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skym13 's review for:
It Ends with Us
by Colleen Hoover
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Complicated
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
This book is worth the read. However don’t go in thinking it’s a romance book because it is definitely not. It’s a story about realistic characters in raw and heartbreaking situations where you find yourself empathizing with each character regardless of their faults. It’s a story about domestic abuse and how your trauma throughout life stays with you but doesn’t have to define you. PLEASE READ THE TRIGGER WARNINGS.
<Spoilers below>
The reason I didn’t rate this book above 5 stars is because I feel like Ryle did not get appropriate consequences to his actions. With how badly he beat lily and tried to rape her, I feel he doesn’t deserve a relationship with his daughter for at least a little bit longer. I understand lily’s hesitation with divorcing him, it’s a realistic story, however I feel he didn’t get enough punishment. I also feel Alyssa’s reaction was not as extreme as it should be. The first time he got physical with lily and his sister was saying to hear him out it made more sense bc she didn’t know the extent however sexual assault? Biting her?! I just can’t believe everyone else in their lives was okay with him being around his daughter and they all seemed to forgive him almost immediately. While I do like how likable they made Ryle and how Hoover made him complex instead of a “true villain” because that’s how life works, I just think the other characters should have been angrier with him for longer.
Also the Ellen thing was cringy and put me out of the story a bit
<Spoilers>
<Spoilers below>
The reason I didn’t rate this book above 5 stars is because I feel like Ryle did not get appropriate consequences to his actions. With how badly he beat lily and tried to rape her, I feel he doesn’t deserve a relationship with his daughter for at least a little bit longer. I understand lily’s hesitation with divorcing him, it’s a realistic story, however I feel he didn’t get enough punishment. I also feel Alyssa’s reaction was not as extreme as it should be. The first time he got physical with lily and his sister was saying to hear him out it made more sense bc she didn’t know the extent however sexual assault? Biting her?! I just can’t believe everyone else in their lives was okay with him being around his daughter and they all seemed to forgive him almost immediately. While I do like how likable they made Ryle and how Hoover made him complex instead of a “true villain” because that’s how life works, I just think the other characters should have been angrier with him for longer.
Also the Ellen thing was cringy and put me out of the story a bit
<Spoilers>
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Sexual assault, Toxic relationship, Violence
Moderate: Child abuse, Child death, Gore, Gun violence, Rape, Blood, Grief, Medical trauma, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Injury/Injury detail
Minor: Cursing, Mental illness, Sexual violence, Suicidal thoughts, Medical content