After a long wait, “It Ends With Us” has finally hit theaters worldwide. Starring Blake Lively, “It Ends With Us” is captivating audiences, but behind this highly discussed film lies a literary series that made it all possible. To understand the phenomenon that has taken the entertainment scene by storm, we must delve into the novels that inspired it and their leap into the world of film.
Beyond being the most recent film directed by Justin Baldoni, who also stars as Ryle, “It Ends With Us” is the title of the novel published in 2016 by American author Colleen Hoover. Filled with bittersweet notes and reflections of life itself, the book explores falling in love, presenting a story that moves away from romantic idealization and delves into the anatomy of love in all its nuances. Though not an exact reflection of her personal experiences, Hoover admitted to drawing inspiration from her parents’ separation, specifically, her mother’s ability to leave an abusive relationship despite the emotions involved. Beyond entertainment, these novels have sparked conversations about the dynamics of abuse by bringing the dark side of romance to the forefront. With that in mind, let’s explore the books in the “It Ends With Us” saga, what they’re about, and the order in which to read them.
The Books of the “It Ends With Us” Saga
The plot of “It Ends With Us” revolves around Lily Bloom, a young woman whose encounter with Ryle Kincard, a successful neurosurgeon who she falls for almost instantly, rekindles her belief in love. Lily, a dreamer hopeful for the future, begins a relationship with the doctor despite his initial aversion to commitment. However, she soon realizes that her perception of him couldn’t be further from the truth. With a past haunted by ghosts and family traumas, Lily’s life takes a turn when her emotional bond is overshadowed by abuse at the hands of the person she thought would be her safe haven. After a reunion with Atlas Corrigan, the first man she loved as a teenager, Lily, now pregnant with her husband’s child, must make a decision to break the toxic patterns of her lineage and understand that sometimes, idealizing people is the true path to pain.
The plot of “It Starts With Us” picks up where the first installment left off. After making the decision to end her marriage with Ryle to prevent her daughter from witnessing the abuse she experienced firsthand with her parents’ marriage, Lily finds herself in a new era. Amidst a custody agreement for her daughter, Lily reunites with Atlas, but this time, she decides to give love a chance and be true to her feelings. However, her ex-husband’s jealousy begins to threaten the future of their potential relationship. Narrated from the perspective of the protagonist and her new love intermittently, the story delves into Atlas’s past and how he found Lily again, demonstrating once more that abuse is a cycle that’s difficult to break.
In What Order to Read the “It Ends With Us” Books?
To follow the order of the “It Ends With Us” saga books, you should read “It Ends With Us” first, followed by “It Starts With Us.” While the former explores the moment Ryle and Lily meet and the beginnings of their relationship, the latter shows what happens after their divorce and Lily’s journey toward a new romantic opportunity with Atlas.
Who is Colleen Hoover?
Colleen Hoover is the author of the “It Ends With Us” saga, but despite being mostly known as the woman behind the resounding success this project has enjoyed among the reading community and the impact it has had, this wasn’t the beginning of her story. Colleen was born in Sulphur Springs, Texas. From a young age, Hoover found refuge in literature. In 2012, she made her writing debut with “Slammed,” a novel about a young woman who falls in love with a boy with a secret that could tear them apart. The success of this self-published book by Hoover was such that within months, her name appeared on The New York Times bestseller list. To date, she has written over 20 books that have positioned her as a true reference point for young adult novels. Her style often features contemporary romance stories as part of the plot, exploring the feelings of her protagonists, creating a certain realism that makes the audience relive their own experiences and connect with the characters on a new level. While the “It Ends With Us” saga is one of the novelist’s most recognized works, some of her other publications, such as “Verity” and “Regretting You,” will also be making their way to the big screen.
Colleen Hoover is also a co-founder of The Bookworm Box, a project founded with her sisters Lin and Murphy whose purpose is to foster a love for reading and support various causes through activities, conventions, auctions, raffles, and donations in the name of charity.
The Adaptation of “It Ends With Us”
At this point, you’ve likely heard about the release of the adaptation of “It Ends With Us.” However, it’s important to take a step back to understand how this came about. In early July 2023, Sony Pictures revealed that the film would be released in February 2024. Later, they announced that the date would be pushed to June and then to April. Ultimately, the film premiered in August 2024. But the reality is that this is a project Baldoni has been working on since 2019 with Colleen. That year, he presented her with the idea for the first time to Wayfarer Studios and signed on to debut as part of the film. The confirmation of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni as part of the cast sparked countless divided opinions, arguing that the actors’ ages didn’t correspond to Lily and Ryle, who in the book are 23 and 28 respectively. Facing criticism for her choice, Colleen Hoover revealed during an interview with Today that she decided to make the characters older so that the story had a greater sense of coherence. The simple fact that Ryle was a neurosurgeon didn’t correspond to the age he was in the story, thus putting an end to speculation about the change and clarifying the reasons behind it. At the same time, the age change was accompanied by some differences. While the film maintains the same essence as the novel, it’s important to highlight that there are some modifications, ranging from the omission of certain characters from the book in the film—like Lily’s friends, Devin and Lucy, and Ryle’s parents—to small adaptations that don’t interfere with the direction of the story.
