A review by kayteacup
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

dark emotional hopeful sad tense fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? N/A
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

I hated this book! HATE! I spent the first 100 pages wondering why it was talked about so much. I judged people for liking her love interest right off the bat because I found him to be such a walking red flag. He had me until page 20, and he never recovered. I barely had a chance to know Lily before her entertaining this guy tainted my opinion of her. For that reason, the first 100 pages were hard for me to get through. Thankfully there was Atlas. 

The following 100 pages I read out of spite. I needed to finish this book, so I could have all my facts before I challenge someone on why they liked it. When I was in college, I had a creative writing teacher once say that even hating something is a sign of good creative work. She said, you know what’s worse than hating something, feeling nothing about a piece. I didn’t feel nothing. It’s that reasoning that kept me going. Colleen is a wonderful writer. I know you’ve heard that before, no doubt, but this was my first crack at her work, so this had to be learned. Since I found myself unable to attach myself to Lily, I found my attachments in the little Macguffin’s that were placed throughout the book (Boston, rooftops, Ellen, magnets, a tattoo, etc.) 

For the remainder of the book, though I was gutted multiple times, everything surely came together. Finally, I began rooting for Lily and coming to terms with the fact that not everything is black & white. I cried more than I laughed. But I closed the book so in aw. Colleen did so very right by her mother and the many women that can relate to Lily. 

I hope the forthcoming movie does this book justice. I can’t believe I’m rating a book I hated 4.5 stars.
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