First Book in the It Ends with Us series

Originally Published: August 2, 2016

By: Colleen Hoover

Though It Ends with Us shares an important story of domestic abuse, Colleen Hoover’s unpolished writing holds it back from being the great novel it could be.

Florist Lily Bloom meets neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid by chance one night and they later begin a relationship together. At first all seems perfect, but Lily soon finds herself in the place of her mother who was physically abused by her father.

There’s a lot in the story that’s great. Lily’s internal struggles relating to her mother’s situation, her diary flashbacks and her friendship with Ryle’s sister Allysa all make for compelling storylines.

However, from a technical standpoint, the book needs workshopped. Much is revealed in the first chapter that should’ve played out more naturally, there’s repetition throughout and the time jumps are jarring.

Final say: It ends well, but the journey is rough. ★★★☆☆