By: Colleen Hoover
ISBN: 9781501110368
Publisher: Atria
Publication Date: 8/2/2016
Format: Paperback
My Rating: 5 Stars +++ Top Books of 2016 The newest, highly anticipated novel from beloved #1 New York Times bestselling author, Colleen Hoover.
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.
With this bold and deeply personal novel, Colleen Hoover delivers a heart-wrenching story that breaks exciting new ground for her as a writer. Combining a captivating romance with a cast of all-too-human characters, It Ends With Us is an unforgettable tale of love that comes at the ultimate price.
My Review
First, let me begin by saying. I LOVE ATLAS! Unforgettable. He can cook for me any day or night.
Second, this was my first book by Colleen Hoover! (can you believe it)? The first, of MANY more to come. (adding her backlist as quickly as possible). Wow, she is like no author I have ever read. Her style is Unique. Superb. Moving.
Third, IT ENDS WITH US was truly amazing on all levels! Emotionally charged, powerful, compelling! I savored every minute. My Top 10 Books of 2016! Words cannot adequately describe my feelings about this book. Trust me, move it to the "Top" of your reading list (like now). EPIC in every way. From domestic violence, abuse, control, suspense, obsession, hope, courage, love, healing, understanding, and compassion. An array of emotions from all extremes.
IT ENDS WITH US, opens with Lily Bloom, age twenty-three. She has just buried her father and gave an epically disastrous eulogy- and now she feels she cannot breathe. Her father is Andrew Bloom, the adored mayor of her hometown of Plethora, Maine. He was the owner of the most successful real estate agency, and the husband of Jenny Bloom, her mother and teaching assistant. He has a violent temper- verbally and mentally abusive. Lily has watched her abusive father beat her mom her entire life. She is escaping to a rooftop in Boston to think and clear her head. Why did her mom stay in this type of relationship all these years.
Lily Bloom once fell in love with a homeless guy (he was a senior in high school). Atlas changed her life. (what a moving story-“award winning”). Her relationship with this nineteen-year-old teen, when she was fifteen, brought shame upon her family. However, it changed her for the better. She will never forget him. She will always love him. What she does not know- he feels the same.
While on the roof that night (present), she meets a gorgeous neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid, and they hit it off. They become acquainted with “naked truths.” He is almost thirty years old and no desire for a wife. He does not want children-- the only thing he wants out of life is success. However, there was so much more he is hiding. Lily does not see him again until much later, after she opens her own florist business and runs into a gal (Allysa)—wealthy husband, hard worker, with a fabulous personality and talks Lily into working with her. Of course, she happens to be the sister of Ryle. They become BFFs very quickly.
Are there really bad people? Is she missing all the signs and the secret tragic- troubled past of Ryle? All those years when she could not understand why her mom put up with her dad’s abuse. She despised her dad. Will she find herself caught in the same situation? When love clouds your judgment. Sometimes it is the one who loves you- who hurts you the most.
Gripping! The author brilliantly crafts a remarkable story. Hoover slowly unravels the past, sprinkled with poignant journal entries from a dairy Lily kept as a girl. She addressed each of her entries to Ellen DeGeneres, (LOVED), because she began watching her show every day when she was just a little girl. Then as she was older, every day after school and was convinced Ellen would love her if she got to know her. She wrote letters to her regularly until she turned sixteen, but wrote them like one would write entries in a diary. She never mailed them. She swore she would never read them again, but with the passing of her father, she began thinking about her childhood. Somehow Lily wanted to find a little strength for forgiveness, or possibly run the risk of building up more resentment.
Slowly the past is unraveled, keeping readers glued to the pages with the poignant story of Lily and Atlas Corrigan, a senior in high school, and homeless. What happened to these two? Why are they not together now. Both from broken abusive homes, the story will touch your heart, while rooting for these two until the ending. Enter Ryle (love triangle) and more complications.
I kept expecting Ellen to jump out of the pages, before the ending (I think a special Ellen show, is in order. An entire show devoted to IT ENDS WITH US) It would be "fabulous!" Would also make for a great movie.
The author’s writing evokes so many emotions. The past and present connect. A boy and a girl, both drawn together by circumstance, time and space. Torn apart. Will fate bring their paths together again, when they least expects? Lily will learn firsthand of the difficult choices, and decisions her mother had to face. Does everyone have a little good and evil in them? Darkness and light. From flowers to people, emotions, choices, sacrifices, and lives connected. Understanding women in abusive situations, with compassion, when things are not always black and white as it seems from the exterior. In domestic abuse, how many times do you forgive? When do you walk away? Each person is defined by their past. All characters are flawed in some way. Inspiring!
Loved the note from the author. Compelling, perplexing, and ultimately uplifting! I loved ATLAS!. He is too good to end…I hope we hear more from him in the future.
A mix of contemporary, domestic suspense, and romance. This one tops the list in women’s fiction. A must read for every woman, no matter your age. Strong family, mother-daughter, and relationships.
I loved IT ENDS WITH US so much, purchased the audiobook narrated by Olivia Song for a moving repeat experience. A perfect title. For fans of Sarah Pekkanen, Paula Treick DeBoard, Nicholas Sparks, and Amy Hatvany.
A special thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. 5 Stars +++
Review Links:
* * * * * * * * * * On a personal note: It is difficult for me to close without a final word. This was a special book for me for many reasons. My mom was also in a verbally abusive controlling relationship her entire life (my dad), and difficult to watch her vivid personality crushed beneath his control. She was a woman of many talents. Unfortunately, my ex-husband turned out even worse (his dark side came out after the honeymoon), as well. I managed to escape my husband's control after five years (been happily single for last 30 yrs); however, my mom stayed in the abusive relationship sixty-five long years until her death. (Women of this time felt they had no choice). During the reading of this book, I was called home from Florida to North Carolina, to take care of my mom in her final days while at home, and then hospice the last few difficult days, She died at age 84, this week (Aug 8) and the funeral is Friday (Aug 12), after a courageous three-year battle with colon cancer. Her 2013 diagnosis of colon cancer spurred a brave and inspirational fight against the disease. She remained tenacious, brave, and a true fighter, to the bitter end. From strength, courage, and peace-her spirit never faltered. I had the pleasure of writing her obituary and included all her many talents and traits - she touched so many lives. (hope Mom is smiling). Sometimes we wonder why the special ones are taken. I so wish she could have read this incredible book. I hope she is finally in a better place. I feel my mom sacrificed so much, and reading this book helped me understand her a little better. My apologies, for being late with the writing of this review. Thank you Colleen. Your writing is assured to touch many, who have found themselves in similar circumstances.
UPDATE: My dad died 10 months later with COPD.
Update: GREAT NEWS!
Atlas RETURNS.
It Starts with Us
Coming Oct 18, 2022
Before It Ends with Us, it started with Atlas. Colleen Hoover tells fan favorite Atlas’s side of the story and shares what comes next in this long-anticipated sequel to the “glorious and touching” (USA TODAY) #1 New York Times bestseller It Ends with Us.
So excited! I pre-ordered the paperback, e-book, and audiobook and fingers crossed for an ARC!
Who else is excited about the return of Atlas? Did I say, I adore him!
Advance Praise
"Colleen Hoover reminds readers that love is a fragile thing, built from courage, hope, and tears. Every person with a heartbeat should read this book."
(Kami Garcia, #1 New York Times bestselling author) "It Ends with Us isn't an ordinary love story. It will break your heart while filling you with hope,and by the end of this gripping, pulse-pounding novel, you'll be smiling through your tears." (Sarah Pekkanen, International bestselling author of Perfect Neighbors) "It Ends With Us is a brave and heartbreaking novel that digs its claws into you and doesn't let go, long after you've finished it. No one delivers an emotional read like Colleen Hoover." (Anna Todd, New York Times bestselling author of the After series) "What a glorious and touching read, a forever keeper. The kind of book that gets handed down." (USA Today) “It Ends with Us tackles [a] difficult subject…with romantic tenderness and emotional heft. The relationships are portrayed with compassion and honesty, and the author's note at the end that explains Hoover's personal connection to the subject matter is a must-read. Packed with riveting drama and painful truths, this book powerfully illustrates the devastation of abuse—and the strength of the survivors.” (Kirkus, STARRED REVIEW) "Fans of Hoover's emotional stories, conflicted characters and intense romances will gleefully devour her new novel. If you're a Hoover newbie, this is a great place to start. It Ends with Us is a perfect example of the author's writing chops and her ability to weave together uplifting, romantic and somber plotlines. No matter your level of fandom, readers will love and respect protagonist Lily and learn something from her struggles."
(RT Book Reviews (4 starred review)) “Best-selling Hoover’s latest valiant and compelling…novel packs her trademark emotional punch… The power and pain of the relationship will stay with readers even as Hoover offers hope.” (Booklist) “Colleen Hoover brilliantly tackles a very tough subject matter with brutal realness and honesty that left us stripped completely raw… Confidently a 2016 Top Recommendation and Must Read.” (Rockstars of Romance) "It Ends With Us is one of the most powerful books of 2016 and one of the most raw, honest, inspiring, and profoundly beautiful stories I’ve ever read. It’s one of those books that EVERYONE should read.”
(Aestas Book Blog) “Emotional, unforgettable and extraordinary…Colleen Hoover deserves all the accolades this story will bring…. remarkable, different, honest, heartbreaking and at times agonizing reading. This is not an easy book to get through but by God, it’s rewarding…one of the best reads of this year,”
(TOTALLY BOOKED BLOG) "tackles tough subject matter with a deft and confident hand"
(Huffington Post) "her most daring novel to date…one hell of a story.”
(NEW YORK DAILY NEWS) “[an] epic summertime read. With complex characters, a heartbreaking premise and drama aplenty, it’s the perfect companion for a day at the beach.”
(Brit + Co)
About the Author
Colleen Hoover was born December 11, 1979 in Sulphur Springs, TX, to Vannoy Fite and Eddie Fennell. She grew up in Saltillo, TX,] and graduated from Saltillo High School in 1998 In 2000, she married Heath Hoover, with whom she now has three sons and a pig named Sailor. Hoover graduated from Texas A&M-Commerce with a degree in Social Work. She worked various social work and teaching jobs until she began her writing career.
In November 2011, Colleen began writing her first novel, Slammed, with no intentions of getting published. She was inspired by a lyric, "decide what to be and go be it", from an Avett Brothers song, "Head Full of Doubt/Road Full of Promise". Because of this, she incorporated Avett Brothers lyrics throughout the story. After a few months, her novel was reviewed and given 5 stars by major book blogger, Maryse Black. After that, sales rapidly increased, and Slammed and its sequel, Point of Retreat, both made the New York Times Best Seller list. Read More
