I'm Thinking of Ending Things: A Novel

I LOVED this book! I ENJOYED it very MUCH! I have a stack of TBR books on my desk. I've started more than one. This one gripped me so much that not only did I forget the other books, but I actually FINISHED this one in TWO sittings! It starts off normal, but the idea that the woman is "thinking of ending things" stays in your mind. As other reviewers said, you get this sense that something is off. That something strange is going on in the periphery. She seems to be getting along with her boyfriend quite well. She likes several things about him, is even attracted to him. So why does she really want to end things? It's certainly strange, but NOT off-putting, at all! People are strange! That's just a fact of life! I wanted to tell you what movies this story reminds me of, but I thought better of it. I would be giving too much away, and I really want you to enjoy this book. It was certainly my type of story! A scary psychological thriller! It has THE PERFECT ending! And you'll never guess what the ending will be! And what it is, that ends! As the story progressed and things started to unravel and become clear, I could feel the hairs on the back of my neck stand up on "end." Which is, after all, what a GOOD book is supposed to do! It's supposed to suffuse you with emotions! It's suppose to catalyse a response, a reaction, within you! This was a quick and HIGHLY enjoyable read! It stayed with me for a few days after finishing it! It left an indelible imprint in my psyche! I LOVED IT! Now I want to find another book just like it! I HIGHLY recommend this book! No reservations!

I bought this book because I was told it would be scary. The back of the book promises: "You will be scared. But you won't know why." Well, I wasn't. This isn't really a horror story so much as it is a psychological thriller. But overall, I did enjoy it, though not consistently the whole way through. The story's a little slow to get started, focusing intently on a conversation between two characters as they drive to a farmhouse for dinner. This conversation covers a lot of philosophical ground, ranging from the genuinely interesting to the "pretentious undergraduate," but always seems to fit within the established framework between the characters. The reader eventually begins to wonder why we're reading these thoughts, though, and where this thing is going. Just as those feelings begin to percolate, the novel takes a turn to the strange. Not a large turn and not even a sudden one, but a slight and gradual shift in which the reader begins to detect that things feel "off" for some inarticulable reason. It's in that ground that the novel spends the majority of its time. The armchair philosophizing never quite goes away, but it does yield some ground to this growing sense of something "just not quite right" about the events being depicted. This place--if not quite the uncanny valley, then at least within the same neighborhood--is fertile ground for a novelist, and Reid exploits it well. I've always had a certain affinity for a book that keeps me reading if for no other reason than to figure out just what in the world is actually happening. Of course, that's not the only reason to keep reading. The characters might not be as fleshed out as they could be in a longer novel, but they do exhibit the fundamental humanity that keeps readers attached to their story. The writing is tight and overall of high quality (though I take issue with the author's liberal use of shifting tenses throughout the book, even if I do understand his purpose in doing so). And, as I've already mentioned, the brief philosophical interludes, though occasionally an annoying distraction from the story proper, more frequently provide a brief pause in the story for the reader to reflect on some interesting ideas. A novel that spends so much of its energy making the reader detect a nearly imperceptible "offness" has to rely on the force of its ending to justify the rest of the story. In this case, the author manages to pull it off, but only just. I did not predict the ending very far in advance, though I did have a feeling early on of the "kind" of ending it was likely to be (and that feeling proved correct in general terms, though the details eluded me). Was it a satisfying ending? Partly. Without spoilers, I will say that it did bring the story to a satisfactory conclusion, but I'll also say that I didn't find the "punch" of the ending nearly as interesting as the "weirdness" of the preceding pages. I can somewhat forgive that, though. The ending is probably the hardest part of a story, and that goes doubly for a story like this. Will this book become enshrined as one of my favorites? No. But it's a good quick read, likely to keep you interested until you finish in just a sitting or two, and worth a few hours of your time and a few dollars of your money. Despite a few flaws, I do recommend it.

I recently ventured into what might be the oddest reading experience I’ve ever had with “I’m Thinking of Ending Things” by Iain Reid. Initially intrigued by its adaptation into a Netflix movie, I dove into the book expecting one thing and ended up with something entirely different. At first glance, the title (and the beginning of the story itself) suggests a straightforward narrative about ending a relationship, and for a significant portion of the book, that’s the journey we’re on. The protagonist’s contemplation about her relationship and the ensuing road trip with her boyfriend kept me hooked. Reid’s writing style, tinged with sarcasm and a unique tone, made the read enjoyable and engaging—until it wasn’t. As the story progressed, “weird” took on a whole new meaning. The narrative took such a bizarre turn that I found myself questioning the reality Reid had constructed, leading to a jarring disconnect from the initial intrigue. This twist, while perhaps intended to shock and awe, left me more horrified than impressed. After finishing the book on a Friday night, curiosity led me to the movie adaptation the following day. If I thought the book was strange, the film amplified that tenfold, adding additional layers of visual weirdness. It pains me to give this book three stars because there’s a part of me that genuinely enjoyed the ride for a good 80% of it. However, it just got too weird for me. If you end up reading “I’m Thinking of Ending Things,” just be prepared for a conclusion that might not sit well with everyone. As for me, while I appreciated the journey for the most part, I couldn’t fully embrace the destination…hence the three-star rating.

The tagline for I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid is "You will be scared. But you won't know why" (sic). I don't think a marketing campaign has ever hit the nail on the head like this one. This book is creepy. I don't think there is a better word to describe it. The book begins with a road trip to Jake's parent's house told from the perspective of a unnamed girlfriend of Jake. Jake is an intellectual who has a conversation with the girlfriend about what reality is, what is truth, and other types of philosophical discussions. The girlfriend is thinking about ending things with Jake, even though she likes some parts of Jake. She has also been getting a strange call on her phone daily and sometimes multiple times a day. It is always the same message with the same voice. Thus begins the path toward creepville. As we arrive at Jake's parents' farm house, things start to shift. There are dead animals alongside of live ones, dinner is almost silent, Jake's parents are extremely odd, and the house is just creepy in and of itself. Jake's girlfriend starts forgetting things- like the fact she bit her nails to the nub. Her perspective takes an eerie tone. Following dinner, we move into a school where we come to the ending of the book. Jake disappears into the building and the girlfriend is left alone with a janitor who may or may not want to kill her. She must go into the building to find Jake and get to safety, but things take a huge turn for her. As stated, this book is more creepy than violent. There is one violent scene, but one knows it is coming. The creepiness comes from how Reid describes everything through the eyes of the girlfriend. At certain points the girlfriend will describe things as if looking at the scene through a 20x magnification. There is one scene entirely devoted to how Jake eats his cereal, for example. We read about how he chews, how he stares intently at the paper, how he doesn't dribble, etc. This goes on for a few paragraphs. Reid will use this technique throughout the book to give a sense of creepiness. There is also a story being told in between chapters of unnamed voices who are describing a murder of some sort. I will say that it is important to follow along this story. I will also say that it is important to follow along with the opening conversation. It will not seem important, but it is extremely important to understand this book. I don't want to spoil anything, but these parts really matter to your "enjoyment" of this book and I think the reason why some are going negative with their reviews is they did not pay attention. There is a twist in the book that will make one want to read the book again immediately, which is exactly what I did. As soon as I finished it, I went back and started to re-read it to see how incredible this book was. I know that people will not enjoy this one, but I loved it! It is definitely not for everyone, but for those that enjoy creepy, creepy books, I think you are going to like this one. I rated this one 4.5 stars recognizing it isn't for everyone at all. You can find all my reviews at [...]

I got recommended this book by someone saying it was some of the best horror they'd ever read, so admittedly I may have had high expectations going in. I was immediately jarred by the very terse and punctual writing style of the author, but hey, this is a first person perspective. Its just capturong the voice of the narrator, so I wont complain about a choice that I'm not personally a fan of. We're introduced to the main characters, the narrator and her boyfriend Jake, as they are on a road trip up to see Jake's parents. Both characters can be described as incredibly pretentious and bland. On the car ride, they discuss various topics, mostly musing about the nature of life, where they drop hot takes on each other with the smugness of a college freshman who's just finished a philosophy 101 class and wants to illuminate everyone with his wisdom. During the trip, the narrator keeps struggling with the fact that she's "thinking of ending things" with Jake, but is unsure if she wants to because she still sees something in him. In an astonishing parallel that's either a great coincidence or proof of the galaxy brain ability of the author, I kept thinking of ending things with this book, but just before I gave up each time I got just a taste of horror that made me excited for when the book would pick up, whether it was the mysterious calls from the narrator's own number, her story of the man in the window, or the strange happenings at Jake's parents' house. It never picked up. The final act of the story felt as if it was trying to just throw psychological horror tropes at the wall and see what sticks without wrapping up the MANY loose ends it had created. Instead, it just made more and more. At one point, I started connecting the dots and saw an incredibly cliche twist coming along. It was bland and predictable, but at least it made sense and made the plot cohesive. The only problem was that the twist never happened. Instead, the story just kept derailing itself off the deep end. Keep in mind that this whole time, practivally every other paragraph is some sophomoric observasion about the world that rips you away from the story. In a different context, taking an entire paragraph to explain how fear and dread are not fleeting feelings but instead lingering emotions could definitely help set the mood. In this book however, I just started bashing my head on the nearest hard surface until this umpteenth non-sequitur was over. I really, really wanted to enjoy this book. For as annoying and stiff as I found Jake and the narrator, the little snippets of horror in the first and second acts kept me going in the hopes that I would get something good. But a completely nonsensical third act had me wanting to pull my hair out.

*contains spoilers* **spoiler free** This was a good novel. I wanted to write a review because I saw a lot of negative reviews about the novel being confusing and about the ending. I think if people do not actively try to solve the mysteries that are being presented to them as they read further into the story, then yes, you will be confused, especially by the ending. This story is about thinking, and I think Iain Reid expects us to do some thinking as well to understand the plot. It was well-paced, suspenseful – and everything does come together at the end if you put the thinking in. Everything that Jake and the girlfriend see, talk about, and do while on their trip holds a purpose. Their trip holds a purpose and is important for the girlfriend in her decision to the question she has on her mind. She is tested psychologically, and we the readers, see her thinking. Because she doesn't know everything, we don't know everything, and are therefore terrified with her. I gave this 4 stars instead of 5 because some hints I think are given a bit too early in the novel. It does help with the suspense because you're wondering "why," but I guess it takes away from the mystery. I suppose you can't be overly active in trying to solve the mysteries, because clues and hints will pop out at you, but you can't just passively read it and then say "I hated it because it was so confusing." You need to engage yourself in the story and wonder why she's doing everything and why she wants to end things. With her thinking, you then put all the pieces together and with her, answer the question. I would definitely recommend this novel to anyone who enjoys psychological, thriller mysteries. This is one of the best novels I've read in a long time and it's something I would read again to see what I missed the first time. There is so much that happens within these 210~ pages, that there's no way to catch it all the first read through. I guess you could say this is a quick read, but if you read it without thinking, you're gonna be confused. **spoilers begin** What I got after my first read was: He and the Girlfriend were the same person, or the Girlfriend was a made up character he produced after meeting the girl in the pub. He is also the custodian. They are all the same person. For some reason he has written what we read as the novel down–we can think of it as his suicide note (which the police/investigators find) The single pages in italics are what is happening in real life...an account of the investigation. That timeline matches up to the actual story's timeline at the very end when Jake finally kills himself. I think that Jake never really left the school at all, and has a delusion/fantasy where he has a girlfriend and isn't a custodian. This can be due to the varnishing that the investigators state was happening at the school at the time (the smell was very strong, hence why the girlfriend, our narrator, smelled chemicals and had a headache the whole time). This delusion/fantasy Jake is having can be happening in his subconscious, and while that is happening, the Caller could be acting as his consciousness trying to wake him up – trying to get him to answer the question (that's why the Caller's calls came from the Girlfriend's number–the calls were from herself/himself, Jake). Should he end things, or not? The drive is a metaphor for navigating his life (like Doug says earlier). You could also think of it as someone reading what he wrote, maybe an investigator, during the investigation, which is why we get flashes of the investigation while they are reading Jake's note. If you read the beginning with the knowledge of the end, then "ending things" does not just mean their relationship. It means Jakes life. It means the fantasy he has constructed. At the end, he is okay with being lonely, and has accepted that his answer will be to end things. **spoilers end**

I watched the movie before I read the book, which is nearly unheard of for me as I usually search out movie titles for the book counterpart first, and I enjoyed the movie! Needless to say, once I found that it was based on a book I had to read it! I bought the book from Amazon 😊 and honestly, couldn't put it down! As I had seen the film I had a slight grasp on what the story was, but the book SUCKED ME IN!! When I say I couldn't put it down that is literally exactly what I mean. I read the entirety of the book in an afternoon/ evening. I can understand where the poor reviews come from. This is absolutely not a book for everyone, and that's OK. It may come off a bit young adult thriller at times but the deeper psychological aspects of the story are anything but. When she says she's thinking of ending things you're left to wonder if she's taking about her relationship or her life. At times it seems it could be both. This is honestly a taut thriller that anyone who loves to reread books should own. I am a die hard Stephen King fan (constant reader, if you will) and the end of this book leads you right back to the beginning, sort of like a certain book series by my favorite author. I'll not spoil anything for you, if you're even bothering to read this, about this specific book OR the compelling SK series I so fondly mentioned, just know it's a page turner, a head scratcher, and it's so compelling! In my opinion, it makes you look inward for answers that you otherwise might not find. Gripping! Great read!

“We’re never inside someone else’s head. We can never really know someone else’s thoughts. And it’s thoughts that count. Thought is reality. Actions can be faked.”- I’m Thinking of Ending Things. REVIEW: This book has been getting a lot of hype lately so I decided to jump in. As you may have heard, it is unsettling and creepy. Maybe not in the way of traditional horror, but the kind that gets under your skin, makes you look over your shoulder, and makes sure that your doors are locked. I REALLY advise you to go into this book as blind as possible. In fact, the only information you really need of the synopsis is that it is about Jake and his girlfriend, who he is bringing to meet his parents out on the farm where he grew up. The story isn’t super long, and I read it in about two sittings. The plot of this book is very slow moving, but I really don’t think this is a plot driven book. It’s more philosophical almost and makes you think. It is ambiguous and is up for individuals interpretations. While I liked this book a lot, I wish it would have been a bit longer with even more creepy scenes (because they were SO well done). I also thought that some aspects of the story weren’t as explained as they should be, or maybe they are also up for interpretation. Overall, I would recommend this book to horror lovers and those who love more philosophical, ambitious books that leave you thinking. I also would recommend this to people who loved “House of Leaves” as it elicits some of the same feelings. I will for sure be reading this again in the future, with the knowledge I have now, to see if I gain any additional insights. SYNOPSIS: I’m thinking of ending things. Once this thought arrives, it stays. It sticks. It lingers. It’s always there. Always. Jake once said, “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.” And here’s what I’m thinking: I don’t want to be here. In this deeply suspenseful and irresistibly unnerving debut novel, a man and his girlfriend are on their way to a secluded farm. When the two take an unexpected detour, she is left stranded in a deserted high school, wondering if there is any escape at all. What follows is a twisted unraveling that will haunt you long after the last page is turned.

Começo dizendo que esse livro não vai ser do gosto de muitos. Ele é escrito no estilo de fluxo de consciência, e a narrativa foca nas conversas entre os personagens e memórias intercaladas para avançar, a localização é limitada a poucos espaços fechados e atmosfera é bastante claustrofóbica. O livro possui uma boa mistura de mistério com uma pitada de terror psicológico, e como o próprio autor descreve nas páginas: o que importa é apenas uma pergunta. O interesse está em encontar as pistas que os personagens vão deixando entre suas falas, para assim montar o quebra-cabeça das memórias e acontecimentos narrados e chegar à resposta final junto à personagem. Acredito que esses sejam os principais pontos para ter em mente antes de iniciar a leitura, e eu recomendo que, assim como eu, ela seja feita sem haver lido muito da sinopse, e de preferência em uma única sentada. No mais, é importante atentar para os gatilhos da história.

My second time reading this book, after a number of months and it still drew me into the story. It’s tense and psychologically insightful. The author builds an ongoing sense of mystery, of not being completely sure of what is happening. Questions of identity, the disintegration of personality and death actually make a beautiful book. You wonder, why did this have to happen? But it had to be this way, there was no escape really, no other possibility. It manages to maintain its sense of disorientation, of psychological rather than physical terror. Something remaining hidden but waiting to crop up, that can no longer be avoided. It sits in the mind. Or to borrow the words of the author, “it stays, it sticks, it lingers”. And that’s what the book does, while you’re reading it and even after you’re finished. Very worthwhile.

Ho visto prima il film su netflix e non potevo non leggere anche il libro in lingua originale, a differenza del film pone tutta un'altra trama, cioè il filone è lo stesso ma l'interpretazione come il messaggio è più cupo e introspettivo nel libro, finendo con tre aggettivi: bizzarro, cupo, {[("Horror/Drammatico")]}

Just finished it.When I was looking for reviews regarding this book.I was not able to find many but the ones I did find were on two sides of the poles.They either loved it of they hated it.I happened to love it.It is quick paced ,interesting and a definite page turner especially towards the end.It has a fantastic mind blowing twist which I did not see coming and probably neither will you.I am tempted to say more but won't cause it might spoil things.Buy I will say that even though it is a mystery novel ,it scared me.Really scared me.I highly recommend it .

I had no idea what I was embarking on when I picked up ‘I’m thinking of ending things” by Iain Reid. It was bookstagram that made me do it, and I just went in without asking too many questions. I can totally see why it has become Netflix film by Charlie Kaufman. Jake and his girlfriend are on a drive to visit his parents at their remote farm. After dinner at the family home, things begin to get worryingly strange. And when he leaves her stranded in a snowstorm at an abandoned high school later that night, what follows is a chilling exploration of psychological frailty and the limitations of reality. This is more than just a mystery, it is a book about relationships, what connects us, there is a lot of life wisdom packed up in its 208 pages. Ian Reid is definitely on top of his game here. It takes a skilled writer to be able to truly shock a reader, guiding them in one direction, all the while preparing a surprising detour in another. Reid did exactly that to me. The subtle foreshadowing with a storytelling arch that kept the right balance between unpredictability and a convincing revelation. And this will be an unforgettable book. I am curious about the Netflix film now, but not sure if I am ready for it yet, the book is quite filmic in some ways, however there is so much from the main character in the in-between that I worry is not completely translatable onto screen, but I guess it will just be a whole new story. “Just tell your story. Pretty much all memory is fiction and heavily edited” I'm Thinking of Ending Things, I agree, is, as many are claiming, a highly original literary thriller. It grabbed me from the start, I finished reading it in one sitting. There are lots of quotable passages too!