Warning: This article contains spoilers for both the book and movie of It Ends With Us By Colleen Hoover
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A very special book - It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover - and the reason why it's very special to me, is because this is the book that got me back into reading. The book that introduced me to a whole new world.....full of worlds! It shined lights on corners of my mind that had been neglected for a long time, and I couldn't be more thankful for Colleen's story turning me into a full blown out bibliophile.
Now, when I found out that this book was being turned into a movie, you guessed it, I instantly did multiple dance party moves. With this story holding such a special place in my heart, I certainly had to make an adventure out of it. I grabbed a few of my book club besties and headed to the movie theatre, so we could be be total nerds and compare the story coming to life in a fresh perspective.
Enough blabbering, time to dive into this It Ends With Us book vs. movie comparison. Let the reviewing commence!
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Main Differences
Book vs. Movie
There's a few main differences between the book and movie. But that's always the case when it comes to re-telling a story in a new version. It's going to be slightly different based on how the person telling the story, is seeing the story. There's also not nearly enough time in a movie to perfect the pace of the connections, emotions, and realism that is portrayed in a book.
Below, we'll talk about all the key differences between these two adaptations and at the end we'll decide who did it better: Book or Movie?
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The Opening Scenes
Rooftops and Funerals
Book: The first page we see Lily, dangling her leg over the edge of a rooftop in Boston overlooking the night life. She went to her fathers funeral prior that same day, and shortly after this, Ryle marches out onto the rooftop steaming with rage and kicks a chair.
Movie: The opening scene shows us Lily Bloom in her old family home getting ready to leave for her fathers funeral. The fathers funeral is barely mentioned in the book, but they decided to make it a scene in the movie to show the background relationship between Lily and her father.
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The Ellen DeGeneres Letters
Lily's Letters to Ellen
Book: Ellen plays a bigger role in the book. Lilly watches her show every day after school and then writes a letter to Ellen. They act as a journal for Lilly and a place to safely share the hardships caused by her abusive father. And they slowly reveal pieces of Lily and Atlas's story and how they met.
Movie: Ellen received a much smaller role in the movie; and when I say small, I mean small. The letters are an easter egg for fans to catch while Lily is shown going through her childhood bedroom, where she stumbles upon them stowed away in a box.
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A Favorite Line Is Left Out
Just Keep Swimming
Book: A very iconic part of the story is the symbolism behind the movie Finding Nemo, and the phrase "Just keep swimming " that Dory (Ellen DeGeneres' voice) says. It's a comfort motto for both Atlas and Lily. Something they bonded too indoors together, while the whole world moved around them. The book, in fact, ends with both Atlas and Lilly running into eachother on the streets, where they both agree they are both ready to love again and that they can "stop swimming, they had finally reached the shore."
Movie: The fan favorite phrase is left out of the movie entirely which I think was a let down for fans, but didn't shatter the movies shine. They can't put everything into the movie, but that was a special memento many resonate the story with. With that being said, Baldoni didn't forget to add a Finding Nemo easter egg, though. This Instagram video shows him explaining where to look in the movie to find the hidden easter egg in homage to the "Just Keep Swimming" phrase.
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The Characters Ages
A New Decade
Book: Both Lilly and Ryle are significantly younger in the book, Lilly being 23, while Ryle is 29. Even the side characters are aged much younger in the writing, so to fix the age mishaps in the book, they aged up the actors and actresses to fit the storyline better.
Movie: Baldoni talked with Entertainment Weekly and stated that it was the idea from the start for both the characters - Lilly and Ryle - to be older, instead of the story being about a 23 year old girl and a 30 year old neurosurgeon.
After fans outburst about the age differences between the book characters and the actors in the movie, the author herself - Colleen Hoover - states that their ages in the book were "a mistake" and that authors sometimes make those. You can watch the interview here.
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The Name Of Atlas's Restaurant
Bib's vs. Roots
Book: Atlas decides to name his restaurant "Bib's" standing for "Better In Boston. Atlas gifted Lily a magnet when they were younger, that said those very words. That's where he gets his inspiration to later name his restaurant.
Movie: Atlas decides to name his restaurant "Roots" and the reason for the naming is of course still connected to Lily, it's just for different reasons. When they were younger in the movie, there is scenes of them working in Lily's garden together and Lilly goes to explain the significance of plant roots and what they mean to her. Quite poetic and I think a fun twist on the story of Atlas and Lily.
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First Kiss Tensions
Both Atlas & Ryle
Book: The book waits until Chapter 11 to share when Atlas and Lily share their first kiss together in her childhood home. So needless to say, you have to get to almost half way through the book to learn their backstory. With Ryle, Lily and him shared their first kiss in Chapter ??? when they are both attending Alyssa's (Ryle's sister) birthday party.
Movie: The movie doesn't add tension to the rope and slackens it a little with a totally different depiction. Ryle is seen chasing after Lily telling her he just needs "one kiss to get her out of his system." He eventually convinces her and they share a magical moment together that leads to him leaving her flowers and wanting more.
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Domestic Violence Scenes
Lilly's Awareness
Book: For the first two disturbances between Lilly and Ryle, Lilly doesn't keep her mouth shut. She calls him out for the actions he wrongfully did, and they decide to then continue to try to work things out after she threatens to leave him if his actions stay the same. So overall, the severity of the violence is more harsh in the book than the movie.
Movie: Lilly is much less aware in the movie. The first two incidents with Ryle, she sweeps quick under the rug, living in a state of denial that Ryle is nothing like her father was. It's not until the third incident when Lily decides to stand up to Ryle, and realize that he's not going to become a better man. The violence severity is much more subtle and lightly touched upon in the movie.
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The Ending Scenes
Final Words
Book: The book's ending is far more romantic, of course. Atlas and Lilly run into each other on the street and he proceeds to ask "Is that . . . is this your baby?" Lilly is in a rush to meet Ryle because it's his day with Emmy so their encounter is short lived, but not for long! After Lilly drops off Emmy with Ryle, she runs back to find Atlas to explain to him that her daughter's middle name is "Dory" and the reasoning behind it. Then the cutest thing ever happens; Atlas kisses the heart tattoo on her collarbone, before telling her "You can stop swimming now Lilly. We've finally reached the shore."
Movie: The ending scenes show Lilly's new life in a short montage showcasing her blooming flower shop, and moments shared with her mother and daughter at the park. Lilly is next seen walking through the farmers market where she spots Atlas. He asks her if that was her daughter, they both awkwardly ask if the other is seeing anyone and they both ogle into each other's eyes just like they did when they were teenagers. The screen then goes black, a major cliffhanger compared to the book; and I'm sure many fans were just as disappointed as me when the movies ending hit, and there was no hug, no kiss, no nothing. Just a big tease!
Sony Pictures Entertainment / IMDb / It Ends With Us
Who Did It Better?
The Book or Movie?
Overall, the books will always be better to me. I have no problem saying that because it is a fact - movies can't capture the true essence of magic that books bring to the table. Like how each snowflake is uniquely different to one another, each book with a movie adaptation will always have some differences but still spread the same messages. Now that's magic.
A personal thank you to Colleen Hoover for creating this one-of-a-kind novel. One that touches the hearts of many and I will forever hold a special place in my heart for this Love Triangle fiasco.
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