Introduction
It Ends With Us is a book based on the real-life story of its author, Colleen Hoover. Hoover writes about a woman who struggles to break the cycle of abuse to create a secure life for herself and her son. Given Hoover’s previous work, she described the book as the hardest she had ever had to write. Colleen gives a detailed insight into what people who struggle with violence brought about by their romantic partners go through. This review will highlight some of the themes discussed in the novel.
Discussion
At the beginning of the book, the writer introduces a character named Lily, a young entrepreneur fresh from college. Bloom has just moved to a new town to have a fresh start when she meets a surgeon called Ryle. (Hoover, 2020) With time she begins to develop romantic feelings for him. Hoover recalls the heart-breaking abuse her mother endured at the hands of her lover. She wanted to show how ethically ambiguous gender-based violence can seem when true love and romantic love are at risk.
Ryle is traumatized by accidentally shooting and killing his brother Emerson when he was younger and never fully recovers from it. He goes on to project this mental and physical trauma on Lily (Hoover, 2020). The book is majorly based on the themes of generational cycles, abuse, and jealousy. The fairytale love story ends when Ryle becomes envious of Lily’s affection towards Atlas. In this heated moment, he begins to physically lash out at Bloom, who now finds herself torn between her love for Ryle and her fear of him.
Colleen paints a descriptive picture when she recalls the instances when Ryle was physically abusive to Lily. She recalls that Lilly was drinking while making dinner when her husband decided to take the tray from the oven without gloves. Unfortunately, he burns his hand and drops the casserole. She understands his extreme actions and states, “My tears, my heart, my laughter, and my soul. Shattered like broken glass” (Hoover, 2020, pp. 186). At this moment Bloom relates Ryle to her abusive father. “I do not hear Ryle’s voice this time,” she says ” All I hear is my father’s voice.” (Hoover, 2020, pp. 189).
Conclusion
Gender-based violence is a rampant thing in our society. This book shows the abuse that goes on behind closed doors. It highlights the conflicted decision one has to make between the person one took an oath for and themselves.
Reference
Hoover, C. (2020). It Ends with Us: A Novel. Pocket Books.