Nina’s mother’s demands are few. She simply expects Nina to place the needs of her family above all other concerns. This means that Nina is expected to assist with the family business when asked. Unfortunately, Nina’s family business is robbing banks.
Moving around the country as her father takes on casual teaching positions, Nina has long since learned to keep friendships casual and stay under the radar. As soon as her mother picks the location for their next bank robbery, the family will be moving on.
Nina is counting down to her 18th birthday when she can finally be free from her mother’s twisted priorities and control. She might even come back to the small town they are living in now, where she has made friends and finally feels like she belongs. There might even be romance in the air with her quirky new friend Spencer.
Spencer and Nina’s families and friendship form the backbone of an entertaining novel exploring the complexities of family relationships. As Nina’s family is pulled tightly together by her mother’s irrational demands and compelling personality, Spencer’s fractured family drifts apart. Nina and Spencer need each other for support and understanding, but a series of unfortunate coincidences bring them to a point where they stand on opposite ends of a gun.
Thoughtful with wonderful offbeat moments and quirky characters, All This Could End is another engaging story by talented young novelist Steph Bowe. With her distinctive blend of light-heartedness and depth, Bowe delivers a story that prompts readers to think about how far they would be willing to go for family and the value of true friendship.
As with Bowe’s first novel, Girl Saves Boy, I love that All This Could End doesn’t tie everything up in a nice neat bow at the end. As in real life, there are relationships that are damaged and hurts that can’t be undone. I really look forward to reading more from Steph Bowe in the future.
Title: All This Could End
Author: Steph Bowe
Publisher: Text Publishing, $19.99 RRP
Publication Date: 27/2/2013
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9781921758447
For ages: 12+ years
Type: Young adult fiction
