Welcome to Litsy!

I enjoyed much about this book, but 2 things kept me from loving it. One, Duchess is supposed to be 13 years old, but her voice often doesn't fit. She says things that are way out of character, age, and life experience - even her rough life. Two, I predicted the "twist" almost immediately after the murder. It was the only thing that made sense. Still, there were a lot of things to like: Hal, Dolly, and Walk, to name a few.

After adoring ALL THE COLORS IN THE DARK, I immediately got my hands on all of Whitaker‘s earlier novels! This one opens a bit slowly as the characters & setting solidify, but by the end, I didn‘t want to say goodbye to anyone! 13-yr-old Duchess certainly is quite the scene stealer & I loved her outlaw ways & loyalty. The weight of the past, loyalty & deep friendships all make this one a gripping & heartfelt read covering similar themes to ATCITD.

Turned out I had read this one four years ago, but reread it as I didn‘t remember the story. Lots of layers here: Duchess and her brother Robin, trying to survive and take care of their mother. Chief Walker watching over them and trying to keep up his friendship with his best friend who went to prison at 15. Lots of trouble, lots of love, lots of twists. A good book all the way around.

I don‘t know, guys…this book has so many great reviews from people who loved it, and I just did NOT. I don‘t like the way CW writes - in every conversation Walk had, the person he was talking to used his name COPIOUSLY, to the point of literal distraction. That‘s not how people talk! And Duchess? 13 year old girls don‘t talk like that! I liked the story, but not how it was written/how the main characters were portrayed. (51)
⭐️: 2.75/5

Not a book i'd have chosen but good old book club made me, then Libby delivered!
And it flowed well. Took me a few starts as I didn't anticipate the leap in years, then I was fully invested in Duchess and Robin, their rocky path and the people they were with. I liked the different senses of community and loyalty. I wasn't as bothered by the crime parts, although that was nice and twisty.
Not predictable. Emotive but not ridiculous.

This book is categorized as mystery/thriller/crime, and it is. But it is also an incredible family saga that packs an emotional punch. The characters are written with such depth, and I hated to finish the book and leave them behind. 4⭐️

Tackle the TBR 🤓📚
What are you reading?
#boleybooks #WeBeginAtTheEnd #chriswhitaker #bookbeast #bookbuds #bookchat #libby

I wanted to re-read this before his new book comes out. The characters and the ending still come together beautifully.

Excellent. Highly recommend. Beautifully written, unforgettable characters. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ All the stars

Up next…my September #doublespin and it‘ll give me a Bingo! 🎉

I‘ve heard good things!
#bookspinbingo
@TheAromaofBooks

A very compelling cast of characters in this murder mystery takes the reader from the California coast to the mountains of Montana. Loved the variety in settings but the people more and their attempts to live the lives their given and to right the mistakes of living. The earnest failings and quiet heroism that define this human existence. Loved this story!

How is it the end of 2022 already?

@BookNAround We Begin at the End is my current read, and my last of 2022 (although I'm unlikely to finish it today, so it will carry over a bit). First e-read will be Wrong Place, Wrong Time. And first physical book will be from the stack! Probably either How to be Perfect or These Precious Days.

#lastfirst

I liked this, but did not loved it like so many other people. My #bookspin for September @TheAromaofBooks

My #bookspin and #doublespin picks for September! I get excited on these mornings @TheAromaofBooks

Another great book! If you haven‘t read it you should.

#AlphabetGame

This one is a page-turner starring a young teen with the biggest chip on her shoulder ever.

Made a good dent in this one before Cecil pulled my bookmark out.
#catsarejerks

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️!
So good! This was a four star book until the last 45 min or so. It all came together nicely and ... just good!

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I‘ve heard great things about this one 😃 Thank you again @AmyG !!! I‘m jumping in like an enthusiastic hippo jumps into the river (and with the same amount of grace) 🦛 📖💛

Anybody else doing the #kindlespringchallenge?
I have done ALL the tasks.
But it won‘t credit me for one - the 2021 Chart Topper.
I finished it (this book 🤞🏻) weeks ago.
I have synced and refreshed my Kindle & my Kindle app on my phone countless times since then.
Everything else has synced and been counted.
Anyone know why it‘s not working?
Did I have to buy a NEW book out of the top 100 of 2021? That‘s the only thing I can think of 🤷🏻‍♀️

Hal said we begin at the end.
So where are we now?
I‘m not sure it matters.
Wherever it is, I hope we can stay here a little longer.
🪦🐎🖤

5-20-22: My 47th finished book of 2022! Beautifully written story about a small coastal California town and it‘s inhabitants. Walk, chief of police, helped to convict his best friend, Vincent, of murder when they were 15 years old. Now, it‘s 30 years later and Vincent is finally free. Duchess, a 13 year old “outlaw”, is the star of this book, the protector of her brother Robin and single mom Star. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️📖#️⃣4️⃣7️⃣

One of the best books I‘ve read in years! Incredibly well written, sincere, and complex, WBATE is a story about Walk, a small town cop, and a young girl named Duchess, who find their lives undeniably changed upon the release of Walk‘s childhood friend, Vincent King, from jail. I savored every moment reading this, and I‘ll be recommending this book for a long time.

Such a beautiful and moving book!! 🥰🥰🥰
Enjoy and love the storyline and brilliant twists. In particular, the author gives each character his/her story which is what the real life is. We all have our own stories.
Highly recommend!! Although I don‘t really understand what “we begin at the end” means. Please share your view of the meaning! Thanks😍😍

#BookReport Loved We Begin at the End. This one will stay with me a bit.

Gave up on A Truth. Sorry #PemberLittens I think it‘s a case of too many buddy reads and I wasn‘t enjoying it as much as the others.

I WiILL finish To Paradise this week. Looking forward to both of my up next books.

Hope to finish both of these this weekend. Haven‘t read much this past week and would like to pick up something new.

#JanuaryWrapUp
I read way more this January than I usually do. I finished 2 books for #NYWD22, one of which (We Begin at the End) was a favorite this month. In Cold Blood was another favorite. My least favorite was the Watkins. I‘d been looking forward to it for months, but I ended up strongly disliking it.

Total: 7
Print: 1
Ebook: 4
Audio: 2
Fiction: 5
Nonfiction: 2

#NewYearWhoDis: 2
#Booked2022: 1

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
I honestly didn‘t like Whitaker‘s writing style, but I did enjoy the story and characters he created, especially Duchess, which mostly made up for that. This story was heartbreaking and engrossing, and I was sad to see it come to an end.

#NewYearWhoDis #NYWD22 #catsoflitsy #Ember

Seeing all the glowing reviews makes me wonder if I read the same book as everyone else. I thought the set up was contrived and the whole thing could have done with a serious edit. And while the resolution of the central murder was good, a lot of the explanation of the surrounding circumstances was hard to credit. Thanks @TrishB for sending this to me. I'm glad I read it even if its not a favourite.
#nywd @AmyG @monalyisha

I often need to be dragged into books that have domestic hardships and are going to rip my heart apart, like this book. I had a little bit of a hard time getting into it, in part due to the writing style, but the plot drove me forward and the characters drew me in. And indeed, I shed tears through the last pages, for Robin and Duchess, for Vincent, Walk, and even Darke. Strong start for #NYWD

Weekend reading plans include:
📚Finish the tagged book today
🎧Start the audiobook of Mirrorland
📚Make progress in The Familiar Dark
📚Make progress in When We Spoke in Tongues

A truly remarkable novel with one of the greatest heroines in recent memory. I laughed, I cried, I was on the edge of my seat. I won‘t soon forget it. 5🌟

My first read of 2022 and it was brilliant, definitely 5 stars. Duchess is an amazing character, I was gripped all the way through, great atmosphere. I believe it's going to be made in either a TV show or movie. I saw it on twitter from the author.

My #NYWD stack grows with 3 more acquired today. The Paper Palace is this month‘s #bookspin pick, and I‘ve started the tagged book. I have high expectations for a great month of reading.

*****+

#12booksof21 #12booksof2021 September

I really loved the characters in this book. I‘ll have to re-read this one in a year or two to see if it holds up to the five star rating I gave it last September.

I was hoping one of my holds for #NewYearWhoDis would come in in time for me to start today. Then two came in yesterday and I had to choose. 😬 I decided to go with this one first since I‘ve heard so many good things about it.
#NYWD22

These are my first two reads for 2022 and have mostly read We Begin at the End. I am absolutely loving it, can't believe it's been sitting on my shelf for ages.

#12BooksOf2021 #11thbookof2021 #November
This book. ??? Real, raw, emotional, different. I think the phrase "take it back to breathing" will be with me for awhile.
⭐⭐⭐⭐
@Andrew65

Slowly amassing my #NYWD books for January. 6 more are coming through library or mail, and 3 I‘ll be listening to on audio. Who knows what I‘ll make it through in January, but happy to have such a wide selection of interesting books to choose from!

#12Booksof2021 April

@Andrew65

This was my favorite read of January 2021 @Andrew65 / tomorrow I‘ll post my February pick #12Booksof2021

@melissajayne thank you so much! I'm so excited for this book 😄😄😄 (it has so much Litsy Love, I can't wait to read it!) And the chocolate looks DELICIOUS. What a wonderful way to start the day.

Thanks to @MaleficentBookDragon for organizing! Happy #Jolabokaflod Everyone!

I received your package @BarbaraBB Thank you for the thoughtful note. It really means a lot. I am looking forward to reading the book. I recall stacking it after being intrigued by you listing it as a selection for #midyearfaves Judging from the description I get slight Tana French vibes which definitely interests me! I hope to read it over my upcoming 5 day break.

@TrishB Your parcel has arrived at last! I'm very much looking forward to the book and I'm delighted to have more yummy Kendall Mint Cake. Thank you so much, I really appreciate it.😘

I can‘t wait to start reading from your list @Caroline2! 😃 I‘ve read The Name of the Wind and Kindred before and agree that they are great. I‘m a bit of a mood reader, so I‘m not 100% sure which of the others I‘ll start with, but I‘m currently thinking it will be one of these five.
#NewYearWhoDis #NYWD22

When the author comments on your bookstagram review of the book...and now you're a little bit famous. 🤩