“It Ends with Us” by Colleen Hoover was surprisingly amazing. While a little bit cheesy and cliché, I couldn’t help but become attached to the characters and plot. It not only pulled my heartstrings, but it opened my eyes to a lot of harsh realities.
“It Ends with Us,” follows the adventures of Lily who is looking to start her life in Boston. She quickly finds herself in a steamy romance with Ryle, who is a doctor by day and bachelor by night. While tumultuous, Lily and Ryle have undeniable chemistry. Their relationship is soon put to the test when her first love, Atlas, reappears and brings up the memories of their unfinished story. Lily and Atlas’ past is both beautiful and tragic and every character is impacted by their story in some way or another.
What I loved most about this read was how Hoover put us all in Lily’s shoes. I was constantly torn between Atlas and Ryle and was forced to face the dark reality of domestic abuse. Hoover displayed the hardships associated with this cycle of abuse and tragic effects that it causes.
No matter what you think of this book, it is hard to deny that the ending wasn’t beautiful and satisfying. I am forever grateful for the emotional roller-coaster that Hoover forced me to ride. After the first chapter I was hooked and couldn’t put down this book until I knew Lily’s fate. Some will argue that it is like every other romance novel, and while they may not be wrong, it is a book worth reading.
