”We begin at the end Duchess. If you believe that you’ll be alright.”

Thirteen-year-old Duchess calls herself an outlaw. She has seen more heartache than most adults have. She will do whatever it takes to survive and to protect her five-year-old brother. Walk is the sheriff who grew up in this small town. He turned his best friend, Vincent in for murder thirty years ago, and now Vincent is being release. When they were young, they hung out with Star, who is now Duchess’s mother and has many issues she’s dealing with. When something happens, it will bring all these characters together in a devastating way.

We Begin at the End really surprised me. What started as a slow burn turned into a really powerful and moving story. The way Chris Whitaker intertwined the lives of these characters was truly impressive. This story tells the lives of people who deserve so much more than the hand they’ve been dealt. It is a coming of age story, a story of loss and hope, and a devastating story that truly touched my heart. This is one of those books where it is hard to review without giving too much away, and I don’t like giving spoilers. This was a beautifully written journey of self-preservation. I highly recommend this one.

I listened to the audiobook, and thought that the narrator, George Newbern, was the perfect choice.

Thank you NetGalley and Macmillan Audio for an advanced copy in exchange for my honest review.