Spoiler Alert: What did you think of the ending of Deceptive Calm by Patricia Skipper?

[Deretha Thompson]

I think it was so fast-paced with lots of loose ends but the one thing I'm grateful for is that Vanessa continues to bear the title of one who has survived a lot of harsh life experiences and choices.

[Jennifer Wilson 95]

Overall, I didn't really care for the book. As a whole the plot and storyline were slow and the development abrupt. The last few chapters were much more riveting and well written. Then came the ending. The ending was also very abrupt. Little to no detail, no character development or resolution for previous injustices. It felt as if the author finished the book and forgot to save the ending. An epilogue could have helped.

[Jia Xuan]

Personally, I did not really enjoy the ending, as I generally prefer happy endings. Similar to what other forum members have shared, it felt like the book dragged on too much, only to circle back to Vanessa's first lover, Barry. The ending felt particularly rushed, with the sudden introduction of the investigative officers and the frequent travel between their hometown and the location of the crime.

The part where the doctor risked his life and ultimately died seemed a bit exaggerated to me. While the book mentioned that the doctor was involved in some problematic situations, it didn’t feel believable that he would go so far as to sacrifice his life to prevent Barry from uncovering the truth. A conflict or struggle between Barry and Vanessa’s husband or father-in-law might have been more appropriate.

[Dawn Flootman]

I think that the ending of Deceptive calm was quite abrupt but that it could possibly lead to another book. It was great that the two lovers finally were united again but I feel it could of been elaborated a bit more.

[ana vujkovac]

I didn’t mind the ending- Vanessa being with Barry, but I did mind how it was written; I felt there were a lot of loose ends, I would certainly like to have more closure.

[Amanda Collier]

I disliked the ending. Barry was not a good fit for Vanessa. He pressured her into everything they did. She cried every time they had a sensual encounter, but that didn't stop him. She saved herself for him after he made her promise to not let another man touch her, but he did not hold himself to the same standard. She was no angel, but he did not deserve her. The fact that she went back to him made it feel like she didn't learn her lesson about men very well.

[Danielle Zdranik]

The book finished and all I could think was “Why?” Why did Vanessa have to endure so much just to end up basically back where she started? The love story between her and Barry was not developed enough for me to want to root for them. The tragedy overwhelmed the triumph.

[Williams Jaden]

I felt it was rushed. I wished there had been more clarity on the arrest of Vanessa’s husband. Was she going to return home (Charleston)? How did Suzanne react? An epilogue would have been better.

[Nwachukwu Chrysogonus]

I was deeply heartened to see Vanessa emerge as a resilient survivor, despite the myriad challenges and traumas she faced throughout her life. Her ability to persevere and adapt in the face of adversity was a testament to her unbreakable spirit. The conclusion of the story was particularly empowering, as Vanessa demonstrated remarkable strength and fortitude in rising above the injustices and hardships that had been inflicted upon her, largely due to the color of her skin. Her unwavering determination to overcome the obstacles in her path served as a powerful reminder of the human capacity for resilience and hope.

[Chris Sharon]

It was Fair enough. It didn't really reach my expectations but nevertheless it wasn't bad at all

[Brooks Maine]

The end didn’t tie up all the loose ends. I still liked it tho. But it could have been so much more

[Alida Spies]

The ending was a bit rushed, with too many loose ends. I quite liked that Vanessa and Barry got back together. He was very young when he cheated on her and probably didn't know how to handle the pressure of studying, his parents, etc. They were soulmates.

[AmberJ2024]

I enjoyed the book overall but felt the ending came super fast and I didn't love that she went right back to Barry. She needed to stand up for herself a little bit more even with Barry. He did he wrong in a different way than her husband but he still did her wrong. I would have liked to have had an epilogue to sum things up more.

[Loueva Wynn]

It was somewhat of a different style of writing compared to the rest of the book. The way it was written and depicted didn't fit the rest if the book.

[Meghan Sica]

Unfortunately, I did not really like the ending. I feel like I still needed more answers. I liked that they ended up back together, but what about her friend Trisha? She was in critical condition at the end. I feel like there could have been so much more detail added.