It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover

Rating:

3 Stars

Themes:

Abuse, Romance, Contemporary Fiction, Adult

Thoughts:

In general, I don’t shy away from books with difficult, dark or complex themes when done well. However, I really don’t believe this book is one of them. It spends way too much time trying to justify Ryle’s actions and romanticise him despite Lily’s past experiences, even when she gets away she spends time justifying his behaviours to some extent and genuinely considering taking him back. As an author with such a young following, I think we need to hold authors more accountable for the messages we are sending to their inexperienced and vulnerable readers. I did like the theme of breaking the cycle and how Lily managed to break the cycle for Emma but that wasn’t enough to redeem the whole book in my eyes.

Favourite Quote:

"You’re only human. And as humans, we can’t expect to shoulder all of our pain. Sometimes we have to share it with the people who love us so we don’t come crashing down from the weight of it all."

Comments

Shame-Sex Attraction by Lucas Wilson

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Broken Glass by Sarah Kay

Rating: 3 Stars Themes: Poetry Thoughts: I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. This collection is mixed for me, some of the poems were really good and all were definitely emotive but I think so many poems on the Hamas attack and subsequent war which is highly politically charged a little difficult to tackle. Favourite Quote: "What good is it to open my heart when in the end, you will stab it in the back?"

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