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crojo_t_bks's review against another edition
But I also want to know, who thought that these books were the best ones out there? Maybe it’s just my mood, maybe Colleen Hoover’s books aren’t for me. Either way, this is another book of the contemporary romance genre that was published between 2016 and 2023, so the last 7 years, that has just felt like a flop or more accurately, not interesting enough to keep me reading. I am only 21 pages in. And again, like I mentioned for another book I’ve DNF’d in the last month, why are authors pushing for 400+ pages?
If someone can convince me to read this book, without spoilers, then I’ll continue it. But honestly, cannot see why so many people love this book.
Moderate: Domestic abuse, Suicide, and Drug use
lynini's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Rape, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Sexual assault, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
Minor: Alcoholism, Drug use, Bullying, and Death of parent
james1star's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
- I didn’t like how Atlas was made to be 18 and Lily 15 during their relationship, there were already things stopping them being together but this illegal fact was just unnecessary. Why can’t Colleen just write one healthy relationship?!
- The pregnancy… eh I dunno about it really, I was shocked reading it but was a little disappointed. How Ryle then acts after finding out this news was so disgusting, caring so much more for the baby then his wife - women are not baby-making machines!
- Devin was written as another gay stereotype. Why? I’ve only read ‘November 9’ but that too included a gay generalisation that just unnecessary, especially contemporary fiction. Devin is overly sexual in touching Lily and making remarks. No need for it.
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship
Moderate: Rape, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Sexual content, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence
Minor: Cancer, Pregnancy, Classism, Death, Drug use, and Panic attacks/disorders
daisymagnolia's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
0.25
Moderate: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, and Violence
Minor: Cancer, Mental illness, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Abandonment, Physical abuse, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Child death, Gun violence, Rape, Death, Death of parent, Drug use, Suicidal thoughts, Blood, and Sexual violence
mbrewer714's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual violence, and Domestic abuse
Moderate: Alcohol
Minor: Drug use
lakshita64's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Physical abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Toxic relationship, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Death of parent
Moderate: Blood and Cancer
Minor: Drug use
silumoorelovestoread06's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
1.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, and Rape
Moderate: Alcohol, Gun violence, Infertility, and Drug use
j_fis12's review
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Physical abuse
Moderate: Alcohol, Child death, Rape, Suicide attempt, and Death of parent
Minor: Drug use
kelly_e's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Author: Colleen Hoover
Series: It Ends with Us #1
Genre: Romance
Rating: 3.75
Pub Date: August 2, 2016
T H R E E • W O R D S
Gritty • Emotional • Powerful
📖 S Y N O P S I S
Lily has had to work hard in order to get where she is today, leaving her small town and upbringing tainted by a toxic environment behind for big city life. Ryle is a brilliant neurosurgeon, with a dose of arrogance, a very busy schedule, and a firm no dating rule. After a chance encounter one night, Lily cannot get Ryle off her mind, despite them having very little in common. When life throws them together a second time, they cannot ignore the chemistry, and it all seems too good to be true.
As Lily starts to question Ryle's behaviour, her first love, Atlas, a boy she's never forgotten helping as a teenager walks back into her life threatening absolutely everything.
💭 T H O U G H T S
I'll start out my saying, that I personally wouldn't classify this as a romance novel. For me it's more of a dark contemporary fiction that explores various forms of love. It isn't light nor is it fluffy. What it is, is difficult to read and a realistic portrait of the heartbreaking reality faced by many in abusive relationships. It's a portrayal of how hard it is to break the cycle. Of how despite the violence and abuse, love can still exist. Of how easy it is for people to judge when they are on the outside looking in. The novel is beautiful and it is ugly, and it shines a light that abusive relationships are not black and white. I appreciated the author's note detailing the reason why she wrote this book and her deep personal connection to the content.
Colleen's writing is really good. She drew me into the story from the very beginning and I didn't want to stop reading. The characters were captivating, whether they were good or bad, and for me that's the power of great character development. I appreciated the letters Lily wrote to Ellen. To me this felt like a type of journal in which Lily shared her deepest secrets and desires, and gave insight into her past that I wouldn't have gotten otherwise. I also really liked the floral shop backdrop. And I loved how Lily grew to understand and have empathy for her mother. I also appreciated Alysa and Marshall as key support for Lily.
In my opinion, Colleen Hoover has done something important with this book. If nothing else than to show people they are not alone.
📚 R E C O M M E N D • T O
• CoHo devotees
• readers who enjoyed Love and Other Words
⚠️ CW: death, death of parent, child death, grief, emotional abuse, domestic abuse, physical abuse, sexual assault, sexual harassment, violence, sexual violence, gun violence, alcohol, alcoholism, drug use, cursing, sexual content, rape, toxic relationship, mental illness, PTSD, homelessness, suicide, infertility, pregnancy, gaslighting, child abuse, injury/injury detail, blood, suicidal thoughts
🔖 F A V O U R I T E • Q U O T E S
"There is no such thing as bad people. We’re all just people who sometimes do bad things."
"Plants reward you based on the amount of love you show them. If you’re cruel to them or neglect them, they give you nothing. But if you care for them and love them the right way, they reward you with gifts in the form of vegetables or fruits or flowers."
"Most plants do need a lot of care to survive. But some things, like trees, are strong enough to do it by just relying on themselves and nobody else."
"Maybe love isn't something that comes full circle. It just ebbs and flowers, in and out, just like the people in our lives."
Graphic: Addiction, Alcohol, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Rape, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Sexual harassment
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Death of parent, Drug use, Gun violence, Infertility, Mental illness, Suicidal thoughts, Death, Gaslighting, Suicide, and Blood
Minor: Child death and Grief
PTSD, homelessnessscarlettoliver's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault
Moderate: Death of parent, Rape, Violence, Blood, Cursing, Gaslighting, and Death
Minor: Emotional abuse, Adult/minor relationship, Drug use, Injury/Injury detail, Self harm, Suicidal thoughts, and Grief