I'm Thinking of Ending Things
Ratings341
Average rating3.7
right off the bat, i have to recommend you go into this book completely cold. i went in knowing nothing about it except that i was pretty sure it was supposed to be creepy – and it delivered on that front. the first 90% was absolutely immaculate in its tension, even during ‘dull' moments i was at the edge of my seat trying to decipher what was going on. at one point you'll think you know – but you don't, really. unfortunately the reveal kind of killed it for me. i just wasn't a fan of the resolution. although it was bizarre enough that i immediately re-read the book (something i don't think i've ever done before) to look for the hints along the way. and there are plenty, if you know what to look for. but the tension is lost once you know the outcome. still, i enjoyed the majority of this SO much that i definitely recommend it and will be thinking of it for a long time. in fact, i'm adding it to my favorites bookshelf, which i never do with non-5-star reads.
First Iain Reid book, blew my mind away. Definitely reading everything by this author ever.
VERY generous 2 stars i thought it would pick up but it didnt and the ending was so underwhelming and just fell flat and it wasnt very thrilling
Those 4 pages of repeated phrase was some David Byrne singing Once in a Lifetime by Talking Heads bullshit.
3.5/5
I think I hate this book but I also really like it. I feel sick to my stomach after finishing it though. I loved the scary vibes, it genuinely had me scared at many moments.
This is the saddest book I have ever read, bypassing A Little Life by miles. DO NOT read this book if you are not in a good place mentally because it is SAD. I'm glad I read this when I was doing well and not at a more difficult time of my life, or else I would NOT be okay.
I think it accurately portrays the spirals and thoughts through mental illness and depression, but I think it does romanticize it a bit which is what made me the most sad about this book.
An interesting insight into the mind of a very ill individual but PLEASE read with CAUTION! Do not take this lightly.
That was a very confusing and scary ride! I was really intrigued with all the discussions and thoughts of the characters. And I think I generally got what the book is about. But after watching some YouTube videos (and the Netflix movie) some details became more clearer, too.
I'm not sure what exactly I was feeling while reading/listening, but the book definitely made me feel a lot!
what a creepy creepy book...did not see that ending coming but glad I read it, loved how it built up and then bam in your face creeped out lol. definitely recommend and hang in there if you feel its really slow at first i promise its worth it.
WOW. Reading this i felt it had so much depth and also lacked so much depth. What was her name? That drove me crazy. Why don't i know anything about her? When it all came together in the end i just had to sit there and think over the book again with the knowledge that she's simply a delusion and was in awe that a book with so little character development kept me so hooked that i read it in one sitting. I am so impressed with the authors writing.
This one will stay with me awhile. I saw the end coming, but the way it was narrated made up for its predictability. I feel like I need to eventually reread this to fully absorb everything.
I liked the mix between the present, the twisted mind and a memory, however, I couldn't enjoy it too much, the talk in the car seemed eternal and heavy, the plot twist was too slow for me, I was already losing interest , but manages to get it back pretty well in the end. Heavy for those who are not used to reading this type of terror, silent and slow.
What I enjoyed most about the novel was the way it gets under your skin. One second it has scenes you relate to, the next it tries to creep you out, while in the back of your mind you are trying to put the entire story together. A quick and easy thriller that has a great journey and a great ending.
I could NOT put this book down. This was such a creepy read. I definitely felt a sense of dread all the way to the end.
Oooof I had high hopes but it just wasn't for me. The ending twist was disappointing to me. I wanted it to be more slasher style I suppose. Oh well.
Very odd book. I kind of figured it out at the end. But it wasn't what I expected in the book.
I love the concept, the writing style. A less fun We Need to Talk About Kevin. But despite the atmospheric wandering, and subtle horrors... it lacks making me care about the narrator, or their big questions, and the atmospheric horror aspects, while good, lack any thrill or climax. While I didn't particularly like this book, I want to read more from this author. They know how to create a mood, I'm hoping in other works the content and characters add to that mood.
I think I'm gonna follow instructions and read this again, but backwards.
For context, I watched the movie first - didn't understand it. I hoped the book would paint a clearer picture, and it did, but I'm still unsure what to feel about it.
I'm not really sure why I'm putting so much effort into this one. But I want to like it, and I'm giving it ample opportunities to win me over. Hopefully it does, eventually.
I appreciate what it's going for.
What happens when someone takes what if... to a whole new level. And what happens if that someone relies on what if... to answer a morbid question. Nothing good, probably.
Also, is it weird that I liked the stilted conversations?
Wow.
I'm not even sure how to review this book.
It is unsettling from the very first page. But the thing is, you can't quite figure out why. And that just makes the whole thing even more unsettling.
If you like horror, you'll likely find it to be a captivating read. It's not enjoyable. It's not fun. But I could not put it down. I'll contemplate it for awhile. Enjoying isn't the right word- but it's whatever that feeling you get from a good horror movie is.
From a writing standpoint, there's some really interesting conversations to be had about cultivating an exacting mood in a story from the very first page.
NO rating coz idk wtf just happened, soo confused by the ending, after finishing it I literally went and read all the spoiler reviews on gr coz i was so confused. Maybe I might understand it after a reread in a few months
Wow, what a rollercoaster! This book really impressed me on so many levels. Firstly, the writing. The author does an amazing job of keeping the reader on their toes. You are constantly wondering “what's happening? What's about to happen?”. This suspense-ridden feeling lingers till the end. Thematically, the author plays with several aspects of the horror and suspense genres. The premise seems at the outset pretty straightforward: the protagonist is taking a trip with her boyfriend to meet his parents on a cold and windy day. She has been seeing this boy for a few weeks now and she's planning to drop a bomb on him - “I'm thinking of ending things”, but she's conflicted. What ensues forms the rest of the plot. I can't go into too much detail as this would spoil the plot. All I can say is, go into this one with an open mind. You won't be disappointed.
Characters: 4
Plot: 5
Writing: 4
Execution: 5
Overall: 4.5
Post-modern philosophical horror. Completely different from but with a vibe similar to Under the Skin.
“Sometimes a thought is closer to truth, to reality, than an action. You can say anything, you can do anything, but you can't fake a thought.”
I really dislike this book. After all the hype, I'm let down. I understand the ending is supposed to wrap it up in a neat little bow but it was PREDICTABLE! I knew that the girl was a figment of Jake's imagination. It wasn't much of a shock like everyone told me it was going to be.
I also despise the main character. She complains about every little thing and it was frustrating to listen to the narrator b***ch the entire time. I felt no connection to any character at all and could care less what happened.
Also, what's with the phone calls from “her number?” Personally I feel like that little tidbit was added to make the story seem creepier but it was more confusing than anything.
Kind of disappointed I wasted my audible credit which is the only reason I even saw this book through.
Highly recommend the audiobook version for this. That's it, the experience is best if you go in not knowing anything. Watch the Netflix adaptation too if you enjoy the book. Fantastic mindfuck story!