A review by coleeflower
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

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

1.5

I had never read a book by Colleen Hoover before, but this was so hyped by everyone at work that I had to check it out. Well, apparently we have very different tastes. At one point, i had to flip to the end to find out if she leaves him because if she didn't this was gonna be a big fat DNF. Once I got back to the ending, i do admit that i appreciated it and the fact that the author was actually trying to say something about domestic violence. But personally, it didn't make up for the way it previously felt like it was romanticizing DV. 

Ryle immediately gave me the ick because he was so coercive from literally the moment he met her. It didn't come off as assertive or dominant - just nasty. I dunno, maybe it hit a little too close to home for me but I hated him so much. 

At different parts of the book, i had trouble suspending the disbelief for the plot. Like, you get an immediate-hire employee your first day you open your business and she also becomes your best friend (then sister in law and also neighbor)? Stuff like this can be fun, but i need to be convinced sometimes I guess. I have a hard time describing what I mean by this, though, or what makes it so unbelievable sometimes. 

And every time they said, "naked truth," i wanted to vom. 

If it weren't for the ending and for Atlas, i would've given this one star. But it taught me i like a partner indecision trope, for whatever that's worth. </Spoiler>
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