It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover
Book Review
✨BOOK REVIEW✨
I finally understand the CoHo hype. This is truly a powerful, engaging and heart-rending story.
Shoutout to Literati for sending me this gifted copy! This month I chose to read with one of Literati’s newest book clubs, Shelf Love with Nicole Laeno. Now with 18 different book clubs to choose from - each led by a notable “Luminary” - and an interactive app to discuss the month’s selections, Literati continues to impress me. If you’re looking for an affordable monthly book subscription, I can’t recommend it enough!
On to the book review…
Shortly after the death of her father, Lily Bloom meets a handsome stranger. As the two begin an unlikely relationship, Lily can’t shake thoughts of her first love, Atlas. In order to refrain from sharing any spoilers, that’s all I’ll say.
Despite the enormous hype this book has received across literary communities, it still far exceeded my expectations. As someone who isn’t much of a romance reader, I’m honestly surprised I decided to pick this one up. However, this is not your average romance book. Rather, it’s a surprising, realistic and devastating look at domestic violence.
At one point in the book, a leading character expresses that she never understood why women in abusive relationships often stay. She recalls thinking them “stupid,” for making a decision that seems so clearly incorrect. However, when she experiences violence in her own romantic relationship, one that is otherwise picture perfect, she realizes that the issue isn’t nearly so black and white.
While the book includes heavy subject matter, there are also plenty of sweet, steamy and/or humorous moments. Not to mention, Colleen Hoover did a superb job of creating deeply nuanced characters - proving that people aren’t necessarily “good” or “bad” but rather sometimes “good people do bad things.” The author’s note at the end of the book further added to this conclusion as it ties in the author’s own reckoning with domestic violence.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫/5
Trigger warnings: domestic violence, rape, suicidal ideation, gun violence
