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At the End of Every Day
In this haunting debut novel—perfect for fans of Iain Reid, Jeff VanderMeer, and Julia Armfield—a loyal employee at a collapsing theme park questions the recent death of a celebrity visitor, the arrival of strange new guests, her boyfriend’s erratic behavior, and ultimately her own sanity.
Delphi has spent years working at a vast and iconic theme park in California after fleeing her childhood trauma in her rural hometown. But after the disturbing death of a beloved Hollywood starlet on the park grounds, Delphi is tasked with shuttering The Park for good.
Meanwhile, two siblings with ties to The Park exchange letters, trying to understand why people who work there have been disappearing. Before long, they learn that there’s a reason no one is meant to see behind The Park’s curtain.
What happens when The Park empties out? And what happens when Delphi, who seems remarkably at one with The Park, is finally forced to leave?
At once a novel about the uncanny valley, death cults, optical illusions, and the enduring power of fantasy, Reiche’s debut is a mind-bending teacup ride through an eerily familiar landscape, where the key to it all is what happens At the End of Every Day.
Delphi has spent years working at a vast and iconic theme park in California after fleeing her childhood trauma in her rural hometown. But after the disturbing death of a beloved Hollywood starlet on the park grounds, Delphi is tasked with shuttering The Park for good.
Meanwhile, two siblings with ties to The Park exchange letters, trying to understand why people who work there have been disappearing. Before long, they learn that there’s a reason no one is meant to see behind The Park’s curtain.
What happens when The Park empties out? And what happens when Delphi, who seems remarkably at one with The Park, is finally forced to leave?
At once a novel about the uncanny valley, death cults, optical illusions, and the enduring power of fantasy, Reiche’s debut is a mind-bending teacup ride through an eerily familiar landscape, where the key to it all is what happens At the End of Every Day.
272 pages, Hardcover
First published July 4, 2023
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 239 reviews
July 6, 2023
2.5⭐️
As the story begins, we meet Delphi Baxter, an employee of an iconic theme park, (referred to as “The Park”), which is being shut down in phases after a mishap and subsequent death of a celebrity on the premises. Delphi is one of the last few employees retained till the shutdown is complete. She had a traumatic childhood and has an attachment to The Park where she has been employed for years. As she spends her days and nights on the premises she recalls her experiences and the old and newer attractions that were popular with the visitors. Despite The Park being closed for the most part, Delphi and her coworker /boyfriend Brendan notice strange occurrences and unauthorized visitors after hours. It also seems that Brendan might know more than he lets on. As the narrative progresses, we follow Delphi as she tries to make sense of what is happening around her.
Combining elements of mystery, surrealism, speculative fiction, horror (it wasn’t too scary) and much more, At the End of Every Day by Arianna Reiche is an intense read. The narrative moves between past and present detailing significant incidents from Delphi’s childhood and the events from the present day respectively- from Delphi’s first-person PoV. Interspersed throughout the narrative are letters between siblings who have a connection to The Park, the content of the letters indicating sinister forces at play. I found the premise of the story intriguing and was drawn to it by the strong start.
However, I believe that I wasn’t the right audience for this book. The writing is atmospheric but the non-linearity of the plot and the abrupt transitions between the events from the past and present rendered the narrative difficult to follow. We meet several characters along the way and the attractions of the park are described in much detail, adding a fantastical element to the narrative, but also adding to my confusion. I found myself losing interest as the plot progressed and struggled to make sense of what was happening. I also felt that the connection between the different threads of the story remained ambiguous till the end and overall, the narrative lacked cohesiveness.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
As the story begins, we meet Delphi Baxter, an employee of an iconic theme park, (referred to as “The Park”), which is being shut down in phases after a mishap and subsequent death of a celebrity on the premises. Delphi is one of the last few employees retained till the shutdown is complete. She had a traumatic childhood and has an attachment to The Park where she has been employed for years. As she spends her days and nights on the premises she recalls her experiences and the old and newer attractions that were popular with the visitors. Despite The Park being closed for the most part, Delphi and her coworker /boyfriend Brendan notice strange occurrences and unauthorized visitors after hours. It also seems that Brendan might know more than he lets on. As the narrative progresses, we follow Delphi as she tries to make sense of what is happening around her.
Combining elements of mystery, surrealism, speculative fiction, horror (it wasn’t too scary) and much more, At the End of Every Day by Arianna Reiche is an intense read. The narrative moves between past and present detailing significant incidents from Delphi’s childhood and the events from the present day respectively- from Delphi’s first-person PoV. Interspersed throughout the narrative are letters between siblings who have a connection to The Park, the content of the letters indicating sinister forces at play. I found the premise of the story intriguing and was drawn to it by the strong start.
However, I believe that I wasn’t the right audience for this book. The writing is atmospheric but the non-linearity of the plot and the abrupt transitions between the events from the past and present rendered the narrative difficult to follow. We meet several characters along the way and the attractions of the park are described in much detail, adding a fantastical element to the narrative, but also adding to my confusion. I found myself losing interest as the plot progressed and struggled to make sense of what was happening. I also felt that the connection between the different threads of the story remained ambiguous till the end and overall, the narrative lacked cohesiveness.
Many thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions expressed in this review are my own.
July 21, 2023
So far I may be the only reviewer on Goodreads who really liked At the End of Every Day. It’s Arianna Reiche’s debut novel, a literary psychological horror story set in a twisted Disney-like theme park that's closing its doors after a young Hollywood actress dies near the entrance.
Those who love complex writing and the surreal – like me – will gobble the book up. But those who don't, won't. Reiche has written the story on a rambling, cerebral level, and she spends a lot of time developing the characters, fleshing out back stories, and describing the creepy theme park. You have to like that style of writing to enjoy it.
And the novel is one, too, where it feels like you're wearing blinders the entire time you read it. Delphi, our narrator, is one of the last employees of the park. Her final task is to shut the park down for good, so it’s through her eyes that we see the park’s fun-house illusions and hidden tunnels. But even though we're viewing it firsthand through Delphi, we only see what's right in front of her. We never see a zoomed out, bigger picture of her surroundings. It’s claustrophobic, atmospheric, and fits the vibe of the story so well.
The book does stumble at the end, though. Just when the blinders lift and things start to make sense, Reiche lightens up on the writing. Much of the story's opaqueness falls away, making it almost too easy to follow what is happening. And after the compelling blurriness of everything that came before, I felt cheated by the clarity of the ending. I wanted more uncertainty and greater room to draw my own conclusions.
At the End of Every Day is nevertheless a debut I can stand up and applaud. I just hope that the more it's read by others, the louder the applause will echo.
My sincerest appreciation to Arianna Reiche, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
Those who love complex writing and the surreal – like me – will gobble the book up. But those who don't, won't. Reiche has written the story on a rambling, cerebral level, and she spends a lot of time developing the characters, fleshing out back stories, and describing the creepy theme park. You have to like that style of writing to enjoy it.
And the novel is one, too, where it feels like you're wearing blinders the entire time you read it. Delphi, our narrator, is one of the last employees of the park. Her final task is to shut the park down for good, so it’s through her eyes that we see the park’s fun-house illusions and hidden tunnels. But even though we're viewing it firsthand through Delphi, we only see what's right in front of her. We never see a zoomed out, bigger picture of her surroundings. It’s claustrophobic, atmospheric, and fits the vibe of the story so well.
The book does stumble at the end, though. Just when the blinders lift and things start to make sense, Reiche lightens up on the writing. Much of the story's opaqueness falls away, making it almost too easy to follow what is happening. And after the compelling blurriness of everything that came before, I felt cheated by the clarity of the ending. I wanted more uncertainty and greater room to draw my own conclusions.
At the End of Every Day is nevertheless a debut I can stand up and applaud. I just hope that the more it's read by others, the louder the applause will echo.
My sincerest appreciation to Arianna Reiche, Atria Books, and NetGalley for the digital review copy. All opinions included herein are my own.
August 10, 2024
Well, I was warned. I should have listened.
After reading a couple not so promising reviews for this book, I was going to skip it. There are so many new releases crowding up shelves right now, a Reader has to be selective.
Ultimately, curiosity got to me. I had to know, what was it people weren't connecting with. I had to find out for myself.
Indeed, now I know. Normally, I would start a review by giving you a brief synopsis of the overall story. I know when I read reviews, I look for certain buzzwords and scenarios that sound like the story could be a good fit for me.
Unfortunately, in this case, I don't think I could give you even a 20-word description of what this book is actually about. In fact, I can't even recall what the main character's name is and I finished this about 2-hours ago.
It does follow a girl, who wears gloves all the time, who works at a theme park that is clearly, though unnamed, supposed to represent Disneyland.
An actress died on a park ride and I think I was supposed to care about that, it was mentioned numerous times, but I didn't. I wasn't given enough coherent info to care.
At the end of the day, for me, this book felt like it had no point. If there was a plot buried deep within here somewhere, I never stumbled across it. There were a lot of words, but none of them seemed to make sense in the order in which they were presented.
I don't even know who to recommend this to. Maybe, based on the vibes, if you are one of the few people who enjoyed The Tenth Girl, you might enjoy this. Also, perhaps if you enjoyed the HBO-series, Westworld, you might like this.
That's a stretch though. I never actually watched Westworld, besides the first episode I couldn't make it through, so take this comparison with a grain of salt.
I would actually be interested in hearing this author talk about the intent and ideas behind this story. While it wouldn't be likely to change my opinion on it, I would definitely be interested in hearing the inspiration, and honestly, the point.
With this being said, just because this book didn't work for me, if you think it sounds interesting, you should absolutely give it a go.
I would never want my opinion to discourage anyone from picking a book up. After all, it's just my opinion, and what the heck do I know anyway?
Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me a copy to read and review.
Even though this didn't work for me, I wish the author the best luck with its release!
After reading a couple not so promising reviews for this book, I was going to skip it. There are so many new releases crowding up shelves right now, a Reader has to be selective.
Ultimately, curiosity got to me. I had to know, what was it people weren't connecting with. I had to find out for myself.
Indeed, now I know. Normally, I would start a review by giving you a brief synopsis of the overall story. I know when I read reviews, I look for certain buzzwords and scenarios that sound like the story could be a good fit for me.
Unfortunately, in this case, I don't think I could give you even a 20-word description of what this book is actually about. In fact, I can't even recall what the main character's name is and I finished this about 2-hours ago.
It does follow a girl, who wears gloves all the time, who works at a theme park that is clearly, though unnamed, supposed to represent Disneyland.
An actress died on a park ride and I think I was supposed to care about that, it was mentioned numerous times, but I didn't. I wasn't given enough coherent info to care.
At the end of the day, for me, this book felt like it had no point. If there was a plot buried deep within here somewhere, I never stumbled across it. There were a lot of words, but none of them seemed to make sense in the order in which they were presented.
I don't even know who to recommend this to. Maybe, based on the vibes, if you are one of the few people who enjoyed The Tenth Girl, you might enjoy this. Also, perhaps if you enjoyed the HBO-series, Westworld, you might like this.
That's a stretch though. I never actually watched Westworld, besides the first episode I couldn't make it through, so take this comparison with a grain of salt.
I would actually be interested in hearing this author talk about the intent and ideas behind this story. While it wouldn't be likely to change my opinion on it, I would definitely be interested in hearing the inspiration, and honestly, the point.
With this being said, just because this book didn't work for me, if you think it sounds interesting, you should absolutely give it a go.
I would never want my opinion to discourage anyone from picking a book up. After all, it's just my opinion, and what the heck do I know anyway?
Thank you to the publisher, Atria Books, for providing me a copy to read and review.
Even though this didn't work for me, I wish the author the best luck with its release!
June 30, 2023
Well that was a mess.
I fully admit that I'm a HUGE Disney fan. I've been to Disneyland more times than I can count, and when I saw the description of this one and looked at the park map inside, I was all in for this futuristic horror theme park book. And while I was okay with the way things all concluded, it was a chore to get there. I never ever DNF books (although I should, I know, I'm just an eternal optimist) but this one came the closest I've been in a long time.
The main premise of the story is that Delphi, a worker at a theme park, is tasked with shutting down the park after a celebrity dies on the premises. But things aren't what they seem and they are scarier and stranger than she can understand.
The narrative is mostly telling rather than showing, the pacing is very slow, and it is just a confusing mess most of the time. I had to work to follow the plot, and I don't even think I was completely successful. There are these letters back and forth between two people and once I finally figured out what they were all about, I had to go back and piece it all together again because they made no sense at first.
The book was a huge struggle fest for me and I thought it was a giant mess. Maybe I was just the wrong reader for it, I don't know.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
I fully admit that I'm a HUGE Disney fan. I've been to Disneyland more times than I can count, and when I saw the description of this one and looked at the park map inside, I was all in for this futuristic horror theme park book. And while I was okay with the way things all concluded, it was a chore to get there. I never ever DNF books (although I should, I know, I'm just an eternal optimist) but this one came the closest I've been in a long time.
The main premise of the story is that Delphi, a worker at a theme park, is tasked with shutting down the park after a celebrity dies on the premises. But things aren't what they seem and they are scarier and stranger than she can understand.
The narrative is mostly telling rather than showing, the pacing is very slow, and it is just a confusing mess most of the time. I had to work to follow the plot, and I don't even think I was completely successful. There are these letters back and forth between two people and once I finally figured out what they were all about, I had to go back and piece it all together again because they made no sense at first.
The book was a huge struggle fest for me and I thought it was a giant mess. Maybe I was just the wrong reader for it, I don't know.
I voluntarily reviewed a complimentary copy of this book, all opinions are my own.
July 6, 2023
After the tragic death of a celebrity on its grounds, a theme park must close down permanently. Delphi and a small contingent of staff are tasked with wrapping up operations. Meanwhile, one of the staff exchanges letters with his sister about the strange occurrences at the park.
It discusses religious cults, wildfires, and eerily human-like robots.
Usually, the weirder a book is, the more I love it. But this one was confusing nearly all the way through. It has a mind-bending quality, making it hard to tell what’s really going on. The ending took the sense of unreality to the next level.
I did enjoy one of the sibling’s POVs.
Avid theme park lovers might enjoy this mind-bender of a novel.
2.5.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an arc via Netgalley.
https://booksandwheels.com
It discusses religious cults, wildfires, and eerily human-like robots.
Usually, the weirder a book is, the more I love it. But this one was confusing nearly all the way through. It has a mind-bending quality, making it hard to tell what’s really going on. The ending took the sense of unreality to the next level.
I did enjoy one of the sibling’s POVs.
Avid theme park lovers might enjoy this mind-bender of a novel.
2.5.
Thanks to the publisher for providing an arc via Netgalley.
https://booksandwheels.com
July 3, 2023
I thought I would love this book. When my son was young and we lived in Los Angeles, we had season passes to Disneyland. I am not exaggerating when I say we went over 200 times to the park. I was expecting to love this book. A horror/fantasy book that takes place in a theme park? I thought this would be right up my alley. I was wrong.
Delphi, who fled childhood trauma, has worked for an iconic theme park in California for years. When a celebrity dies at the park, Delphi is tasked with "shuttering The Park for good." What happens when the park closes? What happens when Delphi must leave?
Two siblings also exchange letters about the theme park and the things that happened there.
I struggled with the writing and the slowness of the book. I wish I had known that it would be a slow book, I would have passed. Plus, the writing style was just not for me. I also struggled with the plot. This book was work for me, I don't mind when I am not sure about what is going on, but there is not knowing what is going on and then there is being confused. I was confused.
I was not the right reader for this book. Others are enjoying this more than I did, and I encourage you to read their reviews.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
Delphi, who fled childhood trauma, has worked for an iconic theme park in California for years. When a celebrity dies at the park, Delphi is tasked with "shuttering The Park for good." What happens when the park closes? What happens when Delphi must leave?
Two siblings also exchange letters about the theme park and the things that happened there.
I struggled with the writing and the slowness of the book. I wish I had known that it would be a slow book, I would have passed. Plus, the writing style was just not for me. I also struggled with the plot. This book was work for me, I don't mind when I am not sure about what is going on, but there is not knowing what is going on and then there is being confused. I was confused.
I was not the right reader for this book. Others are enjoying this more than I did, and I encourage you to read their reviews.
Thank you to Atria Books and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.
Read more of my reviews at www.openbookposts.com
July 4, 2023
At the End of Every Day is set in a curious Disney-esque theme park that’s closing down in a halting, indistinct kind of way; long-time employee Delphi and her boyfriend Brendan are two of the few remaining staff tasked with completing the shutdown. The blurb promises a dark, literary horror novel ‘about the uncanny valley, death cults, optical illusions and the enduring power of fantasy’, and there’s a bit of that, but too little too late for my taste. Delphi and Brendan are the kind of oddball characters who always test my patience. The way they’re written wobbles all over the line between charming and irritatingly quirky (the whole section about Brendan’s first girlfriend! interminable!) and Delphi in particular seems so vapid and immature I couldn’t help picturing her as a teenager, though the character is definitely supposed to be older. (There’s a... plot twist that arguably explains this, but in some ways only makes it odder.)
All of which makes it even more frustrating that everything about the park is just brilliant. The chapters are punctuated by letters between a brother and sister, discussing the design of an earlier incarnation of the park, and I was fascinated by these – racing through Delphi’s ramblings just so I could get to them. The setting itself is real feat of imagination, described in amazing detail. The cult, the bots, there is so much good stuff here! A lot of potential. Yet when the climactic scenes come, when the narrative actually starts digging into the mysteries of the park, the descriptive language falters; I found I really couldn’t picture what was going on.
The characters and pacing reminded me a lot of A Touch of Jen (and I’d definitely recommend it if you enjoyed that book); elements of the story have shades of Archive 81 and FantasticLand. I liked the concept a lot. And I would still like to read more from the author, ideally short stories with more focus on plot/ideas and less on character.
I received an advance review copy of At the End of Every Day from the publisher through Edelweiss.
All of which makes it even more frustrating that everything about the park is just brilliant. The chapters are punctuated by letters between a brother and sister, discussing the design of an earlier incarnation of the park, and I was fascinated by these – racing through Delphi’s ramblings just so I could get to them. The setting itself is real feat of imagination, described in amazing detail. The cult, the bots, there is so much good stuff here! A lot of potential. Yet when the climactic scenes come, when the narrative actually starts digging into the mysteries of the park, the descriptive language falters; I found I really couldn’t picture what was going on.
The characters and pacing reminded me a lot of A Touch of Jen (and I’d definitely recommend it if you enjoyed that book); elements of the story have shades of Archive 81 and FantasticLand. I liked the concept a lot. And I would still like to read more from the author, ideally short stories with more focus on plot/ideas and less on character.
I received an advance review copy of At the End of Every Day from the publisher through Edelweiss.
August 5, 2023
It had to happen so time... Reiche's At the End of Every Day is the recipient of my very first one star rating. I do not even know how to review this book. Think of visiting Disney World/Land while hallucinating. Smh.
May 30, 2023
EDITOR'S NOTE (I'm very biased!)
Think of the dread that builds as you’re inching up that first steep incline on a roller coaster. Or think of the dizzying effect of a spinning teacup ride. That’s At the End of Every Day in a nutshell.
This genre-bending debut takes place at a Disney-like park with a history so complicated that no one really knows its true origins. The narrator, Delphi, is The Park’s most loyal employee, but she’s ordered to close it down after the very public suicide of a Hollywood darling.
Soon, unauthorized visitors appear in The Park. Delphi’s boyfriend starts acting . . . strange. Meanwhile, on the outside, a brother and a sister exchange frantic letters warning each other: DO NOT GO TO THE PARK.
On the surface, At the End of Every Day is a love letter to theme parks. Delphi’s last name is an Easter egg, and there’s also an Imagination Ranch, instead of the prolific “Imagineering Research.”
But this novel is also for people who gravitate toward the slow-burn, menacing quality of fiction by Alexandra Kleeman, Iain Reid, Jeff VanderMeer, and Julia Armfield—genre-clashing authors who write about all things peculiar, not only to shock readers but to encourage them to look at one known concept through new lenses. In Arianna’s case, she’s exposing parks as places of psychological manipulation—she takes us underground, into the guts of all the machinery it takes to maintain such a grand-scale illusion.
Readers of At the End of Every Day should strap in and proceed with caution. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
Think of the dread that builds as you’re inching up that first steep incline on a roller coaster. Or think of the dizzying effect of a spinning teacup ride. That’s At the End of Every Day in a nutshell.
This genre-bending debut takes place at a Disney-like park with a history so complicated that no one really knows its true origins. The narrator, Delphi, is The Park’s most loyal employee, but she’s ordered to close it down after the very public suicide of a Hollywood darling.
Soon, unauthorized visitors appear in The Park. Delphi’s boyfriend starts acting . . . strange. Meanwhile, on the outside, a brother and a sister exchange frantic letters warning each other: DO NOT GO TO THE PARK.
On the surface, At the End of Every Day is a love letter to theme parks. Delphi’s last name is an Easter egg, and there’s also an Imagination Ranch, instead of the prolific “Imagineering Research.”
But this novel is also for people who gravitate toward the slow-burn, menacing quality of fiction by Alexandra Kleeman, Iain Reid, Jeff VanderMeer, and Julia Armfield—genre-clashing authors who write about all things peculiar, not only to shock readers but to encourage them to look at one known concept through new lenses. In Arianna’s case, she’s exposing parks as places of psychological manipulation—she takes us underground, into the guts of all the machinery it takes to maintain such a grand-scale illusion.
Readers of At the End of Every Day should strap in and proceed with caution. It’s going to be a bumpy ride.
March 5, 2023
Something about the shiny surface of theme parks makes me deeply suspicious. I love theme park lore about how things cynically “never go wrong” at these seemingly magical places. Arianna Reiche captures this sense of unease perfectly in her debut novel, At the End of Every Day.
Delphi works at such a theme park, only referred to as “The Park”. Unfortunately, a celebrity died after a large-scale launch of a new ride, and The Park’s fortunes have tanked so badly that The Park is closing for good. Delphi and her boyfriend play a big part in this operation, but as the park’s final day approaches, Delphi begins to experience strange things. But Delphi is also harboring a secret, a childhood injury that forces her to constantly wear gloves.
Interspersed with strange letters between an apparently estranged pair of siblings, speaking about cults, AI bots, and escalating disasters in California. No spoilers, but when these two narratives come together, it is incredibly effective.
The descriptions of underground tunnels and strange rooms successfully create a great sense of unease in the reader. The whole novel is deeply unsettling and disorienting, which reflects the askew plot perfectly. Do we have an unreliable narrator; is this all in Delphi’s head? There are lots of threads in this novel, but the patient, attentive reader will be rewarded.
Fans of the uncanny will love At the End of Every Day, as will fans of dark theme park lore. A fantastic debut, and one that will stay with me long after the gates close.
Delphi works at such a theme park, only referred to as “The Park”. Unfortunately, a celebrity died after a large-scale launch of a new ride, and The Park’s fortunes have tanked so badly that The Park is closing for good. Delphi and her boyfriend play a big part in this operation, but as the park’s final day approaches, Delphi begins to experience strange things. But Delphi is also harboring a secret, a childhood injury that forces her to constantly wear gloves.
Interspersed with strange letters between an apparently estranged pair of siblings, speaking about cults, AI bots, and escalating disasters in California. No spoilers, but when these two narratives come together, it is incredibly effective.
The descriptions of underground tunnels and strange rooms successfully create a great sense of unease in the reader. The whole novel is deeply unsettling and disorienting, which reflects the askew plot perfectly. Do we have an unreliable narrator; is this all in Delphi’s head? There are lots of threads in this novel, but the patient, attentive reader will be rewarded.
Fans of the uncanny will love At the End of Every Day, as will fans of dark theme park lore. A fantastic debut, and one that will stay with me long after the gates close.
Read
August 1, 2023A dnf. I could make no sense of it.
A story about a theme park which just might not be your 'average' theme park. But I could find no 'anchor' to grab hold of. Didn't understand what was going on - or why. The writing is jumbly, jumps from one thing to another randomly. Characters? Didn't know who was who or why. The MC? The same, and she (or he or they) has/have a weird back story that's only told in part. Confusing as heck. Read 100 pages in and put it aside.
So, to be fair, and for those who will enjoy this book, no rating.
A story about a theme park which just might not be your 'average' theme park. But I could find no 'anchor' to grab hold of. Didn't understand what was going on - or why. The writing is jumbly, jumps from one thing to another randomly. Characters? Didn't know who was who or why. The MC? The same, and she (or he or they) has/have a weird back story that's only told in part. Confusing as heck. Read 100 pages in and put it aside.
So, to be fair, and for those who will enjoy this book, no rating.
June 20, 2023
Wow, this book is easily one of my favorites this year, especially if you're a fan of good weird books by authors like Mona Awad, Iain Reed, Karen Tidbeck, and others. The story follows the slow and unsettling closure of a Disneyesque theme park, narrated by Delphi, an employee who has an unhealthy attachment to the place and its mystique. At the end of each chapter, we're treated to letters exchanged between siblings Catherine and her brother "bro," which reveal the dark and deeply weird history of the park, along with warnings to stay away.
Debut author Ariana Reiche delivers a great main narrative through protagonist Delphi, using dreamy sentences and weaving in quick flashbacks of childhood trauma amidst vivid descriptions of the decaying theme park. What adds to the intrigue is that Delphi becomes increasingly unreliable as a narrator, subtly hinting at inconsistencies that challenge the facts presented. This creates an overall unsettling experience in the best possible way.
The book is sprinkled with mysteries surrounding the park, including the true reason behind its closure, which goes beyond the death of an actress initially mentioned. It also introduces uncanny AI, enigmatic founders of the theme park, and highlights the significance of setting as a character and driving force in the story.
This book held my attention so strongly that I finished it in just two days. However, if you're not a fan of unsettling and occasionally confusing or ambiguous books, this may not be for you. But if you enjoy the best kind of weirdness in books, keep an eye out for this debut release on July 4th, 2023. I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with the opportunity to read the ARC.
Debut author Ariana Reiche delivers a great main narrative through protagonist Delphi, using dreamy sentences and weaving in quick flashbacks of childhood trauma amidst vivid descriptions of the decaying theme park. What adds to the intrigue is that Delphi becomes increasingly unreliable as a narrator, subtly hinting at inconsistencies that challenge the facts presented. This creates an overall unsettling experience in the best possible way.
The book is sprinkled with mysteries surrounding the park, including the true reason behind its closure, which goes beyond the death of an actress initially mentioned. It also introduces uncanny AI, enigmatic founders of the theme park, and highlights the significance of setting as a character and driving force in the story.
This book held my attention so strongly that I finished it in just two days. However, if you're not a fan of unsettling and occasionally confusing or ambiguous books, this may not be for you. But if you enjoy the best kind of weirdness in books, keep an eye out for this debut release on July 4th, 2023. I would like to express my gratitude to NetGalley and Atria Books for providing me with the opportunity to read the ARC.
June 4, 2023
There were three main reasons that I was excited to read At the End of Every Day. 1) it's a debut novel 2) it's being billed as literary horror 3) it's being compared to books by Jeff VanderMeer and Ian Reed. I had hoped At the End of Every Day would be a new favorite addition to the "new weird" genre.
At the End of Every Day had a really great start. I was intrigued by the theme park setting and by the characters. I didn't realize until after I started reading At the End of Every Day that the spiral on the cover was a roller coaster!
I became less and less interested as the book progressed and by the end I was just confused. I was confused about what was happening, and I was confused about what kind of book it was supposed to be.
I felt the Ian Reed comparison briefly, and I guess I haven't read enough Jeff VanderMeer to get the comparison here. I'm not sure who I would recommend this book to. The main characters work at a large theme park that is being disassembled. The synopsis says "the key to it all is what happens at the end of every day". Frankly I'm confused why this was even a reveal. Maybe this book just went over my head.
Source: review copy provider by publisher. This is a review of my reading experience.
At the End of Every Day had a really great start. I was intrigued by the theme park setting and by the characters. I didn't realize until after I started reading At the End of Every Day that the spiral on the cover was a roller coaster!
I became less and less interested as the book progressed and by the end I was just confused. I was confused about what was happening, and I was confused about what kind of book it was supposed to be.
I felt the Ian Reed comparison briefly, and I guess I haven't read enough Jeff VanderMeer to get the comparison here. I'm not sure who I would recommend this book to. The main characters work at a large theme park that is being disassembled. The synopsis says "the key to it all is what happens at the end of every day". Frankly I'm confused why this was even a reveal. Maybe this book just went over my head.
Source: review copy provider by publisher. This is a review of my reading experience.
July 12, 2023
wtf (compliment)
Shelved as 'nope-dnf'
September 22, 2023DNF 43% that's like over 4 hours so i really gave this one a chance but I honestly have no idea what's going on.
Pretty dull so far....10%
Lots of relationships/ romance stuff.
15% I don't care about Brenden....WHERE is the awesome theme park setting?!!
What is even happening??? I think this should be marketed as literary fiction. 💤
Chapters are SUPER long
So many character flashbacks. I am having a very difficult time following the story.
Pretty dull so far....10%
Lots of relationships/ romance stuff.
15% I don't care about Brenden....WHERE is the awesome theme park setting?!!
What is even happening??? I think this should be marketed as literary fiction. 💤
Chapters are SUPER long
So many character flashbacks. I am having a very difficult time following the story.
May 30, 2023
This book had me confused from start to finish. I thought I was following along just fine, then things would start to make sense, and then in the end I still ended up being confused. Time and place was never stable for me and I found myself chasing the writer's words, trying to piece things together. Maybe that was the point but it was not my cup of tea.
I also found it very confusing with the letter anecdotes. Sure they seemed to tie into the story line but it seemed unnecessary. A lot of what was in the book seemed unnecessary and it took away from the story line for me. I ended the book still very confused but maybe I just wasn't able to logically piece things together like the author intended me to.
I also found it very confusing with the letter anecdotes. Sure they seemed to tie into the story line but it seemed unnecessary. A lot of what was in the book seemed unnecessary and it took away from the story line for me. I ended the book still very confused but maybe I just wasn't able to logically piece things together like the author intended me to.
June 12, 2023
This book has exactly one word to describe it...fine. This book was just fine. I didn't really like the writing style. I didn't really like the characters. There were too many things going on and it felt like none of them were well thought out. It was good enough to continue reading but not good enough to recommend.
April 20, 2023
If you are a fan of ambiguous books like "I'm Thinking of Ending Things", this is your type of read and will love it. Unfortunately, this wasn't for me. That's not to say this writer isn't good because she is. The descriptions were so detailed I could imagine myself right there in the theme park. It was eerie and had a dreamlike quality where you don't quite know what is real and what isn't. Three Stars from me.
Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC.
Thank you Netgalley and Atria Books for this ARC.
July 11, 2023
Book 153 of the year and a front-runner for the worst of the bunch. Incomprehensible garbage. Impressive for its complete failure at storytelling. The agent who bought this book and its editor should be fired. No one involved in this should have careers in literature.
November 28, 2023
This was weird and gave me the creeps. 5 stars
Shelved as 'did-not-finish'
July 27, 2023DNF @ pg. 44. So far this book is almost entirely composed of inner monologue, which can be a compelling choice when done well, but I’m kinda bored and I’m trying to be better about DNFing when I’m not into a book.
July 5, 2023
Solid three. I feel a bit bad because I've given much worse books a three, but I can't do four, here. Maybe I just wasn't the right reader, I don't know.
It was exceedingly slow and narrative. Another reviewer noted (and I'm paraphrasing, but basically) it was almost all tell, no show. I would second that.
It seemed like it was all description and atmosphere and very little plot. Credit to the author, because it was very atmospheric and very vivid (I particularly appreciated the care with which she designed/described the theme park attractions. The Peter Pan and Wendy ride was spectacular.) I think if you're really into the story's themes, that might be enough, and you might enjoy it. I didn't.
Spoilers ahead.
This was basically a post-apocalyptic story. Kind of.
Basically, some years before (I'm going to guess 20 or 25), there was an incident with a nuclear reactor in California. Most of the state and surrounding areas were affected, and some parts were straight-up decimated. The amusement park stayed standing, more or less.
The main narrator was unreliable. We are lead to think she's quite young, early 20s, maybe. But that's when the nuclear incident occurred. Her mind shattered. To her, time stopped, and it was always the last week before the park shuttered for good (it had been scheduled to close even before the disaster). Her mind invented guests and kept the park looking as clean and maintained as it had been, and kept her from realizing that she and the people around her had aged. Her boyfriend stuck with her all this time, keeping her safe and gently trying to get her to snap out of it.
The end of the book has her finally coming to terms with everything and agreeing to leave with her boyfriend after one final ride on her favourite attraction.
The other part of the story involved a Hollywood cult who believed that there was magic beneath the park. There was a subplot with hyperrealistic automatons that were doubles of the washed-up actors turned cultists, but it felt tacked on and didn't really have anything to do with anything. I'm not sure if there really was a magic presence beneath the park or if it was a shared delusion, but in the end, that didn't really matter, either.
Yeah, I was disappointed.
It was exceedingly slow and narrative. Another reviewer noted (and I'm paraphrasing, but basically) it was almost all tell, no show. I would second that.
It seemed like it was all description and atmosphere and very little plot. Credit to the author, because it was very atmospheric and very vivid (I particularly appreciated the care with which she designed/described the theme park attractions. The Peter Pan and Wendy ride was spectacular.) I think if you're really into the story's themes, that might be enough, and you might enjoy it. I didn't.
Spoilers ahead.
This was basically a post-apocalyptic story. Kind of.
Basically, some years before (I'm going to guess 20 or 25), there was an incident with a nuclear reactor in California. Most of the state and surrounding areas were affected, and some parts were straight-up decimated. The amusement park stayed standing, more or less.
The main narrator was unreliable. We are lead to think she's quite young, early 20s, maybe. But that's when the nuclear incident occurred. Her mind shattered. To her, time stopped, and it was always the last week before the park shuttered for good (it had been scheduled to close even before the disaster). Her mind invented guests and kept the park looking as clean and maintained as it had been, and kept her from realizing that she and the people around her had aged. Her boyfriend stuck with her all this time, keeping her safe and gently trying to get her to snap out of it.
The end of the book has her finally coming to terms with everything and agreeing to leave with her boyfriend after one final ride on her favourite attraction.
The other part of the story involved a Hollywood cult who believed that there was magic beneath the park. There was a subplot with hyperrealistic automatons that were doubles of the washed-up actors turned cultists, but it felt tacked on and didn't really have anything to do with anything. I'm not sure if there really was a magic presence beneath the park or if it was a shared delusion, but in the end, that didn't really matter, either.
Yeah, I was disappointed.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 12, 2023
3.5 stars
I have mixed feelings about this one. I liked it but I didn’t love it. At the End of Every Day is set in a Southern Californian theme park that has a strong resemblance to Disneyland. With this book being compared to Jeff VanderMeer, I was fully expecting some weird shit to go down which I definitely got. The things that happened in this book were weird and murky but I did get solid answers at the end.
Our main character, Delphi, has some deep trauma and that trauma plays a large role in the events of the story. I’m not entirely sure if she and her partner, Brendan, worked for me as characters. They sometimes didn’t feel real to me, like they were as fictional as the characters in the theme park. This book also has a strange logic to it and I think that’s what I struggled with a bit. Things just seemed nonsensical or not grounded in reality. It has this hazy quality throughout. Overall though, it is a unique story that encompasses several different elements such as religion, capitalism, technology and the climate. This is one you definitely want to go into blind.
I have mixed feelings about this one. I liked it but I didn’t love it. At the End of Every Day is set in a Southern Californian theme park that has a strong resemblance to Disneyland. With this book being compared to Jeff VanderMeer, I was fully expecting some weird shit to go down which I definitely got. The things that happened in this book were weird and murky but I did get solid answers at the end.
Our main character, Delphi, has some deep trauma and that trauma plays a large role in the events of the story. I’m not entirely sure if she and her partner, Brendan, worked for me as characters. They sometimes didn’t feel real to me, like they were as fictional as the characters in the theme park. This book also has a strange logic to it and I think that’s what I struggled with a bit. Things just seemed nonsensical or not grounded in reality. It has this hazy quality throughout. Overall though, it is a unique story that encompasses several different elements such as religion, capitalism, technology and the climate. This is one you definitely want to go into blind.
July 22, 2023
I received a copy of this book in exchange for my honest review. Thank you NetGalley.
Main Character Delphi works at an amusement park until a famous star dies on the property. Delphi is put in charge of closing down the park.
Let me start by saying that the author's writing style is truly unique... and slightly complex. This writing style won't be for everyone, and that's okay. It will be a huge success with those who do enjoy it.
It did get a tad confusing at times, but once I fully grasped what was happening with the writing style, I did realyl enjoy this book.
Such a good debut!
Main Character Delphi works at an amusement park until a famous star dies on the property. Delphi is put in charge of closing down the park.
Let me start by saying that the author's writing style is truly unique... and slightly complex. This writing style won't be for everyone, and that's okay. It will be a huge success with those who do enjoy it.
It did get a tad confusing at times, but once I fully grasped what was happening with the writing style, I did realyl enjoy this book.
Such a good debut!
July 8, 2023
I expected so much more from this novel, given the synopsis. I love a good story about an abandoned amusement park. Sadly, this one just didn’t deliver on, well, anything. It was one slow slog through a mildly entertaining story to a turn I predicted early on. Sure, there were some twists along the way that kept the story interesting enough that I didn’t DNF it, but that seems like an almost-desperate branch to throw out to a drowning reader who is suffering from dry, unimaginative prose and stilted, unnatural dialogue.
I can’t say I recommend this book. If you’re looking at the cover and reading the synopsis and think it might be a totally awesome, suspense-filled, crazy time, my opinion is that it solidly is not those things.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. As per personal policy, this review will not appear on any bookseller or social media website due to a rating of three stars or lower. Thank you.
File Under: Conspiracy Thriller/Dystopian Fiction/General Fiction/Genre Mashup/Horror/Just Not For Me/Psychological Fiction/Speculative Fiction/Suspense Thriller
I can’t say I recommend this book. If you’re looking at the cover and reading the synopsis and think it might be a totally awesome, suspense-filled, crazy time, my opinion is that it solidly is not those things.
I was provided a copy of this title by NetGalley and the author. All thoughts, opinions, views, and ideas expressed herein are mine and mine alone. As per personal policy, this review will not appear on any bookseller or social media website due to a rating of three stars or lower. Thank you.
File Under: Conspiracy Thriller/Dystopian Fiction/General Fiction/Genre Mashup/Horror/Just Not For Me/Psychological Fiction/Speculative Fiction/Suspense Thriller
July 4, 2023
This is hard to review for me. I had extremely high expectations because the comparison to Iain Reid made me super excited. And there’s definitely some of that here. (For the record, I did enjoy this - and I have been thinking about it and the ending, which is a good sign. I feel like my experience is just a very personal thing here.)
That said, at about the halfway point, I thought to myself, I really hope this isn’t going where I think it’s going. And it did. It did so in a unique way and there was a nice extra at the end. But it left me wishing it was a different book. I wanted it to be an Iain Reid book where the emotional part was more impactful and the horror elements were less… actual horror? That might sound weird but I thought - despite the twists and weirdness - it was too straightforward. It felt like sci-fi horror and it was with some unique elements.
I think a lot of people will like this - and I definitely liked it. But I wanted to love it and the more genre-specific elements were just too genre-typical for me, I suppose?
It’s very hard to review this in an articulate way. Because my specific issues were basically just a personal disappointment that I wasn’t reading another Iain Reid book and that’s no one’s fault. I doubt anyone else will be disappointed in that - he’s just my favorite author right now and that bar is VERY hard to reach.
So basically - I recommend this for anyone who is intrigued by the premise. It works and it’s well-written. But it’s not Iain Reid if that’s an issue for you. :) It deserves five stars because even if wasn’t totally sold, I don’t think there’s anything the author did wrong and it definitely does what it sets out to do.
** Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. **
That said, at about the halfway point, I thought to myself, I really hope this isn’t going where I think it’s going. And it did. It did so in a unique way and there was a nice extra at the end. But it left me wishing it was a different book. I wanted it to be an Iain Reid book where the emotional part was more impactful and the horror elements were less… actual horror? That might sound weird but I thought - despite the twists and weirdness - it was too straightforward. It felt like sci-fi horror and it was with some unique elements.
I think a lot of people will like this - and I definitely liked it. But I wanted to love it and the more genre-specific elements were just too genre-typical for me, I suppose?
It’s very hard to review this in an articulate way. Because my specific issues were basically just a personal disappointment that I wasn’t reading another Iain Reid book and that’s no one’s fault. I doubt anyone else will be disappointed in that - he’s just my favorite author right now and that bar is VERY hard to reach.
So basically - I recommend this for anyone who is intrigued by the premise. It works and it’s well-written. But it’s not Iain Reid if that’s an issue for you. :) It deserves five stars because even if wasn’t totally sold, I don’t think there’s anything the author did wrong and it definitely does what it sets out to do.
** Thank you to the publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read this ARC. **
June 1, 2023
This one was really hard for me to judge.
It starts out with an interesting idea: a once-famous and beloved Southern California theme park (the author tries really hard to describe Disneyland without actually saying Disneyland) that is closing up because of a disastrous incident involving a famous young starlet’s death at the park during the opening of a land devoted to a movie starring her. The main character, Delphi, and her boyfriend are among the last of the employees to stay for the final weeks of the park to usher in its closing and guide around VIP groups and tour groups given permission to visit the non-closed parts of the park. Then weird thing start happening.
And in between the chapters of Delphi’s stream-of-consciousness narration of her days at the park, we read letters between a brother and sister describing weird things leading up to the fateful opening of the land opening and such.
It seems good right?
But the action is pretty slow-moving at first, and Delphi and Brendan, the boyfriend, never actually seem to be doing any actual work at the park, which you never get a good read on, because there’s so many names of areas and rides being thrown around, it’s hard to keep track. Then power! Things seem to just rocket forward. It’s really just kind of a lot, especially since the “solution” is kind of complicated and involves some technical issues to bring it all together.
It’s not that I didn’t like the book. It’s just that I think it could have been a little bit better organized to make it easier to follow and to keep the pace more even.
It starts out with an interesting idea: a once-famous and beloved Southern California theme park (the author tries really hard to describe Disneyland without actually saying Disneyland) that is closing up because of a disastrous incident involving a famous young starlet’s death at the park during the opening of a land devoted to a movie starring her. The main character, Delphi, and her boyfriend are among the last of the employees to stay for the final weeks of the park to usher in its closing and guide around VIP groups and tour groups given permission to visit the non-closed parts of the park. Then weird thing start happening.
And in between the chapters of Delphi’s stream-of-consciousness narration of her days at the park, we read letters between a brother and sister describing weird things leading up to the fateful opening of the land opening and such.
It seems good right?
But the action is pretty slow-moving at first, and Delphi and Brendan, the boyfriend, never actually seem to be doing any actual work at the park, which you never get a good read on, because there’s so many names of areas and rides being thrown around, it’s hard to keep track. Then power! Things seem to just rocket forward. It’s really just kind of a lot, especially since the “solution” is kind of complicated and involves some technical issues to bring it all together.
It’s not that I didn’t like the book. It’s just that I think it could have been a little bit better organized to make it easier to follow and to keep the pace more even.
July 6, 2023
I am not sure if this is a book that rewards your patience or punishes it... and if I'm honest, it was a bit of a slog to get through, but then again, I can't stop thinking about it or talking about it. This is one of those books where the author seems to have had a lot of different ideas; this could have been many separate stories, but somehow they all came together in a deep dive into the minutiae of behind-the-scenes amusement park engineering and separately, neon glass crafting? As well as old-world superstitions and modern-day celebrity worship, but not just that, really, how cults and religions are built around these things, and not just cults and religions but maybe entire experiences like movies and theme parks that shape generations and entire cultures? And there's something about twins and doppelgangers and echoes, and oh yeah, L.A. is burning, and what if it's not just L.A. --is there even a world outside at ALL anymore? This book is getting a lot of low reviews, and many folks are saying, "I don't have the patience for this," but people. You gotta. I need someone else to talk about this with. Have the patience. It's not rewarded in the end, not really. But I think it the reward comes somewhere beyond that in some other story. I don't know what I mean by that, but that's why we keep reading, I guess. I'm still giving this book five stars. Don't ask me to explain it.
July 25, 2023
If you love theme parks, like Disney, and always wondered about the behind the scenes and what it would be like to work there. If you love weird stories, that push your brain and understanding of the story more each chapter - this is definitely the one for you.
I was confused almost this whole book. I liked the start, a horrific thing has happened at the theme park and slowly, it is laying off the cast, characters and crew. Only a select few are left behind and they are slowly shutting the park down.
I liked the intro of the main character and Brandon. I loved the banter and a lot of their small moments. The letters about odd things happening kept me engaged too. But pretty soon, things went off the rails and I definitely started to lose the plot. It's a little slow and as it slowed, my interest was definitely waning too. The end was definitely confusing and I'm still not 100% sure I know the hows and whys but I did like the ending and how it all wrapped up.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
I was confused almost this whole book. I liked the start, a horrific thing has happened at the theme park and slowly, it is laying off the cast, characters and crew. Only a select few are left behind and they are slowly shutting the park down.
I liked the intro of the main character and Brandon. I loved the banter and a lot of their small moments. The letters about odd things happening kept me engaged too. But pretty soon, things went off the rails and I definitely started to lose the plot. It's a little slow and as it slowed, my interest was definitely waning too. The end was definitely confusing and I'm still not 100% sure I know the hows and whys but I did like the ending and how it all wrapped up.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
March 13, 2023
Delphine "Delphi" works at a famous theme park in California. She has left her home following a trauma and prefers to work in the dark, maintaining the illusions of the park rides as a fixer. An unfortunate death however causes the park to begin to shutter it's doors. As she continues to work in the shadows, she watches as friends and colleagues are laid off day by day.
Arianne Reiche builds tension slowly and surely as Delphi begins to suspect there is more to the park then the joyous illusions it provides. As Delphi moves deeper into the story the reader can hear the warning clang - similar to the noise before a very scary ride begins. If you like thrillers with sci-fi, horror with magic or just love theme parks, At the End Of Every Day is for you!
#Atria
Arianne Reiche builds tension slowly and surely as Delphi begins to suspect there is more to the park then the joyous illusions it provides. As Delphi moves deeper into the story the reader can hear the warning clang - similar to the noise before a very scary ride begins. If you like thrillers with sci-fi, horror with magic or just love theme parks, At the End Of Every Day is for you!
#Atria
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