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It Ends With You
'If I'd told the truth, it would have been fiction'
Everyone loves Eva. Beautiful, bright, fun, generous - she's perfect.
So when her dead body is found in a ditch in the local woods the only thing anyone wants to know is: Who could have done this?
It has to be Luke, her boyfriend. He has the motive, the means, the opportunity and he's no stranger to the police.
Even though the picture is incomplete, the pieces fit. But as time passes, stories change.
Told from six narrative strands, this cleverly woven and utterly compulsive novel challenges preconceptions; makes you second, third and fourth guess yourself; and holds an uncomfortable mirror up to the way societies and systems treat those they perceive to be on the outside.
Everyone loves Eva. Beautiful, bright, fun, generous - she's perfect.
So when her dead body is found in a ditch in the local woods the only thing anyone wants to know is: Who could have done this?
It has to be Luke, her boyfriend. He has the motive, the means, the opportunity and he's no stranger to the police.
Even though the picture is incomplete, the pieces fit. But as time passes, stories change.
Told from six narrative strands, this cleverly woven and utterly compulsive novel challenges preconceptions; makes you second, third and fourth guess yourself; and holds an uncomfortable mirror up to the way societies and systems treat those they perceive to be on the outside.
374 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 2019
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919 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 176 reviews
February 1, 2021
I wasn’t expecting much to be fair. So 3 stars is reasonable I think.
I bought this from the works, on their 3 for £5 shelf. I don’t usually have high hopes when I buy these - I just can’t resist a bargain 😂
However the first thing I noticed was how readable this was! I couldn’t put it down so it definitely has that going for it.
A teenage girl is found murdered in the woods. She was pretty, popular and clever - who would have wanted her dead? Prime suspect is the boyfriend from a poor background.
We follow multiple POVs from the teens who were closest to Eva. They all attend a posh private school, and all have their own secrets.
I didn’t like Eva - always awkward when you dislike the victim 😂 I just couldn’t see how she could possibly be all those things. Academic, nice, attractive. She wasn’t a bloody saint, she was a human.
Also - this is where my petty side comes out. If a book is based in the UK, get your information right. The summer holidays are not a half term holiday. We use A* not A+. And when a character is referred to as a “peedy” I assume they meant pedo? Also there is no way on this earth that Luke would have a car if he is poor and living in London. (Honestly their tv was black and white because they were so poor?? Um. Don’t think that’s a thing but if it is then he 100% wouldn’t have a car.)
I wasn’t a fan of the ending
Overall, better than I expected but not great.
I bought this from the works, on their 3 for £5 shelf. I don’t usually have high hopes when I buy these - I just can’t resist a bargain 😂
However the first thing I noticed was how readable this was! I couldn’t put it down so it definitely has that going for it.
A teenage girl is found murdered in the woods. She was pretty, popular and clever - who would have wanted her dead? Prime suspect is the boyfriend from a poor background.
We follow multiple POVs from the teens who were closest to Eva. They all attend a posh private school, and all have their own secrets.
I didn’t like Eva - always awkward when you dislike the victim 😂 I just couldn’t see how she could possibly be all those things. Academic, nice, attractive. She wasn’t a bloody saint, she was a human.
Also - this is where my petty side comes out. If a book is based in the UK, get your information right. The summer holidays are not a half term holiday. We use A* not A+. And when a character is referred to as a “peedy” I assume they meant pedo? Also there is no way on this earth that Luke would have a car if he is poor and living in London. (Honestly their tv was black and white because they were so poor?? Um. Don’t think that’s a thing but if it is then he 100% wouldn’t have a car.)
I wasn’t a fan of the ending
Overall, better than I expected but not great.
August 3, 2018
This book could easily be a 4-5 star read, if it wasn't for that ending, or lack of ending. This is a YA thriller taking place among high school students. Eva is a very bright and very beautiful girl, who goes missing. Luke is her boyfriend, who's the 'bad boy' of the school. When they find Eva dead in a pit in the woods, all eyes turn to Luke, but is he really the killer?
I was hooked from the beginning. It's not an original subject, full of cliches. But, it was very well written, high pace book to put you on the edge all the time. I couldn't read any other books I was reading just to know who was the killer. It was really hard to guess. I loved how complex were the characters and the relationships between them. I think the writer has a lot of potential building a plot like this. It somehow dragged a bit through the end. Addition of a couple of characters much later in an 'out of the blue' way was a bit weird. But I was still eagerly waiting to cross the finish line! I had a few guesses, but I was not sure, which made it a perfect thriller
I'm not a reader who likes abrupt endings. I want the author to tie things up really well, leave nothing to my imagination, especially in a thriller. I'm not sure if this is a stand alone, or it's a prep for a sequel. But, it's a big shame as it was a really good one.
I would highly recommend it if you're OK with unclear endings.
Thanks a lot to NetGalley and the publisher Atom for granting an ARC for an honest review.
I was hooked from the beginning. It's not an original subject, full of cliches. But, it was very well written, high pace book to put you on the edge all the time. I couldn't read any other books I was reading just to know who was the killer. It was really hard to guess. I loved how complex were the characters and the relationships between them. I think the writer has a lot of potential building a plot like this. It somehow dragged a bit through the end. Addition of a couple of characters much later in an 'out of the blue' way was a bit weird. But I was still eagerly waiting to cross the finish line! I had a few guesses, but I was not sure, which made it a perfect thriller
I'm not a reader who likes abrupt endings. I want the author to tie things up really well, leave nothing to my imagination, especially in a thriller. I'm not sure if this is a stand alone, or it's a prep for a sequel. But, it's a big shame as it was a really good one.
I would highly recommend it if you're OK with unclear endings.
Thanks a lot to NetGalley and the publisher Atom for granting an ARC for an honest review.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 4, 2018
Really enjoyed this one, plot was 10/10, but I did feel the characters were lacking.
I didn't really connect to any of the characters, and having finished, I don't even feel as though I LIKE any of them, which is an issue.
I want to be invested in my book characters, but these ones were just not for me.
But this book is one that once you begin, you just have to keep reading and reading until you turn the page and realise that there are not more, at which point, you shrivel up and die.
And speaking of, THAT ENDING?!
But overall, I would say that this book was unpredictable and edgy, and I really enjoyed it!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a review copy! All opinions are my own.
I didn't really connect to any of the characters, and having finished, I don't even feel as though I LIKE any of them, which is an issue.
I want to be invested in my book characters, but these ones were just not for me.
But this book is one that once you begin, you just have to keep reading and reading until you turn the page and realise that there are not more, at which point, you shrivel up and die.
And speaking of, THAT ENDING?!
But overall, I would say that this book was unpredictable and edgy, and I really enjoyed it!
Many thanks to Netgalley and the publishers for providing me with a review copy! All opinions are my own.
June 16, 2018
Wow I read this fast – it’s one of those books that once you start you just want to keep reading and reading until the end.
Eva is popular, has a loving if rather frowned upon boyfriend in Luke and a close knit bunch of friends. The future seems bright but even the most glowing people hide a dark side. When Eva is murdered Luke seems the obvious suspect…
It Ends With You is a cleverly woven often thought provoking thriller, with multiple voices and ever changing goal posts. The author carefully sucks you into one way of thinking then throws you a hint of a different direction, layering her characters carefully, challenging your initial assumptions then challenging your next ones. As we hear from Luke, Eva and those around them the truth won’t necessarily set you free..
The writing is wonderful, the plotting is genius and the ending might make you crazy but the whole thing is pitched perfectly first page to last. I feel that this one is going to come back and niggle at me, the social commentary within the narrative has that after affect it’s only later, looking back you see where our prejudices hit home.
A really great read all round. Huge brownie points for keeping it unpredictable, edgy yet honestly realistic.
Highly recommended.
Eva is popular, has a loving if rather frowned upon boyfriend in Luke and a close knit bunch of friends. The future seems bright but even the most glowing people hide a dark side. When Eva is murdered Luke seems the obvious suspect…
It Ends With You is a cleverly woven often thought provoking thriller, with multiple voices and ever changing goal posts. The author carefully sucks you into one way of thinking then throws you a hint of a different direction, layering her characters carefully, challenging your initial assumptions then challenging your next ones. As we hear from Luke, Eva and those around them the truth won’t necessarily set you free..
The writing is wonderful, the plotting is genius and the ending might make you crazy but the whole thing is pitched perfectly first page to last. I feel that this one is going to come back and niggle at me, the social commentary within the narrative has that after affect it’s only later, looking back you see where our prejudices hit home.
A really great read all round. Huge brownie points for keeping it unpredictable, edgy yet honestly realistic.
Highly recommended.
September 21, 2018
'It Ends With You' is an entertaining young adult mystery that is marketed towards YA readers and whilst I did enjoy it, I found that some of the characters really got on my nerves. They were quite irritating and did things that I thought were rather irrational and not believable. Award winning author S. K. Wright (real name Sam Mills) is undoubtedly a superb storyteller and her writing grips you immediately. Nevertheless, this wasn't a book I particularly cared for i'm afraid.
One of the aspects I particularly liked was the method in which it was told. The author not only uses different characters each chapter to tell the tale but also includes interjections of social media posts which added interest to the story. Essentially, this is about prejudice and in particular people who are viewed by society as outsiders and are maybe a little odd or quiet. It shows the judgments others make about these individuals despite not knowing them. I could relate to this as I may be one of those people but not due to being odd, due to being shy and reserved. We are all to some extent guilty of doing this, and this book shows the consequences of these misconceptions or preconceptions. It is based on well worn tropes of the genre, and I feel that there are books that are similar to this but that are superior and much more worthy of your time. There are some pretty neat surprises throughout, however, many of them were predictable which did take away a little of the enjoyment for me. The characters are quite difficult to relate to as they're all privileged and self-centred kids who care about no-one but themselves, and as a result were not at all likeable.
As others have alluded to, there was an information dump that continued the whole way through which led to a convoluted and often confusing story, certainly not ideal. Most of the information we are given was not relevant to the plot either. There were times that the dump resulted in a feeling of wading through treacle and as though the story wasn't moving forward at all. It was also difficult to sympathise with any of the characters situations as many of the incidents were very far-fetched and unbelievable. The denouement left a lot to be desired, as always, I don't include spoilers in my reviews, suffice to say that it was not a satisfying conclusion to the book. It left many questions that the plot threw up unanswered which is rather annoying when you have put the effort in to read the whole story. If you enjoy books such as '13 Reasons Why' by Sarah Pinborough and 'One of Us Is Lying' by Karen M. McManus then it's likely you will appreciate this one too.
Many thanks to Atom for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
One of the aspects I particularly liked was the method in which it was told. The author not only uses different characters each chapter to tell the tale but also includes interjections of social media posts which added interest to the story. Essentially, this is about prejudice and in particular people who are viewed by society as outsiders and are maybe a little odd or quiet. It shows the judgments others make about these individuals despite not knowing them. I could relate to this as I may be one of those people but not due to being odd, due to being shy and reserved. We are all to some extent guilty of doing this, and this book shows the consequences of these misconceptions or preconceptions. It is based on well worn tropes of the genre, and I feel that there are books that are similar to this but that are superior and much more worthy of your time. There are some pretty neat surprises throughout, however, many of them were predictable which did take away a little of the enjoyment for me. The characters are quite difficult to relate to as they're all privileged and self-centred kids who care about no-one but themselves, and as a result were not at all likeable.
As others have alluded to, there was an information dump that continued the whole way through which led to a convoluted and often confusing story, certainly not ideal. Most of the information we are given was not relevant to the plot either. There were times that the dump resulted in a feeling of wading through treacle and as though the story wasn't moving forward at all. It was also difficult to sympathise with any of the characters situations as many of the incidents were very far-fetched and unbelievable. The denouement left a lot to be desired, as always, I don't include spoilers in my reviews, suffice to say that it was not a satisfying conclusion to the book. It left many questions that the plot threw up unanswered which is rather annoying when you have put the effort in to read the whole story. If you enjoy books such as '13 Reasons Why' by Sarah Pinborough and 'One of Us Is Lying' by Karen M. McManus then it's likely you will appreciate this one too.
Many thanks to Atom for an ARC. I was not required to post a review, and all thoughts and opinions expressed are my own.
August 29, 2018
I really like books that have the perspective from a number of people, It Ends With You, has that and alot more.
Who killed Eva? Did those who love her, secretly hate her? Or did those who hate her secretly love her?
It's not often I do half stars but I feel I have to here. FOUR AND A HALF STARS.
Who killed Eva? Did those who love her, secretly hate her? Or did those who hate her secretly love her?
It's not often I do half stars but I feel I have to here. FOUR AND A HALF STARS.
August 25, 2018
It Ends With You is a young adult book but will easily appeal to all readers no matter what age. It is a quick and twisty read and you will have to keep reading. It ends very abruptly and openly which was a bit annoying but I really did enjoy this book.
Eva is the most popular girl at school, everybody loves her. So when her body is found after being missing for a few days nobody can quite believe it. Her boyfriend Luke is immediately the prime suspect. But as the investigation goes along the reader starts to learn that ther could be many people who has the motive to kill her. So who did it?
Thanks to Hackett Australia and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
Eva is the most popular girl at school, everybody loves her. So when her body is found after being missing for a few days nobody can quite believe it. Her boyfriend Luke is immediately the prime suspect. But as the investigation goes along the reader starts to learn that ther could be many people who has the motive to kill her. So who did it?
Thanks to Hackett Australia and NetGalley for my advanced copy of this book to read. All opinions are my own and are in no way biased
November 29, 2018
Started off well, but idk, it got lost along the way and honestly, the writing wasn't really good at all. The dialogue was choppy, the reactions of the characters weren't believable, the insta love was TERRIBLE, there were way too many points of views and the jump from one to the other wasn't fluid. I read it in one sitting during a plane ride, but I honestly skimmed the last 20 pages because I just...couldn't. I'm a huge fan of thrillers, but in this particular case, there wasn't anything new to the table.
August 14, 2018
I’ve not read many YA thriller/crime mysteries but this is probably one of my favourites out of the ones I have read.
I loved the format, it’s told in various POVs, as well as diary entries and text exchanges. It keeps you guessing until very close to the end!
I feel like some of the characters could’ve done with being a bit more developed and a bit more fleshing out though.
I honestly couldn’t put this down. It kept me wanting more and I couldn’t go to sleep until I knew who had done it!
The pacing was good and more kept getting revealed at a steady pace, enough to not feel rushed, but also not too slow that you’d get bored.
It kept me on my toes the whole way through.
This book made me so mad though! I need closure!!
I loved the format, it’s told in various POVs, as well as diary entries and text exchanges. It keeps you guessing until very close to the end!
I feel like some of the characters could’ve done with being a bit more developed and a bit more fleshing out though.
I honestly couldn’t put this down. It kept me wanting more and I couldn’t go to sleep until I knew who had done it!
The pacing was good and more kept getting revealed at a steady pace, enough to not feel rushed, but also not too slow that you’d get bored.
It kept me on my toes the whole way through.
This book made me so mad though! I need closure!!
July 24, 2018
Oh ffs. I was really, really enjoying this book. Right up to the very last chapter. I mean ffs. I mean huh, I mean why, I mean grrr. Why oh why oh why did it end that way. I’m really really not a fan of that ending. Grrr
The pacing of this book was brilliant, it hand me in its grips all the way through. I was racing all the way through it. Addicted to it and wanting more.
It plays out like a documentary on Netflix Eva, has been killed in the woods. But who is it that killed her. Like in some of those Netflix documentaries I’m really not sure of the facts, figures, or what actually went down in the woods. But gleam what you will from my earlier rant. 🙄.
I really don’t want to give anything away. As I feel that this book is best enjoyed when you read it for yourself and go in with the bear minimum of facts. Eva was killed in the woods at a friends party. But who is it who killed her? And why?
I really liked the character development of this book, I loved the pacing and how we unveil the facts. Not all but enough to keep you hooked. I loved the fact that it had diary entries, blog posts, text messages, ect in this book which kept the reader engaged. It really was like ready a Netflix true crime documentary and for that reason I absolutely loved it.
But that ending. Grr. Still I don’t think it will hamper my score for it but grrr.
The pacing of this book was brilliant, it hand me in its grips all the way through. I was racing all the way through it. Addicted to it and wanting more.
It plays out like a documentary on Netflix Eva, has been killed in the woods. But who is it that killed her. Like in some of those Netflix documentaries I’m really not sure of the facts, figures, or what actually went down in the woods. But gleam what you will from my earlier rant. 🙄.
I really don’t want to give anything away. As I feel that this book is best enjoyed when you read it for yourself and go in with the bear minimum of facts. Eva was killed in the woods at a friends party. But who is it who killed her? And why?
I really liked the character development of this book, I loved the pacing and how we unveil the facts. Not all but enough to keep you hooked. I loved the fact that it had diary entries, blog posts, text messages, ect in this book which kept the reader engaged. It really was like ready a Netflix true crime documentary and for that reason I absolutely loved it.
But that ending. Grr. Still I don’t think it will hamper my score for it but grrr.
July 26, 2019
A YA thriller? Count me in! I’m a fan of Riverdale and The Society basically YA thirllers in general and this one had me gripped from the beginning till end. I rarely enjoy books with multiple POVs but this wasn’t too difficult. The characters seemed a bit stereotypical, popular girl Eva dates the bad boy Luke, then comes Eva’s bff Siobhan, and Carolina the nerdy girl who’s into crime solving. They are common characters you find in a highschool setting and in this novel, it seemed like all of them could be suspects and have motive. I feel like what happened to Eva was intriguing yet something I thought of but didn’t really see it coming. One of the important messages of the book is how we should always think before we act or say something and consider the consequences of it beforehand. I enjoyed it overall, it helped me get out of a reading slump.
November 24, 2018
Luke's girlfriend, Eva, is found dead. Everyone thinks he killed her. Eva was so popular and pretty, and Luke is from the wrong side of town, he has a temper, and he never really fit in until he started dating Eva. There are varying opinions about whether he did it or not, but detective's daughter Carolina is determined to discover the truth.
There are a few different points of view in the book, and at some point there is a chapter from almost every character. Much of the story is told from Luke's point of view, or from pages taken from Eva's diary. There is also Carolina, the geeky wannabe detective, and Siobhan, Eva's best friend who is also a strong believer in the supernatural. Everyone has different thoughts and stories about what happened the night of Rob's party, the night Eva died.
The book is perfectly written for YA readers. Most of the characters are around 17 years old, and they act and think just like teenagers. At times I thought they came across as a bit lame, but then I thought back (many years!) and realised that I was probably the same at that age. It's very well done, unless the author is a teenager too! It's absolutely chocked full of angst, silly decisions and a lack of responsibility.
I like the fact that you only find out what actually happened right at the end, and none of the characters seem to know what happened either. There is not much chance of guessing 'whodunnit' early on, which I like. Everyone keeps changing their stories and lying to the Police to get themselves or someone else out of trouble, which is probably what would happen in real life. Other than the actual murder, I found the whole thing to be quite a convincing series of events.
Whilst not entirely original, this was a good read. I read the whole thing in less than a day, as it was not very long. It was quite fast paced and kept me interested throughout. There was always some new information being uncovered or truth being admitted. I enjoyed the way the characters changed their minds, owned up to things, felt bad about what they had done or said, and generally made a very human mess of the whole situation.
This was entertaining and realistic, and a great introduction to more gritty detective dramas for young readers.
There are a few different points of view in the book, and at some point there is a chapter from almost every character. Much of the story is told from Luke's point of view, or from pages taken from Eva's diary. There is also Carolina, the geeky wannabe detective, and Siobhan, Eva's best friend who is also a strong believer in the supernatural. Everyone has different thoughts and stories about what happened the night of Rob's party, the night Eva died.
The book is perfectly written for YA readers. Most of the characters are around 17 years old, and they act and think just like teenagers. At times I thought they came across as a bit lame, but then I thought back (many years!) and realised that I was probably the same at that age. It's very well done, unless the author is a teenager too! It's absolutely chocked full of angst, silly decisions and a lack of responsibility.
I like the fact that you only find out what actually happened right at the end, and none of the characters seem to know what happened either. There is not much chance of guessing 'whodunnit' early on, which I like. Everyone keeps changing their stories and lying to the Police to get themselves or someone else out of trouble, which is probably what would happen in real life. Other than the actual murder, I found the whole thing to be quite a convincing series of events.
Whilst not entirely original, this was a good read. I read the whole thing in less than a day, as it was not very long. It was quite fast paced and kept me interested throughout. There was always some new information being uncovered or truth being admitted. I enjoyed the way the characters changed their minds, owned up to things, felt bad about what they had done or said, and generally made a very human mess of the whole situation.
This was entertaining and realistic, and a great introduction to more gritty detective dramas for young readers.
April 16, 2019
"If I'd told the truth, it would have been fiction..."
Everyone loves Eva. Beautiful, bright, fun, generous - she's perfect.
So when her dead body is found in a ditch in the local woods the only thing anyone wants to know is: Who could have done this?
It has to be Luke, her boyfriend. He has the motive, the means, the opportunity and he's no stranger to the police.
Even though the picture is incomplete, the pieces fit. But as time passes, stories change.
This is a clever book because it's told from six narrative strands and the author doesn't seem to slip up at all! Each narrative travels seamlessly into the next whilst we are also indulged with snippets from Eva's diary...or are we... The questions you have throughout this book will still be there at the end!
At times I felt like some of the narratives were immature and childish in their language and attitudes. It frustrated me until I realised that it was exactly what was supposed to happen... the narratives were true to each character, giving a little or a lot through varied expression and linguistics. At times though the characters were a bit weak and lacking in depth. This is marketed as a Young Adult Thriller - I don't think that should put off the 'older adults' though as it's a book that can grip anyone.
The final chapter though... I don't know. It didn't sit right with me. It was rushed, and it left me with more questions. Perhaps there's room for book two...
The author appears to have an empty back catalogue.. that's because she's published under her real name previously (Sam Mills) - and has had three young adult novels one of which is being adapted for film!
Everyone loves Eva. Beautiful, bright, fun, generous - she's perfect.
So when her dead body is found in a ditch in the local woods the only thing anyone wants to know is: Who could have done this?
It has to be Luke, her boyfriend. He has the motive, the means, the opportunity and he's no stranger to the police.
Even though the picture is incomplete, the pieces fit. But as time passes, stories change.
This is a clever book because it's told from six narrative strands and the author doesn't seem to slip up at all! Each narrative travels seamlessly into the next whilst we are also indulged with snippets from Eva's diary...or are we... The questions you have throughout this book will still be there at the end!
At times I felt like some of the narratives were immature and childish in their language and attitudes. It frustrated me until I realised that it was exactly what was supposed to happen... the narratives were true to each character, giving a little or a lot through varied expression and linguistics. At times though the characters were a bit weak and lacking in depth. This is marketed as a Young Adult Thriller - I don't think that should put off the 'older adults' though as it's a book that can grip anyone.
The final chapter though... I don't know. It didn't sit right with me. It was rushed, and it left me with more questions. Perhaps there's room for book two...
The author appears to have an empty back catalogue.. that's because she's published under her real name previously (Sam Mills) - and has had three young adult novels one of which is being adapted for film!
July 20, 2018
3.5 conflicting stars ★★★(★)
The synopsis had a great introduction that hooked me to read the book. At the start the character introductions were very basic and boring but it got better throughout the story.
By the half-way mark it became difficult to put the book down and I was so excited to find out the truth behind the murder.
The most interesting part was the use of different formats throughout the book. Information is passed to you through story telling, diary and blog entries, even chat conversations. The blog entries gave a gossip girl feeling and I loved that.
I don’t know how I feel/felt about Luke as a character. He gets way too angry and impatient. His anger problems are kind of addressed with his past and family situations, but it doesn’t help me empathise for the character or feel anger towards him. I feel like I would've enjoyed reading it more if I could relate to him better.
The ending is somewhat ambiguous and I’m wondering if it’s to prepare for a sequel? For mystery/thriller books I really think there is no point in that. Good murder stories can be played out well in a one-hour TV show episode/movie.
I will give some credit for the complexity of character relationships, as you find out more about who is who and how names you glance over actually play important roles.
Overall it was an enjoyable book but perhaps cannot live up to other books I’ve read with a similar genre.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Children's Books for the ARC!
The synopsis had a great introduction that hooked me to read the book. At the start the character introductions were very basic and boring but it got better throughout the story.
By the half-way mark it became difficult to put the book down and I was so excited to find out the truth behind the murder.
The most interesting part was the use of different formats throughout the book. Information is passed to you through story telling, diary and blog entries, even chat conversations. The blog entries gave a gossip girl feeling and I loved that.
I don’t know how I feel/felt about Luke as a character. He gets way too angry and impatient. His anger problems are kind of addressed with his past and family situations, but it doesn’t help me empathise for the character or feel anger towards him. I feel like I would've enjoyed reading it more if I could relate to him better.
The ending is somewhat ambiguous and I’m wondering if it’s to prepare for a sequel? For mystery/thriller books I really think there is no point in that. Good murder stories can be played out well in a one-hour TV show episode/movie.
I will give some credit for the complexity of character relationships, as you find out more about who is who and how names you glance over actually play important roles.
Overall it was an enjoyable book but perhaps cannot live up to other books I’ve read with a similar genre.
Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Children's Books for the ARC!
May 6, 2019
4.5/5 stars :)
January 9, 2019
This book is very compelling. It got me to keep on reading until the last page. So many questions and so much conflicts. However, I dislikes the characters in this book. I tried to like one of them but no, the more I know about them the more I feel distracted with their characters.
August 12, 2018
Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for gifting me this to read review.
It Ends With You is a YA mystery/thriller that follows the aftermath of a young girl's disappearance and subsequent murder. It follows the perspectives of several friends, peers and acquaintances as we try to figure out who is guilty of this horrendous crime.
With a book that had so many perspectives (about 7?), I would not have expected to enjoy it. However, I loved the multiple POV's as each character had secrets to hide. I loved how Wright kept me on the edge of my seat and I definitely did not guess the twists and turns throughout. My only critique is that this story built up to so much and then it just finished. I felt like the ending (or lack thereof) was too rushed and I am left wanting answers.
Nonetheless, I still highly enjoyed this and strongly recommend. Looking forward to reading more of this author's work in the future.
It Ends With You is a YA mystery/thriller that follows the aftermath of a young girl's disappearance and subsequent murder. It follows the perspectives of several friends, peers and acquaintances as we try to figure out who is guilty of this horrendous crime.
With a book that had so many perspectives (about 7?), I would not have expected to enjoy it. However, I loved the multiple POV's as each character had secrets to hide. I loved how Wright kept me on the edge of my seat and I definitely did not guess the twists and turns throughout. My only critique is that this story built up to so much and then it just finished. I felt like the ending (or lack thereof) was too rushed and I am left wanting answers.
Nonetheless, I still highly enjoyed this and strongly recommend. Looking forward to reading more of this author's work in the future.
August 23, 2018
thank you to the publisher and netgalley for allowing me to read a copy of this book in advance!
when i wasn't reading this book i just couldn't get it out of my mind. it drew me in so strongly and i was so desperate to find out who eva's killer was, i had a few suspects in mind but it wasn't obvious to me until the last quarter of the book who did it which was nice. i think the ending was slightly rushed and i felt a little dissatisfied but i understand that this was the intention of the author because it further highlighted some of the key themes throughout the book. overall, this book was a dream to read and i'd definitely recommend it!
when i wasn't reading this book i just couldn't get it out of my mind. it drew me in so strongly and i was so desperate to find out who eva's killer was, i had a few suspects in mind but it wasn't obvious to me until the last quarter of the book who did it which was nice. i think the ending was slightly rushed and i felt a little dissatisfied but i understand that this was the intention of the author because it further highlighted some of the key themes throughout the book. overall, this book was a dream to read and i'd definitely recommend it!
July 28, 2018
3.5 stars! Loved the writing style and the blog posts, but the ending lacked something for me!
October 25, 2018
I found this a very anticlimactic book. It went exactly as expected - beautiful rich girl & bad boy - check, girl murdered - check - boy accused - doubts cast - trial etc etc.
May 28, 2020
4,5*
Táto kniha ja nepísaná zaujímavým spôsobom – občas mi pripadala byť takmer až interaktívna v tom, ako sa ma snažila presvedčiť striedavo o jednej a následne o druhej pravde. Veľmi tomu napomáhal aj fakt, že mi príbeh rozprávali rôzne postavy. Tie síce neboli opísané úplne, autorka akoby si vybrala len jednu alebo dve pre príbeh dôležité charakterové vlastnosti, ktoré opísala a zvyšok ponechala na fantázii čitateľa.
Vďaka tomu postavy v niektorých momentoch pôsobili takmer plocho, ale po prečítaní knihy som mala nezameniteľný dojem, že sa za tým od začiatku skrýval úmysel – pretože autorka mi viackrát ukázala, že ma dokáže emocionálne zasiahnuť a že jej postavy sa napriek prvému dojmu nesprávajú povrchne. Ak teda pripustím, že postavy boli vytvorené účelne, potom podobne bol napísaný a vystavaný celý dej.
Text sa čítal veľmi dobre, bol vo svojej podstate nenáročný a štýl taký priezračný, až som sa občas čudovala, že mi čítanie ide tak rýchlo. Čiže som nemala analyzovať udalosti, ale hlavne to, ako sa postavy správajú. Vďaka tomu bola táto kniha predovšetkým psychologickým trilerom a detektívkou skôr okrajovo, ale práve preto sa mi kniha páčila.
Postavy, ktoré mi príbeh rozprávali, ma tiež často zavádzali. Od začiatku bolo jasné, že existuje rozpor medzi tým, čo hovoria, čo si myslia a v niektorých prípadoch dokonca aj v tom, ako konajú. Každý z nich mal isté tajomstvá, ktoré nemienil vyzradiť, vďaka čomu sa automaticky z každého stával podozrivý – hoci pátranie bolo namierené len proti Lukeovi, priateľovi obete, pretože mal motív, príležitosť a bol účelne vykreslený ako výbušná osobnosť. No neskôr sa v tomto obvinení ukazujú prvé diery.
Osobne si najviac na knihe vážim to, že ma autorka nútila toľkokrát pochybovať. Vždy, keď som si už myslela, že som to vyriešila a viem, kto je vrah, prišlo nejaké odhalenie a prinútilo ma všetko prehodnotiť. Čiže ľaliovo čistý nebol v mojich očiach nakoniec asi vôbec nikto. Vďaka tomu všetkému to bolo nielen svižné, ale aj napínavé a prinútilo ma to premýšľať a hodnotiť všetko to, čo postavy hovorili, no najmä to, čo povedať zabudli.
Záver bol v mojich očiach síce očakávaný, ale veľmi ma zaujalo to, čo sa dialo po samotnom procese a vyhlásení rozsudku – koniec bol vlastne veľmi otvorený a autorka neukázala jednoznačne prst na nikoho zo zúčastnených s jasným dôkazom o tom, že Evu skutočne zabil. Je na mojom rozhodnutí, komu presne budem veriť. Čiže vyvrcholenie bolo presne také, ako zvyšok príbehu.
Je to na tobě je veľmi dobre napísaným psychologickým trilerom s prvkami detektívky. Autorka však celú knihu napísala dosť účelne, nielen postavy, ale aj samotné udalosti. Vďaka čomu mi čítanie občas pripadalo byť dosť interaktívne, nakoľko bolo na mojom rozhodnutí, čomu presne budem veriť a či si uvedomím, kto klame a prečo. Vďaka čomu všetkému som neustále pochybovala o všetkom a všetkým, takže určiť páchateľa bolo o to náročnejšie. Čiže čítanie bolo skutočne napínavé a bavilo ma. Osobne si ale myslím, že koniec bol možno až trochu príliš otvorený a voľný, akoby autorka hovorila, že sa každý čitateľ má rozhodnúť sám, ako presne to skončilo. Čo nie je vždy to správne rozhodnutie.
recenzia: https://lili-darknight.blogspot.com/2...
Táto kniha ja nepísaná zaujímavým spôsobom – občas mi pripadala byť takmer až interaktívna v tom, ako sa ma snažila presvedčiť striedavo o jednej a následne o druhej pravde. Veľmi tomu napomáhal aj fakt, že mi príbeh rozprávali rôzne postavy. Tie síce neboli opísané úplne, autorka akoby si vybrala len jednu alebo dve pre príbeh dôležité charakterové vlastnosti, ktoré opísala a zvyšok ponechala na fantázii čitateľa.
Vďaka tomu postavy v niektorých momentoch pôsobili takmer plocho, ale po prečítaní knihy som mala nezameniteľný dojem, že sa za tým od začiatku skrýval úmysel – pretože autorka mi viackrát ukázala, že ma dokáže emocionálne zasiahnuť a že jej postavy sa napriek prvému dojmu nesprávajú povrchne. Ak teda pripustím, že postavy boli vytvorené účelne, potom podobne bol napísaný a vystavaný celý dej.
Text sa čítal veľmi dobre, bol vo svojej podstate nenáročný a štýl taký priezračný, až som sa občas čudovala, že mi čítanie ide tak rýchlo. Čiže som nemala analyzovať udalosti, ale hlavne to, ako sa postavy správajú. Vďaka tomu bola táto kniha predovšetkým psychologickým trilerom a detektívkou skôr okrajovo, ale práve preto sa mi kniha páčila.
Postavy, ktoré mi príbeh rozprávali, ma tiež často zavádzali. Od začiatku bolo jasné, že existuje rozpor medzi tým, čo hovoria, čo si myslia a v niektorých prípadoch dokonca aj v tom, ako konajú. Každý z nich mal isté tajomstvá, ktoré nemienil vyzradiť, vďaka čomu sa automaticky z každého stával podozrivý – hoci pátranie bolo namierené len proti Lukeovi, priateľovi obete, pretože mal motív, príležitosť a bol účelne vykreslený ako výbušná osobnosť. No neskôr sa v tomto obvinení ukazujú prvé diery.
Osobne si najviac na knihe vážim to, že ma autorka nútila toľkokrát pochybovať. Vždy, keď som si už myslela, že som to vyriešila a viem, kto je vrah, prišlo nejaké odhalenie a prinútilo ma všetko prehodnotiť. Čiže ľaliovo čistý nebol v mojich očiach nakoniec asi vôbec nikto. Vďaka tomu všetkému to bolo nielen svižné, ale aj napínavé a prinútilo ma to premýšľať a hodnotiť všetko to, čo postavy hovorili, no najmä to, čo povedať zabudli.
Záver bol v mojich očiach síce očakávaný, ale veľmi ma zaujalo to, čo sa dialo po samotnom procese a vyhlásení rozsudku – koniec bol vlastne veľmi otvorený a autorka neukázala jednoznačne prst na nikoho zo zúčastnených s jasným dôkazom o tom, že Evu skutočne zabil. Je na mojom rozhodnutí, komu presne budem veriť. Čiže vyvrcholenie bolo presne také, ako zvyšok príbehu.
Je to na tobě je veľmi dobre napísaným psychologickým trilerom s prvkami detektívky. Autorka však celú knihu napísala dosť účelne, nielen postavy, ale aj samotné udalosti. Vďaka čomu mi čítanie občas pripadalo byť dosť interaktívne, nakoľko bolo na mojom rozhodnutí, čomu presne budem veriť a či si uvedomím, kto klame a prečo. Vďaka čomu všetkému som neustále pochybovala o všetkom a všetkým, takže určiť páchateľa bolo o to náročnejšie. Čiže čítanie bolo skutočne napínavé a bavilo ma. Osobne si ale myslím, že koniec bol možno až trochu príliš otvorený a voľný, akoby autorka hovorila, že sa každý čitateľ má rozhodnúť sám, ako presne to skončilo. Čo nie je vždy to správne rozhodnutie.
recenzia: https://lili-darknight.blogspot.com/2...
September 9, 2018
I was lucky enough to get an ARC of this book from Hachette Australia (thank you, thank you) and didn't know what to expect. But I found the blurb interesting, and as soon as I started I was hooked.
Eva is pretty, smart, rich and popular. So when she goes missing and then found dead in a ditch, everyone is shocked. Not to mention that it doesn't take long for people to start pointing a finger at her boyfriend, Luke.
It turns out that the night she was killed, she was at a party and had an argument with Luke. He was also the last person to see her alive.
As the investigation deepens, it soon becomes obvious that Eva wasn't who everyone thought she was. And as the secrets are slowly uncovered, the story of Eva's life isn't as happy as onlookers thought...
Wow. This book was SO good.
The mystery of what really happened to Eva was so intriguing. I couldn't stop turning the pages. Hardly noticed the hours slipping away as I tried to unravel a web that seemed to tighten instead of loosen.
Yikes!
I loved the way the story was told by featuring a bunch of POVs, and how all of them added a little more to complicate things. Luke, the poor boyfriend, who loved her so much but had so many personal issues. Carolina, the secret friend, and daughter of the lead detective, who has her own agenda. Siobhan, the actual best friend, who is easily manipulated and clueless. Rob, Luke's friend, who is divided between his loyalty and future career prospects. Mr Abdul, the kind teacher who knew how to say all the right words of encouragement.
And every single one hides the potential secrets capable of destroying themselves, and so much more.
Eva's diary also revealed the juicy details of a teenage girl in search of passion and danger. The blog entries added fuel to the fire.
I thought the intricate balance between the characters and the events--both past and present--added together, increased the tension and suspicion of just about all the players.
Another very cool thing about this sad story was how all the characters suffer through their share of moral dilemmas. All these people do good and bad things, make good and bad decisions, and are never quite sure if they can trust anyone--even themselves.
It Ends With You is an intense and wicked YA murder mystery that hooked me instantly. It's a real page-turner. I couldn't put it down! The level of paranoia increases almost as fast as the suspicion.
It's a book that isn't afraid to delve into some very uncomfortable situations about the divide between teenagers and adults. And THAT ending was so unexpected, so unique. So clever.
I seriously couldn't put this down!
Eva is pretty, smart, rich and popular. So when she goes missing and then found dead in a ditch, everyone is shocked. Not to mention that it doesn't take long for people to start pointing a finger at her boyfriend, Luke.
It turns out that the night she was killed, she was at a party and had an argument with Luke. He was also the last person to see her alive.
As the investigation deepens, it soon becomes obvious that Eva wasn't who everyone thought she was. And as the secrets are slowly uncovered, the story of Eva's life isn't as happy as onlookers thought...
Wow. This book was SO good.
The mystery of what really happened to Eva was so intriguing. I couldn't stop turning the pages. Hardly noticed the hours slipping away as I tried to unravel a web that seemed to tighten instead of loosen.
Yikes!
I loved the way the story was told by featuring a bunch of POVs, and how all of them added a little more to complicate things. Luke, the poor boyfriend, who loved her so much but had so many personal issues. Carolina, the secret friend, and daughter of the lead detective, who has her own agenda. Siobhan, the actual best friend, who is easily manipulated and clueless. Rob, Luke's friend, who is divided between his loyalty and future career prospects. Mr Abdul, the kind teacher who knew how to say all the right words of encouragement.
And every single one hides the potential secrets capable of destroying themselves, and so much more.
Eva's diary also revealed the juicy details of a teenage girl in search of passion and danger. The blog entries added fuel to the fire.
I thought the intricate balance between the characters and the events--both past and present--added together, increased the tension and suspicion of just about all the players.
Another very cool thing about this sad story was how all the characters suffer through their share of moral dilemmas. All these people do good and bad things, make good and bad decisions, and are never quite sure if they can trust anyone--even themselves.
It Ends With You is an intense and wicked YA murder mystery that hooked me instantly. It's a real page-turner. I couldn't put it down! The level of paranoia increases almost as fast as the suspicion.
It's a book that isn't afraid to delve into some very uncomfortable situations about the divide between teenagers and adults. And THAT ending was so unexpected, so unique. So clever.
I seriously couldn't put this down!
August 2, 2018
This was a book that I requested based on the fact that I'd really enjoyed previous novels from this author.
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect but what I got was a book that wouldn't allow me to put it down.
A girl gone missing, last seen arguing with her boyfriend in the woods, seems like a straight forward case but you never know what you might find in the woods!
Every few pages I was so sure that I had managed to work out just what had happened, who'd committed that crime and then another curve ball was thrown in.
Whilst I'd love to give this story 5 stars it fell slightly short for me because of two things.
Firstly some of the writing came across as too childish, I know it was being told from a teenagers point of view but it just didn't make me feel the emotions that I'm sure the author was trying to generate and that brings me on to my second point.
Over all the tale is a clever one, a great concept, the mix of thriller, crime and mystery was a well balanced however I felt there were certain moments that were perhaps rushed, brushed over, they lacked a certain detail to give it that real 'OMG' factor.
It Ends With You is a book that will keep you on your toes and the ending is certainly not one you could guess because the real question is who is the 'you' that it ends with?
I wasn't entirely sure what to expect but what I got was a book that wouldn't allow me to put it down.
A girl gone missing, last seen arguing with her boyfriend in the woods, seems like a straight forward case but you never know what you might find in the woods!
Every few pages I was so sure that I had managed to work out just what had happened, who'd committed that crime and then another curve ball was thrown in.
Whilst I'd love to give this story 5 stars it fell slightly short for me because of two things.
Firstly some of the writing came across as too childish, I know it was being told from a teenagers point of view but it just didn't make me feel the emotions that I'm sure the author was trying to generate and that brings me on to my second point.
Over all the tale is a clever one, a great concept, the mix of thriller, crime and mystery was a well balanced however I felt there were certain moments that were perhaps rushed, brushed over, they lacked a certain detail to give it that real 'OMG' factor.
It Ends With You is a book that will keep you on your toes and the ending is certainly not one you could guess because the real question is who is the 'you' that it ends with?
September 29, 2021
2.5 stars. I do find this is so similar with AGGTM? I know this was published first but it has so many aspects that is similar.
MY THOUGHTS :
- It was just okay
- I LOVE THE IDEA BUT I DO FOUND THIS BOOK TOO SLOW FOR MYSTERY
(LIKE AFTER HALF BOOK, THEY STILL FOUND NOTHING? UHH)
- THE ROMANCE, WTF IT IS, IT IS SO UNNECESARRY. (THE ROMANCE IS THE THING I HATE THE MOST.)
- The ending, I really dislike the ending, i think the author want to make it a horror creepy unfair ending well it is but it just doesn’t suit my taste :/
- pretty disappointed since i expect this to be more
- overall ok & a quick read
MY THOUGHTS :
- It was just okay
- I LOVE THE IDEA BUT I DO FOUND THIS BOOK TOO SLOW FOR MYSTERY
(LIKE AFTER HALF BOOK, THEY STILL FOUND NOTHING? UHH)
- THE ROMANCE, WTF IT IS, IT IS SO UNNECESARRY. (THE ROMANCE IS THE THING I HATE THE MOST.)
- The ending, I really dislike the ending, i think the author want to make it a horror creepy unfair ending well it is but it just doesn’t suit my taste :/
- pretty disappointed since i expect this to be more
- overall ok & a quick read
October 25, 2018
Liked the twists but didn’t think it was particularly original or believable. Very pacy though, raced through it.
July 30, 2018
4.25
With all the twists, it's an unexpected but expected book!
With all the twists, it's an unexpected but expected book!
February 21, 2020
Your typical story of teenage girl dating "troubled" teen and girl is found dead and he is blamed for her death. The only difference about this story is that it's told through six different perspectives so every chapter is someone else narrating. The book also adds the element of social media and how it effects moments like a murder (good and bad). I will say that about half way through the book it felt like I was watching a Netflix teen murder mystery show so take that as you will.
Reviewed by Otto, Annex assistant
Find it at the library here.
Reviewed by Otto, Annex assistant
Find it at the library here.
October 2, 2018
Although this is classed as YA, like many other books in this genre it can be enjoyed by any age, especially those who love mystery/thrillers.
When Eva is found murdered, the main suspect is quickly established as Luke, Eva’s boyfriend who has a temper and was deemed by many as not good enough for her. The story is told from various points of view, as well as diary entries. This means you don’t know who is reliable. The writing is brilliantly done and drew me in as I couldn’t wait to find out who the killer was.
The only flaw ai found was the ending felt a little rushed.
When Eva is found murdered, the main suspect is quickly established as Luke, Eva’s boyfriend who has a temper and was deemed by many as not good enough for her. The story is told from various points of view, as well as diary entries. This means you don’t know who is reliable. The writing is brilliantly done and drew me in as I couldn’t wait to find out who the killer was.
The only flaw ai found was the ending felt a little rushed.
October 22, 2019
It Ends With You is a young adult novel that centres around the mysterious death of Eva, the most popular girl in school, found dead in a ditch in the local woods. There are many suspects, but none more likely than Luke, Eva's boyfriend. He's not exactly known for being an angel, and he has both the motive and the opportunity.
The story is told from multiple narrative viewpoints, which makes it more difficult to work out who is telling the truth - who is a reliable narrator and who isn't? It's clever and twisty, and I enjoyed trying to work out who was the most likely to have done the terrible deed, however I didn't really take that much to any of the characters enough to fully buy into their individual stories - which may be part of the writer's plan to keep you guessing. I found the ending a little bit of a shock, definitely impactful but whether you are happy or not with the end result, that's another matter entirely...
I can imagine this book to be very popular with teens, as it really makes you think, and once you've started, you've got to keep going right to the bitter end.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
I give this book 3.5 stars out of a possible 5.
The story is told from multiple narrative viewpoints, which makes it more difficult to work out who is telling the truth - who is a reliable narrator and who isn't? It's clever and twisty, and I enjoyed trying to work out who was the most likely to have done the terrible deed, however I didn't really take that much to any of the characters enough to fully buy into their individual stories - which may be part of the writer's plan to keep you guessing. I found the ending a little bit of a shock, definitely impactful but whether you are happy or not with the end result, that's another matter entirely...
I can imagine this book to be very popular with teens, as it really makes you think, and once you've started, you've got to keep going right to the bitter end.
Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book in return for an unbiased review.
I give this book 3.5 stars out of a possible 5.
December 19, 2019
Yeah, it was not great. The characters were constantly changing their minds literally mid sentences and sometimes conflict is great and it was probably meant to be a “you can’t be sure what’s true” device but it didn’t land. The ending could have actually been worth the read if the killer hadn’t out right said he’d done it just left it mysteriously with him saying shall we go for a walk in the woods. There was plenty of evidence against him and it would have been a much more satisfying ending. Also there were lots of spelling/grammar errors. Eh racked up my book goal for the year so there’s that I guess.
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