Does It Truly End with Colleen Hoover?

A little review about a Big Book

Hi everyone!

Thanks so much to all the new subscribers! It means a lot to have you here, interested in my thoughts and opinions. I apologize for the gap between posts—I've just moved back to school and I'm swamped with various projects. Life's been pretty chaotic, and this post took a bit longer to craft, especially since you can probably guess from the title it's both a book and movie review of "It Ends with Us."

So Let's dive in. (Note: I'll discuss themes of domestic violence and abuse, but I'll keep it sensitive and not too heavy.) DISCLAIMER

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I was really excited to start this book for some reason I was on the positive review end of this book on BookTok. But honestly, once I got into it, the excitement started to wane quite immediately. It's fair to say Colleen Hoover's style might not be for everyone, and I found it a bit tough to really get into the story. Im gonna start with the main character Lily who for me seemed a bit inconsistent, which made her hard to relate to her at times. However, Hoover did a great job developing the love interests, Ryle and Atlas, who felt very real and well-rounded.

The portrayal of the protagonist's mom, though, also felt lacking. I craved more from their relationship, but there seemed to be a missing link, and I couldn't quite grasp their connection—or the lack thereof. The narrative switches between past and present, and while the past segments were engaging, the present-day scenes sometimes felt lacking. I would have liked more depth on why Ellen was so significant to her—maybe a specific flashback that could make that connection resonate more with us as the reader.

Despite these points, there were some standout elements, like the heart tattoo on her collarbone and the "just keep swimming" quote, which did bring some life to the narrative, and did enhance the characters.

But I will say Ryle's character was a highlight for me, well-developed and complex, which both the book and the movie captured effectively. His backstory and from what happened to him as a child added depth, making his story more tragic. While his actions are not excusable, the layers given to his character help us understand him a bit better, as well as give a stringer tinge in emotional department when it came to him and Lily's relationship .

Overall, I'd rate the book a 7/10. It was engaging enough, and I'm definitely open to exploring more of Hoover's work.

Now, let’s tackle the tragedy that is the movie adaptation. Honestly, it was a massive letdown. I’m sure many of you have caught wind of the controversy swirling around Blake Lively online, and let me tell you, I was beyond disappointed. Promoting her hair brand while pushing a film about domestic violence? Completely distasteful and out of touch. And don’t even get me started on the fashion—each time Lily popped up on screen, it was almost a crime against style. The movie’s portrayal of Lily was so far removed from her character in the book, it left me absolutely heartbroken.

The sole redeeming feature? Ryle. The actor nailed the role, delivering a performance that was one of the few threads holding the shattered pieces together. Despite my appreciation for the story making it to the big screen, the execution was a profound disappointment. They skipped over crucial storylines and details, leaving the film feeling even more disconnected than the book, if that's possible.

I'm giving this movie a 5/10.

If anyone else has ventured through the book or braved the movie and has any thoughts, I’m all ears! I’d absolutely love to dissect this further with someone who gets it.

Reflect, Gloss, Repeat.: AND SUBSCRIBE