The End We Start From

by Megan Hunter
The End We Start From cover
Good Books rating 3.67
Dystopian/Post-Apocalyptic
Technical:
  • ID: 1171
  • Added: 2025-09-27
  • Updated: 2025-09-27
  • ISBN: 9781509839117
  • Publisher: Pan Macmillan
  • Published: 2017-05-18
  • Formats: 18
  • Reviews: 3
Buy online
Waterstones
Paperback • £9.99

The End We Start From is a haunting yet hopeful dystopian novel that explores the resilience of the human spirit in the face of environmental catastrophe. As floodwaters engulf London, a woman gives birth and soon finds herself and her newborn on a dangerous trek northward, seeking refuge and a future amid the chaos. The story is told with exquisite prose, blending the raw emotion of motherhood with the stark reality of a world in crisis. /n/n Praised for its beautiful and spare narrative, this debut novel by Megan Hunter offers a poignant and thought-provoking vision of survival and hope. The novel's unique perspective and lyrical writing style have garnered comparisons to the works of Virginia Woolf and Emily St. John Mandel, making it a standout in contemporary dystopian fiction.

Reviews
The Gloss Book Club · Sarah Ryan · 2025-09-27
moving 5.00

The book is a quiet but deeply moving reflection on life after an environmental disaster. The reviewer found it to be a profound and poignant exploration of family and survival.

Sarah Ryan describes 'The End We Start From' as a quiet yet deeply moving novel. She highlights how the book offers a profound reflection on life in the aftermath of an environmental disaster. The reviewer particularly appreciates the way Hunter portrays the resilience of the human spirit and the bonds of family in the face of adversity. Ryan finds the narrative to be both haunting and hopeful, making it a standout piece of dystopian fiction.

Quick quotes

    A quiet but deeply moving reflection on life

    The unnamed narrator, along with her family, navigates a world altered by climate change

    A profound and poignant exploration of family and survival

Kinesiologic · 2022-02-05
disappointing 2.00

The reviewer found the book disappointing, feeling that it lived up to its pretty cover and words but lacked substance. They expected more depth and engagement from the narrative.

The reviewer went into 'The End We Start From' with high expectations, drawn in by its beautiful cover and lyrical prose. However, they left feeling disappointed. They felt that the book, while aesthetically pleasing, lacked the substance and depth they were hoping for. The reviewer expresses a sense of letdown, suggesting that the narrative did not fully deliver on its promise.

Quick quotes

    Pretty cover. Pretty words.

    I went into The End We Start From pretty blind; and left pretty disappointed.

    Lacked the substance and depth

The Guardian · 2017-05-19
engaging 4.00

The book is an effective and unusual debut that keeps the reader engaged, but the reviewer hopes for more depth in future works. The narrative is gripping and maintains a strong hold on the reader's attention.

The reviewer found 'The End We Start From' to be a compelling and unique debut novel. They appreciated the way it kept them pinned to the page, highlighting its effectiveness in maintaining suspense and interest. However, they also expressed a desire to see more depth and development in Hunter's future works, suggesting that while this book is strong, there is room for even greater ambition and exploration.

Quick quotes

    An effective, unusual and ambitious debut

    Keeps the reader pinned to the page

    Next time I'd love to see more depth and development

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