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Emily May's Reviews > It Ends with Us
It Ends with Us (It Ends with Us, #1)
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4 1/2 stars. Holy crap, what a book. This is unlike anything Hoover has written before. I have so many emotions right now that it's hard to know where to start, but I think everyone should read this book. That's right: everyone.
I could easily give everything away. I could, but I won't. If you go looking for lots of reviews, it won't be hard to work out what It Ends with Us is about. And if you do, you should still read it, but I think it's better if you don't. I think you should go into this book knowing as little as possible. Just realize that this is something very different from Hoover's usual new adult romances (that I admittedly have had all kinds of problems with).
So I don't want to say too much, but this is an extremely powerful story and it's not what most people will be expecting. It gets its power from the singular first person narrative (I'm honestly not a big fan of the alternating male/female POV romances) and we experience everything through Lily's eyes. When she falls in love, we fall in love; when her heart is broken, our heart is broken; when she gets it all wrong, so do we.
I cannot stress how important and damn smart this book is. There is no black and white characterization - it's much deeper and more complex than that, and therefore, far more emotional.
It peels back the layers of characters and relationships to do something that so many other authors have tried and failed to do - to make you understand a situation that for most people makes no sense. It's very sad, painful and exceptionally honest. My heart hurt while reading it and I almost cried several times.
As well as all this emotion and sadness that I'm being coy about, Hoover also brings out some of her very best writing. Little gems of honesty about human nature and relationships that are all the more painful because of their resounding truth. It's such a quotable book, but unfortunately most of the quotes are spoilers, so I shall refrain from posting them.
There's so many great things to mention, but I keep getting distracted by my feelings. The narrative is interspersed with letters that Lily wrote as a teenager and they are addressed to Ellen Degeneres - a strange touch that ends up being absolutely perfect. Shit, just writing this review and remembering the story is an emotional experience.
And then there's the absolutely fantastic female friendship. I want Allysa to be my best friend. Hoover clearly knows her audience of 16-25 year old women, creating characters with their quirks and habits - Allysa, for example, is a self-confessed "Pinterest whore", which made me laugh. But seriously, she is the best friend ever and she says one of the most perfect lines in this book.
Anyway, I'm just going to start rambling soon because I read this book in a whirlwind of emotions throughout a single day. I've been up since a ridiculous time and I need to go sleep now. But really, give this book a chance. I thought it was excellent.
Trigger Warnings: (view spoiler)
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by
Preventing your heart from forgiving someone you love is actually a hell of a lot harder than simply forgiving them.
4 1/2 stars. Holy crap, what a book. This is unlike anything Hoover has written before. I have so many emotions right now that it's hard to know where to start, but I think everyone should read this book. That's right: everyone.
I could easily give everything away. I could, but I won't. If you go looking for lots of reviews, it won't be hard to work out what It Ends with Us is about. And if you do, you should still read it, but I think it's better if you don't. I think you should go into this book knowing as little as possible. Just realize that this is something very different from Hoover's usual new adult romances (that I admittedly have had all kinds of problems with).
So I don't want to say too much, but this is an extremely powerful story and it's not what most people will be expecting. It gets its power from the singular first person narrative (I'm honestly not a big fan of the alternating male/female POV romances) and we experience everything through Lily's eyes. When she falls in love, we fall in love; when her heart is broken, our heart is broken; when she gets it all wrong, so do we.
I cannot stress how important and damn smart this book is. There is no black and white characterization - it's much deeper and more complex than that, and therefore, far more emotional.
It peels back the layers of characters and relationships to do something that so many other authors have tried and failed to do - to make you understand a situation that for most people makes no sense. It's very sad, painful and exceptionally honest. My heart hurt while reading it and I almost cried several times.
As well as all this emotion and sadness that I'm being coy about, Hoover also brings out some of her very best writing. Little gems of honesty about human nature and relationships that are all the more painful because of their resounding truth. It's such a quotable book, but unfortunately most of the quotes are spoilers, so I shall refrain from posting them.
There's so many great things to mention, but I keep getting distracted by my feelings. The narrative is interspersed with letters that Lily wrote as a teenager and they are addressed to Ellen Degeneres - a strange touch that ends up being absolutely perfect. Shit, just writing this review and remembering the story is an emotional experience.
And then there's the absolutely fantastic female friendship. I want Allysa to be my best friend. Hoover clearly knows her audience of 16-25 year old women, creating characters with their quirks and habits - Allysa, for example, is a self-confessed "Pinterest whore", which made me laugh. But seriously, she is the best friend ever and she says one of the most perfect lines in this book.
Anyway, I'm just going to start rambling soon because I read this book in a whirlwind of emotions throughout a single day. I've been up since a ridiculous time and I need to go sleep now. But really, give this book a chance. I thought it was excellent.
Trigger Warnings: (view spoiler)
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Reading Progress
August 1, 2016
–
Started Reading
August 1, 2016
– Shelved
August 2, 2016
–
Finished Reading
Comments Showing 1-50 of 109 (109 new)
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Luke
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Aug 02, 2016 09:59AM
Hopefully this turns out to be better than November 9 for you. I loved Confess but couldn't make it past 30 pages for November 9. The idea of a guy I'm supposed to emphasize with mentally undressing a girl in his head makes my blood boil.
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Luke wrote: "Hopefully this turns out to be better than November 9 for you. I loved Confess but couldn't make it past 30 pages for November 9. The idea of a guy I'm supposed to emphasize with mentally undressin..."This is a very different kind of book. I don't want to speak too soon, but I think I might like it :)
It's different and I guess it'll be quite difficult to digest too. I'm loving it but I'm expecting to crash and burn pretty soon. It's my guess. I don't want to read any review or anything. Just saw you're reading it too. :)
Beautiful review Emily. I've just finished it too today and naked truth: I'm in a total emotional mess right now because this book is really haunting. I think the story will stick with us for some time. T_T
Louisse (louisseandbooks) wrote: "Beautiful review Emily. I've just finished it too today and naked truth: I'm in a total emotional mess right now because this book is really haunting. I think the story will stick with us for some ..."Thank you, Louise. I just hope readers aren't put off because they expect standard romance from Hoover.
I just got the book today and can't wait to read it! I love all of CoHo's work (well, I only read November 9 and Ugly Love), but her writing style is so addictive and I'm glad you ended up really enjoying it, Emily! I heard for months how deeply personal this novel is to CoHo, and it's just been on the top of my TBR for months now. Can't wait to jump into this after Cursed Child! :)
I'm going to read this but if it wasn't for your review, I probably would've never read it. I'm going to read it right now!
Well this is a first Em .. You always have issues with Hoover's past novels so I'm quite surprised you actually like this one, and an emotional review coming from you. . . I can't help but be intrigued! I might be reading this soon!!!
WOW, I had given up on Colleen's books, but with this review, I'll definitely give it a chance!
I love books like this one. I have had difficulty reading new adult contemporary lately. I just seem to want more. More depth, more feelings and more themes! I hope that this book delivers all of that!
I was going to skip this one because I've had some major issues with some of CH's latest books (namely Maybe Someday, Ugly Love, and November 9), but now I kind of am intrigued since you didn't like some of her books either.
This made me get the book. I never read (and never planned to) Colleen Hoover's books but this review got the best of me so now I have a copy and I just hope it will be good because this is my first book of hers.
wow Emily, your review makes me want to read this book now :D
I was super-ready to steer clear of this book despite the hype, because tbh CoHo's books never have been my cup of tea...but your review makes me want to re-consider my decision. Let's see, may be I will like it too :)
I was expecting this to be a pretty typical romance, so I'm happy to see that it's a lot more than that and that you enjoyed it. Hopefully I do too when I pick it up!
Oh, wow. I stopped trying her books because I couldn't stand her romance novels, but you convinced me to give this one a go. Great review!
I didn't read this review due to the spoilers but I am shocked by the number of stars and your bold first sentence-considering you do not like most of Hoover's books.
I'm going to give CoHo a shot again! Thanks for this review :-)
I will admit I am not a fan of this author, but based on your review, I would give this one a shot!
Usually I don't enjoy Colleen Hoover books, but if you liked this one so much I might give this a try.
I'm even more excited to read this now!!!!
CoHo is my Queen and I just can't wait to read this baby!!
I'm really glad you liked it. I'm also in the minority as I haven't loved all of her books in the past, but this one is really special.
Maybe I should give CoHo another chance...
Miss Emily giving a Colleen Hoover book 4.5 stars? What reality am I living in?!
I immediately went out and bought this book after reading your review. CoHo's books have always been a hit or miss with me. Even when they were a hit, I wasn't a big fan of hers. But as soon as I saw your glowing review, I thought to myself: "You NEED to read this book!". Great review! It definitely made me pick up the book. :)
I LOOVE YOUR REVIEW, I was waiting for yours before this book was even released *-* ♡♡
I've read two of her books and loathed them both but your review has convinced me to give this book a shot. We shall see....
I totally feel you on the confusion-front. I love psychologically challenging books, sure, but when the author is literally trying to disorient their readers by throwing them curveball after curveball- it gets annoying! Great review as always, Lola! :D
Thanks for this wonderful review. I would never think to read Colleen Hoover.
Colleen is one of the very few authors I preorder future books. I just love her. She doesn't recycle old tired stories. Hers feel fresh. I've reread several of her books. That is saying something. I only reread my absolute favorites. I can't wait to get started on this one. But I promised myself I have to finish my current book.
I really wanted to read this because Hoover, but the other reviews I've read made me back out. However, your review alone is strong enough to make me think twice. Thanks, Emily! Will definitely give this book a chance!
I'll give her another chance because I see you gave her one.
I was so surprised to see your positive review on this book (since I've read the lukewarm reactions you've had to Hoover books in the past). Will definitely read this one!
Bibi J wrote: No doubt, you will. I hoping so too, I just put this book on my tbr:)
I'm intrigued *press to read button*
I don't write reviews or comment on reviews.. but always read your reviews.. I was pleasantly surprised that you liked this one.. great review! This book is making me leave comments.. lol.. Totally agree about all the emotions that come up just by thinking about. I'm still trying to get over it and this story will definitely be with me for a while.. also.. when I grow up, I want to be Issa.. ;)
Man...I don't know...I liked it...amazing characterization..tender...cute...but SO unrealistic. Perfect happening after perfect happening...you're just waiting for the world to collapse...and it does, of course. Part of my ire with the story is what I am finding annoys me about millennials (Gen Xer)...just the whole "real truth" moments or whatever they were...get over yourself...nobody cares. 3 stars
Loved your review. I gave it 3 stars and wrote a review myself, but I had no idea what I was saying or what I wanted to say. Though I don't totally agree with your whole review, I figured out my biggest issue when you said that everyone should read this book. Yes, it gives great insight to an issue most have trouble understanding. But I just didn't want to read a novel about it. I went into it completely blind and if I'd know what it was about, I would never have read it. So I can say, it's not a bad book, I just didn't like it.
I'm glad you liked it, I've been waiting for your review
Colleen's best book after November 9!
I just wanted to say I read this based on your review and I am so glad I did! It took me a good 24 hrs after I read it to fully digest my feelings about how it ended, as the characters were written very well and therefore I had a difficult time not sympathizing with Ryle; I truly wanted him to have another chance (yes, I've wondered more than once what that says about me). A very unique book in this genre. Thanks for the review, I have found a book I really enjoyed reading an won't forget anytime soon! And possibly a new author to add to my "favorites" list...I look forward to checking out the rest of her work, even if it is different. :)
OMG, this is so sad
Grabbed it because of your first paragraph and I'm so glad I did. I read about 80% last night and just had to STOP because it was rough and just finished it.Damn.
Ps. Don't read this if you have PMS unless you totally want to rid yourself of water weight through your eyeballs!
Honestly, I wanted Ryle to defy the logic that his life was ruined after he had pulled the trigger. Colleen's definitely came back with a vengeance with this story!
I always read your reviews of Colleen's works. Glad you loved this one! :)
