It Ends with Us

1. General Impressions 

 Gather initial thoughts and broad opinions about the book.

• Did you like Lily as a character? Did you find her sympathetic or relatable? Why or why not? Do you feel the same way about characters like Ryle or Atlas?
• Did you believe Lily and Atlas would get together? Was there ever a moment that convinced you of this, or that Lily would stay with Ryle?
• Have you seen the 2024 film adaptation of the novel or read its sequel, It Starts With Us? Did you enjoy these interpretations? Did either of these influence your reading of It Ends With Us?

2. Personal Reflection and Connection 

 Encourage readers to connect the book’s themes and characters with their personal experiences.

• If you were Lily, what choices would you make differently or the same? 
• It Ends With Us is all about the cyclical nature of domestic violence. Have you ever had to break a toxic cycle in your life? How did this affect you? 
• Have you ever had to make a choice between love and safety or security? Did this choice involve holding a loved one accountable for their actions? 
• What did you think when you read about the death of Ryle’s brother? Did this make Ryle more sympathetic as a character? Do you think his trauma excuses his actions? 
• Have you ever had a dream you wanted to pursue that you assumed others would think was silly, as Lily worried about her flower shop? How did this impact you? How did any support for this affect your view of your dream? 

3. Societal and Cultural Context 

 Examine the book’s relevance to societal issues, historical events, or cultural themes.

• How do you think this book has contributed to the conversation about domestic abuse? Do you think it has made a positive impact in the movement to end domestic violence?
• What commentary do you think Hoover makes about the realities of people who are unhoused? How does this compare to her commentary about domestic violence? 
• What does this novel say about contemporary gender roles and dynamics? How do the genders of the characters influence their choices and the options they have? 

4. Literary Analysis 

 Dive into the book’s structure, characters, themes, and symbolism.

• How do you think the novel subverts the romance genre? Have you ever read a romance like this?
• How do you think Lily’s mantra of “just keep swimming” and her obsession with Ellen DeGeneres help her throughout the novel? Do you think she would have acted differently if she had a different mantra or was inspired by a different celebrity? 
• Is Boston merely the setting of the novel or does it have any symbolic or thematic significance? Is Lily and Ryle’s (or Lily and Atlas’s) relationship impacted at all by their physical surroundings?
• How do depictions of Lily’s past and her parents’ relationship shift the tone of the novel? Do they make you feel any differently about Lily or her choices? 
• How does Ryle’s trauma impact his actions? How does it affect the way Lily sees him versus the way Allysa sees him?

5. Creative Engagement 

 Encourage imaginative and creative connections to the book.

• If you were to rewrite this story, what would happen in the first chapters? Would Lily ever fall for Ryle? Would she leave him after the first time he hit her?
• What do you think the sequel of this novel would look like if Lily didn’t end her relationship with Ryle?
• Imagine you were in Allysa’s role. What would you have told Lily about Ryle at different points in the novel? How do you think Allysa felt about choosing between her best friend’s safety and her brother? 

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