The She Reads team got the opportunity to enjoy an early screening of It Ends with Us, the movie adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s mega-hit. If you were one of the readers who poured over this story about a young woman fighting the ghosts of her past while finding herself in a relationship that seems like a dream, at first, but turns into a nightmare over time, we have the scoop on how Hollywood handled this beloved novel.

It Ends with Us follows the story of Lily Bloom (Blake Lively), a young woman who is trying to forge a new future after the passing of her father. Her childhood is marred with trauma, but she has worked hard to build a new life that leaves that all behind. When she meets a handsome neurosurgeon, Ryle (Justin Baldoni, who also directed the movie) he seems too good to be true… and, perhaps, he is. As she grapples with Ryle’s escalating demons, she is reunited with Atlas (Brandon Sklenar), the boy from her past who captured her heart. Lily must contend with the love she feels for Ryle, her mixed feelings about Atlas and also her desperate desire not to live the life her mother did.

Spoiler Alert: This review will contain some mild spoilers, particularly for those who haven’t read the book.

The Wardrobe is Stunning

When the movie was in production, photos of the cast, Blake Lively in particular, were released and the book world was up in arms over the eclectic styling that the crew had chosen for the character of Lily Bloom. The internet was in an uproar, with fans demanding answers for why Lily didn’t appear the way they had imagined based on the book. Colleen Hoover responded that she was “not worried about it” despite the mounting criticism.

After seeing the film, I can confirm, Colleen was correct. Despite what fans perceived  as a disheveled appearance of Lively in costume between scenes, the final product was nothing short of stunning. Aside from Blake’s natural charm and beauty, the styling was to die for and will leave you deeply wishing to raid Lily Bloom’s closet.

The Casting Really Worked

With any adaptation, there can be some disappointment in casting if it doesn’t reflect how readers pictured their favorite characters. But these actors fit each role perfectly. Blake made a superb Lily, Justin gave a very convincing performance playing an extremely contentious character and Atlas–oh Atlas–was everything you wanted him to be. And we have to give a shout out to Jenny Slate who nailed the sister/bestie Allysa with her trademark quirk and humor. Don’t even get me started on how perfectly young Atlas and young Lily were also portrayed.

Dialed Back Domestic Violence

It Ends with Us deals with some very heavy topics surrounding domestic violence. In fact, whether you’re reading the book or seeing the movie, consider this your trigger warning. Nonetheless, when dealing with a visual medium over a book, it’s a delicate process deciding what gets shown and what is withheld as it can be even more traumatizing to see scenes like this acted out versus reading them on a page.

At times, it was more difficult to understand the tension around the scenes dealing with abuse and there was something of an ambiguity to it that wasn’t quite as prevalent in the book. Though I think it is probably the right choice for the screen, some may find that it feels a little downplayed, given its significance to the story.

The Backstory

For anyone who has read the book, you know that the flashback’s to Lily and Atlas’s past are just as important as the present storyline. Like all books, there is a lot more time marinating on that relationship than you get in the movie. However, if you’ve already read the book, you’ll find all the high points are covered. If you haven’t read the book… do it. It’s worth it for the Lily/Atlas moments that not only get to the most tender part of the story, but also set the stage for Hoover’s sequel, It Starts with Us.

There are Real Fall Vibes

Though this movie is releasing at the end of summer, you’ll find it makes you long for the cooler season ahead. The set was as beautiful as the wardrobe and cast, and made you want to snuggle up on a couch and cry a little over Lily’s tragedies and triumphs. There was a color and tone to the film that truly draws you in. From the flower shop (which is unimaginably stunning) to Atlas’s restaurant (which, by the way, is retitled to be called ‘Root’… but it totally works), it’s just one of those movies you want to crawl inside and live in.