Spoiler alert:
I had the chance to watch It Ends With Us during my flight, and honestly, I was tired of all the Blake Lively and Justin Baldoni drama surrounding the film… but let’s be real—I was curious. And with over ten hours to kill in the air, I figured why not see what all the hype was about?
Now, I’ll admit upfront—I am not a Blake Lively fan. I think she’s overrated, and her wardrobe in this movie? A mess. It just didn’t give Boston at all—more like she got lost somewhere in Oregon. As for Justin Baldoni, I’ve never really seen him act before, so I had no expectations. And to be clear, I also didn’t read the book, so I was going in blind watching the movie.
That being said, the story itself? Cheesy as hell. I mean, come on—her name is Lily Blossom Bloom, and she opens a flower shop? That’s Hallmark-level predictability right there. But I’ll give credit where it’s due—Justin Baldoni (who plays Ryle Kincaid). He was fine AF.
Ryle, a neurosurgeon, had that dark, brooding, I-know-I’m-dangerous type of energy. Despite his initial resistance to relationships (he claims to only do casual), he eventually falls for her, and they embark on what seems like a passionate and whirlwind romance.
I have to say, my favorite scene was when they ditched the party and ended up in his room. There was definitely something sexy yet sweet about the way he carried himself.
And then, enter Atlas. The moment he stepped on screen, I knew we were about to be hit with an overdone love triangle. I didn’t find Atlas particularly appealing, but maybe that’s just me.
Atlas was a homeless teenager Lily secretly helped when she was younger, and he was her first experience with love and safety. After years apart, he reappears in her life, successful and stable, just as things with Ryle start to spiral. His presence is a sharp reminder of what love should feel like—safe, nurturing, and free from fear.
Now, let’s talk about the scenes. The first time Ryle hit her, I actually questioned whether it was intentional or just a terrible accident. I know I wasn’t the only one because there are plenty of TikToks questioning the same thing. But by the time she ended up in the hospital after the third assault, there was no questioning it anymore. BTW, I don’t condone domestic violence nor am I trying to romanticize abuse in any way.
While It Ends With Us is a romance on the surface, it’s really a story about breaking generational trauma, finding self-worth, and making difficult but necessary choices. It’s not the kind of movie that leaves you feeling all warm and fuzzy—it’s heavy, and at times, hard to watch. But it does bring up important conversations about domestic abuse, the complexities of love, and how difficult it is to walk away from someone you care about, even when they hurt you.
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