BOOK OF THE MONTH
We Begin at the End
We Begin at the End is an extraordinary novel about two kinds of families: the ones we are born into and the ones we create.
BUY THE BOOK
Community Reviews
What Bookclubbers are saying about this book
✨ Summarized by Bookclubs AI
Readers say *We Begin at the End* by Chris Whitaker is an emotionally powerful novel that balances a coming-of-age feel with a murder mystery. Reviewe...
This was my first time reading a Chris Whitaker book and it wont be my last. It took me a few chapters to settle into his writing style, but once it clicked, I couldn’t get enough. I finished this book in 2 days.
The characters are beautifully written, especially Duchess — the 13-year-old self-proclaimed outlaw. Beneath her toughness is a child carrying far more responsibility and heartbreak than anyone her age should. She manages to make you laugh multiple times throughout the book.
This story is filled with deeply flawed, deeply human characters who deserved gentler lives than the ones they were given. Loss touches every page. Mistakes ripple through generations, yet love exists even in the middle of neglect and pain.
Without spoiling the ending, it’s the kind of book that leaves you emotionally wrung out but hopeful in quiet ways. A heartbreaking story about survival, loyalty, and the fierce lengths people go to for the ones they love.
thenextgoodbook.com
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
367 pages
What’s it about?
Duchess is a 13 year-old girl just trying to keep her mom (Star) and her brother (Robin) safe. Her only ally is a local sheriff named Walk. Walk grew up with Star and does his best to keep her sober and watch out for her two kids. When Star and Walk’s old friend Vincent is released from prison after 30 years everyone is put on edge. This whole story hinges on one question- is Vincent a good man?
What did it make me think about?
Justice.
Should I read it?
This was a plot driven thriller and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Set in both California and Montana this story has a western feel to it. Occasionally some of the sentences seemed a little stilted, but can you argue with being too poetic? Part hard luck story, part who-dun-it, but always full of heart. I highly recommend this book. One of my favorites this summer.
Quote-
“You’re like a kid. Better and worse. Bad and good. None of us are only one thing. We’re just a collection of the best and worst things we’ve done.”
If you liked this try-
Fourth of July Creek by Smith Henderson
Idaho by Emily Ruskovich
My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson
We Begin at the End by Chris Whitaker
367 pages
What’s it about?
Duchess is a 13 year-old girl just trying to keep her mom (Star) and her brother (Robin) safe. Her only ally is a local sheriff named Walk. Walk grew up with Star and does his best to keep her sober and watch out for her two kids. When Star and Walk’s old friend Vincent is released from prison after 30 years everyone is put on edge. This whole story hinges on one question- is Vincent a good man?
What did it make me think about?
Justice.
Should I read it?
This was a plot driven thriller and I thoroughly enjoyed it! Set in both California and Montana this story has a western feel to it. Occasionally some of the sentences seemed a little stilted, but can you argue with being too poetic? Part hard luck story, part who-dun-it, but always full of heart. I highly recommend this book. One of my favorites this summer.
Quote-
“You’re like a kid. Better and worse. Bad and good. None of us are only one thing. We’re just a collection of the best and worst things we’ve done.”
If you liked this try-
Fourth of July Creek by Smith Henderson
Idaho by Emily Ruskovich
My Absolute Darling by Gabriel Tallent
Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson
I haven’t read fiction for a while. I picked this book up based on a stellar review from someone on Instagram. I’m not sure I will do that again.
I liked the characters. I laughed sometimes, especially with Dutchess’ attitude;however, overall I was underwhelmed by the story. It was sad and depressing, but so is life for many people. It was a good way to try to get back to fiction.
I liked the characters. I laughed sometimes, especially with Dutchess’ attitude;however, overall I was underwhelmed by the story. It was sad and depressing, but so is life for many people. It was a good way to try to get back to fiction.
“There are two kinds of families: the ones we are born into and the ones we create.” - Chris Whitaker
I was a kid the first time I heard a similar saying. It was from my Gamy Jules who would also say that sometimes the family we create can be more precious and important than the one we were born into. I feel fortunate that I learned early in life how so true both of these statements are. Anyway, this is a story of both types of families.
This one has been on my to-read list for a long time, since Jul2022, so it’s going to be a part of my 2026 “cleaning out of my to-read closet” challenge. The book summary lays out the primary storyline of Vincent coming home after 30yrs in prison. What the book summary doesn’t say is that initially, he was sentenced to 10yrs for vehicular manslaughter when he killed Star’s (his girlfriend at the time) little sister. Shortly after getting there, he was attack and killed another prisoner in self-defense and got another 20yrs. Vincent went in a scared kid who made a mistake and came out an institutionalized and broken man who just wants to fix up his old family home and be left alone.
What the book summary also doesn’t say is that Walker is sick. He has early stage Parkinsons. He’s still trying to keep it under wraps, but it’s getting harder to do that. Walker has been alone most of his life and spends a lot of time checking in on Star and her kids, Dutchess and Robin. He’s also still in love with his first girlfriend and has always regretted screwing up that relationship.
Star is a hot mess, and she not only will never be mother of the year, but she also doesn’t even aspire to be a crappy mother. However, her daughter, the outlaw Radley, Duchess, is the real “star” in that family by literally taking care of and raising her little brother, Robin, the Prince. LOVE DUCHESS!!! She is a future bad@$$ in the works! None of this is a spoiler since it was revealed early in the story.
There is another storyline of the local town @$$%*!@#, Dickie Darke, that not only is trying to get Vincent’s family house that is sitting on prime beachfront land, but is making life difficult for Star and Duchess. The story flips back and forth between Walker and Duchess with the first half being at a slower pace than the second half. All of the different storylines collided in the end with some shockers and some tear-jerking scenes. Families are complicated, both the ones you create and the ones you’re born into.
The character development of the MC’s Walker, Duchess and Vincent were well done along with Star and Dickie. The pacing was mostly steady (a little slower in the first half). The storyline was engaging, and the writing entertaining. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review.
I was a kid the first time I heard a similar saying. It was from my Gamy Jules who would also say that sometimes the family we create can be more precious and important than the one we were born into. I feel fortunate that I learned early in life how so true both of these statements are. Anyway, this is a story of both types of families.
This one has been on my to-read list for a long time, since Jul2022, so it’s going to be a part of my 2026 “cleaning out of my to-read closet” challenge. The book summary lays out the primary storyline of Vincent coming home after 30yrs in prison. What the book summary doesn’t say is that initially, he was sentenced to 10yrs for vehicular manslaughter when he killed Star’s (his girlfriend at the time) little sister. Shortly after getting there, he was attack and killed another prisoner in self-defense and got another 20yrs. Vincent went in a scared kid who made a mistake and came out an institutionalized and broken man who just wants to fix up his old family home and be left alone.
What the book summary also doesn’t say is that Walker is sick. He has early stage Parkinsons. He’s still trying to keep it under wraps, but it’s getting harder to do that. Walker has been alone most of his life and spends a lot of time checking in on Star and her kids, Dutchess and Robin. He’s also still in love with his first girlfriend and has always regretted screwing up that relationship.
Star is a hot mess, and she not only will never be mother of the year, but she also doesn’t even aspire to be a crappy mother. However, her daughter, the outlaw Radley, Duchess, is the real “star” in that family by literally taking care of and raising her little brother, Robin, the Prince. LOVE DUCHESS!!! She is a future bad@$$ in the works! None of this is a spoiler since it was revealed early in the story.
There is another storyline of the local town @$$%*!@#, Dickie Darke, that not only is trying to get Vincent’s family house that is sitting on prime beachfront land, but is making life difficult for Star and Duchess. The story flips back and forth between Walker and Duchess with the first half being at a slower pace than the second half. All of the different storylines collided in the end with some shockers and some tear-jerking scenes. Families are complicated, both the ones you create and the ones you’re born into.
The character development of the MC’s Walker, Duchess and Vincent were well done along with Star and Dickie. The pacing was mostly steady (a little slower in the first half). The storyline was engaging, and the writing entertaining. I’m looking at an overall rating of 4.3 that I will be rounding down to a 4star review.