I'm Thinking of Ending Things: A Novel

By Iain Reid

Now a Netflix original movie, this deeply scary and intensely unnerving novel follows a couple in the midst of a twisted unraveling of the darkest unease. You will be scared. But you won’t know why…

I’m thinking of ending things. Once this thought arrives, it stays. It sticks. It lingers. It’s always there. Always.

Jake once said, “Sometimes a thought is closer to truth, to reality, than an action. You can say anything, you can do anything, but you can’t fake a thought.”

And here’s what I’m thinking: I don’t want to be here.

In this smart and intense literary suspense novel, Iain Reid explores the depths of the human psyche, questioning consciousness, free will, the value of relationships, fear, and the limitations of solitude. Reminiscent of Jose Saramago’s early work, Michel Faber’s cult classic Under the Skin, and Lionel Shriver’s We Need to Talk about Kevin, “your dread and unease will mount with every passing page” (Entertainment Weekly) of this edgy, haunting debut. Tense, gripping, and atmospheric, I’m Thinking of Ending Things pulls you in from the very first page…and never lets you go.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Simon & Schuster
• Release date: Jun 14, 2016
• ISBN: 9781501126963

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.

Book preview

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Reviews for I'm Thinking of Ending Things

[jenn88-1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

A young woman and her boyfriend are on their way to his parents secluded farmhouse. She's not completely comfortable about meeting them. On the drive there she has lots of time to reflect on their relationship and ask him questions. On their way back she becomes stranded at a high school out in the middle of nowhere. And you just have to read this book.

I went into this one with high expectations. And I wasn't disappointed! It was intense and suspenseful. In some ways it was relatable. In some ways it made me uncomfortable. I loved the writing and the ending. Very clever.

I won a copy through Goodreads First Reads.

[techeditor_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I guess you could call I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS a creepy book, Hitchcockian. It is short and takes place in just one evening. Jake and his girlfriend drive two hours to have dinner with his parents in their old farmhouse. She is thinking of ending things with him and ruminates on that throughout the book.Everything that evening is strange. The farmhouse is strange, Jake's parents are strange, the girls at the Dairy Queen are strange, and their detour to the big school is strange. You'll be searching for correct explanations through it all.Between chapters are discussions that are clues to what is really going on. When you finally figure it out, you'll probably want to go back and re-read those clues.I'M THINKING OF ENDING THINGS is Iain Read's first novel, although he has written two award-winning books of nonfiction. I'll be keeping my eye on him now.

[scrabblenut · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was a strange and creepy mystery which really had me wondering what was going on and very anxious to reach the end of the story. Compelling.

[begivens · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Honestly, I though this book was great. I was surprised for the majority of the book. I constantly wanted to know what was going to happen next, there was just something that captivated me. There were enough hints along the way to help me along. Even before I started the book, I had an idea of how it was going to end. My hunch was partly correct, there was enough that I was still shocked. I found it to be a quick and a fun read.

[bons_11 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Creep factor, yes, but the book itself I found lacking. Yes there is a spin toward the end and yes a larger spin past that but creepiness alone did not make this a real nail biter or page turner for me.

[angiestahl-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Wish I could give it a 3.85 or 3.9= Mind. Blown. Super atmospheric. Weaves you into a tight sense of doom and unease. The entire book I felt disturbed and off my bearings.I guessed a bit of the ending. The rest I had to go back and figure out how he did it. Still.have questions, but second pass through and you'll pick up the trail more clearly.Still, whoa. This one will mess with your mind.

[arielfl · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I loved this creepy little book. I knew something was not quite right when the narrator revealed that she was getting repeated phone calls to her cell from a stranger inside her own house. The disturbing feeling I got from reading this book just increased from there. It reminded me so much of Charlotte Gilman Perkins, The Yellow Wallpaper and Dexter Morgans dark passenger from the Dexter series on Showtime. Sometimes the greatest horror is what is going on in your own mind.

[vera_mallard-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

STORY LINE:This story begins with Jake and a young woman known in the book only as "the girlfriend" on a long drive to visit Jake's parents. The awkward visit is over and the girlfriend is left alone and stranded in a school where she will face a harrowing experience. To give too many details will spoil the book. Suffice it to say, this is a very intense psychological story of what happens before, during and after the visit to Jake's parents isolated farm.CHARACTERS, PLOTTING, AND DEVELOPMENT:I am not sure where to start with this review. This book is very different from anything I have read in the past. Author Ian Reid has penned a mind-blowing novel. Through a short novel, Reid skillfully packs a lot into the pages.The plot blew me away. None of this book was what I expected; it held me glued to my E-reader as I followed the character's digression into horror, fear, and mania. Reid has crafted a first-rate psychological suspense novel. Even the title of the book is more than it seems at first glance. His development of the plot and characters was skillful; the plot never lagged or slowed.When I reached the end, I had to stop, re-read the last chapter, and ask myself "oh my, how did I miss that". There were some clues left along the way, but Reid cleverly mask them. What an ending!RECOMMENDATION:I recommend this book to young adults and adults due to psychological content. Reid has created a solid well-developed psychological suspense thriller.I received this book from NetGalley in exchange for an honest book review. Book reviews of any novel are dependent on the book review author’s opinion; all book reviews on line under my name and on my blog are my opinion.

[shetreadssoftly · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid is a recommended, creepy psychological horror novel - for the right reader it could be rated even higher.A girlfriend, yes, we never learn a name, is traveling with her boyfriend, Jake, to meet his parents at their home for dinner. They live hours away on a farm in the country. Girlfriend is seriously thinking of ending things with Jake - they just aren't clicking - but she hasn't said anything to him. Why she agreed to go have dinner with his parents is a conundrum. Girlfriend may have problems with confidence and asserting herself.Girlfriend hasn't said a thing to Jake about the phone calls she's been getting. Her phone says they are from her own number. It's always the same. Some guy she calls the Caller leaves messages and tells her that "There's only one thing we need to resolve." She should have told someone after the first few calls, but now it's been going on for too long.Anyway, the ride up is increasingly uncomfortable as Girlfriend tries to get Jake to chat during the car ride. He's smart, a scientist, and more a philosopher than someone who easily makes idle conversation. Once they are at the farm, the parents are awkward and weird and the atmosphere in the farm house is unsettling and vaguely menacing. Jake is acting more remote and even a tad disturbing at times. Girlfriend is anxious to get home and is glad when they leave, in a snowstorm. Things get even more ominous.I'm Thinking of Ending Things reads like a bad dream. Girlfriend may not be the most reliable narrator. Adding to the tension are fragments of conversation found in-between the main narrative where we know something awful has happened.This is a well written credible debut novel that has been given great reviews by others, and for good reason. Reid is a good writer. He establishes the ominous atmosphere immediately. The tension escalates with each page. There were a few drawbacks for me that might not bother other readers, like the rather abrupt ending. Admittedly, I also had a good idea about what was happening pretty early on. It is a short book, though, so if you enjoy psychological horror, it might be worth your time.Disclosure: My advanced reading copy was courtesy of the publisher for review purposes.

[pet12-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Weirdest little book of 2016 so far with a superbly ambiguous and most apt title. At 224 pages, this can easily be read in one sitting and maybe the best way to enjoy it. My initial reaction on finishing this was too rude to be repeated here, and I was all set for a 2-stars rating. Then I went back to the first chapter and went over it again, and that's when I started to appreciate the real brilliance of this.As the road trip in the cold and dark to the remoteness of the parents' farm started, it was all quite slow with the most peculiar "conversations". It wasn't until the destination of dinner-with-the-parents was reached that I was really getting into this. From then on, I pretty much had to keep going just to discover how exactly things would be ending.As is already apparent from the reviews so far, this isn't a book for everyone and opinions will differ widely on this. Its promise of "You will be scared" wasn't quite delivered. But it had an unsettling and compelling atmosphere that kept you reading. I think readers who enjoy psychology and philosophy will enjoy this. If you're looking for a straightforward suspenseful psychological thriller or even traditional horror story, you may be disappointed because this is more literary fiction exploring the human condition.It really wasn't until I read over some of it again that I could see how cleverly constructed the entire plot was and how I missed little clues. Smart, for example, in the way the theme of the "there's only one question to resolve" kept getting picked up throughout the story and the "are you good or are you bad?". However, even after skimming it again, I'm still left with questions (the man outside the window? The girl in the Dairy Queen?). I find it quite difficult to rate this because a) I'm not sure how much of this was just too over my head, b) my first reaction to it was less than positive but c) the more time I'm spending with this and think about it, the higher I want to rate it. It's definitely very different, and I guess if a book stays with you like this and keeps you thinking about it, it deserves a better rating. Hence, 3.5 stars rounding up. An oddly entertaining experience.Thanks to Gallery Books for my copy via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.

[J. Marques · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book is brilliant. It handles themes like schizophrenia and suicide with such care and expertise. It makes you think, it makes reflect and overall, it makes you sad.

[Antonia Christianne Reid · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book seriously fucked my head up- I loved it

[Savannah Nelson · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It was like reading a nightmare towards the end. Dissociating and intriguing.

[riyouf · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

I cant enter this book I don’t know why !

[Keith Mears · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was...strange. The last two chapters kinda went off the rails, and the conclusion left more than a little to be desired. A pretty decent read, just...strange.

[Zyriah Carter · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The book is great. I liked it a lot but there are still some questions flooding my mind. Near the end, I didn't know what was going on. Who was the narrator? What happened to Jake? Besides that, the writing was good, intense actually. The plot kept me thinking and reverting back to previous scenes just to try to figure out what was happening in the current one I was reading. I can't wait until this comes out on Netflix. Maybe it will answer some of my questions.

[geauxgetlit · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

What did I even read? I THINK it was good and had some good quotes BUT I have no clue about what really happened and the ending was weird! It was a short book, I suppose it’s meant to be open for interpretation…but this is a fiction book…not a philosophical book!
2.5 stars

[phelpsa1756 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I give this 4.5 stars but the app doesn’t allow that. I was looking for a page turner and something with that wow factor that would leave me awestruck and this did not disappoint. I have to say it was also digested easily and quickly which is uncommon in the thrillers. I loved the dialogue and found myself very entertained throughout the whole thing. It is very dark and eerie though, so if that’s not your thing I probably wouldn’t suggest it.

[Viny Shee · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Je pense que je le relirais un jour. Je vais même sûrement l'acheter. Parce que wow

[Olivia Brennan · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This book was a fast paced easy read with an interesting spin of events i wasn't necessarily anticipating. I think i was a tad underwhelmed by the ending but after reflecting on the book as a whole felt entertained.

[kindarspirit · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Eh… it all felt pointless, like it was padded with random musings to add pages. The foreboding leads to a plot twist that misses its mark. I’ll try the movie, but I’m not hopeful.

[Sarah Roberts · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Buried within the intense thriller were gems of poignant thoughts and questions. They were worded beautifully. This book was an exploration of thought, a memorable experience.

[Kaitlin Adams · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

The story was intriguing, deeply disturbing. It left you feeling uncomfortable throughout the whole thing, which is exactly what I want from a book like this. I would love to know more about Jake as a person. It was a quick read, finished in one day.

[Will Bisson jr · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

It’s good like I couldn’t put it down but it’s very very confusing

[tobinelliott · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

Well written, for the most part, with a bit of a Gillian Flynn vibe to it. Some good observances in it as well, but overall, I was just "meh" about how it all wrapped up.

I know it was supposed to be this mind-blowing ending, but I figured it was one of two things by the three-quarters mark (and yeah, it took me that long, because the first full half is two characters in a car, going somewhere).

Again, not horrible. But not as fantastic as it's being touted to be.

[bertha_-1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I liked this, "Experience trumps age. We have to find was to experience because that's how we learn, that's how we know."
I do agree with some of the reviews, you have to re-read it once you're done, if not the whole book, a good portion of it. It makes much more sense. Great descriptive details throughout the whole thing though...

[mhartford_3 · Rating: 2 out of 5 stars]

The central idea is interesting, and some of the scenes are well-done, and it certainly gets better in the last 20 or so pages, but I found the writing poorly executed. This could have been about 100 pages shorter and much better.

[cygnoir_1 · Rating: 1 out of 5 stars]

The book was slow in parts due to philosophical meanderings, but created a solidly unsettling vibe that I liked. The ending was hollow and unsatisfying.

[charon07 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I can’t say that I appreciated the last third or so of this novel, but the slow build-up of tension, from an internal dialog examining a personal relationship to a creeping sense of wrongness to utter dislocation, was effective.

[mandarella-337035 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

I love a book with a good twist. The writing of this novel was done so beautifully with great imagery that I felt uneasy through the majority of it. Every word, every quote means something in the end. I rarely want to re-read a book so quickly after finishing it ... but this is one I can see myself picking up again to read it from a different perspective.