Endling by Maria Reva on May 26, 2026
Genres: Fiction / Absurdist, Fiction / Family Life / Siblings, Fiction / Literary
Pages: 352
Format: Hardcover
Buy on Amazon
Goodreads
Endling is one of those books where, even after finishing it, I’m still not entirely sure how to explain what I just read… but somehow, it worked.
I picked this one up for book club, and from the start I knew it was going to be different. The premise alone is incredibly unique—blending biology, Ukraine’s mail-order bride industry, activism, and war into one bizarre, chaotic journey. And somehow, at the center of it all, is a snail named Lefty.
The title itself is fascinating: an “endling” is the last known member of a species before extinction. That concept gives the story this underlying feeling of fragility and desperation that runs throughout the novel, even during its strangest moments.
This book really felt like a fever dream road trip in the best possible way. Three angry women, kidnapped bachelors, a van, and a mission involving endangered snails should not work together on paper—but Maria Reva somehow pulls it off. The story constantly balanced absurdity with heavier themes about identity, survival, exploitation, and Ukraine on the brink of invasion.
I honestly don’t know if I can accurately describe this book because it’s such an odd little experience. It’s weird, sharp, emotional, satirical, and completely unlike anything else I’ve read.
All I can really say is: this one was a trip.