-Ferdoshi Jalil
*Spoiler Alert For The Book “It Ends With Us” And Its 2024 Movie Adaption*
Colleen Hoover’s “It Ends With Us” has deeply touched readers around the world, with over 8 million copies sold. The book’s impact is clear, as it spent an impressive 140 weeks on the New York Times Bestseller list.
The book, released in 2016, became a sensation thanks to BookTok and won over readers during the pandemic. Its unique story and memorable characters led to a romantic film adaptation starring Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, and Brandon Sklenar.
However, the film featured some major changes. So, let’s take a look at the 15 biggest differences between the movie and its source material.
1. The Opening
Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing/ Courtesy Everett Collection
In the book, the story kicks off with Lily sitting on a rooftop after her father’s funeral, where she first meets Ryle.
But in the movie, the opening scene shows Lily back in her childhood home, preparing for her father’s funeral.
2. The Ages
Photo: Nancy Rivera/Bauer-Griffin/GC Images
In the book, Lily is 23 and Ryle is 28. However, the movie switches things up and ages all the characters up to their mid-thirties.
They changed this detail as it seemed unrealistic to have a 28-year-old neurosurgeon given the extensive training required. Consequently, Ryle’s age in the movies makes the timeline far more believable.
3. The Funeral Speech
Image: Sony Pictures
In the book, Lily tries to speak at her father’s funeral but is cut off by a family member when she starts to say she has nothing good to say about him.
In the movie, Lily stands up with a blank napkin meant to list five things she loved about her father, but after seeing it’s empty, she says nothing and quickly leaves the funeral.
4. Lily’s occupation
Photo: Jojo Whilden/Sony
In the book, Lily opens her flower shop as a hopeful college graduate, ready to take on the world.
But in the movie, her path is more challenging—Lily quits her job, leaving behind security and familiarity, to chase her passion and open the flower shop. It’s a bold, risky move, driven by a desire to redefine her life on her terms.
5. Lily and Atlas’s Breakup
Photo: Jojo Whilden/Sony
In the book, after Lily’s father brutally beats Atlas and puts him in the hospital, Atlas promises he’ll come back for her, but they tragically never see each other again. In the movie, we see them say goodbye, but it doesn’t feel like a final farewell.
The movie leaves some things unexplained, like why Lily didn’t try to find Atlas when she moved to Boston or how she thought her mother would recognize him if their relationship was supposed to be a secret. As a result, these missing pieces make the story feel a bit incomplete.
6. How Lily Revealed Her Big Secret
Image: Sony Pictures
In the book, Lily bares her soul during their first rooftop meeting, sharing the heartbreaking truth about her father’s abuse right from the start. It’s a powerful and raw moment that deepens their connection instantly.
In the movie, though, she holds back this painful part of her past until they’ve been dating for a while. Of course, this change makes the revelation feel less immediate and less intense.
7. The Marriage Proposal
Picture: Sony Pictures/Nicole Rivelli
In the movie, as Ryle stands in the hospital room celebrating the birth of his niece, he suddenly realizes he wants to spend his life with Lily and thus proposes to her on the spot—ringless and spontaneous.
In stark contrast, the book describes a different scenario where Ryle and Lily elope in Las Vegas on a separate day, far removed from the joyous occasion of Allysa and Marshall’s baby girl being born.
8. Better In Boston Vs Roots
Photo: Jojo Whilden/Sony
In the book, Atlas names his restaurant Bib’s. He got this name from a magnet he gave Lily that says “Better in Boston.” In the film, however, he named the restaurant Roots. This name carries a special meaning, as a flashback reveals Lily teaching Atlas about the significance of roots in plants.
The movie also shows Atlas creating a heart-shaped showpiece by curving a root, symbolizing their deep connection and adding an emotional layer to the restaurant’s name.
9. Depictions of Domestic Violence
Image: Sony Pictures
The domestic violence scenes in the book are among the most intense, so audiences were eager to see how they’d be handled in the film. Because of the PG-13 rating, there are fewer scenes in the movie, and they’re portrayed differently.
Moreover, Justin Baldoni explained in a Deadline interview that he feared sticking too closely to the book might make it hard for viewers to understand why Lily stays with Ryle, given the limited time to build their romance.
10. The Call For Help
Image: Sony Pictures
In the book, after a brutal attack by Ryle, Lily reaches out to Atlas, and as a result, he rushes to her side, picking her up and taking her to safety.
However, in the film, the scene unfolds differently. After a terrifying confrontation where Ryle questions Lily about Atlas and violently pins her to the couch, Lily later shows up at Atlas’s restaurant. There, Atlas immediately takes her to the hospital, showcasing his unwavering support in her moment of crisis.
11. The Baby’s Gender
Photo: Sony Pictures/Youtube
In the book, Lily waits until after she gives birth to learn her baby’s gender. When she discovers she’s had a girl, she resolves to break the cycle of domestic violence by divorcing Ryle.
While in the movie, Lily finds out that she’s having a girl much sooner in the story and decides to ask for a divorce after the birth.
12. Lily’s journal
Photo: Jojo Whilden/Sony
In the book, Lily’s journal is her lifeline, giving her the strength to escape her abusive relationship and start fresh. It’s her secret support through the darkest times.
But in the movie, the journal isn’t as central. As a result, it doesn’t hold the same emotional weight, losing much of the powerful role it played in the book.
13. Ryle’s Past
Picture: Sony Pictures/Nicole Rivelli
In the movie, Allysa reveals to Lily that Ryle accidentally killed his brother Emerson as a child after discovering Ryle’s abuse and the couple’s separation. Ryle’s parents are also absent in the movie.
In the book, Ryle himself confesses the family secret, attributing it to his abusive behavior. Lily forgives him, and they attempt to address his anger issues together. Additionally, Ryle’s parents attend his wedding.
14. Atlas’s Cookies
Picture: Sony Pictures/Nicole Rivelli
Although not a major change, it was interesting to see the movie lean into the fact that Atlas was a talented baker with a small alteration. In the book, Atlas makes a batch of plain cookies for Lily.
Nevertheless, the movie displays his creative baking skills as he adds Swiss Miss hot chocolate to the batter. This bit of flair shows he knows what he is doing in the kitchen and will perhaps impress readers who know Atlas to be a talented, confident, and bold individual.
15. The Ending
Photo: Sony Pictures Releasing
In the book, Lily runs into Atlas just as she’s about to meet Ryle. After leaving her daughter with Ryle, she rushes to find Atlas, shares the meaning behind her daughter’s middle name, “Dory,” and tells him she’s ready to be with him again. The book wraps up with a deeply romantic moment, where Atlas kisses Lily’s heart tattoo and says, “You can stop swimming now, Lily. We finally reached the shore.”
Conversely, in the movie, Lily and Atlas have a chance encounter that lacks any romantic resolution. The screen fades to black without a kiss or hug, leaving their reunion subtle and unresolved.
Why The Changes Were Made
In a recent interview, Colleen Hoover said that she corrected so many mistakes that she made in the book through this movie, and seeing this book come to life on the big screen was her biggest dream come true. The author admitted in an interview with Today, “As authors, we sometimes make mistakes.”
Also, the twists and turns keep the movie interesting for the book readers and keep it from becoming stale. The filmmakers wanted to get things right, so they turned to the fans for help.
Screenwriter Christy Hall mentioned in an interview with Entertainment Weekly that they brought in 20 super fans, who all signed NDAs, to read an early version of the script. The fans’ input was so helpful that it even led to the return of a classic line in the movie.
It Ends With Us is a story that holds great importance as it has deeply impacted many lives. Hoover has proven her commitment to raising awareness about domestic violence as well as giving her fans what they deserve through her efforts in this movie. At its core, the story remains just as empowering and impactful as the source material.
