This Is Where The World Ends

Info Dump:

Format: Paperback ARC
Page Count: 304 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins Australia
ISBN: 0062417878
Synopsis: A heart-wrenching novel about best friends on a collision course with the real world from Amy Zhang, the critically acclaimed Indies Introduce and Indie Next author of Falling into Place.

Janie and Micah, Micah and Janie. That’s how it’s been ever since elementary school, when Janie Vivien moved next door. Janie says Micah is everything she is not. Where Micah is shy, Janie is outgoing. Where Micah loves music, Janie loves art. It’s the perfect friendship—as long as no one finds out about it. But then Janie goes missing and everything Micah thought he knew about his best friend is colored with doubt.

Using a nonlinear writing style and dual narrators, Amy Zhang masterfully reveals the circumstances surrounding Janie’s disappearance in an astonishing second novel that will appeal to fans of Lauren Oliver and Jay Asher.

Review: (non spoiler) (trigger warning for abuse)

'This Is Where The World Ends' is a contemporary novel centered around two teenager friends Janie and Micah. I think I will go right in and say I did not enjoy this novel very much. However, I will first explain the things I did like. Amy Zhang's writing style flows like honey. It is simple yet poetic and suits the characters she writes.

Another thing I admired was how Amy Zhang portrays sexual abuse. She doesn't sugar coat it or fabricate it into something it isn't. She was blunt and realistic which I admired. Her ability to tackle hard topics is enough to give this book a rating over 2 Books.

The characters were typical and uninteresting. Amy Zhang picks two John Green characters from a bowl. Changes their names and voila! Janie was severely flawed and her problems weren't really addressed so much as they were talked about. Besides suffering from MPDG Syndrome, I found Janie's character extremely annoying. She would often interject the storyline with diary entries that I found added nothing to the plot besides a ridiculous border and font.

Now moving on the Janie's partner in crime; Micah. Oh Micah, Micah, Micah. Where to begin? Micah was definitely not my type of character. Sure he was nerdy and played video games but his character was so cliché of YA fiction I tried hard not to cringe at times.

The plot was not the focus of this novel, instead the book focused on Janie and her relationship with Micah, which was fine in my opinion, as long as it did it well. Which it didn't.

I really don't have much else to say for this review. If you enjoy flawed characters dealing with realistic situations then you should definitely pick this up! Nonetheless, Amy Zhang's beautiful writing and prowess definitely outshines its flaws.

Have a good one, J Woo.