you know what you are getting into, this is basically a mystery thriller / satire about how stories shape reality, how messy and fake the publishing world can be, and how the truth can get twisted depending on who’s telling it. There are a lot of characters and the story jumps between their different povs, there are secrets and some twists and dark humor mixed in which I actually enjoyed... my main problem was that so many of the characters felt the same to me and I had trouble caring about most of them, a few storylines really got me but the rest just did not land, I think if you go in with lower expectations than me you will probably have a better time with it and honestly the concept alone makes it worth giving a shot! I guess this is one of those books I would love to see on screen 🎥 but reading it… this one was just meh. 🤷🏻♀️
“She’s heard it said that in life, as in love, chemistry is everything. And chemistry begins with first impressions.”
April 19, 2026
This was very underwhelming & came as a surprise from such a seasoned author like VE Schwab. 🥲
October 9, 2025
As a long-time V.E. Schwab fan, I couldn't believe my luck when I won an early copy of the thriller they co-wrote with Cat Clarke! Of course, I dove right in. Since I read it so early, I'll be careful not to give too much away in my review.
Right from the start, I was pulled DEEPLY into this book. I was just immediately so into it. I took my time reading it to savour everything. I found the writing so engaging, and every single character felt so real and interestingly flawed. I especially had a lot of fun with how self-aware this book is. I'm not a huge thriller reader, but I found that this, as a locked room (well, island) whodunit, combines all of the elements I enjoy in the genre.
Right from the start, I was pulled DEEPLY into this book. I was just immediately so into it. I took my time reading it to savour everything. I found the writing so engaging, and every single character felt so real and interestingly flawed. I especially had a lot of fun with how self-aware this book is. I'm not a huge thriller reader, but I found that this, as a locked room (well, island) whodunit, combines all of the elements I enjoy in the genre.
October 4, 2025
The ending writes itself… straight into disappointment.
I picked up The Ending Writes Itself at an op shop for $15 which was incredibly lucky and I convinced myself it was destiny. I’d just added it to my TBR days before, so when I spotted it on the shelf, I figured the universe was telling me to grab it right then.
I’m genuinely sad I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d hoped. I was lucky to get my hands on an ARC of this book, and I know plenty of people would have killed to have a copy (pun very much intended).
The premise reminded me of The Labyrinth House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji , so I went in expecting that I would absolutely enjoy this one too. Instead, I got unlikeable characters with a lot of filler pages. More than half the book focuses almost entirely on just two characters, and the rest of the plot gets squeezed in at the last minute. The pacing is painfully slow — nothing major really happens until about 60% of the book.
I didn’t like how the story ended. I thought it was rushed and way too convenient. Overall, I wanted to love this book, but the heavy focus on a small portion of the cast, the slow build, and the rushed ending left me disappointed. Fun idea, but the execution could have used a little more… balance.
I picked up The Ending Writes Itself at an op shop for $15 which was incredibly lucky and I convinced myself it was destiny. I’d just added it to my TBR days before, so when I spotted it on the shelf, I figured the universe was telling me to grab it right then.
I’m genuinely sad I didn’t enjoy it as much as I’d hoped. I was lucky to get my hands on an ARC of this book, and I know plenty of people would have killed to have a copy (pun very much intended).
The premise reminded me of The Labyrinth House Murders by Yukito Ayatsuji , so I went in expecting that I would absolutely enjoy this one too. Instead, I got unlikeable characters with a lot of filler pages. More than half the book focuses almost entirely on just two characters, and the rest of the plot gets squeezed in at the last minute. The pacing is painfully slow — nothing major really happens until about 60% of the book.
I didn’t like how the story ended. I thought it was rushed and way too convenient. Overall, I wanted to love this book, but the heavy focus on a small portion of the cast, the slow build, and the rushed ending left me disappointed. Fun idea, but the execution could have used a little more… balance.
April 21, 2026
It is (probably) not controversial to say that right now, in 2026, traditional book publishing is facing a lot of challenges. So, it's a very ripe setting for a satire on publishing, genre definitions, and author desperation. This book tries to be that, under the guise of a classical murder mystery: the isolated island à la Agatha Christie (in Scotland, not sure why..), several midlist genre authors stuck together to compete (very YA) to ghostwrite an ending to a book left unfinished after the very famous, rich author died unexpectedly (and secretly). It turns out the debut pen name is actually a duo of two experienced genre authors (one of whom I have read, the other a YA author...) so they should have an insider's perspective and all that (that is, tea to spill...)
Sadly for me, it did not quite work out that way. There is a tongue-in-cheek mode to the mystery and genre tropes being paraded out and I couldn't really take the mystery too seriously. The characters are shallow and feel like a collection of stereotypes, and it's particularly bad with the straight white men in the narrative who are just awful and useless (this is a problem in mystery novels because it kills the suspense, the reader can easily extrapolate who the author's pets are and who will be saved or sacrificed...) A few of the genre stereotypes, particularly regarding sf also seemed a bit off to me (but one of the authors writes it, so I am probably the one who is off, but it's not like there is an innate rivalry between sf and fantasy, and many people write both...)
But I could overlook any weaknesses in the mystery plot and characterization because I would love a great satire or insight into the state of publishing in this year of our Lord of 2026. Off the top of my head I would have loved to read about things like AI at all levels, the avalanche of AI-written nonsense in slush piles (at least according to Neil Clarke at Clarkesworld who has investigated and written about it), the effect of tiktok on book writing, book packaging firms and how some bestselling books get written, the effect of kindle unlimited on publishing, AO3 and wattpad being mined for publishable manuscripts, or even more basically, indie publishing as a way into publishing for real debut authors who do get agents and contracts. But this book might have been describing, with a few small details not taken far, publishing as it was 10 years ago (or even longer ago). Only conventional routes to authorship, hardly any mentions (if any!) of self-publishing, and regarding the use of AI, oh come on, right now, I think publishers or agents trying to one-handedly finish a manuscript, and if they are willing to be unethical, they would be exploring AI unethical ways rather than a secret competition between writers . This book pulled a lot of punches, it did not go to a lot of places it could have gone if it really was meant to be a sharp criticism of the publishing industry right now.
Publishing (traditional publishing?) might be in a crisis, but this book getting a lot of promotion and marketing efforts feels more like a symptom of it, rather than new insight into it. Because it is not a new authentic voice given a platform, it is just a rehash of tired things from insiders who got their foot in the door long ago... And seriously, it feels late 2010s rather than mid 2020s...
Sadly for me, it did not quite work out that way. There is a tongue-in-cheek mode to the mystery and genre tropes being paraded out and I couldn't really take the mystery too seriously. The characters are shallow and feel like a collection of stereotypes, and it's particularly bad with the straight white men in the narrative who are just awful and useless (this is a problem in mystery novels because it kills the suspense, the reader can easily extrapolate who the author's pets are and who will be saved or sacrificed...) A few of the genre stereotypes, particularly regarding sf also seemed a bit off to me (but one of the authors writes it, so I am probably the one who is off, but it's not like there is an innate rivalry between sf and fantasy, and many people write both...)
But I could overlook any weaknesses in the mystery plot and characterization because I would love a great satire or insight into the state of publishing in this year of our Lord of 2026. Off the top of my head I would have loved to read about things like AI at all levels, the avalanche of AI-written nonsense in slush piles (at least according to Neil Clarke at Clarkesworld who has investigated and written about it), the effect of tiktok on book writing, book packaging firms and how some bestselling books get written, the effect of kindle unlimited on publishing, AO3 and wattpad being mined for publishable manuscripts, or even more basically, indie publishing as a way into publishing for real debut authors who do get agents and contracts. But this book might have been describing, with a few small details not taken far, publishing as it was 10 years ago (or even longer ago). Only conventional routes to authorship, hardly any mentions (if any!) of self-publishing, and regarding the use of AI, oh come on, right now, I think publishers or agents trying to one-handedly finish a manuscript, and if they are willing to be unethical, they would be exploring AI unethical ways rather than a secret competition between writers . This book pulled a lot of punches, it did not go to a lot of places it could have gone if it really was meant to be a sharp criticism of the publishing industry right now.
Publishing (traditional publishing?) might be in a crisis, but this book getting a lot of promotion and marketing efforts feels more like a symptom of it, rather than new insight into it. Because it is not a new authentic voice given a platform, it is just a rehash of tired things from insiders who got their foot in the door long ago... And seriously, it feels late 2010s rather than mid 2020s...
Read
April 20, 2026Well, that was spectacularly unsatisfying. I'm gonna have to write a full review of this just to be able to parse my thoughts and figure out tf happened here. I'm leaning towards 2.5 stars for my rating but I want to write my review first. I'm angry this got so much promo. What a waste of resources. There are so many other great mystery/thrillers the publisher could have thrown their marketing weight behind. And ironically, part of this book is a critique of the publishing industry that would do that! Ugh, more thoughts later.
April 9, 2026
A group of six writers are drawn to visit a remote Scottish island. Each of them is in need of a career boost and the invitation they’d received was tempting enough to attract them to make the journey to the home of famous author Arthur Fletch. Soon, a bombshell is to land amongst the group: Arthur Fletch is dead and furthermore he’s left the final chapter of his last book – the epic conclusion to his much revered series – unwritten. The visiting writers, each focused on a different genre, are to compete to write an ending to the book. There’s a significant winner-take-all prize on offer.
Very quickly the bitching begins between members of this eclectic crew. The verbal jousting is focused most often on their competitors’ perceived ability to complete the task at hand but it also extends to virtually every element of the book publishing industry. It’s sharp, clever and funny. There’s also an element of mystery here to provide some added spice. Think Agatha Christie’s And Then There We’re None and you’ll be on the right track.
I listened to an audio version narrated by the excellent Fiona Hardingham. Somehow, Fiona is able to display a range of accents and vocal registers to clearly delineate each character. It’s quite something to pull off.
There’s an element of farce here, as the writers are constantly surprised by events ongoing within the castle they’re largely encased in, but also across the small barren island. Yet despite this, the author just about manages to maintain a sense of jeopardy. It’s really not a tale to take too seriously, it’s just great fun.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio for supplying a copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review.
Very quickly the bitching begins between members of this eclectic crew. The verbal jousting is focused most often on their competitors’ perceived ability to complete the task at hand but it also extends to virtually every element of the book publishing industry. It’s sharp, clever and funny. There’s also an element of mystery here to provide some added spice. Think Agatha Christie’s And Then There We’re None and you’ll be on the right track.
I listened to an audio version narrated by the excellent Fiona Hardingham. Somehow, Fiona is able to display a range of accents and vocal registers to clearly delineate each character. It’s quite something to pull off.
There’s an element of farce here, as the writers are constantly surprised by events ongoing within the castle they’re largely encased in, but also across the small barren island. Yet despite this, the author just about manages to maintain a sense of jeopardy. It’s really not a tale to take too seriously, it’s just great fun.
My thanks to HarperCollins UK Audio for supplying a copy of this audiobook in return for an honest review.
April 10, 2026
the book was already bad on the way through, but the twist made it absolutely ridiculous. i honestly can’t believe this was one of my most anticipated books of the year. such a waste of a good premise
besides the, i’m sorry to say jt, absolute stupidity of it all, it had interesting things to say about the publishing industry. unfortunately it used the most 2D mouthpieces of characters to do it. millie’s character is actually an offense YA authors
probably one of the worst books i’ve read in a very good while. can’t wait to get rid of it and hopefully never think of it again
besides the, i’m sorry to say jt, absolute stupidity of it all, it had interesting things to say about the publishing industry. unfortunately it used the most 2D mouthpieces of characters to do it. millie’s character is actually an offense YA authors
probably one of the worst books i’ve read in a very good while. can’t wait to get rid of it and hopefully never think of it again
September 24, 2025
"secrets don't stay secret for long in publishing" and, reader, the identity of evelyn clarke—the devious and brilliant alter ego of v.e. schwab and cat clarke—is a secret i've had to keep for a very long time. THE ENDING WRITES ITSELF was one of my most anticipated novels of 2026, and i can't begin to explain to you how much sheer delight i experienced in its pages. at once a stellar locked room thriller, an incisive critique of the publishing industry, and a darkly hilarious look into the reality of seven competitive writers sharing an abandoned mansion, THE ENDING WRITES ITSELF not only lived up to my expectations, but quickly surpassed them by leaps and bounds.
as lyrical as schwab's novels and as cinematic as clarke's screenplays, evelyn clarke's debut goes down like whisky and settles like the thrill of a good game. every publishing experience within this book is pulled from reality—be it something that happened to schwab, clarke, or someone they know—and what makes this novel work, beyond its incredible premise and execution, is the sheer honesty of it. it is the satirical, wild ride of YELLOWFACE meeting the atmospheric tension and mysterious twists of AND THEN THERE WERE NONE. it's the literary murder mystery of your dreams, and there's nothing that makes me happier in the perfect wake of it than knowing that there's another evelyn clarke book on the horizon to follow.
having followed both schwab and clarke for years and seeing the ways their careers weaved and separated from one another, i knew them coming together to take on the publishing industry like this would be a match made in heaven, and i loved every second of being proven right. if this book somehow wasn't already on your list after harper's phenomenal marketing campaign, here's me telling you to put it there. it's going to be one of the biggest books of next year, and i can't wait to see evelyn clarke's star rise.
THE ENDING WRITES ITSELF is out april 7, 2026, and is available for preorder wherever you get your books! 🖋️
as lyrical as schwab's novels and as cinematic as clarke's screenplays, evelyn clarke's debut goes down like whisky and settles like the thrill of a good game. every publishing experience within this book is pulled from reality—be it something that happened to schwab, clarke, or someone they know—and what makes this novel work, beyond its incredible premise and execution, is the sheer honesty of it. it is the satirical, wild ride of YELLOWFACE meeting the atmospheric tension and mysterious twists of AND THEN THERE WERE NONE. it's the literary murder mystery of your dreams, and there's nothing that makes me happier in the perfect wake of it than knowing that there's another evelyn clarke book on the horizon to follow.
having followed both schwab and clarke for years and seeing the ways their careers weaved and separated from one another, i knew them coming together to take on the publishing industry like this would be a match made in heaven, and i loved every second of being proven right. if this book somehow wasn't already on your list after harper's phenomenal marketing campaign, here's me telling you to put it there. it's going to be one of the biggest books of next year, and i can't wait to see evelyn clarke's star rise.
THE ENDING WRITES ITSELF is out april 7, 2026, and is available for preorder wherever you get your books! 🖋️
April 17, 2026
3.5 stars. 🎧
February 20, 2026
Uhm HECK YEAH???! This was fun!!! Loved the surprise twists and turns, the tongue in cheek commentary on the publishing industry, and the super satisfying ending! More from this ~author, please!!
(thank you to the publisher for an early review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!)
(thank you to the publisher for an early review copy in exchange for my honest thoughts!)
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