The short answer
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover is a romance, but it is not a light one. Its central subject is intimate partner violence, and it also deals with other heavy topics. If you are sensitive to depictions of abuse, it is worth reading the warnings below before deciding whether to read the book or watch the film adaptation.
This article is kept spoiler-light, though mentioning the content warnings reveals some of the book’s themes.
Main content warnings
Content warning lists maintained by readers, including Book Trigger Warnings and StoryGraph, commonly flag the following for this book:
- Domestic abuse and physical violence in a romantic relationship, described by readers as graphic
- Abusive and toxic relationships, including controlling and emotionally harmful behavior
- Sexual violence, which some lists include
- Emotional abuse and gaslighting
- Childhood trauma and child abuse, including abuse witnessed in a family home
- Alcohol use and heavy drinking
- Brief mentions of suicide
- Pregnancy and childbirth
- Illness, including cancer and depression, in lists compiled by readers
Lists differ in how they treat each item, and I cannot guarantee that a list is complete, so check more than one source if a topic is important to you.
Why readers say the book is a surprise
The novel is often shelved and promoted as a romance, and its cover and title do not signal the subject. Readers in online forums such as r/RomanceBooks have asked why the book has no warning on the cover or in the front matter.
The film adaptation, released in 2024, led to a similar conversation. An article on the topic from a mental health information site noted that the promotion of the film emphasized a light, romantic mood and did not mention intimate partner violence, even though the story centers on it. The film’s cast and production also drew wide media attention for unrelated off-screen disputes.
Another discussion concerns how the novel portrays the abusive character. Some readers feel the book encourages sympathy for him, while others see that as a realistic portrayal of how people in abusive relationships often experience affection and harm together. The author has said the story draws on her own family history. Opinions differ, and the book is worth reading with that conversation in mind.
Is It Ends with Us spicy?
It has romantic and intimate scenes, but most readers describe the heat level as moderate. It is not usually grouped with explicit or “smutty” romance, and many of the pages are focused on the emotional arc and the abuse storyline instead. If a mild amount of romantic content matters to you, look at a recent review that mentions spice.
For comparison, our article on whether Kill Switch is a standalone book discusses a very different, darker kind of romance, where content warnings are also worth checking.
Which book has the most trigger warnings?
There is no single answer. Many books contain heavy themes, and what counts as a trigger varies by person. It Ends with Us is often named in discussions of books with high-impact content, but some other books list more categories. Look at the warning list for any specific title.
Where to find detailed content warnings
- Book Trigger Warnings (booktriggerwarnings.com) and similar crowd-sourced sites
- The StoryGraph, which has content warnings from readers on book pages
- Goodreads reviews and comments, though these are less structured
- Common Sense Media, which reviews books and movies for families
- Your librarian or bookseller, who may know of concerns
If this topic is close to home
If reading about abuse might be difficult, it is fine to put the book down or skip it. If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, support is available. In the United States, the National Domestic Violence Hotline can be reached at 1-800-799-7233 (or by text), and in an emergency you should call your local emergency number. Outside the US, local domestic violence services or a trusted health professional can help find options.
Frequently asked questions
What is the controversy with It Ends with Us?
Much of the debate has been about how the book and film were promoted as light romance despite their focus on domestic violence, and about how the story portrays an abusive partner.
Is It Ends with Us a smutty book?
Generally no. It includes some romantic and intimate scenes, but it is not usually categorized as explicit.
Is there a sequel?
Yes. It Starts with Us continues the story. Check its content warnings separately.