You need to sign in or sign up before continuing.
Take a photo of a barcode or cover
3.9 AVERAGE
3.9 AVERAGE
You can stop swimming now, Lily. We finally reached the shore.
My heart has been ripped out of my chest and just keeps getting squeezed.
I was captivated, I could barely put the book down.
My naked truth, this book should not be considered a romance. The underlying message of the story is deeper than that. Lily’s development from resenting and wondering why her mother simply won’t leave, to her understanding her mother’s actions speaks volumes, in my opinion. Often, like stated, it’s easier to say what you would do in a similar situation if you haven’t experienced it. Sometimes, in your mind, the good unfortunately outweighs the bad. Your thoughts are consumed with hope that maybe they will change, that the situation isn’t as bad as you think, and everything will be fine. It won’t be, and it never will be. From the abuse, gaslight, and grand apologetic gestures, this story covers it all.
Of course Atlas was the one who was made out to be the hero. We read from Lily’s perspective, and he was the only one to know the true extent of her past, what she witnessed of her parent’s abusive marriage. He was her comfort, and dare I say knight in shining armor in those moments. Cliché, but they were eachother’s saviors. He made her feel like she wasn’t completely alone in those dark moments, although their origin story was unfortunate.
I sympathize with Lily; her mind constantly swinging from “my life is the best” to “how can it get any worse.” In the end, I’m glad to see she was strong enough to break the cycle that so many others do not have the strength to.
Best said from page 321, “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 the love. If there was no love attached to the action, the pain would be a little easier to bear.”
And, unfortunately, sometimes that same love you have for them hurts worse than all of the resentment and hatred you also carry.
I was captivated, I could barely put the book down.
My naked truth, this book should not be considered a romance. The underlying message of the story is deeper than that. Lily’s development from resenting and wondering why her mother simply won’t leave, to her understanding her mother’s actions speaks volumes, in my opinion. Often, like stated, it’s easier to say what you would do in a similar situation if you haven’t experienced it. Sometimes, in your mind, the good unfortunately outweighs the bad. Your thoughts are consumed with hope that maybe they will change, that the situation isn’t as bad as you think, and everything will be fine. It won’t be, and it never will be. From the abuse, gaslight, and grand apologetic gestures, this story covers it all.
Of course Atlas was the one who was made out to be the hero. We read from Lily’s perspective, and he was the only one to know the true extent of her past, what she witnessed of her parent’s abusive marriage. He was her comfort, and dare I say knight in shining armor in those moments. Cliché, but they were eachother’s saviors. He made her feel like she wasn’t completely alone in those dark moments, although their origin story was unfortunate.
I sympathize with Lily; her mind constantly swinging from “my life is the best” to “how can it get any worse.” In the end, I’m glad to see she was strong enough to break the cycle that so many others do not have the strength to.
Best said from page 321, “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 the love. If there was no love attached to the action, the pain would be a little easier to bear.”
And, unfortunately, sometimes that same love you have for them hurts worse than all of the resentment and hatred you also carry.
The book was good, but I feel like it was pretty predictable.
I loved this. I've loved every other Colleen Hoover book that I've read. This was no different. It was such a different but same feeling I get with her books. I love the main character and cry a lot too.
"Life is a funny thing. We only get so many years to live it, so we have to do everything we can to make sure those years are as full as they can he. We shouldn't waste time on things that might happen someday, or maybe even never."
Lily lives a hard life. She didn't deserve it. The hard part is seeing that each of the characters in the story have a hard life. Lily. Ryle. Atlas. Each have had a hard struggle in their lives. Oh and so happy that it takes place in Boston, my homeland!
"Imagine all the people you meet in your life. There are so many. They come in like waves, trickling in and out with the tide. Some waves are much bigger and make more of an impact than others. Sometimes the waves being with them things from see in the bottom of the sea and they leave those things tossed onto the shore. Imprints against the grains of sand that prove the waves has once been there, long after the tide recedes."
I love the idea of Lily's letters to Ellen. I love that she writes everything she feels in those letters and is honest about everything. I love the idea behind her and Ryle's naked truths. These are ways that even though there's so much feelings running through, it allows you to say whatever you are feeling at that moment.
Personally, I love Atlas. He's got a weird name but I love it. I love that he finds himself over the years instead of just the homeless boy. I don't know how I feel about Ryle. He had his good, but he for sure had his bad. I'm glad with her overall decision so much though. The entire scene at the end before the epilogue, though tears for days oh my god.
"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."
Oh and that epilogue though, AW YAY!
Remember people, "just keep swimming".
"Life is a funny thing. We only get so many years to live it, so we have to do everything we can to make sure those years are as full as they can he. We shouldn't waste time on things that might happen someday, or maybe even never."
Lily lives a hard life. She didn't deserve it. The hard part is seeing that each of the characters in the story have a hard life. Lily. Ryle. Atlas. Each have had a hard struggle in their lives. Oh and so happy that it takes place in Boston, my homeland!
"Imagine all the people you meet in your life. There are so many. They come in like waves, trickling in and out with the tide. Some waves are much bigger and make more of an impact than others. Sometimes the waves being with them things from see in the bottom of the sea and they leave those things tossed onto the shore. Imprints against the grains of sand that prove the waves has once been there, long after the tide recedes."
I love the idea of Lily's letters to Ellen. I love that she writes everything she feels in those letters and is honest about everything. I love the idea behind her and Ryle's naked truths. These are ways that even though there's so much feelings running through, it allows you to say whatever you are feeling at that moment.
Personally, I love Atlas. He's got a weird name but I love it. I love that he finds himself over the years instead of just the homeless boy. I don't know how I feel about Ryle. He had his good, but he for sure had his bad. I'm glad with her overall decision so much though. The entire scene at the end before the epilogue, though tears for days oh my god.
"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."
Oh and that epilogue though, AW YAY!
Remember people, "just keep swimming".
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Complicated
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
2.5 stars
Gahh. I’ve been debating if I was gonna write a review for it or not.
Will say that on my second reading I hated the book slightly less so I gave it an extra .5 stars.
I guess I didn’t like it at first because it wasn’t what tiktok made it out to be (which isn’t the fault of the book)
But main reasons why I hated it
- the main character was creepily into Ellen
- the dialogue wasn’t natural. Lots of the conversations were stiff
- some jokes were the worst. Ie. Someone says “blasphemous whore” and then everyone kept repeating the word and that was the whole joke
- (spoiler) the “good guy” was an 18 year old that was waiting for his girlfriends 16th birthday to have sex. It was not at all necessary to have the age gap so large.
- (big spoiler) the main character broke up with her abusive partner with her brand spanking new baby in the room when his main character trait was blacking out and hurting people. Great she made that decision, no reason to endanger her child like that
Gahh. I’ve been debating if I was gonna write a review for it or not.
Will say that on my second reading I hated the book slightly less so I gave it an extra .5 stars.
Spoiler
I guess I didn’t like it at first because it wasn’t what tiktok made it out to be (which isn’t the fault of the book)
But main reasons why I hated it
- the main character was creepily into Ellen
- the dialogue wasn’t natural. Lots of the conversations were stiff
- some jokes were the worst. Ie. Someone says “blasphemous whore” and then everyone kept repeating the word and that was the whole joke
- (spoiler) the “good guy” was an 18 year old that was waiting for his girlfriends 16th birthday to have sex. It was not at all necessary to have the age gap so large.
- (big spoiler) the main character broke up with her abusive partner with her brand spanking new baby in the room when his main character trait was blacking out and hurting people. Great she made that decision, no reason to endanger her child like that
challenging
emotional
sad
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse
I really liked the ending of this book and I can understand why people wanted a book from Atlas’ perspective. Parts of this book felt pretty choppy to me but it came together nicely at the end. I think/hope the movie will do a good job of showing some of the things I had questions about while reading.
challenging
emotional
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I challenged myself to see if I would like this book. I knew nothing about the plot, just that a film was made loosely around the story and it had its own internal drama.
Turned out at different parts I loved it and hated it. Finishing by loving it.
I was brought up in a household of DV and until I read the authors own story it got to me. Obviously the storyline had everyone successful and loaded, it was hard to relate at times as we were working class with next to nothing growing up.
I am a wife and a mother with an amazing life and I say because of my upbringing and what I witnessed that my daughter is also a survivor of DV, she heals me so much and she doesn't even know. Today I got to hug my mum a little harder and longer. I wish things were different for her. No woman deserves it, no child deserves it, no one deserves.
........ I just know I'm going to hate that film now.
Turned out at different parts I loved it and hated it. Finishing by loving it.
I was brought up in a household of DV and until I read the authors own story it got to me. Obviously the storyline had everyone successful and loaded, it was hard to relate at times as we were working class with next to nothing growing up.
I am a wife and a mother with an amazing life and I say because of my upbringing and what I witnessed that my daughter is also a survivor of DV, she heals me so much and she doesn't even know. Today I got to hug my mum a little harder and longer. I wish things were different for her. No woman deserves it, no child deserves it, no one deserves.
........ I just know I'm going to hate that film now.
I went into it without knowing what it's really about aside from it being extremely popular. I was surprised by how likeable the characters were, especially Alyssa. She's not a main character but I enjoyed her character so much and how good of a friend she was to Lily despite being Ryle's sister. The fact that it's based on the author's mom's experience with domestic abuse made it so much more impactful and sheds light on how domestic abuse isn't as black and white as what most people think.
Between this book and A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (which I'm currently taking a break from), I definitely need something light.
Between this book and A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara (which I'm currently taking a break from), I definitely need something light.