Reviews with content warning for Death - It Ends with Us

Lily has just given her eulogy for her father and returned back home to Boston where she first meets Ryle and ends up in a mixed affair with him. However, an old love starts to appear as well through Lily and Ryle's relationship together.

I did not enjoy this book at all. It goes under a false genre by calling it romance when a good majority of the book is on the topic of abuse. Especially Lily being abused by Ryle. I get the premise by showing awareness on what abuse in relationships is like, but it seems like a false narrative when the author has the book cover super colorful and calls it romance.

Content Warnings

Graphic: Physical abuse and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Cursing, Sexual assault, Blood, Emotional abuse, Pregnancy, and Alcohol

Minor: Child abuse, Infertility, Death, and Death of parent

I heard a good bit about Colleen Hoover’s novels to know I did not want to read them, but my book club chose the book and I decided to put my judgment aside to read this book. Lily had just finished her eulogy at her father’s funeral when she went back to Boston where she is finishing up school and is thinking about starting a business. While sitting on a ledge, thinking about death in general. While thinking about these events, Ryle makes his entrance by throwing a huge tantrum, scaring Lily before finally managing to talk to him where they chat and Ryle talks about how he is upset with death. Lily sees him as a charming individual. However, just while talking Ryle decides that he is going to try to seduce her. Lily doesn’t want to go any farther into what was going on and tries to back away which Ryle lets her but is a cocky dick saying that she’ll end up regretting it. After that they go their separate ways and Lily buys a building for her to become a florist. Just as she buys the building, she meets a woman named Allysa who wants to help her design her business. Even though Lily doesn’t have any money, Allysa admits that she is bored and just wants something to do during the day and thinks Lily’s business would be the best for her to pass the time. Lily decides to allow Allysa to be her somewhat business partner. When Lily and Allysa finish designing the shop, they have their grand opening and the very first person to appear was Ryle. Shocked, Lily and Ryle decide it was their first time meeting but it sparks something between the two. They constantly are trying to see each other and Ryle is constantly trying to get with her. Finally Lily gives in to Ryle and they sleep together. Even though Ryle wanted to keep it a one night stand, Ryle ends up trying to hook up with Lily multiple times until finally they decide to start dating. At first it goes really well between the two, that is until the abuse starts to happen. Ryle ends up burning his hands from pulling something hot out of the oven and when she laughs because of the pure shock, he smashes her face for laughing. Honestly, the abuse scenes were rough and it did get worse from there. Atlas, the true star of this entire book, notices when she walks into the restaurant (for the second time, the first time she was shocked and wanted to get with him but he told her he had a girlfriend) and Atlas is obviously pissed off about it. The abuse scenes were rough to get through and there were a lot of time skips where she would say it was getting better and then it would get worse. Allysa ends up having a kid and because of that Lily and Ryle decide to get married. After getting married, this was the final straw for Lily. Lily ended up getting an award for being an amateur business and is excited. When she comes home Ryle tells her to read the review for Atlas’s restaurant and afterwards begins to accuse her of cheating for having Atlas’s phone number, a magnet from him, and how she still kept the journals that reminded her of Atlas. After getting her face smashed by Ryle she calls Atlas to bring her to the hospital where she finds out she’s pregnant and then stays with Atlas until she’s ready to go back home. Ryle goes on a business trip and Lily is given time to think. While thinking, she finally gives birth to their daughter and demands that they get a divorce so that their daughter never has to witness him as a bad person. After a year she meets Atlas again and it leads to the second book. This book was awful. It was rough to get through the abuse scenes and I felt like Lily, knowing what an abusive relationship was like because of her mom, continued to be with Ryle. Atlas cares so much and honestly he was probably the best character. Ryle was a dick through their entire relationship because he couldn’t handle just talking about how he felt, instead he abused Lily and then made excuses. Lily should never have had anything of Atlas if she truly believed she was in love with Ryle, but at the same time I understand it was because of the sentimental value. I work at a bookstore and I can’t tell you how many young girls that are still teenagers have picked up this book and even old women who are in their 60s. I do not recommend this book. Those who love this book and think Colleen Hoover is easy to read might have some problems because yes I read this fast but it was not an easy read. It was dark and disgusting to even think this was labeled as a romance. This is a fictional book to show awareness. It shouldn’t be colorful and labeled as a romance novel.

ana12's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad 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

5.0

Content Warnings

word_ishh's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional sad fast-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

5.0

If I say that I loved it then are people gonna hate me? Well, Cause I seriously did! I'm head over heals for this book. I wonder why would someone even hate such a masterpiece. Cause like girl, This book has such a great story that it kept me curious all the time, I read it in 2 sittings and when I was not reading it, I couldn't get it Outta my head and kept thinking about what would happen next and all.
Talking about Lily, Lily's character is controversial, she isn't a bad person but I think she should have told Ryle about the magnet, journals and everything by herself in the starting only, Ryle has been really understanding with her since the beginning but the only issue was the physical pain he gave to Lily and which I would say is totally WRONG. You can't always blame your syndrome or whatever for your bad deeds, you need to correct yourself too. Ryle did love Lily and it could be seen in every piece of the book but whatever Lily did and left him at end was totally right thing to do. I loved Lily's mom, she was so supportive towards Lily, like she made her understand that if Ryle really loved Lily, he would leave her for her sake only and he did that too. I was sad , heartbroken but he couldn't take back any damage he had given to Lily.
Now, Talking about Atlas, There wasn't much part of Atlas and Lily of present time but from the past time , I can say only one thing, I L.O.V.E. Him. He left Lily and made his life better, not just for him but for Lily too. He came back to find her just like he had promised but..he saw her kissing her ex and thought she was happy so he shouldn't ruin her happiness. I mean what else qualities do you want in a man? Even after years, he couldn't get over Ellen's Show which he used to watch with Lily..He's a keeper girl. Hate me if you want but I'll say I love him <3.
Now, Last but not the least, my one of the most favourite characters, Lily's Bestfriend and Ryles' sister Alyssa, Her statement that as Ryle's sister she wishes Lily forgives him but as her bestfriend she wishes she never goes back to him or else she won't talk to her, literally won my heart. Lily seriously got the best bestfriend one could ever get.
Loved this book. A perfect 5 stars.

Content Warnings

annaofjesup's review against another edition

Go to review page

tense fast-paced

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

2.0

Content Warnings

l_piller's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful 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? Yes

3.75

Content Warnings

cassie_amberger's review against another edition

Go to review page

challenging hopeful inspiring reflective sad fast-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

Content Warnings

spootilious's review against another edition

Go to review page

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.

Content Warnings

More...