It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover (Book Review)

The book, It Ends With Us, dives deeper into Lily Bloom’s life, a businesswoman, who tries to let go of her past and focus on her future. Lily is constantly reminded of her past in her present-day life and is challenged with the people she meets and the people who return into her life.

The story revolves around her first love Atlas and her new love Ryle. Lily and Atlas were young and in love and promised to return to each other after certain events had separated them. Lily and Ryle however, met later on in Lily’s life, and found themselves growing closer overtime.

Lily’s life is starting to come around as she opens her new business, finds a new best friend, and develops a closer and better relationship with her mother. Yet hardship comes her way as Lily finds out more about Ryle and gets too comfortable with the fact that his version of a relationship is too different from hers. She juggles with the idea of what other people might think of her relationship as she grows in fear of him over the course of months. This leads to her acknowledging where she stands and relates to the abusive relationship between her mother and her father.

Throughout the book you might find yourself wondering, why doesn’t Lily just leave him? How could she make that choice? Why can’t she let go of her past? Well, Lily wonders the same things in most chapters and is able to find an answer and solution to them all by the end.

I personally loved this book, it is very well written and leads the audience in a different direction than most books. The book itself entails a rollercoaster of emotions for the readers. I disliked the intimate/in depth scenes of Lily’s relationship that I skipped past but overall, it was hard to put this book down and I loved the story line so much that I have continued reading onto the sequel!

*Be advised this book is for older readers*

It Ends With Us by Colleen Hoover is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn

Mab Churt, Osla Kendall, and Beth Finch are an unlikely trio. All from very different backgrounds, connected by one mysterious letter, calling them to action.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn captivated me in its pages. This historical fiction novel shines in how Quinn wove her meticulous research into the plot. This book is perfect for anyone looking for a book that you can’t put down.

The story takes place at the start of World War II where women are called to action to help with the war. Not in the field, but as spies. Spies behind a desk, cracking codes. As I read further down the chapters, the rich history of Bletchley Park was connected with both stories of love and grief.

Mab Churt continues to wow me in everything she accomplishes despite being from the lower east end. Her heartbreaking secret will leave you in tears by the end of the novel. She certainly will jump off the page and you can easily envision her as a strong female heroine.

Osla Kendall, a cunning and smart debutante shows off her skill at espionage and shines in every situation she is in. Her relationship with a certain prince of Greece ends in tragedy but also hope. Read the Rose Code and dive into her secret relationship with the future king of England.

Beth Finch is a girl who has been lead in her abusive household to be homely and slow all her life. She has been stuck with her overly religious mother and push over father for too long. When the letter than Bletchley Park comes, she couldn’t believe her eyes. Beth slowly climbs up the ranks at the Park and becomes one of the greatest codebreakers.

This story is interesting as it has two different timelines. Alternating between 1940 and 1947, it shows a completely different story and the end of Bletchley Park. One of the girl’s story ends in confusion, one ends in a mental asylum, and one in a never ending road of grief. The trio of never ending female solidarity shatters into pieces as a traitor rips into the Park. Will they ever find who it is and rescue their friend from the sanitarium? Will they ever forgive and move on from the momentous secret that was exposed? Read the Rose Code by Kate Quinn to find out.

The Rose Code by Kate Quinn is available to check out from the Mission Viejo Library. It is also available to download for free from Libby.