Let’s talk about Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us, A book that made us all cry, scream, and hug our pillows, right? Now, with the movie adaptation making its way into our lives, I bet you’re wondering, “Did it live up to the feel of the book?” Well, buckle up because we’re diving into the book vs. movie battle for It Ends with Us.
The Book That Wrecked Us (in the Best Way Possible)
For starters, if you read It Ends with Us, you know that Colleen Hoover didn't come here to play. This book is an emotional rollercoaster with heart-wrenching moments and powerful themes. Lily Bloom, our protagonist, takes us through her life – from her complicated romance with Ryle Kincaid to reconnecting with her first love, Atlas Corrigan, all while dealing with some deep family trauma and the complexities of abuse.
The reason it hits so hard is that Hoover did not take the easy route with such tough topics. The story was raw and real. It was not another love triangle; it was a fight for survival, healing, and making incredibly difficult choices. Hoover puts readers right in Lily's shoes and cannot help but feel every little thing she goes through.
Bringing the Magic to the Screen
Now, let's get to the movie. Trying to turn a novel as intense as It Ends with Us into a film was always going to be a challenge. There were layers of emotions and small, impactful moments that needed to be captured perfectly. So, did the movie do it?
Casting: Nailed It or Missed It?
One of the biggest concerns for any book lover is casting. We’ve all had that moment where our favorite character is completely miscast, and it ruins the entire thing. But for It Ends with Us, the casting team seemed to understand the assignment.
Lily needed a down-to-earth yet fierce vibe, and Blake Lively was the right one to fill that. She did justice to Lily's journey- her vulnerability, strength, and internal struggle all felt right. Then there is Justin Baldoni as Ryle. The charming but deeply flawed neurosurgeon. Let’s just say he brought Ryle’s complexity to the forefront, capturing the character’s charm as well as his darker side.
Atlas played by Brandon Sklenar, His chemistry with Blake was subtle yet intense, just like in the book. Fans were a little worried about this one because Atlas had to be more than just "the good guy." He needed to represent safety, hope, and everything Lily had been missing-and he delivered!
The Emotional Depth: Did They Get It Right?
When it comes to It Ends with Us, emotions are everything. So, did the movie make us feel all the things the book did? Well, almost.
In the book, we are all living inside Lily's head – we feel her love, confusion, guilt, and fear. Translating that internal monologue onto the screen is not easy, but the movie did its best. Blake's performance helped much here; you could see the emotions playing out in her expressions, especially in those pivotal scenes with Ryle. However, readers-turned-viewers did claim some of the emotional beats just did not land well on screen.
Pacing: Fast-forward or Just Right?
Adaptations force a lot of pages to be crammed into two hours. That means some elements would have to be left out or rushed. There were moments during the movie adaptation that were a little too quick for the story. The build-up of Lily and Ryle's relationship didn't breathe as much as it did in the book and because of that the movie somewhat failed to create that touch with the viewers.
What They Got Right (and What They Could’ve Done Better)
One thing the movie got right? The core message. The film encapsulates breaking cycles of abuse and choosing oneself, even when it's hard. It stayed true to the book's mission of showing that sometimes love isn't enough to make a relationship work, and that's okay.
What would have been better? Well, a little bit more depth wouldn't have hurt. Some of the book's heavier moments-for example, Lily's complexities related to her parents-got a bit glossed over. Those moments are pretty important for understanding why Lily does what she does, so I felt the film could have spent a bit more time on that.
Verdict: Book or Movie?
So, which one wins – the book or the movie? Honestly, the book still takes the crown. There’s just something about reading It Ends with Us that gets under your skin in a way a movie can’t quite match. However, the film did an awesome job bringing the story of Lily to life and gifting fans a visual representation of the characters they love.
If you’re a die-hard book fan, you might miss some of the little things, but you’ll still walk away satisfied. And if you haven’t read the book (first of all, what are you doing?), the movie will still hit you in the feels.
Either way, It Ends with Us is a story worth experiencing – whether on the page or the screen. Just don’t forget the tissues!
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