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Stop Praising Colleen Hoover’s ‘It Ends With Us.’ Here’s What You’re Missing

Content warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of rape and sexual assault .

The quote on the cover of Colleen Hoover’s bestselling novel, It Ends With Us, claims, “Every person with a heartbeat should read this book.” It was the sixth best-selling book of 2021 , BookTok is going nuts over it and USA Today called it “ the kind of book that gets handed down .” Its much-anticipated sequel, It Starts with Us, is set to be released next month.

The novel centers on the relationship between Lily and Ryle, a young newlywed couple who live in Boston. Lily is a successful entrepreneur, and Ryle is a gifted neurosurgeon. Both had traumatic childhoods: Lily grew up witnessing her father physically and sexually abuse her mother and was eventually victimized by him herself; when Ryle was 6 years old, he accidentally shot and killed his beloved older brother with a gun that should never have been accessible. Both halves of the couple are, understandably, haunted by their pasts.

Early in their marriage, Ryle begins to physically abuse Lily. Hoover offers a compelling perspective on how the violation and blurring of boundaries over time creates a dynamic in which victims lose the ability to see their situations clearly. Readers who ask, “Why would she stay with him?” may find some insight in this book.

Though cocky and manipulative from the start, Ryle is portrayed as a man who desperately wants to be good but is tormented by inner demons. This is, of course, a tired cliché that’s too often applied to abusive men. The first two incidents of abuse occur in “heat of the moment” scenarios in which Ryle loses his temper. Lily suffers cuts, bruises and a concussion severe enough to render her unconscious, but tells herself that “all humans make mistakes” and that “everyone deserves another chance.”

The third incident, however, reveals Ryle to be sadistic, pre-meditating and cruel. It is not an example of a poor tortured soul who loses control; on the contrary, it’s a chilling portrayal of a calculated and violent sexual attack.

Ryle discovers Lily has kept a small gift—a refrigerator magnet—given to her by her high school boyfriend. This enrages him with jealousy, and when she returns home that evening, he is waiting for her in the dark, holding the magnet. He initiates a sexual encounter with Lily, and while digitally penetrating her with one hand and pulling her hair to the point of pain with the other, demands she tell him who gave her the magnet. She asks him to stop because he is hurting her, and he responds by choking her and forcing himself upon her. He then pauses and directs her to take her shirt off and read aloud to him a recent newspaper article about the ex-boyfriend’s current success; this is frightening and humiliating for Lily, but she is too afraid to disobey. What follows is a rape attempt that results in multiple physical injuries including a scream-inducing bite and a head-butt that knocks Lily unconscious. Throughout the attack, Ryle is “disturbingly calm.”

During the time Lily is unconscious, Ryle “snaps out of it,” then expresses remorse. But there’s a logic problem here: Ryle never “snapped into it.” He planned this attack. He set it up, waited for Lily, then carried it out almost methodically. He even claims, during the rape attempt, he is doing it because “I haven’t proved to you how much I love you.” This is not a good guy with a bad temper—this is a monster. And now, there’s a complicating factor.

While being treated in the ER for her injuries after the attack, Lily learns she is pregnant. She enters another cycle of agonizing over what to do, whether there’s any hope for their family, how to reconcile the fact that she still loves Ryle with the knowledge he will turn on her. Ultimately, Lily remains strong and decides to divorce Ryle, to break the cycle (thus, “it ends with us”). If the book ended there, we could cheer her survival and courage.

But at the end of the novel, which takes place a year later and which Hoover clearly intends to be a redemption scene, we see Lily and Ryle, amicably divorced and co-parenting their daughter. In that scene, Ryle, who is a violent sex offender, is picking up the baby for “his days with her.”

Lily can’t be given a pass for not understanding the danger of this situation. She even asks, “What kind of mother would I be if a small part of me doesn’t have concern in regard to your temper?” Ultimately, she reasons that “despite what has happened between us in the past, he’s still this baby’s father. He has the legal right to be a father, no matter how I feel about it.”

This isn’t necessarily accurate. Section 31A of the Massachusetts state legislature notes that where physical or sexual violence has occurred between parents, any form of unsupervised visitation or custody with the abusive parent is considered “ contrary to the best interest of the child ” and generally not permitted. The fact that Lily doesn’t press charges doesn’t change the reality of what happened; it just means reality isn’t documented.

Lily ultimately decides that “parents have to work through their differences and bring a level of maturity into a situation in order to do what’s best for their child.” But Ryle is not a guy who simply “has differences” with his child’s mother—a disagreement about allotted screen time or number of hours spent in daycare. He’s a dangerous criminal with a history of manipulating and victimizing women.

One reviewer described this book as “ raw, honest, inspiring, and profoundly beautiful .” It could have been—it maybe almost was. But like too many books and movies, It Ends With Us feeds into the very structures of toxic masculinity that it purports to combat. It romanticizes red flags and glorifies a charismatic-but-dangerous man ( he’s complicated! he’s damaged!) and it ultimately delivers a decidedly anti-feminist message.

Lily’s decision to co-parent with Ryle is not redemptive; it’s a blatant shirking of the barest parental responsibility—the responsibility to protect her daughter. Colleen Hoover has no moral or ethical obligation to write role models, and we don’t need to agree with the actions of a fictional heroine. But the scope of Hoover’s platform and the age of her readers renders her books fair game for honest critique, and for reasons I still don’t understand, It Ends With Us keeps getting a pass.

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Awards & Accolades

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New York Times Bestseller

IndieBound Bestseller

IT ENDS WITH US

by Colleen Hoover ‧ RELEASE DATE: Aug. 2, 2016

Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of...

Hoover’s ( November 9 , 2015, etc.) latest tackles the difficult subject of domestic violence with romantic tenderness and emotional heft.

At first glance, the couple is edgy but cute: Lily Bloom runs a flower shop for people who hate flowers; Ryle Kincaid is a surgeon who says he never wants to get married or have kids. They meet on a rooftop in Boston on the night Ryle loses a patient and Lily attends her abusive father’s funeral. The provocative opening takes a dark turn when Lily receives a warning about Ryle’s intentions from his sister, who becomes Lily’s employee and close friend. Lily swears she’ll never end up in another abusive home, but when Ryle starts to show all the same warning signs that her mother ignored, Lily learns just how hard it is to say goodbye. When Ryle is not in the throes of a jealous rage, his redeeming qualities return, and Lily can justify his behavior: “I think we needed what happened on the stairwell to happen so that I would know his past and we’d be able to work on it together,” she tells herself. Lily marries Ryle hoping the good will outweigh the bad, and the mother-daughter dynamics evolve beautifully as Lily reflects on her childhood with fresh eyes. Diary entries fancifully addressed to TV host Ellen DeGeneres serve as flashbacks to Lily’s teenage years, when she met her first love, Atlas Corrigan, a homeless boy she found squatting in a neighbor’s house. When Atlas turns up in Boston, now a successful chef, he begs Lily to leave Ryle. Despite the better option right in front of her, an unexpected complication forces Lily to cut ties with Atlas, confront Ryle, and try to end the cycle of abuse before it’s too late. The relationships are portrayed with compassion and honesty, and the author’s note at the end that explains Hoover’s personal connection to the subject matter is a must-read.

Pub Date: Aug. 2, 2016

ISBN: 978-1-5011-1036-8

Page Count: 320

Publisher: Atria

Review Posted Online: May 30, 2016

Kirkus Reviews Issue: June 15, 2016

ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | GENERAL ROMANCE

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by Colleen Hoover

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Dav Pilkey Had Bestselling Print Book of 2021

SEEN & HEARD

Colleen Hoover Is Back. Let the BookTokking Begin

LOVE AND OTHER WORDS

by Christina Lauren ‧ RELEASE DATE: April 10, 2018

With frank language and patient plotting, this gangly teen crush grows into a confident adult love affair.

Eleven years ago, he broke her heart. But he doesn’t know why she never forgave him.

Toggling between past and present, two love stories unfold simultaneously. In the first, Macy Sorensen meets and falls in love with the boy next door, Elliot Petropoulos, in the closet of her dad’s vacation home, where they hide out to discuss their favorite books. In the second, Macy is working as a doctor and engaged to a single father, and she hasn’t spoken to Elliot since their breakup. But a chance encounter forces her to confront the truth: what happened to make Macy stop speaking to Elliot? Ultimately, they’re separated not by time or physical remoteness but by emotional distance—Elliot and Macy always kept their relationship casual because they went to different schools. And as a teen, Macy has more to worry about than which girl Elliot is taking to the prom. After losing her mother at a young age, Macy is navigating her teenage years without a female role model, relying on the time-stamped notes her mother left in her father’s care for guidance. In the present day, Macy’s father is dead as well. She throws herself into her work and rarely comes up for air, not even to plan her upcoming wedding. Since Macy is still living with her fiance while grappling with her feelings for Elliot, the flashbacks offer steamy moments, tender revelations, and sweetly awkward confessions while Macy makes peace with her past and decides her future.

Pub Date: April 10, 2018

ISBN: 978-1-5011-2801-1

Page Count: 416

Publisher: Gallery Books/Simon & Schuster

Review Posted Online: Jan. 22, 2018

Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 2018

GENERAL ROMANCE | ROMANCE | FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE

More by Christina Lauren

by Christina Lauren

MAYBE SOMEDAY

by Colleen Hoover ‧ RELEASE DATE: March 18, 2014

Hoover is one of the freshest voices in new-adult fiction, and her latest resonates with true emotion, unforgettable...

Sydney and Ridge make beautiful music together in a love triangle written by Hoover ( Losing Hope , 2013, etc.), with a link to a digital soundtrack by American Idol contestant Griffin Peterson.

Hoover is a master at writing scenes from dual perspectives. While music student Sydney is watching her neighbor Ridge play guitar on his balcony across the courtyard, Ridge is watching Sydney’s boyfriend, Hunter, secretly make out with her best friend on her balcony. The two begin a songwriting partnership that grows into something more once Sydney dumps Hunter and decides to crash with Ridge and his two roommates while she gets back on her feet. She finds out after the fact that Ridge already has a long-distance girlfriend, Maggie—and that he's deaf. Ridge’s deafness doesn’t impede their relationship or their music. In fact, it creates opportunities for sexy nonverbal communication and witty text messages: Ridge tenderly washes off a message he wrote on Sydney’s hand in ink, and when Sydney adds a few too many e’s to the word “squee” in her text, Ridge replies, “If those letters really make up a sound, I am so, so glad I can’t hear it.” While they fight their mutual attraction, their hope that “maybe someday” they can be together playfully comes out in their music. Peterson’s eight original songs flesh out Sydney’s lyrics with a good mix of moody musical styles: “Living a Lie” has the drama of a Coldplay piano ballad, while the chorus of “Maybe Someday” marches to the rhythm of the Lumineers. But Ridge’s lingering feelings for Maggie cause heartache for all three of them. Independent Maggie never complains about Ridge’s friendship with Sydney, and it's hard to even want Ridge to leave Maggie when she reveals her devastating secret. But Ridge can’t hide his feelings for Sydney long—and they face their dilemma with refreshing emotional honesty.

Pub Date: March 18, 2014

ISBN: 978-1-4767-5316-4

Page Count: 384

Review Posted Online: May 6, 2014

ROMANCE | CONTEMPORARY ROMANCE | FAMILY LIFE & FRIENDSHIP

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It Ends with Us Review (2016): Unveiling the Irresistible Impact

Emma Thompson

In this comprehensive ‘It Ends with Us’ review, we delve into the enthralling narrative crafted by Colleen Hoover. Join us as we explore the emotional depth, thought-provoking themes, and the profound impact of this remarkable novel.

‘It Ends with Us’ by Colleen Hoover has taken the literary world by storm with its poignant story and unforgettable characters. In this review, we uncover the reasons behind its widespread acclaim and its ability to resonate with readers worldwide.

One of the most striking aspects of ‘It Ends with Us’ is its ability to address sensitive topics with compassion and authenticity. Colleen Hoover masterfully navigates themes of love, loss, and personal growth, leaving readers with a profound understanding of the complexities of human relationships.

The characters in ‘It Ends with Us’ are richly developed, each with their own unique struggles and vulnerabilities. Through the protagonist’s journey, Hoover presents a thought-provoking exploration of the intricacies of domestic abuse and its impact on individuals and families.

Hoover’s writing style is both eloquent and captivating, drawing readers into the story from the very first page. The narrative unfolds with a perfect balance of heart-wrenching moments and hopeful glimpses, keeping readers emotionally invested until the very end.

‘It Ends with Us’ is not just a novel; it is a call to action. By shedding light on important social issues, Hoover encourages readers to reflect on their own lives and make a positive change. This thought-provoking book has the power to spark conversations and inspire empathy, making it a must-read for anyone seeking a transformative reading experience.

In conclusion, ‘It Ends with Us’ is a gripping and emotionally-charged novel that leaves a lasting impact on its readers. Colleen Hoover’s powerful storytelling and exploration of complex themes make it a standout work in contemporary fiction.

Whether you’re a fan of romance, drama, or thought-provoking narratives, this book is sure to captivate and resonate with you long after the final page.

It Ends with Us Buying Options:

Disclaimer: This blog post may contain affiliate links. If you click on these links and make a purchase, The Crimson Books may earn a small commission at no additional cost to you.

About the Author

Emma Thompson is a passionate bookworm with a deep appreciation for literature across various genres. With a degree in English Literature, she has a keen eye for analyzing and dissecting the intricacies of a book’s themes and writing style.

Emma has been an active reviewer for over five years, sharing her insights and recommendations with fellow readers.

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About the Book

From the #1 New York Times bestselling author of IT STARTS WITH US and ALL YOUR PERFECTS, a “brave and heartbreaking novel that digs its claws into you and doesn’t let go, long after you’ve finished it” (Anna Todd, New York Times bestselling author) about a workaholic with a too-good-to-be-true romance can’t stop thinking about her first love.

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town where she grew up --- she graduated from college, moved to Boston and started her own business. And when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life seems too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan --- her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

An honest, evocative and tender novel, IT ENDS WITH US is “a glorious and touching read, a forever keeper. The kind of book that gets handed down” ( USA TODAY ).

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

Publication Date: August 2, 2016
Genres: Fiction , Romance , Women's Fiction
Paperback: 384 pages
Publisher: Atria Books
ISBN-10: 1501110365
ISBN-13: 9781501110368

It Ends With Us: A Review

It Ends with Us

I’m going to do my best to keep this portion of the review without spoilers (though I make no promises when answering “Is It Ends With Us based on a true story?” below).

The novel is expertly crafted in telling the story of the main character Lily Bloom, a 23-year-old spirited young woman living in Boston.

She meets Ryle Kincaid, a 30-year-old gorgeous neurosurgeon one night when hanging out on a rooftop of a random building. The chance encounter sticks in both their minds.

They reconnect quickly when they meet again months later when she is opening her own business (a flowers shop- with a name like Lilly Bloom, it was always fated).

Their reconnection is swift, all-consuming, and a little scary in its intensity.

But that’s young love, right?

Parallel to this story is the one Lily tells via diary entries of her first love Atlas, a young homeless boy she met in high school who she helped out.

Her abusive father often came after her mother, and Atlas returned that helped her on more than one occasion (and in a lot of different ways).

These two love stories go through some massive arcs as Hoover winds them around and through each other, making you fall in love with all the characters in a way that invests you fully in their lives.

As in life, their circumstances and choices sometimes leave them without any pain-free options, and it stings.

“ Preventing your heart from forgiving someone you love is actually a hell of a lot harder than simply forgiving them. “ – Colleen Hoover, It Ends with Us

Without giving too much away, I will say that Lily has to reckon with the choices her mother made about Lily’s abusive father when she was faced with similar circumstances.

As sad as the situations described sometimes are, they are told with Hoover’s trademark candor (or to use a term coined in the book, by telling naked truths).

Despite the heart-wrenching story, to me, the book is a hopeful one of breaking cycles, finding your true love story, and recognizing that just because things look different than you planned, it doesn’t mean they can’t be wonderful.

Overall this is an emotional read of a romance novel with a strong message. If you’re a fan of Colleen Hoover’s novels, or if you are even just a fan of sadder love stories, It Ends With Us won’t disappoint.

Once you’ve finished the book, make sure you check out these It Ends With Us book club questions to discuss the novel with your reading group!

The Reading Bud

book blog by Crazy Cat Writer

Book Review: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Book Details:

Author: Colleen Hoover Release Date: 2nd August 2016 Genre: Romance, Contemporary Fiction Series : Format: E-book Pages: 385 pages Publisher: Atria Books Blurb: Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most. Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up — she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true. Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place. As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan — her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover is so much more than what one expects from it on the surface. Particularly the last 25% was emotionally tormenting for me, personally, to read as it covered themes of domestic abuse (something I witnessed in my own home growing up) and love intertwined in a complex web in which women often find themselves being tangled in.

This book is beyond good and I simply cannot rate it solely based on its literary merit as the message that is encased in this beautiful book is something that NEEDS to be spread in this world where women (and even men) are abused and they are either too scared or simply left with no choice to break the cycle of physical abuse.

You can also read this review on:

Published by Heena R. Pardeshi

Heena is the author of the award-winning novel Deceived. She works as the novel critic and the chief editor at a local publishing house in Pune, India. She is an animal lover as well as an animal activist. She loves books, music and wine. Travelling and learning about new cultures is an integral part of her life. She is presently learning Piano and French language. She lives in Pune, India with her beloved husband and 6 cats. View all posts by Heena R. Pardeshi

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Theresa Smith Writes

Delighting in all things bookish, book review: it ends with us by colleen hoover, it ends with us….

SOMETIMES THE ONE WHO LOVES YOU IS THE ONE WHO HURTS YOU THE MOST

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up – she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, and maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily, but Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan – her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

This book contains graphic scenes and very sensitive subject matter.

My Thoughts:

It Ends with Us is a novel that I read some time ago but put aside to review later. Even now, I find it difficult to put my thoughts into words, but it’s such an incredibly important novel that I feel it necessary to write up a review, even if it is only for my own benefit. I want to acknowledge how incredibly brave it was for Colleen to write a novel like this, so intensely personal to her, yet I feel that in doing so, she might have helped countless women either think about their own situations or perhaps put elements of their own history into a context that allows them a little clarity and distance.

Right from the opening dedication, you know that you are about to read a deeply confronting novel.

“For my father, who tried his very best not to be his worst. And for my mother, who make sure we never saw him at his worst.”

I cried right then. And I continued to cry at intervals throughout. While this novel stirred up so many emotions within me, many of which I had long buried in the hopes of never thinking about them again, in no way do I regret reading It Ends with Us. Suppression is not a pain relief. Colleen is not usually given to words of wisdom, but in It Ends with Us, she tells it like it is:

“Cycles exist because they are excruciating to break. It takes an astronomical amount of pain and courage to disrupt a familiar pattern. Sometimes it seems easier to just keep running in the same familiar circles, rather than facing the fear of jumping and possibly not landing on your feet.”

I have long been a fan of Colleen Hoover, right back to when Slammed was self-published. She is unique, funny, hard hitting, and unafraid to use her words unflinchingly. I can’t imagine what she must feel like after a day of writing, but I personally appreciate her efforts! It Ends with Us has nudged Ugly Love off the top of my Colleen Hoover favourites list, but they both share similarities in the way she doesn’t shy away from bringing deep emotional pain to the fore:

“When his lips meet mine he fifth time, they don’t leave. He wraps his arms around me and pulls me to him. My body is tired and weak, but it remembers him. My body remembers how his body can soothe everything I’m feeling.” “When he pulls back and looks down on me, I don’t even have to say anything. Our eyes, locked together, speak more naked truths than our mouths ever have. My eyes are telling his that I can no longer stand being touched by him. His eyes are telling mine that he already knows.”

It Ends with Us shows the grey matter within relationships ruled by domestic violence. It’s so easy to look from the outside in and dictate what a person ‘should have done’. But not everything is black and white and in shading Lily’s and Ryle’s relationship with a penetrating grey, Colleen puts us, as readers, in the uncomfortable position of not really knowing what to do. Of not being able to jump up onto our soap boxes and shout: ‘What is wrong with you Lily?’, because we can see, with such awful clarity, exactly what is wrong with her and why she is so very torn. It Ends with Us is an incredible exploration of the darker side of some relationships; not only with those we choose to spend our lives with, but with our parents as well.

“My father was some of these things, too. He wasn’t very compassionate toward others, but there were times we spent together that I knew he loved me. He was smart. He was charismatic. He was driven. But I hated him so much more than I loved him. I was blinded to all the best things about him thanks to all the glimpses I got of him when he was at his worst.”

These were such defining thoughts for Lily but they are defining words for any child who has had a violent parent. I won’t lie here, this novel cut me to the quick and grated along so many raw nerves. But I’d read it again in an instant. It’s a powerful novel with a very important message.

Well done Colleen Hoover for always writing the stuff that so many people don’t even want to talk about.

Book Review: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Last Updated on August 20, 2023 by Louisa

In the enthralling novel It Ends With Us, bestselling author Colleen Hoover showcases the complexities of love and highlights the profound strength required to break free from the cycles of abuse.

I was excited to read It Ends With Us after reading her highly acclaimed thriller novel, Verity, and had high expectations from page one.

With her signature style of delivering emotional depth and raw storytelling, Hoover’s It Ends With Us promises to be no different.

It immerses you in a gripping narrative that challenges societal norms and delves into the depths of human resilience.

Through the eyes of an unforgettable protagonist, It Ends With Us takes readers on an emotional rollercoaster, exploring all the twists and turns of complex relationships, personal boundaries, and the power of self-love.

If you’re thinking of reading It Ends With Us but you’re not sure if it’s right for you, here is my complete and honest book review of It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover.

Affiliate Disclosure : This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no extra cost to you, if you make a purchase through any of these links.

Book Review of It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

It ends with us by colleen hoover book review.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover is a powerful and emotionally charged novel that delves deep into the complexities of love, personal identity, and the strength to break free from toxic relationships. It Ends With Us is a prime example of Colleen Hoover’s talent for crafting compelling and addictive stories that resonate with readers. The story follows Lily Bloom, a young woman who finds herself torn between two men: Ryle Kincaid, a handsome and charismatic neurosurgeon, and Atlas Corrigan, her first love and the person who knows her best. As Lily navigates the intricacies of love and relationships, she must confront her past and make difficult choices that will shape her future.

Reviewed by Louisa Smith

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover is a compelling and emotionally charged novel that explores the devastating effects of abuse and the strength of self-love.

What I liked

Colleen Hoover’s writing style is yet again as captivating and addicting as her other novels, drawing you into Lily’s world and evoking a range of emotions as you navigate your way through the story.

The raw and emotive portrayal of Lily’s journey tugs at the heartstrings, immersing you in her joys, struggles, and heartbreaks.

I enjoyed how Hoover tackles tough topics with sensitivity, highlighting the impact of domestic violence and the importance of self-worth but in a way that doesn’t come across too upsetting.

One of the strengths of It Ends With Us lies in its realistic and relatable character development.

Lily’s growth throughout the story is both believable and inspiring, reminding you of the resilience and strength within yourself.

Hoover has successfully navigated the complexities of relationships with nuance, shining a light on the blurred lines between love, loyalty, and personal boundaries.

The novel also offers a glimpse into the challenges and pressures of college life, portraying friendships, parties, and academic stress in a believable manner.

The authenticity of these elements adds depth to the narrative and enhances the your connection to the characters’ experiences.

What could have been better

While It Ends With Us is an engaging and well-written novel, it does share some common tropes found in college romances and can be somewhat predictable in places.

The on-and-off nature of the main characters’ relationship was a bit frustrating at times, and so I don’t recommend this book for readers seeking a more stable and linear narrative.

Additionally, the book contains toxic dynamics that can be triggering for some readers, so again if you’re not into dark romance or toxic relationships, this is not the book for you.

Some of the supporting characters in the story lack the same depth and development as the central relationship, with the focus primarily centered on Lily’s journey.

However, I did find it was easier to delve deeper into the complexities of Lily’s personal growth and decision-making process by having the attention on her throughout the book.

Similar Works

If you’re not sure whether It Ends With Us is right for you, then I would say you would enjoy it if you enjoyed reading The Deal by Elle Kennedy and Wait For You by Jennifer L. Armentrout.

These books also touch on themes of young love, personal growth, and the challenges of navigating relationships during college.

Related Reading: Books Like It Ends With Us

It Ends With Us Trigger Warnings

It Ends With Us contains trigger warnings of;

Spousal Abuse / Domestic violence
PTSD/depression/anxiety
Death of a family member
Sexual assault
Attempted r*pe
Explicit scenes
Implied suicide
Alcohol abuse

Romance Tropes

It Ends With Us features the following romance tropes :

Adult Romance
Contemporary Romance
Medical Romance
High School Romance / College Romance
Friends to Lovers
Second Chance Romance
Strong Female Lead
Wounded Hero

Where to find it?

You can find It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover in most good bookstores. Or you can purchase a copy from any of these links.

View it on:

The Verdict: Would I Recommend It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover?

It Ends With Us is a romance novel that will have your heart feeling it all. It’s both a heartbreaking and thought-provoking novel that explores the complexities of love, personal identity, and the courage to break free from toxic relationships.

While it shares similarities with other college romances, it offers a unique and impactful perspective on these themes.

While It Ends With Us contains some trigger warnings and themes that some readers may find triggering, particularly if they are sensitive to depictions of domestic violence or abusive relationships, it has been done with sensitivity in mind.

Overall it’s yet another novel that showcases Colleen Hoover’s ability to craft compelling stories filled with raw emotions and relatable characters.

Have Your Say…

Now you know what I think, it’s time to let the Epic Book Society know what you think. Have you read It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover? Share your opinion of the book in the comments.

The Details:

Pub Date: August 2nd, 2016
ISBN: 1501110365
Page Count: 384
Publisher: Atria Books

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About Louisa Smith

Editor/Founder - Epic Book Society

Louisa is the Founder, Editor, and Head Honcho of Epic Book Society. She was born and raised in the United Kingdom and graduated from the University for the Creative Arts with a degree in Journalism. Louisa began her writing career at the age of 7 when her poetry was published in an anthology of poems to celebrate the Queen's Jubilee. Upon graduating university, she spent several years working as a journalist writing about books before transitioning to become a Primary School Teacher. Louisa loves all genres of books, but her favorites are Sci-Fi, Romance, Fantasy, and Young Adult Fiction. Read more Louisa's story here .

Book Review: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

By Yasi Agah Posted on 9.9.21

CW: domestic abuse

Have you ever witnessed your friend or family member in a toxic relationship? Have you yourself ever been in a toxic relationship? To an outside perspective it seems impossible why anyone would ever stay in an unhealthy relationship. But to the person inside the relationship…it’s not that easy. In this story, Lily Bloom (yes, that is her adorable name) is a free-spirited Maine native with a seemingly normal life…until she meets Ryle.

After she graduates with a business degree from college, she moves to Boston and decides that she wants to pursue her dream of opening a flower shop (Yes. You read that correctly. Again – adorable). When she moves to Boston she meets a mysterious man, Ryle Kincaid, a smooth-talking neurosurgeon with a sprinkle of mystery. Lily and Ryle hit it off with a flirtatious rooftop encounter and have an immediate connection – Lily thinks that she’ll never see him again but she has no idea what’s in store. Ryle turns out to be the love of her life and she can see a future with him. However, a wrench gets thrown into her life when a past flame and her first true love, Atlas, comes back into her life. On the outside, Lily’s life seems amazing. She has a beautiful doctor boyfriend, has an incredible career and is living out her dreams. But on the inside, there’s much more to the story. Check out Colleen Hoover’s thrilling romance novel, It Ends With Us , for a story about how love doesn’t always turn out the way you think.

AH. This book had me on the edge of my seat the entireee time. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, going back and forth between the men in Lily’s life and constantly thinking – why doesn’t she leave if she isn’t happy? I won’t give away any spoilers but there is a heavy theme of domestic abuse throughout this book and helps show the internal debate that women have when they’re in a toxic relationship. It’s extremely easy to see someone in an abusive relationship and think “why doesn’t she leave already?” but it’s truly not that simple.

Based on true events from the author’s life, this book outlines the terrifying cycle of domestic abuse and the effects it can have on women for generations to come. It Ends With Us is an eye-opening and suspenseful story that shows how all consuming and catastrophic domestic abuse can become. This book showed me the insider’s perspective to a terrifying situation and the rationale that women use to stay in unhealthy relationships – it is never as easy as it seems. There were many moments throughout this book that left me teary eyed and I wouldn’t be surprised if it did the same for you. It’s a binge read that somehow breaks your heart and then puts it back together. If you know someone who has experienced domestic abuse and needs help, please check out the resources at the National Domestic Violence Hotline. Here is their website https://www.thehotline.org/get-help/ and you can call 800.799.SAFE (7233).

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Review: ‘It Starts With Us’ takes readers through the pain of new beginnings

Colleen hoover illustrates the messiness and necessity of starting a new life after abuse..

“It Starts With Us” is Colleen Hoover’s sequel to her best-selling novel and BookTok sensation, “It Ends With Us.” The sequel begins directly after “It Ends With Us ” and brings the reader through the intricacies of life after divorce and domestic abuse. “It Starts With Us” is a lighter read than its predecessor, allowing the reader to experience Atlas and Lily’s relationship as they navigate divorce, found family and starting a new life after abuse. In many ways, Hoover presents a “second-chance” romance that alternates between Atlas’s and Lily’s points of views. “It Ends With Us” must be read first in order to fully understand the magnitude of some of the trivial events in “It Starts With Us.”

It’s clear that Hoover trusts her audience and doesn’t shy away from harsh themes in any of her novels; she certainly does not portray an uncomplicated love in “It Starts With Us . ” While playing with the sweet idea of a reunited first love, Hoover makes the struggle of relationships clear: You always have to work towards love. “It Starts with Us” consistently provides intriguing storylines that feel honest for the lives of the characters, showing both the messy and the beautiful.

Unique among sequels, the story didn’t feel dragged out: “It Starts With Us” has enough action and driving themes to make it its own individual story. While not a standalone, the plotlines reflected in this novel feel fresh and separated from “It Ends With Us,” developing the story in a tasteful way.

As a child of divorced parents and a childhood filled with co-parenting, “It Starts With Us” deeply resonated with me and felt like an accurate portrayal of the difficulties of marriage which I saw growing up. Almost half of marriages end in divorce, and this novel makes this statistic come to life.

Initially toying the line between respecting her ex-husband, Ryle, and his position in her life and wanting to move on in her love life, Lily eventually sees what she deserves in a romantic relationship and takes the steps to having a better life, following her divorce at the end of “It Ends With Us.”

In “It Starts With Us,” Atlas and Lily attempt to rekindle the love they felt for each other as teenagers, but must deal with the repercussions their love may have now as adults. Hoover illustrates a beautiful, innocent love between Atlas and Lily. Atlas and Lily love each other like kids. They love each other like cheesy one-liners from “Finding Nemo” — a frequent inside joke throughout both books . Their love is sweet and embarrassing, but is much healthier than the toxic relationships they both experienced before. Perhaps love should be a bit naive, Hoover suggests.

In addition to love, Hoover also explores the complexity of hate — playing with the readers’ sense of right and wrong. In making her readers feel empathy for the antagonists in the novel, Hoover effectively proves that there is no true “antagonist” in life.

Every antagonist in “It Starts With Us” fell into a gray, middle-ground role of both victim and enabler, including both ex-lovers and ex-mothers. These complex characters were taught or treated poorly, leading them to be hurt and lash out against Lily and Atlas. The “antagonists” in the novel were not easy to dislike: They simply didn’t have the same resources as Lily and Atlas. They remained in a cycle of relationship violence, despite their efforts to start something new. The novel never paints them in a negative light but rather shows how these people may not fit in the lives of those recovering from abuse. The antagonists in “It Starts With Us” have the potential to be protagonists — if only given the proper help.

“It Starts With Us” digs deeper into Atlas’s story than its predecessor. Where the previous book often highlighted Lily’s point of view, “It Starts With Us” shows us more of Atlas’s perspective. The novel dives beneath the surface, and provides backgrounds on Atlas, Lily and Ryle. The flashback scenes between younger Atlas and Lily show us the enduring impacts of abuse. Readers can see how abuse can affect every relationship the victim has and will continue to have. It can end the cycle of violence or perpetrate it; regardless, it’s difficult to blame the victim.

Simply, “It Ends With Us” is about someone who has the support and resources to break out of the cyclical nature of violence. “It Starts With Us” instead focuses on recovery and starting a new life of healthy love. It’s a story about feeling loved for the first time and giving the love you believe others deserve from you. This book explains that not all parental love is unconditional and not all romantic love will end. I feel certain that readers will find parallels between the novel and their own life, particularly the messiness that comes with love and loving.

“It Starts With Us” explores the reality of relationships: Falling in love is easy, but loving is hard work. And in some way, all relationships are flawed — we simply must choose which imperfections we are willing to accept. As we grow older, we all redefine relationships, perhaps reflecting your parents’ love or an act of caring that you received when you were twelve. Some love arrives all at once, like typical parental love, and some love is felt in an instance.

Overall, “It Starts With Us” is a beautiful read to complete the story started in “It Ends With Us . ” The novel gently resolves some of the trauma at fault in the first novel and demonstrates to readers the possibility of happiness in fearful new beginnings. While lacking the emotional depth that made its predecessor so powerful, “It Starts With Us” successfully continues Lily’s story by telling the story of second chance love.

Rating : ★★★★☆

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It ends with us, book 1.

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It Ends with Us | Colleen Hoover | Book Review

“And as hard as this choice is, we break the pattern before the pattern breaks us.” – Colleen Hoover, It Ends with Us

It Ends with Us is my first Colleen Hoover book and I must say that it surpassed all the expectations that I had for it. I remember my sister reading this exact book, and her telling me that it is her favorite book. I laughed at her because I thought it was some cheesy romance tale that has nothing to hold on to.

But oh boy, if only I knew what I was getting myself into. It was such a good read that it even made it to my top 10 books of this year. It also has several strong life lessons embedded in its plot structure that will certainly teach you a thing or two.

The story as it goes

Lily is a small-town girl with big dreams who decides to leave her small-town life in Maine and move to Boston. Life has never been really easy for her, but that doesn’t matter. She has big plans for herself. She goes to college and starts her business in the big city.

Before long, Lily stumbles upon the handsome and charming Ryle Kincaid, a neurosurgeon making the big bucks. He is smart and intelligent, though a tad arrogant, and has a strictly ‘no relationships’ policy.

But only for Lily, he seems to have let go of his rule. Even though everything is going great with Ryle, Lily seems to hang on to thoughts of Atlas, the guy who was her first love; the guy who really understood her.

And now, when Atlas seems to have magically reappeared in her life, the carefully built relationship that she has with Ryle seems threatened.

So, who will it be? Ryle or Atlas?

The writing

Coming to how the story is structured, it has everything that makes a good novel. A great one. I love everything about the characters – major and minor . They have been written so well and with a lot of thought behind every one of them. I love that we also get to see their development throughout the story.

In It Ends with Us, we started with a simple story but we ended it with so many thoughts running through our minds that we cannot come to one conclusion. We do not know whether we liked the ending or not. We just know that we cannot get enough of it no matter how many times we re-read the novel.

The topic of abuse is something that I have always wanted to educate myself more about and to learn to look at it from a lot of perspectives and not just my own. This book gave me exactly that. I was able to read and understand domestic abuse from the perspective of a mother, a daughter, and of a wife.

I have always asked myself why the victims are not willing to just get up and leave, and in a way, I judged them for their decisions even though I had no idea of what they are going through. But after reading this book, I came to realize that abuse or having an abusive partner is not just as simple as it looks.

It is a situation that can cause generational trauma and when it involves a mother and father, the case is even more complicated. Should the mother walk out on her husband even though she does not have any financial security for herself and the child? Or should the mother stay and endure the abuse if it means giving financial stability to the child?

The only response that I can conclude is that children should never be raised under such circumstances because the effects that they see in their parents will forever scar their childhood and they will carry this trauma throughout their adulthood. If domestic abuse is something that you want to go more in-depth with, this is one of the books that you need to add to your reading list.

Also, coming to the main men in It Ends with Us, are you Team Atlas or Team Ryle? I am Team Atlas all the way because he is someone that has lived up to the standards that I have set for what a life partner should be like.

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover Book Review

Spoilers ahead! Skip this paragraph if you don’t want to read them

Although my heart breaks for what both Ryle and Atlas had to go through in their past, I will never side with someone who resorts to abuse because of his traumatic experience. With this, I am in a dilemma between these two. They both deserve second chances, but who deserves it more? Read the book, and help me decide.

It Ends with Us is the kind of book that cannot be predictable. I was biting my nails waiting for what is going to happen next. The ending was also something that I did not see coming. I was rooting for both Atlas and Ryle so even before I reached the final page, I know that I will be okay with whatever happened.

While others may think that this book is merely a love triangle between Ryle, Atlas, and Lily, it is so much more than that. It shows us what it means to love and allow yourself to be loved even though you have been hurt time and again by the one person you trust the most. It also shows us how society is narrow-minded and superficial.

What would it mean for a woman to leave her husband? Society will jump and harass the woman for this activity because it was never a man’s fault.

Personally, if you have not started with any Colleen Hoover books, and are planning to do so, might I suggest you give this one a read? I think this is the book that will set the tone for how you read the next books by the author. Also, we are getting a sequel to this book so I am quite excited about that prospect. I have a lot to look forward to, and I hope the author does justice to the characters because I do not want to be disappointed! Let’s look forward to not being ruined and shattered by what is to come.

Some of my favourite lines from It Ends with Us, and ones that I believe have so much meaning behind them are:

“There is no such thing as bad people. We’re all just people who sometimes do bad things.”

“All humans make mistakes. What determines a person’s character aren’t the mistakes we make. It’s how we take those mistakes and turn them into lessons rather than excuses.”

“Just because someone hurts you doesn’t mean you can simply stop loving them. It’s not a person’s actions that hurt the most. It’s love. If there was no love attached to the action, the pain would be a little easier to bear.”

Can’t wait to read it? Buy your copy of It Ends with Us.

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Enrida lakiang lyngdoh.

Hello, my fellow bookworms, I am Enrida Lakiang Lyngdoh but you can call me Enri or Enrida. I am an ardent traveller but unlike most people, I travel differently, and that is, through the pages of a book. I love walking and being one with nature while taking aesthetic bookstagram pictures. Oh! I am also one of those readers who likes to write and highlight as much as I can in any book that I read. If you are a true reader, never forget to carry a book wherever you may go. I cannot imagine the horror of waiting for someone if there is not a book to accompany me with. Until then, Happy Reading my dear loves.

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It Ends With Us Review: It Ends With An Unnecessary Romance

September 14, 2016 by Jenna | 3 stars , Books , Reviews

Sometimes the one who loves you is the one who hurts you the most Lily hasn't always had it easy, but that's never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She's come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up - she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily's life suddenly seems almost too good to be true. Ryle is assertive, stubborn, and maybe even a little arrogant. He's also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily, but Ryle's complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan - her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened. With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.

I was expecting great, great things from It Ends With Us and I was a little bit let down. It’s been established that I definitely do not have a heart of steel but yet I didn’t find myself connecting with the emotion of the story or shedding a tear at what happened in this book. I won’t deny that it was an important story that needed to be told but I don’t believe that the concept of the book was executed as well as it could have been.

This is a book about domestic violence and abusive relationships ( trigger warning ). The main character in this novel, Lily, grew up in a household where her mother was constantly physically abused by her father. She hates her father for being abusive and her mother for being weak and staying in the relationship. Now, as a young woman in her mid-20s, she’s starting her own business as a florist and living her dream as a strong and successful woman. She meets a neurosurgeon, Ryle, who is just as driven and career-focused as herself and develops a quick attraction to him. The only problem is that Ryle is completely aversive to relationships, which opposes everything that Lily stands for and wants in her life. Throw in a sudden reappearance from her very first love, and Lily’s got quite a dramatic life.

It’s a little bit hard to go further into the plot without spoiling it but I really enjoyed it. I thought it explored some very important themes like abusive relationships and childhood trauma. However, I didn’t really connect with the emotion of the story and while I sympathized with the characters, I didn’t particularly care that much. I think this was due in part to the story lacking a bit of flow. There were lots of times when the story would skip ahead 6 weeks or 6 months and I never felt like I was in the story because of this. There were also some things that felt a bit unrealistic and made the story less relatable and genuine. For example, a character randomly brought up having a baby when their work schedule wouldn’t allow them to even be around all that much. Characters spontaneously bought expensive apartments and move in the following day. I mean, where do you find the time and how do you get out of your current lease? Considering I’m the same age as Lily in this book… I just found it a bit hard to believe.

My other issue with the novel was the characterization. There wasn’t a single character that I felt close to or extremely connected to, but I didn’t particularly dislike any of them either. I felt that all of the characters were given really tragic backstories in order to make them more complex, and I wasn’t really a fan of this approach because it made it seem disingenuous and thrown in for the sake of creating characters that weren’t boring. Having said that, it didn’t make me dislike the characters so I guess it was fine. I liked Lily’s strength in the book and she was definitely a character who grew on me as the story progressed. I thought the way that she handled herself was wonderful.

“Be that girl, Lily. Brave and bold.”

Even though this book does focus heavily on the romance, I wasn’t a big fan of it. There are two love interests in this book, but I wouldn’t really consider it to be a love triangle. Lily is never in love with both at the same and Colleen Hoover tackles this aspect quite well. The main relationship in this book is the one between Lily and Ryle. I didn’t really feel any chemistry between the two of them and I thought that their romance progressed way too quickly from attraction to love. This was probably also due to all the skipping of time in the book, but I just felt that the development of their relationship was far too quick. The novel also has some flashbacks that are presented in the form of journal entries that Lily reads back, and these flashbacks focus on the romance she had with, Atlas, a homeless boy from her school that she fell in love with as a 15 year old. I enjoyed this relationship a little bit better but I didn’t feel like they had much chemistry either. So I was left feeling a little bit cold about all of the romance in this book. And when you don’t enjoy the romance in a new adult novel, that’s probably the kiss of death.

While It Ends With Us tackles some very important issues about family and abuse, I didn’t think that the wonderful concept of this book was fully realised. I didn’t think that the writing was particularly good and I had a hard time connecting with the story and its characters. This book was inspired and based around Colleen’s own family and her mother’s story, and I found myself connecting much more with her author’s note than with her actual novel.

Rating: 3.5 out of 5.

Thank you to Simon & Schuster Australia for providing a review copy of the book.

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22 responses to “ It Ends With Us Review: It Ends With An Unnecessary Romance ”

I just feel bad for Ryle. He just someone who sometimes do bad things.

But I love everything about Lily even though I think she's not completely honest with her feelings. I agree with you that their relationship moving so fast that's the reason I think you decide to marry Ryle so that she can move on but unfortunately, deep down in her heart, she's still in love with Atlas.

About Atlas, I think he's just got lucky for having a pure heart. Tbh, I'm not really a fan of him.

[…] It Ends With Us – Colleen […]

I can definitely see where you're going with the whole characters doing unrealistic things…I'm in my late 20's and think half the things you mentioned would be simply impossible…I mean, it's hard enough to afford bills and the mortgage on a current place, let alone just up and getting a new apartment whenever the mood strikes! Your review for this was a breath of fresh air, honestly – I've seen nothing but good things about it (and I did buy a copy, but haven't read it yet), but when I read it I will probably have the same feelings towards some of the more unrealistic things.

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I don't really read a lot of New Adult novels but when I do, it always strikes me how unrealistic some of the characters are. The main character in this book is the same age as me and she has her own business, an apartment and… money! Okay, I can MAYBE understand that she was able to randomly buy a new apartment and move in the next day since she has a rich neurosurgeon boyfriend but I'd still be like "wtf my lease isn't up and it's gonna take me 30 billion years to pack everything and move". Also, what's up with every single person being unnecessarily rich? I'm just a bit over Colleen Hoover's books at this point. But I hope you can look past some of the issues I had and enjoy the book 🙂

Um, is it awful that I simply CANNOT get past the names? Ryle? What is that? And ATLAS? Really? I cannot take those seriously, especially in what seems like a rather serious story. And if you can't connect to any of the characters in what is supposed to be a moving and emotional book.. yeah, no, I don't think I would enjoy this one very much. I feel like with such important subject matter, a connection and feels are a must. Great review, Jenna! My recent post Goodreads Challenges: What’s the Rush?

HAHA I had the exact same reactions to the character names! Also the main character's name is Lily Bloom and she's a florist XD. And her mother's maiden name is Blossom! I couldn't take the characters seriously and I changed their names in my head as I was reading. I'm a bit over Colleen Hoover's books right now. I can never really connect with them emotionally because a lot of the time her storylines seem overly tragic and dramatic. I own one of more novel of hers that I haven't yet read, so after that one I'm definitely breaking up with her books.

I skipped this one and I'm so glad I did. She is a good writer, there is no doubt about that. But I am really annoyed by how she continues to use things like rape, death and abuse as 'plot twist.' I also lost all respect for her after reading the author's note at the end of this book. It just came off as emotional manipulation to me. Glad you still somewhat liked this, I think it's time for me to break up with this author.

Nereyda│ Nick & Nereyda’s Infinite Booklist My recent post An Addicting Sequel: A Torch Against the Night by Sabaa Tahir

I wholeheartedly agree. I've only read two of Colleen Hoover's books but from what I've read and heard, all of her plots are exactly the same with a different tragic backstory for each character. I can somewhat appreciate that this book was based on personal experiences and wasn't just another one of her "oh let's add some rape in here" storylines… but I couldn't connect with it emotionally, which makes me question how genuine the emotions in this book were.

I'm sorry this didn't work for you completely, Jenna! I actually loved this one – I fell for the characters, and enjoyed getting to know them, and there were times, especially towards the end where I was very emotional. I do get what you're saying though. My recent post Thirsty Thursday and Hungry Hearts #82 – Her Halloween Treat

I can see why people love this book. I just couldn't really connect with the characters and the story, so there wasn't much for me to latch on to, which was a shame because I thought the book explored a really important issue 🙁

I can safely say that this is one book I definitely won't be reading. I knew what it was about, but wasn't sure to what extent so thank you for the trigger warning, as this hits too close to home for me. Domestic violence is an issue that results in difficult discussions and it can be really confronting for so many people. I enjoyed CoHo's YA titles, but all of her NA books have been the same for me, excess drama and flooded with overly sexualised romances. I appreciate how well loved she is, but I can't help but see most of her fictional relationships as borderline toxic. I'd love to see her return to YA, but I think it's easier to churn out NA titles, change the same and the secret they're keeping and it's marketed as a new book entirely. Will you try any of her other titles, or has this one ruined the CoHo experience for you?

Wonderful review Jenna and thank you for the warning, I know it's been hotly debated on social media by the author herself, but for us who've experienced domestic violence for years and years, we appreciate it <3 My recent post Trial By Fire

I totally agree. I've only read Ugly Love and this one but from the synopses of her other books, it sounds like they all just involve really toxic and problematic relationships. It also definitely sounds like the characters and their stories are all the same, with just a small tweak in the issue they're dealing with or the secret they're keeping. I'm honestly not that impressed. I can see why people love It Ends With Us so much – it's based on CoHo's own experiences of growing up in a home with domestic violence but for such a personal story, it just wasn't emotional at all for me. And I totally agree that this book needs a trigger warning. I had no idea that it was about DV until I started the book because it's marketed as a love story between a girl and a relationship-phobe. It's hard to mention without spoiling the book but I think readers need to know!

I have one more unread CoHo book at home, Confess, and I'll probably just read that one and be done with her books.

I tend to rationalize books like this too. it sucks coz I can't suspend disbelief so I usually credit it to maybe I'm not in the mood for it. LOL

My recent post Loved It: How To Run with a Naked #Werewolf by @MollyHarperAuth @Pocket_Books #ParanormalRomance

Yeah I'm totally the same way. I love issue books but I'm just having a harder and harder time finding one that I find really realistic and relatable.

Haha I'm glad you read this one Jenna; I know I wouldn't have had the patience to keep on reading. 😛

Yeah I don't think you would've liked this one, Aila 😀 Keep reading your fantasies and leave these contemporaries to me HAHA

I'm always looking forward to reading CoHo's books, but I must admit that I'm terrified of this one. Many have shared your opinion, to be honest. So it looks like I might have to postpone reading this a bit longer.

Haha I actually picked this one up because I saw tonnes of rave reviews for the book. I can see why people thought it was really good, but it just wasn't for me. I couldn't really connect with it and I guess you just can't predict how you'll react to it.

That's the thing, isn't it? You can focus on heavy issues, but if the writing and story aren't strong, it doesn't come off right. I've read similar reviews for this and it goes to show that not everyone loves the same things. However, this goes back to earlier this year when there were lots of discussions about whether some readers rate and review based on the topics in the book, rather than the story itself. I'll definitely have to read this for myself to see if I feel as you do or if I truly love it.

I had this exact debate going on inside me after I finished the book. I wasn't in love with the story and its characters (or the characters and their stories) but I thought the issues were really important. I think enjoyment is a big factor when it comes to my rating system so I'd like to think that my rating for this book nicely reflects not only the objective things like writing and plot but also the issues. I don't know what my subconscious is doing though so I guess we'll never know 😀

Now that I know what this book is really about, it sounds like a really personal story which is good. I also like that there is a portrayal of work and a careee in it. But I do agree those tragic back stories seem to be stereotypical of CoHo books. Thanks for the review Jenna!

I can't really tell if you'll like this one or not, Jeann. I guess it really depends on whether you connect with the issues and the story. I definitely appreciated it more after I read the author's note at the end but I don't think the novel itself was particularly outstanding.

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"it ends with us" book review, “there is no such thing as bad people. we’re all just people who sometimes do bad things.”.

Colleen Hoover is one of my favorite authors. The first book I ever read by her was Ugly Love because I heard it was being turned into a movie. Thankfully, it is. Ugly Love was a powerful book, one of the best I've ever read, and I highly recommend it. There are only a few books I've read where I actually shed some tears and that was one of them.

But let's talk about her new book. *some spoilers ahead*

It Ends With Us was published this year in August. I didn't get the chance to read it until last month because I've been so busy. I'm an avid reader and I can usually go through 2-3 books a week (if I'm not drowning in homework). One of the things I hated about moving off to a university was having a busier schedule which meant not having as much time to read.

Anyways, back to the book...

After reading Ugly Love, I knew I wanted to read more from Colleen so the second book of hers that I read was Confess. Once again, my mind was blown. I've learned from the three books I've read by her that she loves plot twists. In every one of her books, there's always been a major plot twist that makes your jaw drop and causes your mind to be blown. If you think I'm joking or overreacting, read Ugly Love , just do it.

When Colleen announced It Ends With Us ' intended arrival date, I was so excited. The cover looked incredibly cute and I did my best to try to and figure out what the flowers printed all over the cover meant. If you read Ugly Love, you'll understand why the cover is water and water bubbles.

As I waited for the day It Ends With Us landed in my hands (I treated myself on my birthday by buying it), I tried to figure out as much as I could from the clues Colleen posted. On Instagram, when she first announced the novel, she said that it was a deeply personal novel. I don't know much about Colleen and her background stories, but my mind started to race. I tried to think of every situation possible to write a bestseller about. My mind jumped to every conclusion from rape to depression. Since Colleen has proven to write deep novels, I figured that this book was bound to make me cry.

It didn't.

I'm not disappointed in the novel at all. It Ends With Us was an emotional read and I know how had it must have been for Colleen to write it. It Ends With Us is the story about Lilly Bloom, a young twenty-something-year-old girl living in Boston. She meets neurosurgeon, Ryle Kincaid one night on a rooftop and he's kicking a chair, obviously mad at something. Lilly and Ryle end up talking that night, of course, they flirt, and later in the novel, they start to date. Throughout the novel, we read letters that high school Lilly used to write to Ellen Degeneres (she didn't send them - the letters were like a journal) about Atlas Corrigan and the times Lilly would catch her father beating her mother. Through the letters, we find out that Atlas was this homeless boy at Lilly's school that would sneak into the vacant house behind Lilly's. He was 18 when she was 15 and he rode the same bus as her. Lilly started sneaking him into her house after school to let him eat some of her food and take a shower. Their relationship starts to build and soon enough, we watch Lilly and Atlas fall in love. They have a terrible breakup and for years after that, Atlas becomes the boy Lilly hates to remember because she's still in love with him. Atlas was Lilly's first love.

In between the chapters with the letters is the present life of Lilly and Ryle. One night, Lilly gets a little intoxicated off of wine while cooking dinner with Ryle. She makes a casserole and forgets it's in the oven. When it starts smoking, Ryle rushes to get it out of the over and forgets an oven mitt. He ends up burning his hand and since Lilly is drunk, she laughs. Ryle smacks her for laughing, causing her to fall off the counter and cutting the corner of her eye. Ryle starts to frantically apologize and carries her to her bedroom to lay her on the bed. Even though Lilly's drunk, she comprehends what happens and becomes terrified of him. She starts to remember the times where her father did the same thing to her mother and would apologize frantically like Ryle does. Ryle apologizes thousands of times and swears it won't happen again so Lilly forgives him and tries to move past it.

Like every other love story, Atlas and Lilly have a run-in in present day and it takes both of them by surprise. Atlas notices the cut on Lilly's eye and instantly knows that it's from Ryle.

It's hard to read the middle of the book where Ryle just assaulted Lilly and Atlas comes back because we get torn between the two men. Before Ryle assaulted her, I was Team Ryle. Then I learned more about Atlas, pictured him as Zac Efron, and switched to Team Atlas.

At the end of the book, Lilly is married to Ryle and is expecting a baby. Before she found out she was pregnant, Ryle assaulted her again by pushed her down a flight of stairs, making Lilly consider divorce. Of course, the baby changed her decision. She told Ryle that once the baby was born, she would think about what she wanted to do. I was begging for her to divorce him. Thankfully, she does and ends up with Atlas.

It Ends With Us was powerful. It was emotional and personal. The story is based on Colleen's mother. Basically, Colleen's mother is Lilly. Not everything Lilly goes through in the book is the same thing Colleen's mother goes through, but some situations are. I'm confused with myself as to why I didn't cry while reading this book but there were still moments where I teared up. If you haven't read any of Colleen's works, I highly suggest you do. Even though I practically just spoiled It Ends With Us , I still recommend the novel. It's a great read to bring awareness to real life situations such as the one the book highlights.

Once again, I also recommend Ugly Love , and to keep watching out for the trailer of the movie staring Nick Bateman as Miles.

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25 beatles lyrics: your go-to guide for every situation, the best lines from the fab four.

For as long as I can remember, I have been listening to The Beatles. Every year, my mom would appropriately blast “Birthday” on anyone’s birthday. I knew all of the words to “Back In The U.S.S.R” by the time I was 5 (Even though I had no idea what or where the U.S.S.R was). I grew up with John, Paul, George, and Ringo instead Justin, JC, Joey, Chris and Lance (I had to google N*SYNC to remember their names). The highlight of my short life was Paul McCartney in concert twice. I’m not someone to “fangirl” but those days I fangirled hard. The music of The Beatles has gotten me through everything. Their songs have brought me more joy, peace, and comfort. I can listen to them in any situation and find what I need. Here are the best lyrics from The Beatles for every and any occasion.

And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make

The End- Abbey Road, 1969

The sun is up, the sky is blue, it's beautiful and so are you

Dear Prudence- The White Album, 1968

Love is old, love is new, love is all, love is you

Because- Abbey Road, 1969

There's nowhere you can be that isn't where you're meant to be

All You Need Is Love, 1967

Life is very short, and there's no time for fussing and fighting, my friend

We Can Work It Out- Rubber Soul, 1965

He say, "I know you, you know me", One thing I can tell you is you got to be free

Come Together- Abbey Road, 1969

Oh please, say to me, You'll let me be your man. And please say to me, You'll let me hold your hand

I Wanna Hold Your Hand- Meet The Beatles!, 1964

It was twenty years ago today, Sgt. Pepper taught the band to play. They've been going in and out of style, but they're guaranteed to raise a smile

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band-1967

Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see

Strawberry Fields Forever- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Can you hear me? When it rains and shine, it's just a state of mind

Rain- Paperback Writer "B" side, 1966

Little darling, it's been long cold lonely winter. Little darling, it feels like years since it' s been here. Here comes the sun, Here comes the sun, and I say it's alright

Here Comes The Sun- Abbey Road, 1969

We danced through the night and we held each other tight, and before too long I fell in love with her. Now, I'll never dance with another when I saw her standing there

Saw Her Standing There- Please Please Me, 1963

I love you, I love you, I love you, that's all I want to say

Michelle- Rubber Soul, 1965

You say you want a revolution. Well you know, we all want to change the world

Revolution- The Beatles, 1968

All the lonely people, where do they all come from. All the lonely people, where do they all belong

Eleanor Rigby- Revolver, 1966

Oh, I get by with a little help from my friends

With A Little Help From My Friends- Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, 1967

Hey Jude, don't make it bad. Take a sad song and make it better

Hey Jude, 1968

Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away. Now it looks as though they're here to stay. Oh, I believe in yesterday

Yesterday- Help!, 1965

And when the brokenhearted people, living in the world agree, there will be an answer, let it be.

Let It Be- Let It Be, 1970

And anytime you feel the pain, Hey Jude, refrain. Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

I'll give you all i got to give if you say you'll love me too. i may not have a lot to give but what i got i'll give to you. i don't care too much for money. money can't buy me love.

Can't Buy Me Love- A Hard Day's Night, 1964

All you need is love, love is all you need

All You Need Is Love- Magical Mystery Tour, 1967

Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Blackbird singing in the dead of night, take these broken wings and learn to fly. all your life, you were only waiting for this moment to arise.

Blackbird- The White Album, 1968

Though I know I'll never lose affection, for people and things that went before. I know I'll often stop and think about them. In my life, I love you more

In My Life- Rubber Soul, 1965

While these are my 25 favorites, there are quite literally 1000s that could have been included. The Beatles' body of work is massive and there is something for everyone. If you have been living under a rock and haven't discovered the Fab Four, you have to get musically educated. Stream them on Spotify, find them on iTunes or even buy a CD or record (Yes, those still exist!). I would suggest starting with 1, which is a collection of most of their #1 songs, or the 1968 White Album. Give them chance and you'll never look back.

14 Invisible Activities: Unleash Your Inner Ghost!

Obviously the best superpower..

The best superpower ever? Being invisible of course. Imagine just being able to go from seen to unseen on a dime. Who wouldn't want to have the opportunity to be invisible? Superman and Batman have nothing on being invisible with their superhero abilities. Here are some things that you could do while being invisible, because being invisible can benefit your social life too.

1. "Haunt" your friends.

Follow them into their house and cause a ruckus.

2. Sneak into movie theaters.

Going to the cinema alone is good for your mental health , says science

Considering that the monthly cost of subscribing to a media-streaming service like Netflix is oft...

Free movies...what else to I have to say?

3. Sneak into the pantry and grab a snack without judgment.

Late night snacks all you want? Duh.

4. Reenact "Hollow Man" and play Kevin Bacon.

America's favorite son? And feel what it's like to be in a MTV Movie Award nominated film? Sign me up.

5. Wear a mask and pretend to be a floating head.

Just another way to spook your friends in case you wanted to.

6. Hold objects so they'll "float."

"Oh no! A floating jar of peanut butter."

7. Win every game of hide-and-seek.

Just stand out in the open and you'll win.

8. Eat some food as people will watch it disappear.

Even everyday activities can be funny.

9. Go around pantsing your friends.

Even pranks can be done; not everything can be good.

10. Not have perfect attendance.

You'll say here, but they won't see you...

11. Avoid anyone you don't want to see.

Whether it's an ex or someone you hate, just use your invisibility to slip out of the situation.

12. Avoid responsibilities.

Chores? Invisible. People asking about social life? Invisible. Family being rude? Boom, invisible.

13. Be an expert on ding-dong-ditch.

Never get caught and have the adrenaline rush? I'm down.

14. Brag about being invisible.

Be the envy of the town.

But don't, I repeat, don't go in a locker room. Don't be a pervert with your power. No one likes a Peeping Tom.

Good luck, folks.

19 Lessons I'll Never Forget from Growing Up In a Small Town

There have been many lessons learned..

Small towns certainly have their pros and cons. Many people who grow up in small towns find themselves counting the days until they get to escape their roots and plant new ones in bigger, "better" places. And that's fine. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought those same thoughts before too. We all have, but they say it's important to remember where you came from. When I think about where I come from, I can't help having an overwhelming feeling of gratitude for my roots. Being from a small town has taught me so many important lessons that I will carry with me for the rest of my life.

1. The importance of traditions.

Sometimes traditions seem like a silly thing, but the fact of it is that it's part of who you are. You grew up this way and, more than likely, so did your parents. It is something that is part of your family history and that is more important than anything.

2. How to be thankful for family and friends.

No matter how many times they get on your nerves or make you mad, they are the ones who will always be there and you should never take that for granted.

3. How to give back.

When tragedy strikes in a small town, everyone feels obligated to help out because, whether directly or indirectly, it affects you too. It is easy in a bigger city to be able to disconnect from certain problems. But in a small town those problems affect everyone.

4. What the word "community" really means.

Along the same lines as #3, everyone is always ready and willing to lend a helping hand when you need one in a small town and to me that is the true meaning of community. It's working together to build a better atmosphere, being there to raise each other up, build each other up, and pick each other up when someone is in need. A small town community is full of endless support whether it be after a tragedy or at a hometown sports game. Everyone shows up to show their support.

5. That it isn't about the destination, but the journey.

People say this to others all the time, but it takes on a whole new meaning in a small town. It is true that life is about the journey, but when you're from a small town, you know it's about the journey because the journey probably takes longer than you spend at the destination. Everything is so far away that it is totally normal to spend a couple hours in the car on your way to some form of entertainment. And most of the time, you're gonna have as many, if not more, memories and laughs on the journey than at the destination.

6. The consequences of making bad choices.

Word travels fast in a small town, so don't think you're gonna get away with anything. In fact, your parents probably know what you did before you even have a chance to get home and tell them. And forget about being scared of what your teacher, principle, or other authority figure is going to do, you're more afraid of what your parents are gonna do when you get home.

7. To trust people, until you have a reason not to.

Everyone deserves a chance. Most people don't have ill-intentions and you can't live your life guarding against every one else just because a few people in your life have betrayed your trust.

8. To be welcoming and accepting of everyone.

While small towns are not always extremely diverse, they do contain people with a lot of different stories, struggle, and backgrounds. In a small town, it is pretty hard to exclude anyone because of who they are or what they come from because there aren't many people to choose from. A small town teaches you that just because someone isn't the same as you, doesn't mean you can't be great friends.

9. How to be my own, individual person.

In a small town, you learn that it's okay to be who you are and do your own thing. You learn that confidence isn't how beautiful you are or how much money you have, it's who you are on the inside.

10. How to work for what I want.

Nothing comes easy in life. They always say "gardens don't grow overnight" and if you're from a small town you know this both figuratively and literally. You certainly know gardens don't grow overnight because you've worked in a garden or two. But you also know that to get to the place you want to be in life it takes work and effort. It doesn't just happen because you want it to.

11. How to be great at giving directions.

If you're from a small town, you know that you will probably only meet a handful of people in your life who ACTUALLY know where your town is. And forget about the people who accidentally enter into your town because of google maps. You've gotten really good at giving them directions right back to the interstate.

12. How to be humble .

My small town has definitely taught me how to be humble. It isn't always about you, and anyone who grows up in a small town knows that. Everyone gets their moment in the spotlight, and since there's so few of us, we're probably best friends with everyone so we are as excited when they get their moment of fame as we are when we get ours.

13. To be well-rounded.

Going to a small town high school definitely made me well-rounded. There isn't enough kids in the school to fill up all the clubs and sports teams individually so be ready to be a part of them all.

14. How to be great at conflict resolution.

In a small town, good luck holding a grudge. In a bigger city you can just avoid a person you don't like or who you've had problems with. But not in a small town. You better resolve the issue fast because you're bound to see them at least 5 times a week.

15. The beauty of getting outside and exploring.

One of my favorite things about growing up in a rural area was being able to go outside and go exploring and not have to worry about being in danger. There is nothing more exciting then finding a new place somewhere in town or in the woods and just spending time there enjoying the natural beauty around you.

16. To be prepared for anything.

You never know what may happen. If you get a flat tire, you better know how to change it yourself because you never know if you will be able to get ahold of someone else to come fix it. Mechanics might be too busy , or more than likely you won't even have enough cell service to call one.

17. That you don't always have to do it alone.

It's okay to ask for help. One thing I realized when I moved away from my town for college, was how much my town has taught me that I could ask for help is I needed it. I got into a couple situations outside of my town where I couldn't find anyone to help me and found myself thinking, if I was in my town there would be tons of people ready to help me. And even though I couldn't find anyone to help, you better believe I wasn't afraid to ask.

18. How to be creative.

When you're at least an hour away from normal forms of entertainment such as movie theaters and malls, you learn to get real creative in entertaining yourself. Whether it be a night looking at the stars in the bed of a pickup truck or having a movie marathon in a blanket fort at home, you know how to make your own good time.

19. To brush off gossip.

It's all about knowing the person you are and not letting others influence your opinion of yourself. In small towns, there is plenty of gossip. But as long as you know who you really are, it will always blow over.

Grateful Beyond Words: A Letter to My Inspiration

I have never been so thankful to know you..

I can't say "thank you" enough to express how grateful I am for you coming into my life. You have made such a huge impact on my life. I would not be the person I am today without you and I know that you will keep inspiring me to become an even better version of myself.

You have taught me that you don't always have to strong. You are allowed to break down as long as you pick yourself back up and keep moving forward. When life had you at your worst moments, you allowed your friends to be there for you and to help you. You let them in and they helped pick you up. Even in your darkest hour you showed so much strength. I know that you don't believe in yourself as much as you should but you are unbelievably strong and capable of anything you set your mind to.

Your passion to make a difference in the world is unbelievable. You put your heart and soul into your endeavors and surpass any personal goal you could have set. Watching you do what you love and watching you make a difference in the lives of others is an incredible experience. The way your face lights up when you finally realize what you have accomplished is breathtaking and I hope that one day I can have just as much passion you have.

SEE MORE: A Letter To My Best Friend On Her Birthday

The love you have for your family is outstanding. Watching you interact with loved ones just makes me smile . You are so comfortable and you are yourself. I see the way you smile when you are around family and I wish I could see you smile like this everyday. You love with all your heart and this quality is something I wished I possessed.

You inspire me to be the best version of myself. I look up to you. I feel that more people should strive to have the strength and passion that you exemplify in everyday life.You may be stubborn at points but when you really need help you let others in, which shows strength in itself. I have never been more proud to know someone and to call someone my role model. You have taught me so many things and I want to thank you. Thank you for inspiring me in life. Thank you for making me want to be a better person.

Waitlisted for a College Class? Here's What to Do!

Dealing with the inevitable realities of college life..

Course registration at college can be a big hassle and is almost never talked about. Classes you want to take fill up before you get a chance to register. You might change your mind about a class you want to take and must struggle to find another class to fit in the same time period. You also have to make sure no classes clash by time. Like I said, it's a big hassle.

This semester, I was waitlisted for two classes. Most people in this situation, especially first years, freak out because they don't know what to do. Here is what you should do when this happens.

Don't freak out

This is a rule you should continue to follow no matter what you do in life, but is especially helpful in this situation.

Email the professor

Around this time, professors are getting flooded with requests from students wanting to get into full classes. This doesn't mean you shouldn't burden them with your email; it means they are expecting interested students to email them. Send a short, concise message telling them that you are interested in the class and ask if there would be any chance for you to get in.

Attend the first class

Often, the advice professors will give you when they reply to your email is to attend the first class. The first class isn't the most important class in terms of what will be taught. However, attending the first class means you are serious about taking the course and aren't going to give up on it.

Keep attending class

Every student is in the same position as you are. They registered for more classes than they want to take and are "shopping." For the first couple of weeks, you can drop or add classes as you please, which means that classes that were once full will have spaces. If you keep attending class and keep up with assignments, odds are that you will have priority. Professors give preference to people who need the class for a major and then from higher to lower class year (senior to freshman).

Have a backup plan

For two weeks, or until I find out whether I get into my waitlisted class, I will be attending more than the usual number of classes. This is so that if I don't get into my waitlisted class, I won't have a credit shortage and I won't have to fall back in my backup class. Chances are that enough people will drop the class, especially if it is very difficult like computer science, and you will have a chance. In popular classes like art and psychology, odds are you probably won't get in, so prepare for that.

Remember that everything works out at the end

Life is full of surprises. So what if you didn't get into the class you wanted? Your life obviously has something else in store for you. It's your job to make sure you make the best out of what you have.

Top Creators

1. Brittany Morgan, National Writer's Society 2. Radhi, SUNY Stony Brook 3. Kristen Haddox , Penn State University 4. Jennifer Kustanovich , SUNY Stony Brook 5. Clare Regelbrugge , University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

It Ends With Us Book Review (2024)

Colleen hoover.

Margaret Colleen Fennel, known professionally as Colleen Hoover, was born on the 11 th of December, 19179, in Sulphur Springs, Texas, United States of America. Colleen has thus far authored 11 novels and 5 novellas, most works falling into the New Adult or Young Adult genres.

Additionally, Colleen has been frequently featured on the New York Times Best Sellers list.

It Ends With Us Book

Colleen was born in Sulphur Springs, Texas, to father Eddie Fennel and mother VannoyFite. Hoover was raised in Saltillo, Texas, graduating in 1998 from the Saltillo High School. Just two years later, in the year 2000, she married Heath Hoover; the couple has so far had three children, all of which were boys.

Colleen received her degree in Social Work from Texas A&M-Commerce. She took up several different jobs, mostly teaching and social work, prior to starting her writing career fulltime. It was in November of 2011 that Colleen started writing the first of her eleven novels, Slammed. Colleen never intended of publishing the book, though upon receiving words of praise, she thought it might be a good idea.

The novel is famous for utilizing the lyrics of The Avett Brothers throughout its story. In just a little while, no more than a couple of months, Colleen’s novel was reviewed by Maryse Black, a book blogger, and received a five-star rating. This prompted the book sales to go through the roof. And just like that Colleen Hoover became the famous author she is today.

Pretty Famous

She has made an appearance on talk-shows like ABC News Nightline, CBS This Morning, and the like. Hoover has also been the recipient of the UtopYA Con Award. With that covered, we can now move onto our book review. This is probably the quintessential Collen Hoover novel. It truly is one of the authoress’ best works, and that’s saying something. It was published in the year of 2016.

The novel’s story begins with one of the two main characters, Lily Bloom. Lily is a fairly young girl, freshly having graduated from college. She now lives in Boston, and is, at the present moment, sitting on a rooftop attempting to clear her head after the funeral service of her dad. It is here that she first comes by the neurosurgeon known as Ryle Kincaid.

Can’t Stay Away

It doesn’t take long for the two of them to hit it off, but it also doesn’t long for them to see that they might not be what’s best for each other. Ryle, on one hand, seems to be interested only in a temporary affair, just an adventure of sorts, while Lily wants to be in a relationship. Seeing how they’re at a crossroads, the two of them split up and that’s that. That’s that until six months into the future, where they meet once more.

It’s a superb thing that Hoover has done with the characters. In only a little while we see how their own dynamics aren’t suitable, even though they seem to have perfect chemistry in all other aspects.

They meet by chance as Lily offers Allysa, Ryle’s sister, a job at her own flower shop. Seeing each other frequently now, the two’s interest in each other only multiplies each day, so Ryle actually gives in and tries out the relationship with Lily, in spite of his unwillingness before.

Who Is Lily Inside?

Lily isn’t just the run of the mill girl looking for a boyfriend to settle down with, though. She has her own demons, as she’s trying to come to terms with the loss of her dad, even though he wasn’t the nicest person to her or her mother.

She comes by a journal she’d written when she was only fifteen, and it chronicles a relationship she’d had with a homeless eighteen-year-old named Atlas. Just like that, Lily begins to question whether or not she wants closure from Atlas, too.

Blooming Relationship

Ryle and Lily’s relationship, though, seems to be blooming. They look like the perfect couple, but there’s more to it all than what meets the eye. One day it happens that Lily and Atlas meet, but there’s no spark there, as Lily points out, and the two of them part ways as soon as she assumes that closure has been achieved.

In a few days, on a fairly calm evening, Lily and Ryle get into an argument that ends with Ryle hurting Lily. He snaps out of it and tries to comfort her, which Lily accepts, but we can see that something isn’t as it seems. Lily is left baffled at what happened; it doesn’t take much for her to see Ryle as her dead dad, and she threatens to leave if that ever repeats.

The following day, Ryle has his hand bandaged, while Lily’s eye has a bit of a bruise on it. They’re at a restaurant when Atlas, out of the blue, comes by and by way of deduction concludes that Ryle has hurt Lily. If you enjoy books like this one, that is not only about a sweet romance , you must read ourarticle about the romance thriller books .

Turmoil is what follows as Lily, urged on by Atlas, comes to see herself as her mother as she was abused once. Ryle, on his own account, has demons, too. For instance, his younger brother died by way of accident with Ryle being at the forefront of it all.

More and More Suspicious

Ryle begins to be all the more suspicious of Lily and Atlas, to the point where he repeatedly hurts Lily. Lily, on the other hand, is pregnant. Having no other recourse, she confides to Allysa and her mother, as Ryle gets ready to leave for England. He stays there for three months, and upon his return learns of the pregnancy.

Wonderful Story

Lily makes the right choice in picking Atlas over Ryle, as the two meet and finally decide to try their hand at a real relationship. The story is markedly harrowing, heart-wrecking, and wonderful. Truly one of the best Colleen Hoover novels. And with this concludes our book review of It Ends with Us. Maybe Someday, Verity , and Hopeless are a few other treats from Hoover which are also superb.

Alissa Wynn

Alissa is an avid reader, blogger, and wannabe writer. (She's a much better cook than a writer actually). Alissa is married, has one human, one feline, and two canine kids. She always looks a mess and never meets a deadline.

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It Ends With Us, Book 1 Book Review
IT ENDS WITH US tells the story of Lily Bloom, a 23-year-old who recently moved to Boston after graduating college. One night she meets Ryle, a handsome 30-year-old who's almost completed his neurosurgery residency. As Lily is getting to know Ryle and trying to figure out her feelings for him, she's also trying to understand her past and find ...
Stop Praising Colleen Hoover's 'It Ends With Us.' Here's What You're
Here's What You're Missing. 9/7/2022 by Jennie Young. Content warning: This story contains graphic descriptions of rape and sexual assault. The quote on the cover of Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel, It Ends With Us, claims, "Every person with a heartbeat should read this book.". It was the sixth best-selling book of 2021 , BookTok ...
IT ENDS WITH US
438. Our Verdict. GET IT. New York Times Bestseller. IndieBound Bestseller. Hoover's ( November 9, 2015, etc.) latest tackles the difficult subject of domestic violence with romantic tenderness and emotional heft. At first glance, the couple is edgy but cute: Lily Bloom runs a flower shop for people who hate flowers; Ryle Kincaid is a surgeon ...
It Ends with Us (It Ends with Us, #1) by Colleen Hoover
Winner for Best Romance (2016) Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most. Lily hasn't always had it easy, but that's never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She's come a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up — she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business.
It Ends with Us Review (2016): Unveiling the Irresistible Impact
In conclusion, 'It Ends with Us' is a gripping and emotionally-charged novel that leaves a lasting impact on its readers. Colleen Hoover's powerful storytelling and exploration of complex themes make it a standout work in contemporary fiction. Whether you're a fan of romance, drama, or thought-provoking narratives, this book is sure to ...
Book Review: "It Ends With Us"
4/5. Writing: 5/5. Plot and Themes: 4.5/5. Overall: 4.5/5. In conclusion, "It Ends with Us" stands out as a powerful exploration of love and personal strength. Its emotional depth and realistic portrayal of relationships contribute to a captivating narrative.
It Ends with Us Series by Colleen Hoover
4.39 · 5,905 Ratings · 239 Reviews · 9 editions. #1 New York Times bestselling author Colleen Hoove…. Want to Read. Rate it: It Ends with Us (It Ends with Us, #1), It Starts with Us (It Ends with Us, #2), and It Starts with Us, It Ends with Us Collection (It Ends with Us, #1-2)
It Ends with Us
An honest, evocative and tender novel, IT ENDS WITH US is "a glorious and touching read, a forever keeper. The kind of book that gets handed down" ( USA TODAY ). It Ends with Us. by Colleen Hoover. Publication Date: August 2, 2016. Genres: Fiction, Romance, Women's Fiction. Paperback: 384 pages. Publisher: Atria Books.
Amazon.com: Customer reviews: It Ends with Us: A Novel (1)
The novel, It Ends With Us, by Colleen Hoover is a very well written book about love, hate, betrayal, abuse, friendships, hope, and forgiveness. It is very well written with a great deal of backstory inserted into the book buy the protagonist, Lilly Bloom, as she reads from her journal written when she was fifteen years old.
It Ends With Us: A Review · Justleafing.com
The novel is expertly crafted in telling the story of the main character Lily Bloom, a 23-year-old spirited young woman living in Boston. She meets Ryle Kincaid, a 30-year-old gorgeous neurosurgeon one night when hanging out on a rooftop of a random building. The chance encounter sticks in both their minds.
Book Review: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Review. Rating: 5 out of 5. It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover is so much more than what one expects from it on the surface. Particularly the last 25% was emotionally tormenting for me, personally, to read as it covered themes of domestic abuse (something I witnessed in my own home growing up) and love intertwined in a complex web in which women ...
Amazon.com: Customer reviews: It Ends With Us
HOLY WOW! It Ends With Us is one of the most powerful books of 2016 and one of the most raw, honest, inspiring, and profoundly beautiful stories I've ever read. It wasn't anything like what I expected, but it delivered so much more than I ever hoped for. This is the kind of book that I want to give to every woman and just be like…
Book Review: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
It Ends with Us shows the grey matter within relationships ruled by domestic violence. It's so easy to look from the outside in and dictate what a person 'should have done'. But not everything is black and white and in shading Lily's and Ryle's relationship with a penetrating grey, Colleen puts us, as readers, in the uncomfortable ...
Book Review: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
While It Ends With Us is an engaging and well-written novel, it does share some common tropes found in college romances and can be somewhat predictable in places. The on-and-off nature of the main characters' relationship was a bit frustrating at times, and so I don't recommend this book for readers seeking a more stable and linear narrative.
Book Review: It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Review. AH. This book had me on the edge of my seat the entireee time. It was a rollercoaster of emotions, going back and forth between the men in Lily's life and constantly thinking - why doesn't she leave if she isn't happy? I won't give away any spoilers but there is a heavy theme of domestic abuse throughout this book and helps ...
Review: 'It Starts With Us' takes readers through the pain of new
Where the previous book often highlighted Lily's point of view, "It Starts With Us" shows us more of Atlas's perspective. The novel dives beneath the surface, and provides backgrounds on Atlas, Lily and Ryle. The flashback scenes between younger Atlas and Lily show us the enduring impacts of abuse. Readers can see how abuse can affect ...
Parent reviews for It Ends With Us, Book 1
Definitely 18+. This book was a great book in terms of emotional value and things on a positive level. Lilly is a great character who does go through a lot of bad things (almost rape, violence, physical abuse), but is a great role model. I was wondering what was going on in Colleen Hoover's head when she made Lilly marry Ryle.
It Ends with Us
PLOT AND NARRATIVE TECHNIQUE: 4/5. LANGUAGE AND WRITING STYLE: 4/5. OVERALL RATING: 4/5. GENRE/THEME: New Adult Fiction, Contemporary Romance. "And as hard as this choice is, we break the pattern before the pattern breaks us.". - Colleen Hoover, It Ends with Us. It Ends with Us is my first Colleen Hoover book and I must say that it ...
It Ends With Us Review: It Ends With An Unnecessary Romance
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover Published by Simon & Schuster UK on August 2nd 2016 Source: Publisher Genres: Contemporary, New Adult, Romance Amazon | Book Depository | Publisher | Angus & Robertson Add to Goodreads. Sometimes the one who loves you is the one who hurts you the most. Lily hasn't always had it easy, but that's never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants.
It Ends With Us Review: Interesting Take on Colleen Hoover's Book
Conclusion. This It Ends With Us review of the book by author Colleen Hoover detailed the pros and cons of this bestselling book. In summary, it's worth reading if you like fast-paced, immersive, sexually graphic, and emotional contemporary romance novels in which the main characters face very difficult situations.
It Ends with Us
It Starts with Us. It Ends with Us is a romance novel by Colleen Hoover, published by Atria Books on August 2, 2016. Based on the relationship between her mother and father, Hoover described it as "the hardest book I've ever written." As of 2019, the novel had sold over one million copies worldwide and been translated into over twenty languages.
"It Ends With Us" Book Review
It Ends With Us was powerful. It was emotional and personal. The story is based on Colleen's mother. Basically, Colleen's mother is Lilly. Not everything Lilly goes through in the book is the same thing Colleen's mother goes through, but some situations are. I'm confused with myself as to why I didn't cry while reading this book but there were ...
It Ends With Us: Why Colleen Hoover's 2016 Book Is So Controversial
One of Colleen Hoover's best books to date is It Ends With Us. The novel, published in 2016, sold one million copies worldwide by 2019.A couple of years later, the book became even more popular ...
It Ends With Us Book Review (2024)
Lily makes the right choice in picking Atlas over Ryle, as the two meet and finally decide to try their hand at a real relationship. The story is markedly harrowing, heart-wrecking, and wonderful. Truly one of the best Colleen Hoover novels. And with this concludes our book review of It Ends with Us. Maybe Someday, Verity, and Hopeless are a ...

Stop Praising Colleen Hoover’s ‘It Ends With Us.’ Here’s What You’re Missing

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