Colleen Hoover's
'It Ends With Us’ Review & Rating
Unravelling the Hype
- Review & Rating by Kelley Tantau
Read time: 2 minutes.
Colleen Hoover’s ‘It Ends with Us’ most likely doesn’t need an introduction. Whether you have been a long-time fan of hers, or have come across the book after learning it’ll be made into a movie, readers and writers alike would’ve heard the praise, the adoration, the negativity, and controversy stemming from the novel.
But amidst the excitement, the crucial question lingers: Does 'It Ends With Us' genuinely live up to the immense hype? In this balanced review, I aim to provide you with key insights, helping you decide whether this novel is a perfect match for your reading or writing preferences.
Now, as a writer, I am nothing like Colleen Hoover. I will start by making that clear. I write and read crime thrillers, mysteries, drama… and a romance novel that comes across too “mushy”, too unrealistic and too sexist/misogynistic has me labelling it a ‘DNF’ almost immediately.
But here is a balanced look at Colleen Hoover’s ‘It Ends With Us’ – which has captured plenty of attention on social media. As a writer, can you learn from it? As a reader of crime, can you enjoy it? Let’s dive in and see…
PS I’ve intentionally left some of the plot details vague. If you decide this book is for you I don’t want to spoil it!
What genre is the book?
I would heavily classify this book as a Romance. Yes, it deals with some horrible subject matter, but the weight of the novel is unevenly skewed towards the ‘love and relationship’ side of things, rather than satisfactorily giving readers an ending that resolves issues and conflict.
There are a lot of intimate details about sex – unrealistic sex for a big portion of society – which leads me to my next category…
Who is this book written for?
Look, it would be easy to say this book is written for mature audiences. Colleen Hoover suggests it’s for readers age 17 and above. I would agree with this but would put an age cap at 30 (if not 25, 26, 27… so on). This is because Hoover’s writing style is very young. It is not a difficult book to read. There are juvenile references and modern tropes at play here. Also, with readers who have more experience in life, love, and hardships, there are chapters that would warrant an eye roll or two.
Why has this book been a success?
It’s clear that Colleen Hoover knows the types of books she wants to write, and this is a lesson for all us authors. She knows that sex sells. She also knows her audience. Utilising tools such as social media, TikTok, and the like, Hoover has been able to capture her readers and therefore make a brand for herself.
What is the 2024 movie about?
Set to star Blake Lively from Gossip Girl
fame and the creatively-minded Justin Baldoni, the 'It Ends with Us' film looks like it is going to be genuine to Hoover's work. The synopsis says this: "A chance meeting with a neurosurgeon sparks a connection, but Lily [Lively] begins to see sides of him that remind her of her parents' relationship". It's set to be released in August, 2024.
How can this book help me as a writer?
As a writer, it is far too easy to compare ourselves to other authors. We see the likes of Colleen Hoover and her success and wonder what we can do to obtain it. But books and their authors are all different and their differences are what make the world of literature so wonderful.
However, if you’re a writer of horror, of crime, or of drama, there are some things you can keep in mind, thanks to Hoover’s ‘It Ends With Us’. The author definitely knows how to describe attraction. She knows how to create ‘blissfully in love’ characters who have flaws – and flaws are what make characters interesting.
While I personally do not believe every novel should show unhappy relationships, I do think that having a character suffer from difficult circumstances help readers relate to them. Life is messy, but it can also be incredible – showcasing the highs and lows like Hoover does in ‘It Ends With Us’ is both valuable to readers and writers.
How does it compare to my book ‘The Runaway Man’?
The Runaway Man (OUT NOW!) is, frankly, not much like ‘It Ends With Us’.
Firstly, the main POV is from a male; however, he is the same age as the character Lily in ‘It Ends With Us’. Is there romance? Ah… well. The main character (Nick Greene) is recovering from a relationship that didn’t end on the best of terms. He knows he falls way too hard and way too fast, and he does meet another woman who is also at a difficult point in her life, but realism and reliable relationships is at the crux of The Runaway Man. The will-they-won’t-they trope is not as heavy-handed. For a man who voluntarily went missing, and who is now being chased by a cop from his hometown, is not going to be thinking about finding true love… no matter how much he wants it.
The Runaway Man will be available to order soon, click the button below to register your interest and enter the launch giveaway:
Conclusion:
There are many other books out there that deal with the same subject matter as Colleen Hoover’s ‘It Ends With Us’, so if you are more after a drama or a thriller, then perhaps this novel is not for you. However, if you are a sucker for romance, a ‘will-they-won’t-they’ trope, and beautiful main characters that everybody wants to have sex with, then ‘It Ends With Us’ is perfect.
It is not a difficult book to read. It could have benefitted from more clever writing, a more in-depth look at trauma and resolve, but as far as young-person-romances go, it ticks the box.