Raw. Unflinching. Gut-wrenchingly honest. Colleen Hoover’s It Ends With Us isn’t just another love story—it’s a deeply personal, emotionally intense exploration of trauma, survival, and breaking cycles of abuse. It’s a book that lingers with you long after you close it, for all the right reasons.
We follow Lily Bloom, a young woman trying to carve out a life on her own terms in Boston. She meets Ryle Kincaid, a brilliant and charming neurosurgeon who seems to check every box for what a dream partner should be. But Hoover expertly peels back layers to reveal that not everything is as it seems.
What sets this novel apart is how realistic and human the characters feel. Lily isn’t a perfect heroine; she’s messy, torn, and relatable. Ryle is magnetic but deeply flawed. And Atlas—gentle, grounded Atlas—is the emotional anchor you didn’t know you needed. Hoover doesn’t write black-and-white villains or saviors—she writes people.
At the heart of this story is a powerful message: choosing yourself is the bravest thing you can do. Hoover was inspired by her own mother’s experience with domestic abuse, and the authenticity behind her words hits like a tidal wave.
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.57/5)
Trigger warnings: This book deals heavily with domestic violence and emotional trauma. Hoover doesn’t shy away from graphic, difficult scenes—but every moment serves the story and its ultimate message of empowerment.
5 Books Like It Ends With Us
For fans of this book who want something similar, here’s a list of 5 books like It Ends With Us.
1. Long Shot by Kennedy Ryan
If It Ends With Us ripped your heart out, Long Shot might just crush it.
Like Lily, Iris is stuck in a toxic, abusive relationship, but she finds hope in the most unlikely place: August West, a compassionate NBA player who sees her for who she truly is.
This book doesn’t romanticize pain—it exposes it with grace and rage. It’s more graphic than Hoover’s work but equally layered and empowering.
Content Warning: Graphic physical abuse
Why you’ll love it: Strong heroine, a love that heals, and a beautifully paced emotional arc
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.57/5)
2. Sweet Dandelion by Micalea Smeltzer
This one’s for readers who loved the trauma-to-healing arc in It Ends With Us.
Sweet Dandelion is a student-teacher, age-gap romance that centers around Dani, a high school senior recovering from the emotional aftermath of a school shooting.
Her guidance counselor, Lachlan, becomes an unexpected lifeline. It’s a slow burn, character-driven, and deeply rooted in mental health.
Why you’ll love it: Emotional depth, soft healing energy, and character-focused storytelling
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.37/5)
3. Crash Course by Alyssa Wilde
Think Sweet Dandelion meets It Ends With Us. Crash Course follows Arden, a high school senior returning to school after a traumatic car accident.
Her creative writing teacher turns out to be Henry, the man who pulled her from the wreckage and then disappeared. T
heir bond is fragile and complicated—and their slow-burn relationship mirrors the psychological healing journey that fans of Hoover will appreciate.
Why you’ll love it: Quiet strength, student/teacher dynamic, emotional tension, and shared trauma themes
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.28/5)
4. Underneath the Sycamore Tree by B. Celeste
If you loved the bittersweetness of first love amid impossible circumstances, this is your next read.
Emery is living with a terminal illness, isolated by her condition and family history.
When she moves in with her estranged father and his new family, she meets Caden, her new stepbrother, who has anger issues and a guarded heart. Their connection is tender, defiant, and tragically beautiful.
Why you’ll love it: Themes of grief, healing, and how love finds a way even in the darkest places
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.2/5)
5. A Thousand Boy Kisses by Tillie Cole
Prepare to cry. A lot. This is the love story of Poppy and Rune, childhood best friends reunited under heartbreaking circumstances.
Poppy is terminally ill, and Rune is the emotionally tortured bad boy determined to make every remaining moment of her life count.
Their love is epic, poetic, and full of “one last time” moments.
Why you’ll love it: Tender heartbreak, deep emotional resonance, and an unforgettable romance
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4.18/5)
Final Thoughts:
It Ends With Us isn’t just about a woman falling in and out of love. It’s about the power to say “enough.” It’s about the war inside ourselves when love becomes dangerous.
These five books like It Ends with Us continue in that vein—exploring the fragility of life, the strength to survive, and the healing that sometimes only love can bring.
If you like these books similar to Colleen hover’s Verity, we also have suggestion on books like 1984, and books like Ready Player One.
Which of these books have you read—or want to read next? Let’s talk book heartbreak therapy together.