It Ends with Us
by Colleen Hoover
I read this book a while ago and felt a bit at a loss as to review it...
It is not going to be recognised for its great writing, because there are tonnes and tonnes of books that written much better. It is nothing extraordinary when it comes to its storyline. There's nothing in this book that I good pinpoint and tag as "genius" or even "superb"... But nevertheless I would put this book on the "to read" list for every young girl, every woman. Well, and every man, too.
It is an important book in its own right. And if you haven't read it, I think you should....
“Fifteen seconds. That’s all it takes to completely change everything about a person. Fifteen.”
Relationships is a tricky business. We all want a fairy tale, but we don't live in the ideal world. So what would you settle for?...
Lily Bloom grew up with an abusive father. He was not abusing her, but Lily saw domestic violence as it was, when her father insulted and beat her mum. Her father died, but what memories has Lily got of her dad?
“There is no such thing as bad people. We’re all just people who sometimes do bad things.”
Once upon a time Lily met Atlas and they fell in love. They way you fall in love when all your dreams are clear and pure, when everything in love is new and exciting...
“Imagine all the people you meet in your life. There are so many. They come in like waves, trickling in and out with the tide. Some waves are much bigger and make more of an impact than others. Sometimes the waves bring with them things from deep in the bottom of the sea and they leave those things tossed onto the shore. Imprints against the grains of sand that prove the waves had once been there, long after the tide recedes. That was what Atlas was telling me when he said “I love you.” He was letting me know that I was the biggest wave he’d ever come across. And I brought so much with me that my impressions would always be there, even when the tide rolled out.”
Lily remembers how her father kicked around Atlas when he found the boy in Lily's room... Atlas also knew only too well what a dysfunctional family is like to grow up in.
Things never stay the same. With Atlas gone to Boston to join the marines, Lily feels so alone.... “Life is a funny thing. We only get so many years to live it, so we have to do everything we can to make sure those years are as full as they can be. We shouldn't waste time on things that might happen someday, or maybe even never.” Years pass... and Lily now in Boston herself. Starting her own business, independent, young and pretty, she is only missing a Prince Charming to have her fairy tale complete. Wait... she meets Ryle! Rule is handsome, smart, funny and cute. He has great job, he is absolutely irresistibly charming. What's next? Happily Ever After? Hmmm, not so fast. What do you do if you want to be happy, and you love the guy, but.... There's always that stupid "but".... is it ok to settle for "but"? How far is too far, when somebody is pushing it? Can a good guy be bad? Or can be bad good?.. They say, that “all humans make mistakes. What determines a person's character aren't the mistakes we make. It's how we take those mistakes and turn them into lessons rather than excuses.”
So will Lily learn her lessons? Will Ryle learn his?...
I liked how easy, effortlessly this book brought me through Lily's journey. It's written in a simple manner, yet simplicity does not diminish its significance.
The characters are very likeable. Not because they are all so perfect or great, but because they are very realistic, easy to relate to.
There's no overwhelming description, long and patronizing passages on the issues. Yet the book delivers what it was set to do. It brings its powerful message, it makes you stop and look around and make a little list in your head: have I noticed?... maybe not in my own relationship, but in someone else's. Have there been those little disturbing signs and episodes, those uncomfortable scenes, that we all prefer to pretend never had happened?... Should I probably have another chat with someone and let them know that if THEY want IT to END WITH THEM, I will be there, for them.
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