A review by avu_writes
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

emotional hopeful inspiring reflective 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

5.0

“Just because we didn’t end up on the same wave, doesn’t mean we aren’t still a part of the same ocean.”

I cried so. many. tears. I went into this story blind with nothing but reading the synopsis & some praise from other readers. the entire book had me in a trance. I laughed, cried, squealed, frowned, the whole spectrum of emotions.

 I very much got Wattpad vibes but don’t exactly know how to explain why. it’s probably the cheesy romance scenes that left me feeling like a 13-year-old reading a Wattpad fanfic about an arrogant, charming, and flirty playboy & a passive female main character with an “I can fix him” mindset (which, by the way, was not true because Lily proved to be so strong, or as her mother would say, brave & bold), but I’m certainly not complaining. I’ve heard some people say that Colleen’s books are just too dramatic for their liking, but my teenage heart swoons for novels like these. 

 spoilers!!!:
 
the topic on domestic abuse was handled so beautifully. & the author note!!! it gave me closure while absolutely ripping my heart in two. throughout the story, you fall in love with Ryle (an ill-tempered man who means well) & I found myself agreeing with Lily to forgive him. as the story progresses, it hurts to watch someone you love mold into someone you should hate. once I grasped the main idea, I figured the phrase “it ends with us” would be about Lily & Ryle… until he failed to be a lover, a protector, & a husband. then, I thought it’d be about Lily & Atlas (who were never stable enough to be together). but the most heartbreaking scene was when Lily asked Ryle if he’d allow their daughter to go through the same mistreatment. then, Lily held their baby in her arms & promised that it ends with them. the abuse ends with her & this baby. let’s just say, my pillow was thoroughly soaked.

I’m so glad Lily & Atlas had a happy ending! I understand that you can’t train the heart to sit, so Lily needed time to get her shit together. the epilogue was everything I needed to know that they still held the same chemistry from when they were teenagers. it makes me so happy.

~ ★★★★★ (5)

soundtrack: 
♬ taylor swift - the way I loved you 
♬ taylor swift - my tears ricochet 
♬ grace vanderwaal - waste my time 
♬ taylor swift, bon iver - exile 
♬ olivia rodrigo - 1 step forward, 3 steps back 
♬ taylor swift - all too well (10 min. version) 
 
“it’s always one step forward, 
three steps back. 
& I’d leave you, 
but the rollercoaster is all I’ve ever had.” ♡
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