It Ends with Us
by Colleen Hoover
🌶️ Quick Spice Verdict
Heat Level
Moderate, story-driven
Spicy Scenes
~3 scenes
POV Style
First person (Lily)
About It Ends with Us
Lily hasn't always had it easy, but that's never stopped her from working hard for the life she wants. When she meets neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, everything seems perfect — until a connection to her first love Atlas complicates everything.
Reading Vibes
🌶️ Spice Level Breakdown
It Ends with Us has moderate spice — there are intimate scenes between Lily and Ryle that are written with some detail, but they're not the focus of the book. The sexual content serves the story rather than being a standalone feature. There are 2-3 intimate scenes that range from sweet to passionate. What makes the physical scenes in this book unique is how they intersect with the domestic violence theme — some moments that start as romantic become uncomfortable as the story progresses, which is intentional and powerful storytelling.
Tropes in It Ends with Us
A romance that defies social rules or expectations
A character torn between two love interests
Former lovers reunite and rekindle their romance
Content Warnings
⚠️ Content Warnings
- Domestic violence (central theme)
- Physical abuse
- Emotional manipulation
- Childhood abuse
- Sexual content
Should You Read It Ends with Us?
✅ Perfect For You If...
- •Readers who want romance with serious themes
- •Those interested in domestic violence awareness through fiction
- •Colleen Hoover fans
- •Book club readers looking for discussion-worthy novels
- •Readers who appreciate complex, morally nuanced characters
⛔ Skip This If...
- •Domestic violence depiction is triggering for you
- •You want a purely feel-good romance
- •You need a clear-cut happy ending
- •You prefer high-spice as the main draw
Our Take
It Ends with Us is the Colleen Hoover book that transcended BookTok to become a cultural conversation. At its core, this is a story about the cycle of domestic violence, told through the eyes of a woman who swore she'd never end up like her mother. Hoover handles the subject with remarkable sensitivity — Ryle isn't a cartoon villain, which makes the story more realistic and more painful. The romance elements are present but secondary to the larger message. The love triangle with Atlas adds complexity without feeling cheap. This is the kind of book that changes how you think about relationships, abuse, and the strength it takes to break a cycle. It's not Hoover's spiciest book, but it might be her most important one.
What Readers Say
Average community spice rating: 3.0/5
booktok.bestie
2024-11-25
“This is NOT a feel-good romance. I repeat, NOT a feel-good romance. The spice level is moderate but some of the intimate scenes become uncomfortable as the story progresses, which is intentional and powerful. If you have triggers around domestic violence, please check the content warnings carefully. That said, this book is important and beautifully written.”
thoughtful.reads
2024-10-02
“I went in expecting a romance and got a masterclass in understanding domestic violence. The spice is there but secondary to the message. What's brilliant is how Hoover makes you fall for Ryle before showing his true nature — just like how it happens in real life. The love triangle with Atlas adds hope without feeling cheap. Trigger warning for physical abuse.”
book.club.beth
2024-08-18
“The spice in IEWU is moderate — there are intimate scenes but they're not the focus. What IS the focus is the domestic violence storyline, which is handled with incredible nuance. Ryle isn't a monster from page one, which makes it more realistic and more painful. This book changed how I think about abuse. Content warning: this is heavy.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Is It Ends with Us spicy?
Yes, It Ends with Us has a spice level of 3/5 on our scale, which we rate as "Spicy (Moderate Scenes)." Explicit intimate scenes, moderately described. It Ends with Us has moderate spice — there are intimate scenes between Lily and Ryle that are written with some detail, but they're not the focus of the book. The sexual content serves the story rather than being a standalone feature. There are 2-3 intimate scenes that range from sweet to passionate. What makes the physical scenes in this book unique is how they intersect with the domestic violence theme — some moments that start as romantic become uncomfortable as the story progresses, which is intentional and powerful storytelling.
What is the spice level of It Ends with Us?
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover is rated 3 out of 5 on the SpicyBooks spice scale. This means it's "Spicy (Moderate Scenes)" — explicit intimate scenes, moderately described. The steam level is: Moderate, story-driven.
How many spicy scenes are in It Ends with Us?
It Ends with Us contains approximately 3 intimate/spicy scenes. It Ends with Us has moderate spice — there are intimate scenes between Lily and Ryle that are written with some detail, but they're not the focus of the book. The sexual content serves the story rather than being a standalone feature. There are 2-3 intimate scenes that range from sweet to passionate. What makes the physical scenes in this book unique is how they intersect with the domestic violence theme — some moments that start as romantic become uncomfortable as the story progresses, which is intentional and powerful storytelling.
What tropes are in It Ends with Us?
It Ends with Us features the following romance tropes: 🚫 Forbidden Love, 🔺 Love Triangle, 🔄 Second Chance. These tropes are central to the story and shape the romantic dynamic between the characters.
Does It Ends with Us have content warnings?
Yes, readers should be aware of the following content warnings for It Ends with Us: Domestic violence (central theme), Physical abuse, Emotional manipulation, Childhood abuse, Sexual content. We always recommend checking content warnings before reading if you have specific sensitivities.
Is It Ends with Us a standalone?
It Ends with Us can be read as a standalone novel. You don't need to read any other books before or after to enjoy the full story.
Who would enjoy It Ends with Us?
It Ends with Us is perfect for: Readers who want romance with serious themes; Those interested in domestic violence awareness through fiction; Colleen Hoover fans. The reading vibes are: Emotional, Thought-provoking, Heartbreaking, Empowering, Heavy.
If You Liked It Ends with Us, You'll Love These
Ready to Read It Ends with Us?
Now that you know the spice level, tropes, and content warnings — grab your copy!