This Is Not Where It Ends

An inspiring debut novel about finding meaning in life even when it seems impossible.

Clara Kozlowski, wife and mother, is at a crossroads in her life. She spends her days in a loveless marriage, killing time at work as she tries to make ends meet and cover her mortgage payments. The monotony of her life takes a frightening turn, however, when a doctor’s appointment reveals unwelcome news: Clara has a lump in her breast. Her day-to-day worries pale in the face of what could be impending tragedy, and her stress level worsens when her husband views the news as an inconvenience to him alone. She catches him in a compromising position later that night, so she escapes her cold, unfeeling home, finding refuge in her sister Mara’s house. Facing possible death, Clara is now determined to live her life as she wants. In the meantime, straight-laced police officer Nelson Little has just turned 49. Unlike some of his fellow officers who abuse their authority, he embraces his duty as a policeman and finds his job deeply satisfying. But his quiet existence leads to a lonely life with little excitement. His path crosses with Clara’s in an unlikely way as the two broken people take to the sea, where they achieve the happiness that has eluded them. Told in straightforward prose, this is a highly readable, thought-provoking story of two people confronting the dissatisfaction in their lives. Clara and Nelson are well-sketched, complex characters whose strength of conviction both harms and helps them. But as they learn to let go of their fears, they confront themselves in new ways. It’s an atypical tale of surprises and gentle twists that will resonate with anyone who’s been frustrated by life choices and eager for a new beginning.

An unusual story of escaping problems and then learning to face them.