I enjoyed the first half of this book a lot but when I got further into it it wasn’t the book I thought it was. The thing that made this book really appealing to me was altered by the twist that “you won’t see coming”. Unfortunately I did see it coming when it got closer and it was a little frustrating because the book before the twist was almost everything I wanted it to be. Afterwards it wasn’t. This isn’t really something I can rate the book down on though because it’s a preference thing. The book was technically great, the writing was well done. I just wish it had ended up a different book to how it actually ended up. The characters were interesting, the story created a really intriguing read and I was excited to pick it back up every time I had to take a break. I just feel a little sad that I didn’t read the book I thought I was going to read because that would have been an amazing book too.

Thank you to the author, publishers Hodder & Stoughton and NetGalley UK for access to this as an advance reader’s ebook. This is an honest and voluntary review.

A slow burn with an emotional resolution.

Fran was a writer. Then came the fiction ban. Fran is a writer, writing the story of her life and how the fiction ban came into being. Fran wasn’t a mother. Her husband Cal died young leaving her alone. Fran reads to Hunter and cares about him.

I’m not sure how I feel about this book. And I say that despite my eyes still stinging from tears in the final chapters. Until that point I didn’t feel emotionally engaged. I felt at first switched off, then irritated. Yet somewhere underneath all that these characters and the situation crept under my skin.

In many ways it feels like the book tries too hard to be clever. Then even after the underlying story is revealed there’s the need to labour what was going on.

At the same time though it’s a book using one story to tell a deeper one, and it’s the deeper one being served by the explanations in the final chapters.

I remain unsure whether I’m recommending this book or not. I think if you like a more complex book, with a core message and purpose, you may enjoy this one. If you’re looking for a simple, escapist read, this won’t be for you.

3.5 stars
So... this book annoyed the heck out of me with it's abrupt non-endings of each chapter, or diary entry I suppose I should call them. But if they irk you too, stay with it, there's a reason... which is worth finding out.
Books and reading have been banned. Well, fiction anyway. Non-fiction and biography are OK. Authors have been paid off and encouraged to retrain. The worst thing of all being that there are now no bedtime stories. Fern was a well-known and award-winning author and now lives her life in pretty much social isolation, whilst working as a cleaner in a hospital, trying to resist the urge to write. Which she completely fails to do as it is her diary which makes up this book. She is visited only by a strange man who repeatedly sells her tea and all things tea related? Confused yet? And then, on a visit to the only legal bookstore she gets passed a card which eventually leads to her manning an illegal phone line telling bedtime stories to kids who phone in. One such child being Hunter who she takes a bit of a shine to...
And so we go on, reading Fern's diary - until we don't and suddenly the truth starts to come out. And things take a very different turn... And it all gets a bit interesting as it starts to unravel...
When I started reading this book I really didn't think we'd end up there! Although I did have a few niggles as to what I was reading didn't actually make complete sense, I mean, surely a diary is non-fiction (biographical) and therefore legal, no? There were a fair few other inconsistencies which also jarred me, almost to the point of no return - especially the non-endings I have already mentioned. But I did stick with and it did all kinda make sense when it was all explained. I do fear though that maybe people will get lost along the way rather than stick it out though.
It's hard to say too much more about it as spoilers might slip in. Suffice to say that Fern is a very complex character and, even know what I do now having finished the book, I am still unsure what I think about her... even whether I like her.
All in all, mixed feeling about this one. Too much troubled me initially and I only just held on. I guess it's a story where the destination is worth a troubled journey.
My thanks go to the Publisher and Netgalley for the chance to read this book.

Before I start this one, there’s a huge content warning that is also a HUGE spoiler - check out at the end if you want to know more.

This is unlike any other thriller I’ve ever read - and a futuristic dystopian thriller at that! Swanson has created a future where all fiction is banned, including bedtime stories for children. And the government is moving towards being a Big Brother state with its surprise visits, re-education centres, the vilification of authors…. I do not want to be part of this world. The way that Swanson has chosen to tell Fern’s story is so powerful - the confused ramblings of an author, who’s suffered so much in a form of journal. As with all thrillers - who can you trust?

This one had me gripped from the start. It made me cry, it made me uncomfortable and it’s not an easy read in parts. But what an achievement this novel is! I knew there’d be a big reveal (and I guessed some of it to be honest) but it didn’t lessen any of the power when getting to the reveal. When you learn the truth - blimey!!

Thanks to NetGalley, the team at Hodder & Stoughton and the author for the opportunity to read this review copy.
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⚠️Content warning/potential spoilers: reference to mental health, grief, suicide (including small detail), bereavement, covid. ⚠️

I really loved this book, the dystopian setting with the forced eradication of fiction books and the terrifying new NHS policies, alongside Fern's daily struggles made for an uncomfortable read.
The final part made me quite cross to begin with at the direction the story was taking, but by the end I was moved to tears, and I can't remember the last time a writer made me feel like that. It deserves to be a best seller.
Thank you to netgalley and Hodder and Stoughton for an advance copy of this book

End of Story by Louise Swanson. Dystopian thriller, 4.25*. Released 23rd March.

It's 2035 and five years since all forms of fiction have been banned. Since the passing of this law it is no longer permitted to tell your children bedtime stories, writing novels is outlawed, even fictional TV shows are taboo, and the first Friday every month is Book Amnesty Day, when all existing works of fiction, from before the ban, must be surrendered for destruction.

Fern Dostoy was once a successful novelist, and is now struggling to adjust to her new life as a cleaner, where she is not allowed any contact with previous friends or acquaintances. Despite regular, unannounced visits from government officials she persists in jeopardizing her freedom, and possibly her life, by continuing to write in secret. As the government's restrictions and plans grow more extensive, and Fern learns more about a shadowy underground resistance movement she must decide how much to risk for the books she loves so much.

The unique concept of this book intrigued me from the outset, the bleakness of a world with no new novels, and all the beautiful books forcibly destroyed?! Terrifying! I felt the initial build up was perhaps a bit slow, but once it got going I could not put it down. It was really well written with multiple layers and a constant undercurrent of tension and danger, and I certainly didn't predict the roller coaster emotional ending. I would absolutely recommend you to buy this when it is released on March 23rd, or pre order it now, and thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for this honest review.

This book was a very different novel compared to what I normally read, and I did enjoy it for the most part.

The year is 2035 and its a completely different world to that of how it used to be. The government V have banned any work of fiction and we meet criminal Fern, who makes for an interesting and intriguing character.

For some bits, I did not completely understand what was really happening and some of the situations were slightly bizarre but it made for a good read and it was definitely a different take on the world as we now know it. I do not want to write too much on this novel as I feel that a reader would be much better reading the actual novel then reading many a review on people's thoughts on this one as it was a very unusual novel, especially for me to have read.

I enjoyed the authors way in which she described this whole new world and find it really interesting, she has such a good imagination. Characters were good, misunderstood and not sure if I particularly enjoyed the main protagonist. 3.5 stars.

Thanks to NetGalley, Louise Swanson and the publishers for allowing me a copy of this novel.

Thank you Hodder & Stoughton and Netgalley for my eCopy to review

Having read this book, I'm currently sitting on the fence as to whether I like it or not. The first 4 parts apart from the over emphasis on milk were excellent. A very scary and all to believable look at the future where fiction is completely banned, that's all books, telling stories and writing them. Only non-fiction is allowed. It was a little slow in places and quite repetitive, but I suppose that is the point that a life without stories is very boring.

The ending (part 5) was unexpected and I'm not sure if I liked it, it was completely different to the rest of the book, just seemed tacked on and a bit of a cop-out and rushed. Not able to say too much as I don't want to spoil the book. At least it explains the milk motif, I just think it could have been achieved without it being so obvious and laboured.

End Of Story is every bookworms worst nightmare! Set in the year 2035 fiction has been banned by the government for five years. Writing novels is a crime. Reading fairytales to children is punishable by law! Can you imagine? A quote from this book struck a chord with me “If you tell a story we’ll enough, it’s true” without Louise Swanson has captured the very meaning of this quote. She’s written a story that’s original, believable, captivating and emotive.

Fern lives an insular life. Living alone and going to work as a cleaner. She used to be a famous author but then fiction was banned, she was stripped of her identity, removed from her home and had to watch as all fiction was burnt. She isn’t allowed to write and she is monitored by the state to enforce this new society. I’m not going to say anymore about the plot I think it’s better to go into the book with no preconceived ideas.

As I End Of Story the tears flowed at the beauty of this story, for Fern, and for the power of Louise Swanson’s written words. As far as I’m concerned she’s the “queen” of story telling, this novel was such a compelling and emotive read, and so beautifully written.

My review will be posted on https://www.instagram.com/thebookreviewcafe and all relevant book sites

The absolute dystopian horror for any bookworm- the banning of fiction!
Set in the near future Fern was an acclaimed author, silenced almost overnight when fiction was banned and a massed book burning ensued.
Fern is removed from her glamorous home and put into a government property, which is regularly search by the "tall one and the short one" but unable to stop writing completely she starts a diary in a notebook that she hides from everyone.
There are lots of odd occurrences throughout the book that really stick out and the twist in the tale is fairly guessable from relatively early on but that doesn't spoil the read in any way as you root for Fern and the other secret writers and readers battling the ban.

An ingenious speculative thriller with a brilliant twist. It’s clever, eerie and thought-provoking. I thoroughly enjoyed this.

The synopsis of End Of Story piqued my interest immediately. A world where fiction writing, and reading is illegal. As an avid reader, I knew I must read this book.

This is a work of dystopian fiction, but, as with the best dystopian works, it’s roots are very much anchored in our present. It brings the apparent skewed future, into the realm of possibility. So much of our probable near future, is their recent past.

The year is 2035, five years ago fiction writing, and reading was banned overnight. Increasingly extreme measures have been taken, to ensure authors, and readers adhere to this bleak new world. Fern Dostoy is an Author, who, at the the time of the ban, had just been awarded a major literary award. In a heartbeat, her world was destroyed, and changed beyond all recognition.
As with anything that is banned, it breeds an underground movement, fuelled by the passion, and frustrated imaginations, of enforced silent minds.

As I finish reading this chilling piece of fiction, where we exist in a world where it feels censorship, and the silencing of opinions increases daily.
I’m grateful to Authors and their works of fiction, and grateful that what I have just read, is purely fiction.

I adored Fern’s answer, when questioned why she loved fiction. I have the same feelings. I love the escape, the opportunity to visit new places, to live other lives, to see different perspectives. Above all, I read for my absolute pleasure.

The book also raises the interesting bookish issue of trigger warnings, which I found very thought provoking. I personally have used trigger warnings in reviews, but I know opinions differ on this.

I loved the intensity of this intriguing read, full of Orwellian Big Brother vibes. If you tell a story well enough, it’s true. I would say to the author, Louise Swanson: You told it extremely well. 5 ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

End of Story by Louise Swanson

This book is written like a diary, the diary of Fern Dostoy. The year is 2035 and the world is very different from what we know it today. Free speech has been abolished and it is now a crime to read, write or have any thing that resembles fiction. The only books sold at book stores are none-fiction books. Fern used to be a very successful writer and had two best sellers but now she is considered a criminal that the government keeps a close eye on.

I loved reading the story of Fern and how strange life is in 2035 then I reached 80% into the book and the story does a complete right-angle turn that I did not see coming.

This is a wonderful book that I would recommend to everyone to read.

I would like to thank Net Galley and Hodder & Stoughton Publishers for a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review

From the moment I first heard about End of Story I was excited and intrigued, and from beginning to end, this brilliant book had me hooked!

It is November 2035 and five years since writing fiction was banned by the government. Successful writer Fern Dostoy was left with no choice but to find a new job outside of the arts, but government officials still pay her visits to check she is following the rules. Little do they know, she is secretly writing in a notebook. Fern wants to capture just what her life has become and to be able to tell the truth of how the book ban came into fruition. She is unexpectedly invited to join a group who are reading bedtime stories to sleep-starved children via a special phone number albeit that this is against the rules and the consequences of discovery would be severe. There is one caller, a young boy called Hunter, who captures her heart and leads Fern to question what could be happening to him. Are there secrets though that they are both hiding? Who can be trusted?

This is an incredible and unique story and I would absolutely hate to live in a world in which fiction no longer exists like poor Fern! She was such a brilliant character and I was so invested in her journey and couldn’t wait to see what she would experience next. I really enjoyed seeing her interactions with Hunter, and also the Fine-Fayre tea man who would come to visit her. There were so many incredible details throughout too and the 2035 setting felt so realistic. I could picture this dystopian reality so clearly!

It’s so hard to say more without giving things away, but I was on the right track about something that is revealed towards the latter part of the book! It was an instinct I had early on too (I will just say the word milk here)! However, there was so much that took me by surprise as the story progressed and Fern’s journey is definitely something that I know will stay with me!

Wow! I really enjoyed this story. The twist towards the end wasn't something I saw coming at all, and I was caught aback by how emotional I got.

Thanks to Netgalley and Hodder & Stoughton

In the author’s notes for End of Story, Louise Swanson says her inspiration came from Rishi Sunak’s ‘retrain from the arts’ campaign during the Covid pandemic. As someone who works in the theatre industry and was particularly upset by this tone-deaf message, I felt instant empathy with a world where all fiction books are banned and it also made it feel more realistic, which is never a good thing for dystopian, speculative fiction!

Our main character is Fern Dostoy, who had been an award winning writer before the government started its anti-story agenda. Now she has been forced to move, leave everyone she loved behind and is tracked at all times by government agents. Fern feels as though she has lost her purpose in life and is determined to fight back. The story is moving and gripping in equal measures and Fern is a great narrator to describe the loss she feels at being unable to write. She uses a technique where she doesn’t let a sentence finish before ending her writing session for the day, to inspire her to come back to it and this works really well throughout the chapters.

There are also some mysterious characters and you are constantly kept on the back foot trying to work out who is friend or foe. Is the nice tea salesman an ally? Can her ex-author friends be trusted? Who are the agents and how far are they willing to go to protect their anti-fiction agenda? We are left with questions at every turn and is it gripping. I can’t give away any spoilers about the end, but I sobbed for the last 20% - the ending is brilliant, and the entire book is so well paced and plotted to make that conclusion as hard hitting as possible.

In a word - End of Story is fantastic, and I will be shouting about how good it is to everyone I know. It’s my book of the year for 2023 so far and a must-read for all lovers of fiction. Thank you to NetGalley & Hodder & Stoughton for the chance to read the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

End of Story is set in the future where fiction books are banned as they may give people the wrong ideas about things and cause trouble for the Government. The protagonist Fern used to be a fiction author but now she's a cleaner in a hospital who is being monitored by Government Officials. She still secretly writes in a notepad that she keeps hidden and gets herself involved in a secret group of like minded people who run an anonymous telephone service where children can ring at bedtime and have a story read to them.
Each chapter ends part way through a sentence which at first is really intriguing as it creates a tense paranoid feeling and I was left wondering if someone had interrupted her or something had happened to make her panic and hide the notebook away suddenly. However, as the book continues this technique becomes very annoying as most of the time a sudden stop doesn't fit what's going on and the reason why she stops isn't explained in the next chapter. I started to become really frustrated by it. It is sort of explained towards the end of the book during the 'big reveal' of what is happening but I just felt like it wasn't enough justification and didn't reduce those feelings of being annoyed.
The main twist in the book was one I've really enjoyed in the past but I think that by the time all was revealed I'd gone too far in to being annoyed for it to be enjoyable.
I think this is going to be a marmite book, some people will love it and some will hate it.

Oh just wow! Hard to put into words! I’m literally still processing this crazy great read. My first Louise Swanson novel but I’ll definitely be following her. I went in blind to this one and highly recommend that. It seemed to be quite a different genre but I quickly got pulled in. This was taut, chilling and will be with me a while. Really perfectly executed and the characters were brilliant. Highly recommend
Thank you NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book

I am sorry to say that this book was more of a miss than a hit for me. I loved the idea behind it, but struggled with the story. I hope other readers enjoy it more.

this book was so different from the usual genre that I love reading!
It took a while to understand what was happening and eventually I guessed the bit about the boy Hunter - but it didn't stop me from continuing to read this.
It's 2035, Fern Dostoy is living her life working a minimum wage job, and she gets invited to be part of a group who are reading bedtime stories to kids. She starts talking to a boy called Hunter and reads him stories called "what happened to all the bloody books". Things take a huge turn when one of Fern's friends gets attacked by government agents and they begin to spiral down so fast!

Long time ago Fern used to a successful author whose 2 books were a great hit and was in demand by her agent for a 3rd book. But post covid pandemic the government makes a new rule and bans all fiction books!

This story had sadness, edge of the seat kind of feeling in some places.

Thanks to netgalley, Hodder & Stoughton Audio, Hodder & Stoughton as well as the author Louise Swanson for approving the ARC and the audiobook in exchange for an unbiased review.
Though a bit slow in the beginning this book is totally worth it!