The Ending Writes Itself by Evelyn Clarke Genres: Adult, Mystery/Thriller
Published by Harper Collins on April 7, 2026
Format: Audio/Physical (343 pages) • Source: Purchased, Spotify Audiobooks
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A PROPULSIVE DEBUT MYSTERY FROM EVELYN CLARKE, THE BRILLIANT AND DIABOLICAL CREATION OF CAT CLARKE AND V.E. SCHWAB
Six authors.
One private island.
Seventy-two hours to write the ending that will change their lives.
Arthur Fletch, one of the world’s bestselling novelists, is a reclusive genius known for his iconic protagonists and fiendish twists. When six struggling authors are invited to spend a weekend on his private Scottish island, they arrive to discover a shocking secret: Arthur Fletch is dead . . . and his last book is unfinished.
Desperate to publish the novel, Fletch’s agent and editor have summoned these writers in the hope that one of them will imagine a worthy ending for this final book. To sweeten the deal, they are offering an irresistible prize: in addition to ghost-writing the last chapter––for a mind-boggling sum––they will also help the lucky writer successfully re-launch their own career, guaranteeing future bestsellers. The catch: the writers have just seventy-two hours to finish Fletch’s magnum opus.
It’s the perfect plot. All it needs is a killer ending.
I was really excited about this one when I saw it was announced – I love when a debut can catch my eye, and hopefully have a lot of interesting books in the future. This was written by V.E. Schwab and Cat Clarke so technically it’s also my first book by Schwab?
The book follows a group of authors as they’re brought to a private island under the impression a famous mystery author, Arthur Fletch, has invited them there for a salon-type weekend. Instead, Fletch is dead and the publisher is desperate for a ghostwriter. I won’t spoil what happens because the synopsis doesn’t include some of the obvious occurrences, but we’ll just say the ending is a killer.
I enjoyed this but I could see others finding it a bit bland. It reminds me a little of THE GOLDEN SPOON, which I loved but I know was polarizing. If you liked that, give it a try. It’s not quite a cozy mystery like THE GOLDEN SPOON feels, but it’s just a quieter kind of mystery maybe?
The premise was good and the setting was really cool, like all locked room castle-on-an-island mysteries are. I’ve noticed a lot of books coming out lately with authors going to some retreat and seemingly having a similar premise. I enjoyed the format/POVs and ending, but was somewhat let down overall. I think maybe something twistier and darker would have resonated even more. I’d read more from this author duo for sure.
I received this book for free (hey, thanks!) in exchange for an honest review. I promise that this does NOT affect my opinion of the book or the content of my review. For real.
Once and Again by Rebecca Serle Genres: Adult, Magical Realism
Published by Simon and Schuster on March 10, 2026
Also by this author: Famous in Love, The Dinner List, In Five Years, One Italian Summer
Format: eARC (256 pages) • Source: Publisher
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From the New York Times bestselling author of In Five Years and Expiration Dates, a novel following a family of women with a singular gift: the opportunity to redo one moment in their lives
Lauren has spent a lot of her life waiting. She spent her childhood on her surfboard, waiting to catch the perfect wave. She waited a long time for her husband Leo. Now she and Leo are together waiting for those two lines on a pregnancy test that will tell Lauren she’s finally pregnant.
But many women wait for those things. Lauren has also spent her life waiting to use the gift that only the women in her family have: the opportunity, just once, to turn back time and reverse a bad decision, or a moment of catastrophic luck. When Lauren was fifteen, her mother Marcella reversed the car crash that killed Lauren’s father, and ever since then, both Marcella and Lauren have been extra cautious around Dave, and perhaps extra brittle with each other. Even though Dave is alive and healthy, and out on the Malibu waves every day.
Lauren and Leo’s marriage has been rock-steady for the three years they’ve been married, but their fertility journey is starting to wear on both of them. When Leo takes a six-week job in New York, Lauren temporarily moves back to her childhood house. She’ll spend time with her dad, spend time on the water, and try not think about the relationship with her mother she wishes she had. What Lauren doesn’t expect is to run into the love of her youth: fellow surfer Stone, back home for the first time in ten years. Since he left and broke Lauren’s heart. Now Lauren’s thinking about all the choices that have brought her to this moment in her life – and wondering if one of them should be undone.
A wise and luminous novel about mothers and daughters, the complexity of marriage, and the choices we make that come to define our lives, ONCE AND AGAIN is Rebecca Serle at her finest.
I’ve really enjoyed Serle’s magical realism but I think I skipped the last couple based on mediocre reviews. That’s my bad honestly because I’m always pleasantly surprised with her books. This was a good reminder to go back and read them!
The premise was intriguing – a little less magic than some of her others but absolutely still there. The book follows Lauren (oh hey), a woman in a long line of women who have been given a silver ticket that grants one do-over in their life. There are some chapters mixed in from other POVs from earlier women in her line but it mostly follows her story and how she chooses to use her do-over ticket.
I’m not really drawn to books involving pregnancy/fertility and motherhood but the overall premise was interesting enough to give it a go. There is a ton of focus on this topic and would recommend taking care if you deal with fertility issues. Again, not something I’m personally interested in, but the wider question of “what would you do if you had a do-over?” was too interesting to pass up. I really liked the commentary about how you can live your life somewhat recklessly or knowing you have one opportunity to fix something major, and how your life is affected once you use it up and no longer have a lifeline available someday. It was just such an interesting idea to ponder.
It was kind of quick and quiet but still impactful and real, which again, tends to be true for all of Serle’s novels. She knows how to pack a punch or really make you think in under 300 pages. Definitely recommend this one, especially if the premise intrigues you and you want something fast but will make you think!
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