So This Is the End: A Love Story

Written by Alexandra Franzen

Narrated by Eleanor Caudill

How Would You Spend Your Last Few Hours on Earth?
Early readers called So This Is the End "a breath of fresh air,” "moving and beautiful," and something with which you’ll "fall in love the instant you start reading.”

#1 New Release in Science Fiction & Fantasy

In Nora Hamilton’s world, doctors have found a cure for death, with just one caveat—it only lasts for 24 hours. This beautifully-written novel poses a thoughtful question: how would you spend your last 24 hours before death?

One more day. One more chance to tell family you love them, feel the grass beneath your feet, or finally speak your mind. So This Is The End follows Nora Hamilton as she navigates her last 24 hours before death, and she is determined to do something meaningful with her last moments. While looking for unique bucket list ideas, a friend suggests going on one last first date. What happens next is like a love story. Of course Nora would fall in love in her last 24 hours before death.

Enter: Renzo. Ren, for short. Their connection is immediate. Nora wants love, no lies. Should she tell Ren the truth about her condition—that she has less than 24 hours left before her second death? How will he react? Is it unethical to fall in love with someone if you only have one day left on earth? Or is love a gift, even when it's found on the final day a person has left?

Inside So This Is The End, you’ll find:

A love novel about taking chances, making your own rules, and how love does prevail
How to treat all days like your final days—escape mundane living
A moving romantic drama about finding love in your last 24 hours before death
If you liked The Midnight Library, Me Before You, or The Light We Lost, you’ll love So This Is The End.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Everand Productions
• Release date: Jul 11, 2023
• ISBN: 9781094455709

Alexandra Franzen

Alexandra Franzen is a "writer's writer" and one of the top creativity and writing teachers in America, teaching 15 courses a year from New York to Hawaii. Franzen's sales track is impressive, selling over a half million books. Alexandra Franzen is the author of the bestselling Q&A a Day, which sold 400,000 copies! Franzen has a popular blog, website and a newsletter that goes to 20k fans. Her writing has been featured on websites like Time, Forbes, Newsweek, HuffPo, and Lifehacker, in song lyrics, and stenciled onto fine art paintings. She’s also one-half of the creative team behind HunnyMilk, a brunch restaurant in Portland. Alexandra Franzen appears on TV, radio, podcasts and in the media regularly. A beloved and nationally known writing teacher, So This Is the End is Franzen's first novel and is a work of visionary fiction.

Reviews for So This Is the End

[Jeanetta du Preez · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Loved the story and surely something to think about. Just inconsistent at the end after all the trouble Ren did to get down from the roof?
Well narrated, thank you.

[brandiwhitefitness · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! I never expected this to be so incredibly GOOD!!! Thank you for being the magic in this day. Keep the great read/listens coming!!!

You’re a gift!
-Brandi

[nursejinae · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this book! It made me laugh, cry, hope, think… like really think, and inspired me. I got to have the love of my life on this earth for 12 years of my life before cancer took him. Like Alexandra said at the end about her partner Brandon, I hope I’m reincarnated with my Matt over and over again. And I can speak from experience with losing my love, you just never know… so love hard. This book spoke to me in that way and reminded me to not become complacent or okay with mediocrity, but to live a big and beautiful life! Thank you Alexandra!

[Paul Hollen · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A novel concept. One day's grace after one dies... Lots of life lessons presented in an amusingly touching way

[PIXIE Beauty Studio Osijek · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I really enjoyed in this short book and narrator was great! This goes on my "listen again" list, when I'm feeling low.

[Kristy Flanaghan · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Wow! What an incredible story that evokes questions about how we live our lives & truly what matters!!! Thank you for reminding me that we only have one life and we should live it to its fullest!!!!

[Karen Chandler · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This is a short story about what you would do if you only had 24 hours left to live.

[Galina Gula · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The idea is interesting and the first part made me think, but "I love you" after 2 hours together and before any meaningful conversation ruined it for me. I didn't like the ending either - I think it ruins the purpose of the story.

[Janet · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is a gem. Though short, it is real and raw; at times gentle, at times brutal, often funny - once, causing me to bark out a laugh despite having a mouthful of coffee (!), grateful that no-one witnessed the resulting mess, and then wishing someone had, so I could share the moment. This book may not be a ‘masterpiece’ in the classical sense, but for me it was masterful - taunting, gently challenging, and entirely relatable. Was it entertaining? Definitely. But it was so much more for me. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

[Yomaira Reyes · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I knew this book would be short and sweet with a typical ending. And yet…it still surprised me while simultaneously warming my heart!

[Jill Ann · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

A sweet melancholy love story that helps you ponder “What is most important and beautiful in life?”

[twng · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The admonition to readers at the end of the book.

I chose this thinking it was sci-fi fantasy. I don't like romance books because, to me, they are generally all the same book with names and backdrops altered.

It didn't take long to i realized this was a romance. But i kept listening because it's well written with a great narrator; and it does offer a fresh Sci fi twist.

Suddenly, 2/3 through, it became pure romance that telegraphed its trajectory in neon. I put it away for a while, then returned to get through the final 32 minutes.

Somehow, I found it ok. Yes, this nonromance reader would read again. And the author's final words to the reader are not to be missed. We've all heard them before, but hearing them right after reading the book transformed them into reminders that are immediate and deeply relevant.

If the author's 'assignment' had been to "Write a book that makes the following caution hit home" I'd give this an A+++.

It succeeds that well.

~ Colleen

[Natale Michaud · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

While I pretty much knew how it would basically end, I enjoyed the story. I will however never believe in love at 1st sight.

[Raluca Vomir · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

Cute little book for when you want something easy to read.