This Isn't Going to End Well - Book Review

This Isn't Going to End Well: The True Story of a Man I Thought I Knew by Daniel Wallace
Publication Date: April 11, 2023
Pages: 272 pages
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars ☆☆☆☆
Sweet Spark: Learning about William Nealy's life made me want to live more like him.

This book had a full range of emotions. We could feel the admiration that the author had for Nealy as a child and teen, the frustration and sadness that Nealy's life ended the way it did, and the wonder of the stories he learned from others while researching and writing the book. No one is entirely good or bad, but the author told the story in a way that made Nealy sound very interesting. 

It was easy to picture an amazingly confident and independent man from the author's descriptions, but there was obviously so much more beneath the surface, that no one knew until it was too late. Nealy didn't sound like someone who would warm up to most people easily, but once he was your friend, he was a friend for life. His dedication to his wife was also so touching, while adding another element of wondering why it all ended too soon. 

The story was wonderfully engaging, even knowing there would be no happy ending from the start. Although it was presented more of a biography of William Nealy's life, it read almost like an endearing memoir, since the author was telling about when Nealy's life had overlapped with his. This book earned 4 out of 5 stars from this reader, and could be recommended to those who like a story of a life well-lived. While it feels it was clear all along how it 'didn't end well,' readers who don't like stories involving suicide will steer clear of this one.

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for my advance e-copy of this book. Receiving the book for free did not influence my review.