How It Ends - by Catherine Lo (Paperback)

About the Book

Told through alternating points of view, How It Ends is the story of two best friends' tumultuous sophomore year of bullying, boys and backstabbing. A wildly fast but deeply moving read about what can happen when friends choose assumptions and fear over each other.

Book Synopsis

There are two sides to every story.

It's friends-at-first-sight for Jessie and Annie, proving the old adage that opposites attract. Shy, anxious Jessie would give anything to have Annie's beauty and confidence. And Annie thinks Jessie has the perfect life, with her close-knit family and killer grades. They're BFFs . . . until suddenly they're not. Told through alternating points of view, How It Ends is the story of a friendship from first meeting to breakup, set against a tumultuous sophomore year of bullying, boys, and backstabbing.

Catherine Lo makes her debut with an honest, nuanced tale about the intricacies of female friendship.

How does a friendship so perfect fall apart so completely?

• Alternating Points of View: Two former best friends. Two sides to every story. See the friendship--and the fallout--through the eyes of both shy Jessie and confident new girl Annie.
• Books about Bullying: A realistic look at the cruelty of high school, where jealousy and rumors can turn friends into enemies and lead to devastating consequences.
• Toxic Friendship: What starts as a perfect connection slowly unravels through secrets, backstabbing, and boys, exploring the painful line between love and jealousy.
• Teen Social Anxiety: A raw and honest portrayal of navigating high school with anxiety, from panic attacks in the hallway to the intense fear of being an outcast.

Review Quotes

"...How It Ends feels, at points, both painfully tragic and true. Lo's lucid treatment of mental illness and risky behavior is refreshing, hard, and necessary." --Booklist "Lo skillfully shows how the girls' very different past experiences affect their perspectives; anger and jealousy... complicate matters, and both girls spiral downward before they can learn to trust again. Despite dark moments, Lo's novel is an inspiring read, revealing the power of courage and compassion." --Publishers Weekly "A thoughtful depiction of teen friendship and the competing costs of concealing--and revealing--the truth." --Kirkus "As harrowing and realistic a look at the life cycle of a young friendship as I've ever seen. It's by turns funny, warm, soulful, and heart wrenching. The author's work with teens shines through in her razor sharp dialogue." --Jeff Zentner, author of The Serpent King "How It Ends is a realistic story about the beautiful complexities of friendship, from the first meeting to the first betrayal, and all the secrets and self-discovery in-between. Totally compelling." --Alexis Bass, author of Love & Other Theories

About the Author

Inspired by her twelve years of working with at-risk teenagers as a teacher in a behavior support program, How It Ends is Catherine Lo's first novel. She lives in Ontario with her family.