{"id":366,"date":"2022-10-28T07:32:33","date_gmt":"2022-10-28T07:32:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dialoguebooks.org\/?p=366"},"modified":"2023-07-03T15:57:38","modified_gmt":"2023-07-03T15:57:38","slug":"it-ends-with-us-book-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dialoguebooks.org\/it-ends-with-us-book-review\/","title":{"rendered":"It Ends With Us Book Review"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

American author Colleen Hoover has made her mark in the young adult fiction and new-adult fiction scene. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With multiple novels and novellas under her belt, Hoover quickly became a New York Times bestselling author, and It Ends With Us is just one book in her arsenal that\u2019s caused quite a stir – in the best way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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If you\u2019re thinking of giving this story a place on your bookshelf, allow us to walk you through our complete, in-depth review of this riveting and emotional tale that\u2019s bound to leave you feeling sad, elated, and hungry for more, all at once.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It Ends With Us: Synopsis <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Colleen Hoover’s novel It Ends With Us tells the story of protagonist Lily Bloom, a college student who moves to Boston after her graduation to pursue her own flower business. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Soon after she moves, Lily falls in love with accomplished surgeon Ryle Kincaid, who initially doesn\u2019t appear as keen to explore the relationship as Lily is. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ryle lives up to every preconception we have of surgeons – equally charming and arrogant and of course, pretty damn rich. In Ryle, Lily finds someone she sees a future with; however, navigating their relationship isn\u2019t easy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Their dynamic throws up memories of Lily\u2019s first love, Atlas; when they first met, Atlas was going through a tumultuous series of events, and Lily was his rock and confidant. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

As the memories resurface, Atlas also decides to reappear in Lily\u2019s life – suddenly, her certainty about her feelings for Ryle is bought into question, as she finds herself torn between the two. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It Ends With Us: Key Themes <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

However, this contemporary romance novel is far more complex than its synopsis reveals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

While It Ends With Us is all things you\u2019d expect from a heart-wrenching romance novel (bold, assertive, personal, and sometimes overwhelming), it also explores far more than love, betrayal, and confusion (Also check out Best Erotic Romance Novels<\/a>). <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It Ends With Us is a fragmented, damaged love story that will love you feeling raw and ripped open. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hoover explores subject areas like emotional abuse and domestic violence – while these can be notoriously tricky areas to write about, Hoover manages to pull it off with respect and care. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hoover has her own personal history with these themes, which may be why It Ends With Us feels, at points, painfully personal. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

She\u2019s also confessed that it was the hardest book she\u2019s ever written, and when you explore the depth and passion of these complex matters, it\u2019s easy to see why.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although she\u2019s had her own personal experiences with these themes, It Ends With Us is by no means autobiographical or filled with personal anecdotes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although Hoover has had her own tricky past, this is a relief – her characters go through a real whirlwind of events that, I think we can all agree, no one should have to endure. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Heart-Wrenching In The Best Way <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

When purchasing this book, many young adults who were already familiar with the synopsis felt pretty nervous. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It Ends With Us gained plenty of popularity on Tiktok and Instagram when it was released, with thousands of users flocking to the platforms to share their thoughts. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It was a mixture of excitement and sadness, but one overwhelming emotion underpinned them all: heart-wrenching, in the best way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Although this novel is a bit of a slow-burn, our protagonist Lily Bloom (aged 23), will relate to young women in this novel’s target audience. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, her life experiences may not resonate with everyone, but at some point or another, we have all seen the world through Lily\u2019s lens of confusion, love, and pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For readers who have lived through manipulation or emotional abuse, even if not at the hands of a partner, Lily’s experiences are even more profound. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

With such dark themes running seamlessly through the novel, it\u2019s safe to say that no reader should go into this expecting a romance novel. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Sure, Lily falls in love, and \u2018love\u2019 is discussed throughout the book, but in this portrayal, love is toxic, suffocating, and all-consuming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s a multi-dimensional experience of elation and heartache that concludes in a gut-wrenching but very necessary way. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Exploration Of Domestic Violence (And Spoilers) <\/strong><\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Hoover\u2019s exploration of domestic violence is one thing that made this novel so popular. Let\u2019s be clear – this was NOT because this novel romanticized abuse. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Instead, it approached it with care, respect, and a realistic outlook that undoubtedly struck a chord with domestic abuse survivors. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

We;re going to touch briefly on how Hoover explored domestic violence in her novel, but this will require discussing a few spoilers. If you haven\u2019t finished the book, look away now\u2026 <\/p>\n\n\n