It Ends with Us

By: Colleen Hoover

Narrated by: Olivia Song

Length: 11 hrs and 11 mins

Publisher's summary

In this “brave and heartbreaking novel that digs its claws into you and doesn’t let go, long after you’ve finished it” (Anna Todd, New York Times bestselling author) from the #1 New York Times bestselling author of All Your Perfects, a workaholic with a too-good-to-be-true romance can’t stop thinking about her first love.

Lily hasn’t always had it easy, but that’s never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. She’s come a long way from the small town where she grew up—she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. And when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life seems too good to be true.

Ryle is assertive, stubborn, maybe even a little arrogant. He’s also sensitive, brilliant, and has a total soft spot for Lily. And the way he looks in scrubs certainly doesn’t hurt. Lily can’t get him out of her head. But Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships is disturbing. Even as Lily finds herself becoming the exception to his “no dating” rule, she can’t help but wonder what made him that way in the first place.

As questions about her new relationship overwhelm her, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan—her first love and a link to the past she left behind. He was her kindred spirit, her protector. When Atlas suddenly reappears, everything Lily has built with Ryle is threatened.

An honest, evocative, and tender novel, It Ends with Us is “a glorious and touching read, a forever keeper. The kind of book that gets handed down” (USA TODAY).

©2016 Colleen Hoover (P)2016 Simon & Schuster Audio

Not what I expected.

I need to put in a disclaimer first. This story deals with abuse, both sexual and physical, there are disturbing scenes that might not be appropriate for everyone.

With that being said, I just found this story "ok". I didn't exactly like the narrator, in fact, I was waiting to hear her say, "you know, OMG, Like he really likes me." (in your best Valley Girl voice). She sounded so juvenile most of the time it was difficult to listen to.

As for the rest of the story, if you take away the abuse, it's an alright story. Of course, the young girl starts a successful business and meets a gorgeous doctor who is wealthy, they get married and you would think live happily ever after. Not exactly. He has major anger issues and is both physically and sexually abusive. Nice guy.

If you enjoy reading about someone getting beat up and abused, this one might be the story for you. For me, not so much.

✫✫ 5 Stars ✫✫

What an amazing book! I got 2 hours of sleep last night because I couldn't stop listening! This is a very powerful book about strength, courage and prevailing! I am one of those people who see someone going through something and think why don't you just walk away or why let things happen to you...this book made me understand that it's not always so black and white. I always admit that I have no empathy for people (it's just not part of who I am I guess), I think with my brain not my heart most of the time and for the 1st time I honestly feel like I see that it's not always so easy to see things as right or wrong, good and bad or cut and dry, for the first time I actually see the grey area and completely understand it. Seeing what I've been ignorant too all my life is breaking my heart now. I wish I could go back to all the times I listened to people and treated their problems like they were easy to fix and tell them I'm sorry and that I wish I would have been a better listener, a better friend and more helpful to them when they needed me most.

Colleen Hoover is an amazing author and always seems to write a story that makes you fall in love with the characters no matter what faults or issues they have and she did it again with this book. I think I'll be thinking about this one for a very long time!

The characters in this book were all so likable and have so much depth and so many layers. That is part of what I loved so much about this book, even when I wanted to hate a character I just couldn't!

The narration is good but it took me a little while to get used to her male voices. After an hours at most I didn't even remember what I didn't like about the narration in the beginning.

This is NOT 5 STAR WRITING-

Would you try another book from Colleen Hoover and/or Olivia Song?

Collen Hoover- NO Olivia Song- Maybe

Did It Ends with Us inspire you to do anything?

No

Any additional comments?

I had a longer review, but the computer ate it, so there's that.

First off I'm glad that the author tried to tackle such a cruel, disturbing and often shameful subject matter. BUT she fell short on so many levels due to the way she crafted the story, it was irritatingly hard to get through.The contrivances, coincidences and the blatant in your face predictabilaty of this books painfully bad writing was grating. Most of that made the characters lack the emotional depths needed for an emotional read like this. It just doesn't work, it's sloppy and a disservice to readers, and the message trying to be convayed.

I was really eager to read this book, it was on TBR list for awhile, audible & amazon is full of 5 star reviews for it. I'm truly baffled by all the 5 star reviews, but different opinions and all that. I read about all the FEELS, OMG the FEELS.... the emotion... I didn't feel anything but annoyed and pissed that I wasted my time on such a poorly written, hyped book. Don't believe the reviews, this is NOT 5 star writing! This is book is no better than what you'd see on a Lifetime movie.
NOW- I'm even more pissed at the ammount of reviews suggesting the MC made the wrong decision at the end, and blamed her for some of her actions during the book! Seriously? And people feeling more for the jerk (I'm trying not to spoil) than the victim is messed up.

Three stars for the first half of the book (though I was tempted to 2/12 star it). Learning more about the MC through her "Ellen" journals was a clever way to tell what she experienced.

I was moved by the epilog and CH revelations about her own families experience with abuse. I did get the FEELS from that

Juvenile.

Incredibly juvenile and boring. I could not get far in this book. It is romance for tweens. I'll be returning this.

Once again, Colleen Hoover does not disappoint!

Where to begin? Colleen Hoover spun her words and drew me into her web. I devoured this book in a day. She makes you fall in love with her characters. Lily is a strong heroine that you root for. Both male leads implant themselves into your heart. I can't say much more without spoilers but I can say that this is a must read. Olivia Song does this story justice with her narration. I anxiously await the next Colleen Hoover book.

BEST STORY EVER!!!!

I didn't know exactly what I was getting into when I started this audio. But holy moly the authors notes was so similar to what happened to me! W/O giving spoilers let me tell you this is by far one of Colleen's best books/audio. Narrator was freaking awesome! I say "yes" to spending your credit and "hell yes" to what ever price is suggested to purchase this audio!!DO NOT MISS THIS AUDIO!!!

5 Us Stars

I am conflicted, this book I truly have no words. Or a word that comes to mind a lot is WOW. It was so different yet so raw, Colleen sucks you in and doesn’t let you let go until the very last moment.

I both loved and hated this book because of its truths. I can’t imagine the struggles one has to deal with to not only be in a relationship like this but to be able to get out.

I am not going to go in a lot of detail about the book you can read the blurbs or other reviews. But I will say this Lily is a character I will not soon forget.

I cried, I laughed and I want a best friend like Alyssa. She had the best quote of the book for me. (Quote will be hidden on Goodreads and not published on Audible or Amazon.)

"As his sister I wish more than anything that you can find a way to forgive him. As your best friend if you take him back I will never speak to you again.” - Alyssa

I don’t usually read reviews or blurbs, all I knew is this was a Colleen Hoover book and she created 2 of my favorite books Maybe Someday and Ugly Love. So it was a given I was going to get and read this book.

I choose audiobook because I like audio and her books to this point have all been wonderful on audio. This book is no different Olivia delivers and makes you feel what Lily feels.

*All my Reviews are 100% honest and my own.*

I can't stop crying.

This is a powerful book. I think it is important for all women to read this book. It dug up many different emotions from me. I was confused just as Lilly was. I was hurt as Lilly was. I was just as angry as Lilly was. What a powerful message this story provides. I'm still shedding tears about it. I beg you to read it and share it. It's life changing.

Not For Me

This one came recommended to me and while I was skeptical because the last Hoover novel I read years ago I found to be very juvenile, I figured I would give it a shot. Nothing has changed. While I am an avid fiction reader/listener, I need my fiction to have substance and depth. I want to feel immersed in the story and I need it to be believable. This book read like a PG version of 50 Shades of Gray directed at early 20-somethings. I found it hard to get behind main character Lily, her perfectly handsome neurosurgeon love interest who, *spoiler alert*, miraculously changes his entire dating philosophy in about 3 seconds because she is too irresistible, and her good-guy-from-the-wrong-upbringing teenage ex-boyfriend, who also happens to be perfectly handsome and also obsessed with her. Oh, and all the while she decides, after having one job, to open her own flower shop that is instantly a booming successful business, thanks to help of a random, walk-in wealthy new BFF who offers to work for free! I'm sorry, but NO. I told myself I would finish this one, but when I started my car this weekend and I saw there were still 6 whole hours left on this one, I called it quits.

Absolutely Amazing!!!

Colleen Hoover has done it again! This is a must read that will capture your heart from the very beginning!

Cheesy teenage novel

- very cheesy.
- the same usual love story.
-fifty shade copy.
-I didn’t finish it.
-wasted my credit.

A Story That will Stay With Me Forever

Colleen Hoover does it again, another winner. Heartbreakingly beautiful, the story follows Lily Bloom, who as a young girl has to deal with a dominating father, who abuses her mother. Her best friend, Atlas Corrigan, whom she helps when he's in a very low place in his life, and too good to be true neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, who has his own demons from the past. Just as Atlas follows his dream, so too does Lily and this leads her into the path of her future best friend Alyssa (Ryle's sister), who I have to say, is one of the nicest people ever. The story follows Lily as she struggles with her own past demons as she sees her life and her decisions spiralling out of control. Enter back into her life Atlas, who immediately starts questioning her life choices. The story makes so many statements about domestic violence and at the same time it is not judgemental. It left me very emotional, yet I still had the ability to feel for all the characters and their situations. A true masterpiece. The author also explains at the end of the book how the story came about, which furthermore adds to the emotions currently playing around in my head. A story that will stay with me forever. Highly recommend.

so good!!!!!!

so some bits in the book were a bit cringey but overall such an easy read. defo a good booktok read and the ending had me in so many feels

Glad I stuck with it

I had mixed feelings about this book at the beginning. At times it was quite dull and the characters seemed pretty one dimensional. Then about half way through the momentum shifted. Lily's character gradually evolved, sparked by inner conflict, compassion, wisdom and empathy. Themes of abuse were not only handled sensitively but written from a deep sense of emotional complexity. By the end of the book I was fully invested in Lily's story and the heartbreaking dilemma with which she was faced. I'm so glad I stuck with the book and I loved the ending.

Emotional story

This story moved me in so many ways and has left me completely heartbroken. I fell head over in love with Ryle, I felt his pain, his torment between what he knew was wrong but couldn't put it right. He was such a broken character. Lily was strong and whilst her decisions broke my heart they were completely the right one.

This is such a powerful story and could easily be anyone of us right now. The narrative was good, read with plenty of emotion and a calmness where needed.

,I completely lost myself in this story brought to life a excellent narration.

All the red flags

This book seems to be everywhere so I thought it’d be great, but I absolutely could not finish it. The main character is unbelievably annoying and unlikeable and the romanticisation of violent men is so troubling.

Lucky Lily

While this book may be a reflection on many women who suffer domestic violence by narcissistic men, Lily has the luxury of money and support unlike many others.
Men with these characteristics pleasure in control and manipulation leaving the victim powerless to manage even the simplest of tasks.
This book barely scratches the surface.

What an awful book

This is truly awful. All the characters are terrible and the plot is completely cliche. I’m told it gets better but sex scenes are not my thing and there seem to be a lots. The writing is dreadful. I know lots of people love this writing style but it’s truly awful to me.

Writing is basic and characters unrealistic

I was extremely disappointed with this book and angered by the romanticising of domestic abuse. The writing is basic and cringeworthy.
Avoid

Predictable plot, shallow characters

The foundation of the story is based on a lived experience of domestic violence. However overall the book left me disappointed. The dialogues are primitive, the inner monologues are even worse. The plot is very predictable - the big reveals were in plain sight all along, - and the characters are underdeveloped, if not shallow (“how could he do that horrific thing, he donates to charity”). The book is tone deaf in current climate and lacks any self awareness around white privilege.
It could make an average but watchable enough Netflix movie, but not worth investing 11+ hours in the book