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It Ends With Us Summary, Review, Themes, Quotes and Characters

“It Ends With Us,” a romance novel by Colleen Hoover released in 2016, unravels the tale of a woman named Lily Bloom, set against the backdrop of the bustling city of Boston. 

Full Summary

The story begins on a rooftop where Lily, fresh from her college graduation, is processing her father’s funeral. 

There, she meets Ryle Kincaid, a charming resident surgeon. 

Despite their instant chemistry, their relationship expectations clash: Ryle seeks a casual fling, while Lily yearns for something deeper. Their paths diverge, only to cross again six months later when Lily hires Ryle’s sister, Allysa, for her newly opened flower shop.

As Lily and Ryle’s encounters increase, so does their attraction, leading Ryle to reconsider his stance on relationships. 

Amidst this blooming romance, Lily grapples with her past, revisiting teenage journals that capture her bond with Atlas Corrigan, a homeless boy she once helped. 

These memories, intertwined with witnessing her father’s abuse towards her mother, haunt Lily, making her quest for closure more complex.

The relationship between Lily and Ryle seems idyllic, growing stronger as their lives intertwine. 

However, the unexpected encounter with Atlas after nine years stirs old emotions in Lily. The narrative takes a darker turn when Ryle, in a fit of rage, assaults Lily. 

Confused and hurt, Lily confronts the harsh reality of her situation, drawing unsettling parallels with her mother’s past.

The story intensifies as Atlas, witnessing Lily’s injured eye and Ryle’s bandaged hand, confronts Lily about the abuse. 

Lily, in denial, defends Ryle. However, Atlas’s concern reignites old feelings, reminding Lily of their past closeness and her support during his struggles.

Despite planning to marry Ryle, Lily’s world shatters when Ryle’s jealousy leads to a violent episode, pushing Lily down the stairs. 

This incident forces Lily to reevaluate her relationship, recognizing the toxic patterns mirroring her mother’s abusive past. Torn between her feelings for Ryle and the need to protect herself, Lily grapples with difficult decisions.

The narrative reaches a climax as Lily, pregnant and distressed, seeks refuge with Atlas. 

In a heart-to-heart, Atlas reveals his past attempts to find her, opening the door to potential future romance. As Lily confronts the reality of her abusive relationship, she finds strength in the support of Allysa and her mother, who share their own experiences with abuse.

In the end, Lily’s journey culminates in the birth of her daughter and a resolve to break the cycle of domestic violence. Determined to provide a better life for her child, Lily makes the courageous decision to divorce Ryle. 

The novel closes with a hopeful note as Lily, now a strong, independent mother, opens herself to the possibility of a new beginning with Atlas.

At the heart of the story is Lily Bloom, a 23-year-old redhead with a spirit as vibrant as her hair. 

After graduating from college, she leaves her small town in Maine for Boston. Her life takes a dramatic turn following her father’s death, leading her to abandon a promising career in marketing . Driven by her passion for gardening, Lily opens a flower shop, a testament to her resilience and independence. 

Ryle Kincaid

Ryle, a charismatic and handsome neurosurgeon, grapples with his own demons. 

His life is shadowed by a tragic childhood incident that left him prone to uncontrollable rages. Despite his initial reluctance to form attachments, he falls deeply for Lily, but his love is marred by jealousy and insecurity, leading to a cycle of abuse. 

His journey through the novel is a painful path towards self-awareness and realization of the consequences of his actions.

Atlas Corrigan

Atlas, a figure from Lily’s past, re-emerges as a sign of hope and understanding. His difficult upbringing, marked by homelessness and deprivation, contrasts sharply with his generous spirit and unwavering support for Lily. 

Despite having little to offer materially, Atlas’s emotional strength and enduring love for Lily provide a stark counterpoint to Ryle’s volatile nature. 

His success as a restaurateur symbolizes his triumph over adversity.

Andrew Bloom

Andrew, Lily’s father, looms over the story as a figure of torment and contradiction. 

As Plethora’s former mayor, he maintained a façade of respectability while harboring a violent, abusive streak. 

His treatment of his wife and daughter, and his attack on Atlas, paint a picture of a deeply flawed man, whose occasional moments of remorse only highlight his complex nature.

Jenny Bloom

Jenny, Lily’s mother, embodies the quiet strength of enduring adversity. Her life, marred by her husband’s abuse, is a poignant narrative of survival and resilience. 

After Andrew’s death, Jenny’s move to Boston and her decision to start dating again signal a new chapter in her life, offering Lily a new perspective on strength and endurance.

Allysa Kincaid

Allysa, Lily’s vibrant and wealthy best friend, provides a contrast to Lily’s troubled life. As Ryle’s sister, her relationship with Lily is complicated yet unwaveringly supportive. 

Her journey through struggles with fertility, culminating in the birth of her daughter, adds a layer of joy and hope to the narrative.

I just loved it. 

Here’s the deal: I’m not even going to tease you with what this story is about. Why? 

Because it’s Colleen Hoover, people! 

You know you’re in for a treat that’s going to twist your heart in the best possible way. 

I dove into this book blind, and whoa, was I blown away! 

It’s like going on a mystery trip where you trust the pilot—here, our beloved author Colleen—completely. 

She’s going to take you places you didn’t even know you needed to go.

This book? 

Unputdownable. 

Seriously, try to put it down. I dare you. 

I started reading late one night, and next thing I knew, the sun was rising, and I was still glued to the pages, living and breathing Lily Bloom’s story. 

The emotional depth, the raw honesty—just wow.

Lily Bloom, our heroine, is a force to be reckoned with. I fell in love with her instantly, but by the end? 

I was ready to start a fan club in her honor. Her strength, resilience, and sheer willpower are something every reader, regardless of gender, needs to witness. She’s not just a character in a book; she’s a beacon of hope, a testament to the power of self-worth and bravery.

The narrative weaves a powerful message, so subtly at first, you might miss it. 

But as the story unfolds, you realize you’re not just reading a book—you’re getting a lesson in life, love, and the hard choices one sometimes has to make. It’s a raw, honest look at issues so many face yet are often afraid to talk about.

And let’s clear the air about the ‘ love triangle ‘ thing. 

If you think that’s what this is about, think again. It’s so much deeper, so much more profound than that. Trust Colleen on this journey; she’s the captain of this ship, and she knows exactly where she’s taking us.

As a die-hard romance reader, I was thrilled by how refreshing this book felt. 

It steps outside the typical romance boundaries, delving deeper, making you think, feel, and perhaps even change a little. 

It’s the kind of story I wish filled my shelves—not the exact plot, but books that dare to be different, that challenge norms and make you look at the world in a new light.

The title? 

Oh, just wait until you see how it fits into the story. I had my ‘aha’ moment and let out a cheer. It’s so apt, so perfect, it’s almost poetic.

I re-read this book just to write this review, and let me tell you, it’s like reading two different stories. The layers, the nuances—you catch so much more the second time around. It’s a book that keeps on giving.

And let’s talk movie potential—Hollywood, are you listening? 

This book screams to be on the big screen. I could visualize every scene, every emotion. It’s not just Lily’s story; it’s a story that resonates on a universal level, and it deserves to be shared far and wide.

I’ve refrained from quoting anything because, honestly, you need to experience every word fresh, without any spoilers. 

Dive into this book blindfolded, and let it sweep you off your feet.

1. The Cycle of Domestic Abuse

“It Ends With Us” delves deeply into the complexities and nuances of domestic abuse. 

Through Lily’s experiences, both as a child witnessing her mother’s suffering and as an adult enduring her own turmoil, the novel explores how abuse can become a vicious cycle. 

The narrative thoughtfully illustrates how victims of abuse often find themselves in similar situations as their abusers or in relationships that mirror the abuse they’ve seen or experienced in the past. 

This theme is not just a backdrop but a critical element of the story, as it shapes the characters’ decisions and the overall arc of the narrative. 

The book does not shy away from the painful realities of abuse, including the emotional confusion, the struggle to break free, and the societal pressures that often keep victims trapped in these cycles.

2. Complex Human Relationships

Hoover’s novel intricately portrays the complexities inherent in human relationships. 

It shows how love, attraction, and emotional connections are multifaceted and often contradictory. The relationship between Lily and Ryle, for instance, is not just a straightforward romance but is laden with layers of conflict, desire, and misunderstanding. 

Similarly, Lily’s bond with Atlas highlights the interplay of past and present emotions, showcasing how past experiences and relationships continue to influence the present. 

The book adeptly captures the dilemma of the heart in situations where love is entangled with hurt and betrayal. 

This theme reinforces the idea that human relationships are complex and often unpredictable, shaped by a myriad of factors beyond just affection.

3. The Journey of Self-Discovery and Empowerment

Central to the novel is Lily’s journey of self-discovery and empowerment. 

Beginning as a character haunted by her past and entangled in an abusive relationship, Lily gradually evolves into a stronger, more independent individual. 

Her journey is marked by introspection, resilience, and the courage to confront uncomfortable truths about her life and relationships. 

The novel emphasizes the importance of self-awareness in breaking free from destructive patterns. Lily’s growth is depicted not just in her decision to leave Ryle but also in her ability to open herself to new possibilities and make choices that prioritize her well-being and that of her child. 

This theme resonates deeply, portraying the challenging yet empowering path towards self-liberation and healing.

Final Thoughts

“It Ends With Us” is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking novel that tackles the complex realities of abusive relationships with sensitivity and realism. 

Colleen Hoover skillfully weaves a narrative that is not only a romance but also a perfect exploration of the cycles of abuse and the courage it takes to break them. 

This book not only entertains but also educates, offering insights into the difficult decisions and internal conflicts faced by those trapped in abusive situations. 

It Ends with Us

64 pages • 2 hours read

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Chapters 1-4

Chapters 5-8

Chapters 9-12

Chapters 13-16

Chapters 17-20

Chapters 21-24

Chapters 25-28

Chapters 29-32

Chapter 32-Epilogue

Character Analysis

Symbols & Motifs

Important Quotes

Essay Topics

Summary and Study Guide

It Ends with Us is a 2016 romance novel by Colleen Hoover. The novel tells the story of Lily Bloom and her doomed romance with Ryle Kincaid and traces her past history growing up in an abusive home, her fall into an abusive relationship, and her escape from that relationship. Colleen Hoover is the author of several best-selling novels, including Verity , Ugly Love , and All Your Perfects . In 2022, Hoover published a sequel to It Ends With Us titled It Starts with Us .

The novel opens with Lily—a young college graduate living in Boston—on a rooftop, clearing her thoughts after her father’s funeral. There, she encounters Ryle Kincaid, a resident surgeon. The couple has chemistry, but it becomes clear that both have different aims when it comes to relationships. Ryle only wants a casual fling, while Lily is looking for a relationship. The two part ways but meet again six months later, when Lily hires Ryle’s sister, Allysa, to work at a flower shop she has recently opened. Lily and Ryle’s attraction to each other only increases the more they happen upon each other, until Ryle decides to explore a relationship with Lily, despite his earlier reluctance. Throughout this time, Lily finds herself revisiting her past and longing for closure with the death of her father, who was abusive towards her mother. To find it, she rereads old journals that she wrote when she was 15. Those journals narrate her encounter with Atlas Corrigan , a homeless, 18-year-old boy. As a teen, Lily was moved to help him when he was without a home and family, and they became close when he supported Lily through her witnessing her father abusing her mother. In the present day, Lily wonders if she isn’t also seeking closure with Atlas as well.

The romance between Lily and Ryle appears perfect, their feelings only intensifying as they spend more time together and become embedded in each other’s lives. Lily and Allysa are now best friends, and Ryle even meets Lily’s mother. One night while having dinner with Ryle and her mother, Lily runs into Atlas. She hasn’t seen him for nine years, and although she is happy that he seems well, she feels hurt at the distance between them. In the end, she tells herself that this is the closure she had sought, especially now that she’s with Ryle. However, Lily and Ryle’s happiness comes to an end when during an evening she and Ryle are to spend together, Ryle lashes out in a rage, hurting Lily. Afterwards, Ryle is apologetic and Lily allows him to comfort her, feeling confused and hurt about the incident. Ryle swears that he isn’t like Lily’s father, who Lily has told him about. Lily threatens to leave him if it happens again and tells herself that Ryle is not like her father. They both declare their love for one another.

The next day, Lily, Ryle, Allysa, and Marshall are eating at the restaurant where Lily saw Atlas. Atlas sees Lily’s wounded eye and Ryle’s bandaged hand and comes to the correct conclusion that Ryle has assaulted Lily.

When Atlas confronts Lily in the restroom, she defends Ryle. Furious, Atlas compares Lily to her mother, whose abuse he had witnessed years ago, when he and Lily had been close. Ryle finds them talking and Atlas attacks him, eventually throwing him out of the restaurant. Ryle asks Lily for reassurance that she isn’t being unfaithful to him with Atlas. Lily stresses to him that she only has feelings for Ryle.

Atlas comes to Lily’s shop and apologizes to Lily for comparing her to her mother at the restaurant. He brings her a gift that he had her gotten her long ago and leaves his phone number, in case of an emergency. His visit and concern remind Lily of her attachment to Atlas years ago. For months, Atlas lived in an abandoned house with Lily providing him food, clothing, use of her home’s shower, and her bedroom floor to sleep on during winter. Cast out from his home and without a family, Atlas intended to finish high school on his own, and join the military. As Lily provides him help and companionship, their relationship changes from friendship to romance. Atlas is eventually able to contact an uncle and leaves for Boston to live with him, leaving Lily heartbroken, but happy that he has found a place to stay. Atlas returns on Lily’s sixteenth birthday, promising to find her in the future, but that night, Lily’s father finds Atlas with Lily in her room and attacks him, sending him to the hospital. Lily hadn’t heard from Atlas since then and always felt sadness that Atlas never tried to find her like he promised. However, she knows now that her future is with Ryle.

This seems to be the case as Lily meets Ryle’s parents, and she and Ryle decide to get married. One night, Ryle finds Atlas’s number in Lily’s phone. Jealous and upset, Ryle leaves. When Lily goes after him to try to explain, Ryle pushes her down the stairs. In the aftermath, Ryle at first refuses responsibility for his actions, and simply asks Lily to tell him that she isn’t being unfaithful. Lily explains how Atlas came to her shop, and throws Ryle out of her apartment. Ryle again pleads for forgiveness, and even approaches his sister, who intercedes for Ryle. Ryle tells Lily the story of how his brother died when 6-year-old Ryle accidentally shot him. Since then, Ryle confesses, he has suffered from rages. Lily is torn between her feelings for Ryle and the resemblances between her situation, and the abusive situation between her father and mother. Lily tells him that she is willing to help Ryle, but that she needs to know when he needs help.

After the incident, Ryle appears to be improving, but one night he again confronts Lily over her relationship with Atlas, threatening her, almost raping her, and hurting her when she tries to defend herself. Lily calls Atlas and leaves to the hospital, where she discovers that she is pregnant.

Distraught, Lily goes to stay with Atlas for several days. Ryle finds her at her shop after, but tells her that he is leaving for England for three months. Not ready to go back to her apartment, Lily returns to Atlas’s place. Atlas admits to Lily that he did look for her after he finished his first tour, but found her happy and didn’t think his life was good enough for her then. He takes her back to her apartment, and confesses he has feelings for her. He makes clear that he understands that she is busy with her own situation now, and only hopes that someday a relationship between them can be possible.

As time passes, Lily feels torn about telling both Allysa and her mother about her pregnancy. She feels alone and in need of their support, but she is frightened that they will convince her to take Ryle back. Allysa, however, suspects that something has happened between Lily and Ryle and confronts Lily. Relieved, Lily discusses the abuse she’s suffered, as well as her pregnancy. Despite Ryle being Allysa’s brother, Allysa urges Lily to leave him. Lily finally approaches her mother, who speaks of her own experience with abuse and how she became more tolerant of it the longer she stayed. Lily’s mother also encourages Lily to leave Ryle.

Ryle has returned and learned about Lily’s pregnancy. He wants her forgiveness, but Lily keeps him at a distance. Eventually, she lets him participate as a father, helping her during the final months of the pregnancy. Despite accepting his help, Lily refuses to make a decision about their relationship before the birth. After Lily gives birth to a girl, she realizes that she doesn’t want her baby to grow up witnessing abuse. She decides that she will divorce Ryle to break the pattern of domestic violence. Eleven months later, she runs into Atlas and indicates that she is ready to have a relationship with him.

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“It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover Report

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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.

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).

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.

Hoover, C. (2020). It Ends with Us: A Novel . Pocket Books.

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It Ends with Us

Colleen hoover.

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Lily has recently moved to Boston after finishing her master’s degree in business. At this point in her life, Lily is caught somewhere between the past and the future. The opening scene finds her on a rooftop deck contemplating the eulogy she delivered earlier that day for her father ’s funeral. It bothers her that she still feels overwhelming rage at her father, who was beloved by his community but abused Lily’s mother behind closed doors. Lily is also still angry at herself and her mother for keeping the domestic violence a secret.

In the midst of wrestling with these complexities, Lily meets Ryle Kincaid , a neurosurgery resident who has also come to the rooftop to work through his anger. They are immediately at ease with each other, exchanging “naked truths” about themselves and sharing their deepest thoughts. Ryle explains that he wants to be the best surgeon in his field, and Lily tells Ryle that she longs to quit her job in marketing and open her own floral shop. Ryle tells Lily he wants to have sex with her. Though Lily finds Ryle very attractive, she explains that she doesn’t have one-night stands with strangers. Ryle gets a call from the hospital and has to leave abruptly.

Six months later, Lily brings her mother to the storefront space she purchased with her inheritance money to open her shop. Later that day, Lily hires Allysa , whose enthusiasm, determination, and vision for the space win Lily over. They become fast friends. When Lily accidentally sprains her ankle in the process setting up shop, Allysa calls her brother and her husband, Marshall, who’ve been watching football at a nearby bar, for help. When the men arrive, Lily realizes that Allysa’s brother is Ryle, the man she met on the roof.

After reconnecting at the floral shop, Lily and Ryle continue to run into each other, though they attempt to ignore their attraction to each other because of their conflicting long-term goals. With every meeting, however, their sexual tension grows. Lily tries to distract herself by reading entries from her childhood diaries, which she addressed to her hero, Ellen DeGeneres . In so doing, Lily relives parts of her childhood she hasn’t thought of in many years, like specific episodes of her father’s abuse. Reading her diaries also reminds Lily of her classmate, Atlas Corrigan , whom she befriended after noticing him living in the abandoned house across the ally from Lily’s childhood home.

In the present, Lily and Ryle decide to give dating a chance despite their reservations. Ryle is amazed by Lily’s supportiveness of his career, finding that a loving relationship adds to rather than detracts from his goals. In return, Lily finds Ryle’s devotion a blissful complement to the escalating success of her business. They become enmeshed in each other’s lives. Ryle wants to meet Lily’s mother, so the three of them have lunch at a new restaurant in Boston, Bib’s. While Ryle and Lily’s mom hit it off, Lily is distracted when she recognizes their waiter as Atlas, her childhood friend. Lily lingers after her mother and Ryle leave the restaurant, and she and Atlas catch up for the first time in nine years. Lily tells him about her business and relationship with Ryle, and Atlas tells her about his time in the military and his girlfriend, Cassie . Though Lily feels a pang of jealousy when Atlas mentions his girlfriend, she leaves the conversation feeling like she finally has some clarity on their relationship and is eager to move forward.

Still, Lily continues to reread her old journals. The entries recount how her feelings for Atlas continued to grow. Together, they endured their traumas and made plans for a happy future together in Boston. One evening, Atlas gave Lily an open heart he’d carved from the tree between their homes as a symbol of their connection and his feelings for her. Their blossoming love was derailed, however, when Atlas’s uncle in Boston offered him a home—something Atlas couldn’t turn down, though it meant he had to leave Lily behind in Maine.

Back in present-day Boston, Ryle and Lily’s relationship continues to flourish—until it doesn’t. They’re sharing a bottle of wine one evening when Ryle accidentally burns his hand while grabbing dinner out of the oven. Lily’s shocked laughter angers Ryle, and he pushes her into a cabinet. When he apologizes, all Lily can hear is the echo of all her father’s apologies after hurting her mother. The episode forces Lily to re-evaluate her relationship with Ryle, and while she is horrified by his behavior, she believes he is different from her father and decides not to punish him for her father’s sins. Lily forgives Ryle, but she warns him that she will leave if he hurts her again.

The next day, Lily and Ryle meet Allysa and Marshall at Bib’s. They run into Atlas, as Lily feared they would, and when he sees Lily’s injury and the bandage on Ryle’s hand, he automatically assumes—correctly—that Ryle hurt her. Atlas follows Lily to the bathroom to check on her, and a fight nearly breaks out when Ryle finds them leaving the restroom together. After they leave Bib’s, Lily explains her history with Atlas. Ryle worries that she is cheating on him, but she reassures him Atlas is only a concerned friend. The next day, Atlas visits Lily at her work and gives her his phone number, which he hides behind her phone’s battery. He tells her to call him if she ever needs him one day. Later, Lily returns home to read the last entry in her journal, which recounts the night Atlas came back from Boston to visit Lily for her birthday. He explained to her on that night how she had saved his life. Atlas promised to come find her once he improved his life enough to deserve having her in it; he gave her a Boston magnet as a symbol of that promise.

Ryle and Lily decide to fly to Las Vegas and get married. The beginning of their marriage is happy and carefree, much like their dating life, until one evening when Ryle finds Atlas’s phone number in Lily’s phone. Lily wakes from another violent incident with several cuts on her face and a concussion. Unlike the last time Ryle hurt her, Lily does not cover for him after this incident. When Allysa finds out about the abuse, she supports Lily’s decision to leave Ryle, but she begs Ryle to tell Lily about their brother. Lily learns that Ryle accidentally shot and killed his brother, Emerson , as a kid. This trauma has been a key driver of his passion for medicine, his fear of love, and his manic, rage-filled episodes. In light of this new information and Ryle’s promise to do better, the couple reconciles.

Another stretch of undisturbed happiness follows. Ryle buys Lily an apartment in the same building as Allysa, who is pregnant, and they all excitedly await the arrival of Allysa and Marshall’s baby to arrive. On the day Allysa goes into labor, Ryle wins a two-month fellowship in Europe, and the local paper lists Lily’s flower shop as one of the best new businesses in Boston. Lily and Ryle are in awe of their new niece and decide to start trying for their own baby.

But one night, Lily arrives home to find Ryle drunk and angry. Ryle explains that he read the newspaper story about Boston’s best new businesses more closely and found that Atlas’s restaurant is featured in it. In Atlas’s interview, he explains that the name stands for “Better in Boston”—just like Lily’s magnet. Ryle then decides to go through Lily’s things and finds the carved heart, which is identical to the tattoo on Lily’s shoulder. Reading Lily’s journals further convince Ryle that Lily is harboring secret feelings for Atlas. Ryle’s most violent episodes follows. When Lily struggles, he headbutts her, rendering her unconscious. In an effort to deescalate the situation, Lily agrees to forgive a remorseful Ryle. Once he falls asleep, she escapes.

Lily calls Atlas, who takes her to the hospital. There, she finds out she is pregnant with Ryle’s baby. While Lily decides what to do, Atlas lets her sleep in his guest room. The next day, Ryle tells her that he is going to Europe for his fellowship, giving her space for the next two months. He doesn’t know about the pregnancy. Lily finds sanctuary with Atlas at first, though she is worried about what his girlfriend will think. Then, when his friends come over for a poker game, Lily discovers that Atlas made up Cassie. When Lily confronts Atlas about the lie, he tells her that he didn’t want her to feel bad for him ending up alone or guilty for never coming back to him. Lily then asks Atlas why he didn’t keep his promise of finding her. He admits he did come for her in college, but he saw that she was dating someone else. They agree that their feelings for each other and Lily’s current situation with Ryle make things too complicated, so Lily goes back to her empty apartment. Before she leaves, Atlas tells her that if she is ever willing to fall in love again, he will be waiting.

Back home, Lily finally tells Allysa what Ryle did to her, and she also shares the news of her pregnancy. Shortly after, Ryle comes home early to try to work things out with Lily. Marshall agrees to serve as a moderator and protector while they talk. Lily is visibly pregnant when Ryle sees her. Ryle begs her to let him come home so they can raise the baby together. She tells him to leave and admits she wishes the baby wasn’t his. Lily then fills her mother in about the abuse and the baby; she also admits that she still loves Ryle. Lily’s mom expresses how proud she is of Lily for leaving. She tells Lily that if Ryle really loved her like he says he does, he wouldn’t let Lily take him back.

As Lily’s pregnancy progresses, she and Ryle form a tentative truce. Lily lets him help her out in small ways at first, and eventually she is comfortable enough to let him stay in the apartment in case of emergencies. When their daughter is born, Ryle is by her side. Lily suggests that they name her Emerson— Emmy —in honor of Ryle’s late brother. Ryle is overcome with love. When he asks Lily for an answer about the future of their marriage, Lily asks him what he would do if Emmy told him that her boyfriend hit her. Ryle, understanding the point of Lily’s question, is devastated but supportive when Lily asks for a divorce. Lily hopes that this decision has broken the cycle of abuse she and her mother endured, ensuring Emmy will never suffer the way they did.

Nearly a year later, the epilogue finds Lily rushing down the street with Emmy to drop her off with Ryle. On her way, she runs into Atlas. Lily introduces him to her daughter, then they part ways. After Lily meets up with Ryle and says goodbye to Emmy, she runs back the way she came and catches up with Atlas. She tells him she’s ready to be with him. They kiss, and Lily feels as if her struggle to survive is over.

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'It Ends With Us' Ending Explained: Does Lily End Up With Atlas?

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Editor's Note: The following contains spoilers for It Ends with Us and discusses the topic of domestic abuse and sexual assault.

Book-to-movie adaptations often bring in a large crowd due to the pre-established success of the book, and It Ends with Us is no exception. The movie, which is an adaptation of Colleen Hoover ’s novel of the same name, stars Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni in the lead roles of Lily Bloom and Ryle Kincaid and has been quite a hot topic since its release. With behind-the-scenes drama reportedly plaguing the cast , and awful marketing causing flack online , the movie has been subject to its fair share of criticism . On the flip side, audiences have given it a lot of love, and its box office numbers are no slouch , making it a bonafide success. But a lot happened in It Ends with Us ’s final act, so let’s break it all down, shall we?

What Is ‘It Ends With Us’ About?

It Ends with Us follows Lily Bloom, who moves to Boston to chase her dream of opening her own flower shop. There she bumps into a handsome and charming man named Ryle, a hot-headed neurosurgeon who immediately sweeps her off her feet. Their love story is juxtaposed by flashbacks of a teenaged Lily ( Isabela Ferrer ) and a boy named Atlas ( Alex Neustaedter ), who we come to learn is her first love. Also plaguing Lily’s flashbacks is her father, Andrew ( Kevin McKidd ) , who was physically abusive towards her mother. This is reflected in the present day when Ryle begins showing a darker side of himself that Lily has never seen before. There are several incidents where Lily is injured, with Ryle explaining them away as accidents.

Around the same time, Lily and Atlas (now played by Brandon Sklenar ) bump into each other at his restaurant, and it's obvious their love for each other has never fully gone away . After Lily and Ryle get married, she starts to realize the severity of the issues in her and Ryle’s relationship and that her injuries may not be as accidental as he claims them to be . With Atlas’s help, Lily manages to leave Ryle once and for all, but this all takes place in a pretty heavy and packed final act.

Does Lily Leave Ryle In ‘It Ends With Us’?

Before Lily and Ryle marry, Atlas gives Lily his phone number in case she ever needs his help. This comes after a heated confrontation between Atlas and Ryle when Atlas sees Lily with a black eye . She tucks the piece of paper with his number inside her phone case for safekeeping. But one night, he discovers it after he drops her phone. He reveals to her that he called the number and discovered that it belongs to Atlas. This sparks an argument, as Ryle is extremely insecure when it comes to Atlas and doesn’t trust Lily when she tells him that nothing is going on between them. As she follows him out of their apartment during their argument, she ends up falling down the stairs, and the scene abruptly fades to black before we can properly see what happened . Still, we, the audience, know that Ryle purposefully pushed her. When she wakes up, Ryle is stitching a gnarly cut on her forehead and is softly trying to calm her as she begins to panic. He tells her that in the heat of the moment, she fell, and he tried to catch her to no avail. She accepts this as a fact since she hit her head and isn’t able to recall the contrary, though we as the viewers know the truth.

'It Ends With Us' Was Right to Age Up Its Characters

The adaptation of 'It Ends With Us' ages the characters up by over a decade.

This is a major event for Lily, but it isn’t until a little while later that she gets the courage to leave. Lily is over the moon when she discovers that her flower shop is featured in a local magazine of the 10 Best Businesses . She goes home that night and is excited to celebrate the achievement with Ryle, but he turns the focus to Atlas, whose restaurant, Root, has been given the number one spot. In the magazine interview, Atlas reveals that he named the restaurant after a girl who he carved a heart into a hollow tree for. Ryle immediately clocks this as being Lily and forces her to read it aloud to him. He then asks her if she still loves Atlas, to which she says she doesn’t know. Furious, Ryle forces himself on Lily, leaves a painful bite mark around the tattoo she got for Atlas, and attempts to rape her.

Thankfully, she manages to fight him and gets away before he can hurt her further, but it’s a terrifying moment nonetheless. It’s during this particular attack that Lily begins to reframe all of Ryle’s past outbursts in her mind and sees them for what they really were, and not the accidents he led her to believe. She drives to Atlas’s restaurant, and he drops everything to take her to the hospital, staying with her throughout the entire ordeal. But Lily’s night is far from over because the nurse taking care of her drops a final bombshell on her: Lily is pregnant with Ryle’s baby.

Lily Takes Back Her Power In ‘It Ends With Us’

After discovering she’s pregnant, Lily stays with Atlas for a few days, during which he informs her that she saved his life when they were teenagers and that if she decides to keep the baby he knows she will be an amazing mother. She also meets up with Allysa ( Jenny Slate ), Ryle’s sister and Lily’s best friend and co-worker, who gives her an emotional talk in what is one of the movie’s most emotional moments . She explains to Lily the truth about their other sibling, something that Ryle has been extremely secretive about. When Ryle was six years old, he got hold of their father’s gun, thinking it was a toy, and accidentally shot and killed their brother Emerson. As much as she loves her brother, she knows the kind of person he is and that he needs to get help before he can be the kind of man Lily or her daughter needs, something she tells Lily as bluntly as she can: "As his sister, I wish more than anything that you find a way to forgive him. But as your best friend, I have to tell you that if you take him back, I will never speak to you again."

From this moment on, Lily takes her power back and goes on with her pregnancy by herself. We get a sweet montage of her putting together baby furniture with her mom, painting the nursery, and finding out that she’s having a girl. But then Ryle shows up, and we learn that she has invited him over so he can be at least partially involved. He helps Lily build the crib and is about to leave afterward when Lily asks him if he would like to feel the baby kick. He, of course, says yes and then begs Lily to give him another chance, promising that he’s going to seek help for his anger issues and that he will never hurt her again. But she stands her ground and declines his requests for her to come home.

Still, Ryle is by Lily's side when she gives birth. After the baby is born, she tells him that she would like to name her after his brother, Emerson and that they can call her “Emmy” for short. She then tells him that she wants a divorce , which catches Ryle off guard, but she doesn’t even give him a second to argue before she doubles down on her request, refusing to take no for an answer. She then asks him a question that changes everything and makes him understand where she’s coming from.

“What if one day she came to you and said ‘my boyfriend hit me’, what would you say to her? What if she said ‘Daddy my husband pushed me down the stairs, but he said it was an accident, so it’s fine’? What if she said her husband held her down and she begged him to stop, but he swore he’d never do it again. What would you tell her?”

Ryle says that he would beg her to leave him and that he’d beg her never to go back. Finally, it clicks for him and he understands what he has put Lily through, never wanting his daughter to experience the same thing he’s inflicted. He leaves, and Lily is left cradling their daughter, whispering to her, “It stops right here, with you and me. It ends with us.”

‘It Ends With Us’ Movie Tweaks the Book Ending

The movie ends with a flash forward of Lily, her mother, and Emmy visiting Lily’s father’s grave, where she introduces her father to his granddaughter and leaves the blank list from her eulogy on his tombstone. Months later, the three are at a farmer’s market when Lily and Atlas unexpectedly bump into each other once again. He asks her if she’s still with Ryle, but she confirms that it’s just her and Emmy. She then asks him if he has anyone special in his life, to which he replies, “No. Not yet.” And the credits roll.

This ending is slightly different from that of the book . Both still end with Lily and Atlas finding one another again and rekindling their romance, but unlike the movie where it is only heavily implied, the book makes it known that they are getting back together. In the book, she bumps into Atlas and tells him that she is ready to be loved by him again . He then kisses the heart tattoo on her collarbone and tells her, “You can stop swimming now, Lily. We finally reached the shore.” The change for the movie is likely to build intrigue for a sequel, but also because the book had Lily and Ryle co-parenting Emerson. The movie instead focuses on Lily taking her power back and leaving Ryle once and for all, so in a way, this change allowed Lily's happy ending to be more about her breaking the pattern than who she ends up with romantically.

It Ends With Us

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Home — Guides — It Ends with Us — Characters in ‘It Ends with Us

by Colleen Hoover

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Atlas Corrigan

Ryle kincaid, jenny bloom, andrew bloom, ellen degeneres.

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It Ends with Us: Characters

Table of contents, emerson (ryle and allysa's brother).

Lily Bloom, the protagonist of Colleen Hoover's novel "It Ends With Us," is a complex and dynamic character who undergoes significant personal growth throughout the story. Initially, she is portrayed as a strong and independent woman who runs her own business and is determined to succeed. However, as the novel progresses, her strength is tested as she confronts her painful past and struggles to make difficult choices.

One of Lily's defining characteristics is her empathy and compassion. From a young age, she is shown to care deeply about others, especially those who are vulnerable or disadvantaged. This is evident in her relationship with her mother, who has suffered from domestic abuse, and in her work as a nurse, where she is often the only source of comfort and support for her patients. Her compassion is also shown in her relationships with Ryle and Atlas, as she tries to understand and help both of them despite their flaws.

At the same time, Lily also has a strong sense of independence and self-preservation. She is not willing to compromise her own values or well-being for the sake of others, and this is exemplified in her decision to leave her abusive father and to end her relationship with Ryle when she realizes that he is not capable of changing his behavior. However, her independence also leads her to make choices that are not always in her best interest, such as when she pushes Atlas away because she is afraid of being hurt again.

Throughout the novel, Lily grapples with the legacy of her father's abuse and its impact on her relationships with men. She is torn between her love for Ryle and her fear of repeating the cycle of abuse, and this conflict drives much of the novel's tension. As she begins to understand the complexities of domestic abuse and the psychological toll it takes on victims and abusers alike, she becomes more introspective and reflective, grappling with her own biases and limitations. Ultimately, her decision to break the cycle of abuse and to end her relationship with Ryle is a testament to her strength and courage.

Another notable aspect of Lily's character is her growth over the course of the novel. She begins the story as a confident and self-assured young woman, but as she confronts the trauma of her past and the challenges of her present, she becomes more vulnerable and introspective. Her decision to open up to Atlas about her past and her fears is a turning point in her character arc, as it marks a shift towards greater emotional maturity and self-awareness. By the end of the novel, Lily is no longer the same person she was at the beginning, and her growth is a testament to her resilience and determination.

Overall, Lily Bloom from It Ends With Us is a complex and multifaceted character who defies easy categorization. She is a woman of great strength and compassion, but also of vulnerability and fear. Her journey through the novel is one of self-discovery and personal growth, as she confronts the trauma of her past and grapples with the challenges of her present. Ultimately, her decision to break the cycle of abuse and to choose her own happiness is a testament to her strength, resilience, and unwavering spirit.

In Colleen Hoover's novel " It Ends With Us", Atlas Corrigan is one of the main characters. He is introduced to the reader as the first love of Lily Bloom, the protagonist. Atlas is described as a handsome and charming young man with a tragic past. Throughout the novel, his character undergoes significant development and the reader gets to see different facets of his personality.

One of the most notable things about Atlas is his resilience. He comes from a difficult background, having grown up in foster care after his mother's death. Despite this, he manages to become a successful artist and build a new life for himself. He is also very supportive of Lily, and their connection runs deep due to their shared experiences. Despite the time that has passed since they last saw each other, he still cares for her deeply and wants to protect her from harm.

Atlas is also portrayed as a compassionate and caring person. He shows this side of his personality when he helps Lily take care of her father, who is suffering from Alzheimer's disease. He is patient and kind with him, which highlights his empathetic nature. Moreover, Atlas is very supportive of Lily's dreams and ambitions. He encourages her to pursue her goals and provides her with emotional support when she needs it.

Another aspect of Atlas' character is his artistic side. He is an accomplished artist who creates beautiful and thought-provoking paintings. His art is a reflection of his own experiences and emotions, and he often uses it to express his feelings. Lily is drawn to his art and appreciates the way that it speaks to her on a deep level.

However, Atlas also has a dark side. He struggles with addiction and is unable to overcome it on his own. This puts a strain on his relationship with Lily, as she tries to support him while also dealing with her own problems. His addiction leads to a series of events that threaten their relationship and force Lily to make difficult choices.

Overall, Atlas is a complex and multifaceted character. He is resilient, compassionate, and supportive, but also struggles with addiction and has a troubled past. His character serves as a reminder that people are not defined by their past experiences and that they can overcome even the most difficult of circumstances.

Ryle Kincaid is one of the main characters in Colleen Hoover's novel "I t Ends With Us ". He is a successful neurosurgeon, handsome and charming, and seems to have everything going for him. However, as the story progresses, we see a darker side to Ryle's character.

At first, Ryle seems to be the perfect man for Lily Bloom. He is kind, considerate, and supportive of her dreams. He is also successful in his career and has a charismatic personality. However, as Lily gets to know Ryle better, she discovers that he has a dark side to him. Ryle has a violent temper, which he blames on his upbringing and past experiences. He admits to having been physically abusive to a past girlfriend, and Lily is shocked and disturbed by this revelation.

Ryle's violent tendencies are a result of his past trauma, which is revealed to the reader through his own personal reflections and conversations with Lily. He has a complex relationship with his father, who was abusive to him and his mother. Ryle's experiences have made him believe that violence is a necessary means of self-preservation, and he struggles to control his temper when he feels threatened.

Throughout the novel, Ryle's character is developed through his interactions with Lily and the other characters. As Lily begins to fall in love with Ryle, she becomes more and more conflicted about his past and his temper. She wants to believe that he has changed and will never hurt her, but she is also aware of the risks of staying in a relationship with someone who has a history of violence.

Ryle's character arc in the novel is one of self-discovery and growth. As he becomes more aware of the impact of his actions on others, he begins to take steps to control his temper and become a better person. He seeks help from a therapist, and he opens up to Lily about his struggles with anger management. He also takes steps to make amends with his ex-girlfriend and repair the damage he caused in their relationship.

Overall, Ryle Kincaid is a complex character who struggles with his past trauma and the impact it has had on his personality. While he initially seems like the perfect man for Lily, his violent tendencies make it difficult for her to trust him. Through his growth and self-reflection, he is able to acknowledge his flaws and work towards becoming a better person.

Allysa is a minor character in " It Ends With Us " by Colleen Hoover, She plays a significant role in Lily Bloom's life. She is Lily's best friend since childhood and is portrayed as a supportive and caring friend throughout the story.

Allysa's character is introduced early in the novel as Lily's closest friend, who is always there for her in times of need. She is shown to be a calming presence in Lily's life, helping her deal with the stress of running her business and supporting her emotionally through the ups and downs of her relationship with Ryle. Allysa also encourages Lily to pursue her dreams and stands by her when she makes the difficult decision to end things with Ryle.

One of the most notable qualities of Allysa's character is her loyalty to Lily. Even when she disagrees with Lily's decisions, she always supports her and tries to understand where she is coming from. This is evident when Lily confesses to Allysa about her complicated relationship with Ryle and how she is struggling with her feelings for him. Despite not agreeing with Lily's decision to continue seeing Ryle, Allysa remains a supportive friend and listens to Lily's concerns.

Another significant aspect of Allysa's character is her role as a voice of reason. She provides a grounded perspective to Lily's impulsive nature, helping her think through her decisions logically. This is exemplified when Lily is torn between Ryle and Atlas, and Allysa reminds her to think about what she wants and what will make her happy in the long run.

Allysa's character also serves as a foil to Lily's mother, who struggles with addiction throughout the story. While Lily's mother is unable to provide the support and stability that Lily needs, Allysa is always there for her friend, offering a listening ear and a shoulder to lean on.

In summary, Allysa's character is portrayed as a loyal, supportive, and level-headed friend. She is a calming presence in Lily's life, offering her emotional support and helping her make difficult decisions. Her character provides a stark contrast to Lily's unstable home life, highlighting the importance of strong friendships in times of need.

Jenny Bloom is a significant character in the novel "It Ends With Us" by Colleen Hoover. She is Lily's mother, and her past experiences have heavily influenced her character and behavior.

Jenny's character is portrayed as a victim of domestic abuse who has struggled to leave her abusive husband. Her inability to leave her husband resulted in Lily and her sister, Alyssa, being exposed to their father's violent behavior. Despite this, Jenny is a caring mother who tries to protect her children from their father's anger. However, her constant denial of the abuse that was happening in front of her eyes is a testament to her lack of courage and willingness to change her situation.

Jenny's character is also shown to be hypocritical. She is a feminist and promotes women's rights, but she is not willing to stand up for herself and is instead willing to endure abuse to maintain her lifestyle. This makes it difficult for Lily to understand her mother's decisions, as she struggles to reconcile Jenny's feminist beliefs with her inaction in her own life.

Jenny's character evolves throughout the novel as Lily begins to understand her mother's past experiences and the reasons behind her choices. Jenny's history with her own abusive father and her mother's death led her to believe that she was not capable of surviving on her own. Her relationship with her husband was an attempt to escape the problems in her past, but ultimately, it resulted in her being trapped in another abusive situation.

In the latter part of the novel, Jenny's character is portrayed as someone who is willing to fight for her life and her children's safety. She finally finds the courage to leave her husband and start a new life for herself and her family. This shows that Jenny's character is not just a victim, but also someone who is capable of change and growth.

Overall, Jenny's character is an important element of the novel. Her experiences with abuse and her struggle to leave her abuser serves as a cautionary tale and highlights the importance of self-worth and standing up for oneself. Her character's evolution also shows the power of love and support from family and friends in helping individuals break free from abusive situations.

Andrew Bloom is a minor character in "It Ends With Us" who plays a pivotal role in the development of Lily's character. He is Lily's father who had an abusive relationship with her mother, causing Lily to experience domestic violence as a child. Despite this, Andrew tries to maintain a relationship with Lily as an adult and reaches out to her after the death of her father.

Andrew's character represents the cycle of abuse that Lily has witnessed and experienced in her life. His attempts to reconcile with Lily highlight the importance of forgiveness and moving on from past trauma. However, Lily's hesitance to fully forgive him shows the complexity of the effects of abuse and the difficulty of breaking the cycle.

Overall, Andrew's character serves as a reminder of the long-lasting effects of domestic violence on families and the importance of seeking help and breaking the cycle of abuse.

Ellen DeGeneres is a real-life celebrity who is mentioned briefly in the novel "It Ends With Us." She is portrayed as a symbol of hope and inspiration for Lily as she navigates through difficult times in her life. Lily watches Ellen's show on TV and is inspired by her message of spreading love and kindness in the world.

Ellen serves as a source of comfort and encouragement for Lily, who is struggling to find her own voice and make decisions that will impact her future. The brief mention of Ellen in the novel is significant in that it emphasizes the importance of having positive role models and sources of inspiration in our lives, even if they are not directly involved in our personal lives.

Ellen's message of spreading love and kindness aligns with the themes of the novel, particularly the idea of breaking the cycle of abuse and choosing to love and respect oneself. Her brief appearance in the novel adds to the overall message of hope and encourages readers to seek out sources of positivity and inspiration in their own lives.

Marshall is a minor character in the novel "It Ends With Us". He is portrayed as an entitled and abusive man who tries to manipulate Lily into a relationship with him. Despite Lily's clear disinterest and discomfort, Marshall persists in pursuing her and becomes physically aggressive towards her. Marshall serves as a representation of the toxic and dangerous behavior that Lily has experienced in her past relationships, and his character highlights the importance of recognizing and rejecting abusive behavior.

Emerson is portrayed as a caring and supportive sibling to Ryle and Allysa. Though he doesn't have a major role in the story, his presence adds depth to the family dynamics and shows the importance of familial support.

Lucy is the daughter of Lily and Ryle in the novel "It Ends With Us". She is a symbol of their love and the hope for their future together. Throughout the novel, Lily's decisions revolve around what is best for Lucy, and she becomes a driving force for Lily's actions. Ultimately, the novel shows the impact of domestic violence on families and the importance of breaking the cycle for future generations. Lucy serves as a reminder of this message and the hope for a better future.

Devin is one of Lily's close friends in the novel "It Ends With Us". He is a gay artist who has been friends with Lily since college. He is supportive of her throughout the novel and provides her with a safe space to talk about her problems with Ryle. Despite his own struggles with love and relationships, Devin is a loyal friend and confidant to Lily.

Katie is a childhood friend of Lily's from her hometown in Maine. She appears briefly in the novel as Lily reflects on her memories of growing up in Maine and how Katie was one of the few people who understood her struggles with her father's abusive behavior. Despite losing touch over the years, Lily still thinks of Katie fondly and remembers the support she offered during difficult times.

Brad is the owner of the flower shop where Lily works. He is kind and supportive of Lily, and their friendly relationship grows over time. Brad provides a safe space for Lily to talk about her personal problems, and she appreciates his non-judgmental nature. Although he is a minor character in the novel, Brad's presence highlights the importance of having supportive friends in times of need.

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What happens in It Ends With Us? Plot summary and ending explained

5 August 2024, 08:30

By Alice Dear

What happens in It Ends With Us? What is the plot of It Ends With Us? What happens at the end of It Ends With Us mean? All your questions about the best-selling book and new film answered.

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It Ends With Us is a bestselling book by Colleen Hoover from 2016 which has now been developed into a film starring Blake Lively as Lily, Justin Baldoni as Ryle and Brandon Sklenar as Atlas.

With the film set to be released on 9th August, the first trailer for the highly-anticipated movie has been released, showing the actors step into the roles for the first time.

For those people who have read the book, the trailer appears to follow the storyline of the book pretty accurately, but for others (who have not read the novel) the plot is not so clear and they are desperate to know what to expect from the film.

So, to help explain, here's a synopsis of It Ends With Us as well as a more in-depth look at the plot of the book.

It Ends With Us Synopsis

It Ends With Us tells the story of Lily Bloom, a woman who grew up in a household where her father abused her mother. When her dreams come true and she finally opens her own florist in Boston, she meets charming neurosurgeon Ryle. The pair fall in love and get married, but their relationship behind closed doors is one of abuse.

When Lily runs into her first love Atlas in a restaurant, Ryle becomes more possessive and violent and Lily is left questioning what to do as she falls into the same abusive relationship as her mother.

It Ends With Us Detailed Plot Summary

Warning: Spoilers for the book and film below

Following her father's funeral, a man she despised due to his violence towards her mother, Lily meets Ryle on a roof where she has come to reflect. Ryle, thinking he is alone, arrives on the roof and throws as chair in anger, also appearing to have had a hard day.

The pair begin to talk and open up to one another, with Ryle, a neurosurgeon, explaining that his anger was due to losing a young patient at work from a gunshot wound after his brother accidentally shot him.

Six months later, Lily uses her inheritance money to open a flower shop which she runs with new-friend Allysa. One day, Ryle enters the flower shop and is revealed to be Allysa's brother. While there is still a spark between them, Lily and Ryle decide to stay away from one another as they want different things.

We then learn about a boy called Atlas as Lily revisits her old journals. Atlas was Lily's first love who she met when she discovered him living in an abandoned house behind her family home. After helping him with clothes and food, the pair become friends and later fall in love.

Atlas reveals that he is moving to Boston, and promises Lily that when he has turned his life around her will come and find her. When her father walks in on Lily with Atlas, however, he beats him with a baseball bat and he is taken away in an ambulance. This was the last time she saw him.

Back to the present day and Ryle pursues Lily, confessing that he has feelings for her. They begin dating, but one night Lily is distracted when she sees Atlas working in a restaurant. When the pair meet for the first time in years, Atlas reveals that he has a girlfriend but admits he wishes he had run into Lily years earlier. Lily keeps her reunion with Atlas from Ryle.

One night while hanging out with Ryle, he burns his hand on a hot dish in the kitchen and Lily laughs. To her horror, Ryle pushes her in anger and she hits her head. He apologises to Lily and she decides to forgive him, however, she tells him that if he is ever violent to her again she will leave him, fearing that she will fall into the same situation her mother did.

While out for dinner one night to celebrate Allysa and her husband Marshall's news that they are having a baby, they run into Atlas who is a chef at the restaurant. When Atlas notices the couple's injuries, he confronts Lily and tells her that she must leave Ryle. After Ryle makes the connection of who Atlas is, he becomes aggressive and ends up being thrown out of the restaurant.

Lily assures Ryle that there is nothing going on between her and Atlas, and for sometime the pair fall into a happy and peaceful relationship. They later decide to get married in Las Vegas. Ryle becomes violent again, however, when he discovers that Atlas gave Lily his phone number, pushing her down the stairs.

When Allysa find about about the violence, she demands that Ryle tell Lily about his childhood trauma. He admits to his wife that when he was a child his brother died from a gunshot wound after he accidentally shot him (the story he had told her the first night they met).

Lily forgives Ryle and they decide to move on. However, Ryle's anger reaches new heights when he discovers a newspaper article written by Atlas where he mentions a special woman in his life, revealing that the name of his restaurant 'Bib's' stands for Better In Boston . Ryle also learns more about Lily's past with Atlas when he reads her journals.

When he confronts Lily about the journals and the newspaper article, he become violent and attempts to rape Lily, head-butting her so hard that she blacks out. Lily calls Atlas who takes her to the hospital, where she finds out she is pregnant with Ryle's baby.

Lily tells Ryle about the baby, but keeps their relationship non-romantic as she struggles to decide what she should do with her life. When their daughter Emerson is born, Lily tells Ryle she wants a divorce, explaining that she would never let her daughter grow up in the same circumstances she did. While heartbroken, Ryle agrees to the divorce and the pair share custody of baby Emerson.

One day, Lily and Atlas reunite and he tells her that he is ready for her when she is ready to fall in love again, the pair kiss after the long struggle back to one another.

What does the title It Ends With Us mean?

It Ends With Us is a reference to the decision Lily makes following the birth of her daughter. Instead of allowing the cycle of abuse to continue from her mother to her and then her daughter, she decides that it will end with them.

By getting a divorce from Ryle and not allowing her daughter to witness the hurt he causes her, she is breaking the cycle and allowing Emerson to have a safe and healthy upbringing.

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Summary Guru

• BOOK SUMMARIES

It Ends With Us

It ends with us: summary, plot, characters, literary analysis & more.

“It Ends With Us” is a captivating novel written by Colleen Hoover, first published on August 2, 2016. It precedes her latest novel, “ It Starts With Us “.

The book delves into the life of Lily Bloom, a young woman who aspires to build her own business – a floral shop.

Amidst the challenges of her past, she meets Ryle Kincaid, a gorgeous neurosurgeon with a complicated family history. Despite Lily’s best intentions to focus on her new relationship, the sudden reappearance of her kindred spirit, Atlas Corrigan, resurfaces buried emotions.

The story reaches a critical juncture when painful truths come to light, compelling Lily to confront her past and make life-altering choices. This book delves into the complexities of relationships, showcasing the characters’ resilience as they strive to break destructive patterns.

Hoover’s masterful storytelling weaves an emotionally charged narrative that resonates, exploring the intricate layers of love and the strength required to overcome adversity.

The novel is a compelling testament to human strength and the power of forgiveness, leaving readers introspective about the intricacies of compassion and personal transformation.

The article below provides a complete and comprehensive “It Ends With Us” summary.

Hoover's masterful storytelling weaves an emotionally charged narrative that resonates, exploring the intricate layers of love and the strength required to overcome adversity.

Table of contents.

In “It Ends With Us” by Colleen Hoover, Lily Bloom’s life takes a compelling turn when she meets Ryle Kincaid , a charismatic neurosurgeon. Their journey starts with undeniable chemistry, but the appearance of Atlas Corrigan, a kindred spirit from Lily’s past, adds layers of complexity.

Lily’s aspirations of owning a floral shop intertwine with her emotional struggle between Ryle and her unresolved connection with Atlas. Hoover’s skillful storytelling delves into themes of love, abuse, and personal growth, compelling Lily to make life-altering choices.

Interestingly, the book’s title “It Ends With Us” hints at a powerful revelation in the story, where Lily’s resilience is tested. Atlas’s sudden reappearance triggers a cascade of emotions, unveiling truths that challenge Lily’s hopes and convictions.

As Lily navigates her feelings, the narrative reflects the intricate nature of relationships, ultimately reaching a poignant culmination. The novel is a testament to Hoover’s ability to tackle complex themes with sensitivity.

With diary entries as windows into Lily’s past and heart, readers witness her evolution and strength. This emotional rollercoaster is both heartrending and empowering, leaving readers with an unforgettable exploration of love, forgiveness, and the courage to break destructive cycles.

The central characters exhibit intricate layers that add depth to the narrative. Lily Bloom, an aspiring florist, experiences a tumultuous journey of self-discovery. Ryle Kincaid, a charismatic neurosurgeon, enters her life with magnetic force.

We also will see Atlas Corrigan as a very important figure.

The characters’ stories intertwine, creating a captivating narrative that explores themes of love, forgiveness, and self-discovery. Colleen Hoover’s adept portrayal of their complexities engages readers, making “It Ends With Us” an emotionally charged and thought-provoking read.

Other Characters

Other key characters in the book include:

Ellen DeGeneres : Mentioned in the story, providing a cultural reference that adds depth to the narrative. Lily’s Mother : A character whose influence shapes Lily’s perceptions and decisions. She is the one who encourages Lily to leave Ryle. Lily’s Father : A source of turmoil in Lily’s past, contributing to her emotional journey. Lily’s Friends : Mentioned in passing, they contribute to Lily’s support system and life experiences. Ryle’s Sister : Part of Ryle’s family dynamic, influences his character development. Ryle’s Late Brother : His brother died and Lily finds out about him when Ryle tells Lily about him Ryle’s Parents : Lily meets Ryle’s parents before they decide to get married (later she decides she will divorce Ryle)

This novel delves into a tapestry of profound themes that resonate deeply with readers. At its core, the novel explores the intricacies of love, portraying both its beauty and its capacity to inflict pain.

The theme of resilience threads through the narrative as characters confront challenges, emphasizing the strength needed to overcome adversity. The cycle of abuse is a central theme, unearthing the complexity of breaking destructive patterns and the emotional turmoil it entails.

Empowerment takes center stage as characters navigate their paths, making life-altering decisions and striving to shape their own destinies. The theme of forgiveness is interwoven, illuminating the struggle to reconcile past trauma with the need for healing.

The narrative also contemplates the impact of choices on future generations, prompting reflection on the legacy of one’s actions.

Societal norms and expectations are examined, revealing the tension between conformity and individuality. Colleen Hoover’s masterful storytelling intertwines these themes, fostering introspection and fostering a profound connection between readers and the characters as they navigate the complexities of life, love, and personal growth.

Genres in It Ends With Us

This book seamlessly blends romance, drama, and contemporary fiction to craft a multifaceted narrative. The interplay of relationships is at the heart of the story, as Ryle tells Lily about his past and Atlas visits Lily, rekindling emotions.

The poignant title, “It Ends With Us,” encapsulates the profound cycle of love and self-discovery . Colleen Hoover’s expert storytelling navigates delicate themes, intertwining Lily’s past with her present romance.

Lily’s journey is enriched by diary entries, revealing her evolving thoughts, while her connection to a flower shop symbolizes growth and resilience.

This genre fusion enhances Lily’s character as she confronts challenges ranging from stark revelations to embracing hope. Hoover’s adept handling of narrative elements, like Lily’s realizations and the complexities of relationships, ensures that “It Ends With Us” transcends genres.

The result is an emotionally charged, thought-provoking narrative that leaves an enduring impact, resonating long after the last page is turned.

Language used in It Ends With Us

Colleen Hoover’s writing style employs a delicate balance of vivid imagery and introspective language, creating a tapestry of emotions and atmospheres. The author’s skill is evident in moments like Lily’s phone call to Atlas, where the words resonate with anticipation and longing, painting a vivid mental picture for readers.

Hoover’s use of language evokes a spectrum of feelings, evident when Lily tells Ryle about her past or when she explains her aspirations for a flower shop. The narrative is punctuated with instances of realization, whether it’s Lily realizing her emotions or comprehending the gravity of certain situations.

These instances add depth and authenticity to her character’s journey. The author deftly handles sensitive themes, such as Lily’s laughter juxtaposed with the naked truths she faces.

The language used during Ryle’s accidental shot and discussions about Lily’s mother’s influence creates a compelling emotional intensity.

Throughout, Hoover’s writing skillfully navigates Lily’s hopes (Lily hopes she ends the cycle of abuse), struggles, and relationships. This intricate balance of language and emotion fosters an immersive experience, allowing readers to delve into Lily’s world.

Just as Ellen DeGeneres’ show bridges entertainment and emotional discussions, Hoover bridges intricate storytelling and raw emotions, making “It Ends With Us” a literary journey that resonates deeply.

Literary devices in It Ends With Us

Colleen Hoover adeptly employs various literary devices that enhance the depth and resonance of the narrative. The protagonist’s journey is punctuated by moments of realization, where Lily realizes the complexity of her emotions and the gravity of her decisions as well as how Lily’s life suddenly changes completely.

These instances not only contribute to character development but also mirror the readers’ engagement as they, too, come to understand the intricacies of her world. Hoover utilizes Lily’s explanations to offer insight into her thoughts and motivations, weaving a layer of introspection that adds emotional weight to her choices.

The sudden shifts in Lily’s life, like her hiring and the sudden reappearance of Atlas, serve as narrative devices that propel the story forward, capturing the unpredictable nature of life’s twists.

Lily’s hopes act as guiding lights, drawing readers into her aspirations and creating a relatable thread of optimism. Through these literary devices, Hoover crafts a narrative that is both immersive and emotionally resonant, inviting readers to journey alongside Lily as she navigates her relationships, hopes, and realizations in the face of life’s uncertainties.

The author employs similes to paint emotional landscapes for readers vividly. For instance, when Lily explains her life’s sudden changes, her emotions are likened to a storm, engaging readers by visualizing the turmoil.

When Lily calls Atlas and their connection is compared to a lifeline, the simile intensifies the significance of their bond, immersing readers in their shared history and emotions.

Similes like these enhance the reader’s understanding by providing relatable and vivid comparisons, making abstract emotions tangible and relatable. They heighten engagement by evoking imagery that resonates with readers’ own experiences, deepening their connection to the characters and their journeys.

Colleen Hoover weaves metaphors into “It Ends With Us” to convey profound meanings beyond the literal. Lily’s laughter, likened to a delicate flower, extends beyond its surface, signifying her vulnerability and the fragility of her emotional state.

The metaphor of Atlas suddenly reappearing as a whirlwind deepens his impact, highlighting the intensity of his return. These metaphors enrich the narrative by layering it with deeper symbolism, inviting readers to explore the characters’ complexities.

The metaphors invite readers to delve beneath the surface, encouraging contemplation of the characters’ emotions, decisions, and connections.

Analogies in this book serve as cognitive bridges, helping readers grasp intricate ideas. When Lily hires someone to work at her flower shop, the analogy of a puzzle piece underscores the significance of this addition to her life, emphasizing its role in completing her aspirations.

Analogies like this simplify complex concepts, aiding readers in understanding the multifaceted character dynamics and plot developments. They provide readers with relatable comparisons that enhance their comprehension of the character’s motivations and the intricacies of their relationships.

As readers engage with these analogies, they gain deeper insights into the story’s themes and the characters’ inner worlds.

Colleen Hoover’s skillful use of imagery in the book paints vivid scenes that immerse readers in sensory experiences. When Lily laughs, the imagery of her laughter as “bubbling water from a hidden spring” evokes a sensory and emotional response, drawing readers into the moment.

Similarly, when Ryle accidentally shot her, the vivid description of the scene creates an atmosphere charged with tension and surprise.

Hoover’s imagery masterfully amplifies emotions, making readers feel the characters’ joy, pain, and shock on a visceral level, forging a deeper connection between readers and the story.

In “It Ends With Us,” symbolism is intricately woven into the narrative to convey larger themes. Lily’s mother represents the cycle of abuse, serving as a symbol for the broader issue of domestic violence.

The abandoned house symbolizes the ghosts of Lily’s past, representing her journey of confronting her history. These symbols transcend their literal meanings, resonating with deeper layers of the story’s themes and character development, enriching the reading experience.

These symbols extend beyond their literal representations, inviting readers to explore profound themes. By embedding these elements within the narrative, Hoover crafts a story that resonates on multiple levels, engaging readers in a dialogue about the complexities of abuse, resilience, and the journey toward empowerment.

Personification

Personification, a literary device skillfully employed in this book infuses characters and settings with life-like qualities. Lily’s phone, for instance, “vibrated anxiously,” a personification that transforms the device into a sentient being capable of reflecting Lily’s emotions and eager anticipation.

This nuanced portrayal imbues technology with human-like traits, resonating with readers’ understanding of emotional responsiveness. Similarly, Ryle’s unequivocal aversion to marriage is personified, endowing it with a human quality that accentuates the intensity of his stance.

This personification provides depth to his character, allowing readers to connect with the depth of his feelings and convictions on a more relatable level. By attributing human attributes to abstract concepts, Colleen Hoover bridges the gap between the emotional inner worlds of characters and readers, fostering a stronger empathetic link.

These instances of personification enliven the narrative, turning inanimate objects and abstract ideas into relatable entities. The emotional texture added by personification enhances the readers’ immersion, facilitating a more profound engagement with the characters’ experiences and their emotional landscapes.

Colleen Hoover’s deliberate use of hyperbole in “It Ends With Us” goes beyond mere description, intensifying the narrative’s emotional impact. As Lily grapples with her mother’s reaction, the description of it as “heart-stopping” not only underlines the gravity of the moment but also emphasizes the shock and urgency of the situation.

This hyperbolic choice of words effectively draws readers into Lily’s emotional turmoil. Lily’s profound realization that “time stands still” during a pivotal moment showcases the power of hyperbole to magnify the weight of her epiphany.

This exaggerated portrayal heightens the significance of her insight, making it resonate deeply with readers. By employing such hyperbolic expressions, Hoover engrosses readers in a heightened emotional experience, enabling them to connect more intimately with the characters and their transformative journeys.

Colleen masterfully integrates diverse forms of irony to add depth to the narrative. The situational irony comes to the fore when Atlas unexpectedly resurfaces in Lily’s life just as she embarks on a new chapter with Ryle.

This twist, juxtaposed with her emotional progress, creates a thought-provoking tension that prompts readers to examine the complexities of her feelings. Dramatic irony weaves throughout the story as readers discern the significance of Atlas’s mentions prior to Lily’s full understanding.

This technique invests readers in a unique vantage point, allowing them to anticipate the unfolding narrative while Lily navigates her evolving emotions. Such layers of irony not only emphasize the intricacies of the character’s choices but also mirror life’s inherent unpredictability.

Through these skillful uses of irony, Hoover invites readers to contemplate the interplay of fate, emotions, and decisions, ultimately fostering a more profound connection to the characters’ journeys.

Juxtaposition

The skillful application of juxtaposition in this book serves to highlight poignant contrasts. The encounter between Lily and a homeless boy starkly juxtaposes her life’s opulence, accentuating themes of privilege and compassion.

Furthermore, the juxtaposition of Lily’s resolve to distance herself from Ryle and his subsequent realization introduces complexity to their character arcs. This deliberate contrast propels readers to grapple with intricate moral dilemmas and the multifaceted nature of life’s challenges.

By employing juxtaposition, Colleen Hoover engages readers in a thought-provoking exploration of the human experience. The strategic placement of disparate elements side by side not only underscores themes of societal disparity and emotional dilemmas but also encourages readers to reflect on their own perspectives and values.

Through these contrasts, Hoover encourages a deeper understanding of the characters’ journeys and the intricate interplay of their choices within the narrative’s rich tapestry.

Within “It Ends With Us,” paradoxes function as narrative intricacies, enriching the layers of the story. Lily’s choice to depart from Ryle, while still harboring profound affection, introduces a paradoxical scenario wherein strength emerges from vulnerability itself.

Atlas’s mentions introduce another paradox, wherein contradiction unveils a path to reconciliation between history and the present. These paradoxes beckon readers to engage with the delicate dance of emotions and decisions.

In exploring these seemingly contradictory elements, readers are encouraged to delve into the complex dynamics of human experience, where strength and vulnerability coexist, and where past and present intertwine.

These paradoxes serve as a reminder that life’s truths often reside in gray areas, challenging conventional understanding. As readers grapple with these paradoxes, they are drawn into the depths of the character’s emotional journeys, invited to ponder the intricate tapestry of love, loss, and growth that weaves its way through the story.

In “It Ends With Us,” Colleen masterfully integrates literary allusions to enhance the narrative’s layers. The mention of Lily encountering Ellen DeGeneres introduces a tangible link to the real world, underscoring empowerment and self-discovery as central themes.

Moreover, Atlas mentions craft allusions that echo their intertwined past, offering glimpses into lingering sentiments. These allusions amplify the story’s depth by bridging the gap between the fictional realm and actual cultural contexts, resonating with readers on various strata.

These literary allusions enrich the narrative by infusing it with relatable touchpoints, enabling readers to engage with the story on both intellectual and emotional levels.

By interweaving these references, Hoover adds a layer of interconnectedness between fiction and reality, enriching the reading experience through a multi-dimensional engagement with the text.

“It Ends With Us”, Colleen weaves allegorical threads that stretch beyond the narrative’s surface. In its pages, Lily’s journey unfolds as a metaphor for personal evolution and empowerment, mirroring the intricate tapestry of life’s struggles and triumphs.

The characters’ decisions and relationships become allegorical mirrors reflecting broader societal challenges, serving as a prism through which readers can dissect real-world complexities.

Lily’s wrestle with Ryle’s abusive tendencies serves as an allegory for society’s collective struggle to address and dismantle the cycle of domestic violence. Her path becomes a microcosm of the larger battle against harmful patterns, urging readers to confront the darkness that exists beyond the pages.

The allegorical elements woven into “It Ends With Us” transcend the confines of fiction, emerging as beacons that beckon readers to explore the intricate relationship between the individual and the societal.

Through this lens, the novel becomes more than a story—it’s an allegorical portal that illuminates societal shadows and inspires readers to grapple with the complexities that extend far beyond its pages.

In “It Ends With Us,” instances of ekphrasis are subtly integrated to enrich the narrative. The vivid description of an abandoned house serves as an ekphrasis, creating a visual and emotional connection to Lily’s past and her journey.

Ekphrasis is a literary technique that vividly describes a work of art within a larger narrative, allowing readers to visualize it as if it were before them. In “It Ends With Us,” ekphrasis is an artistic brushstroke that amplifies the story’s emotional palette.

The description of an abandoned house becomes a canvas where readers paint their own emotions, guided by the author’s strokes. The abandoned house, through ekphrasis, transforms from a mere setting into a vessel of nostalgia, symbolizing Lily’s past and her growth.

Readers walk through its halls, sensing the weight of memories and the echoes of footsteps. Ekphrasis is the artist’s brush, crafting an emotional chiaroscuro, revealing layers of Lily’s psyche with each stroke.

This literary device extends an invitation to readers to engage their imagination and emotions, infusing life into the narrative’s visual components. By incorporating ekphrasis, “It Ends With Us” transcends mere words, becoming a gallery of sensations that resonate with the readers’ senses and linger in their hearts.

Onomatopoeia

Before we start we have to mention the meaning of the word. Chances are you already know this but just in case. Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech in which a word imitates the sound it represents.

It is a literary device that creates a connection between the auditory and linguistic elements of language. In essence, onomatopoeic words attempt to replicate the actual sounds they describe, enhancing the sensory experience for the reader.

Colleen Hoover uses onomatopoeic words to amplify the auditory dimensions of “It Ends With Us.” When Ryle pushes Lily, the impact is accentuated by the onomatopoeic quality of the action.

In some actions from Ryle, we will see onomatopoeia but when the really bad things happen like when he attempts to rape Lily all we get are descriptions without any effects.

The sound of Ryle deciding and the resonance of Atlas’s mentions evoke emotional reactions through their auditory qualities. This technique adds immediacy to pivotal moments, creating a more visceral reading experience that resonates with readers’ senses.

The book amidst its emotionally charged narrative, occasional puns emerge to infuse humor and dual interpretations. These wordplay instances contribute a nuanced layer to the story’s tone and themes.

For instance, when Lily decides to “love Ryle,” the pun not only alludes to her romantic choices but also hints at the complexity of loving someone despite challenges.

Atlas’s mentions serve as a double-edged sword, evoking curiosity and foreshadowing simultaneously. The pun on Las Vegas carries a playful undertone, hinting at unexpected twists in the plot, much like the city itself. Moreover, Atlas’s admission triggers a pun, underscoring both his confession and the vulnerability of their relationship.

These puns subtly intertwine humor and depth, illustrating Hoover’s craftsmanship in balancing emotional weight and moments of levity.

Repetition serves as a powerful literary tool that amplifies the book’s themes and emotional impact. The repetition of Atlas’s mentions subtly weaves a thread of intrigue, building anticipation for his reentry into Lily’s life.

Similarly, Ryle decides to evoke tension, showcasing his pivotal choices. The repetition of “I have to forgive Ryle” resonates as Lily grapples with forgiveness in the face of complexity.

This deliberate repetition reflects the characters’ internal conflicts and adds depth to their emotional trajectories, drawing readers into their dilemmas and growth.

It serves as a reminder that relationships are multifaceted and decisions are layered, ultimately highlighting the complexity of human emotions and choices.

The Use of Dialogue

Colleen Hoover employs dialogue as a multifaceted tool in this book. In the exchanges between characters, Atlas’s admission carries poignant weight, unraveling emotional layers.

Dialogue is also evident in the author’s notes and childhood diaries, providing insight into the protagonist’s inner world.

Lily and Ryle’s interactions during their relationship overwhelm dialogue with palpable tension, showcasing the complexity of their emotions.

Through dialogue, readers gain insights into character traits, inner conflicts, and themes that shape the narrative’s progression, enriching the reading experience and fostering a deeper connection to the characters’ journeys.

You will see the skillful use of wordplay enhances the narrative’s depth and texture. Through the artful incorporation of puns and double entendre, Hoover enriches character interactions and plot intricacies.

These linguistic devices add a layer of complexity to dialogues, inviting readers to explore hidden meanings beneath the surface. For instance, the repetition of phrases takes on dual interpretations, contributing to the character’s emotional journeys.

This nuanced wordplay captures the complexity of their experiences and relationships, inviting readers to engage on a deeper level. By crafting dialogues with wordplay, Hoover invites readers to actively participate in deciphering underlying emotions and unspoken thoughts, creating an immersive reading experience.

Furthermore, this wordplay infuses conversations with both humor and depth, allowing for moments of levity amid the narrative’s more poignant aspects. As a result, readers are drawn into the characters’ world, connecting not only with their struggles but also with the intricacies of their communication.

Parallelism

Parallelism serves as a powerful structural tool in the book, weaving a web of connections that enriches the narrative’s impact. Through repeated phrases and mirrored patterns, Hoover creates a rhythmic cadence that underscores pivotal moments and character development.

For instance, the parallel phrases “Lily runs” and “Ryle leaves” not only highlight significant actions but also capture the emotional gravity of those choices. This recurring motif amplifies the resonance of their decisions, allowing readers to delve deeper into the character’s inner struggles.

Beyond character arcs, parallelism extends to thematic elements, such as “atlas mentions,” which form a continuous thread throughout the narrative.

By crafting these mirrored expressions, Hoover emphasizes the cyclical nature of emotions and relationships, inviting readers to reflect on the intricacies of the human experience.

This deliberate structural choice enhances engagement, providing readers with a cohesive framework to navigate the story’s complexities and its exploration of love, loss, and personal growth.

Rhetorical Devices

Here, rhetorical devices serve as powerful tools that enhance the persuasive impact of the narrative. One such device is the use of rhetorical questions. For instance, when Lily wonders, “Were we all just pretending?”

Her introspective question not only mirrors her inner turmoil but also invites readers to contemplate the facade of appearances in relationships.

This prompts a deeper engagement with the characters’ emotional complexities. Parallelism, another impactful device, creates a rhythmic quality that punctuates significant moments in the story.

The repetition of phrases contributes to the thematic resonance, compelling readers to reflect on the characters’ decisions and their implications. The rhetorical technique fosters a connection between readers and the characters, drawing them into the characters’ dilemmas.

By strategically deploying these rhetorical devices, Hoover compels readers to think beyond the surface, evoking an emotional response and a heightened understanding of the characters’ struggles.

These techniques ensure that the narrative’s persuasive effect is not only intellectually stimulating but also deeply resonant on an emotional level.

It Ends With Us: FAQs

In this section, we look at common questions relating to the book and the storyline.

Who did Lily lose her virginity to in It Ends With Us?

In “It Ends With Us,” Lily loses her virginity to Ryle, a neurosurgeon she develops a complex relationship with.

What happens at the end of “It Ends With Us”?

At the end of “It Ends With Us,” Lily makes a difficult choice to leave Ryle due to his abusive behavior, prioritizing her own well-being.

Is “It Ends With Us” inappropriate for a 12 year old?

“It Ends With Us” contains mature themes and content, making it unsuitable for a 12-year-old audience due to its complexity and discussions of adult relationships.

What is so special about the book “It Ends With Us”?

“It Ends With Us” stands out for its portrayal of complex relationships, addressing sensitive topics like domestic abuse, and its emotional depth that resonates with readers, sparking discussions about real-life struggles.

What other books from Colleen Hoover should we know about?

Colleen Hoover has penned several noteworthy books that readers should explore. “Slammed,” her debut novel, delves into poetry and love. “Confess” involves an artist’s confessions shaping a relationship.

“Maybe Someday” is a unique love story accompanied by original music. “Ugly Love” explores the complexities of love and trauma. “Verity” takes a darker turn, delving into a suspenseful romantic thriller.

Will there be a movie about Lily Bloom?

Yes, filming is ongoing right now and Lily Bloom will be played by Blake Lively. Blake certainly looks the part but we won’t know anything until the movie is out. We won’t know if and how Atlas suddenly reappears until late 2024.

How does Ryle tell Lily the story about his late brother?

Ryle Kincaid tells Lily the story about his late brother during an intimate moment, revealing the painful details of his brother’s life and tragic death.

This confession offers insights into Ryle’s complex personality and emotional struggles even though we can see through the book about Ryle’s complete aversion to relationships.

How old is Ryle Kincaid in the book?

In the book, Ryle Kincaid is in his early thirties, adding depth to his character as he navigates his career as a neurosurgeon and confronts his personal challenges.

Summing up: It Ends With Us: Summary, Plot & More

As you now know from this “It Ends With Us” summary, Colleen Hoover has created an emotionally charged novel that navigates complex themes with finesse and sensitivity.

The story of Lily Bloom’s journey through love, relationships, and personal growth captivates readers with its intricate characters and resonant exploration of human strength.

The book’s appeal lies in its ability to provoke contemplation about real-world complexities, making it relatable and thought-provoking. It speaks to the challenges individuals face in relationships in small towns, addressing not just romantic connections but also the complexity of family dynamics.

This multi-layered exploration makes “It Ends With Us” a resonant read that stimulates both emotions and introspection.

Colleen Hoover has created an emotionally charged novel that navigates complex themes with finesse and sensitivity.

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It Ends With Us - Part 2: Chapters 18 - 23 Summary & Analysis

In Chapter 18, on the same day that Lily meets Ryle’s parents, Ryle overhears Allysa and Lily talking about Lily and Ryle getting married. He tells Lily that he is off for the weekend and that he wants to get married.

In Chapter 19, six weeks later, Ryle arrives home and makes love to Lily as she is lying on the couch. Later that evening, as they are preparing to have dinner with Allysa and Marshall, Lily hears a crash.

Lily finds Ryle holding her cell phone and a piece of paper. He tells her that he dropped her phone unintentionally and the cover popped off. He called the number and discovered it belonged to Atlas. Lily follows Ryle when he walks out the door. As he is going down the stairs, she pushes herself in front of him and asks him to...

(read more from the Part 2: Chapters 18 - 23 Summary)

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Essay: Film Adaptation of It Ends With Us Broaches a Serious Topic Without Making It Weird

Guest author.

• August 30, 2024
• Film , Film & TV

This post was written by Tory Crowley .

It Ends With Us doesn’t market itself as a sad, serious drama addressing the complexities of intimate partner violence. I mean, who would watch that? Certainly not the 15-to-40-year-old women it’s marketed to. 

Instead, It Ends with Us , an adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s best-selling book, is a trojan horse. We eagerly welcome the style, the sex, and the glamour it offers. It’s only when we’re settled in, with our admission paid, halfway through a box of Milk Duds with fingers covered in popcorn butter, that we discover the heavier themes hidden in the story: generational abuse cycles and domestic violence.

Movies and television are at their best when they can pull this off. One of my favorite movies is Marie Antoinette , a movie literally dripping in superficiality that sneaks in commentary about the impossible demands society places on women. Likewise, The Office is a zany workplace comedy that addresses the monotony and meaninglessness of everyday life. It Ends With Us strikes a similar note, conveying a strong message about the pervasiveness of domestic violence where we least expect it: in a sexy, cool Hollywood romance. 

We take in this story differently than we would a documentary or a serious emotional drama. Our guards are down. There’s value in being able to address a serious topic through a medium that we feel comfortable in. 

Much has been made about the controversial choice of telling a heavy story in such a delightfully superficial shell. Reportedly, stars Blake Lively (who also produced) and Justin Baldoni (who directed) had clashing visions. It’s rumored that Blake and Justin each made a final cut of the film, and Blake’s lighter version won , despite not scoring as well with audiences as Justin’s weightier version. 

If you’ve been following the press tour for the movie, you can see these different visions manifest, where Blake focuses on the overall aesthetic and her character Lily’s personality and style, whereas Justin keeps the conversion focused on DV and the challenges women often face there. 

First and foremost, It Ends with Us is a love story, a romance. And unfortunately, intimate partner violence is frequently experienced in romantic relationships. One in four women are victims of domestic violence. As common as it is in real life, it’s quite rare to see it depicted on the big screen.

And here’s a naked truth: for victims and survivors, the world doesn’t stop every time there’s an issue of DV in someone’s home. Life goes on. You get up and go to work the next day. You make your kids’ lunches. You remind yourself of your partner’s good qualities and you carry on. 

This happens to a lot of people. And that’s why it’s so believable when it happens to Lily.  

I struggle with movies or books about addiction or abuse because they tend to bite off more than they can chew. Similarly, what can you definitively say in two hours about a huge and complex topic like domestic violence? Not much. But you can tell one person’s story, and that’s powerful.

And ultimately, It Ends With Us works not because it answers every DV question, but because it doesn’t. It tells an honest story. Hoover (who also served as a producer on the film) was largely inspired by her own parents and their fraught relationship.

Therefore, criticisms that this movie doesn’t give due weight to the gravity of DV in romantic relationships should consider that Lily and Ryle’s story is rooted in Colleen Hoover’s real life. The novel ends with a powerful author’s note sharing that the story is more than just a frilly fictional romance. It’s deeply personal to the author. 

It Ends With Us is Hoover’s best-selling book, not because the idea of loving someone who hurts you is rare and foreign, but because it’s unfortunately common and relatable. 

Hoover puts forth a lot of lightness in It Ends With Us , not because she’s trying to ignore the gravity of DV, but because she intimately understands the weight of it. She doesn’t want Lily to be defined by the worst things that have happened to her. 

Yes, Lily had an abusive father and husband but there’s more to her than that. She is kind and funny, loves flowers, and has a weird, bold style. These things are a part of her, and it’s important to both Hoover and Lively that these attributes are not erased by her role as a victim of abuse. 

Lily is a person—a young woman, a lot like the women watching this movie. In many ways, she’s living the dream: an entrepreneur in a big city with a very funny best friend and two hot guys who are crazy in love with her. We love Lily, and we learn from her experience differently than we would from a documentary, a serious drama, or whatever the critics think would be a better medium to learn about DV. 

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It Ends With Us Glossary

By colleen hoover.

These notes were contributed by members of the GradeSaver community. We are thankful for their contributions and encourage you to make your own.

Written by Arpita Singh

Introspective

Contemplative, Reflective

Disgust, Malice

Phenomenal, Immense

Derogate, Abase

Displeasing, Objectionable

Well-informed, Aware

Resentful, Spiteful

Affinity, Relationship

Bereavement

Separation, Deprivation

Commiserate

Sympathize, Pity

Aggravate, Worsen

Carefreeness, Gaiety

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It Ends With Us Questions and Answers

The Question and Answer section for It Ends With Us is a great resource to ask questions, find answers, and discuss the novel.

Study Guide for It Ends With Us

It Ends With Us study guide contains a biography of Colleen Hoover, literature essays, quiz questions, major themes, characters, and a full summary and analysis.

• About It Ends With Us
• It Ends With Us Summary
• Character List

• DOI: 10.52232/ijolida
• +62 87 865 309966
• [email protected]
• ISSN 2721-8899
• EISSN 2721-8880

I J O L I D A

• International Journal of Linguistics and Discourse Analytics

An Analysis Of Conflict Found In The Novel Entitled “It Ends With Us” By Coolen Hoover

• Ni Kadek Risa Puspita Padmi Mahasaraswati Denpasar University
• I Gusti Agung Sri Rwa Jayantini Mahasaraswati Denpasar University

The objective of this study is to find out the conflict faced by the main character. This study used a novel by Coolen Hoover entitled It End With Us as the data. The aim of this study was to define the types of conflict faced by the main character. The data were analyzed based on the theory proposed by William Kenney (1996). The data collection technique was observation method and note taking. The observation method was reading the novel intensively and note-taking for the marking the main point of the conflict. After analyzing the data, the researcher found that there are two types of conflict that appeared in Coolen Hoover’s novel they are internal and external conflict. The dominant conflict was the internal conflict. The internal conflict happens between Lily, the main character with her feelings and mind, while the external conflict occurs between Lily and her parentsConflict

Coombs, C. H., & Avrunin, G. S. (2016). The structure of conflict. Psychology Press.

Diansari Artawan, N. M., Shanti Sari Dewi, A. A., & Weddha Savitri, P. (2020). The external conflict faced by the main character in five feet apart movie. Udayana Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (UJoSSH), 4(1), 31. https://doi.org/10.24843/ujossh.2020.v04.i01.p06

Hanna, I. D. (2016). An analysis of the main characters’ conflicts in Jane Austen novel entitled “Sense and sensibility.” Wacana Didaktika, 4(2), 156–170. https://doi.org/10.31102/wacanadidaktika.4.2.156-170

Jesa Putri Yasari, P., Wandia, I. K., & Isnu Maharani, S. A. (2019). Conficts in Condon’s movie “Beauty and the beast 2017”. Humanis, 2019. https://doi.org/10.24843/jh.2019.v23.i01.p01

Lusiana , N. L. M. E. (2017). The Analysis of Conflict in the Movie “LUCY.” Jurnal Humanis, Fakultas Ilmu Budaya Unud, 20, 225–231.

Maulidiyah, R., Rohmadi, M., & Saddhono, K. (2021). The Conflict of Main Character in the Novel Faith and The City by Hanum Salsabiela Rais And Rangga Almahendra. American Journal of Humanities and Social Sciences Research (AJHSSR), 5(2), 268–271.

Pradnyaningsih, K. P., Sudipa , I. N., & Shanti Sari Dewi, A. A. S. (2022). The External Conflicts Faced By Simon In Love, Simon Movie Script. ULIL ALBAB : Jurnal Ilmiah Multidisiplin, 1, 1911–1918.

Siswanto, D. W. (2013). Pengantar Teori sastra. Aditya Media Publishing.

Wijayanti, I. G. A. N., & Laba, I. N. (2020). Conflict Analysis of Novel Main Character: A Discourse Perspective. International Journal of Linguistics and Discourse Analytics (Ijolida), 1(2). https://doi.org/10.52232/ijolida.v1i2.18

William Kenney. 1996. How to Analyze Fiction. New york : Random House Inc.

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The movie 'It Ends With Us' faces criticism for glamorizing domestic abuse

Colleen Hoover's bestselling novel It Ends With Us has been adapted into a star-studded film, starring the likes of Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni. But the much-talked-about film is facing criticism for appearing to glamorize its depiction of domestic abuse.

The film, which draws from Hoover's own parents' relationship, tells the story of florist Lily Bloom, who falls in love with a neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid.

During their courtship, Kincaid goes from charming and charismatic to physically and emotionally abusive. Bloom eventually ends the relationship, telling her daughter that the cycle of violence "ends with us," reflecting the film's title.

Based on promotional materials for the film, however, some critics say the message about abuse might not come across to viewers.

"The trailer does a disservice to the fact that this could really raise awareness," said activist and domestic violence survivor Ashley Bendiksen. "But it seems to just be glossing over what the movie's actually about."

In one trailer — set to the song "Strangers" by Ethel Cain, which includes the lyrics "don’t talk to strangers or you might fall in love" — the movie seems to hit all the right notes of a typical romance movie.

Viewers see the two main characters — played by Lively and Baldoni — launch into a romantic relationship. You're teased with the potential of a love triangle, down to a fistfight between the two male suitors. And there's a brief bout of rage from Kincaid as he breaks a piece of furniture in his apartment.

But the full story is much darker. The abuse Bloom suffers at the hands of Kincaid in the film includes being pushed down a flight of stairs and attempted rape.

"When we use trauma as entertainment, it can feel really exploitative, and just irresponsible, and, in many ways, tone-deaf to the actual issue," Bendiksen said.

Fan blowback

The film, which was released on Aug. 9, has earned a respectable $242 million worldwide. But despite its success at the box office, criticisms have been scathing.

In one promotional video posted on Instagram , a smiling Lively sits alongside the novel's author, Hoover, and encourages the audience to "grab your friends, wear your florals and head out to see it." Florals in this context are a reference to her character, Bloom, owning a flower shop in the film.

Comments on the video criticized Lively's upbeat tone and attempts to promote the movie as a lighthearted love story.

"As someone who lived through DV as a child, 'grab your friends, wear your florals' is a terrible phrase to use about a film of this nature," one commenter wrote.

"You had an opportunity to turn this into a beautiful thing for women who suffer every day. Shame on you and your PR team for turning a blind eye," another said.

Many of the comments praised Baldoni, however, for his style in promoting the story.

In one interview posted to the star's Instagram page , Baldoni says his message for viewers is to always have hope.

"Everybody has the ability to end a cycle that they didn't ask for. We can all say, 'It ends with us' in our life," Baldoni said.

Baldoni directed the film, and Lively is one of its producers.

"Thank you so much for being the ONLY person on this cast promoting the actual point of this film," one commenter wrote in response.

"It's funny to me how the person that is portraying the offender is the only one making the point of the actual story."

Brandon Sklenar, who plays Baldoni's romantic rival in the film, said that he and his fellow cast-mates understood the gravity of telling a story about domestic abuse.

"Trust me when I tell you, there isn't a single person involved in the making of this film that was not aware of the responsibility we had in making this. A responsibility to all the women who have experienced generational trauma - domestic abuse - or struggle with looking in the mirror and loving who they see," Sklenar wrote in a lengthy statement posted to his Instagram account.

"This movie is a harsh reality check for the men who need to get their sh-t together and take responsibility for themselves and their actions."

Comments on the statement were turned off, but comments on unrelated posts took the cast to task over the way the film was being promoted.

"Your most recent post is just perpetuating how TONE DEAF this whole cast is (besides Justin). We don't want to hear you all defend each other. How about apologize and change the way you're all promoting the movie and talk about the issue – [domestic violence]," wrote one frustrated commenter.

Hoover, in a separate interview with Lively, said she felt that the film had been "faithful" to the story she wrote.

"Trigger warning"

Obbie West, a spoken-word artist and advocate for victims of domestic abuse, said that the framing of the film could wind up being triggering for abuse victims.

"Prior to presentations or prior to trainings, I give trigger warnings, and the trigger warning lets anyone in the room know that this content is going to be very sensitive in nature. That way, if any of it aligns with something they've been through and they feel triggered, we identify who are the people in the room that's qualified to help you," West said.

Trailers for the film do not include any sort of trigger warnings for content.

"So when you present this movie as a love movie without that precursor, then you have a theater full of people who aren't aware that they may potentially be triggered."

West said that in framing the movie as a love story, it could be damaging, particularly to young people who don't have a healthy frame of reference for love and aren't as easily able to recognize signs of abuse.

"If this is common practice and we're constantly presenting love in this way, then for those children who are still developing, it normalizes it and desensitizes them to abuse," West said.

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Whistle-Blower Groups Push to End Secret Seizure of Congressional Communications

During the Trump administration, the Justice Department subpoenaed congressional aides’ communications without their knowledge while hunting for leakers. Advocates say the practice must stop.

By Luke Broadwater

Reporting from Washington

As President Donald J. Trump hunted for people inside the government who were divulging details of an investigation into whether his 2016 election campaign colluded with Russia, the Justice Department turned to a covert tactic.

Beginning in 2017, department officials secretly collected the phone and email records of roughly a dozen people connected to Congress, including lawmakers and aides who routinely deal with anonymous whistle-blowers, in an effort to see who might be coming forward with confidential information.

Some of the aides, from both political parties, learned only recently that their communications were collected, because the government for years hid the existence of the subpoenas with nondisclosure orders.

Now, whistle-blower advocacy groups are trying to pry more information out of the Justice Department , through court filings and public records requests, in the hopes of shaming the agency into ending the practice of secretly collecting congressional communications records.

Critics say it is not just the privacy of the aides at stake, but also Congress’s ability to carry out its oversight role. In large part, that role depends on a confidential channel of communication with government whistle-blowers who report wrongdoing or internal failures.

“Blanket subpoenas for anybody who’s communicated with an office that may be conducting adversarial oversight — it’s a severe threat to institutional constitutional checks and balances,” said Tom Devine, the legal director of the nonprofit Government Accountability Project, a whistle-blower protection group. “It’s a severe threat to whistle-blowers who want to share their evidence in Congress, and is likely to have a chilling effect.”

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-warnings-from-democrats-about-project-2025-and-donald-trump

Fact-checking warnings from Democrats about Project 2025 and Donald Trump

This fact check originally appeared on PolitiFact .

Project 2025 has a starring role in this week’s Democratic National Convention.

And it was front and center on Night 1.

WATCH: Hauling large copy of Project 2025, Michigan state Sen. McMorrow speaks at 2024 DNC

“This is Project 2025,” Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, said as she laid a hardbound copy of the 900-page document on the lectern. “Over the next four nights, you are going to hear a lot about what is in this 900-page document. Why? Because this is the Republican blueprint for a second Trump term.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has warned Americans about “Trump’s Project 2025” agenda — even though former President Donald Trump doesn’t claim the conservative presidential transition document.

“Donald Trump wants to take our country backward,” Harris said July 23 in Milwaukee. “He and his extreme Project 2025 agenda will weaken the middle class. Like, we know we got to take this seriously, and can you believe they put that thing in writing?”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, has joined in on the talking point.

“Don’t believe (Trump) when he’s playing dumb about this Project 2025. He knows exactly what it’ll do,” Walz said Aug. 9 in Glendale, Arizona.

Trump’s campaign has worked to build distance from the project, which the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, led with contributions from dozens of conservative groups.

Much of the plan calls for extensive executive-branch overhauls and draws on both long-standing conservative principles, such as tax cuts, and more recent culture war issues. It lays out recommendations for disbanding the Commerce and Education departments, eliminating certain climate protections and consolidating more power to the president.

Project 2025 offers a sweeping vision for a Republican-led executive branch, and some of its policies mirror Trump’s 2024 agenda, But Harris and her presidential campaign have at times gone too far in describing what the project calls for and how closely the plans overlap with Trump’s campaign.

PolitiFact researched Harris’ warnings about how the plan would affect reproductive rights, federal entitlement programs and education, just as we did for President Joe Biden’s Project 2025 rhetoric. Here’s what the project does and doesn’t call for, and how it squares with Trump’s positions.

Are Trump and Project 2025 connected?

To distance himself from Project 2025 amid the Democratic attacks, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he “knows nothing” about it and has “no idea” who is in charge of it. (CNN identified at least 140 former advisers from the Trump administration who have been involved.)

The Heritage Foundation sought contributions from more than 100 conservative organizations for its policy vision for the next Republican presidency, which was published in 2023.

Project 2025 is now winding down some of its policy operations, and director Paul Dans, a former Trump administration official, is stepping down, The Washington Post reported July 30. Trump campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita denounced the document.

WATCH: A look at the Project 2025 plan to reshape government and Trump’s links to its authors

However, Project 2025 contributors include a number of high-ranking officials from Trump’s first administration, including former White House adviser Peter Navarro and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.

A recently released recording of Russell Vought, a Project 2025 author and the former director of Trump’s Office of Management and Budget, showed Vought saying Trump’s “very supportive of what we do.” He said Trump was only distancing himself because Democrats were making a bogeyman out of the document.

Project 2025 wouldn’t ban abortion outright, but would curtail access

The Harris campaign shared a graphic on X that claimed “Trump’s Project 2025 plan for workers” would “go after birth control and ban abortion nationwide.”

The plan doesn’t call to ban abortion nationwide, though its recommendations could curtail some contraceptives and limit abortion access.

What’s known about Trump’s abortion agenda neither lines up with Harris’ description nor Project 2025’s wish list.

Project 2025 says the Department of Health and Human Services Department should “return to being known as the Department of Life by explicitly rejecting the notion that abortion is health care.”

It recommends that the Food and Drug Administration reverse its 2000 approval of mifepristone, the first pill taken in a two-drug regimen for a medication abortion. Medication is the most common form of abortion in the U.S. — accounting for around 63 percent in 2023.

If mifepristone were to remain approved, Project 2025 recommends new rules, such as cutting its use from 10 weeks into pregnancy to seven. It would have to be provided to patients in person — part of the group’s efforts to limit access to the drug by mail. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a legal challenge to mifepristone’s FDA approval over procedural grounds.

WATCH: Trump’s plans for health care and reproductive rights if he returns to White House The manual also calls for the Justice Department to enforce the 1873 Comstock Act on mifepristone, which bans the mailing of “obscene” materials. Abortion access supporters fear that a strict interpretation of the law could go further to ban mailing the materials used in procedural abortions, such as surgical instruments and equipment.

The plan proposes withholding federal money from states that don’t report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention how many abortions take place within their borders. The plan also would prohibit abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid funds. It also calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that the training of medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, omits abortion training.

The document says some forms of emergency contraception — particularly Ella, a pill that can be taken within five days of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy — should be excluded from no-cost coverage. The Affordable Care Act requires most private health insurers to cover recommended preventive services, which involves a range of birth control methods, including emergency contraception.

Trump has recently said states should decide abortion regulations and that he wouldn’t block access to contraceptives. Trump said during his June 27 debate with Biden that he wouldn’t ban mifepristone after the Supreme Court “approved” it. But the court rejected the lawsuit based on standing, not the case’s merits. He has not weighed in on the Comstock Act or said whether he supports it being used to block abortion medication, or other kinds of abortions.

Project 2025 doesn’t call for cutting Social Security, but proposes some changes to Medicare

“When you read (Project 2025),” Harris told a crowd July 23 in Wisconsin, “you will see, Donald Trump intends to cut Social Security and Medicare.”

The Project 2025 document does not call for Social Security cuts. None of its 10 references to Social Security addresses plans for cutting the program.

Harris also misleads about Trump’s Social Security views.

In his earlier campaigns and before he was a politician, Trump said about a half-dozen times that he’s open to major overhauls of Social Security, including cuts and privatization. More recently, in a March 2024 CNBC interview, Trump said of entitlement programs such as Social Security, “There’s a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting.” However, he quickly walked that statement back, and his CNBC comment stands at odds with essentially everything else Trump has said during the 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump’s campaign website says that not “a single penny” should be cut from Social Security. We rated Harris’ claim that Trump intends to cut Social Security Mostly False.

Project 2025 does propose changes to Medicare, including making Medicare Advantage, the private insurance offering in Medicare, the “default” enrollment option. Unlike Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans have provider networks and can also require prior authorization, meaning that the plan can approve or deny certain services. Original Medicare plans don’t have prior authorization requirements.

The manual also calls for repealing health policies enacted under Biden, such as the Inflation Reduction Act. The law enabled Medicare to negotiate with drugmakers for the first time in history, and recently resulted in an agreement with drug companies to lower the prices of 10 expensive prescriptions for Medicare enrollees.

Trump, however, has said repeatedly during the 2024 presidential campaign that he will not cut Medicare.

Project 2025 would eliminate the Education Department, which Trump supports

The Harris campaign said Project 2025 would “eliminate the U.S. Department of Education” — and that’s accurate. Project 2025 says federal education policy “should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated.” The plan scales back the federal government’s role in education policy and devolves the functions that remain to other agencies.

Aside from eliminating the department, the project also proposes scrapping the Biden administration’s Title IX revision, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It also would let states opt out of federal education programs and calls for passing a federal parents’ bill of rights similar to ones passed in some Republican-led state legislatures.

Republicans, including Trump, have pledged to close the department, which gained its status in 1979 within Democratic President Jimmy Carter’s presidential Cabinet.

In one of his Agenda 47 policy videos, Trump promised to close the department and “to send all education work and needs back to the states.” Eliminating the department would have to go through Congress.

What Project 2025, Trump would do on overtime pay

In the graphic, the Harris campaign says Project 2025 allows “employers to stop paying workers for overtime work.”

The plan doesn’t call for banning overtime wages. It recommends changes to some Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, regulations and to overtime rules. Some changes, if enacted, could result in some people losing overtime protections, experts told us.

The document proposes that the Labor Department maintain an overtime threshold “that does not punish businesses in lower-cost regions (e.g., the southeast United States).” This threshold is the amount of money executive, administrative or professional employees need to make for an employer to exempt them from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

In 2019, the Trump’s administration finalized a rule that expanded overtime pay eligibility to most salaried workers earning less than about $35,568, which it said made about 1.3 million more workers eligible for overtime pay. The Trump-era threshold is high enough to cover most line workers in lower-cost regions, Project 2025 said.

The Biden administration raised that threshold to $43,888 beginning July 1, and that will rise to $58,656 on Jan. 1, 2025. That would grant overtime eligibility to about 4 million workers, the Labor Department said.

It’s unclear how many workers Project 2025’s proposal to return to the Trump-era overtime threshold in some parts of the country would affect, but experts said some would presumably lose the right to overtime wages.

Other overtime proposals in Project 2025’s plan include allowing some workers to choose to accumulate paid time off instead of overtime pay, or to work more hours in one week and fewer in the next, rather than receive overtime.

Trump’s past with overtime pay is complicated. In 2016, the Obama administration said it would raise the overtime to salaried workers earning less than $47,476 a year, about double the exemption level set in 2004 of $23,660 a year.

But when a judge blocked the Obama rule, the Trump administration didn’t challenge the court ruling. Instead it set its own overtime threshold, which raised the amount, but by less than Obama.

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2024 Election

6 takeaways from harris' interview on cnn.

Domenico Montanaro

Vice President Harris is pictured during an interview with CNN's Dana Bash in Savannah, Ga., on Thursday — her first in-depth, on-the-record conversation with a journalist since becoming the Democratic presidential nominee. Will Lanzoni/CNN hide caption

Vice President Harris sat for her first interview Thursday night since entering the presidential race five weeks ago. It was joint with her running mate, Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, but she did most of the talking.

The interview, conducted by CNN’s Dana Bash on the campaign trail in Georgia, was seen as an important step in what’s been a highly successful – and highly scripted – campaign to this point.

So how did she do? Here are six takeaways:

1. Harris passed the test of doing an unscripted interview

From a strictly performance standpoint, Harris was clear, calm and didn’t get rattled when pushed about changes to her positions on certain issues.

In some past interviews, she came across as defensive, but that wasn’t the case here. She seemed comfortable and in command, which is important for a presidential candidate who people are still getting to know.

She also continued to show a degree of relatability. For example, she talked about making pancakes and cooking bacon for her nieces when President Biden called to inform her of his decision to drop out of the race.

2. Democrats are likely breathing a sigh of relief about how Harris will do in a debate, but there’s some cleaning up to do

Debates are often about optics and not substance, which the first debate between Biden and former President Donald Trump showed. In this interview, when Bash pushed Harris on some position changes, Harris showed she’s mostly able to parry attacks adequately.

Harris and her team will probably want to clean up her response as to why she changed her position on fracking, though, and stick to something clearer. Simply saying, “My values have not changed,” likely won’t suffice. Politicians can change positions, but people expect to hear why in a believable way.

'I'll be voting no.' Trump clarifies his stance on the abortion amendment in Florida

Harris did give a plausible reason for switching from being against fracking to in favor of it.

“What I have seen is that we can grow, and we can increase a clean energy economy without banning fracking,” she said about what is a politically potent issue in Pennsylvania, maybe the most closely watched swing state. She noted that she cast the tie-breaking vote in Congress for expanding fracking leases.

But it took her a while to make that point, and it might not be what most people see in clips of the interview in the coming days.

Instead, when Harris was first asked about the change in this interview, she initially said her position hadn’t changed from 2020. That’s because in the 2020 vice-presidential debate, Harris did say twice that “Joe Biden will not end fracking. He has been very clear about that.”

But that is splitting the hair too finely. In 2019, when she was running for president herself, she said during a CNN town hall focused on climate change: “There’s no question I’m in favor of banning fracking and starting with what we can do on Day 1 around public lands.”

When she joined Biden’s ticket, she abandoned that position and is now pledging to remain in favor of it.

3. Harris shows (again) she’s not an ideologue — and is aiming for the middle

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz and Vice President Harris are interviewed by CNN’s Dana Bash at Kim’s Cafe in Savannah, Ga., on Thursday. Will Lanzoni/CNN hide caption

From saying she would appoint a Republican to her Cabinet to committing to stronger fracking and immigration policies than she had in 2019, to her position on Israel, Harris is again showing she’s aiming her campaign squarely at the middle.

A larger point on her move to the center on fracking and immigration in particular is that these shifts track with something she’s been consistent on — and something that brought her criticism in 2019: She believes most in solving problems.

“I believe it is important to build consensus, and it is important to find a common place of understanding of where we can actually solve problems,” Harris told Bash.

She shared that sentiment five years ago.

“[I]s my government solving problems?” Harris told NPR’s Scott Detrow in 2019 of what she sees as most important in public service. “That's how I think about it. And it's the way I've always judged myself, frankly, and my work, which is – are we relevant, right? … It's about, on a daily basis, are we addressing people's real-life problems and solving them? And frankly, if we're not, we need to move over.”

In 2019, that didn’t fly, because progressives wanted a champion, and they were already wary of Harris’ record as California’s attorney general and San Francisco district attorney, which they considered too moderate.

Conservatives in this election have been going after Harris for what they see as inauthenticity, but the thing that Harris has always shown is that she’s pragmatic. She’s been much clearer on where she stands in this campaign than she was in 2019 – and that’s aimed directly at the middle.

Army says Arlington National Cemetery worker was 'pushed aside' by Trump aides

That includes while on the campaign trail in Georgia Thursday, saying that one of her top priorities will be helping small businesses and promising to roll out a tax credit proposal for new small businesses next week.

The bottom line is: Harris is a big D Democrat. She might want to move the country to the left of where Donald Trump wants to take it, but she’s signaling that, as president, like former President Barack Obama before her, she would probably be as liberal as Congress and her coalition will allow her to be.

Frankly, this line of attack that her stances keep changing might stick more to Harris if she wasn’t running against Trump.

4. We did get some clearer policy ideas

Asked what she would do on Day 1, Harris said she would look for ways to “strengthen” the middle class and start trying to implement her “Opportunity Economy” plan she laid out last week to bring prices down and try to make homes more affordable.

Specifically, Harris talked in this interview about:

• Extending a $6,000 child tax credit to families for first year of a child’s life, and her
• A $25,000 first-time homebuyer tax credit

She has noted other proposals in the course of this truncated campaign, like wanting to try to pass the John Lewis voting rights bill, which Republicans have blocked, and wanting to revive the border-security bill Biden drafted with conservative Republicans that Trump opposed and the GOP-led House then killed.

Harris wants to give families a big tax break for a new baby

How Harris’ vision for the economy is a twist on Biden’s

Harris has been dinged for not putting forward deep policy proposals, but no candidate campaigns successfully as a walking policy memo.

Campaigns do usually roll out policy papers that include cost analyses and the like, and Harris hasn’t done that, but neither has Trump in a serious way.

Plus, presidential campaigns are really about big ideas and what direction a candidate wants to take the country, especially in this election, when people have such strong and ingrained feelings about Trump.

5. Harris didn’t run from “Bidenomics”

Some might have thought that Harris would try to put distance between herself and Biden’s economic policies, given how negatively Americans view the economy currently – despite fairly strong growth, low unemployment and a decline in inflation in the past year.

Trump is also out with an ad this week hitting Harris on this very topic, comparing what she’s said at different times about what’s become known as “Bidenomics.”

But instead of shying away from it, Harris defended Biden’s economic policies, arguing “mismanagement” from Trump during the COVID pandemic gave them a less-than-optimal hand. She pointed out what she feels the administration has done well, from capping prescription drug costs for seniors and cutting child poverty, to an increase in manufacturing jobs and improving supply chains.

“I’ll say that that’s good work,” Harris said. “There’s more to do, but that’s good work.”

It was a strong defense, showing off how she might rebut the critique at the upcoming debate. But it also shows what a lot of Democrats have been crying out for – someone to make the case on the economy well, instead of how Biden often responded, which came off as him taking the attacks personally and acting defensively.

Harris is on a 2-day Georgia bus tour. It’s the latest sign the state is in play

Harris leaning into the argument that the administration has made progress – whether it works or not – is also a reminder that politics isn’t always about doing something because it’s already popular; it’s trying to actually win the argument, something Democrats weren’t doing with Biden at the top of the ticket.

Polls have shown that voters have given Harris the benefit of the doubt on the economy and haven’t tied her to negative feelings about it the way they did with Biden. We’ll see how public opinion moves, if at all, following the Democratic convention, this interview, Trump’s ad blitz and the upcoming debate.

6. Harris again stayed focused on her agenda and didn’t take the (race) bait on Trump

Bash also asked Harris about Trump’s inflammatory comments about her race and ethnicity. In July, Trump said to a gathering of Black journalists , “I didn’t know she was Black until a number of years ago when she happened to turn Black and now she wants to be known as Black. So, I don’t know, is she Indian or is she Black?”

Here was Harris’ response Thursday night:

HARRIS: “Yeah.”

BASH: “Any—”

HARRIS: “Same old, tired playbook.” [Pause] Next question, please.” [Laugh]

BASH: “That’s it?”

HARRIS: “That’s it.”

Later in the interview, she said: “I am running because I believe that I am the best person to do this job at this moment for all Americans, regardless of race and gender.”

Harris’ momentum continues as she ties with Trump in these swing states

During this campaign, Harris hasn’t dwelled on the historic nature of her candidacy. It’s a tricky line for a Black candidate when one is trying to appeal to white voters in the middle. It’s tricky for a woman running for president in a country that has never elected a woman to the White House.

But Harris has been deft at brushing off Trump’s attempts to drag her into controversies he’s created.

Her calm against Trump’s tumult is a side-by-side picture Democrats are banking on.

“The split screen works so well for her and Democrats right now,” said Joel Payne, a Democratic strategist and chief communications officer for MoveOn Political Action. “The chaos vs. stability argument that the Biden campaign was trying to execute against Trump, the Harris team is able to do it with so much more effectiveness.”

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Visual Essay

New Foreign Direct Investment in the United States in 2023

August 28, 2024

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The U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis (BEA) recently released statistics on 2023 new foreign direct investment in the United States. These statistics provide information on the acquisition and establishment of U.S. business enterprises by foreign investors and on the expansion of existing U.S. affiliates of foreign companies to establish new production facilities. These annual statistics provide information on the amount and characteristics of new investments in the United States by foreign investors and are obtained from a mandatory survey of foreign-owned U.S. businesses conducted by BEA.

Expenditures

[Click chart to expand]

• Expenditures by foreign direct investors to acquire, establish, or expand U.S. businesses totaled $148.8 billion (preliminary) in 2023.
• Expenditures decreased $57.4 billion, or 28 percent, from $206.2 billion (revised) in 2022 and were below the annual average of $265.6 billion for 2014–2022.
• As in previous years, acquisitions of existing businesses accounted for a large majority of total expenditures.
• In 2023, expenditures for acquisitions were $136.5 billion, expenditures to establish new U.S. businesses were $7.4 billion, and expenditures to expand existing foreign-owned businesses were $5.0 billion.
• Planned total expenditures, which include both first-year and planned future expenditures for investments initiated in 2023, were $175.9 billion.
• Canada was the largest source of new foreign direct investment expenditures in 2023.
• Europe was the second largest source of new foreign direct investment in 2023, after being the top source from 2019 to 2022. Expenditures from European investors decreased $67.3 billion from $117.7 billion in 2022 to $50.3 billion in 2023, the largest change in first year expenditures for any region.
• Canada contributed 35.9 percent of new investment expenditures in 2023.
• By country of UBO, the largest investing country was Canada, with expenditures of $53.4 billion in 2023.
• Japan ($14.6 billion) was the second-largest country, followed by Sweden ($8.4 billion).
• The top five investing countries accounted for 61.6 percent of new foreign direct investment expenditures in 2023.
• Expenditures for new direct investment were largest in the manufacturing sector, at $42.9 billion, accounting for 28.8 percent of total expenditures in 2023.
• Within manufacturing, expenditures were largest in chemical manufacturing ($17.8 billion) and electrical equipment, appliances, and components ($6.6 billion).
• There were also notable expenditures in professional, scientific, and technical services ($16.0 billion).
• In 2023, 47 states and the District of Columbia received new foreign direct investment. Four states had first-year expenditures of over $10 billion.
• By state, Missouri received the most investment in 2023, but its value is suppressed due to confidentiality requirements.
• California received the second-most investment ($12.8 billion), followed by New Jersey ($12.1 billion) and Texas ($10.1 billion).
• Greenfield investment expenditures—expenditures to either establish a new U.S. business or to expand an existing foreign-owned U.S. business—were $12.4 billion in 2023.
• Total planned expenditures for greenfield investment initiated in 2023, which include both first-year and future expenditures, were $39.5 billion.
• By industry, total planned expenditures for greenfield investment initiated in 2023 were highest in manufacturing ($35.1 billion), primarily electrical equipment, appliances, and components, which includes batteries.
• In 2023, employment at newly acquired, established, or expanded foreign-owned businesses in the United States was 110,000 employees.
• Current employment of acquired enterprises was 106,100.
• By region of UBO, Europe accounted for 55.7 percent of current employment in 2023.
• By country of UBO, Canada (28,000), the United Kingdom (23,500), and Germany (13,000) accounted for the largest number of employees.
• Total planned employment, which includes the current employment of acquired enterprises, the planned future employment of newly established business enterprises when fully operational, and the planned future employment associated with expansions, was 132,500.
• By industry, manufacturing accounted for the highest planned total employment (44,700) for the second year in a row.
• Planned employment for greenfield investments initiated in 2023 was highest in electrical equipment, appliances, and components manufacturing (13,200), which includes batteries.
• 38 states and the District of Columbia had planned employment from greenfield investments initiated in 2023.
• Planned total greenfield employment was largest in Georgia (7,000).

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