A delight from start to finish! This unique story blends just the right touch of magical realism with sharp, witty prose that had me smiling (and occasionally snorting).
Margot-sassy, flawed, and utterly lovable-steals the show, but the real magic lies in how the story captures the messiness of friendship, family, and figuring out life in such relatable ways. This is more than just a romance novel; it's a heartwarming reminder that hope can sneak in when you least expect it.

A gloriously chaotic modern romance with a unique, magical realistic twist and utterly compelling storytelling. Margot was a complete delight - a fabulous narrator full of wit and whimsy, and plenty of things to say about the madness of modern love and life. A funny, smart novel asking the questions about what we'd really do if we knew the future - would we relax, would we lose our minds, would we take more risks or live in fear?

No but why is this hitting me so deeply?!

This book was so relatable! The sub par tinder dates, going through the motions, friendship ups and downs, he self sabotaging and yet it was still so romantic and realistic. Margot was flawed and loveable. I'd be her friend. Hell I am friends with her and I am her.

Oh Holly Smale you have out done yourself!

Margot "the Meteorologist" Wayward is a bit of a mess. She's been jilted by her long term boyfriend on the eve of their wedding, she's cyberstalking her ex-fiance's new girlfriend and trying to outcompete her on social media, which is accidentally launching her a career, and she's going on 20 dates with men she's met online to please her Grandad. She's treating it like a science experiment which probably isn't helping her chances- ordering the same food, eating in the same restaurant and making notes as she goes along to help her work out her perfect man! But things take an even crazier turn when she suddenly gets a vision of the future, which seems to indicate that Henry, who she's just agreed to date, might be The One. Before long the visions start to come true and Margot realises there's not much she can do to change her destiny.

This is a really original take on a romance (spice is all off page) with the twist of a bit of magical realism thrown in. Henry is such a lovely guy, alongside his funny and fiery daughter, and as we start to see more and more flashes of their shared future together I was starting to worry how it was all going to end! Margot's friends and neighbour made me laugh and feel their pain, in particular her best friend's battle to have a baby and her neighbour's family battles. I can't say much more than that without ruining Henry and Margot's love story, but I loved the way it all comes together at the end and I'm most certainly going to add Holly Smale's other adult title, Casandra in Reverse, to my TBR.

Thanks to Netgalley and Penguin for a free ARC in return for an honest review.

This was a delightful read, it follows the story of Mega as she explores dating post breakup. Throw in some visions of the future and friend drama and you have a recipe for trouble.
I adored the weather related elements, and felt it really added to the story with a unique element. I liked the developing relationship with Harry and the use of humour, and I loved her relationship with her he r grandad.
This book had me gasping, laughing and crying it really had elements of everything to hook you in. It was a perfect fun and emotional read.

Thank you for my earc of this book. I love the way Smale adds a bit of magic to a very contemporary novel. The family dynamics, romance and friendships were all fantastic. Another brilliant book!

Holly Smale’s I Know How This Ends is a witty, emotionally resonant exploration of fate, free will, and the messy beauty of rebuilding your life. The story follows Margot Wayward, a meteorologist whose life has spiraled into delightful chaos after a brutal breakup. She’s sabotaging her career, swiping through dating apps with gleeful vengeance, and generally embracing the art of self-destruction.

But then Margot begins to experience vivid visions of a future she hasn’t lived yet—one that includes a man named Henry, his daughter Winter, a yellow kitchen, and a cat named Cheddar. When she meets Henry in real life, exactly as she foresaw, Margot is forced to confront a terrifying truth: she knows how her story ends, and she can’t change it.

Smale blends magical realism with sharp humor and emotional depth, creating a narrative that’s both whimsical and grounded. Margot’s voice is biting, vulnerable, and refreshingly self-aware. The romance with Henry is tender and believable, but it’s the broader themes—agency vs. destiny, healing, and choosing joy despite uncertainty—that give the novel its weight.

The supporting cast, especially Margot’s friends and family, add texture and warmth, making the world feel lived-in and real. Smale’s clever use of weather metaphors (Margot is a meteorologist, after all) adds a poetic layer to the story’s emotional arc.


If you’re looking for a book that makes you laugh, ache, and think about the choices we make when we know what’s coming, I Know How This Ends delivers beautifully.

I Know How This Ends by Holly Smale

Following the breakdown of a ten year relationship Margot, a meteorologist, has left her job, started a highly successful social media channel and moved cities. She is dating with a vengeance and sets herself a target of 20 dates, but fate intervenes when she starts having visions of her future with a different man.

Oh how I love Holly Smale books! Within the first few pages I was obsessed with Margot, her friends and family... and then Henry. Funny, poignant, heartwarming and utterly compulsive - I can't imagine anyone not liking this story. Very VERY highly recommended.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC of this book.

Well, I'm still wiping away the tears as I write this.

This is brilliant. Holly Smale is an amazing writer.

Go and read this book as soon as you can. It will make you smile and make you cry. As Margot would say, it's f****ing fantastic!

Tear-inducing, wonderfully heartfelt and introspective romantic time-slip fantasy.

Long-time Smale fan here, I have all her Geek Girl books and loved The Cassandra Complex. She's a breezily entertaining writer who really writes those quirky females almost effortlessly, and makes them intelligent, insightful and hilarious to watch in action.

This was an obvious 'yes please', when I saw the author and the premise. And it had me throughout, glued. Invested in our protagonist from Day One, when she's spending her Monday nights dating, looking for the flaws in men and always finding them (some quite obviously without much effort on her part).

Margot has given up a successful meteorological position and moved away from her hometown (after all, her parents have left for Australia anyway) following some sort of relationship breakdown. She's now doing quite well as with her online 'weather' social media presence and compiling lists of unsuitable qualities in men, forced to get out there by her family of female friends.

But someone new comes into Margot's life that DOESN'T seem to tick the Flaw boxes. He's actually rather wonderful.

Now here's the unusual aspect to what was already an enjoyable story. Margot occasionally finds herself having glimpses of her own future. Yup, we'd kill for that, wouldn't we? Well maybe not. Margot can see wonderful times ahead with this new man she's just met. Happy companionship. A wedding! A home together! But, inevitably... other future glimpses of what comes later. And here's the rub - does she pursue the dream knowing where it will end, or not take that road and miss out entirely? Or even believe what she's seeing?

It was marvellous. I loved the themes, I loved Margot. I adored her friends, who usually are second fiddle creations, but here are fully-formed with their own stories and felt very real and solid and a huge part of Margot's own story. I half fell for Margot's new man myself, his story was touching and their interplay is fantastic.

This was a read that ended too soon, but I adored the journey Smale took me on, and how she ended things on the very last page. I was crying.

Smale is very good with her characters, we do get to know them intimately. There are some dark moments and storylines here which Smale acknowledges and follows through on, Margot the key to understanding both herself and her growth and seeing the mistakes/flaws/reasoning behind the stories of others.

I'd read this again. I'd watch it as a film. One that will stay with me, for what it made me realise about myself and my own relationship.

With thanks to Netgalley for providing a sample reading copy.

Margot is 37 and dating again when she starts to experience visions of her future relationship with Henry. I would give this a solid 3.5 stars: an enjoyable and engaging read, no complaints, but not a book that I personally couldn't get enough of. Henry was a lovely book boyfriend and I liked how well-rounded Margot's story was too.

DNF. The reviews on here are wildly positive, so I'm going to be a little bit of an outlier with my DNF. Sadly, the writing style annoyed me to no end and I wasn't going to force myself to continue with a book that I wasn't going to like.

A delightful read from the very start. a sprinkle of magical realism. I would definitely recommend this book. Though it was brilliant.

This book is a clever twist on fate vs free will, with dating disasters, single dads, and emotional growth galore.

After reading The Cassandra Complex as a prerelease a few years ago I was intrigued to sample Holly Smale’s latest offering, again about time travel.

In the throes of a terrible breakup, Margot has been living out of boxes in an empty flat for months, and embarks on series of 20 blind dates so she can rule out unsuitable men in her future. However, at number 17, she is confronted with a vision of her future with a man she thought was previously just on the sidelines. This episode changes the way she perceives her current situation and takes her on a journey to recover herself.

While this is a love story, it’s also about friendship, loyalty, family and how much we choose to believe in fate. I thought Margot’s friendship group was brilliantly written and I wished they had been my friends too!

I really enjoyed the novel and would definitely recommend to anyone who enjoys romantic fiction with a heft! Many thanks to the publishers, author and netgalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I Know How This Ends is a brilliant mix of laugh-out-loud humor, heartfelt emotion and just the right touch of magical realism. After a breakup, Margot Wayward’s life is a glorious mess... until she starts seeing flashes of her own future.

Margot is flawed and wonderfully human, Henry is the kind of character you can’t help but adore and the supporting cast, especially Margot’s best friends, make up a great ensemble.

A tender, funny exploration of love, loss and living in the now - even when you think you know what’s coming. Loved it!

A beautifully layered story that explores grief, growth, and the bittersweet nature of second chances. It dives deep into the emotional aftermath of loss, the struggle to let go of the past, and the complexities of forming new relationships while still tethered to old wounds. The author masterfully captures the tension between nostalgia and the courage it takes to embrace the present.

This book truly had it all for me. It’s ideal if you’re looking for a read that’s romantic, hilarious, messy, and deeply moving. I loved how it portrayed the reality of online dating disasters for someone in their thirties, equal parts cringe and catharsis. Margot’s heartbreak following a recent breakup felt raw and real, and her journey toward healing was both painful and empowering. The idea that someone unexpected could enter your life at just the right moment was beautifully handled.

I wasn’t sure about the “visions” at first (magical realism isn’t usually my thing) but I was surprised by how much I enjoyed them. These glimpses added depth and intrigue, guiding Margot’s thoughts and decisions in unexpected ways. They were a clever narrative device that helped illuminate her inner world.

The relationships in the book were another highlight. Margot’s bond with her grandfather, her friendships, and her connection with Polly, the quirky next-door neighbour and accidental career saviour were heartwarming and added lightness to the story. I especially felt for Margot when she made difficult choices to protect herself from further heartache. Her vulnerability was palpable.

And Henry… what can I say? If I were looking for a man, I’d want a Henry in my life. He was everything.

Huge thanks to Net Galley and Random House UK for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. I highly recommend adding it to your TBR. It’s the perfect beach or holiday read - funny, emotional, and full of heart.

My first novel by the author and I absolutely LOVED it - without a doubt one of my favourite books this year! I actually ended up listening to the audiobook, which had the most brilliant narration too.

This was just such a compelling read - hilarious, touching, and full of brilliantly complex characters and strong friendships. Cannot recommend enough, and now need to devour Holly’s other books!

I am obsessed with this book. This is a funny, sad; heart-warming read with such an interesting concept, I didn’t want to put it down. I was so invested in Margot and her life, her romance, her career, her recovery, her friendships and of course her visions. I really liked all the characters, they all felt important and loveable, especially Winter. I loved the romance, Henry and Margot's love story felt very real and sweet and I love how they developed throughout the book. Margot’s growth and healing journey was a joy to read, and this story is a hopeful one. I definitely recommend this and can’t wait to read more from Smale!

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a copy of this eArc in exchange for an honest review.

the humour and moments of wit throughout this book were such an added bonus to an already enjoyable read. it felt like i could and did want to keep reading. it flowed if that makes sense. both plot and pacing were exactly right when weaving excitement, story line and character learning.
we are following a meteorologist called Margot. shes a master at thinking she know when things will go wrong or that indeed they always will go wrong. right now she is testing that on dates, and winning with all the red flag she finds on each one.
but then something changes and she begins to have visions of a future, her future. and so she acts to change things based on the glimpses shes been privy to.
but shes not seeing the whole picture. so should she change things without knowing exactly the context in which these moments apply? and what would we all change if we could? all questions and intrigue that brings us to Margot's story and want to find out both what she does next and what she sees. but also how maybe its not always the best decision to do so.
i as rooting for Margot so much. shes been hurt in the passed, bless her and so you can understand the walls she has built.
this book has all those quirky feels wrapped up in so much heart. it was gentle and tender but also bright and fun to read. and of course there are emotional moments which tie books like this together.
an enjoyable read that bring all the right feels to the reader.