Reviews

This Is Where It Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

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hannahcrewe's review against another edition

3.0

I give this book a solid 3 stars. I hymmed and hawed about closer to 2 star and even at points closer to 4, but overall 3 feels best. I think the novel does a good job at keeping the audience interested and emotionally involved but with such a heavy topic I feel like it could have gripped me more than it did. While I was devastated throughout the book, I did not cry which I expected to with such a traumatic story. I feel there could have been more character presence, you were able to briefly meet and connect with the characters but not enough. I also would have liked more story dynamics- the novel does very much so paint a black and white portrait of this kind of situation (victims are good, villain is evil). While in most cases the truth is far more complicated. It is shown briefly that Tyler’s character is more complex than just plain evil but I do feel it could be showcased more thoroughly.

tcgarback's review against another edition

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dark tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

⭐️⭐️
Critical Score: C
Personal Score: D

I wonder how different this book might have been were it written just a few years later, after Parkland. Might it have taken on the indisputably political nature of gun violence in America? Might it have given space to the student movements? Might it have acknowledged the circus that is the NRA, the gun lobby, our failed legislation, and the disastrous media storms following every mass school shooting?

Or would Nijkamp still have been as spineless and cowardly in her approach to such important subject matter?

This book starts off strong. It’s got palpable dread that lasts tens of pages. It’s shocking in its violence.

And then things drag on…and on…with no mature insights on human nature, grief, gun control, mental illness, or anything, really. The tweet inserts are cheesy. The name of the school is stupid. The weird inklings of romance are awkward. The whole thing is quite juvenile.

At first I thought people hated this book because it has the audacity to get so in-your-face about gun violence. Maybe that’s why some people do hate it. That’s not why I do. The violence is the only real thing about this book.

The rest is limp, from hollow sentiments about perseverance and hope to idiotic character sacrifices played off as heroic rescues.

The story eventually reveals itself as no more than a cheap thriller. In this sense, it’s tasteless. Without strong writing or meaningful commentary, the book fails to earn its premise. If you’re going to write about a school shooting, WRITE about a school shooting. Have the guts to get political and uncomfortable about our country, because it’s fucked up. Gun violence is fucked up. The needless deaths of hundreds of students is fucked up.

Yet, this book sees it all as mere tragedy, a tear jerker out of which to spin some saccharine message about believing in the power of love and tomorrow.

Nijkamp appears to have no interest in challenging her readers beyond physical violence.

Again, maybe I’m being too harsh and this book just came out right before the conversation around gun control heated up to what we know it as today. Idk.

But it’s not like Parkland was the first key school shooting; it signaled a shift in the culture’s discussion on school shootings, but it’s always been a contentious subject. And I’m sure there are books circa-Columbine that dig plenty deep into the politics of our armed US hellscape.

It feels like Nijkamp did no research for this book and just winged it.

Ok, other notes.

I was nervous that setting the book within a space of 50 minutes would make it feel dragged out, and it does—but only starting around the halfway point. Like I said, the beginning is tense. What else did I like? The diverse cast, I suppose.

But beyond that, this is a pretty useless book on the subject. America deserves better literature on gun violence.

avarich's review against another edition

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dark emotional inspiring reflective sad tense fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? A mix
Strong character development? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

At first i didn’t really like the book, the topic is dark and serious, but the writing seemed geared towards a younger audience. but towards the end of the book, i completely forgot about all of that and was shocked with everything that happened. i read this in one day and it was brutal and tragic, seeing how everyone connects and their motives. it’s one of those books where you pretend it ended differently. 3.5 because i thought the writing was a bit young especially for how dark and serious the topics in the book were, but it redeemed itself at the end. scary when u realize this is reality for a lot of people.. and that you really don’t know how anyone reacts in these situations, even family, so much betrayal in one book.

sophiaknudsen's review against another edition

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sickening. absolutely disgusting. this type of event has happened and will continue to happen and I do believe it needs to be discussed and prevented. however, I am not sure if it was right to go about that dicussion through a work of fiction for entertainment. I'm not going to rate this because I am conflicted about the appropriateness of this topic in young adult literature.