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A review by labbyreads
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
adventurous
emotional
hopeful
reflective
fast-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
1.0
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It's extremely rare for me to give a one-star rating, but this book definitely deserves it. Colleen Hoover's "It Ends With Us" is supposed to be a romance novel, but it ended up being a big disappointment.
The story follows Lily Bloom, trapped in a marriage just like the one she criticized her mother for staying in.
Hoover tries to make us question our views on abusive relationships through Lily's character. At the beginning, Lily resents her mother for enduring an abusive marriage, but when she herself becomes a victim, she starts to empathize with her mother. However, instead of seeking guidance and support from her mother in this difficult situation, Lily stubbornly tries to handle it on her own. This decision infuriated me as a reader.
I have to admit, though, that Hoover skillfully portrays the complexity of abusive relationships. Lily must grapple with the conflicting emotions and resentments she holds towards her mother. It's not as simple as just leaving; Lily realizes it's a complicated and heartbreaking process. Hoover challenges assumptions about why women stay in abusive relationships through her characters.
Unfortunately, the characters in this book fell flat for me. The sudden transformation of Ryle from a dreamy character to an abusive husband lacked depth and reasoning. The plot relied too heavily on unrealistic tropes. Overall, I didn't enjoy this book and found it difficult to relate to the characters.
It's extremely rare for me to give a one-star rating, but this book definitely deserves it. Colleen Hoover's "It Ends With Us" is supposed to be a romance novel, but it ended up being a big disappointment.
The story follows Lily Bloom, trapped in a marriage just like the one she criticized her mother for staying in.
Hoover tries to make us question our views on abusive relationships through Lily's character. At the beginning, Lily resents her mother for enduring an abusive marriage, but when she herself becomes a victim, she starts to empathize with her mother. However, instead of seeking guidance and support from her mother in this difficult situation, Lily stubbornly tries to handle it on her own. This decision infuriated me as a reader.
I have to admit, though, that Hoover skillfully portrays the complexity of abusive relationships. Lily must grapple with the conflicting emotions and resentments she holds towards her mother. It's not as simple as just leaving; Lily realizes it's a complicated and heartbreaking process. Hoover challenges assumptions about why women stay in abusive relationships through her characters.
Unfortunately, the characters in this book fell flat for me. The sudden transformation of Ryle from a dreamy character to an abusive husband lacked depth and reasoning. The plot relied too heavily on unrealistic tropes. Overall, I didn't enjoy this book and found it difficult to relate to the characters.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexual assault, Sexual content, Domestic abuse, and Rape