It Ends with Us Book and Movie Review

By Taylor Greife Staff Writer

The 2016 novel, It Ends with Us, by Colleen Hoover has sparked controversy since its release and controversy continues with the newly released movie adaptation starring Blake Lively. It Ends with Us captures the raw emotion and intensity of being a victim of domestic violence. Hoover shows the real strength it takes to get out of that kind of situation and does so in such a beautiful way.  

The biggest issue people have with Hoover’s story is the concept that she was “glorifying domestic violence.” I can see where some people would get this idea because it is a book based on overcoming domestic abuse. Obviously, it is not something that is going to be light-hearted and easy. The book is not meant to glorify anything about domestic violence, it is simply describing the pain, fear, and courage it takes to break away from that kind of relationship.  

Despite the mixed emotions with both versions of the story, this story is incredible and beautifully written. I read It Ends with Us for the first time this past summer and I could not stop talking about it for weeks. I love everything about this novel and everything that Hoover intended for it to be. She has openly talked about how the origin of the story was based on the relationship of her parents. In the back of the book she explains that a few of the incidents in the story were real scenarios that had happened between her parents. I respect Hoover for having the courage to incorporate her own traumatic experiences into this story and showing the rawness of an abusive relationship.  

The detail in symbolism is one of many things I enjoyed reading this book. The Dear Ellen letters and flashbacks to Lily’s time with Atlas really added to the depth of the story. It was satisfying to connect the dots between things that happened to Lily as a teenager and how it has affected her in the present time of the story.  

Details are something the film adaptation lacked, as do most movies that are based on books. Books have to have a lot more written detail because they are painting a picture for their readers to visualize. In movies, you are supposed to see the details. Which I did not see in the movie It Ends with Us. I still enjoyed the film because it still got the message across but here are a few things I wish I would have seen included in the film.  

First things first, Lily’s journal. The journal with Lily Bloom’s Dear Ellen letters were so important in the book as a way to flashback to Lily’s time with Atlas in a cohesive way. The movie had flashbacks, but they were not as seamless as they could have been.  

Secondly, the restaurant BIBS was important to the storyline and in the movie Atlas’ restaurant was called Roots. BIBS should have been included in the movie because the name of the restaurant originated from Lily and Atlas’ preexisting relationship that caused an uproar with Ryle.  

This may not be the most important detail in general but, the Boston magnet on Lily’s fridge was the most important detail that was not in the movie. The Boston magnet was crucial to the story for mostly the same reason as BIBS, but it was such a sentimental piece in the book, and it would have been great to see that come to life.  

My last complaint about the movie before I talk about how much I love the story some more. The wardrobe choices were definitely interesting and could work in some ways but not for this plotline. In some scenes I was just so distracted by the wild wardrobe choices, and I could not focus on what was supposed to be happening. In my head, I pictured the wardrobe being much simpler. I pictured Lily having a free-spirited style with a lot less layers. Her backstory was layered enough, we did not need the boxers showing at the top of her pants and the variety of layered tops. As for Alyssa’s wardrobe, I definitely pictured her style to be cleaner. Her personality is already so bubbly, and the mix matched sparkles and animal prints were a little bit too much.  

Overall, I love this story, and it will continue being one of my favorite books I have ever read. It conveyed such an important message, and it makes me so happy that Colleen Hoover is trying to spread awareness for such an important issue in this world.