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End of Story
Too much imagination can be a dangerous thing
It's the year 2035 and fiction has been banned by the government for five years. Writing novels is a crime. Reading fairytales to children is punishable by law.
Fern Dostoy is a criminal. Officially, she has retrained in a new job outside of the arts but she still scrawls in a secret notepad in an effort to capture what her life has become: her work on a banned phone line, reading bedtime stories to sleep-starved children; Hunter, the young boy who calls her and has captured her heart; and the dreaded visits from government officials.
But as Fern begins to learn more about Hunter, doubts begin to surface. What are they both hiding? And who can be trusted?
It's the year 2035 and fiction has been banned by the government for five years. Writing novels is a crime. Reading fairytales to children is punishable by law.
Fern Dostoy is a criminal. Officially, she has retrained in a new job outside of the arts but she still scrawls in a secret notepad in an effort to capture what her life has become: her work on a banned phone line, reading bedtime stories to sleep-starved children; Hunter, the young boy who calls her and has captured her heart; and the dreaded visits from government officials.
But as Fern begins to learn more about Hunter, doubts begin to surface. What are they both hiding? And who can be trusted?
320 pages, Kindle Edition
First published March 23, 2023
92 people are currently reading
2272 people want to read
About the author
Louise Swanson
3 books137 followersAlso publishes under Louise Beech.
Louise Swanson wrote End of Story during the final lockdown of 2020, following a family tragedy, finding refuge in the fiction she created. The themes of the book - grief, isolation, love of the arts, the power of storytelling - came from a very real place. Lights Out followed in September 2024, a chilly thriller exploring a dark world where every night the electricty goes off. Swanson, a mother of two who lives in East Yorkshire with her husband, regularly blogs, talks at events, and is a huge advocate of openly discussing mental health.
She also writes as Louise Beech. Beech's nine books have won the Best magazine Book of the Year 2019, shortlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year, longlisted for the Polari Prize, and been a Clare Mackintosh Book Club Pick. Her memoir, Daffodils, was released in audiobook in 2022, and as Eighteen Seconds in Paperback 2023. Wonderful is coming 1st June 2026.
Louise is on Twitter @LouiseWriter
Louise Swanson wrote End of Story during the final lockdown of 2020, following a family tragedy, finding refuge in the fiction she created. The themes of the book - grief, isolation, love of the arts, the power of storytelling - came from a very real place. Lights Out followed in September 2024, a chilly thriller exploring a dark world where every night the electricty goes off. Swanson, a mother of two who lives in East Yorkshire with her husband, regularly blogs, talks at events, and is a huge advocate of openly discussing mental health.
She also writes as Louise Beech. Beech's nine books have won the Best magazine Book of the Year 2019, shortlisted for the Romantic Novel of the Year, longlisted for the Polari Prize, and been a Clare Mackintosh Book Club Pick. Her memoir, Daffodils, was released in audiobook in 2022, and as Eighteen Seconds in Paperback 2023. Wonderful is coming 1st June 2026.
Louise is on Twitter @LouiseWriter
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 389 reviews
August 4, 2023
This won’t be for everyone, but I found it to be imaginative and CLEVER.
What is really scary is that in today’s world, 2023, certain books are being banned in the U.S. and certain states are trying to pass laws where criminal charges can brought against librarians and booksellers, who provide these books..
THIS story begins in November of 2035.
And, FICTION has been banned.
What would happen if the authors of fiction could no longer write ✍🏻?
What would happen to children who are losing sleep because reading a bedtime story to your child, is now punishable by law?
That is the premise of this novel where we meet the former award winning author Fern Dostoy, who is now banned from writing and monitored for compliance by the “tall one and the short one”, who can show up unannounced at any time to search her home.
She still writes in a secret notebook which she must hide, so her entries, which we read, labeled by date and time-often end mid-sentence or mid-word.
She is mourning her lost life and is going through the five stages of grief-Denial, Anger, Bargaining, Depression and Acceptance.
And, just like her life has soured, so it seems has all of the MILK 🥛 she comes in contact with-it always seems to be spoiling.
Intrigued?
It’s best to go in blind, so I will stop here, and let you discover what all of this means for yourself.
This was a purchase from the Book Depository before it closed, but you can get a copy from Blackwell’s which includes shipping in its pricing to the U.S.
Available Now.
March 17, 2023
In a Nutshell: Cant reveal much without spoiling the story, so you’ll get just a cryptic clue: it’s dystopian, but it’s not dystopian. Intelligent writing, innovative plotline, impactful characters. Definitely worth a read, even if you aren’t a fan of the dystopian genre.
Story Synopsis:
This is the kind of story that is very easy to mess up with spoilers, so I will be very vague in my feedback.
Where the book worked for me:
😍 “If you tell a story well enough, it’s true.” – Fern’s catchphrase in the book that works on so many levels despite its obvious simplicity.
😍 Fern’s being a fiction author automatically means that her journal entries ought to display her prowess in writing. They do! The little comments about non sequitur characters and character backstories and so on were intelligently done.
😍 The book is written in five parts, each named after the five stages of grief. You will find Fern’s thoughts aligning with the specific grief stage perfectly without going too far. (And when it does become farfetched, you’ll know the reason for it later.)
😍 I had a long list of plot holes written in my draft review as I proceeded with the audio. Questions about Fern’s odd behaviour, about some weird people and some random events. Every single loophole was fixed in the final quarter.
😍 The plot became weirder and creepier as it moved ahead. I kept wondering how the author was going to resolve this nightmare of a situation. My rating too kept dipping in sync with my progress. And then… **something happened**….and zhoooop!!! (That's the sound of my rating shooting up to the top once again!)
😍 The writing – sheer brilliance. Beautiful, impactful, thoughtful.
😍 The descriptions are so vivid! No matter what scene, I could visualise it clearly in my mind.
😍 As a fiction lover, I found this book a nightmare. Oh, to picture a world without fiction – what a tragedy! I loved how it stressed on the importance of fiction (and I did get some heebie-jeebies at the way fiction was treated.)
😍 You will find some events seemingly inspired from dystopian classics such as Fahrenheit 451 and 1984. Keep your patience. There’s a reason behind every such reference.
😍 The title is perfect for the book in more ways than you can realise now.
😍 Despite being slow-paced, the story had enough going on to keep me hooked. (It is literary fiction and thus heavily character-oriented. So the slow pace is to be expected.)
😍 I had requested this book mainly on seeing the part about the ban on fiction. But the book spoke not just to the bibliophile in me but also to the woman and the mother in me. I hadn’t expected such an emotional impact.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
😒 A few of the dystopian scenes were too graphic for me. This might not be a problem for all readers.
(If you do feel uncomfortable at those scenes, do not give up on the book. I can’t tell you why. Just trust me on this.)
😒 Some part of the final reveal feels a bit dragged, though I do see why they were necessary in the broader sense. I guess I was just impatient to find out more as soon as possible!
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 12 hours, is narrated by Sophie Bentinck. Just one word for her performance: WOW!! She suited Fern in age and emotions. Her voices for the other characters too were mostly on track. If you are an audiobook lover, I would definitely recommend you try this on audio.
Note: The chapter endings in the initial half or so are quite abrupt, stopping mid-sentence. Don’t assume that this is a defect in your audio/digital/print copy. It is a deliberate writing choice, and you will learn the reason for it soon enough.
I am not a dystopian fiction lover, especially of one set in the real world. I feel very uncomfortable and claustrophobic when I read scenes that might just happen in reality. This book too made me very anxious in between. However, as it led to an ending that proceeds so well from the main plot, I couldn’t help but admire the brilliance of the author. (I am SO going to look up more of her works!!!)
What I am trying to say is, this book isn’t only for dystopian fiction fans. So don’t disregard the book by its genre if you don’t read dystopian works. (In fact, a part of me feels it will not work as well for dystopian book lovers.)
Strongly recommended to all literary fiction readers. Pick it up when you can focus on it, because it is not to be speed-read – every chapter contains many clues that you will require as you move ahead. This is easily going to be one of my top adult fiction reads for the year.
4.5 stars.
My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “End of Story”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
Story Synopsis:
November 2035. Fiction has been banned since 5 years, and fiction authors have been asked to stay isolated and under the radar. Fifty-two-year-old Fern Dalrymple is one such ex-fiction-author who currently works as a cleaner at minimum wage. But Fern is no pushover, and she doesn’t want to extinguish her love of writing. So she has found a creative way of going against the ban: she is writing about her routine life in her notepad. That’s not fiction, is it? Moreover, she joins a secret group that narrates bedtime stories to sleep-deprived children over the phone. However, the random visits from government officials unnerve her, and now Fern wonders if her secret is out. Is Fern at risk?
The story comes to us mostly through Fern’s notepad scrawls written in first person.
This is the kind of story that is very easy to mess up with spoilers, so I will be very vague in my feedback.
Where the book worked for me:
😍 “If you tell a story well enough, it’s true.” – Fern’s catchphrase in the book that works on so many levels despite its obvious simplicity.
😍 Fern’s being a fiction author automatically means that her journal entries ought to display her prowess in writing. They do! The little comments about non sequitur characters and character backstories and so on were intelligently done.
😍 The book is written in five parts, each named after the five stages of grief. You will find Fern’s thoughts aligning with the specific grief stage perfectly without going too far. (And when it does become farfetched, you’ll know the reason for it later.)
😍 I had a long list of plot holes written in my draft review as I proceeded with the audio. Questions about Fern’s odd behaviour, about some weird people and some random events. Every single loophole was fixed in the final quarter.
😍 The plot became weirder and creepier as it moved ahead. I kept wondering how the author was going to resolve this nightmare of a situation. My rating too kept dipping in sync with my progress. And then… **something happened**….and zhoooop!!! (That's the sound of my rating shooting up to the top once again!)
😍 The writing – sheer brilliance. Beautiful, impactful, thoughtful.
😍 The descriptions are so vivid! No matter what scene, I could visualise it clearly in my mind.
😍 As a fiction lover, I found this book a nightmare. Oh, to picture a world without fiction – what a tragedy! I loved how it stressed on the importance of fiction (and I did get some heebie-jeebies at the way fiction was treated.)
😍 You will find some events seemingly inspired from dystopian classics such as Fahrenheit 451 and 1984. Keep your patience. There’s a reason behind every such reference.
😍 The title is perfect for the book in more ways than you can realise now.
😍 Despite being slow-paced, the story had enough going on to keep me hooked. (It is literary fiction and thus heavily character-oriented. So the slow pace is to be expected.)
😍 I had requested this book mainly on seeing the part about the ban on fiction. But the book spoke not just to the bibliophile in me but also to the woman and the mother in me. I hadn’t expected such an emotional impact.
Where the book could have worked better for me:
😒 A few of the dystopian scenes were too graphic for me. This might not be a problem for all readers.
(If you do feel uncomfortable at those scenes, do not give up on the book. I can’t tell you why. Just trust me on this.)
😒 Some part of the final reveal feels a bit dragged, though I do see why they were necessary in the broader sense. I guess I was just impatient to find out more as soon as possible!
The audiobook experience:
The audiobook, clocking at 12 hours, is narrated by Sophie Bentinck. Just one word for her performance: WOW!! She suited Fern in age and emotions. Her voices for the other characters too were mostly on track. If you are an audiobook lover, I would definitely recommend you try this on audio.
Note: The chapter endings in the initial half or so are quite abrupt, stopping mid-sentence. Don’t assume that this is a defect in your audio/digital/print copy. It is a deliberate writing choice, and you will learn the reason for it soon enough.
I am not a dystopian fiction lover, especially of one set in the real world. I feel very uncomfortable and claustrophobic when I read scenes that might just happen in reality. This book too made me very anxious in between. However, as it led to an ending that proceeds so well from the main plot, I couldn’t help but admire the brilliance of the author. (I am SO going to look up more of her works!!!)
What I am trying to say is, this book isn’t only for dystopian fiction fans. So don’t disregard the book by its genre if you don’t read dystopian works. (In fact, a part of me feels it will not work as well for dystopian book lovers.)
Strongly recommended to all literary fiction readers. Pick it up when you can focus on it, because it is not to be speed-read – every chapter contains many clues that you will require as you move ahead. This is easily going to be one of my top adult fiction reads for the year.
4.5 stars.
My thanks to Hodder & Stoughton Audio and NetGalley for the ALC of “End of Story”. This review is voluntary and contains my honest opinion about the audiobook.
———————————————
Connect with me through:
My Blog | The StoryGraph | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter
May 22, 2023
Have you ever wondered how it would be to live in a world without books? For me it would be a nightmare, and I kept thinking ‘what if this happened’ while reading. The book reads as a thriller, but it’s so much more. Sometimes it dragged on for a bit, but the second half of the book made up for that big time.
February 2, 2023
“If you tell a story well enough, it’s true”.
Can you imagine a world without fiction? In 2030 the government of the day bans it with the only books allowed being factual. It’s now 2035 and successful author and the first Fiction Laureate, Fern Dostoy, now known as Fern Dalrymple, is understandably struggling. She can’t write what she chooses, all fiction books have been burned in mass bonfires but she’s bubbling with creativity yet for the sake of safety she must stay below the radar. She finds an old notepad and pen, she daren’t use her laptop in case it’s monitored but she’s determined to tell the truth. How does all this come about? Why does Fern have to stay so hidden? Buckle up readers, we’re in for a bumpy ride.
Wow. I couldn’t put this dystopian fiction down as I get so caught up in Fern’s story. It is so well written and in such a manner that it really gets to you.. As you progress though and get deeper in, you appreciate that the plot has several complex and thought provoking layers that absolutely draw you in. The quality of the writing makes the storyline so convincing and it touches me, it moves me and fills me with empathy. It brings into play a host of emotions, at times it’s very scary and you feel the dread, there are some strange elements that you really question and then it all clicks into place and makes sense. It shocks, it breaks your heart and it is nightmarish. There are twists and turns and whilst I do guess one or two it in no way impairs the appreciation of this clever novel.
Overall, this is a very different and creative read and I admire what Louise Swanson has produced here.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
Can you imagine a world without fiction? In 2030 the government of the day bans it with the only books allowed being factual. It’s now 2035 and successful author and the first Fiction Laureate, Fern Dostoy, now known as Fern Dalrymple, is understandably struggling. She can’t write what she chooses, all fiction books have been burned in mass bonfires but she’s bubbling with creativity yet for the sake of safety she must stay below the radar. She finds an old notepad and pen, she daren’t use her laptop in case it’s monitored but she’s determined to tell the truth. How does all this come about? Why does Fern have to stay so hidden? Buckle up readers, we’re in for a bumpy ride.
Wow. I couldn’t put this dystopian fiction down as I get so caught up in Fern’s story. It is so well written and in such a manner that it really gets to you.. As you progress though and get deeper in, you appreciate that the plot has several complex and thought provoking layers that absolutely draw you in. The quality of the writing makes the storyline so convincing and it touches me, it moves me and fills me with empathy. It brings into play a host of emotions, at times it’s very scary and you feel the dread, there are some strange elements that you really question and then it all clicks into place and makes sense. It shocks, it breaks your heart and it is nightmarish. There are twists and turns and whilst I do guess one or two it in no way impairs the appreciation of this clever novel.
Overall, this is a very different and creative read and I admire what Louise Swanson has produced here.
With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Hodder and Stoughton for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.
February 9, 2023
A very unusual story for the most part.
The year is 2035 and it has been a few years since fiction was banned by the government. Fern Dostoy was one of four successful authors who it is believed incited the action. Fern’s motto was “If you tell a story well enough, it’s true”. In her work of fiction, she had written about two regressive & cruel steps related to healthcare that the government of the day brings in. There was a faction which accused her and other authors of triggering unrest. The government swings into action and bans all fiction. There is only one chain of stores “AllBooks”, which ironically stocks only non-fiction.
Fern’s earlier home has been confiscated and she has been given a more modest dwelling to live in. She now works as a cleaner in an office space. She secretly writes in her notebook, staying off the internet to avoid attention. There are periodic visits by two officials – one tall and one short to check on her and suitably warning her not to write. Ferns learns about a secret group which takes calls and reads bedtime stories to children. As she joins the group, she is now back in contact with some old friends and acquaintances. A boy named Hunter calls her regularly and she gets to be very close to him. There is great danger due to the surveillance and she knows she is taking risks.
The story for the most part is imaginative on how a scenario like this plays out and the impact it has. The pace is inconsistent in the initial sections – it starts with a bang and then tapers off, then again building up slowly. I had a sneaking suspicion on the turn it would take towards the end and that is what happened. The last sections will not stand up to much logical scrutiny, though they are well written.
Overall, a different and interesting read.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Hodder & Stoughton, and the author for a free electronic review copy.
The year is 2035 and it has been a few years since fiction was banned by the government. Fern Dostoy was one of four successful authors who it is believed incited the action. Fern’s motto was “If you tell a story well enough, it’s true”. In her work of fiction, she had written about two regressive & cruel steps related to healthcare that the government of the day brings in. There was a faction which accused her and other authors of triggering unrest. The government swings into action and bans all fiction. There is only one chain of stores “AllBooks”, which ironically stocks only non-fiction.
Fern’s earlier home has been confiscated and she has been given a more modest dwelling to live in. She now works as a cleaner in an office space. She secretly writes in her notebook, staying off the internet to avoid attention. There are periodic visits by two officials – one tall and one short to check on her and suitably warning her not to write. Ferns learns about a secret group which takes calls and reads bedtime stories to children. As she joins the group, she is now back in contact with some old friends and acquaintances. A boy named Hunter calls her regularly and she gets to be very close to him. There is great danger due to the surveillance and she knows she is taking risks.
The story for the most part is imaginative on how a scenario like this plays out and the impact it has. The pace is inconsistent in the initial sections – it starts with a bang and then tapers off, then again building up slowly. I had a sneaking suspicion on the turn it would take towards the end and that is what happened. The last sections will not stand up to much logical scrutiny, though they are well written.
Overall, a different and interesting read.
Thanks to Netgalley, the publisher Hodder & Stoughton, and the author for a free electronic review copy.
October 19, 2022
I suppose it isn't bad...........
September 3, 2022
Admittedly when I finished this utterly amazing novel I bawled like a baby for a good hour. I mean really, you should all read it and share the completely honest trauma.
I hadn't actually read the blurb, I love this author when she writes as Louise Beech and genuinely if you can manage to read this with as little influence as possible I'd recommend doing that. Any description you get couldn't possibly encompass the strange beauty of this story it is entirely its own thing.
The writing is gorgeous and the author presents a pretty horrific scenario, which sets a scene that slowly slowly absorbs you in. The main protagonist is enthralling, the deep emotional layers of the narrative are hard to put into words but you'll run the gamut of all of them at various points then the end will slap you around a bit before releasing you into the aftermath.
Gorgeously crazy and crazily gorgeous. Stories that do what this one does pitch perfectly don't come along that often so I wouldn't miss it if I were you.
Highly Recommended.
I hadn't actually read the blurb, I love this author when she writes as Louise Beech and genuinely if you can manage to read this with as little influence as possible I'd recommend doing that. Any description you get couldn't possibly encompass the strange beauty of this story it is entirely its own thing.
The writing is gorgeous and the author presents a pretty horrific scenario, which sets a scene that slowly slowly absorbs you in. The main protagonist is enthralling, the deep emotional layers of the narrative are hard to put into words but you'll run the gamut of all of them at various points then the end will slap you around a bit before releasing you into the aftermath.
Gorgeously crazy and crazily gorgeous. Stories that do what this one does pitch perfectly don't come along that often so I wouldn't miss it if I were you.
Highly Recommended.
October 26, 2022
THANKS TO NETGALLEY AND THE PUBLISHER FOR THIS REVIEW COPY IN EXCHANGE FOR AN HONEST REVIEW.
I jumped into this book without any expectations. I liked the blurb and the title looked cool so thought why not read it. The book is set in 2035, all fiction is banned and storytelling is illegal, the government punishes the people who disobey this law. All the famous former authors are being imprisoned in unknown places and ordered to keep low profiles. Big four were the last four famous books and one was written by Fern Dostoy, She wrote the book in grief after losing her husband. Now Fern is forced to do a low-wage job with another identity. Her life is so monotonous, the only change is two police inspectors who come to inspect her. However, it is impossible to erase the whole fiction from the minds of people. People are trying in one way or another to keep connected with stories that make it difficult for a former famous author to live in isolation.
If, I'll have to define this book in one word it would-be SIMPLE. The writing was so simple and the focus was only on ordinary elements and events of Fern's life. Sometimes, world-building doesn't have to be ostentatious. A regular world can be equally charming. I really enjoyed the writing and savor each detail. I agree that nothing is perfect so, in the middle, it started the downfall of the book, Ferns' character started to be dull, and the book entered into a boring land. I was bored and just wanted to finish it but after 80% of the book it took an interesting and totally unexpected turn that was able to grab all of my attention and I loved those twists and turns. I don't wanna spoil but normally this kind of twist is banal and not my favorite. But the way the author manipulate things was really clever.
If you wanna read a dystopian mystery with a good amount of emotions then go ahead.
I jumped into this book without any expectations. I liked the blurb and the title looked cool so thought why not read it. The book is set in 2035, all fiction is banned and storytelling is illegal, the government punishes the people who disobey this law. All the famous former authors are being imprisoned in unknown places and ordered to keep low profiles. Big four were the last four famous books and one was written by Fern Dostoy, She wrote the book in grief after losing her husband. Now Fern is forced to do a low-wage job with another identity. Her life is so monotonous, the only change is two police inspectors who come to inspect her. However, it is impossible to erase the whole fiction from the minds of people. People are trying in one way or another to keep connected with stories that make it difficult for a former famous author to live in isolation.
If, I'll have to define this book in one word it would-be SIMPLE. The writing was so simple and the focus was only on ordinary elements and events of Fern's life. Sometimes, world-building doesn't have to be ostentatious. A regular world can be equally charming. I really enjoyed the writing and savor each detail. I agree that nothing is perfect so, in the middle, it started the downfall of the book, Ferns' character started to be dull, and the book entered into a boring land. I was bored and just wanted to finish it but after 80% of the book it took an interesting and totally unexpected turn that was able to grab all of my attention and I loved those twists and turns. I don't wanna spoil but normally this kind of twist is banal and not my favorite. But the way the author manipulate things was really clever.
If you wanna read a dystopian mystery with a good amount of emotions then go ahead.
February 20, 2023
I usually love this authors work but a dystopian thriller for me was a step too far. The first chapter was gripping but then it went off the boil. The last 20% of this book was like the first chapter. So much hype and for me so disappointing.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in return for giving an honest review.
October 10, 2022
Scrolling through NetGalley, this cover stopped me in my tracks. I just love that eye looking out at you. I had to add this book to my wish list. Imagine my surprise when I discovered that Louise Swanson is not a new to me author after all. Turns out I have read a book by Louise Beech – who happens to be the same person.
End of Story is a moving, creative tale set in 2035, which was not what I expected when reaching for this book at all. The author keeps you engrossed in an unusual futuristic tale and then spins it around and delivers a whopper you would never foresee. By the time you reach the end of this book, you are left with a creative look at loss, heartbreak and unexpected friendships.
I enjoy this author’s work. She manages to deliver an emotional ending while keeping the story light and easy to read. By the time I reached the end of this book, I was amazed by where the story ended.
End of Story transports you to 2035, to a world that has banned all fiction. The government appears to have lost the plot and is keeping writers under a close eye to ensure they do not write, anything. Fern Dostoy, a successful writer has surrendered, she lives by the rule and keeps her head down. Until she unexpectedly receives a card for Bedtime Stories. An underground group who are secret reading bedtime stories to children over the phone. Fern finds the more time she spends telling stories, the more her anger at the situation increases. Is she strong enough to fight back? Can she make a difference? Or will she quietly disappear into a re-education centre?
Initially, I was not convinced that this was the book for me. I have never been a huge fan of futuristic fiction. Yet, there was something that kept me reading. I needed to know what was going to happen to Fern. Not giving up on this book proved to be a good choice. This story turns out to be an emotional read that leaves you loving it.
You will find you are quickly drawn to Fern. This woman has lost so much, her career, her friends her home. It’s easy to understand that she seems a little troubled. From the start, you are left with a feeling that something is not quite right. And oh boy when you find out what that is your heart will break for this woman. Fern is a fantastic creation, the author did a brilliant job creating this woman.
The first half of this book did not have me convinced, but as I kept reading and as the story unfolded I found myself enjoying it more and more. This is an unusual read, but a brilliantly creative look at dealing with loss. When you reach for this book, expect the unexpected.
If you are looking for something different to sink your teeth into, a book that is not what it appears to be, then I cannot recommend this one highly enough.
https://featzreviews.com/end-of-story...
End of Story is a moving, creative tale set in 2035, which was not what I expected when reaching for this book at all. The author keeps you engrossed in an unusual futuristic tale and then spins it around and delivers a whopper you would never foresee. By the time you reach the end of this book, you are left with a creative look at loss, heartbreak and unexpected friendships.
I enjoy this author’s work. She manages to deliver an emotional ending while keeping the story light and easy to read. By the time I reached the end of this book, I was amazed by where the story ended.
End of Story transports you to 2035, to a world that has banned all fiction. The government appears to have lost the plot and is keeping writers under a close eye to ensure they do not write, anything. Fern Dostoy, a successful writer has surrendered, she lives by the rule and keeps her head down. Until she unexpectedly receives a card for Bedtime Stories. An underground group who are secret reading bedtime stories to children over the phone. Fern finds the more time she spends telling stories, the more her anger at the situation increases. Is she strong enough to fight back? Can she make a difference? Or will she quietly disappear into a re-education centre?
Initially, I was not convinced that this was the book for me. I have never been a huge fan of futuristic fiction. Yet, there was something that kept me reading. I needed to know what was going to happen to Fern. Not giving up on this book proved to be a good choice. This story turns out to be an emotional read that leaves you loving it.
You will find you are quickly drawn to Fern. This woman has lost so much, her career, her friends her home. It’s easy to understand that she seems a little troubled. From the start, you are left with a feeling that something is not quite right. And oh boy when you find out what that is your heart will break for this woman. Fern is a fantastic creation, the author did a brilliant job creating this woman.
The first half of this book did not have me convinced, but as I kept reading and as the story unfolded I found myself enjoying it more and more. This is an unusual read, but a brilliantly creative look at dealing with loss. When you reach for this book, expect the unexpected.
If you are looking for something different to sink your teeth into, a book that is not what it appears to be, then I cannot recommend this one highly enough.
https://featzreviews.com/end-of-story...
March 20, 2023
I received this book from NetGalley and the publisher in return for an honest review. This review is based entirely on my own thoughts and feelings.
Overall rating : 5*
Writing skill : 5*
Plot: 5*
Pace: 4*
Characters: 4*
Loved it!!!! Great concept which jumped out at me as soon as I read the blurb (yes I actually read the blurb for once). Wonderful characters full of life and an interesting twist. Thriller lovers will devour this novel. Off to see what others from her backlist I can add to the TBR.
Overall rating : 5*
Writing skill : 5*
Plot: 5*
Pace: 4*
Characters: 4*
Loved it!!!! Great concept which jumped out at me as soon as I read the blurb (yes I actually read the blurb for once). Wonderful characters full of life and an interesting twist. Thriller lovers will devour this novel. Off to see what others from her backlist I can add to the TBR.
June 13, 2023
I enjoy my airport thrillers as much as the next gal, but this was disappointing.
1. I wish publishers would stop using hyperbolic phrases like, "The Most Original Thriller You'll Read this Year with a Twist You Won't See Coming!!1!" It usually isn't, and it always spoils the book from the beginning. Primed for a "twist," I easily guessed it less than ⅓ of the way in.
2. The near-future-dystopia worldbuilding was incomplete, and the subject of the main action was too much of a stretch to be believable. It was hard to buy the fiction ban, even with the clarifying "twist."
2a. Speaking of near-future dystopias, I was intrigued by the premise of a terrible world where all fiction was outlawed. How did it happen? Why? ... and all that fun stuff. I mean, I didn't expect a philosophical treatise on truth vs fiction, but maybe a fun little "What if?" to enjoy. And no. The book takes a sharp turn (or "twist," eh?) and reveals that no, we're actually in the present and it's just a normal old everyday present. Darn.
3. When can we move beyond using childlessness or loss of a child as the main motivator for female protagonists? We are not all fragile little incubators. Most of us are even strong enough to experience profound grief without losing our minds, even for the loss of a child. There are much more interesting ways to write women's trauma.
4. ALSO, the gimmick of ending chapters with an unfinished thought was irritating. I get it, but I just didn't enj-
Overall it was a fast read that didn't satisfactorily justify its premise and used a tired cliche as a plot device for the climax.
1. I wish publishers would stop using hyperbolic phrases like, "The Most Original Thriller You'll Read this Year with a Twist You Won't See Coming!!1!" It usually isn't, and it always spoils the book from the beginning. Primed for a "twist," I easily guessed it less than ⅓ of the way in.
2. The near-future-dystopia worldbuilding was incomplete, and the subject of the main action was too much of a stretch to be believable. It was hard to buy the fiction ban, even with the clarifying "twist."
2a. Speaking of near-future dystopias, I was intrigued by the premise of a terrible world where all fiction was outlawed. How did it happen? Why? ... and all that fun stuff. I mean, I didn't expect a philosophical treatise on truth vs fiction, but maybe a fun little "What if?" to enjoy. And no. The book takes a sharp turn (or "twist," eh?) and reveals that no, we're actually in the present and it's just a normal old everyday present. Darn.
3. When can we move beyond using childlessness or loss of a child as the main motivator for female protagonists? We are not all fragile little incubators. Most of us are even strong enough to experience profound grief without losing our minds, even for the loss of a child. There are much more interesting ways to write women's trauma.
4. ALSO, the gimmick of ending chapters with an unfinished thought was irritating. I get it, but I just didn't enj-
Overall it was a fast read that didn't satisfactorily justify its premise and used a tired cliche as a plot device for the climax.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
November 12, 2023
3.5 ⭐️. I am so divided by this book. I liked the dystopian future appeal of a world without fiction and books, well I would not enjoy that personally, I enjoyed the concept and thought it was well executed. However I then got frustrated as it became clear this was the cover story for another story so I wanted the answers. Once the answers came it had been within my theories of where the story was going. However I felt the ending was dragged out and I was disappointed with the many themes attempting to bring the story together. I liked the book but found it frustrating.
December 12, 2022
Utterly compelling dark dystopian fiction with a twist.
September 2, 2023
I had many problems with this supposedly dystopian novel - lazy plot devices and schlocky, repetitive writing that had me rolling my eyes throughout "...not your beautiful book-writing fingers?" But it was the horrendously poor disability representation that I could not (and should not) get past.
If you want a genuinely affecting book about the horrors of grief; read 'This Thing Between Us' by Gus Moreno.
If you want a genuinely affecting dystopian novel; read literally anything else.
If you want a genuinely affecting book about the horrors of grief; read 'This Thing Between Us' by Gus Moreno.
If you want a genuinely affecting dystopian novel; read literally anything else.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 13, 2023
Genuinely upsetting throughout, a new 1984 that terrified and had me in constant tears.
2035. Five years ago the UK government banned fiction. Writers are by law prohibited from writing novels. You can only buy factual books. Children are not allowed a bedtime story to help them get to sleep.
Fern Dostoy is one of the writers caught up and spat out by this draconian sea change, and through her secret diary, hidden from the government agents who check in on her regularly, we learn of how the country forced through the laws and why, what the world is now like for her and just how society might cope with this kind of ban.
Fern is childless, and wrote a bestselling novel that catapulted her to the heights of literary stardom after losing her husband to COVID in 2020 and using her grief to write a powerful satire that was one of those heralding the start of sweeping reforms.
Now her weekly spiky doorstop meetings with the Tea Man are some of her only interactions with other people. Until she becomes involved with an underground group that run a phoneline for sleep-deprived children to call in on and hear a bedtime story. One child in particular captures Fern.
And this is where the story 'got' me. I hadn't realised until I read this just how engrained fiction is in my own life and that of my children. To even consider losing it upset me so profoundly that I spent half the running length in tears, for Fern and Hunter's losses, for what it means for a society. I'm glad this was an audiobook as I'd have wept all over the pages otherwise.
Then later on, Swanson got me again. I can't express how powerful this novel was, and how clever, how many questions you ask then answers you find, the layers and unravellings and stories she's created. As a parent of readers, as a lifelong reader and a mother of boys, this was painful in the extreme in more than one way. I hope I've managed to convey that without giving anything away.
An early contender for my book of the year. Dark and distressing but rewarding. Beautiful writing. And so well read as an audio by one voice, the narrator did a marvellous job of conveying Fern and several other very real characters. Very easy to track and I loved the accents she gave Fern and Hunter in particular.
Please read this. And then make sure you go out and read other books. And that your children do. This will remind you why.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.
2035. Five years ago the UK government banned fiction. Writers are by law prohibited from writing novels. You can only buy factual books. Children are not allowed a bedtime story to help them get to sleep.
Fern Dostoy is one of the writers caught up and spat out by this draconian sea change, and through her secret diary, hidden from the government agents who check in on her regularly, we learn of how the country forced through the laws and why, what the world is now like for her and just how society might cope with this kind of ban.
Fern is childless, and wrote a bestselling novel that catapulted her to the heights of literary stardom after losing her husband to COVID in 2020 and using her grief to write a powerful satire that was one of those heralding the start of sweeping reforms.
Now her weekly spiky doorstop meetings with the Tea Man are some of her only interactions with other people. Until she becomes involved with an underground group that run a phoneline for sleep-deprived children to call in on and hear a bedtime story. One child in particular captures Fern.
And this is where the story 'got' me. I hadn't realised until I read this just how engrained fiction is in my own life and that of my children. To even consider losing it upset me so profoundly that I spent half the running length in tears, for Fern and Hunter's losses, for what it means for a society. I'm glad this was an audiobook as I'd have wept all over the pages otherwise.
Then later on, Swanson got me again. I can't express how powerful this novel was, and how clever, how many questions you ask then answers you find, the layers and unravellings and stories she's created. As a parent of readers, as a lifelong reader and a mother of boys, this was painful in the extreme in more than one way. I hope I've managed to convey that without giving anything away.
An early contender for my book of the year. Dark and distressing but rewarding. Beautiful writing. And so well read as an audio by one voice, the narrator did a marvellous job of conveying Fern and several other very real characters. Very easy to track and I loved the accents she gave Fern and Hunter in particular.
Please read this. And then make sure you go out and read other books. And that your children do. This will remind you why.
With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample audio copy.
December 9, 2022
Move over Louise Beech, there’s a new writer in town… And wow, does she have a story to tell. Louise Swanson is the new penname for Louise Beech as she does what we’ve always hoped she would do and dives into the darker side genres. And never, ever, ever, has an Author adopted the persona of their alter ego quite as well as Louise has done with her foray into writing as Swanson.
I rarely predict which direction a book is going in, but I had a sixth sense with this one. And do you know what? I wasn’t annoyed. I’ve seen reviews that say, ‘I knew the twist so…’ So what? It’s impossible to surprise everybody, truly it is. But this twist, I saw it coming, I had worked a little of it out, and I put the book down at the unravelling point and said out loud, ‘Oh my god. My God. She did it. She went there.’ And she did it with all that we’ve come to know and love from her published books as Louise Beech, and she did it with ease, with talent, with remarkable darkness. Beech meets Swanson about halfway through this book, you can almost pick the word where it happens. Almost. And they don’t just meet, they collide. Fantastically. End-of-the-world fireworks type fantastic. You can also tell that Louise absolutely adored doing this. Every single word of it. She loved it, I expect she even let out a cackle or two as she led us down that winding path…
I could write about this book forever, but I won’t, and it’s going to be very hard to say much more without spoiling it. So I will leave you with this. This book is going to be huge. It’s going to be talked about. It’s going to hit bestselling lists, book club radars, and maybe… maybe even the big screen. You. Need. This. Book.
I rarely predict which direction a book is going in, but I had a sixth sense with this one. And do you know what? I wasn’t annoyed. I’ve seen reviews that say, ‘I knew the twist so…’ So what? It’s impossible to surprise everybody, truly it is. But this twist, I saw it coming, I had worked a little of it out, and I put the book down at the unravelling point and said out loud, ‘Oh my god. My God. She did it. She went there.’ And she did it with all that we’ve come to know and love from her published books as Louise Beech, and she did it with ease, with talent, with remarkable darkness. Beech meets Swanson about halfway through this book, you can almost pick the word where it happens. Almost. And they don’t just meet, they collide. Fantastically. End-of-the-world fireworks type fantastic. You can also tell that Louise absolutely adored doing this. Every single word of it. She loved it, I expect she even let out a cackle or two as she led us down that winding path…
I could write about this book forever, but I won’t, and it’s going to be very hard to say much more without spoiling it. So I will leave you with this. This book is going to be huge. It’s going to be talked about. It’s going to hit bestselling lists, book club radars, and maybe… maybe even the big screen. You. Need. This. Book.
December 31, 2024
It’s 2035 and fiction is banned by the government. Fern Dolstoy, previously an acclaimed author, lives quietly in this new world, regularly receiving home inspections to ensure she isn’t breaking the rules and writing again.
But she is. She keeps a secret diary to record every aspect of this regimented, restricted society, if ‘they’ find it she knows the consequences could be horrific. But Fern still takes the risk. Then she takes a bigger risk when she joins a secret bedtime reading group, reading stories to children to send them to sleep. One of them is called Hunter and there is a special bond between them…
A very clever dystopian read. Imagine a world without fiction? It really is unimaginable. Fern’s story filled me with horror and fear. I can’t say much more without giving the plot away but I’ll just say that the last part of the book knocked me for six and had my jaw hanging open and tears running down my cheeks.
Terrifying, clever and heartbreaking. I won’t be able to stop thinking about this book for a good while. Louise Swanson has excelled herself here 🙌
But she is. She keeps a secret diary to record every aspect of this regimented, restricted society, if ‘they’ find it she knows the consequences could be horrific. But Fern still takes the risk. Then she takes a bigger risk when she joins a secret bedtime reading group, reading stories to children to send them to sleep. One of them is called Hunter and there is a special bond between them…
A very clever dystopian read. Imagine a world without fiction? It really is unimaginable. Fern’s story filled me with horror and fear. I can’t say much more without giving the plot away but I’ll just say that the last part of the book knocked me for six and had my jaw hanging open and tears running down my cheeks.
Terrifying, clever and heartbreaking. I won’t be able to stop thinking about this book for a good while. Louise Swanson has excelled herself here 🙌
March 12, 2023
A stunning and innovative plot and narrative structure! Why only 3 stars, though? Because the pacing is so off that I almost abandoned this at the halfway mark. It’s only when I read other reviews that I figured thee was some intriguing twist about to surface at the end. And my, it didn’t disappoint!
What’s so clever about this novel is that there are a number of things that seem weirdly “off” with the world building and terminologies and ideas. But they’re not. You could call them clues if you wanted, though I never figured them out. The diary-style narration is perfect for this novel, but it soon gets terribly boring and repetitive. A 100 or so fewer pages of bloat would have made this a cracking read.
What’s so clever about this novel is that there are a number of things that seem weirdly “off” with the world building and terminologies and ideas. But they’re not. You could call them clues if you wanted, though I never figured them out. The diary-style narration is perfect for this novel, but it soon gets terribly boring and repetitive. A 100 or so fewer pages of bloat would have made this a cracking read.
March 14, 2023
Finished reading: March 10th 2023
"If you tell a story well enough, it's true."
*** A copy of this book was kindly provided to me by Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton in exchange for an honest review. Thank you! ***
P.S. Find more of my reviews here.
March 23, 2023
Five years ago the government banned the writing & disseminating of fiction: physical books are burned, whilst digital copies have been erased, fictional TV shows & films are prohibited, even reading aloud a nonfiction book is considered storytelling. Now in 2035, successful ex-author, Fern Dostoy - her book 'Technological Amazingness' was considered subversive - is now Fern Dalrymple Widowed & childless, she had to move home & change her appearance & now works as a cleaner in a hospital. She has never heard from her fellow author friends & her only acquaintances are her next door neighbour, & the delivery man from FineFayre who sells her tea & biscuits. Fern lives offline as much as possible as she knows that even something an innocuous as a fridge is used to surveil the population, & she receives regular visits from two men, government officials, who search her home & question her about her activities.
Outwardly Fern is quiet & unassuming, inwardly she is slowly rebelling. She has started to write a journal & gets involved with a group called 'Bedtime Stories for the Restless' a secret group who network to read stories over the telephone to children who can't sleep without their story-time. When she is contacted by a young boy named Hunter, against all advice, she finds herself becoming attached to him. The problem is no-one else has heard of Hunter, even though he tells Fern he has rung the storyline before, & he is ringing in on a phoneline that supposedly only calls out. Fern thinks her fellow storytellers are beginning to wonder if she is cracking under the pressure, but she knows Hunter is real, but who is he & is he hiding something?
This starts off as a chilling dystopia, especially to those of us who are booklovers. It's almost impossible to comprehend a world where fiction is banned completely. As it progresses, it begins to feel more & more surreal, especially her strangely halting friendship with Mr FineFayre - Fern's so awful to him at the start you wonder why he keeps coming back. The premise of it all really captured my imagination. There is a slight dip in pace & intensity in the middle where it seems a little repetitive at times, but if the reader sticks with it, the payoff is worth it. Well I thought so anyway, I may just be hormonal but I'm sure I had a tear or two in my eyes as I read the final pages. I can't give it full marks due to the slow middle section, but I rate this 4.5 (rounded down). I'd definitely read more from the author & as a first book, this is good stuff.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
*UK Publication Date: 23rd March 2023*
Outwardly Fern is quiet & unassuming, inwardly she is slowly rebelling. She has started to write a journal & gets involved with a group called 'Bedtime Stories for the Restless' a secret group who network to read stories over the telephone to children who can't sleep without their story-time. When she is contacted by a young boy named Hunter, against all advice, she finds herself becoming attached to him. The problem is no-one else has heard of Hunter, even though he tells Fern he has rung the storyline before, & he is ringing in on a phoneline that supposedly only calls out. Fern thinks her fellow storytellers are beginning to wonder if she is cracking under the pressure, but she knows Hunter is real, but who is he & is he hiding something?
This starts off as a chilling dystopia, especially to those of us who are booklovers. It's almost impossible to comprehend a world where fiction is banned completely. As it progresses, it begins to feel more & more surreal, especially her strangely halting friendship with Mr FineFayre - Fern's so awful to him at the start you wonder why he keeps coming back. The premise of it all really captured my imagination. There is a slight dip in pace & intensity in the middle where it seems a little repetitive at times, but if the reader sticks with it, the payoff is worth it. Well I thought so anyway, I may just be hormonal but I'm sure I had a tear or two in my eyes as I read the final pages. I can't give it full marks due to the slow middle section, but I rate this 4.5 (rounded down). I'd definitely read more from the author & as a first book, this is good stuff.
My thanks to NetGalley & publishers, Hodder & Stoughton, for the opportunity to read an ARC.
*UK Publication Date: 23rd March 2023*
August 16, 2025
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ - Fiction within fiction!
End of Story by Louise Swanson is an absolute must-read. Gripping from the very first page, this novel weaves a chilling and original dystopian premise with emotional depth and razor-sharp twists. Swanson explores a world where fiction is banned, yet manages to deliver one of the most powerful stories about the importance of storytelling itself.
The writing is taut and compelling, and the narrative unfolds in such an unexpected way that I found myself constantly second-guessing what was real. The themes of censorship, control, and the resilience of the human spirit are timely and thought-provoking.
This is one of those books that stays with you long after the final page. Louise Swanson has crafted something bold, haunting, and incredibly clever. I couldn’t put it down and I absolutely loved the theme of this book!
End of Story by Louise Swanson is an absolute must-read. Gripping from the very first page, this novel weaves a chilling and original dystopian premise with emotional depth and razor-sharp twists. Swanson explores a world where fiction is banned, yet manages to deliver one of the most powerful stories about the importance of storytelling itself.
The writing is taut and compelling, and the narrative unfolds in such an unexpected way that I found myself constantly second-guessing what was real. The themes of censorship, control, and the resilience of the human spirit are timely and thought-provoking.
This is one of those books that stays with you long after the final page. Louise Swanson has crafted something bold, haunting, and incredibly clever. I couldn’t put it down and I absolutely loved the theme of this book!
February 12, 2023
**SPOILERS**
Loved the writing. Loved the concept.
I love reading a book where you can’t predict the ending, and this was exactly that!
It could have gone one of many ways which kept me hooked throughout (and I had fun reading it)
The only reason I’m rating it 4 and not 5 is because I feel that the patient notes and therapy transcriptions at the end weren’t necessary. I think leaving it up to the reader could have been more impactful (although we know by this stage what is going on, we just didn’t need it over explained).
Overall a great read and I’d love to read more from this author.
Loved the writing. Loved the concept.
I love reading a book where you can’t predict the ending, and this was exactly that!
It could have gone one of many ways which kept me hooked throughout (and I had fun reading it)
The only reason I’m rating it 4 and not 5 is because I feel that the patient notes and therapy transcriptions at the end weren’t necessary. I think leaving it up to the reader could have been more impactful (although we know by this stage what is going on, we just didn’t need it over explained).
Overall a great read and I’d love to read more from this author.
dnf
April 19, 2024I’m the worst at going back. I’ll just move it to the DNF file
August 16, 2025
HOLY SHIT???? what an underrated book, gripping story AND insane plot twist that i never saw coming
January 30, 2023
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley, from whom I received a free Netgalley Audiobook in exchange for an honest review.
A serviceable dystopia premise that's a bit silly but works with personal and political levels, at least for the first two-thirds of the story. The sense of loss and fear the narrator feels is well-conveyed.
One annoying thing about listening as audiobook is that chapters kept cutting off part way through final words or sentences. At first I couldn't tell if it was the audio itself, or the Netgalley app which I'd never used before, or if indeed it was part of the story, which is written as a diary and therefore meant to indicate the diarist stopped midway through. Turns out it was the latter.
The slow-burn psychological element and unreliability of a first-person narrator was quite cleverly laid out.
Once the twist is revealed the denouement is far too long and repetitive. The type of narrative handholding that assumes readers are a bit stupid.
Decent dystopian premise, but dystopia fatigue is real, and I should be picking happier reads generally. An average entry to the genre.
A serviceable dystopia premise that's a bit silly but works with personal and political levels, at least for the first two-thirds of the story. The sense of loss and fear the narrator feels is well-conveyed.
One annoying thing about listening as audiobook is that chapters kept cutting off part way through final words or sentences. At first I couldn't tell if it was the audio itself, or the Netgalley app which I'd never used before, or if indeed it was part of the story, which is written as a diary and therefore meant to indicate the diarist stopped midway through. Turns out it was the latter.
The slow-burn psychological element and unreliability of a first-person narrator was quite cleverly laid out.
Once the twist is revealed the denouement is far too long and repetitive. The type of narrative handholding that assumes readers are a bit stupid.
Decent dystopian premise, but dystopia fatigue is real, and I should be picking happier reads generally. An average entry to the genre.
March 14, 2023
I found End of Story a fascinating concept when I heard Louise speak about it at a Hodder event last year. The idea for this novel came to Louise during the pandemic, when there was both a huge increase in book sales & reading, and also much talk about how many of the arts may not survive. This gave Louise the idea of a novel about banning reading & writing. Oh, how would we cope?!
End of Story is therefore a rather bleak, dystopian novel. It picks up many elements of what really happened during the pandemic & takes them much further.
Fern Dostoy was a very successful, award winning writer until fiction was banned. She is now not allowed to write, with a fine & possible imprisonment being the punishments for being caught writing or reading. The people running the country believe that fiction warps our minds, and we are told what to read. In today’s world, these things do not sound so far fetched! But we all know that she’s not going to do as she’s told don’t we?!
End of Story is a well thought out, gripping read with a thought provoking précis - can a well told story become truth?
End of Story is therefore a rather bleak, dystopian novel. It picks up many elements of what really happened during the pandemic & takes them much further.
Fern Dostoy was a very successful, award winning writer until fiction was banned. She is now not allowed to write, with a fine & possible imprisonment being the punishments for being caught writing or reading. The people running the country believe that fiction warps our minds, and we are told what to read. In today’s world, these things do not sound so far fetched! But we all know that she’s not going to do as she’s told don’t we?!
End of Story is a well thought out, gripping read with a thought provoking précis - can a well told story become truth?
December 1, 2023
I did enjoy this book, but I kinda guessed the “huge twist” and although I knew what had happened, that last stage of the book killed me. I was sobbing the way she explains it I felt it happened to me or someone close.
I did feel something was missing and at the start of the book I was getting slightly annoyed when I didn’t understand things. Or the constant mention of milk - even made me feel sick, but obviously I know now!
I did feel something was missing and at the start of the book I was getting slightly annoyed when I didn’t understand things. Or the constant mention of milk - even made me feel sick, but obviously I know now!
August 29, 2024
Time taken to read - 2 days
Pages - 320
Publisher - Hodder Books
Source - Netgalley & bought a treebook copy
Blurb from Goodreads
Once upon a time, there was a writer named Fern.
She was a bestseller. An award-winner. Loved by readers and critics alike. With her words, she changed the world.
Until her story took a turn.
Now Fern is a cleaner in a hospital. Condemned to anonymity. Because reading books is now a crime.
Only, Fern doesn't plan on going down without a fight. She'll keep writing, no matter the consequences. She will make her voice heard.
Because Fern's story is only beginning.
But can you guess how it will end?
My Review
Imagine a world where fiction is banned, authors have had their books/awards removed from them, gains from said books taken, the government isn't here to play. Meet Fern, Fern had only just really got into her stride as an author, published books, best sellers, events, signings, money rolling in, everything was looking up especially after everything she had been through. Now present day she is merely existing, doing a job she hates, not allowed contact with any other fiction writers, living in a home that gets period checks to make sure she is behaving and not writing. Fern isn't ready to give up and slowly finds herself rebelling.
What a wild ride and I wasn't sure what all was going on or where it was going which kept me on edge. Fern works as a cleaner at a hospital, had an aversion to the smell of milk and tries to stay off the radar. Whilst working she hears some really shady stuff, stuff similar to the out there fiction she created and the people from the government become increasingly more threatening and intrusive to her life/space.
I think whilst the initial idea you would be like oh that would never happen, recent years I think has showed us just how insane the world can get/be at times. Government included. The story is told with Fern writing diary entries so we get the chat directly from her as she tries to process her feelings and thoughts as she goes.
I really liked the tea guy, he isn't a huge character by any means but seems a tiny glimpse of normality, almost a lifeline for Fern as she is so lonely and untrusting of everyone. It is an interesting concept and when you think you know where the book is going or what is coming, you don't. To be fair I am terrible trying to work out who the bad guy is or what is coming but even those good at it I don't think you will with this one because it is such a different idea/theme and as I was reading, I didn't trust anyone lol. This is the first book I have read by Louise Swanson (I have read under her other/original pen name) and it won't be my last. I have at least one more on my tbrm (Beech) and will get the others, 4/5 from us. It is certainly different so if you are looking for something of a change that also looks at shady government behaviours, unscrupulous behaviours in the NHS/healthcare, friendship, mental health, grief, shady characters and a world where fiction is banned, then this is for you!
Pages - 320
Publisher - Hodder Books
Source - Netgalley & bought a treebook copy
Blurb from Goodreads
Once upon a time, there was a writer named Fern.
She was a bestseller. An award-winner. Loved by readers and critics alike. With her words, she changed the world.
Until her story took a turn.
Now Fern is a cleaner in a hospital. Condemned to anonymity. Because reading books is now a crime.
Only, Fern doesn't plan on going down without a fight. She'll keep writing, no matter the consequences. She will make her voice heard.
Because Fern's story is only beginning.
But can you guess how it will end?
My Review
Imagine a world where fiction is banned, authors have had their books/awards removed from them, gains from said books taken, the government isn't here to play. Meet Fern, Fern had only just really got into her stride as an author, published books, best sellers, events, signings, money rolling in, everything was looking up especially after everything she had been through. Now present day she is merely existing, doing a job she hates, not allowed contact with any other fiction writers, living in a home that gets period checks to make sure she is behaving and not writing. Fern isn't ready to give up and slowly finds herself rebelling.
What a wild ride and I wasn't sure what all was going on or where it was going which kept me on edge. Fern works as a cleaner at a hospital, had an aversion to the smell of milk and tries to stay off the radar. Whilst working she hears some really shady stuff, stuff similar to the out there fiction she created and the people from the government become increasingly more threatening and intrusive to her life/space.
I think whilst the initial idea you would be like oh that would never happen, recent years I think has showed us just how insane the world can get/be at times. Government included. The story is told with Fern writing diary entries so we get the chat directly from her as she tries to process her feelings and thoughts as she goes.
I really liked the tea guy, he isn't a huge character by any means but seems a tiny glimpse of normality, almost a lifeline for Fern as she is so lonely and untrusting of everyone. It is an interesting concept and when you think you know where the book is going or what is coming, you don't. To be fair I am terrible trying to work out who the bad guy is or what is coming but even those good at it I don't think you will with this one because it is such a different idea/theme and as I was reading, I didn't trust anyone lol. This is the first book I have read by Louise Swanson (I have read under her other/original pen name) and it won't be my last. I have at least one more on my tbrm (Beech) and will get the others, 4/5 from us. It is certainly different so if you are looking for something of a change that also looks at shady government behaviours, unscrupulous behaviours in the NHS/healthcare, friendship, mental health, grief, shady characters and a world where fiction is banned, then this is for you!
March 23, 2023
2035 – and what a grim and vividly drawn picture of that future world. Fiction is banned, and people queue at government-run bookshops that now sell only instructive non-fiction to hand over their last remaining books to be burned in mass bonfires – and its authors are forbidden from writing, isolated and controlled, under threat of further action should they continue to write. We see the world through the eyes of Fern Dostoy – a former best-selling and award-winning author, her husband lost in the last pandemic, now working as a hospital cleaner, living in a flat that doesn’t feel like home, just trying to survive – her empty life captured on the pages of her secret diary. Her friends in the book world have disappeared – her only human contact now is with the hospital workers, her neighbour, the tea salesman who calls regularly, and the government agents (the tall one and the short one) whose visits she dreads. But after a chance meeting, she’s drawn into an underground world – a phone line, and a group of people who read forbidden bedtime stories to children. And there she befriends Hunter – a solitary child who calls regularly and speaks to only her, and entirely wins her heart.
The world the author creates is stunningly real and quite terrifying – and even more so when the extreme scenarios Fern wrote about in her best-selling books seem destined to be adopted as government policy. But this is very much Fern’s own story – and, the book having been written during the Covid pandemic, her internal dialogue on the pages of her diary captures so well the experience of many, although we did have fiction to see us through. The clues are always there if you look for them – Fern’s mantra of “If you tell a story well enough, it’s true” underpins the whole story – but the shift that happens in the second part of the book was entirely unexpected and quite perfectly handled.
The writing is, of course, wonderful – but the book’s whole construction is incredibly clever too. It’s easy to overlook the chapter headers of the stages of grief – and to park the moments of incongruity like the reappearing single trainer and Fern’s visceral reaction to the smell of sour milk. And the ending of each section of writing on an ellipsis – to ensure that Fern returns to her story. I’d like to say I was surprised by the book’s emotional impact, but I’ve read enough of the author’s writing that it was just everything I wanted it to be – as Fern struggled through the darkness of her life, I wept with her.
A chilling and totally absorbing read, the product of an extraordinary imagination, and the author’s writing has never been better – a remarkable read I’d highly recommend to all, and without question one of my books of the year.
The world the author creates is stunningly real and quite terrifying – and even more so when the extreme scenarios Fern wrote about in her best-selling books seem destined to be adopted as government policy. But this is very much Fern’s own story – and, the book having been written during the Covid pandemic, her internal dialogue on the pages of her diary captures so well the experience of many, although we did have fiction to see us through. The clues are always there if you look for them – Fern’s mantra of “If you tell a story well enough, it’s true” underpins the whole story – but the shift that happens in the second part of the book was entirely unexpected and quite perfectly handled.
The writing is, of course, wonderful – but the book’s whole construction is incredibly clever too. It’s easy to overlook the chapter headers of the stages of grief – and to park the moments of incongruity like the reappearing single trainer and Fern’s visceral reaction to the smell of sour milk. And the ending of each section of writing on an ellipsis – to ensure that Fern returns to her story. I’d like to say I was surprised by the book’s emotional impact, but I’ve read enough of the author’s writing that it was just everything I wanted it to be – as Fern struggled through the darkness of her life, I wept with her.
A chilling and totally absorbing read, the product of an extraordinary imagination, and the author’s writing has never been better – a remarkable read I’d highly recommend to all, and without question one of my books of the year.
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