This Is Where It Ends

The reviews are in! This Is Where It Ends, the #1 New York Times bestseller and one of the Best Books of the Decade (Buzzfeed, Paste Magazine, BookRiot), "could break you." "I am speechless." "The saddest book I have ever read." "Literally tore my heart out."

Go inside a heartbreaking fictional school shooting, minute-by-terrifying-minute. Everyone has a reason to fear the boy with the gun...

10:00 a.m.: The principal of Opportunity, Alabama's high school finishes her speech, welcoming the entire student body to a new semester and encouraging them to excel and achieve.

10:02 a.m.: The students get up to leave the auditorium for their next class.

10:03 a.m.: The auditorium doors won't open.

10:05 a.m.: Someone starts shooting.

Over the course of 54 minutes, four students must confront their greatest hopes, and darkest fears, as they come face-to-face with the boy with the gun. In a world where violence in schools is at an all-time high and school shootings are a horrifyingly common reality for teenagers, This Is Where It Ends is a rallying cry to end the gun violence epidemic for good.

Praise for This Is Where It Ends:

A Buzzfeed Best Young Adult Book of the Decade
A Paste Magazine Best Teen Book of the Decade
A Book Riot Biggest YA Book of the Decade
A Professional Book Nerds Best Book of the Decade
A Bustle.com Most-Anticipated YA Novel
A Goodreads YA Best Books Pick
A Goodreads Choice Award Finalist for Young Adult Fiction
Kids Indie Next List Pick

"Marieke Nijkamp's brutal, powerful fictional account of a school shooting is important in its timeliness." --Bustle.com

"A gritty, emotional, and suspenseful read and although fictionalized, it reflects on a problematic and harrowing issue across the nation." --Buzzfeed

"A compelling, brutal story of an unfortunately all-too familiar situation: a school shooting. Nijkamp portrays the events thoughtfully, recounting fifty-four intense minutes of bravery, love, and loss." --BookRiot

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Published May 7, 2019

336 pages

Average rating: 7.08

133 RATINGS

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What Bookclubbers are saying about this book

✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI

Readers say *This Is Where It Ends* is a fast, gripping, and emotional portrayal of a school shooting, praised for its intense perspective and realist...

Mmf41872

Oct 14, 2025

8/10 stars

Heartbreaking. Terrifying. As a mom, this is one of my worst fears. Characters had enough depth that I cared about them and understood their connections. After studying psychology and watching / reading a lot about serial killers, I believe Ty’s motives and the fact that he was too far gone to stop. I see some of what led him to this point but also believe that that darkness had to be there all along. We saw some of it when he attacked Sylv. I do believe that it takes many hurts, disappointments, loses, feeling lost and alone to create this side of a person. We hear from his sister how, in the past, he was there for her, protected her, did nice things for her - so we know this was not always him. He was broken and he felt beyond he was repair. We have to do better. We have to look out for each other more. We have to recognize the signs. We need to care more. Sadly, it seems that this is a normal occurrence in our present world. All we can do is our best to look out for each other and try to prevent the next one. I read this book in one sitting, in a few hours. I think it was well written and really helps you get into the thoughts of those who experience this - from all sides. Truly broke my heart and made me cry.

abookwanderer

Oct 09, 2025

8/10 stars

I've had This Is Where It Ends on my shelf for awhile. It's one of those I'd pull off, read the first few pages, feel overwhelmed, and place back on the shelf. The heavy subject matter seemed daunting, but today I finally decided to tackle it and finished it in just a few hours! I've read mixed reviews on this one, too. Many feel it's too detached--black and white--but for a book geared for teens, I think it has just the right amount of depth. What I do know, is I couldn't put it down.

#popsugarreadingchallenge2019 (prompt #24)

Krysta

Oct 01, 2025

2/10 stars

Would not recommend. This book was awful and a total disgrace. Should never have been published. When I finished it, which was very hard to do, I had so much anger in me. This book is a total disservice to any TRUE victim.

ameliareads

Oct 22, 2024

10/10 stars

This is perfectly devastating. You seriously need a box of tissues and don’t read this in public, unless you’re okay blubbering and/or swearing in front of others. I highly recommend this book for everyone, as it helps gives a piece of what it may feel like for victims of school shootings. You never really know what someone is going through or the last time you’ll see the people you love.

brittanytaylor

Oct 18, 2024

8/10 stars

Might make you cry but it’s a good book