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The naked truth about “It Ends With Us” is that it is an emotional roller coaster.
Colleen Hoover, a New York Times Best Selling Author, released “It Ends With Us” book in the middle of 2016. It captivated every reader, book club, and fellow writer.
It was not a typical romance novel but a heartbreaking story about how one gets stuck in a vicious cycle of domestic violence.
That is what compelled us to write an “It Ends With Us” book review for our readers.
Colleen Hoover is young adult fiction and romance novelist. She self-published her debut novel, “Slammed” without expecting to reach the New York Times Best Seller list.
Since then, Hoover has published numerous books and earned a reputation as a well-written and thought-provoking author.
Each of Hoover’s books is an example of class and brilliance. Her other novels, such as “Verity” has also found a readership among thrill and romance-seeking readers.
It Ends With Us Book Summary
If you are excited to read it, here is what to expect from the plot:
After returning from her father’s funeral, Lily Bloom, a young and independent woman living in Boston, is sitting on the rooftop railing.
She meets Ryle Kincaid, a young neurosurgeon who had a bad day at work and came up the rooftop for a much-needed escape.
Ryle falls in love with Lily, and fate intervenes on several occasions to keep Ryle in Lily’s life. Lily initially tried to ignore her feelings for Ryle.
However, due to Ryle’s unwavering persistence, he and Lily formed an instant attachment.
They built a life that seemed too good to be true: Lily as a bold flower shop owner and Ryle as an aspiring neurosurgeon.
We are given glimpses of Lily’s childhood throughout the story through the diary entries she writes, which only show how mature Hoover’s writing is.
Lily grew up in an abusive home and witnessed her father physically and verbally abusing her mother.
She vowed that she would never be in the same situation as her mother.
Ms. Hoover depicted Lily’s conflict beautifully, as she loved her father and yet despised him as a person.
When she was sixteen, she met a boy named Atlas Corrigan. He was a homeless boy with whom Lily found acceptance and companionship.
Theirs was a pure, innocent, and passionate love. Atlas, however, quickly left to join the military, leaving Lily with the promise that they would meet one day again.
Lily moved on with Ryle, despite her longing for Atlas. However, as life has a knack for smacking us in the face when we least expect it, Ryle’s attachment took an unexpected turn and became a source of profound affliction.
From love to fear, from cherished memories to painful ones, and from respect to disgust, Ryle became the shadow of a man Lily despised but loved simultaneously: a man who abuses his wife.
Despite suffering from emotional abuse as a child and physical abuse in her marriage, Lily did not give up.
Instead, she fought tooth and nail to keep going, moving forward, and swimming.
Hoover emphasized that you must break a pattern before it breaks you, no matter how difficult the choice. That’s exactly what Lily did. When she held her daughter for the first time, she broke the cycle of domestic abuse and decided:
“It stops here. With you and me. It ends with us.”
Did Colleen Hoover Do Justice to Domestic Violence Survivors?
“It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover captivated readers in unexpected ways.
This is a powerful, personal, and heartbreaking story of how even strong women can become victims of domestic violence.
It is a love story that depicts the tragedies of an abusive marriage and the love, purity, and joy that it harbors.
Hoover crafted Ryle’s character in such a way that we initially loved him but eventually despised him and felt sorry for him. Ryle was a sweet, kind, and humble gentleman who was not the best when he was at his worst.
In Ryle’s famous words,
“There is no such thing as bad people. We are all just people who sometimes do bad things.”
This novel was not only a work of fiction and romance, but it was also a true story about Ms. Hoover’s mother, who had been physically abused by her first husband when she was young.
According to the NCIPC, women first experience violence from their intimate partners between the ages of 18 and 24.
Hoover handled domestic violence so delicately that readers could resonate with Lily and her choices, both good and bad.
Who are the characters of “It Ends With Us”?
They are ordinary people with their own stories living lives that are circling around the abusive relationships of the main heroes. If you want to recall the names, here’s the full list of “It Ends With Us”? characters:
- Lily Bloom — main protagonist.
- Andrew Bloom — her father.
- Jenny Bloom — her mother.
- Mrs. Burleson — her neighbor.
- Atlas Corrigan — her first Love.
- Lucy — Lily’s roommate and co-worker.
- Alex —Lucy’s boyfriend.
- Devin — Lily’s co-worker.
- Serena – Lily’s employee.
- Ryle Kincaid — Lily’s husband
- Emerson Kincaid — Ryle’s older brother.
- Emmy Kincaid — Lily and Ryle’s daughter.
- Mr. Kincaid — Ryle’s father.
- Mrs. Kincaid — Ryle’s mother.
- Allysa — Lily’s best friend, Ryle’s sister. Rylee’s mother.
- Marshall —Allysa’s husband and Rylee’s father.
- Rylee — Marshall and Allysa’s daughter.
- Brad —Atlas’ friend.
- Darin— Atlas’ friend.
- Jimmy — Atlas’ friend.
- Katie Bratty — bus girl from Lily’s childhood.
The Final Thoughts
“It Ends With Us” is a must-read for anyone who has ever been in an abusive relationship, is currently in one or wants to understand the difficulties domestic abuse victims face in breaking free.
It should be enjoyed by anyone who appreciates intense, emotional, and all-consuming reads. This novel is worth everyone’s time, from the first word to the very last.
If we have convinced you that you should not put off reading this book, go ahead and order your copy from Amazon right now.
Once you get acquainted with Colleen Hoover’s writing style, you’ll probably crave similar readings, but we get your back covered here. Check out the list of authors like CoHo and enjoy their writings.
FAQs
Is there going to be a sequel to “It Ends With Us”?
Yes, “It Starts With Us” will be released in October 2022 and will center on Atlas Corrigan.
What is the second book in the “It Ends WIth Us” series?
“It Starts With Us” is the second book in the “It Ends With Us” series, though it is not yet published.
Is there a movie based on “It Ends With Us?”
A movie adaptation is a work in progress at the moment. The first draft of the screenplay was completed in September 2021.
The cast, however, has yet to be announced. And we can’t wait until the release.
What to read after “It Ends With Us”?
If you are searching for something like this, we have compiled a list of books similar to “It Ends With Us” that you will definitely enjoy!
Is “It Ends With Us” suitable for teens?
Colleen Hoover writes YA books, so some sources say “It Ends with Us” age rating is 14+. However, we would not recommend this reading to anyone under 18 due to the abusive content scenes.