Review: The End of Her

The End of Her by Shari Lapena
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

When I pick up a book with this premise, I expect a thrilling ride full of twists and turns, as well as those dark little bits of intrigue that keep me guessing. Unfortunately, The End of Her by Shari Lapena left me feeling like I was hearing a boring story at a dinner party from someone I barely know, with a plot that felt loosely formed and details that just didn’t fit together.

Stephen and Patrick are the main characters of this story. They are new parents who are having a hard time taking care of their twin babies. The initial chapters do a great job of setting the scene, describing the severe stress and weariness that come from having no one to lean on and little sleep at night. However, when Erica, a woman from Patrick's past, comes into their lives, a series of events happen that make Stephanie question whether Patrick is who he says he is and whether their marriage is as strong as they thought.

The characters, especially Stephanie, were frustratingly naive and with pretty much no depth. Most of her actions didn't make much sense. One scene in which a bank employee allows access to a safe deposit box without necessary identification had me questioning if I should just stop reading this book.

What I appreciated about Lapena's Someone We Know was her ability to keep me interested with well-crafted characters and constant twists. This time, however, the twists lacked impact, and I was disappointed by the novel. Even the ending felt unsatisfactory and rushed.

In conclusion, I cannot sincerely recommend The End of Her. While it offers some escapism and may appeal to die-hard Lapena fans, I'd recommend starting with her other works, such as The Couple Next Door or Everyone Here Is Lying, which better demonstrate her talent.

Content Warnings

Graphic - Murder, Infidelity, Death

Moderate - Car accident, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders

Minor - Infertility, Pregnancy, Suicide

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