Reviews with content warning for Child death - It Ends with Us

I want to give it an 0 because it’s not the ending I wanted personally but it was such an emotionally investing experience. I love this book. I love that it’s spreading awareness in its own way. Although I HATE Atlas I will give him props. I know I should hate Ryle too but something in my heart feels for him. I don’t want to put any spoilers so I’ll leave it at that.

Edit to add on:

<Spoilers> ahead

1. I personally don’t like Atlas. Let me break this down with you. In MY OPINION he is a groomer. He was over the legal age limit and full on knew Lily was underage. I feel like he groomed her because she gave him the love his mom failed to do & when he asks her when she turns 16 IMMEDIATELY GROSS. Next he had no hesitation talking to her when he runs into her at BIBs so why back out when you saw her the first time. I don’t know I don’t think he ever wanted Lily for real I think he just needed her.
2. Lily. DAMN IT LILY again in my opinion I’m not a fan of Lily. The way she read the journal entries and said that was the end of that chapter but continued to keep all the stuff?! I see cases of this in real life often of the ex boyfriend keeping things his ex gave him and the woman is always PISSED & leaves him. Now she didn’t deserve to be abused ever. I just feel A LOT of that could’ve been avoided if she would’ve gotten rid of the journal & magnet. Her & Ryle might be living a great life IDK. Lily you also did kind of admit to Atlas being a pitty fuck. I mean if I remember correctly you tell Ryle you fucked a homeless man to get back at your dad. I feel like your attachment to Atlas is because was nice to you and since you’ve only seen your dad abuse your mother you fell for him thinking he was the best thing on earth not realizing he knew what kind of household you grew up in and you being blind to him grooming you.
3. Ryle oh Ryle. I hate that I love you. I fell under your trap. The foreshadowing of you on the roof beating those chairs radiated GASTON and I was like who does this man think he is. DAMN DO YOU HAVE A WAY WITH WORDS. & personally if it were me as Lily I would have stayed. I love toxic men I think I can fix (I know it’s not healthy lol don’t attack me) but I’m also toxic too so baby if you hitting me you best believe I’m hitting too. Matching bruises baby (thank you mom for the lovely DV issues) I genuinely think Ryle is a good person he just needs to work on some things.

Sad that Ryle and Lily won’t be making it work for their daughter. As a victim to abuse not just physically but emotionally and sexually in a relationship this book hits the right spots to help people see what it’s like not only growing up in that situation but being in it. There’s a part where Lily talks about how everyone talks about “why didn’t she leave” & I KNOW EXACTLY WHAT SHES TALKING ABOUT it definitely shouldn’t be that way it should be “That’s fucking gross that he’s abusive” not shaming the woman for loving a man that hurt her. I’m glad there’s a book shedding light on this issue. & I hope more people can find there ways out 🤍

Content Warnings

nat101day's review

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emotional tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

maev_e's review against another edition

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medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? No
Loveable characters? No
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

0.5

The irony with this book is that the author, Colleen Hoover, decided to block someone who dmed her about her son sexually assaulting/harassing them. Even if the book fits your tastes, you shouldn't be supporting her.

Personally, it read like wattpad fanfiction with corny pop culture references, cringy smut, and instalove that made me question how Lily actually loved him enough to make excuses for him. And a whole lot of romanticizing sexual assault. They didn't seem attracted to each other on any level other than physical, and their emotional feelings were told directly target than shown.
One of the love interests was bland and barely relevant

Spoiler

even though she ends up with him

. Any female friendship that Lily had felt forced and conveniently made for the romance, and the one gay guy was creepy as hell. The use of sarcasm felt inappropriate most of the time.

Spoiler

Like with one of the abuse scenes: "Please be quiet while you rape me dear." And in the epilogue, after Lily goes through the whole development of realizing she can't stay with Ryle for the sake of herself and her daughter, she ends up co- parenting with him as if he won't be able to harm an 11 mo child. He got no real repercussions, unless not being able to fuck Lily anymore counts.

There were a lot more issues I had with the book, mostly about the corny writing.

This is NOT a lighthearted romance. Pay attention to the trigger warnings, even if CoHo thinks they damage the "integrity" of a story.

Content Warnings

_zara's review

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challenging emotional inspiring medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Plot
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Content Warnings

littlereads2's review

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funny lighthearted medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.5

Content Warnings

musicmagician823's review

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challenging dark emotional informative inspiring reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

5.0

Content Warnings

moraina's review

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dark reflective sad fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

I have complicated feelings towards this book. I do appreciate the content and think the message is important.

Spoiler

I particularly think it’s important that Colleen Hoover points out how quick outsiders are to blame victims of domestic violence. I like that she really delves into how complicated it is to decide to leave a partner like that, when their good moments are so good. I also appreciate that she wrote this for her mother and was a witness to that type of behavior firsthand, while also having her own complicated relationship with her father.

That being said, I unfortunately can’t say I’m a big fan of her writing style. Much of it made me cringe and I just found it repetitive. It honestly read a bit like fanfiction at some parts.

Spoiler

Perhaps the biggest thing that drove me crazy is the obsession with Atlas, I understood that Lily never got closure and struggled with it, but it felt inappropriate to me. Ryle’s actions were entirely inexcusable, but I can’t say I blame him for being upset. I was also bothered by the implausibility of her journal entries, as 90% of most 16-year-olds I know are not that introspective.

Overall, I think this can be a good read with important takeaways for the reader, and may even work for a young adult audience that is mature and supervised. I just wouldn’t say it’s a literary masterpiece.

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