It Ends with Us - Colleen Hoover

Date of Reading: 08/04/2018

Author: Colleen Hoover

Publisher: Atria

Place: New York

Year: 2016

Rating: 4.5/5





About the book:

Sometimes it is the one who loves you who hurts you the most.

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 in Maine where she grew up — she graduated from college, moved to Boston, and started her own business. So when she feels a spark with a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, everything in Lily’s life suddenly seems almost 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.

My Review:

        I am not that much into triangle love stories. If the heroine makes a decision that I don't approve, I know that I am going to hate her forever. But this is not about triangle love even though we get that impression from the description. No . . . this is far more than a simple love story.

         The love triangle is not going to trouble you the least here (that was something new for me 😊). It doesn't matter who Lily chooses to be with because we feel a complete kinship with her to trust her enough in this. She is strong, dependable and admirable. Trust me, it takes a lot of courage to do what she has done in the end.

        There were times I felt this can't be real. Surely this should not be happening in real lives. But I have witnessed how two of my friends have gone through abusive relationships and how hard it can be. And the author's note at the end just proves how autobiographical it is.

       If you are a married couple or in a relationship, this is a must-read for you. If you are neither, then read to get a profound insight into human behaviour. Nothing is ever simple as we think from the outside. 

        And don't forget to reserve some free time before starting. This will blow you out thoroughly and so expect to get fired from work for lack of focus. Mull over it for some time. You are hereby warned, readers. And I strongly suggest you to not read the summary below unless you need to know the story beforehand for any research/project works.

Summary:

       Lily Bloom met Ryle Kincaid on one of the rooftop terraces in Boston. She had just buried her father, gave the worst eulogy ever and needed a quiet place to think and relax. Ryle reached there for a similar reason -- to escape a bad day in the hospital. They shared naked truths about each other since both never believed to meet each other again. Lily hated her father who used to beat her mother. But his apologies after the fights made her stay. Her first love was a homeless guy named Atlas who was beaten up by her father. She works in a company but what she would like to do is open a floral shop.
        Ryle is studying to be a neurosurgeon and lives with his sister and her wealthy husband. He hates relationships but indulges in one night stands. He would like one night with Lily but sadly she in the quest for her true love.

        With the inheritance of her father, Lily starts a flower shop. Her path crosses with Ryle's again when his sister Allysa joins as an assistant as she is bored to be at home all the time. She soon becomes Lily's best friend and Ryle can't stop thinking about her. He finally chucks his fear of relationships and starts dating her.
       On one of her dinners with her mother, she meets Atlas in the new restaurant. She mistakes him for a waiter, though he was the owner. Seeing her happy with Ryle, he tells that he too is dating someone. Lily had always loved Atlas. She even came to Boston because it was their dream city. He had promised to come back to her once he returned from military service. But now that chapter is closed and she begins to think of a life with Ryle.

        Ryle is quite passionate about his career, but he also cares for Lily deeply. But there are times when he is consumed by anger and on one such occasion he pushed Lily hard, hurting her. He immediately apologises claiming it as an accident. Lily is taken back to the memories of her father but Ryle's efforts comfort her. But Atlas warns her against being like her mother and gives her his number in case of an emergency.
       Ryle and Lily get married in Vegas, and Allyssa is found pregnant bringing in more happiness. Ryle accidentally finds the number of Atlas hidden inside the mobile cover and suspects an affair. His anger goes out of hand and Lily is pushed down the stairs. With Allysa's persuasion, Ryle explains the reason behind his sudden bouts of temper. He had accidentally shot his elder brother at the age of five. After that, it was never easy for him to control his emotions. He promises to keep away from her when such scenarios arise and Lily's heart surges with compassion.
        Her shop is nominated for the best new shops in Boston. Atlas' restaurant - Bib's - also makes to the list and newspaper article explains how the name which is short for 'Best in Boston' is inspired by a girl. Ryle notices that Lily has attached to the fridge a magnet which says the same thing. Suspicious again, he reads Lily's old journals and finds that it has been given by Atlas.
       He unleashes his anger and tries to rape her this time. In between, he regains his normal behaviour but Lily was hurt. She calls Atlas in secret and escapes to his house. To give her some space to think Ryle goes to England for three months and she returns to their apartment. She finds herself pregnant and Allysa supports her decision to be away from Ryle.
        Upon his return, Ryle tries to get back her affections but Lily was firm. After the birth of their girl child, she asks for a divorce. She doesn't want her daughter to hate her father as Lily did. She meets Atlas again to begin her life anew.

Something to ponder . . .

"There is no such thing as bad people. We're all just people who sometimes do bad things".  - 14

"Maybe love isn't something that comes full circle. It just ebbs and flows, in and out, just like the people in our lives." - 191

"When you experience it firsthand, it isn't so easy to hate the person who mistreats you when most of the time they're your godsend." - 293

Colleen Hoover

"Cycles exist because they are excruciating to break. It takes an astronomical amount of pain and courage to disrupt a familiar pattern. Sometimes it seems easier to just keep running in the same familiar circles, rather than facing the fear of jumping and possibly not landing on your feet." - 309