In 2020, Colleen Hoover exploded in popularity on “Booktok,” Tiktok’s book recommendation community. Since then, she has been the target of both extreme praise and criticism. Her best-selling 2016 novel, “It Ends with Us,” has been a topic of debate, especially surrounding its depiction and alleged romanticization of abusive relationships.
The debate surrounding “It Ends with Us” has only grown since the release of its film adaptation early last month. Like the novel, the film follows Lily Bloom’s (Blake Lively) journey through a troubled romance with Ryle Kincaid (Justin Baldoni) and her rekindled connection with her first love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar). As Ryle grows increasingly abusive, Lily must struggle to break free from his control and protect herself. Much of the controversy surrounding the book’s handling of abuse comes from its ending, in which Lily largely forgives Ryle and allows him to have joint custody of their young child. It’s an ending many readers argue undermines the emotional journey of its main character and disregards Ryle’s actions throughout the story. When asked about the ending, Maya Murakami, a BHS junior, said “I feel like they just made her look stupid … it infuriated me.”
Critics also argue that the portrayal of Ryle as a “charismatic but dangerous” man glamorizes his nature as an abuser and reduces him to a common romance novel archetype. Fans of “It Ends with Us,” however, say that this depiction is realistic and the honest portrayal of domestic violence is valuable to real-life survivors of abuse. Though they object to the depiction of abuse throughout the story, Toby Quilty, a BHS junior, said, “If a book gives someone comfort after they’ve had a horrible life experience, (it’s) a great book.”
The other major controversy surrounding the book and film has been its marketing. In 2023, Colleen Hoover announced an “It Ends with Us” coloring book. Fans found this inappropriate and, after extreme backlash, the book’s publishers canceled it. Days later, Hoover posted on Instagram that “the coloring book was developed with Lily’s strength in mind, but I can absolutely see how this was tone deaf … I agree with you. No excuses.” Despite this, earlier this year, she partnered with Target and Olive & June to release an “It Ends with Us”-inspired nail polish line, which faced the same criticisms of insensitivity.
The new movie’s press tour has also been plagued by disapproval. During the last month, Blake Lively, who plays Lily, has been called insensitive for appearing in TikTok videos telling fans to “grab your friends, wear your florals, and head out to see (It Ends With Us).” Many also take issue with the book being referred to as a “romance” or “rom-com.” BHS senior Tatum Ibanez questioned the romantic comedy label, wondering “What comedy does (Blake Lively) find in domestic violence?”
The continued debate surrounding It Ends With Us is evidence of the complexity of handling sensitive topics in media. The conversation surrounding the book and film calls attention to an increasing demand for deeper and more sensitive portrayals of domestic violence. While “It Ends With Us” has drawn attention to the issue, audience reactions emphasize the need for authors to explore serious issues with the depth and sensitivity they deserve.