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Start at the End
Win a free kindle copy of this book!
9 days and 11:16:09
50 copies available
U.S. only
From the bestselling author of The Last Love Note and Pictures of You comes an epic story of two soulmates who have to start over before they’ve really begun.
When Audrey and Fraser tumble into a love story for the ages, theirs is an epic, unbreakable romance—until one tragic moment upends everything. Facing the unimaginable, wrestling with guilt, they’re left haunted by “what ifs.”
Would their lives still have imploded if they'd done one little thing differently? Where would they be if events had unfolded the other way around?
This powerful, emotional, sliding-doors novel about love, loss, grief, and hope asks if our stories are already written. Are we able to change fate? And is it ever too late to start again?
When Audrey and Fraser tumble into a love story for the ages, theirs is an epic, unbreakable romance—until one tragic moment upends everything. Facing the unimaginable, wrestling with guilt, they’re left haunted by “what ifs.”
Would their lives still have imploded if they'd done one little thing differently? Where would they be if events had unfolded the other way around?
This powerful, emotional, sliding-doors novel about love, loss, grief, and hope asks if our stories are already written. Are we able to change fate? And is it ever too late to start again?
389 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 7, 2026
831 people are currently reading
34002 people want to read
About the author
Emma Grey
9 books1,671 followersEmma Grey is the author of the USA Today bestselling novels The Last Love Note and Pictures of You. Her forthcoming novel Start at the End will be published in the US, UK and Australia/New Zealand in April 2026. Grey lives in Canberra, Australia, where her world centers on her three children, loved stepchildren, and stepgrandchildren, as well as writing, photography, and endlessly chasing the aurora australis.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 602 reviews
April 2, 2026
No notes 😭😭 I loved every second of this! The audio was perfection!! I can’t say much in this review since it’s a sliding door book so there is a lot happening in the story but wow- just wow!
April 7, 2026
the setup…
Audrey Sullivan is a gifted classical musician composer who has relegated herself to odd jobs for years instead of writing music. She meets Fraser Miller while at a costume party with her bestie and that encounter couldn’t have been more awkward. He’s a divorced ocean scientist with a ten-year old daughter and offers Audrey a temporary room while she’s between jobs. It’s the beginning of what turns out to be the great romance for both of them. When tragedy strikes, each is left with self recriminations and questions about what might have happened if they could have changed one thing that day that might have made a difference.
the heart of the story…
There’s a sliding door element here as Audrey and Fraser imagine the “what ifs.” I was completely engaged and in the blink of an eye, everything turned upside down, leaving me baffled until I got my bearings. From that moment forward, I inhaled this story.
the narration…
Dominic Gruenewald & Elizabeth Nabben delivered inspired performances and captured their characters beautifully. The storytelling was great and nicely paced. I believed them.
the bottom line…
Grey has mastered the ability to entangle all the emotions associated with love, life and grief. Her writing is eloquent and I loved how she used music as a device to add a lyrical and melodic quality to the story. This was brilliant and I felt…everything. It was also unpredictable and I had no idea how I wanted it to end as it was all so lovely. Encore!
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Zibby Publishing and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
Audrey Sullivan is a gifted classical musician composer who has relegated herself to odd jobs for years instead of writing music. She meets Fraser Miller while at a costume party with her bestie and that encounter couldn’t have been more awkward. He’s a divorced ocean scientist with a ten-year old daughter and offers Audrey a temporary room while she’s between jobs. It’s the beginning of what turns out to be the great romance for both of them. When tragedy strikes, each is left with self recriminations and questions about what might have happened if they could have changed one thing that day that might have made a difference.
the heart of the story…
There’s a sliding door element here as Audrey and Fraser imagine the “what ifs.” I was completely engaged and in the blink of an eye, everything turned upside down, leaving me baffled until I got my bearings. From that moment forward, I inhaled this story.
the narration…
Dominic Gruenewald & Elizabeth Nabben delivered inspired performances and captured their characters beautifully. The storytelling was great and nicely paced. I believed them.
the bottom line…
Grey has mastered the ability to entangle all the emotions associated with love, life and grief. Her writing is eloquent and I loved how she used music as a device to add a lyrical and melodic quality to the story. This was brilliant and I felt…everything. It was also unpredictable and I had no idea how I wanted it to end as it was all so lovely. Encore!
Posted on Blue Mood Café
(Thanks to Zibby Publishing and Libro.fm for my complimentary copy. All opinions are my own.)
March 23, 2026
4.5 stars
"This powerful sliding-doors novel asks the Are our futures already determined? Or are we able to change fate? A searingly emotional novel about love, loss, grief, and hope from the author of The Last Love Note and Pictures of You."
The latest contemporary fiction novel by Emma Grey gave me all the feels. I went into it pretty blind so I'm not giving much of a synopsis to not give anything away. Our main characters are Audrey and Fraser who you will love. The characters are richly drawn and we see their vulnerability woven into themes of love, loss, grief, hope, parenting, and ambition.
The sliding doors portion of the novel is so unique and thought-provoking. It reminds us that life is precious and not to be taken for granted. It can take us down many different paths and the most important thing is to move forward, make the most of our circumstances and stay close to those we love. I highly recommend this for those who love contemporary fiction that includes a romance with emotional depth. This story broke my heart and put it back together again. I will be thinking about it for a long time.
Many thanks to Zibby Publishing, NetGalley and Emma Grey for a gifted advance reader's copy and galley. All opinions are my own.
"This powerful sliding-doors novel asks the Are our futures already determined? Or are we able to change fate? A searingly emotional novel about love, loss, grief, and hope from the author of The Last Love Note and Pictures of You."
The latest contemporary fiction novel by Emma Grey gave me all the feels. I went into it pretty blind so I'm not giving much of a synopsis to not give anything away. Our main characters are Audrey and Fraser who you will love. The characters are richly drawn and we see their vulnerability woven into themes of love, loss, grief, hope, parenting, and ambition.
The sliding doors portion of the novel is so unique and thought-provoking. It reminds us that life is precious and not to be taken for granted. It can take us down many different paths and the most important thing is to move forward, make the most of our circumstances and stay close to those we love. I highly recommend this for those who love contemporary fiction that includes a romance with emotional depth. This story broke my heart and put it back together again. I will be thinking about it for a long time.
Many thanks to Zibby Publishing, NetGalley and Emma Grey for a gifted advance reader's copy and galley. All opinions are my own.
April 23, 2026
This is not as advertised.
It was insanely confusing at first. We’re plopped into a story and there’s a lot of telling and barely any showing.
This is certainly not a romance. We are told that the two main characters have a beautiful romance- that they’re soulmates! But we really don’t see it. Their time together is very rushed, and the ultimately brought to a halt by devastating circumstances.
It’s also uses the “sliding door” concept, which sounds so fun! Except I hated the way the stories went.
I was expecting a sweeping romance and just got two separate stories that never felt romantic at all and just felt choppy.
Maybe I would’ve liked it if I knew what I was getting into.
⛔️HUGE SPOILER!!!!⛔️
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If I die and my best friend gets with the love of my life, I will spend their eternity haunting them. Hell no.
It was insanely confusing at first. We’re plopped into a story and there’s a lot of telling and barely any showing.
This is certainly not a romance. We are told that the two main characters have a beautiful romance- that they’re soulmates! But we really don’t see it. Their time together is very rushed, and the ultimately brought to a halt by devastating circumstances.
It’s also uses the “sliding door” concept, which sounds so fun! Except I hated the way the stories went.
I was expecting a sweeping romance and just got two separate stories that never felt romantic at all and just felt choppy.
Maybe I would’ve liked it if I knew what I was getting into.
⛔️HUGE SPOILER!!!!⛔️
*
*
*
*
*
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If I die and my best friend gets with the love of my life, I will spend their eternity haunting them. Hell no.
April 16, 2026
The Last Love Note is one of my favorite books ever, so whenever Emma Grey releases something new, I run to read it.
Emma wears her heart on her sleeve and that vulnerability seeps into every page and character she crafts. She drops you straight into the messy, chaotic, painful, joyful, deeply intimate pieces of life. Every moment feels glaring and vibrant.
This story explores the idea of parallel universes and how a single choice, action or even tragedy can alter the entire trajectory of a life. It’s the kind of concept that feels impossibly vast and almost incomprehensible, yet Emma makes it feel human. Through Audrey and Fraser, she brings that enormity down to something tangible and deeply emotional. They don’t just exist within the boundaries of time and space, they push against them. In doing so, they remind us that nothing is too big, too broken or too far gone to fight for… especially when what you’re fighting for is your own happiness.
Then there’s Parker, Fraser’s daughter. I won’t say much because I don’t want to spoil anything but I will say that the author’s note and Parker’s character go hand in hand. The note is a declaration of a mother’s pride and love for her son. Parker feels like a living, breathing extension. She is extraordinary.
Start at the End is a reminder that life is precious. That things can unfold in a million different ways but nothing happens at all if we stay stuck. If we wait. If we let fear or grief root us in place.
Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is simply begin.
Emma wears her heart on her sleeve and that vulnerability seeps into every page and character she crafts. She drops you straight into the messy, chaotic, painful, joyful, deeply intimate pieces of life. Every moment feels glaring and vibrant.
This story explores the idea of parallel universes and how a single choice, action or even tragedy can alter the entire trajectory of a life. It’s the kind of concept that feels impossibly vast and almost incomprehensible, yet Emma makes it feel human. Through Audrey and Fraser, she brings that enormity down to something tangible and deeply emotional. They don’t just exist within the boundaries of time and space, they push against them. In doing so, they remind us that nothing is too big, too broken or too far gone to fight for… especially when what you’re fighting for is your own happiness.
Then there’s Parker, Fraser’s daughter. I won’t say much because I don’t want to spoil anything but I will say that the author’s note and Parker’s character go hand in hand. The note is a declaration of a mother’s pride and love for her son. Parker feels like a living, breathing extension. She is extraordinary.
Start at the End is a reminder that life is precious. That things can unfold in a million different ways but nothing happens at all if we stay stuck. If we wait. If we let fear or grief root us in place.
Sometimes, the bravest thing you can do is simply begin.
March 21, 2026
Emma has quickly become one of my favorite contemporary fiction writers. Some may classify her books as romances, but I’d say they lean heavily towards contemporary fiction with a side of romance. She’s such a storyteller.
I went into this book completely blind and I say that’s the way to do it! Told in four different sections, this story is quite the journey and leaves the readers to ponder the “what ifs” in life. It took such an unexpected turn almost halfway through and I just had to know how it would end!
With a unique storyline and beautiful writing, this one will be a strong contender for one of my top reads for the year! Thank you @zibbypublishing for the gifted early physical copy! 🩷
Content rating: R for approximately 10 f bombs
🔥: no spice
TW: big possible triggers but don’t want to give too much away.
I went into this book completely blind and I say that’s the way to do it! Told in four different sections, this story is quite the journey and leaves the readers to ponder the “what ifs” in life. It took such an unexpected turn almost halfway through and I just had to know how it would end!
With a unique storyline and beautiful writing, this one will be a strong contender for one of my top reads for the year! Thank you @zibbypublishing for the gifted early physical copy! 🩷
Content rating: R for approximately 10 f bombs
🔥: no spice
TW: big possible triggers but don’t want to give too much away.
April 16, 2026
This is a book about death, resilience, grief, bereavement, hope and fate.
This is a book you need to go into not knowing much. Its written by Emma, who has experienced the loss of a loved one herself. When you go through experiencing a loss you question the "what ifs".
What I loved about this book was how much I cared about the characters. It gave me all the feels and be prepared to laugh, cry and smile if you read this. I also loved the mention of places I live near or in.
This is a book you need to go into not knowing much. Its written by Emma, who has experienced the loss of a loved one herself. When you go through experiencing a loss you question the "what ifs".
What I loved about this book was how much I cared about the characters. It gave me all the feels and be prepared to laugh, cry and smile if you read this. I also loved the mention of places I live near or in.
April 19, 2026
Such a unique concept, but unfortunately I don’t think “sliding door” novels are for me. Will continue to read everything Emma writes though!
CW: alcoholism, grief, self-harm
CW: alcoholism, grief, self-harm
April 22, 2026
⭐️4 Stars⭐️
Start at the End by Emma Grey is a thought provoking, creative and deeply moving tale of grief that begins as a love story and evolves into a sliding-doors type concept. The end of alternating chapters from Audrey And Fraser left me wanting to know more as they leave you hanging and you can’t wait to get to them again.
There’s an interesting theme of music composition woven into the narrative which I enjoyed.
Our main protagonists Audrey and Fraser are loveable characters that are flawed, vulnerable and richly drawn. I loved the yellow wellingtons element in the story…nice touch.
The story examines deep grief and starting all over again, it’s beautifully told and gives hope. I adored Start At The End and cared about these characters. After reading this now I’m thinking about alternative universes.
Publication Day 31 March 2026
Publisher Allen & Unwin Australia
Thank you so much Allen & Unwin Australia for a copy of the book.
Start at the End by Emma Grey is a thought provoking, creative and deeply moving tale of grief that begins as a love story and evolves into a sliding-doors type concept. The end of alternating chapters from Audrey And Fraser left me wanting to know more as they leave you hanging and you can’t wait to get to them again.
There’s an interesting theme of music composition woven into the narrative which I enjoyed.
Our main protagonists Audrey and Fraser are loveable characters that are flawed, vulnerable and richly drawn. I loved the yellow wellingtons element in the story…nice touch.
The story examines deep grief and starting all over again, it’s beautifully told and gives hope. I adored Start At The End and cared about these characters. After reading this now I’m thinking about alternative universes.
Publication Day 31 March 2026
Publisher Allen & Unwin Australia
Thank you so much Allen & Unwin Australia for a copy of the book.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This sliding doors story involves a soon-to-be married couple who experiences a tragic accident, and the possible ways each of their lives could move forward afterwards.
This is a beautiful tale of loss, recovery, and ultimately moving forward. I went into this one pretty blind and was so heartbreakingly but pleasantly surprised at what I read. It was both tragic but so hopeful, and I would recommend it to anyone experiencing a loss. It highlights how even though time moves forward after the loss of a loved one, they are always there with you, and there can be more than one opportunity for happiness in this life. It also reiterates that everyone experiences loss differently, and everyone heals differently. The characters were beautiful, and I felt so deeply for all of them in both situations. The grief was palpable and I teared up multiple times. I do wish that I had learned a little bit more of Parker's story on both sides, but this is my only criticism. I would highly recommend this one, but perhaps have the tissues ready.
This is a beautiful tale of loss, recovery, and ultimately moving forward. I went into this one pretty blind and was so heartbreakingly but pleasantly surprised at what I read. It was both tragic but so hopeful, and I would recommend it to anyone experiencing a loss. It highlights how even though time moves forward after the loss of a loved one, they are always there with you, and there can be more than one opportunity for happiness in this life. It also reiterates that everyone experiences loss differently, and everyone heals differently. The characters were beautiful, and I felt so deeply for all of them in both situations. The grief was palpable and I teared up multiple times. I do wish that I had learned a little bit more of Parker's story on both sides, but this is my only criticism. I would highly recommend this one, but perhaps have the tissues ready.
April 3, 2026
Let me start by saying I probably placed unfair expectations on this author as I LOVED her previous two books.
This is one of the books that explore the idea of “what if”. There’s two characters, two POVs and two alternate universes.
It started out good but I think the whole problem I had with the book stemmed from here. Audrey and Fraser got together too fast, loved each other too fast, got married and everything else just TOO FAST. This pulled me away from their love story and chemistry. I just couldn’t feel for them because there was no push or pull just love.
So when we started getting into the grief aspect of the story I just wasn’t feeling the feelings I should have because I was so drawn out of their relationship already.
Then I went from bored to so confused. The twist was confusing as all get out and I just not once found myself caring about what happened. There was no redemption at any point sadly.
It does explore heavy topics so please be careful. These include grief, alcoholism and self harm; which are all handled extremely well, respectfully and In a very raw way.
After reading the authors note at the end I have to write this review as I know it was very tough for her since it reflected how she felt after her own husband’s death. But as a piece of fiction, this just isn’t good. However, there’s tons of five star reviews so maybe it’s just me
This is one of the books that explore the idea of “what if”. There’s two characters, two POVs and two alternate universes.
It started out good but I think the whole problem I had with the book stemmed from here. Audrey and Fraser got together too fast, loved each other too fast, got married and everything else just TOO FAST. This pulled me away from their love story and chemistry. I just couldn’t feel for them because there was no push or pull just love.
So when we started getting into the grief aspect of the story I just wasn’t feeling the feelings I should have because I was so drawn out of their relationship already.
Then I went from bored to so confused. The twist was confusing as all get out and I just not once found myself caring about what happened. There was no redemption at any point sadly.
It does explore heavy topics so please be careful. These include grief, alcoholism and self harm; which are all handled extremely well, respectfully and In a very raw way.
After reading the authors note at the end I have to write this review as I know it was very tough for her since it reflected how she felt after her own husband’s death. But as a piece of fiction, this just isn’t good. However, there’s tons of five star reviews so maybe it’s just me
January 26, 2026
I think if you’d explained the premise of Start at the End before I read it, I wouldn’t have found it compelling. I would’ve been so wrong though!
Emma writes about grief, addiction, failure, and love with such tender relatability.
I felt such fondness for the characters—their struggles so real and believable to me I was on the edge of my seat.
I really liked this one!
Emma writes about grief, addiction, failure, and love with such tender relatability.
I felt such fondness for the characters—their struggles so real and believable to me I was on the edge of my seat.
I really liked this one!
April 27, 2026
A clever and emotive sliding doors drama.
This got me in all the feelings!
Full review to follow
This got me in all the feelings!
Full review to follow
April 15, 2026
I’ve never read a book quite like Start at the End. It explores how quickly life can change based on a single decision or circumstance, and how those choices ripple across time. I will preface this is a heavy book. It explores trauma and moving on from grief in a way that feels scary and deeply relatable. Consider checking the content warnings before reading this.
Parker, the daughter, is the emotional thread that ties the story together. She plays such a beautiful yet heartbreaking role in both timelines, and her perspective was easily my favorite part of the book.
This is a contemporary fiction with a love story. I would not classify this as a romance. The focus stays on the bigger picture rather than centering solely on the relationship.
The pacing of this book is my only complaint. The beginning felt rushed and their relationship moved very quickly as she took us through three years very quickly. When the plot turns the pacing slows down significantly because you get two POVs and they are going through the same thing respectively. It felt redundant and added a lot more emotional weight to the story. But such is the nature of grief, it’s heavy.
The author’s note at the end, where she shares the inspiration behind the story, really hit me. Knowing the personal context made this feel like a beautiful tribute to her family and deepened my appreciation for the book.
Also, Emma Grey is obviously a Swiftie and I love this for her. 🪩
Audiobook review: 4/5
Narrators: Dominic Gruenewald & Elizabeth Nabben (both have Australian accents)
Narration style: Dual narration. I loved the small bit of duet narration at the pivotal scene, such a good choice for that scene to hit hard.
I found I sometimes had to adjust the speed or volume between the two narrators. Not always but I found myself doing it more than I would like to.
Thank you Zibby publishing for the advanced reader copy and to LibroFM for the listener copy. ❤️
Parker, the daughter, is the emotional thread that ties the story together. She plays such a beautiful yet heartbreaking role in both timelines, and her perspective was easily my favorite part of the book.
This is a contemporary fiction with a love story. I would not classify this as a romance. The focus stays on the bigger picture rather than centering solely on the relationship.
The pacing of this book is my only complaint. The beginning felt rushed and their relationship moved very quickly as she took us through three years very quickly. When the plot turns the pacing slows down significantly because you get two POVs and they are going through the same thing respectively. It felt redundant and added a lot more emotional weight to the story. But such is the nature of grief, it’s heavy.
The author’s note at the end, where she shares the inspiration behind the story, really hit me. Knowing the personal context made this feel like a beautiful tribute to her family and deepened my appreciation for the book.
Also, Emma Grey is obviously a Swiftie and I love this for her. 🪩
Audiobook review: 4/5
Narrators: Dominic Gruenewald & Elizabeth Nabben (both have Australian accents)
Narration style: Dual narration. I loved the small bit of duet narration at the pivotal scene, such a good choice for that scene to hit hard.
I found I sometimes had to adjust the speed or volume between the two narrators. Not always but I found myself doing it more than I would like to.
Thank you Zibby publishing for the advanced reader copy and to LibroFM for the listener copy. ❤️
April 22, 2026
Not only did the book have me crying, but even the acknowledgments had me sobbing 😭😭😭
April 6, 2026
Emma Grey’s Start at the End is a heartbreakingly beautiful exploration of love, loss, and the unthinkable ways life can shift in an instant. Audrey and Fraser’s connection feels immediate and all consuming, the kind of love that readers will ache for and root for in equal measure. But this isn’t a conventional romance, it’s a sliding door story that shows how one moment can ripple into countless “what ifs,” forcing each character to navigate grief, guilt, and the daunting prospect of starting over. Grey handles this delicate structure with a deft touch, ensuring the emotional resonance lands without feeling manipulative.
What makes this book particularly compelling is its emotional realism. Grey’s writing captures the raw, often contradictory feelings of heartbreak, hope, and human fragility with a rare honesty. Moments of tenderness sit alongside gut punch heartbreak, and the characters’ struggles to rebuild their lives feel painfully authentic. As with her previous novels, Grey excels at portraying humanity in all its messy, flawed, yet profoundly beautiful glory. Every scene is charged with depth, every choice weighed with consequence, making it a book that lingers long after the last page.
For book clubs, Start at the End offers layers to unpack—from the ethics of moving on, to the nature of love and destiny, to the quiet, often invisible ways grief shapes us. It’s a story that is both intimate and expansive, heartbreaking yet ultimately hopeful. Fans of Grey will recognize the same emotional acuity and character driven storytelling that makes her novels so unforgettable, and newcomers will be swept up in the intensity of Audrey and Fraser’s journey. This is a book that asks you to feel deeply and think about what it means to start again, even when everything you thought you knew has changed.
April 17, 2026
What. A. Book.
What a freakin' book.
I am an Emma Grey fan for life.
I feel like she just keeps getting better and better.
This story was brilliantly done. It is the kind of sad book that I live for.
I just loved it.
Content: the F word a handful of times. I didn't count and they were few and far enough between that it felt jarring when it came out.
I will say one thing about the audiobook. I didn't love the female narrator. Ok, I actually loved her voice...her accent is so cool. But the way she read the book didn't jive with what I would say the tone of the story is sometimes. I wouldn't say don't go the audio route but I just wanted to throw that out there.
What a freakin' book.
I am an Emma Grey fan for life.
I feel like she just keeps getting better and better.
This story was brilliantly done. It is the kind of sad book that I live for.
I just loved it.
Content: the F word a handful of times. I didn't count and they were few and far enough between that it felt jarring when it came out.
I will say one thing about the audiobook. I didn't love the female narrator. Ok, I actually loved her voice...her accent is so cool. But the way she read the book didn't jive with what I would say the tone of the story is sometimes. I wouldn't say don't go the audio route but I just wanted to throw that out there.
March 29, 2026
i was certain this was going to be my favorite read of 2026, maybe even my favorite romance of all time, & no less than a 5 star read. the first 50% of this book is one of the best depictions of modern romance that i have ever experienced. i’m struggling to even put this into words expressing how much i loved it.
we have a strong cast of realistic, complicated & flawed characters with unique interests & personalities. this book pulls you in right away with such a strong hook & an exceptional meet-cute. our main characters belong together, & you will absolutely become invested in them, & their familial units. which is why it pains me to write this review because i’m just incredibly disappointed.
going into this, i knew it was a sliding doors concept. but it was executed in such a weak way. the “pivotal” moment was confusing (& based on other reviews, i’m not the only one that feels this way). i had to reread the chapter multiple times to understand what exactly happened. & i truly didn’t get full clarity until about 60% in. learning the direction this book was taking sucked the emotions right out of me.
the only thing that kept me turning the pages was the hope that it would come together in some way, shape or form. but it just didn’t.
music is a theme throughout the book which was well done & engaging regarding parker, the young piano prodigy. but the “conflict” never was resolved & audrey’s lukewarm, hot & cold “i want justice, but not like that” act by the time she reached her 40s was just aggravating & boring.
don’t even get me started on how audrey & fraser’s love life was concluded because what the eff was that?
the writing was beautiful & i will never forget audrey & fraser’s love story. despite the title, i truly felt like this book should have ended - at the end.
we have a strong cast of realistic, complicated & flawed characters with unique interests & personalities. this book pulls you in right away with such a strong hook & an exceptional meet-cute. our main characters belong together, & you will absolutely become invested in them, & their familial units. which is why it pains me to write this review because i’m just incredibly disappointed.
going into this, i knew it was a sliding doors concept. but it was executed in such a weak way. the “pivotal” moment was confusing (& based on other reviews, i’m not the only one that feels this way). i had to reread the chapter multiple times to understand what exactly happened. & i truly didn’t get full clarity until about 60% in. learning the direction this book was taking sucked the emotions right out of me.
the only thing that kept me turning the pages was the hope that it would come together in some way, shape or form. but it just didn’t.
music is a theme throughout the book which was well done & engaging regarding parker, the young piano prodigy. but the “conflict” never was resolved & audrey’s lukewarm, hot & cold “i want justice, but not like that” act by the time she reached her 40s was just aggravating & boring.
don’t even get me started on how audrey & fraser’s love life was concluded because what the eff was that?
the writing was beautiful & i will never forget audrey & fraser’s love story. despite the title, i truly felt like this book should have ended - at the end.
March 16, 2026
Thank you Zibby Publishing for the gifted ARC!
Typically I start my reviews with a little synopsis, but if there was ever a book to go into with as little information as possible, it’s this one.
I am an absolute mess after finishing this brilliant new story from Emma Grey. I loved her other two novels, The Last Love Note and Pictures of You, but this one is my new favorite.
One of my favorite things about Grey’s stories is that they are so deep and rich with characteristics of several different genres. It’s contemporary fiction, romance, speculative fiction, and even a little bit of mystery. She does such a brilliant job with cohesion of these characteristics, that Start at the End feels like a true genre-blended journey.
The main characters, especially Audrey, had some of the most profound and well-written character arcs that I’ve read in a long time. The good, the bad, and the ugly were all displayed in the pages of the story, and Grey didn’t shy away from tougher moments for her characters.
This book breaks your heart and puts it back together again. It’s a journey through grief and healing, so dark and full of moments of despair, but equally as full of hope. I find it important to mention that the story meant even more to me after reading Grey’s author’s note at the end, so don’t miss that.
Typically I start my reviews with a little synopsis, but if there was ever a book to go into with as little information as possible, it’s this one.
I am an absolute mess after finishing this brilliant new story from Emma Grey. I loved her other two novels, The Last Love Note and Pictures of You, but this one is my new favorite.
One of my favorite things about Grey’s stories is that they are so deep and rich with characteristics of several different genres. It’s contemporary fiction, romance, speculative fiction, and even a little bit of mystery. She does such a brilliant job with cohesion of these characteristics, that Start at the End feels like a true genre-blended journey.
The main characters, especially Audrey, had some of the most profound and well-written character arcs that I’ve read in a long time. The good, the bad, and the ugly were all displayed in the pages of the story, and Grey didn’t shy away from tougher moments for her characters.
This book breaks your heart and puts it back together again. It’s a journey through grief and healing, so dark and full of moments of despair, but equally as full of hope. I find it important to mention that the story meant even more to me after reading Grey’s author’s note at the end, so don’t miss that.
April 15, 2026
Heartbreaking, beautiful read with an as equally moving Author's Note.
March 26, 2026
First things first - I LOVED this book. I usually start my reviews with a one or two sentence summary of what the book is about, but I went in totally blind and I think you should too so I’m not going to! All I will say is if you’ve read Emma Grey’s previous books The Last Love Note and Pictures of You, then you’ll know she’s really good at writing emotional love stories - and she does it again here!
I enjoyed those two books, but I think this one is her best yet! Just wonderful, real-feeling, indelible characters, surprising plot turns, and emotions galore! It gets a little dark in the middle, but it really all comes together so perfectly at the end! Finished with tears running down my face. And it’s a great discussion book too; had a fantastic chat about it with one of my book besties. So I think it would make a great book club book too.
4.5 stars
Thank you to Zibby Books for my e-ARC (out 4/7/26) - another terrific selection. All opinions are my own.
I enjoyed those two books, but I think this one is her best yet! Just wonderful, real-feeling, indelible characters, surprising plot turns, and emotions galore! It gets a little dark in the middle, but it really all comes together so perfectly at the end! Finished with tears running down my face. And it’s a great discussion book too; had a fantastic chat about it with one of my book besties. So I think it would make a great book club book too.
4.5 stars
Thank you to Zibby Books for my e-ARC (out 4/7/26) - another terrific selection. All opinions are my own.
April 22, 2026
I think I went into this a little too blind.
The reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and I can understand why—but the synopsis is vague in a way that doesn’t quite prepare you for what the story actually becomes.
This was a struggle for me. I considered DNF’ing early, then again halfway, and a few more times after that. Not because it was poorly written—but because I never fully connected to the experience.
Two things stood out.
First, it felt emotionally flat despite being emotionally heavy. There’s a lot of grief, trauma, and weight throughout the story, but very little levity in the dialogue or internal reflection to balance it. Everything sits in the same emotional tone, which made it harder to stay engaged.
Second, the structure shifts in a way that didn’t quite work for me. It begins as a more traditional dual POV contemporary romance—with enough tension and backstory to carry the full narrative. But about a third of the way in, it splinters into two parallel timelines—two separate versions of reality where each character continues forward without the other.
From there, it becomes something else entirely. Both paths unfold alongside each other, with mirrored outcomes, recurring side characters, and new romantic arcs. It’s creative, and honestly, pretty ambitious—but it also creates a distance from the original story that I found hard to reconnect with.
And there’s no clear resolution to what “actually” happened. Which, based on the premise, is likely intentional—but still left me feeling a bit unanchored by the end.
What kept me reading was curiosity.
I’ve never read anything quite like this, and I can absolutely see it sparking strong discussion—especially in a book club setting. It’s thoughtful, creative, and technically well done.
But I didn’t enjoy it.
Not even a little.
The reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and I can understand why—but the synopsis is vague in a way that doesn’t quite prepare you for what the story actually becomes.
This was a struggle for me. I considered DNF’ing early, then again halfway, and a few more times after that. Not because it was poorly written—but because I never fully connected to the experience.
Two things stood out.
First, it felt emotionally flat despite being emotionally heavy. There’s a lot of grief, trauma, and weight throughout the story, but very little levity in the dialogue or internal reflection to balance it. Everything sits in the same emotional tone, which made it harder to stay engaged.
Second, the structure shifts in a way that didn’t quite work for me. It begins as a more traditional dual POV contemporary romance—with enough tension and backstory to carry the full narrative. But about a third of the way in, it splinters into two parallel timelines—two separate versions of reality where each character continues forward without the other.
From there, it becomes something else entirely. Both paths unfold alongside each other, with mirrored outcomes, recurring side characters, and new romantic arcs. It’s creative, and honestly, pretty ambitious—but it also creates a distance from the original story that I found hard to reconnect with.
And there’s no clear resolution to what “actually” happened. Which, based on the premise, is likely intentional—but still left me feeling a bit unanchored by the end.
What kept me reading was curiosity.
I’ve never read anything quite like this, and I can absolutely see it sparking strong discussion—especially in a book club setting. It’s thoughtful, creative, and technically well done.
But I didn’t enjoy it.
Not even a little.
April 21, 2026
Start at the End is a story of What If...
Audrey and Fraser have a love story for the ages. But days before their wedding, Fraser is killed in a car crash when on his way to pick up his daughter from school. Audrey is now in the throes of grief, turning her attention to wine. As she deals with her grief and her acoholism, she meets Beau, another floundering artist. Spending time with him rekindles her passion for music and allows her to work through her grief.
But in an alternate reality, Audrey is the one who is killed in the car crash, and Fraser deals with his grief as he raises his daughter. Audrey's best friend Rachael steps in to help with Fraser's daughter, and as the years pass, they begin to realize they have feelings for each other. Audrey's death bringing them together.
I love Emma's writing, but the alternate timelines was difficult for me.
Thank you Zibby Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
Audrey and Fraser have a love story for the ages. But days before their wedding, Fraser is killed in a car crash when on his way to pick up his daughter from school. Audrey is now in the throes of grief, turning her attention to wine. As she deals with her grief and her acoholism, she meets Beau, another floundering artist. Spending time with him rekindles her passion for music and allows her to work through her grief.
But in an alternate reality, Audrey is the one who is killed in the car crash, and Fraser deals with his grief as he raises his daughter. Audrey's best friend Rachael steps in to help with Fraser's daughter, and as the years pass, they begin to realize they have feelings for each other. Audrey's death bringing them together.
I love Emma's writing, but the alternate timelines was difficult for me.
Thank you Zibby Publishing for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.
February 23, 2026
Book #22 of 2026!
Four stars
Thank you to #NetGalley and Zibby Publishing for the advanced copy of this book.
What to expect in this book:
-Emotional romance
-Reverse timeline
-Sliding doors novel
-Set in Austrailia
-Stories of love and loss
-Grief, loss in all forms
-Blended families
Thoughts
From the author of The Last Love Note and Pictures of You comes another remarkable and heartbreaking story of love, family, loss, and self-discovery. Start at the End is a genre-bending story of second-chances in life, parallel timelines, and emotional slow burn. Audrey and Fraser's love story begins at the end. Their love is one for the ages, until tragedy strikes. Both wrestling with the unimaginable, they wonder if they had done something differently, how would their fates be the same? This is more than just a story of found or lost love, but of fate, destiny, and ultimately the power to start again.
Start at the End is Emma's most unique novel to date. I think it is wise to go into this book blind and let it take you on a ride. As the story began at the end, I expected it to go a certain direction, especially considering the title of the book itself, however I found this to be an enlightening and surprising story with depth and unexpected twists. I would in no way categorize this as a mystery, but there are some elements that go beyond traditional romance. As mentioned, this book deals with concepts of fate and I love when a story explores alternate realities. If you do not enjoy this, this may not be the right read for you.
While I did not cry, this is an emotional read and for anyone who has walked through any type of grief or loss before (death, loss of a dream or career, divorce, heartbreak, etc), there is something in this book for you to relate to. I love the relationship between Audrey and Fraser's daughter, as well as the beloved side characters. I had a hard time with some of the characters feeling a little two dimensional, mostly Josh. However, I loved how the elements of musical composition were woven throughout this story. Overall, this was a beautiful slow-burn romance with complicated underlying components made for the lover of emo romance. Look for this one on shelves in April.
Four stars
Thank you to #NetGalley and Zibby Publishing for the advanced copy of this book.
What to expect in this book:
-Emotional romance
-Reverse timeline
-Sliding doors novel
-Set in Austrailia
-Stories of love and loss
-Grief, loss in all forms
-Blended families
Thoughts
From the author of The Last Love Note and Pictures of You comes another remarkable and heartbreaking story of love, family, loss, and self-discovery. Start at the End is a genre-bending story of second-chances in life, parallel timelines, and emotional slow burn. Audrey and Fraser's love story begins at the end. Their love is one for the ages, until tragedy strikes. Both wrestling with the unimaginable, they wonder if they had done something differently, how would their fates be the same? This is more than just a story of found or lost love, but of fate, destiny, and ultimately the power to start again.
Start at the End is Emma's most unique novel to date. I think it is wise to go into this book blind and let it take you on a ride. As the story began at the end, I expected it to go a certain direction, especially considering the title of the book itself, however I found this to be an enlightening and surprising story with depth and unexpected twists. I would in no way categorize this as a mystery, but there are some elements that go beyond traditional romance. As mentioned, this book deals with concepts of fate and I love when a story explores alternate realities. If you do not enjoy this, this may not be the right read for you.
While I did not cry, this is an emotional read and for anyone who has walked through any type of grief or loss before (death, loss of a dream or career, divorce, heartbreak, etc), there is something in this book for you to relate to. I love the relationship between Audrey and Fraser's daughter, as well as the beloved side characters. I had a hard time with some of the characters feeling a little two dimensional, mostly Josh. However, I loved how the elements of musical composition were woven throughout this story. Overall, this was a beautiful slow-burn romance with complicated underlying components made for the lover of emo romance. Look for this one on shelves in April.
April 19, 2026
Here's the thing. Emma Grey is one of my absolute favorite authors. Like, auto buy, auto read, etc. I DEVOUR her books. When I saw that Zibby Publishing sent me an ARC, I screamed. And then I panicked. Then, I finally read it. I LOVED this novel. I went in completely blind, and I highly recommend that because the punch was FIERCE. I loved the characters, I loved the humor, I relished in the sadness. I loved everything about it. It gave me "hand on my heart, jaw on the floor" moments, and I can honestly say, this book skyrocketed to the top of my list. Read it. Do not wait. =]
April 27, 2026
not your typical romance — this leans into grief, “what ifs” & really gets you thinking about life and timing 🕊️ i liked the structure & concept a lot and found it really thought-provoking, even if some parts felt a little messy or confusing. it was a meaningful read at the right time for me 🤍
April 14, 2026
I went into this blindly so the grief component snuck up on me unexpectedly and crushed my soul a little bit but your girl LOVES a sliding door plot and this was executed brilliantly.
April 15, 2026
As someone who does not typically read romance, I loved this book. I wasn't a huge fan of many of the characters early on but as the story came to a close, it was beautiful. I think many people who have lived through grief, will really appreciate it.
March 21, 2026
Start at the End completely swept me up in its emotional what-ifs and second chances. Audrey and Fraser’s love story felt achingly real, and I found myself rooting for each of them even as everything around them changed. The sliding doors element added an interesting layer, making me really consider fate, timing, and how one moment in time can change everything. It was definitely an emotional read, but the heaviness always felt like it had a purpose. The writing was heartfelt and immersive. This story was a It was a moving reminder that hope can still exist, even after everything falls apart.
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