Written by Yassmin Elmouzaieg
When Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us was announced as a film, fans were filled with excitement. The novel’s raw portrayal of love, pain, and resilience resonated with many, making it a prime candidate for a screen adaptation. However, while the movie makes an attempt to capture the essence of the book, it falls short in key areas, leaving viewers—especially fans of the novel—feeling a bit unsatisfied.
It Ends with Us tells the story of Lily Bloom (Blake Lively), a young woman who, after escaping a traumatic childhood, is determined to build a life of her own. Lily opens a flower shop in Boston and soon meets and falls in love with Ryle Kincaid (the film’s director, Justin Baldoni), a neurosurgeon who, despite his initial reluctance to commit, is drawn to Lily’s strength and vulnerability. However, their relationship is complicated by the reappearance of Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), Lily’s first love and a connection to her past. As Lily grapples with her feelings for both men, she must confront the cycle of abuse that has defined her life and make difficult choices to protect herself and those she loves.
One of the film’s most noticeable shortcomings is its decision to leave out some pivotal scenes and details that gave the book its emotional depth. For example, the scene where Lily hurts her ankle and dives deep into her journals is missing from the film. In the book, these journal entries provide critical insights into Lily’s inner world, revealing her struggles and growth. Without them, the movie version of Lily feels a bit more distant, making it harder for the audience to connect with her on a deeper level.
The omission of the Finding Nemo reference, a symbol of resilience for Lily and Atlas, is another missed opportunity. In the book, the phrase “just keep swimming” is more than just a line; it’s a mantra that encapsulates their ability to endure hardship. While the film includes a Dory plush toy in the nursery and a subtle reference at Atlas’s restaurant, the impact is lost without the verbalization of this phrase. In the book, these small details matter—they build the world and deepen the relationships between characters. Without them, the story feels incomplete, and this might leave audiences who haven’t read the book scratching their heads.
Despite its flaws, the film does manage to capture some of the emotional intensity of the book—particularly in its portrayal of domestic violence. Lily’s struggle with her own reliability as a narrator and the depiction of the first incident of abuse as an “accident” are handled with care. However, the movie glosses over Lily’s pivotal conversation with her mother about the abuse—a scene crucial for Lily’s character development and healing process in the book. This omission undermines the depth of Lily’s journey and the resolution of her story.
In the end, It Ends with Us is a film that has its heart in the right place but stumbles in its execution. The decision to condense such a complex, layered story into a single film was ambitious, resulting in a movie that, while emotionally resonant in parts, ultimately feels like a rush to the finish line, leaving behind the detail and depth that made the book so beloved.
For fans of Colleen Hoover, this might feel like a missed opportunity, one that could have been better suited to the format of a limited series. By comparing the film to its source material, it becomes clear that the choices made in the adaptation, while understandable, often diminish the impact of the original story, leaving both new viewers and loyal fans wanting more.
