Reviews tagging 'Sexism'

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

35 reviews

reesespuff6's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful informative reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse

Moderate: Sexual violence, Blood, Child death, Sexism, Misogyny, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, Violence, Alcohol, Cursing, Medical content, Sexual content, Death, Death of parent, Grief, Gun violence, and Physical abuse

lizziaha's review against another edition

• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

1.5

I thought that this depiction of domestic abuse was dangerous. While it cast an illuminating light on domestic abuse, and attempted to add nuance to a situation that many outside of the situation cannot understand, it also failed to fully put the blame on the abuser. In this book, Ryle, the domestic abuser, explains his bouts of anger as an uncontrollable bursts of emotion during which he essentially blacks out and loses control of himself, and says this is the result of a traumatic event that happened to him. Lily (our main character and the woman who Ryle abuses) wonders, with sympathy, how it must feel to not be able to control your emotions. She says that “it’s not Ryle” in instances when he is abusive and says “Ryle is back” when he becomes apologetic for his actions. This “condition” removes some of the accountability from Ryle, as it perpetuates the idea that he is not the one who is actually abusing Lily. Part of understanding the complexity of abusers is acknowledging that the same person who does good things can also do very bad things, and all those things are wrapped up into one person who deserves to be held accountable for all of those things, regardless of their reasoning or their apologies or their attempts for redemption or their relapses. I also wish that the author had focused more on the emotional aspects of Ryle’s abuse in addition to his physical attacks. He proves to be very controlling and possessive, a common occurrence in abusive situations and one that can be just as dangerous as physical attacks. Lily does not really acknowledge these aspects or how they contribute to the abusive environment. In addition to this potentially damaging depiction of domestic abuse, I thought that the author displayed some prominent biases and prejudice in the way that she handled homelessness, body image, and sexism. (I was particularly affronted by Marshall and Allysa laughing cruelly at the “whore”/“floozy” who had consensually kissed Marshall before Allysa and him had even gotten together. wtf???) 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, and Sexual violence

Moderate: Rape

Minor: Infertility, Alcohol, Fatphobia, Death of parent, and Sexism

meganpbennett's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad fast-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

2.0

After hearing so much about this book - both good and bad - I decided to give it a try. I don't think I like it. The writing was decent, but the plot was contrived and the characters didn't really pull it off. It's also very much not a romance novel, though I'm not sure what genre it fits in. Perhaps Relationship fiction (there's a really big difference!), perhaps literacy fiction, perhaps just fiction. 

At it's heart, it's about abusive relationships. Two of them: our main pair and her parents. That's the important thing to know going in. The title comes from the very last line in the main part of the book, when she finally does what's best for her. 

Ryle was shown to have a very traumatic backstory, but that doesn't excuse how he treats her. Or calling her a drug, which makes a very unfortunate comparison to another series. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, Cursing, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Rape, Violence, Sexual content, Physical abuse, and Sexism

celina_2604's review against another edition

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

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

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual harassment, Toxic relationship, Violence, Sexual assault, Suicidal thoughts, Rape, Gaslighting, Hate crime, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual violence, Bullying, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, and Sexism

Moderate: Addiction

Minor: Pregnancy, Stalking, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

genlynn's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.0

A solid read. A book you will be reflecting on after you read it.  At first I really didn't like this book. The writing is sub, par. But as I kept reading I realized Colleen Hoover has a very string and distinctive voice which actually adds to Lily's journal like thought progression. The story itself is very deep . She writes the characters very well, the relationships are with level of depth to them I quite enjoyed.  However there was WAY TOO MYCH GRAPHIC SEX. I understand why she did this to contrast the honeymoon and abuse phases of the book but Colleen we get it he's good with his hands.
In summary, not the best book use read but  definitely not the worst. An ok book that makes you think. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual violence, Rape, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexism

brynalexa's review against another edition

emotional sad tense fast-paced

• 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

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Grief, Emotional abuse, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, Violence, Alcoholism, Child abuse, Gaslighting, and Sexism

Don’t read it.

akumi's review against another edition

emotional fast-paced

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

1.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Physical abuse, Abandonment, Grief, Fire/Fire injury, Murder, Panic attacks/disorders, Child abuse, Death of parent, Infertility, Medical content, Pregnancy, Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Body shaming, Domestic abuse, Pedophilia, Stalking, Toxic relationship, Gaslighting, Gun violence, Misogyny, Sexism, Sexual assault, Emotional abuse, and Rape

livruther's review against another edition

dark sad tense medium-paced

• 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

2.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Rape, Sexual violence, Abandonment, Grief, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Sexism, Sexual assault, Suicide, Gaslighting, Infertility, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Medical trauma, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Pregnancy, and Violence

Moderate: Alcohol, Alcoholism, and Vomit

issibelle's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

Wow wow wow. A beautiful book and a beautiful story. It really touched on some important topics. So many important topics, actually. A massively gripping plot & the way it’s written is so engaging yet not overpowering, which I love. Loved it & will be ready again.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child death, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Rape, Death, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, and Toxic relationship

lisrae's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Toxic relationship, Pregnancy, and Emotional abuse

Moderate: Sexism and Sexual violence