This is Where it Ends, a book review

Basically, since Instagram stories came out, we have all gotten a little more ~artsy~

While this has never been a strong suit of mine (aka why all my book pictures look the same at this point), I love looking through them, especially because people are much more likely to throw their current reads onto the 24-hour long image. Trust me when I say I have no shame in screenshotting people's book titles to remember to look into or direct messaging the user to get their opinion; these events happen much more than I would like to admit. Luckily though, they typically seem to work out to my benefit. For example, I never would have heard of This is Where it Ends if it weren't for an InstaStory (special s/o to brooke miller for the title) The moral of the story is that people put their books on social media if they think they're good, so don't skip right through the image. Pause and look into them, or else you may miss out on something incredible.

This is Where it Ends by Marieke Nijkamp

(pictured above)

Rating: 8/10

Favorite Quote: “You can’t always keep your loved ones with you. You can’t always settle your life in one place. The world was made to change. But as long as you cherish the memories and make new ones along the way, no matter where you are, you’ll always be at home.”

Synopsis: It's the first day of spring semester at Opportunity High School. By tradition, everyone sits in the auditorium listening to the same speech from the principal, followed by the bell and excusal to the first day of class. Except that for some reason the doors don't open. And a student walks in with a gun.

Told from the point of view of several students, both inside and outside of the auditorium, this is a span of 54-minutes that you'll never forget.

Review: For some reason, I just seem to be picking heart-wrenching books in this new year. This is Where it Ends revolves around a school shooting, and I would be lying if I said I didn't shed some tears, so if you do opt to pick this up, please be prepared for your emotions to run high. On the other hand, much like I said about The Female of the Species, you are going to walk away from this read with at least a little knowledge. Best of all, it makes the reader think. How would you act in a similar situation? What would you do to save your peers? How can we include other people in our lives so no one ever feels alone? These are just a few of the burning questions you'll be left with after finishing the final page of This is How it Ends, and that's the best possible outcome for our society. If we want to avoid similar tragedies in the future, we have to ask ourselves the tough questions and see where we can change.

Final Thoughts: I truly think it would be beneficial for everyone to read this book. Though it may be emotionally challenging, it's important and critical in today's society. Plus, if it makes it more enticing, the reading level is not extremely high, meaning you can read this book in a short sitting. Ultimately, you have no excuse not to give this novel a look through.

so, we’re at the end of yet another blog post. i probably sound like a broken record, but thank you so much for reading and feel free to send any book recommendations my way! hoping you have plenty of intriguing titles lining your book shelves this semester. happy reading!!

xoxo madison