It Ends With Us | Colleen Hoover | Cliff Note Books
“It Ends With Us” is a novel by Colleen Hoover, published in 2016. The story follows Lily Bloom, a young woman who has just opened her own business in Boston. She meets Ryle Kincaid, a neurosurgeon, and they quickly fall in love. However, Lily’s past resurfaces when her first love, Atlas Corrigan, returns to town.
As Lily struggles to reconcile her feelings for both Ryle and Atlas, she also has to deal with her complicated relationship with her mother, who suffered from domestic violence at the hands of Lily’s father. Lily’s own experiences with abuse and violence make her question what she wants and what she is willing to accept in a relationship.
The novel deals with themes of love, loss, and the complexity of relationships. It also sheds light on the issue of domestic violence and the different ways in which people cope with it. The story is told from Lily’s perspective and includes journal entries she wrote when she was younger, providing insight into her past and how it has shaped her present.
Ultimately, the novel offers a powerful message about the importance of self-love and standing up for oneself, even when it is difficult.
CHARACTERS
Lily Bloom – The protagonist of the novel, a young woman who owns her own business in Boston and is struggling to reconcile her feelings for Ryle and Atlas while dealing with her own past experiences with domestic violence.
Ryle Kincaid – A neurosurgeon who falls in love with Lily and becomes her boyfriend. He has a complex past that makes it difficult for him to fully open up to Lily.
Atlas Corrigan – Lily’s first love who returns to town and rekindles their relationship. He has a troubled past and a difficult family life.
Alyssa – Lily’s best friend, who owns a flower shop next door to Lily’s business.
Marshall – Lily’s neighbor, who becomes a friend and confidante to her.
Rose Bloom – Lily’s mother, who suffered from domestic violence at the hands of Lily’s father and has a complicated relationship with her daughter.
Ellen Bloom – Lily’s sister, who is married with children and often provides Lily with support and advice.
Ryle’s mother – A successful businesswoman who has a strained relationship with her son.
AUTHOR
Colleen Hoover is an American author known for writing contemporary romance and young adult fiction. She was born on December 11, 1979, in Sulphur Springs, Texas. Hoover attended Texas A&M University-Commerce, where she majored in Social Work. After graduation, she worked as a social worker and teacher before she began writing.
Hoover’s first novel, “Slammed,” was self-published in 2012, and it quickly gained popularity. It was later picked up by Atria Books and became a New York Times bestseller. Since then, she has written numerous bestselling novels, including “Hopeless,” “Maybe Someday,” “Ugly Love,” “Confess,” “It Ends With Us,” and “Verity.”
Hoover’s writing is known for its emotional depth and her ability to tackle difficult and sometimes taboo topics with sensitivity and empathy. She has won several awards for her work, including the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance and the Indie Choice Award for Best Romance.
Hoover currently lives in Texas with her husband and their three sons.
QUOTES
“Just because someone hurts you doesn’t mean you can simply stop loving them. It’s not a person’s actions that hurt the most. It’s the love. If there was no love attached to the action, the pain would be a little easier to bear.”
“Sometimes it’s the one who loves you who hurts you the most.”
“The most important thing to remember is that you can’t change the past. The only thing you can control is your own future.”
“I love you more than I hate everything else.”
“The problem with fairy tales is that they set a girl up for disappointment. In real life, the prince goes off with the wrong princess.”
“Fifteen seconds. That’s all it takes to completely change everything about a person.”
“Sometimes the smallest things take up the most room in your heart.”
“It stops here. With me and you. It ends with us.”
“It’s amazing how much distance one truth can create between two people.”
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the decision that something else is more important than fear.”
SUMMARIES
Chapter 1: The novel opens with Lily Bloom, the protagonist, at her father’s funeral. She reflects on her difficult relationship with her father, who was abusive to her mother and her family. She is also introduced to her love interest, Ryle Kincaid, a neurosurgeon who is attending the funeral.
Chapter 2: Lily returns to her apartment in Boston, where she lives alone and runs her own flower shop. She reflects on her life and her past experiences with domestic violence. She also meets her new neighbor, Marshall, who quickly becomes a friend.
Chapter 3: Lily goes on a blind date with Ryle and they hit it off. They discuss their past relationships and their goals for the future. Lily is surprised by how much she likes Ryle and the chemistry between them.
Chapter 4: Lily spends the day with her best friend, Alyssa, who owns a flower shop next door. They discuss Lily’s date with Ryle and the possibility of Lily finally finding someone who is good for her.
Chapter 5: Lily has a chance encounter with Atlas Corrigan, her first love, who she hasn’t seen in years. The two catch up briefly and Lily is reminded of their complicated past together. She struggles with her feelings for both Ryle and Atlas, and the memories of her past relationship with Atlas make her question what she wants in a partner.
Chapter 6: Lily and Ryle go on a second date, and their relationship continues to progress. However, Lily is still conflicted about her feelings for Atlas, and she confides in Marshall about her complicated past with him.
Chapter 7: Lily spends more time with Ryle and his family, and she begins to see another side of him. However, Ryle’s past experiences with his own father make it difficult for him to open up completely to Lily.
Chapter 8: Lily’s mother, Rose, comes to visit her in Boston. Lily struggles to reconnect with her mother, who has a complicated relationship with Lily and her sister.
Chapter 9: Lily’s relationship with Ryle becomes more intimate, but she is still haunted by her past experiences with abuse. She confides in her sister, Ellen, about her fears and doubts.
Chapter 10: Atlas comes to visit Lily at her flower shop, and they reconnect. Lily is torn between her feelings for Ryle and Atlas, and she begins to question her own judgment and what she wants in a partner.
Chapter 11: Lily spends more time with Atlas and they reminisce about their past relationship. However, Lily still loves Ryle and feels guilty about her feelings for Atlas.
Chapter 12: Ryle opens up to Lily about his past and the abuse he suffered at the hands of his father. Lily is shocked and saddened by Ryle’s experiences and struggles to support him while also dealing with her own past trauma.
Chapter 13: Lily’s mother reveals a shocking secret about Lily’s father and their family history of abuse. Lily is forced to confront her own memories and experiences with violence and the impact it has had on her life.
Chapter 14: Lily and Ryle’s relationship becomes more serious, but Lily is still haunted by her past experiences with abuse. She begins to question whether Ryle is truly the right person for her.
Chapter 15: Lily is forced to make a difficult decision about her relationship with Ryle after he becomes violent towards her. She realizes that she cannot stay with him and must prioritize her own safety and well-being.
Chapter 16: Lily’s decision to leave Ryle is not easy, but she knows it is the right thing to do. She reaches out to Atlas for support and they reconnect.
Chapter 17: Atlas and Lily spend time together and talk about their past and their feelings for each other. However, Lily is still unsure of what she wants and struggles to come to terms with her own emotions.
Chapter 18: Lily’s father comes back into her life, and she has to confront him and the abuse he inflicted on her and her family. She finds the strength to stand up to him and finally put the past behind her.
Chapter 19: Lily and Atlas’s relationship becomes more serious, and they discuss their future together. However, Lily is still struggling to fully let go of her past and the trauma she has experienced.
Chapter 20: Lily’s mother returns to Boston and reveals another shocking secret about her past. Lily is forced to confront her own feelings and the impact her past has had on her life.
Chapter 21: The novel concludes with Lily reflecting on her journey and the importance of self-love and standing up for oneself. She acknowledges that it is not easy, but it is necessary in order to break the cycle of abuse and create a better future for oneself.