A review by tonjeh
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

challenging hopeful inspiring 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? It's complicated

5.0

Two years I let this book sit on my shelf untouched thanks to all the controversy and negative reviews surrounding it. At times I would glance at it and regret my decision of purchasing it when I would obviously hate it. Then I decided to bring it along with me to read on a trip this summer just to “get it over with” — but ended up actually enjoying it. Let me tell you no one was more surprised by these turn of events than me. 

Firstly I’d like to say it’s horribly cringy at times (that one scene surrounding horse manure being one of those times,) yet its cringy parts juxtaposing the heaviness of the violent side of the plot makes it a more digestible read. Secondly I think the controversies surrounding the plot is vastly exaggerated. I do not agree that this book is romanticising abuse, nor is it a realistic representation of the experience most domestic abuse survivors have with leaving and moving on with their lives, although I tend to forgive CoHo for that considering she’s using her own mother’s story for inspiration. However, one could argue that CoHo’s behaviours and business moves outside of this book is a completely different and problematic story..

Either way I enjoyed this, sue me 🤷‍♀️