Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Page Count: 376
It Ends With Us was another buddy read with fellow Blogateer Cátia, She’s already a huge CoHo (= Colleen Hoover) fan, but this was my first venture into her world of writing. I am not yet 100% sure I was converted, but IEWU definitely hit home in a way. Now, before I get into any kind of detail, I don’t think I can do this without Spoilers. I’ve thought about it, but even talking about what the book’s main topic is, can’t be said without spoiling something. So, proceed with caution!
Have you ever looked at the face of someone you love and been scared? And I am not talking about scared you’re loosing them, or scared for them – I am talking about being afraid for your own safety. It irreversibly breaks something in the relationship you had. It’s something that can never be mended, but it does not mean that you stop loving them, because that’s not how this works. Lily, our main protagonist in IEWU, has to find out exactly that! Yes, this book is about domestic abuse.
In my opinion, CoHo went about this in a very smart way. She dazzles you with Ryle’s charm and looks, you fall for him alongside Lily. At the same time, she introduces you to her past, her issues with her father and Lily’s first love, Atlas, who is about to re-enter her life. All the while, you are certain, that girl will never get into an abusive relationship herself. Well, of course that’s not how the story goes. Shortly after the first incident, you are shocked and devastated. It’s the kind of incident that people try to rationalize and explain away, but no matter what the reasoning is, that doesn’t excuse it. Yet, Lily stays and it happens again and again.
I am not going to go into detail, or tell you what she did in the end, but that whole story tied my stomach into knots. I actually felt sick with what was happening, but I was very glad about the people in Lily’s life. They had her back, no matter what, especially when neither Lily nor the reader expected them to and that simply warmed my heart.
Ultimately, I really enjoyed the writing. It was beautiful and felt very real, however, there are just a couple things that don’t make it the perfect read. To me, the story was very much about Lily and her growth. I wouldn’t really classify this as a romance to be honest or at least say that was the least important part of it. So, Ryle aside, I liked Atlas and I realise how important he was for Lily’s past and that she needed closure for that, but I probably would have felt a lot better about him, if he hadn’t just turned into a picture-perfect man. What’s his story? I have so many questions about him and how he became the person he’s now. To say he wasn’t necessary in the present tense would be a vast exaggeration, but I could have done without the epilogue … Still, I whole-heartedly believe that this was not my last CoHo book! Until next time!
Fazit: 4/5 stars! It was heartbreaking and raw, but I still could have done without a couple of elements.
Have you read this one? What are your thoughts?
Life and Other Disasters 
I was a little nervous to continue when you mentioned spoilers but this review was fantastic, you didn’t go into too much detail and you made me want to read the book even more. I haven’t read this book myself but I am a big Coho Fan – I definitely need to get it and give it ago. I’m excited to see what book you chose to try next of hers. Hopeless is one that deals with other serious themes if you liked that element 🙂
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Goodness, this sounds devastating. To tell you the truth, I hadn’t really looked at the synopsis before this because I thought it was another cliché contemporary about love and love triangles (not that there’s anything wrong with those, I just have a lot of books on my plate at the moment). However, this sounds completely worthwhile! It’s hard to find writers who are willing to broach controversial topics like this, most preferring to give their characters the complete happy ending and all that jazz. Popping over to goodreads and adding it to my ‘tbr’ list, right now!
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It WAS devastating! If you get around to reading it, you should also read the author’s note (after the story) because it tells a bit about her personal experience. Knowing that made the story even more hard-hitting for me, because it came from such a true place!
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I want to read this so badly! I’m glad you liked it, now I want it even more. It sounds totally heartbreaking, but it sounds like the kind of heartbreak everyone needs to read about. I have a soft spot for hard-hitting, emotionally traumatizing novels like All the Rage, Dreamland, etc.
Lovely review! I absolutely adore your graphics ❤
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Thank you so, so much!! And yes, this was hard-hitting in the most unexpected ways. I really enjoyed it.
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I’m glad : D I’ve heard some amazing things about this book, so now I’m really looking forward to it.
I can’t wait to see what you read next 💞
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What a great review! I completely agree about the epilogue.
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This sounds very good (from the little I could read while trying to avoid spoilers!)- I’m not especially familiar with the author, but keen to try this one, especially with *that beautiful cover*
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I have this friend who LOVES spoilers, but even she didn’t want to know a single thing about this book, because Colleen Hoover always has great twists apparently. I didn’t find it all too surprising, but it was a good book. Very heartbreaking!
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Hahaha okay well that’s great to bear in mind!! Haha yeah that makes more sense- I didn’t figure Hoover was known for plot twists! Ahh wonderful- I live heartbreaking stories!
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I have pretty much the same thoughts as you do! I also said in my review that it’s not really a romance as much as it is Lily’s personal development, and I really appreciate the complex view it offers on domestic abuse. The author’s note at the end was heartbreaking. ❤
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You are so right about the author’s note! It just proved that this was coming from such a true place and that made it more hard-hitting for me.
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Fab review! I have decided this book will be my first CoHo. I’m reading something with a similar story, except the main character is a man, and it’s refreshing to see a domestic thriller take this side.
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It was my first CoHo book too, so I think it’s a good introduction to her world. That sounds interesting. The abuse of men often gets downplayed and that’s really unfair to them.
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I totally agree with this. I liked how this book mentioned abusive relationships but at the same time i thought the re-entering of Aspen in her life right when everything was breaking aprt….is pretty unrealistic you know? But i guess thats how CoHo stories go mostly…
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I know I said in the post that it wouldn’t be my last CoHo book, but I never actually picked up anything else haha I guess that’s how many romance writers think though, that these perfect people appear just at the right moment.
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Haha exactly. I remember reading Ugly Love and absolutely loving it. I think I should give that one another read and see if my opinions have changed :p
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