Review of Where the Shadows End by Louisa Bello

Louisa Bello’s debut is a thoughtful meditation on grief, childhood trauma and dual heritage. We spend much of this novel in the fragile mind of Sam, a middle aged Londoner who’s still carrying the weight of his childhood bully along with a heap of immense guilt over his mother’s death. When his elusive, dream-like girlfriend suddenly disappears, Sam’s internal life becomes even more of a struggle.

This is a novel that blends time, memory and voices. It would work well for fans of fractured narrative but prepared to feel deeply unsettled. I’d recommend going into this book with an open mind for experimental style.

Published on 21.05.2026 by Epoque Press

Reviewed by Abi

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