The Absolute Best Psychological Thriller I’ve Ever Read

Have you ever read a book that stuck with you long after you've read the last page? That you can't stop thinking about, turning the twist over and over in your mind, reading back through the book to see how you missed it. Ecstaticly telling anyone and everyone who will listen about the amazing, mind blowing, world changing story you just read as you excitedly push the book into their hands practically BEGGING them to read it. I have one of those books that I obnoxiously proselytize to anyone I meet until they read it. 

The book that has occupied many of my waking thoughts the past few months is I'm Thinking of Ending Things by Iain Reid. I've read this book twice on audio and I get chills every. single. time. Actually, I've gotten chills MULTIPLE times throughout reading this book. 

I'm a HUGE audio book reader, it's actually how I get most of my reading done, and even if you prefer physical or e-books I urge you to read it in this medium. It is SO well done and the narrators do a phenomenal job of ramping up the eerieness of this story. However, if audio format is just NOT for you, I understand and I don't hold it against you. Reading it in print will be just as rewarding I can almost guarantee it.

I'm Thinking of Ending Things opens with our unnamed female protagonist telling us how she's thinking of ending things while she's on a road trip to meet her partner, Jake's, parents. At first you're lead to believe she's talking about breaking up with her partner, but as the road trip and story progresses you learn she's being terrorized by a strange man who is stalking her. She keeps getting these creepy, cryptic voicemails from this stalker. And once they arrive at Jake's parents house something immediately feels off and the mounting sense of unease really ratchets up. There's a sense of danger in this part of the story but you're not sure who is at risk.

I read this book and quite obviously loved it, as well as rated it 5 stars. And maybe I've peaked your interest and you're wondering if you should pick it up. While I'm biased and think absolutely EVERYONE should read this book, I understand that every bookish person has their preferences along with a long and ever growing TBR (and not nearly enough time to read everything on it.) Not to fear! That's why I'm here - to help you decide if this book is one that's worth picking up. 

First things first, I'm Thinking of Ending Things will have you questioning everything! As a reader who loves to be dropped into the middle of someone's story and left to figure it out as it unfolds, this was a perfect fit for me. There are parts of this book that had me confused what was up and what was down! However, if you're someone who likes to have omniscience over a story and to be let in on facts and secrets the characters are not yet privy to this may not be the book for you. I've read some reviews saying that people found it frustrating because it twisted and turned in ways that weren't super obvious until the very end. I'll admit I was disoriented the first time I read it, but the payoff is oh so worth it! If you enjoy psychological thrillers that aren't overly gory but still make you feel a mounting sense of unease and terror with every page turned. I don't want to say much more about it because I don't want to give too much away.

Another thing to note is there is a Netflix movie adaptation of I'm Thinking of Ending Things, however, it is somehow MORE confusing and open ended than the book. The ending is much more artsy and ambiguous and the director of the movie has been quoted as saying he intentionally went a different direction with the movie which I really appreciate as someone who is often let down by the movie adaptations of books. There are certain parts I feel like the movie did exceptionally well with and I felt genuinely unsettled by much of it, but the end just didn't pack as hard of a punch as the book did. If you're someone who doesn't mind going out on a limb and risking being disappointed by a movie adaptation I'd still recommend watching it, but definitely watch it AFTER reading the book. I feel like the movie having such an open ending would be so frustrating that I wouldn't have even opened the book had I watched the movie first. 

I hope this post has peaked your interest and you're diligently jotting down my recommendation to your TBR. If not, no hard feelings. If you have already read this book, PLEASE comment down below and let me know what you thought of it. I want to hear all your opinions and hot takes on this one. 

Happy reading folks!