By Book Club Team 
It Ends With Us has been adapted into a film directed by and starring Justin Baldoni, alongside Blake Lively. The movie was released in theaters on August 9, 2024, and is now available for streaming on Netflix as of December 9, 2024.
The film closely follows the plot of Colleen Hoover’s novel, portraying the complex relationship between Lily Bloom (Lively) and neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid (Baldoni). As Lily’s past love, Atlas Corrigan (Brandon Sklenar), re-enters her life, she faces challenging decisions about love and personal growth. The cast also includes Jenny Slate as Allysa and Hasan Minhaj as Marshall.
While the film achieved commercial success, grossing over $350 million worldwide, it received mixed reviews from critics. Some praised the performances, particularly Lively’s portrayal of Lily, while others critiqued the film’s handling of sensitive themes like domestic violence.
Additionally, the production was marred by off-screen controversies. In December 2024, Lively filed a lawsuit against Baldoni, alleging sexual harassment and defamation. Baldoni has denied these allegations and filed counterclaims. The legal disputes have garnered significant media attention and are ongoing.
Despite these issues, the film has sparked discussions about its portrayal of complex relationships and the challenges of adapting sensitive subject matter to the screen.
It Ends With Us Book vs. Movie: Key Differences
The film adaptation of Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us introduces several notable changes from the original novel. Here are some key differences:
1. Character Ages
In the novel, Lily is 23 and Ryle is 30. The film portrays them as older, aligning with the actors’ ages—Blake Lively (Lily) was 36 and Justin Baldoni (Ryle) was 40 at the time of filming. This adjustment addresses the realism of their professional statuses, especially Ryle’s position as a neurosurgeon.
2. Relationship Dynamics
The movie modifies the progression of Lily and Ryle’s relationship. While the book depicts a gradual development over several months, the film accelerates their romance, including an earlier first kiss and a more condensed timeline.
3. Omission of Ellen DeGeneres References
In the book, Lily frequently writes journal entries addressed to Ellen DeGeneres, and she and Atlas bond over watching The Ellen DeGeneres Show. The film significantly reduces these references, opting for a brief nod to the show without making it a central theme.
4. Atlas’s Restaurant Name
Atlas’s restaurant is named “Bib’s” in the novel, an acronym for “Better in Boston.” The film changes the name to “Root,” symbolizing a connection to Lily’s passion for flowers and their shared history.
5. Presentation of Domestic Violence
The novel provides a detailed and explicit portrayal of domestic violence, delving deeply into Lily’s internal struggles. The film, however, opts for a more subdued depiction, with some scenes toned down or omitted, potentially lessening the impact of Lily’s experiences.
6. Lily’s Backstory
The book offers an extensive look into Lily’s past, including her experiences growing up in an abusive household. The film glosses over much of this backstory, focusing more on present events and providing less context for Lily’s decisions and emotional challenges.
7. Wedding and Proposal
In the novel, Lily and Ryle elope to Las Vegas for a spontaneous wedding. The film portrays Ryle proposing to Lily in a hospital room shortly after his sister, Allysa, gives birth, leading to a brief wedding scene without the Las Vegas backdrop.
8. Revelation of Ryle’s Past
The book reveals Ryle’s traumatic childhood incident—accidentally shooting his brother—through a conversation between Ryle and Lily. In the film, this revelation comes from Allysa, altering the context and impact of the disclosure.
9. Ending Ambiguity
While the novel provides a clearer resolution regarding Lily’s future, especially concerning her relationship with Atlas, the film leaves their future more ambiguous, focusing on Lily’s personal growth and decision to end the cycle of abuse.
10. Opening Scene
The movie begins with Lily attending her father’s funeral and subsequently moving to Boston, providing immediate context for her fresh start. In contrast, the book gradually reveals Lily’s motivations for relocating, delving into her background as the story progresses.
11. Lily and Atlas’s First Kiss
In the novel, Lily and Atlas share their first kiss privately in her bedroom, marking Lily’s first-ever romantic experience. The film, however, portrays this moment publicly on a school bus, where Lily boldly kisses Atlas in front of their peers to stand up against mockery.
12. Omission of Secondary Characters
The film streamlines the story by omitting certain secondary characters present in the book, such as Lucy, Lily’s roommate, and Devin, her colleague. This focuses the narrative more closely on the central characters and their relationships.
13. Altered Proposal and Wedding
While the book depicts Lily and Ryle eloping to Las Vegas for a spontaneous wedding, the film presents a different sequence. Ryle proposes to Lily in a hospital room shortly after his sister, Allysa, gives birth, leading to a brief wedding scene without the Las Vegas backdrop.
14. Revelation of Ryle’s Past
In the novel, Ryle personally confides in Lily about the traumatic incident of accidentally shooting his brother during their childhood. The film shifts this revelation to a conversation between Allysa and Lily, altering the context and emotional impact of the disclosure.
15. Lily’s Promise to Leave
The book includes a pivotal moment where Lily tells Ryle that if he ever hurts her again, she will leave him. This explicit promise is absent in the film, which changes the dynamics of their relationship and Lily’s decision-making process.
16. Ending Ambiguity
The novel provides a clearer resolution regarding Lily’s future, especially concerning her relationship with Atlas. In contrast, the film leaves their future more ambiguous, focusing on Lily’s personal growth and her decision to end the cycle of abuse.
These changes reflect the filmmakers’ choices to adapt the story for a cinematic audience, focusing on visual storytelling and condensing complex narratives.
It Ends With Us: Book vs. Movie – Which One is Better?
This is the debate among Colleen Hoover fans right now—did the movie adaptation do justice to the novel, or did it miss the mark? Let’s break it down and see which version comes out on top!
Emotional Impact
- Book: The novel is deeply emotional and raw, pulling readers into Lily’s inner thoughts and struggles. The detailed first-person narration makes you feel her pain, love, and heartbreak intensely.
- Movie: While the film doesn’t shy away from difficult topics, it tones down the domestic violence elements and simplifies Lily’s internal conflict. Some moments that were gut-wrenching in the book feel less impactful on screen.
Verdict: The book delivers a stronger emotional punch and provides a more intimate connection to Lily’s journey.
Character Development
- Book: The book dives deep into Lily, Ryle, and Atlas’s backstories. We get to see Lily’s journal entries, which help explain her mindset and why she struggles with leaving Ryle. Atlas’s character is also more fleshed out, making his role more meaningful.
- Movie: The film ages up the characters (Lily and Ryle are in their late 30s instead of their early 20s) and removes secondary characters like Lily’s roommate Lucy and coworker Devin. Some key elements, like Atlas’s detailed past and Ryle’s inner conflict, are underdeveloped.
Verdict: The book gives more depth to the characters, making their actions feel more justified and emotional.
Pacing & Storytelling
- Book: The novel has a slow burn, allowing Lily and Ryle’s relationship to build naturally before things take a dark turn. The pacing makes the emotional shifts hit harder.
- Movie: The movie rushes the romance, making Lily and Ryle’s connection feel a little forced. Their first kiss happens earlier, and key events are condensed, making some of Lily’s choices feel less justified.
Verdict: The book’s slower, more detailed pacing makes the story feel more believable and impactful.
Visual & Cinematic Experience
- Book: The novel relies on description and inner monologue, making it powerful but leaving certain moments up to the reader’s imagination.
- Movie: The film brings the story to life visually, with beautiful cinematography, a strong cast (Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni), and emotional performances. However, some fans feel the tone wasn’t dark enough to match the heavy themes of the book.
Verdict: The movie gets points for strong visuals, but since it softens some of the more intense moments, the impact isn’t the same.
Acting & Casting
- Book: Readers could imagine Lily and Ryle however they wanted. The book’s dialogue and descriptions gave them depth.
- Movie: The casting of Blake Lively as Lily and Justin Baldoni as Ryle received mixed reactions. Some fans felt Lively was too old for the role, as Lily is supposed to be in her early 20s. However, Baldoni’s performance as Ryle was praised for capturing his charm and aggression.
Verdict: The casting choices divided fans, but Baldoni’s portrayal of Ryle was powerful.
Adaptation Accuracy
- Book: The novel is deep, heartbreaking, and raw, exploring the complexities of domestic abuse, love, and trauma in detail.
- Movie: The film changes multiple things, including Lily’s age, the pacing, and the portrayal of abuse. Some elements—like Lily’s connection with Ellen DeGeneres—were removed entirely. The ending is also more ambiguous, whereas the book gives clearer closure.
Verdict: The movie changes too much for some fans, making it a weaker adaptation.
Winner: The Book!
While the movie has its strengths (visual storytelling and some strong performances), the book is the more powerful, emotional, and complete version of the story. If you want the full depth of Lily’s journey, reading the book is a must!