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Beginnings and Endings: A Selection of Short Stories
…life never turns out like you expected…
A weekly ritual that turns into the surprise of all time; an accident that has a devastating effect on two lives in different ways; and a father’s heartfelt journey to tell his son of an important part of his past.
All come together in Beginnings and Endings , a trilogy of short stories that will bring a lump to the throat.
Grits Girl explores the beginning of a lifetime of love over a favorite bowlful of breakfast.
The Accident is an ironic story of how life can change in the blink of an eye.
In The End of Summer , two men come to terms with their past through an unexpected detour and the innocent joy of a child.
Each story is layered with unexpected twists and turns, and there’s a bonus flash fiction, Pick Me , to bring you a smile that will last the day.
A weekly ritual that turns into the surprise of all time; an accident that has a devastating effect on two lives in different ways; and a father’s heartfelt journey to tell his son of an important part of his past.
All come together in Beginnings and Endings , a trilogy of short stories that will bring a lump to the throat.
Grits Girl explores the beginning of a lifetime of love over a favorite bowlful of breakfast.
The Accident is an ironic story of how life can change in the blink of an eye.
In The End of Summer , two men come to terms with their past through an unexpected detour and the innocent joy of a child.
Each story is layered with unexpected twists and turns, and there’s a bonus flash fiction, Pick Me , to bring you a smile that will last the day.
36 pages, Paperback
First published November 11, 2017
44 people are currently reading
71 people want to read
About the author
Jane Suen
27 books857 followersJane Suen is a USA Today bestselling author who writes mysteries, sci-fi thrillers, short stories, contemporary romance, and crime fiction.
She is a transplant to the South who has taken a liking to grits, iced tea, and snow cones - so she's there to stay.
For more, join her newsletter ➜ https://BookHip.com/FRPLCVT
She is a transplant to the South who has taken a liking to grits, iced tea, and snow cones - so she's there to stay.
For more, join her newsletter ➜ https://BookHip.com/FRPLCVT
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews
October 30, 2024
Entertaining relationship listening
This kindle e-book novella is from Amazon
Three short stories about people and relationships, each story is different.
I would recommend this novella and author to readers looking for a quick read. 2024
This kindle e-book novella is from Amazon
Three short stories about people and relationships, each story is different.
I would recommend this novella and author to readers looking for a quick read. 2024
December 2, 2017
I am usually not a fan of short stories, and therefore I don't buy them but I was so very glad I gave this book a chance! This writer is, in short, brilliant! Her words where poetic, and the plots in each three stories flowed exceptionally well. You really didn't want any of the stories to end, even if they ended on sweet notes.
I would have to say my favorite story was between the second and the third, with the third edging out the second by just a little bit. I won't spoil why! I can say that even though these are shorts, the author has a talent for being descriptive not only in setting but with character actions. You won't get overwhelmed by a lot of information in such short pages. The characters where lovely, and imaginative, not to mention, sweet and funny.
I would have to say my favorite story was between the second and the third, with the third edging out the second by just a little bit. I won't spoil why! I can say that even though these are shorts, the author has a talent for being descriptive not only in setting but with character actions. You won't get overwhelmed by a lot of information in such short pages. The characters where lovely, and imaginative, not to mention, sweet and funny.
May 12, 2021
A great free short read from Amazon!
These are well-written, uplifting stories...and who doesn't know the significance of "scattered, smothered, covered"? even the Yankees?
These are well-written, uplifting stories...and who doesn't know the significance of "scattered, smothered, covered"? even the Yankees?
February 26, 2022
Short, crisp and to the point
What starts a love story? Chemistry, impulse or something putting it all together. Or can a marriage sustain when things unexpectedly go wrong? These were just two examples of the short stories of Beginnings and Endings.
The bonus pick me story made me laugh.
The themes of love, regret were dealt with beautifully in the collection. I loved the vivid description of every scene. I felt I was with Adeline getting up from her bed because the scene was captured very well by the author.
The stories were all a little short, but the emotions and themes were beautiful.
Enjoyed reading them.
What starts a love story? Chemistry, impulse or something putting it all together. Or can a marriage sustain when things unexpectedly go wrong? These were just two examples of the short stories of Beginnings and Endings.
The bonus pick me story made me laugh.
The themes of love, regret were dealt with beautifully in the collection. I loved the vivid description of every scene. I felt I was with Adeline getting up from her bed because the scene was captured very well by the author.
The stories were all a little short, but the emotions and themes were beautiful.
Enjoyed reading them.
June 28, 2024
A Delightful Exploration of Life in Stories!
I found Beginnings and Endings to be a very heartfelt selection of short stories. The best short story collection I have seen in a while. Each story offers a snapshot of characters in different experiences of daily life. Sharing grits with a loved one, an unexpected proposal, surviving a car wreck, creating new family memories at a carnival, remembrance of a departed loved one.
The bonus story at the end was surprisingly humorous in the execution. At first, I only got a first person perspective on a character hoping to be chosen first. At first I wondered, is it a new toy in a toy shop or a pet in a pet store? I won’t spoil the ending of this one, please read this collection yourself! A wonderful short read for teens and adults that enjoy more reflective and poignant content.
I found Beginnings and Endings to be a very heartfelt selection of short stories. The best short story collection I have seen in a while. Each story offers a snapshot of characters in different experiences of daily life. Sharing grits with a loved one, an unexpected proposal, surviving a car wreck, creating new family memories at a carnival, remembrance of a departed loved one.
The bonus story at the end was surprisingly humorous in the execution. At first, I only got a first person perspective on a character hoping to be chosen first. At first I wondered, is it a new toy in a toy shop or a pet in a pet store? I won’t spoil the ending of this one, please read this collection yourself! A wonderful short read for teens and adults that enjoy more reflective and poignant content.
June 17, 2020
A collection of short, sweet, and deeply emotional stories.
My favorite was Grits Girl, a sweet romance about a girl, her grits, and the love of her life.
The switching narration was a perfect way to breathe life into each of the stories.
My favorite was Grits Girl, a sweet romance about a girl, her grits, and the love of her life.
The switching narration was a perfect way to breathe life into each of the stories.
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August 20, 2018💝FREE on Amazon today (8/20/2018)!💝
December 4, 2017
I have read a couple of books by this talented author and she continues to blow me away. This book is a collection of short stories that will leave you wanting more. These stories are about new beginnings and how change can be for the better. I could not put this book down. I devoured these amazing stories in little over an hour. I absolutely loved the characters in these stories. Each one of these characters will leave an impression on your heart. They all have an appreciation of life but it can change in a heartbeat.
My favorite story would have to be the last one. I loved how this author ended this story the most. I would love to read more of this story. I will not tell you why this is my favorite because I don’t want to spoil it for you. I highly recommend reading these short stories. This is the perfect book to read to lift up your spirits.
My favorite story would have to be the last one. I loved how this author ended this story the most. I would love to read more of this story. I will not tell you why this is my favorite because I don’t want to spoil it for you. I highly recommend reading these short stories. This is the perfect book to read to lift up your spirits.
July 4, 2021
A very enjoyable and engaging book of original short stories based on the theme that “life never turns out like you expected”. Each story is a very quick read but is also a complete story and Suen makes the reader feel fully immersed in each storyline. For such short stories the characters are really bought to life by the wonderful writing and I felt as though I had been on an emotional rollercoaster by the end of the book. The first story ‘Grits Girl’ looks at how love blossomed over breakfast leading to a surprise question during a couples weekly ritual. ‘The Accident’ follows a couple as their life is changed dramatically following an accident. ‘The End of Summer’ takes us on a heartfelt journey along with a father and son and the stranger that takes a detour with them. The bonus story, ‘Pick Me’ definitely left me with a smile on my face. Each story had twists and turns that made the stories unpredictable. These short stories have left me wanting to read more by the author Jane Suen.
July 9, 2021
Real life has beginnings and endings. Sometimes we must face an end to open our eyes to a beginning. This book contains three short stories that opened my eyes to the way that life just happens. We never know what is out there, but we have to keep searching until we find the right path for ourselves.
In Beginnings and Endings, the short story that spoke to me the most is called “The Accident”. In “The Accident”, there is a couple who are starting their day. The story speaks of all their hopes and dreams which were changed because of an accident. (I’m not giving away the story because it’s much better to read.)
In Beginnings and Endings, the short story that spoke to me the most is called “The Accident”. In “The Accident”, there is a couple who are starting their day. The story speaks of all their hopes and dreams which were changed because of an accident. (I’m not giving away the story because it’s much better to read.)
December 4, 2017
Beginnings and Endings by Jane Suen is a really short story. There are several stories kind of going on. It jumped from one to the next. I wish it were longer and am hopeful this is just the start. What I did read was interesting and different. Grits girl is about love and grits (now I really want some grits) and then the accident is about how life can really change in an instant. The end of summer is coming to terms with past pain and childhood innocence. Overall good stories. Would rate 4 stars.
July 7, 2021
This is a very quick read as the stories are short. You could probably sit down and finish this book within 30 minutes. Maybe less depending on how fast of a reader you are. I enjoyed reading each one of them however there were a couple that kind of left me thinking that there needed to be more. A couple of them were fantastic and I would have loved for the author to have continued them. Out of all the short stories, “The End of Summer” was my favorite of them all and I wasn’t quite expecting it to turn out as it did. It really choked me up and brought tears to my eyes. I was concerned when I realized how few pages there were in the book but was thoroughly pleased with the stories.
July 9, 2021
Beginnings and Endings was 4 super short stories. I almost with there was a bit more to them. I think they were way to short to base an opinion off of. I think this was about 35 pages in total and can be read in one sitting. It took me about 20-25 mins to read all 4. What I did read was good but just felt like it brought new meaning to the word short story lol. This author is not new to me and I have read many books by her and enjoyed just about all of them. Looking forward to more by this author.
July 9, 2021
Jane Suen has given us short stories in Beginnings and Endings: A Selection of Short Stories. Even though the stories are very short Jane did not skimp on the descriptive content. Each one is as different as night and day and evoke emotions a little pain, a bit of sweetness and a little bit of fun. Jane has mixed a lot of heart and feels in to make the stories memorable. My only complaint is they were too short. It would be good to see them made into longer stories. And just when you thought you were finished Jane gave us a little added bonus.
June 19, 2024
A quick, yet beautiful read
The three main short stories covered a myriad of love, from young love, to mature love through life’s atrocities, and even the timeless love of a parent. Each story brought a different feeling, but love conquered all. I especially liked the fun bonus story at the end written from the perspective of an avocado. It’s been a while since I enjoyed such a wonderful short story collection.
The three main short stories covered a myriad of love, from young love, to mature love through life’s atrocities, and even the timeless love of a parent. Each story brought a different feeling, but love conquered all. I especially liked the fun bonus story at the end written from the perspective of an avocado. It’s been a while since I enjoyed such a wonderful short story collection.
April 1, 2019
Wonderful little collection of stories...
These stories have heart and soul, they are original, yet about themes and occurrences that happen daily in all of our lives. When finished I craved more, and that is really the only negative thing I will say...it was just too damn short, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I will be looking for more from this author.
These stories have heart and soul, they are original, yet about themes and occurrences that happen daily in all of our lives. When finished I craved more, and that is really the only negative thing I will say...it was just too damn short, but that isn’t necessarily a bad thing. I will be looking for more from this author.
July 6, 2021
Beginnings and Endings: A Selection of Short Stories by Jane Suen. I loved this series of short stories. It is about how changes can be a good thing which I need to hear! This book kept me turning pages and turning pages until I was finished. My favorite story was Grit's Girl. It is about a girls love for grits and how she met the man of her dreams. If you need a light read that will keep you interested for a short while, get this book. You won't be disappointed. There are 3 stories and 1 bonus story and they were all very good. The bonus story Pick Me is a short read that teaches us that even stuffed animals have feelings! Just an all around feel good, upbeat read!
July 6, 2021
Beginnings and Endings: A Selection of Short Stories by Jane Suen is a collection of short stories that are heart warming and emotional. I was surprised by the level of detail the author had managed to fit in to such short books. Nothing felt rush or forced, they all just flowed so easily.
I love how versatile this author is. All of her books are so different from each other but each are just as well written and interesting. I really enjoy the fact that I never know quite what I am going to get when I start then next one. This is a great book and one I would certainly recommend.
I love how versatile this author is. All of her books are so different from each other but each are just as well written and interesting. I really enjoy the fact that I never know quite what I am going to get when I start then next one. This is a great book and one I would certainly recommend.
July 6, 2021
Jane Suen is not a new author to me. When I see her books, I will definitely pick them up because I know I will like them. This book is full of 3 short stories and 1 bonus story. My favorite one is Grits Girl. It is a love story that starts over grits. It is a touching story that made me smile. I shared this story with my husband because we met over a similar experience. The other stories are just one or two pages and are quick reads. The Accident brought tears to my eyes, while The End of Summer made me realize that we should have adventures. I highly recommend this book.
July 9, 2021
This is a book of four short stories which show how beginnings and ending can affect lives.
Story one is a couple sharing breakfast in a cafe, story two is a tale of how love overcomes all obstacles, the third story is a meaningful road trip gone right and the final story is about being picked out of a group.
A delightful selection of short stories which cheers the heart up.
Story one is a couple sharing breakfast in a cafe, story two is a tale of how love overcomes all obstacles, the third story is a meaningful road trip gone right and the final story is about being picked out of a group.
A delightful selection of short stories which cheers the heart up.
December 6, 2017
Definitely short stories. Just snippets of time from all three stories. A love forged over grits, a husband remembered as he was, and a hitchhiker. Each story has its own moment of clarity by the story teller. I kinda wished they were longer but I enjoyed the small pick me up.
August 12, 2018
Four wonderful short stories that are exquisitely written with vivid imagery. Some tell the tale of a new beginning while another is a well-told sad ending. Short, but touching stories which are difficult to describe without giving too much away so I’ll just say they are highly recommended.
July 8, 2021
These cute short stories could have each been the first chapter of a book. They drew me in and really made me think about things a little different. My first time at the carnival or things that can change your whole life in the blink of an eye. These were really well written and will be looking for longer works by this author.
July 8, 2021
Soulful and insightful
This little collection of well-written stories will get you thinking. Every story is different but draws you in and takes you on a little trip. I connected with each of the characters and felt their emotions shine through from happiness to heartbreak and everything in between. Even though each story is short it still felt complete. Highly recommend.
This little collection of well-written stories will get you thinking. Every story is different but draws you in and takes you on a little trip. I connected with each of the characters and felt their emotions shine through from happiness to heartbreak and everything in between. Even though each story is short it still felt complete. Highly recommend.
July 8, 2021
This book has the perfect name. All the stories were heartfelt and interesting. My favorite story was The End of Summer; however, they were all amazing. The author did an amazing with all the short stories because it left me wanting more from all of them. I’d love to read more from this author!
July 9, 2021
This is a collection of short stories. The stories pull on your heartstrings and have a depth that comes through even though they are short. These stories deal with love, loss, and hardship. I enjoyed this author’s writing style. Hope to read a full-length novel by her as well.
April 28, 2020
It feels so warm to read such compelling short stories. The author rightfully delivered how life can be full of surprises. My heart swelled for this brief trilogy.
June 30, 2021
Even though this book is just a selection of short stories, I so enjoyed each and every one. The first story of "Grits Girl" just totally made me smile over a girl who her grits and got a happy ending. The second story of "The Accident" was heartfelt. Adeline taking care of her after an accident. The third story of "In the end of summer" was fantastic. A young man hitch hiking a ride to Virginia and meets another man and his son. The story was heartfelt over a carnival and how Mike comes to terms to have a conversation with his son about his mother. The Bonus story of "Pick Me" totally made me smile from beginning to end and and at the end you find out what was "picked". All these short stories were fantastic. This is an easy read and just wonderful! Well done Author Jane Suen!
July 6, 2021
Jane Suen has written four wonderful short stories that are emotionally driven. The stories are short and are impactful with each word driving the plot. The characters will stay with you long after the final word is read. It is hard to choose a favorite story from the four and I hope Suen writes more like this in the future!
July 6, 2021
Beginnings and Endings is a collection of four short stories. Each one is unique, and really hits home as far as lessons that can be learned from them. The stories touch on how a single moment can change our entire lives. I enjoyed the stories and the length of each was appropriate. I would highly recommend this book to everyone. The last story is so so sweet!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 85 reviews