Reviews tagging 'Death'

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

398 reviews

taliatalksbooks's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

Firstly—I’m well aware that Hoover’s work is debated due to the graphic nature of her stories. However, I do my best to read books that are heavily debated/discussed regardless of how I feel about an author. I think leaving our comfort zones allows us to contribute meaningfully to popular discussions, especially with books. 

*PLEASE NOTE: Due to the content warnings above, this review will contain some spoilers. There is no way to talk about the content of this book without revealing some details*

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover is filled with heavy topics boiled down to their rawest form. We are placed inside the head of a victim, and I think this book accurately depicts the way abusive relationships can manipulate anyone’s mind, even someone who is guarded against it. For me, I particularly liked Alysa’s character, because I felt like her hands were tied due to her relationships, but she still did her best to honor those complicated feelings from different perspectives. The novel progresses in a way that feels true to life, because it depicts multifaceted emotions from different angles. We get to see significant character growth and complicated plot lines that feel true to life (because life is messy and unpredictable), but also, a look at a brighter future. I think that stories surrounding abusive relationships can be really hard to read and digest, and reading the complicated back and forth Lily has in her own head was hard as a reader. Psychologically though, these complicated emotions can be true for victims. I know one of the big critiques of this novel is that it seems to glorify the relationship between Ryle and Lily, but I actually don’t think it does. It breaks down the psychological component of abuse and allows us to see Lily work through them with lots of support. That being said, the depictions are graphic and troubling, so I wouldn’t recommend this book to anyone who would find the content triggering. Overall, I think this book addresses the cycle of abuse well, and how the cycle needs to be broken.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Sexual assault, Sexual content, Rape, Pregnancy, Drug use, Medical content, Emotional abuse, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

rnbhargava's review against another edition

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

• 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

3.5

Is it the greatest writing? No, it isn’t. However, the characters are well rounded and the storyline is propulsive. Frankly, I think I’ll read the sequel too. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Blood, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Murder, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Mental illness, Rape, Child abuse, Gun violence, Sexual content, Sexual violence, Bullying, Death, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Medical content, Alcohol, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Grief, Medical trauma, Sexism, and Sexual assault

This whole book is ultimately about domestic violence and why one wouldn’t give up on the other person immediately. Keep that in mind.

sstewart89's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Alcohol, Blood, Emotional abuse, Grief, Sexual assault, Death, Child death, Pregnancy, Rape, Death of parent, and Domestic abuse

taylorp98's review against another edition

emotional reflective sad tense fast-paced

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

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicidal thoughts, Sexual violence, Death of parent, Blood, Violence, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Gun violence, Gaslighting, Mental illness, Pregnancy, Child death, and Death

moon2001's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide attempt, Death, Sexual assault, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Medical content, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual violence, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Cursing, Grief, Infertility, Rape, Sexual content, Sexual harassment, Suicide, Suicidal thoughts, and Violence

kiwichill's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional 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

4.0

This book is a very realistic portrayal of domestic violence and the reasons so many people stay with their abuser.  

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Violence, Infidelity, Death, Death of parent, Stalking, Misogyny, Sexual violence, Alcoholism, Blood, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Suicidal thoughts, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Rape, Sexual content, Alcohol, Pregnancy, Sexual assault, Medical content, Child death, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, and Vomit

Domestic violence portrayed graphically

sweetcass20's review against another edition

emotional inspiring tense fast-paced

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

5.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Death of parent, Death, and Grief

nija0118's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective sad 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? Yes

4.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Pregnancy, Death, Death of parent, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Sexual assault

peckreadsbooks's review against another edition

medium-paced

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

Vowed to read 1 CoHo book in ifs entirety to affirm the suspicion that it wasn't for me. Worst thing I've ever read. Predictable and problematic with an air of trying desperately to "educate" readers. Also the mc is a florist who is called lily bloom.... eye roll. Mentioning the ridiculousness of that name in the book doesn't make it less ridiculous that its in the book. Nah. Nope. Not for me. Do not get the hype at all.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child death, Panic attacks/disorders, Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Sexual assault, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Violence, Stalking, Rape, Sexual violence, Death, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Suicidal thoughts, Pregnancy, Misogyny, Gaslighting, Death of parent, and Bullying

The biggest content warning in this book belongs to the content it self. Just awful.

booklover_f0r3vrr's review against another edition

emotional sad fast-paced

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

Book is about a man kinda bringing a woman down. I personally hated it

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Death, Cursing, Bullying, and Blood