Book: How It Ends by Laura Wiess
Rating: 5 Stars
Release date: August 4, 2009 from MTV Books
Summary: All Hanna’s wanted since sophomore year is Seth. She’s gone out with other guys, even gained a rep for being a flirt, all the while hoping cool, guitar-playing Seth will choose her. Then she gets him — but their relationship is hurtful, stormy and critical, not at all what Hanna thinks a perfect love should be. Bewildered by Seth’s treatment of her and in need of understanding, Hanna decides to fulfill her school’s community service requirement by spending time with Helen, her terminally ill neighbor, who she’s turned to for comfort and wisdom throughout her life. But illness has changed Helen into someone Hanna hardly knows, and her home is not the refuge it once was. Feeling more alone than ever, Hanna gets drawn into an audiobook the older woman is listening to, a fierce, unsettling love story of passion, sacrifice, and devotion. Hanna’s fascinated by the idea that such all-encompassing love can truly exist, and without her even realizing it, the story begins to change her.
Until the day when the story becomes all too real…and Hanna’s world is spun off its axis by its shattering, irrevocable conclusion.
Hanna loves her high school life with Seth as her boyfriend and her two best friends are great, especially because they all get along so well. Seth may not be the perfect boyfriend but he is what Hanna wants. At least until she meets Jesse, a misunderstood motorcyclist who can’t seem to forget her and who manages to make her smile every time she sees him.
Hanna has a great family which includes her neighbors Helen and Lon. They are basically her grandparents. When Helen becomes ill in Hanna’s sophomore year of high school things begin to change. Seth starts treating her badly and nobody can seem to understand what Hanna feels about Helen’s illness. Things get even worse when Hanna is drawn into the story in the audiobook that Helen is listening to.
Hanna knows that Helen’s life isn’t how she would want to be living it but is there really anything that she can do? And does Hanna really want to put up with all the bullshit and lies that Seth keeps telling her or could Jesse possibly be the one for her?
How It Ends is one of the best books I have ever read. When I read Laura Wiess’ Such A Pretty Girl I thought it was great and that her other books couldn’t top it but I was so wrong. How It Ends just blew me away and let me tell you, how the story ended was not expected.
Hanna was a very likable character and I loved how the story was told from her perspective and Helen’s, at least in the beginning. You could really feel the love that was shared between them and how much they truly meant to each other. Also, I loved the story of the audiobook. I was shocked at the story but it truly made the book fantastic.
Also, I couldn’t stand Seth and I couldn’t believe that Hanna put up with him. He was such a dick and it was so obvious from the very beginning. I just hated how Hanna fell for him and let him ruin her life. I thought that Jesse was amazing but he wasn’t in the book that much. I wish he had been and that is my only complaint about the book. He just made me laugh and he seemed like the perfect guy.
While How It Ends isn’t exactly a happy book, it is a spectacular one. It made me laugh, cry, and gasp from surprise. I recommend this book for anyone, even adults. I’m actually thinking about making my mom read it just so I can talk to her about it. It’s one of those books that you just want to chat about afterward. If you haven’t read any of Laura Wiess’ books, this one is the perfect place to start.
Similar books:
Dreamland by Sarah Dessen
The Notebook by Nicholas Sparks
awesome review! this book looks really good 😀
So glad you liked HOW IT ENDS; I just bought it this week!
And might I add, very well written review.
Looks awesome. I love the cover. By the way, did you get my email about book swapping?
Awesome review! I can’t wait until my book order comes in the mail so I can read this one. I’m really excited, more so now thanks to you. 😀
Glad you liked this one! It sounds like a fantastic book.
-Briana
I agree! This was such a wonderful book. It was my first Wiess book so can’t wait to read the others. I have Leftovers in my TBR pile. I agree Seth was such a jerk. I don’t get the appeal. I love Jesse!