Colleen Hoover’s book adaptation, ‘It Ends With Us,’ debuts today with some differences from the original.
In the latest romantic drama ‘It Ends With Us,’ directed by Justin Baldoni, audiences finally see the film adaptation of Colleen Hoover's popular 2016 novel. Released today to a mixed reception, the movie features a star-studded cast including Blake Lively, Baldoni himself, Brandon Sklenar, Jenny Slate, and Hasan Minhaj. Notably, this marks ‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ actress Lively's first lead role in four years, reuniting her with fans. The storyline studies the struggles of Lily Blossom Bloom, a flower shop owner caught between the affections of Ryle Kincaid, a charming neurosurgeon, and her first love Atlas Corrigan—a stoic figure. While the movie largely follows the book, there are several significant differences. Let’s break down those differences.
The book tells of Lily's breakup with Ryle and his three-month overseas disappearance — only to encounter her again upon his return — after which they decide to part ways. The story concludes in a harmonious way with a scene in the post-division phase of their relationship, where Lily is rekindling her romance with Atlas while co-parenting amiably with Ryle.
The movie, while ending on a similarly romantic note, provides additional closure for Lily and her mother, Jenny. Jenny has been the victim of a lifetime of abuse from her husband. Lily was unable to eulogize her father during the funeral due to bitter feelings toward him. In the movie, the end is richer. There is a moment when Lily, Jenny, and Lily’s daughter, Emerson, visit the grave of their father. Lily leaves the empty eulogy notes at the father’s grave, and the Blooms hug before turning away from the grave. This is an empowering moment for the Bloom family women, as they start a fresh life after leaving their shared trauma behind.
(Credit: Colleen Hoover)
A few key characters are missing from the adaptation. Devin, Lily’s gay best friend who stirs up Ryle's jealousy by posing as her boyfriend, is notably absent. Lucy, Lily’s former roommate who eventually works at her flower shop, is also missing. Additionally, Ryle’s parents don’t make an appearance; instead of proposing at their apartment, Ryle now pops the question to Lily in Allysa’s hospital room, just after she gives birth.
In the adaptation, Lily’s age is older than her 23 years in the book, a deliberate choice by the showrunners. The age adjustment provides justification for how Lily could be able to own her own flower shop and aligns with the casting of Blake Lively, who is 36. Moreover, the novel describes Lily as having ‘red hair and fair skin.’ However, in Lively's portrayal, she is shown with blonde hair, representing another dissimilarity between the character's book-to-screen transition.
In the book, Lily and Atlas directly witness Lily’s father hitting her mother. However, in the adaptation, the scene is presented through flashbacks where Lily recalls the abuse and shares her past experiences with Atlas afterward.
In the book, young Lily pens her school years in the form of informal journal entries to daytime talk show host Ellen DeGeneres, but, in the movie, those entries are omitted in favor of actual flashbacks of Lily and Atlas’ high school romance. The movie does not forget about DeGeneres entirely, though: when Atlas arrives at Lily’s house for the first time, she is watching ‘The Ellen DeGeneres Show’ on the couch.
