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A review by manda_reads
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
challenging
dark
emotional
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
4.75
Lilly Bloom has just lost her father and has a distant relationship with her mother. On the night of her dad's funeral, she meets Ryle Kincaid. They start conversing on the roof of his apartment building. The conversation begins lightly but quickly turns much deeper. Lilly shares that her father was abusive towards her mother. Ryle shares his piece of trauma that he witnessed that night while he was working as a doctor. Lilly and Ryle's night abruptly ends when Ryle gets an urgent call. Once back at her apartment, Lilly finds her old letters to Ellen DeGeneres, where we learn more of Lilly's backstory. The details include that she befriended Atlas, who was a homeless classmate. We then time jump in the current timeline to six months later when Lilly is opening her floral shop. Lilly sees Ryle again when she hurts her ankle.
Lilly and Ryle have a slightly forceful interaction as Ryle pleads with her for sex and then falls asleep. They engage in activities after Ryle upsets her at his sister's birthday party. In the letters to Ellen, we find out that Lilly's father was abusive towards her as well. Back in the present timeline Lilly and Ryle are testing out their relationship. They go to dinner with her mother, where her past and present collide as Atlas is the owner/chef. In the past timeline, Lilly and Atlas hang out every day after school and he stays on her bedroom floor at night. Lilly's father attempted to rape her mother. Atlas leaves for his uncle's house in Boston. In the present, Lilly hosts an opening event at the floral shop. Ryle's sister is pregnant after a while of infertility. Ryle and Lilly are officially boyfriend and girlfriend. Lilly and Ryle's relationship takes a volatile and abusive turn. They go back to the restaurant where they ate with her mother. Atlas discovers that Lilly is being abused and beats up Ryle. In the past, on her sixteenth birthday, Lilly's dad finds Atlas in her room with her. Chaos ensues and Lilly's dad beats him up badly. Lilly is meeting Ryle's parents when Ryle and Lilly decide to elope.
Shortly after they are married, they get into a heated argument over Lilly secretly having Atlas' phone number when Ryle's abuse of Lilly worsens. A shocking twist is revealed in chapter 20 about Ryle's childhood. Everything is in a lull period as Ryle's sister gives birth to a baby girl named Rylee. Soon after Ryle and Lilly get in their most brutal fight yet and he rapes her. Surprise surprise it all stems from Ryle's jealousy over Atlas. When she goes to the hospital, she is told she is pregnant. After she takes some time for herself and gives birth to a baby girl Emerson, she makes a choice about her marriage. Lilly decides to divorce Ryle finally breaking the cycle of abuse. Overall, this book is a twisty ride. I love Atlas among other characters and can't wait to read the second book. Sorry for divulging a lot of the book's details. I was trying to keep track of everything because this book has a lot to absorb. I am curious to see how this book will translate into the movie. This Colleen Hoover reading experience was devastatingly beautiful. I was really happy with the epilogue as it sets the stage for the next book
Lilly and Ryle have a slightly forceful interaction as Ryle pleads with her for sex and then falls asleep. They engage in activities after Ryle upsets her at his sister's birthday party. In the letters to Ellen, we find out that Lilly's father was abusive towards her as well. Back in the present timeline Lilly and Ryle are testing out their relationship. They go to dinner with her mother, where her past and present collide as Atlas is the owner/chef. In the past timeline, Lilly and Atlas hang out every day after school and he stays on her bedroom floor at night. Lilly's father attempted to rape her mother. Atlas leaves for his uncle's house in Boston. In the present, Lilly hosts an opening event at the floral shop. Ryle's sister is pregnant after a while of infertility. Ryle and Lilly are officially boyfriend and girlfriend. Lilly and Ryle's relationship takes a volatile and abusive turn. They go back to the restaurant where they ate with her mother. Atlas discovers that Lilly is being abused and beats up Ryle. In the past, on her sixteenth birthday, Lilly's dad finds Atlas in her room with her. Chaos ensues and Lilly's dad beats him up badly. Lilly is meeting Ryle's parents when Ryle and Lilly decide to elope.
Shortly after they are married, they get into a heated argument over Lilly secretly having Atlas' phone number when Ryle's abuse of Lilly worsens. A shocking twist is revealed in chapter 20 about Ryle's childhood. Everything is in a lull period as Ryle's sister gives birth to a baby girl named Rylee. Soon after Ryle and Lilly get in their most brutal fight yet and he rapes her. Surprise surprise it all stems from Ryle's jealousy over Atlas. When she goes to the hospital, she is told she is pregnant. After she takes some time for herself and gives birth to a baby girl Emerson, she makes a choice about her marriage. Lilly decides to divorce Ryle finally breaking the cycle of abuse. Overall, this book is a twisty ride. I love Atlas among other characters and can't wait to read the second book. Sorry for divulging a lot of the book's details. I was trying to keep track of everything because this book has a lot to absorb. I am curious to see how this book will translate into the movie. This Colleen Hoover reading experience was devastatingly beautiful. I was really happy with the epilogue as it sets the stage for the next book
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Rape
Moderate: Sexual assault, Death of parent, and Pregnancy
Minor: Child death and Suicidal thoughts