After reading Reese’s Book Club pick, “Cassandra in Reverse,” I became obsessed with Holly Smale’s ability to grab readers with her charming characters and hilarious occurrences. When I saw the August release of “I know How This Ends,” by Smale, I was excited to read more of her work. 

This is only Smale’s second stand-alone novel, and it’s safe to say she nails it yet again. “I Know How This Ends” is a quick-read romantic comedy bursting with life, and it has an ending that melted my heart and brought tears to my eyes. With her sharp wit and relatable characters, Smale presents a gift to anyone who needs to know it’s alright to be human. 

36-year-old Margot is a meteorologist, and she is stuck. After a brutal end to a 10-year relationship, she has left her meteorology job, moved cities and effectively closed off the best parts of herself. Forcing herself to “get back out there,” she tries online dating with the purpose of collecting data on men, even going as far taking them all to the same Italian restaurant to limit the number of variables. 

As a meteorologist, she lives her life through data and predictability. This all changes when she suddenly has a vision of the future, prompting her to say yes when the waiter at the Italian restaurant asks her out after 16 failed dates. 

Throughout the novel, Margot continues to have these unexplained visions that simultaneously make her happy, sad or confused with the concept of time. With her new-found relationship and psychic ability, Margot is able to take advantage of new opportunities and let go of what holds her back. “I Know How This Ends” is a perfect illustration of the human experience with time, regret, love and forgiveness. 

What makes this novel special is the relatability of the characters. Margot is a flawed human filled with complicated emotions. While reading this book, I found it hard to put down because I just wanted to spend more time with Margot.

In the book, her grandfather characterizes her as a “bullet,” and as we learn more about her, we realize that that is indeed the perfect description. Margot is direct and intentional. After date number 15 turns out to be married with kids, Margot simply tells him: “You’ve failed this date, John. Sorry.” 

Quips like this make Margot a fantastic main character and narrator of the story. She had me laughing on every single page. Smale has a brilliant way of creating a relatable, funny character, while also touching on serious topics that leave readers with a sense of delightful wisdom. 

As Margot leans into her new life with a supernatural ability, we see her experience the trials and triumphs of human existence. She learns about who she is and who she doesn’t want to be. Her ability to see the future has changed the way she deals with the past. 

She has regrets and has made mistakes in the way she has handled her friendships and family relationships. But she realizes that these things do not make her a bad person. She is human like the rest of us, a realization that changes both her and the reader. 

Readers of all kinds can see themselves in Margot and gain insight into the real human world through the fiction of Smale.

“I Know How This Ends” is available everywhere. 

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