It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover - 2 stars (Steeplechase, BWF)

[Joy D]

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover - 2* - My Review

I am going to keep this review short since I did not care much for this book. It is a story about the cycle of domestic abuse. It contains many of the current trends in fiction that I do not enjoy, such as focusing on beautiful rich people, a plethora of pop-culture references, characters that change personalities when it suits the plot, graphic sex scenes, and plot twists. The writing is basic and cliché-ridden. I am obviously out of step. Others loved it, judging from its high average rating. I am attempting to read outside my comfort zone, hoping that it will help me enjoy a broader range of books. So far it has reinforced why I don’ t care for them in the first place. I am giving it 2 stars instead of 1 due to the author’s positive intentions, which she explains at length in the Afterword.

Content warnings: (view spoiler)[ graphic domestic violence, detailed description of attempted rape, depression, alcohol abuse, sex between an adult and an underage teen (hide spoiler)]

PBT Steeplechase - tagged "plot twist" x40:
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

BWF March Extra I - tagged "coming of age" x43:
https://www.goodreads.com/work/shelve...

[Theresa]

HA! I am studiously avoiding this author ... just the descriptions of her books suggest to me that they are not my type of contemporary fiction aimed at women. There's a meme out there - Proud never to have read a Colleen Hoover book.

I think there's also an age factor - I suspect when I was younger I would have enjoyed them.

[Booknblues]

Joy, I have been avoiding her, good of you to confirm why.

[Joy D]

Theresa wrote: "HA! I am studiously avoiding this author ... just the descriptions of her books suggest to me that they are not my type of contemporary fiction aimed at women. There's a meme out there - Proud neve..."
I had no idea there was a meme. I should have joined you.

[Joy D]

Librarynerd ( loves books in a series) wrote: "Note to self. Avoid Colleen Hoover. Eww…"
I am not a fan, and I typically avoid romances, which is her usual fare, but the Steeplechase game is getting me to read books I wouldn't normally pick up.

[Joy D]

Booknblues wrote: "Joy, I have been avoiding her, good of you to confirm why."
Interesting that you and Theresa were both avoiding her. I think I put this on my TBR due to it being one of her more serious books.

[KateNZ]

I actually liked this one - it’s the only one of hers I’ve read (or am ever likely to read, given it’s not usually my thing) - but I thought she dealt with some very dark themes reasonably well.

[Joy D]

I wonder why the author did not (view spoiler)[cover any attempt to get mental health help for Ryle or even have his wife discuss it with him? I was also uncomfortable with the idea that of sharing custody of the daughter with him - what would keep him from abusing the daughter eventually? Just because her own (Hoover's) father did not abuse her doesn't mean Ryle would never hurt their daughter. In fact, abusers often move from one target to others.

The other issue I had was setting it up as a romance. After what Ryle did (kicking furniture and asking her for a no-strings f***), why would she give him the time of day let alone go out with him or form a relationship with him? Given that lots of young adults read her books, I think she should have at least pointed out that this is self-destructive behavior. (hide spoiler)]