The End of the World

Reviewed by Pikasho Deka for Readers’ Favorite

Review Rating: 4 Stars

In The End of the World (As We Know It), author Kayla Kruse draws from her own extraordinary experiences to share some astonishing anecdotes from her life. Traumatized as a young teenager after being drugged and assaulted at a party she attended when she was fifteen, Kayla buried her past in the deep recesses of her mind until she met Cole, a young man with his own troubled past. Cole already suffered from heartbreak and, with Kayla, navigated a tumultuous relationship. Kayla eventually found her sexual awakening with Cole, and, as time passed, she learned more about him through her psychic downloads. After a hospital stay for a psychic episode, Kayla became convinced about an ongoing battle in the spiritual realms and received messages from the Holy Spirit. Through acceptance, she finally found her place in the world.

Part memoir and part spiritual guide, The End of the World (As We Know It) takes readers on an extraordinary journey of self-discovery of a young woman. The narrative starts as a tell-all memoir and slowly turns into a surreal spiritual odyssey by the midway point of the book. Kayla Kruse gives an unflinching account of her late teens to early twenties, including the highs and lows of her relationship with the love of her life, Cole, and his ex-girlfriend, Victoria. From reemerging on TikTok to share her stories to overcoming trauma and finding spiritual clarity, extraordinary events have always shaped the course of Kayla's life. The book is short but engages you from beginning to end. I recommend it to young adults as well as new adult readers on the cusp of stepping into the world on their own.

Reviewed by The Prairie Book Review

Review rating: 5 stars

A raw exploration of trauma, sexuality, and the mind-body connection…

Kruse’s debut is a gripping dive into the fractured psyche of a young woman grappling with trauma and delusion. The story follows Kayla, who navigates trauma, mental health crises, and spiritual awakening. As her relationship with Cole spirals into emotional chaos, her reality blurs with psychic visions and surreal experiences, taking her on a journey of emotional collapse and survival.

Kruse’s sharp, confessional prose mirrors Kayla’s unraveling mind—erratic, intense, and often unfiltered, drawing readers in and immersing them in her chaotic inner world. As her mental state deteriorates, the pace slows, allowing for reflective moments that reveal the depth of her struggles. Kayla is a vulnerable, complex protagonist whose journey is marked by both collapse and resilience. Cole, more of a symbol than a fully fleshed-out character, embodies her longing and pain, while the secondary characters reflect her fractured state. Shifting between the mundane and the surreal, the novel’s settings intensify its haunting atmosphere, particularly in its portrayal of psychosis. Though not a dystopian story, the novel explores Kayla’s personal “apocalypse” as she grapples with mental health, spiritual awakening, and otherworldly visions. A disorienting yet powerful examination of a mind in crisis.