TW: This article mentions themes of domestic abuse.
Last night, I cruised into the cinema with my bestie, expecting to watch a fun rom-com. I left a bawling mess, and I'm STILL processing the 2-hour-long emotional rollercoaster that was 'It Ends With Us'.
First off, I'm not a reading girlie - as much as I'd love to be - and had absolutely no idea about what I was getting myself into with this flick. I hadn't even watched the trailer.
Before the 'booktok' crew comes at me, this isn't about comparing the book to the movie - this is me saying, I finally get it!
The film dives into the whirlwind romance between Lily and her sexy, 6-pack-sporting, commitment-phobe, neurosurgeon beau - Ryle Kincaid.
We were rooting for their connection that turned into a full-blown relationship after Ryle's walls were let down to allow Lily's love in.
It appeared to be the perfect relationship - at one point I even turned to my friend, nudged her and joked: "Where are guys like this hiding??"
That comment did NOT age well.
Without giving away too much, another guy, Atlas, shows up, and we get the classic romantic love triangle.
Atlas was Lily's first love, having witnessed and endured the wrath of Lily's abusive father alongside her as a teen.
As he re-enters the picture, we're thinking 'too little, too late buddy'. That was until Ryle showed his true colours.
After several 'accidental' injuries, it became clear—Ryle was an abuser. For those who've read the book, this wasn't news, but for me, it felt like being gaslit right along with Lily.
Yes, I too was totally love-bombed by Ryle.
There was one intense moment when Lily was accused of cheating with Atlas that had the whole theatre audibly gasping in unison.
It really felt like every ounce of empathy we had built for Ryle was ripped away and turned into the most horrible gut-wrenching anger - and ofc, undeniable heartache for Lily.
The tissues well and truly came out from the ladies beside us. Unprepared, I slid my hand into my sleeve to dab away the constant flow of tears.
Not all is lost, as we watch Lily question: 'Is it harder to hold on or let go?'
"As hard as this choice is, we break the pattern or the pattern breaks us," she says.
It's worth sticking with the heartache to see how Lily navigates these seemingly impossible choices.
What I will say is, it was beautiful, tragic and empowering all in one. I can now see why the novel was the best-seller of 2022 and 2023.
