From page to screen: An It Ends With Us comparison

In recent years, Colleen Hoover’s It Ends with Us has struck a powerful chord with readers, drawing them into the story’s heart-wrenching exploration of love, abuse, and a path to healing. 

With It Ends With Us now in theaters, Hoover’s literary world is growing into a cinematic universe, attracting major studios and high-profile talent to bring her emotionally charged stories to life. As Hoover’s work expands further into film and television, adaptations of her other popular novels, like Verity and Reminders of Him, are already in production. 

The emotional profundity and unflinching honesty made It Ends with Us a bestseller, and with its popularity soaring, it was inevitable that the story would find its way onto the big screen. Now that the movie adaptation has arrived, fans are buzzing with reactions. While some are thrilled to see their favorite characters come alive, others have mixed feelings about the changes made in the leap from page to screen. 

Characters: How They Differ Between the Book and Movie

One of the most widely debated aspects of the adaptation has been director Justin Baldoni’s portrayal of the key characters, particularly Lily Bloom, Ryle Kincaid, and Atlas Corrigan.

In the book, Lily is introspective and resilient, navigating complex emotions as she confronts her past and present. Readers felt deeply connected to her inner struggles, as her thoughts and emotions were richly detailed. Blake Lively, who plays Lily in the film, brings her own interpretation of the character—one that some fans feel is slightly less nuanced than Hoover’s literary version.

“I felt like we didn’t get to feel everything Lily goes through in the same way we did in the book because of Blake Lively’s performance,” said Jillian Goffe, a Syracuse University senior studying history, who devoured the book and recently saw the movie. “Her marketing tactics in promoting the movie as your average rom-com just completely changed the narrative of everything Lily is supposed to stand for…It wasn’t respectful to victims of domestic violence that might see the film either,”she said. 

Ryle, played by Justin Baldoni, has also sparked varied reactions. On the page, Ryle’s character unravels slowly, leaving readers torn between empathy for his troubled nature and horror at his abusive tendencies. In the movie, Ryle’s erratic personality is slightly softened, perhaps to make him more sympathetic to a broader audience. 

“Ryle is much more likable at the start of the movie,” said Reese Esposito, a freshman SU student majoring in social work. “In the book, I could sense something was off with him early on, but the movie seems to hide that longer, which I guess makes sense for suspense, but it felt less true to his character.” 

Atlas, who plays a pivotal role in Lily’s emotional healing, also undergoes some changes. The book gives ample attention to his and Lily’s shared past and their maintained connection. However, some fans felt his role was trimmed too much in the movie. 

“I wish we’d seen more of Atlas,” said Christina Kaden, a senior studying Television, Radio, and Film. “He was so important in the book, and I feel like they rushed his scenes to focus more on the drama with Ryle. I would have loved more of their backstory and quiet moments.” 

Plot Adjustments: What Stayed, What Shifted

The most noticeable difference between the book and the movie adaptation is the pacing. In the novel, Lily and Ryle’s relationship evolves gradually, giving readers time to absorb the highs and lows before Hoover’s heartbreaking revelations unfold. The movie, however, abridges this timeline, pushing the drama forward to fit the typical two-hour format.

Several fans have expressed disappointment with how this rapid pacing impacts the story’s emotional resonance. 

As Marissa Orsley, who has read the book three times, said,  “I get that they had to cut some scenes for time, but Lily’s relationship with Ryle feels too rushed in the movie. It’s like one minute they’re madly in love, and the next, everything’s falling apart. In the book, you feel every bit of the tension building, and I missed that in the film.”

Fans also pointed out the absence of yet another critical plot element in the film: Lily’s teenage journals. In the novel, these journal entries give crucial insight into her past with Atlas and her emotional growth over time. 

“Those journal entries were everything,” said Joe Afflitto, a graduate student in Creative Writing. “They made Lily feel so real and connected us to her past. I was disappointed they weren’t featured more in the movie.” 

Theme Execution: Does the Film Keep the Book’s Emotional Impact?

One of the primary concerns leading up to the movie’s release was whether it could successfully convey the book’s sensitive themes of abuse and self-empowerment without losing the emotional weight. The novel’s depiction of Lily’s journey—learning to break free from the cycle of abuse while finding her strength—resonated deeply with readers. Translating such a delicate topic to the screen was bound to be challenging.

For some viewers, the movie succeeded in capturing the heart of the story, even if it glossed over some of the finer emotional details.  

“I cried in both the book and the movie,” said Esposito. “It’s a painful story, and I think the movie did a good job of showing that. But, like most adaptations, it just didn’t hit as hard as the book. I don’t think you can really replicate Lily’s internal struggle in two hours.” 

However, others felt the adaptation weakened the harsh realities of Lily’s situation.  

“I feel like they made it less about the abuse and more about the love triangle,” said Goffe. “In the book, I felt the weight of Lily’s decision to leave Ryle, but in the movie, it seemed too easy. I wish they had kept more of the difficult conversations that Lily has with herself in the novel.”

Mixed Reactions, but the Heart of the Story Remains

Like any book-to-movie adaptation,  It Ends with Us faced the challenge of condensing a deeply emotional narrative into a visual, two-hour story. While some plot points were altered and character development compressed, the film adaptation still managed to capture the core of Colleen Hoover’s story—Lily’s journey toward healing and self-empowerment.  For fans, the movie serves as a new way to experience a beloved story, even if it doesn’t quite match the emotional depth of the book. 

“The movie was good, but the book will always be better,” said Afflitto. “There’s just so much more to feel in the pages.”