Don't Tell Me How It Ends

A Novel

De: Adrienne Thurman

Narrado por: Shayna Small

A floundering twenty-something who’s sworn off romance finds herself roped into her meddling sister’s matchmaking business in this sparkling debut romcom that asks: Can we protect ourselves while falling in love?

“A sharp, funny, feel-good love story about bad dates, big feelings, and one deliciously slow-burning love.”—Nikki Payne, USA Today bestselling author of The Princess and the P.I.

Kaia Harper may not have a plan for her life, but she knows what she won't be doing—falling for somebody's dusty son, promising forever. She'd rather spend the summer after college having disappointing one-night stands and watching crime show reruns. At least she won’t be caught off guard since she already knows how all those stories end.

But when her very pregnant and newly single sister calls for help, Kaia reroutes, stumbling back home to suburban Connecticut…and into the business plan of her sister's new matchmaking company. Kaia’s views on love remain as bleak as her career prospects, but if becoming the inaugural client can distract her from existential questions like "What am I even doing with my life?", Kaia can suffer through a few bad dates and call it a favor.

When Ro Jackson finds Kaia stalled on the side of the road, he isn’t put off by her attitude. His steady disposition is Kaia’s opposite and makes him exactly what she needs—a friend in town who can handle her just as she is. But as Ro talks Kaia through a summer of failed matches, she finds herself drawn to more than just his poetic outlook and friendship.

Kaia hadn’t seen this one coming, but as she and Ro grow closer, she’ll have to decide what’s more important: needing to know the end of every story, or jumping into the unknown.

Reseñas de la Crítica

“A sharp, funny, feel-good love story about bad dates, big feelings, and one deliciously slow-burning love that captures the serious mess of modern womanhood and manages to be hilarious at the same time.”—Nikki Payne, USA Today bestselling author of The Princess and the P.I.

“Adrienne Thurman is a master of character and connection.”—Talia Hibbert, New York Times bestselling author of Get a Life, Chloe Brown

“A skeptical young woman, feeling directionless and disillusioned with love, agrees to be the first client for her older sister’s matchmaking business in Adrienne Thurman’s refreshing and emotionally resonant debut. . . . There’s enough comfort and tenderness in this warm hug of a novel to soften the heart of even the staunchest cynic.”—Publishers Weekly, starred review

“With a relatable and steamy slow-burn love story, a fun meet-cute, a vibrant cast of characters, and an emotional quarter-life crisis, Thurman’s adult fiction debut will appeal to twentysomethings like Kaia and Ro and older readers wanting to revisit that era.”—Library Journal

“This is a witty adult contemporary rom-com about a commitment-averse woman who agrees to be the first client in her sister’s matchmaking venture and unexpectedly finds herself confronting love, fear, and letting go. Don’t Tell Me How It Ends is a stellar book club pick because it sparks the kind of conversation that lingers: powerful, honest, and necessary.”—Ashley Mathias Root, author of The Drowning Daze of Astraea for Glamour

Totally pulled in to this story and characters

I really adored this book. Love the writing in so many ways. Loved the insight into the characters. Loved Ro. Loved how worried I was that they would not end up together. Loved how much I was involved in the story to the end. And love love love the title.

Heartfelt and I couldn’t put it down

This book completely surprised me in the best way. I typically don’t gravitate toward contemporary fiction or elevated romance, but this book pulled me in from the very beginning and never let go. The characters felt incredibly real and layered — flawed, vulnerable, funny, and deeply human. I became so invested in their lives and relationships that by the end, I genuinely wasn’t ready to leave them behind.

What stood out most was the emotional depth and detail Thurman brought to every interaction and storyline. The family bonds, friendships and personal growth felt just as important as the romance itself. It’s rare for a debut novel to feel this confident and emotionally resonant, but Thurman absolutely delivered.

Beautiful book and words

I'm so glad I gave this book and author a chance. Loved Ro and Khia’s friendship. I don't believe it was mentioned what Ro’s full name was. Anyways, their chemistry was undeniable, and the other characters were a delight to get to know. This is such a beautiful book overall. If you are looking for a slow-burning kind of book that is well-paced and structured to end beautifully, this is the one.