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It Ends with Us

It Ends with Us is a 2016 romance novel by Colleen Hoover, published by Atria Books.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated September 10, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

It Ends with Us is a 2016 romance novel by Colleen Hoover, published by Atria Books. It follows Lily Bloom as she becomes involved with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid while confronting memories of an earlier relationship with Atlas Corrigan. The novel addresses domestic violence and emotional abuse.

Plot

The novel follows Lily Bloom as she starts a new life in Boston and enters a relationship with Ryle Kincaid. As the relationship develops, she confronts behavior that reflects the abuse she witnessed in her parents' marriage.

Themes

The book deals with domestic violence, emotional abuse, trauma, and the challenge of breaking repeating patterns. It also emphasizes resilience, agency, and the possibility of healing.

Publication and reception

It Ends with Us was published by Atria Books on August 2, 2016. It later gained wide popularity and helped make Colleen Hoover a major contemporary bestseller.

The novel has a direct sequel, It Starts with Us, which continues characters and storylines from the original book. The story was also adapted into a 2024 film.

Key facts

  • The novel is centered on Lily Bloom, a florist in Boston.
  • Ryle Kincaid is a neurosurgeon whose relationship with Lily becomes abusive.
  • Atlas Corrigan is Lily's high school boyfriend and an important figure in her past.
  • The book explores cycles of abuse and the difficulty of leaving harmful relationships.
  • It became one of Hoover's best-known and most commercially successful books.
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Canadian context

The novel is widely read in Canada and is relevant to Canadian readers as part of the broader North American contemporary romance market and ongoing discussions of domestic violence in fiction.

Frequently asked questions

Who wrote It Ends with Us?
It Ends with Us was written by Colleen Hoover.
When was It Ends with Us published?
It was published on August 2, 2016.
What is the book about?
It follows Lily Bloom, her relationship with Ryle Kincaid, and the return of her first love, Atlas Corrigan, while addressing domestic abuse.
What genre is It Ends with Us?
It is generally classified as a romance novel.
Does It Ends with Us have a sequel?
Yes. The sequel is It Starts with Us.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/It_Ends_with_Us
    Supports: Author, publication date, publisher, plot elements, themes, sequel, and background.
  2. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/title/tt10655524/plotsummary/
    Supports: Core plot premise and film adaptation context.