It Ends with Us

It Ends with Us

• Genre: Fiction; contemporary romance
• Originally Published: 2016
• Reading Level/Interest: College/Adult
• Structure/Length: 34 chapters and epilogue; approximately 384 pages; approximately 11 hours, 11 minutes on audio
• Protagonist/Central Conflict: The novel follows Lily Bloom, a young woman who falls in love with a neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid. Their relationship appears perfect, but as they navigate life together, Lily discovers Ryle's dark and troubling side. Things become even more complicated when Lily's first love, Atlas Corrigan, re-enters her life. The central conflict revolves around Lily's struggle to reconcile her feelings for both men, confront her past, and make difficult decisions about her own happiness and well-being.
• Potential Sensitivity Issues: Violence, including domestic and intimate partner violence; physical abuse, including assault; mature themes; emotional and psychological trauma; sexual content including detailed sexual encounters, eroticism, sexual intimidation, and the threat of rape; profanity; suicidal ideation; death, including the accidental killing of a sibling; a character who is unhoused; drug and alcohol use, some excessive

Colleen Hoover, Author

• Bio: Born 1979; American author known for her emotionally charged contemporary romance novels; frequently explores complex relationships and personal growth in her works; self-published her first novel, Slammed, which led to a successful writing career; often delves into difficult and thought-provoking topics; engages with readers through social media and book events; received praise for portrayal of sensitive subjects and exploration of human resilience in It Ends with Us
• Other Works: Hopeless (2012); Ugly Love (2014); November 9 (2015); Confess (2015); Without Merit (2017); All Your Perfects (2018); Heart Bones (2020)
• Awards: Goodreads Choice Award for Romance (2016)

CENTRAL THEMES connected and noted throughout this Teaching Guide:

• The Cyclical Nature of Domestic Violence
• The Necessity of Support

STUDY OBJECTIVES: In accomplishing the components of this Teaching Guide, students will:

• Develop an understanding of the social and emotional contexts concerning domestic and intimate partner violence and healthy partnerships that impact Lily’s relationships.
• Read and analyze paired texts and other brief resources to make connections via the text’s themes of The Cyclical Nature of Domestic Violence and The Necessity of Support.
• Read and annotate Eavan Boland’s poem “Domestic Violence” and draw connections and comparisons to the novel based on text details.
• Analyze and evaluate the plot, characters, narrative structure, and themes to draw conclusions in structured essay responses regarding domestic and intimate partner violence, relational support, and other topics.