It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover was another exciting library find for me. This was my first Colleen Hoover read, recommended by my lovely bookstagram friends. And it did NOT disappoint. This one blew me away, becoming my fourth 5-star read of 2021, and my 11th book review!
I tend to lean towards thriller and mystery books, but I heard so much positive feedback about this work of fiction that I had to give it a try. And I’m so glad I did!
Summary: Lily Bloom’s life has been far from glamorous. She’s worked hard to put her parents’ abusive marriage behind her. She moves to Boston after college for a fresh start, and after her father passes away, she has the means to fulfill her dream and start her own floral shop. When Lily meets neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, the spark they feel is unavoidable. Where Ryle was once adamant that he did not “do” relationships, he quickly becomes enamored with Lily and re-evaluates his aversion to commitment. This change of heart sends Lily and Ryle on a year-long cat-and-mouse journey that eventually leads to a sultry and seemingly perfect relationship.
But a chance encounter with Atlas Corrigan, Lily’s first love, leaves her revisiting her painful past, and the feelings she still has for him. Atlas was the one glimmer of hope in her otherwise tumultuous teenage years, the one person who understood her less-than-ideal family situation. Lily’s past with Atlas, her protector, and her future with Ryle, the sexy, successful neurosurgeon, collide and Lily questions what she thought was her perfectly-planned future with Ryle.
My Review: I loved everything about this book. Lily was a likeable, relatable main character. The unfolding of her relationship with Ryle was unexpected: I loved how non-traditional it was, and it was deliciously sexy. It didn’t feel weird or out of the question for this gorgeous, engaging neurosurgeon to fall for ordinary Lily. It felt right. My heartstrings were tugged as they battled Ryle’s aversion to commitment. I hung on every word, every chapter as their love story unfolded. I also loved how Hoover tied Lily’s past into her present through her journals. The letters to Ellen Degeneres were a quirky and much appreciated touch. I love when an author can tie humor into serious subject matter, and Hoover does this flawlessly.
No spoilers here, but I did not see the progression of Ryle and Lily’s relationship coming. I did not see Lily falling into the same patterns she witnessed her mother endure, but I guess that’s the moral of the story. Even the most adamant and strong women fall victim to the “he didn’t mean it,” “it will never happen again” mentality. My heart ached for Lily, and as messed up as it sounds, for Ryle.
I loved the ending of this book. It was truly not what I was expecting. When Lily made her decision about her relationship with Ryle, my heart hurt. BUT, the epilogue tied the story up perfectly. I only wish it would have gone further and I could have seen how Lily’s future progressed even further.
Conclusion: I rated It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover was 5 out of 5 stars. I loved everything about this book. Hoover took serious subject matter and intertwined it with honest, loveable characters and kept me wanting more. I absolutely loved this book, and I can’t wait to read more books by Colleen Hoover.