I'm Thinking of Ending Things

Written by Iain Reid

Narrated by Candace Thaxton

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. Iain Reid's intense, suspenseful debut novel will have readers' nerves jangling. A series of tiny clues sprinkled through the relentlessly paced narrative culminate in a haunting twist on the final page. Reminiscent of Michael Faber's Under the Skin, Stephen King's Misery and the novels of José Saramago, I'm Thinking of Ending Things is an astonishing and highly original literary thriller that grabs you from the start - and never lets go.
"In a novel this engaging, bizarre, and twisted, it shouldn't come as a surprise that its ending is even stranger than the narrative route that takes us there...but it does. Reid's novel is a road trip to the heart of creepyness." SJON

"I'm Thinking of Ending Things is one of the best debut novels I've ever read. Iain Reid has crafted a tight, ferocious little book, with a persistent tenor of suspense that tightens and mounts toward its visionary, harrowing final pages." SCOTT HEIM

"Here are some near-certainties about I'm Thinking of Ending Things. Number One: You're going to read it fast. Over the course of an afternoon or an evening. The momentum is unstoppable once you start, you won't be able to stop. And Two: once you race to the end and understand the significance of those final pages, you won't be able to stop thinking about it. This novel will find a spot in your heart and head and it will live there---for days, weeks, months, or (in my case) the rest of your life. Yes. It really is that good." NICK CUTTER

"I'm Thinking of Ending Things is an utterly compelling modern Gothic that stakes its claim in the inner precincts of horror. Reid builds tension the way Edgar Allen Poe builds brick walls in his basement." WAYNE GRADY

"An addictive metaphysical investigation into the nature of identity, one which seduces and horrifies in equal measure. Reid masterfully explores the perversity of loneliness and somehow also creates a very entertaining thriller. I found myself yelling at the characters to put their feet on the pedal and drive." HEATHER O'NEILL

"Smart, dangerous and spooky as hell. Iain Reid takes you on a harrowing road trip that keeps you riveted until the final destination." BRIAN FRANCIS

"A chilling debut charts a disturbing journey where philosophy and fear meet head on... A deliciously frightening novel, Reid has a light, idiosyncratic touch but never lets his vice-like grip of suspense slacken for a second. Once finished, you will be hard pressed not to start the whole terrifying journey all over again. 4 stars" THE INDEPENDENT

"A deviously smart, suspenseful, intense and truly haunting book with a fuse long and masterfully laid." LA REVIEW OF BOOKS

"These characters are carefully developed and the plot takes some frightening turns, leading to a shocking ending. The construct of this book is brilliant and unusual and should appeal to fans of psychological thrillers, as well as to some horror fans. A dark and compelling debut novel, it is a most uncomfortable read but utterly unputdownable." BOOKLIST

Reid's preternaturally creepy debut unfolds like a bad dream, the kind from which you desperately want to wake up yet also want to keep dream

• Language: English
• Publisher: W. F. Howes Ltd
• Release date: May 7, 2020
• ISBN: 9781004005246

Iain Reid

Iain Reid is the author of four previous books, including his New York Times bestselling debut novel I’m Thinking of Ending Things, which has been translated into more than twenty languages. Oscar winner Charlie Kaufman wrote and directed the film adaptation for Netflix. His second novel, Foe, is being adapted for film, starring Saoirse Ronan, with Reid cowriting the screenplay. His latest novel is We Spread. Reid lives in Ontario, Canada. Follow him on Twitter @Reid_Iain.

Reviews for I'm Thinking of Ending Things

[Isha Arora · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I would know what to rate it if I understood what happened in the end.

[Stevey · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

this book is MID as hell. honestly only interesting in the first half. afterwards its very predictable what the plot is.
written really well though.
im thinking maybe it was underwhelming because of people OVER hyping the plot twist ?

[Hafsa Umer · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

ok, let me catch my breath
i mean,WHAT.THE.HELL.
the ending (oh Lord), it broke me in a way. 5/5⭐. for a psychological/horror book, the writing-off the charts. i can't put in words what this book did to me. the audiobook majorily adds flare to it. the ending chapters gave me chills. i went over and over again to listen to the final chapters.

[Nour Kanj · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was one big WTF moment I was actually quite shocked and confused, wasn’t a long read I definitely recommend!

[jen · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

incredible. I didn't know what to expect as book adaptations vary a LOT in quality, but this is so much better, makes a lot more sense than the movie. simply brilliant writing, I didn't know I needed this book.

[Circe Eridanus · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The writing, the scenes, the language, the introspection of the character are all tied together so tightly to create this atmospheric panic and tension that bring you to that fitting end.

[Marina · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Really intriguing and interesting book.a bit slow in parts but I really enjoyed it.

[Tania Rook · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book reminded me of Finnegan's Wake, if Finnegan's wake had been written in English and made sense. It circles around, and you are constantly challenged to disentangle the story from reality. I believe Candace Thaxton added a significant dimension - hearing it as an audiobook was probably more satisfying, certainly more gripping, than reading the words on a page. If you're diving in because of the Charlie Kaufman film angle, it is worth remembering 'synecdoche' means a part expressing the whole, or the whole representing a part. That comes up more than once.

[Sharon-Rose · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

An utterly disturbing, terrifying book and at the same time, at its core, incredibly sad.

[Shukri Ahmed · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

so bone chilling and thrilling and frightening i loved every minute! the narrators are phenomenal

[Gem Waweru · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I’m so confused I’m gonna have to watch the show ?

[Thabo Baseki · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Had issues understanding the last three chapters, only those three.

[Scribd Free · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

This book sucks! Y'all lying to yourselves if you think otherwise!