Reviews tagging 'Mental illness'

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

218 reviews

nikki9a8's review

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Sexual assault, Panic attacks/disorders, Emotional abuse, Rape, Medical trauma, Suicide attempt, Mental illness, Abandonment, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse

bixmer613's review against another edition

dark emotional informative lighthearted reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Rape, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Death of parent and Violence

Minor: Pregnancy, Mental illness, Medical content, Alcohol, and Cursing

jerica's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional informative sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

First I want to say that I don't know if or when I will read the next book in this series. It's not because I didn't like this book. On the contrary, it has made me feel all of the things to the point that I'm struggling to process it and I don't know if I'll be ready to get back on the rollercoaster any time soon. I feel seen, heartbroken, hopeful, triggered, and inspired. For the first time in years, maybe longer, I feel like I've found a book that does it all. It even managed to surprise me a little, which is not a simple feat.

Somehow, I thought this book was going to be nothing more than a cutesy love story. Despite the shattered glass flower on the cover, the somewhat ominous title, and a hint of turmoil in the description, I thought this book would be fluffy. Maybe it's because the masses love it, and I often avoid things that the masses love because they are usually surface-level and disappointing. I digress. 

Part of me wishes I read reviews and sought content warnings before reading. More of me is thankful I didn't. If I knew that this book contained domestic violence and rape I probably wouldn't have read it. But here we are. I couldn't stop reading it. The writing is compelling, the storyline has many layers, and the characters are fairly complex. They feel like real people. People I know or have known. 

This book is important. It breaks down the cycle of abuse in many ways and shows it from different perspectives. It is so descriptive and well written that I think even those who are lucky enough to have not experienced these things will be able to understand some of their complexities. This author is probably the only one I have read that provides such an accurate glimpse of what it's like to live in a violent home. Love vs. hate. Hope vs. fear. The ripple effect. The lies and manipulation. The shame and guilt or sometimes lack thereof. The excuses. The attempts at repair. The brokenness. The fact that it's not as simple as just leaving. The fact that people who endure abuse aren't weak, but rather they are immeasurably strong. They often not only face abuse from a loved one or loved ones, but also face consistent disbelief, misunderstanding, and judgment from others. 

Please remember that you never truly know what is going on in someone else's life. You don't know what demons they fight behind closed doors or in their minds. No matter how close you are to someone, everyone has secrets. Everyone has pain. Everyone suffers. Be kind. Exude love and light. Help others when you can. Ask for and accept help when you need it. The only way out is through, and no one should have to go through alone. 

Here is my content warning. If you are not feeling mentally healthy, please wait to read this book; it isn't going anywhere. I have come a long way on my healing journey, but I still experienced anxiety, physical illness, nightmares, flashbacks, and dissociation that seemed to be directly related to reading this.  Clearly I was meant to read it at this time in my life, and I think I know why, but now I need to focus on self care again and continue healing everything that this book stirred up for me. If you do choose to read now, be mindful along the way. Think about what you're reading. Feel the feelings. Learn, grow, and know that you are worthy of happiness and healthy love, not only from others but from yourself.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Grief, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual violence, Blood, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Violence

skyes_bookofbooks's review against another edition

challenging emotional tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual assault

Moderate: Death

Minor: Mental illness

caitlin_123a's review against another edition

dark emotional informative sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Rape, Violence, Domestic abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, Gun violence, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Death of parent, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Self harm, and Abandonment

pamelasoto's review against another edition

dark emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Sexual assault, and Child death

Moderate: Adult/minor relationship, Mental illness, Gun violence, Blood, and Cursing

Minor: Alcohol and Cancer

katelynndzindzio's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring mysterious reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Death of parent, Grief, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Violence

velvetreads_'s review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? N/A
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Pregnancy, Child abuse, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual violence, Mental illness, Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Rape, Sexual assault, and Toxic relationship

spootilious's review against another edition

dark 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

2.0

 

Read: May 7, 2023
 Title: It Ends With Us
 Series: It Ends With Us #1
 Author: Colleen Hoover
 Genre: Romance, Fiction, New Adult
 Rating: 2/5
 Review: 

I wanted to love this book. I wanted to love this author, so much!!! I have a family member that I care for deeply that adores her… But as it turns out… I really REALLY don’t. 

I can understand that I am not the target audience for Hoover’s books. The writing style is pretty simplistic and to be honest a bit… immature? I’m not sure if that’s the right word, but if you cut out the sex scenes, I wouldn’t be surprised to find this in the young adult section. (Which there’s nothing wrong with. I love a good YA). 

Then again… The sheer amount of trigger warnings this book needs would probably get it banned immediately if it were YA. I even made a comment about halfway through the book about needing a trigger warning bingo card for it. 

*spoilers* 

All of that aside, the storyline was something straight out of a season of Days of our Lives only darker with more excuses (and before anyone comes at me, I’ve been where Lily was at minus the pregnancy). That paired with the unrealistic ages of the characters, and the horrific cliches makes this a hard no for me. 

That being said, I get why Hoover has her fan base and why others like her which is why I have not rated this novel lower than what it is and I feel as if other of her books probably aren’t as bad as I believe this one is. She is not a terrible writer she simply is not for me. 

 

 

 Quotes: 

N/A 


 

TW: Abandonment, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual Content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, Violence, Vomit. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Vomit, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Child abuse, Child death, Classism, Cursing, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Gore, Grief, Gun violence, Medical content, Mental illness, Miscarriage, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Suicide, Torture, Toxic relationship, and Violence

melioranima's review against another edition

dark emotional sad medium-paced

• 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

2.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, Infertility, Domestic abuse, Alcohol, Suicide, Panic attacks/disorders, Death of parent, Mental illness, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Rape, Sexual violence, Toxic relationship, and Violence