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A review by anneliesadriaens
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
1.5
While I think it’s extremely important to write a book on the topic of domestic abuse, I feel like the execution was poor. The note from the author explains in great detail her vision for the book, but the writing of it fell flat. The book is filled with unnecessary details and I didn’t think the writing was captivating or brought the characters to life. There are too many weird spicy scenes that remind me of Wattpad fiction I read when I was fourteen. I am also weirded out by the large role Ellen DeGeneres plays in this book. A lot of the plot felt too convenient (come on, Lily Blossom Bloom opens a flower shop called Lily Bloom’s???)
Except for Alyssa and Lily’s mom, none of the characters are likeable. Hoover describes Lily as “caring, intelligent and strong” but I found her constant criticism of her mother and her roommate and her neglect of Alyssa’s struggles not caring at all. I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I really feel like she’s not someone I would want to be friends with. I felt like they really needed to work more on her character, I really wanted this story to tear me apart but through the weak writing style and character building, I just couldn’t.
I gravely worry about how this book will affect young girls, as it stays very surface level about the subtility of domestic abuse and it is marketed as a romance novel. I think by mirroring the situation of Hoovers mother, the book does not adequately represent the reality of domestic abuse (often a lack of support system, financial control, psychological manipulation) and I think this does not spread the awareness we would want it to spread. I feel like the non fiction books I’ve read on the topic were more emotional, sincere and carefully written than this
Except for Alyssa and Lily’s mom, none of the characters are likeable. Hoover describes Lily as “caring, intelligent and strong” but I found her constant criticism of her mother and her roommate and her neglect of Alyssa’s struggles not caring at all. I tried to give her the benefit of the doubt, but I really feel like she’s not someone I would want to be friends with. I felt like they really needed to work more on her character, I really wanted this story to tear me apart but through the weak writing style and character building, I just couldn’t.
I gravely worry about how this book will affect young girls, as it stays very surface level about the subtility of domestic abuse and it is marketed as a romance novel. I think by mirroring the situation of Hoovers mother, the book does not adequately represent the reality of domestic abuse (often a lack of support system, financial control, psychological manipulation) and I think this does not spread the awareness we would want it to spread. I feel like the non fiction books I’ve read on the topic were more emotional, sincere and carefully written than this