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A review by thebiglittlelibrary
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
5.0
5 ⭐ F*CK YOU Colleen Hoover
. . . for taking me on this beautiful, raw, heartbreaking journey that tore my soul apart and loosely stitched it back together by the end.
Trigger Warning (18+): This story features scenes with domestic abuse and sexual assault. There's also brief conversations about suicide.
This book has changed and moved me in ways I can hardly begin to articulate.
Not only was this my first CoHo book, but I also went in blind, so I was unprepared for this emotional rollercoaster. It's truly one of the most raw, honest, inspiring, and profoundly beautiful stories I've ever read. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this.
I wholeheartedly believe that everyone (men and women) over the age of eighteen should read this book. There are some powerful messages woven throughout the story that teach the reader many valuable things about life, love, and strength.
Let's talk specifics:
This story addresses heavy topics that should be more openly discussed. Worldwide, almost one-third (27%) of women aged 15-49 years who have been in a relationship report that they have been subjected to some form of physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner. Domestic abuse and sexual assault may be uncomfortable topics to talk about, but if these issues aren't brought to light, how can we expect anything to change. I'm so proud of Colleen Hoover for writing this story - based on her and her mother's experience - and honored to be able to read it.
*Please be sure to read the author's note when you finish the epilogue. But not before since it will contain spoilers.*
Lily is one of the strongest female characters I've ever read about. And no, not in the cheesy superpowers kind of way, but mentally and emotionally. Lily grew up in a home with domestic abuse, and yet, she still has so much love in her heart and a willingness to be vulnerable. And when she ends up finding herself in a similar situation as an adult, she is strong enough to make some heartbreakingly difficult decisions. Yes, Lily struggles as any person would, but her determination, conviction, strength, and understanding are what make her the kind of person I want to be when I grow up. I admire her so much and can only hope her story provides strength to others in her situation.
Writing this from Lily's POV made the story even more powerful. Because this is written in the first-person narrative, we experience everything Lily does. When she falls in love, we fall in love. When she experiences pain, we experience pain. When she struggles, we struggle. I promise you will feel many things: happiness, love, anticipation, rage, horror, shock, sadness, loneliness, loss, and so much more. Colleen Hoover, you are an evil genius, and I say genius because not every author can do this well.
The journal entries were a unique and beautiful way to explore Lily's past. When I read the first journal entry, I rolled my eyes. I mean, it's addressed to Ellen Degeneres, and the whole concept seemed silly. But as we read more entries, I started to appreciate and look forward to the next one. It was the perfect way for us to get to know Lily as a teenager and truly understand her difficult situation at home as well as her first experience with falling in love.
Atlas . . . the nicest fictional male character I've ever read about. I love this man. From the beginning, he is so thoughtful, sweet, and kind. He always puts Lily first and is just so grateful for her friendship. Every time I read about him in her diary, my heart wanted to explode. I mean, why couldn't I have met a perfect, cute homeless boy back in high school? lol
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
Ryle . . . my heart hurts for him. Okay, don't get mad at me for feeling sorry for him, but I mean, come on. It's tragic what happened to Ryle as a child. Plus, it's painful to see how much he loves Lily but how incapable he is of controlling his actions. It broke my heart the same way it broke Lily's hearing him sound so apologetic after every incident. How can 99% of Ryle be perfect, and then this 1% completely ruins everything? I'm NOT excusing anything Ryle does, but I can't help but see his story as tragic. He is destined to go through life alone (which he doesn't want) or as a domestic abuser (which he doesn't want). It's just sad.
"There is no such thing as bad people. We're all just people who sometimes do bad things." This is such an important message to understand. We like to place people in boxes because it makes things simple, but the world isn't black and white. There are no heroes or villains, no good guys or bad guys. We are just people who do good things and bad things. This is a major theme throughout It Ends With Us and hopefully has you questioning your own beliefs.
Allysa and Lily's friendship is absolute goals. I love their dynamic and how they support each other. When sh*t hits the fan in Lily's relationship, I thought Allysa would side with her brother Ryle, but instead, she surprised me:
"As his sister, I wish more than anything that you could find a way to forgive him. But as your best friend, I have to tell you that if you take him back, I will never speak to you again."
That is what real friendship looks like.
Favorite Quotes:
"There is no such thing as bad people. We're all just people who sometimes do bad things."
-----------------------------
"We're just alike . . . Plants and humans. Plants need to be loved the right way in order to survive. So do humans. We rely on our parents from birth to love us enough to keep us alive. And if our parents show us the right kind of love, we turn out as better humans overall."
-----------------------------
Somehow the only thing that eases the hurt just caused by this man is this man. My tears are soothed by his sorrow, my emotions soothed with his mouth against mine, his hand gripping me like he never wants to let go.
-----------------------------
Maybe love isn't something that comes full circle. It just ebbs and flows, in and out, just like the people in our lives.
-----------------------------
Fifteen seconds. That’s all it takes to completely change everything about a person. Fifteen seconds that we'll never get back.
-----------------------------
"You're my wife. I'm supposed to be the one who protects you from the monsters. I'm not supposed to be one."
-----------------------------
Life is a funny thing. We only get so many years to live it, so we have to do everything we can to make sure those years are as full as they can be. We shouldn't waste time on things that might happen someday, or maybe even never.
-----------------------------
Cycles exist because they are excruciating to break. It takes an astronomical amount of pain and courage to disrupt a familiar pattern. Sometimes it seems easier to just keep running in the same familiar circles, rather than facing the fear of jumping and possibly not landing on your feet.
-----------------------------
"It stops here. With me and you. It ends with us."
-----------------------------
"You can stop swimming now, Lily. We finally reached the shore."
-----------------------------
. . . for taking me on this beautiful, raw, heartbreaking journey that tore my soul apart and loosely stitched it back together by the end.
Trigger Warning (18+): This story features scenes with domestic abuse and sexual assault. There's also brief conversations about suicide.
This book has changed and moved me in ways I can hardly begin to articulate.
Not only was this my first CoHo book, but I also went in blind, so I was unprepared for this emotional rollercoaster. It's truly one of the most raw, honest, inspiring, and profoundly beautiful stories I've ever read. I don't know what I was expecting, but it wasn't this.
I wholeheartedly believe that everyone (men and women) over the age of eighteen should read this book. There are some powerful messages woven throughout the story that teach the reader many valuable things about life, love, and strength.
Let's talk specifics:
This story addresses heavy topics that should be more openly discussed. Worldwide, almost one-third (27%) of women aged 15-49 years who have been in a relationship report that they have been subjected to some form of physical and/or sexual violence by their intimate partner. Domestic abuse and sexual assault may be uncomfortable topics to talk about, but if these issues aren't brought to light, how can we expect anything to change. I'm so proud of Colleen Hoover for writing this story - based on her and her mother's experience - and honored to be able to read it.
*Please be sure to read the author's note when you finish the epilogue. But not before since it will contain spoilers.*
Lily is one of the strongest female characters I've ever read about. And no, not in the cheesy superpowers kind of way, but mentally and emotionally. Lily grew up in a home with domestic abuse, and yet, she still has so much love in her heart and a willingness to be vulnerable. And when she ends up finding herself in a similar situation as an adult, she is strong enough to make some heartbreakingly difficult decisions. Yes, Lily struggles as any person would, but her determination, conviction, strength, and understanding are what make her the kind of person I want to be when I grow up. I admire her so much and can only hope her story provides strength to others in her situation.
Writing this from Lily's POV made the story even more powerful. Because this is written in the first-person narrative, we experience everything Lily does. When she falls in love, we fall in love. When she experiences pain, we experience pain. When she struggles, we struggle. I promise you will feel many things: happiness, love, anticipation, rage, horror, shock, sadness, loneliness, loss, and so much more. Colleen Hoover, you are an evil genius, and I say genius because not every author can do this well.
The journal entries were a unique and beautiful way to explore Lily's past. When I read the first journal entry, I rolled my eyes. I mean, it's addressed to Ellen Degeneres, and the whole concept seemed silly. But as we read more entries, I started to appreciate and look forward to the next one. It was the perfect way for us to get to know Lily as a teenager and truly understand her difficult situation at home as well as her first experience with falling in love.
Atlas . . . the nicest fictional male character I've ever read about. I love this man. From the beginning, he is so thoughtful, sweet, and kind. He always puts Lily first and is just so grateful for her friendship. Every time I read about him in her diary, my heart wanted to explode. I mean, why couldn't I have met a perfect, cute homeless boy back in high school? lol
*SPOILERS AHEAD*
Ryle . . . my heart hurts for him. Okay, don't get mad at me for feeling sorry for him, but I mean, come on. It's tragic what happened to Ryle as a child. Plus, it's painful to see how much he loves Lily but how incapable he is of controlling his actions. It broke my heart the same way it broke Lily's hearing him sound so apologetic after every incident. How can 99% of Ryle be perfect, and then this 1% completely ruins everything? I'm NOT excusing anything Ryle does, but I can't help but see his story as tragic. He is destined to go through life alone (which he doesn't want) or as a domestic abuser (which he doesn't want). It's just sad.
"There is no such thing as bad people. We're all just people who sometimes do bad things." This is such an important message to understand. We like to place people in boxes because it makes things simple, but the world isn't black and white. There are no heroes or villains, no good guys or bad guys. We are just people who do good things and bad things. This is a major theme throughout It Ends With Us and hopefully has you questioning your own beliefs.
Allysa and Lily's friendship is absolute goals. I love their dynamic and how they support each other. When sh*t hits the fan in Lily's relationship, I thought Allysa would side with her brother Ryle, but instead, she surprised me:
"As his sister, I wish more than anything that you could find a way to forgive him. But as your best friend, I have to tell you that if you take him back, I will never speak to you again."
That is what real friendship looks like.
Favorite Quotes:
"There is no such thing as bad people. We're all just people who sometimes do bad things."
-----------------------------
"We're just alike . . . Plants and humans. Plants need to be loved the right way in order to survive. So do humans. We rely on our parents from birth to love us enough to keep us alive. And if our parents show us the right kind of love, we turn out as better humans overall."
-----------------------------
Somehow the only thing that eases the hurt just caused by this man is this man. My tears are soothed by his sorrow, my emotions soothed with his mouth against mine, his hand gripping me like he never wants to let go.
-----------------------------
Maybe love isn't something that comes full circle. It just ebbs and flows, in and out, just like the people in our lives.
-----------------------------
Fifteen seconds. That’s all it takes to completely change everything about a person. Fifteen seconds that we'll never get back.
-----------------------------
"You're my wife. I'm supposed to be the one who protects you from the monsters. I'm not supposed to be one."
-----------------------------
Life is a funny thing. We only get so many years to live it, so we have to do everything we can to make sure those years are as full as they can be. We shouldn't waste time on things that might happen someday, or maybe even never.
-----------------------------
Cycles exist because they are excruciating to break. It takes an astronomical amount of pain and courage to disrupt a familiar pattern. Sometimes it seems easier to just keep running in the same familiar circles, rather than facing the fear of jumping and possibly not landing on your feet.
-----------------------------
"It stops here. With me and you. It ends with us."
-----------------------------
"You can stop swimming now, Lily. We finally reached the shore."
-----------------------------