It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover: Book Review

As hesitant as I was to read this book, at the end of the day, I'm glad I did. Although the book deals with the central theme of domestic abuse, reading it really does put the reader into the book and into the shoes of the main character in hopes that the reader can understand the main character and her decisions. I'll be going through some things I liked about this book and some things I didn't. Spoilers ahead, you've been warned!

Pros of It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Lily's Letters

I found the premise strange at first that the main character, Lily, writes in her journal in the style of letters to Ellen DeGeneres, but it really grew on me. I found it creative and more life-like when Ellen was mentioned as well as her TV show, Finding Nemo, etc. Lily's letters varied from funny to sad to downright depressing, but throughout her writing, she wrote to Ellen as if she was writing to a friend. It was sweet in the sense that that was Lily's way of feeling not so alone, but it was also kind of sad that she felt she couldn't talk to anyone so she'd written instead to someone who couldn't write back.

Atlas Corrigan

The whole character of Atlas grew on me VERY quickly. He's caring, understanding, gracious, protective, and just wants the best for Lily; he knew at a young age that at that time, he wasn't the best for her. He's selfless, gladly taking on the wrath of Ryle Kincaid - more about him later - as well as letting Lily stay at his place when she needs it. Not only is he successful in his professional life, but he has a well-rounded group of friends, a lovely home and a warm heart to top it all off; he was the main reason I kept reading because he was so likeable. As Atlas grew and developed emotionally, he proves himself to be the right man all along.

Lily and Atlas

Although Atlas and Lily hadn't seen each other in a long time, their concern and affection towards each other never dwindled, and that to me is something more or less realistic for readers to relate to. They left each other abruptly as teenagers, so their unresolved feelings for each other are understandable. Now that they're older, mature and more or less stable in who they are, they can now love each other as adults more passionately and responsibly than when they were teenagers...but there's just a big roadblock in the way, naturally.

Cons of It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Ryle Kincaid

Okay, so anyone who's read the book (even if you haven't, this book's entire premise has been spoiled on social media) knows that Ryle is something of an anti-hero. He's central to the plot of the story alongside Lily, and for the first half of the book, I'd say, he's a dreamy neurosurgeon who's stolen Lily's heart. Then the other foot drops. Ryle begins demonstrating similar behaviour toward Lily that her father showed to her mother, and she finds herself constantly forgiving Ryle and making excuses for him, just like her mother did for her father. Ryle gives an explanation to Lily as to why he is the way that he is, and it just angered me even more; there is absolutely no excuse for what he's done yet he tries to cop out anyway. Colleen Hoover does a great job at putting the reader in Lily's shoes, defending and excusing what Ryle does because he was so great at the beginning of the book, that, we as readers, fall for him too. He's jealous of Lily's past, which happens to be Atlas, and that seems to spur his domestic abuse of Lily.

Although I didn't love this book with all my heart, I didn't hate it either; I'd give it 3.5/5 stars. I would reread it again, it's small enough of a read that I can finish it without difficulty although it does get heavier as the book progresses. Definitely read with caution.

Have you read It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover, or are you planning to? Let's have a chat here in the comments or send me a message on Instagram, @melissa_dia and @cozyannotations

A presto,

Melissa