It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover is a romance novel published in 2016 by Atria Publishers Limited. The central character is Lily Bloom, and the novel is about the doomed relationship between her parents and her failed marriage with Ryle Kincaid. The novel follows Lily’s past life growing up in an obnoxious home, her entanglement in a violent relationship and her escape from the marriage with Kincaid.
The novel opens with Lily relocating to Boston after her father's funeral to start her floral business. Lily's father was an abusive man who physically assaulted her mother, but she kept the abuse a secret from Lily. While in Boston, Lily meets Ryle Kincaid, a neurosurgeon in a local hospital. At first, they are mutually attracted to each other. However, Ryle is not interested in a long-term relationship, unlike Lily, who wants to settle down with him. Lily manages to set up her floral business, and she often meets with Ryle for a cup of coffee to discuss their current relationship status. When they resolve to start a relationship, Lily later discovers that Ryle is an abusive man. Nevertheless, Ryle apologizes, and Lily forgives. After getting married, Ryle continues abusing Lily emotionally and physically to the point that she decides to ask for divorce. Throughout the novel, the author focuses on the themes of domestic violence, envy, emotional abuse and generational cycle.
It Ends With Us was well-received in the market and received several positive reviews from different platforms. For instance, Kirkus Reviews described the novel as a real piece of literature that powerfully describes domestic violence. According to the Romantic Times, the novel It Ends With Us is an ideal illustration of the author’s ability to advocate for women’s right to be treated well in their marriages. In 2016, It Ends With Us won the prestigious "Goodreads Choice Award” for the Best Romance novel. By the year 2019, It Ends With Us had sold over a million copies worldwide. Since its publication, It Ends With Us has been retranslated to over 20 languages to expand its readability and market reach.
