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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.
*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.
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
pixie94's review against another edition
dark
emotional
tense
medium-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? N/A
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Suicide attempt, Alcohol, Blood, Injury/Injury detail, Rape, Toxic relationship, Violence, Death of parent, Gun violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, and Suicidal thoughts
aribookishly's review against another edition
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? Yes
0.25
This book does not glorify abuse but not only is it terribly written and glorifies a 14-19 age gap but all of her other books romanticize abuse and i do not want to support her.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Violence
Moderate: Sexual violence
Minor: Adult/minor relationship
cammielawton's review against another edition
dark
emotional
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
3.75
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence and Domestic abuse
marietheresle's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, and Violence
bookishlucy's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
hopeful
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
I've heard a lot about this book and Colleen Hoover online. Not much of it was good. I've heard people say this book romanticizes abuse and I couldn't disagree more. This book shows the complicated, messy, confusing, and ugly things victims go through. It shows the reality of abuse. Ryle didn't start out abusive, the first time he hurt her he apologized and he had an explanation for why and the book still made it very clear that none of that justified him ever laying hands on Lily.
I think this was a very raw and grueling portrayal, and I think Lily handled it the best she could. I was so scared for her at the end but so proudwhen she decided to leave Ryle.
The time skips in between chapters was a bit discombobulating at the beginning of the book. We were already going back to when Lily was 15 through her diary entries. So having months pass in between each chapter in the present was a bit much. But when the diary entries were over it was less of a whirl-wind to read.
I've seen people criticize the fact that Lily wrote to Ellen DeGeneres in her diary, and while I agree it was cringe, Lily was also 15 at the time. I actually think Colleen did a good job at writing a 15-year-old. Teenagers are cringe sometimes, and a lot of authors are scared to go there, which results in characters that feel way too mature for their age. In her diary, Lily felt like a 15-year-old who was going through shit no kid should have to go through.
Reading Colleen's note at the end, about her own father makes me sad. The fact that people online say this book romanticizes any of Ryle's actions is so far from true and is not at all what Colleen tried to do with this book. This is not a case of a book being badly written. It was so clear to me!
These situations are always complex and victims aren't perfect. They don't leave at the right times, sometimes they don't leave at all. I think Colleen Hoover did a great job of portraying the complex emotions someone can go through in these kinds of situations. I just wish media literacy wasn't dead so other people might understand and feel more compassion for what victims of DV go through.
I highly recommend this book but obviously, check the trigger warnings first!
(Also, I do think it's wild she tried to make adult coloring books for this book series! And the fact she actually brought out a nail polish line, after the backlash about the coloring books, is even more wild. I don't think it's appropriate and marketing this book as a romance is also not appropriate. For those reasons, I'm not going to be buying any of Colleen's other books myself unless they're second-hand. But I will probably be checking out more of her works.)
I think this was a very raw and grueling portrayal, and I think Lily handled it the best she could. I was so scared for her at the end but so proud
The time skips in between chapters was a bit discombobulating at the beginning of the book. We were already going back to when Lily was 15 through her diary entries. So having months pass in between each chapter in the present was a bit much. But when the diary entries were over it was less of a whirl-wind to read.
I've seen people criticize the fact that Lily wrote to Ellen DeGeneres in her diary, and while I agree it was cringe, Lily was also 15 at the time. I actually think Colleen did a good job at writing a 15-year-old. Teenagers are cringe sometimes, and a lot of authors are scared to go there, which results in characters that feel way too mature for their age. In her diary, Lily felt like a 15-year-old who was going through shit no kid should have to go through.
Reading Colleen's note at the end, about her own father makes me sad. The fact that people online say this book romanticizes any of Ryle's actions is so far from true and is not at all what Colleen tried to do with this book. This is not a case of a book being badly written. It was so clear to me!
These situations are always complex and victims aren't perfect. They don't leave at the right times, sometimes they don't leave at all. I think Colleen Hoover did a great job of portraying the complex emotions someone can go through in these kinds of situations. I just wish media literacy wasn't dead so other people might understand and feel more compassion for what victims of DV go through.
I highly recommend this book but obviously, check the trigger warnings first!
(Also, I do think it's wild she tried to make adult coloring books for this book series! And the fact she actually brought out a nail polish line, after the backlash about the coloring books, is even more wild. I don't think it's appropriate and marketing this book as a romance is also not appropriate. For those reasons, I'm not going to be buying any of Colleen's other books myself unless they're second-hand. But I will probably be checking out more of her works.)
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual content, Domestic abuse, and Violence
Moderate: Child death, Death of parent, Pregnancy, Rape, and Sexual violence
Minor: Gun violence
jenrenjoh's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
sad
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? Yes
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Violence, and Sexual violence
kaylee_kale's review against another edition
1.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Pregnancy, Sexual content, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Misogyny, Toxic relationship, Violence, Domestic abuse, Medical trauma, Medical content, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
lindsaymc74's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.75
Not usually a fan of Colleen Hoover books but this one I enjoyed. Except for Ellen. You know who you are Ellen.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Injury/Injury detail, Medical trauma, Sexual harassment, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Toxic relationship, and Sexual violence
kay_nutt's review against another edition
emotional
informative
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
This wasn’t a great read, but I do appreciate the message and the way in which Hoover’s personal experience with her own parents dictated the scenes and plot lines that she so desperately wanted to remove from the story as she fell in love with her own characters. I think this is a relatable and insightful read for anyone who has experienced domestic abuse or has relationships with people who have.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse and Violence