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A review by mhinnen
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
3.0
I read this because there seemed to be some buzz about the movie and I thought I would read the book first. The only other book I've read by Colleen Hoover is Verity which I loved. I knew this would not be the same kind of domestic thriller. Based on the book description, I thought it would be a good end-of-summer romance about a love triangle. And that's what it seems to be as Lily meets the handsome Ryle (who set off so many red flags for me). We learn her backstory through journaling/letters she wrote to Ellen DeGeneres (instead of dear Diary) when she was in high school. Her dad is a prominent community leader who violently and regularly attacks Lily's mom. Teenage Lily was involved in a codependent romantic relationship with a homeless teen.
The current story is about her love saga with Ryle and at the core of their relationship is physical abuse. It Ends with Us is a story of the emotional abuse that too often traps women in cycles of abusive relationships. And yet, it is a light read because so much of it is focused on the passion and the extreme ways that Ryle shows his "love" (red flag obsessions). Still, the emotional roller coaster for Lily feels real. There are times that Ryle would show up and my stomach clenches anticipating what might set him off (even if it ended in a loving gesture instead). And oh my goodness when I realize how young she is, my heart just aches for her.
In this story, Lily has resources. She has maintained financial independence. She has a network of support. Because it is such an important topic, I wish the author had focused a little on the resources available for women who are isolated. I also know it was written from CoHo's very personal experience which gave it a specific perspective. But this could have been a model for an even healthier outcome. Lily could have gone to therapy. Ryle could have been required to undergo therapy and anger management. He committed a violent crime and will likely do it again to someone else if not Lily.
Perhaps if I was more prepared for what I was about to read, I would have gotten more out of the book. Either way, throwing Atlas in the mix as a current romantic tension/codependency was unnecessary. Will I read the sequel? probably not. Will I see the movie? Maybe . . .
The current story is about her love saga with Ryle and at the core of their relationship is physical abuse. It Ends with Us is a story of the emotional abuse that too often traps women in cycles of abusive relationships. And yet, it is a light read because so much of it is focused on the passion and the extreme ways that Ryle shows his "love" (red flag obsessions). Still, the emotional roller coaster for Lily feels real. There are times that Ryle would show up and my stomach clenches anticipating what might set him off (even if it ended in a loving gesture instead). And oh my goodness when I realize how young she is, my heart just aches for her.
In this story, Lily has resources. She has maintained financial independence. She has a network of support. Because it is such an important topic, I wish the author had focused a little on the resources available for women who are isolated. I also know it was written from CoHo's very personal experience which gave it a specific perspective. But this could have been a model for an even healthier outcome. Lily could have gone to therapy. Ryle could have been required to undergo therapy and anger management. He committed a violent crime and will likely do it again to someone else if not Lily.
Perhaps if I was more prepared for what I was about to read, I would have gotten more out of the book. Either way, throwing Atlas in the mix as a current romantic tension/codependency was unnecessary. Will I read the sequel? probably not. Will I see the movie? Maybe . . .