As a voracious reader and dedicated moviegoer, I find myself constantly comparing books to their silver screen adaptations, seeking that perfect harmony of storytelling. In the case of “It Ends With Us“, both mediums have their unique charms, yet each tells a slightly different tale.
Spoilers are ahead for the book and movie It Ends With Us as well as Colleen Hoover’s sequel novel, It Starts With Us.
There’s no doubt that the arrival of “It Ends With Us” was eagerly awaited by many readers, particularly those who have delved into Colleen Hoover’s novel. Now, the film featuring Blake Lively, Justin Baldoni, and Brandon Sklenar is finally here for all to enjoy. Although this screen adaptation stays true to the original story, there are some notable differences.
The Flashbacks Are Not Framed Through Journal Entries
In the novel titled “It Ends With Us,” the narrative unfolds from Lily’s personal viewpoint. Her recollections are presented in the form of journal entries throughout the book. During her high school years, she penned letters to Ellen DeGeneres within these journals, and as an adult, when she begins a relationship with Ryle, she revisits them. As the story progresses, we discover Lily’s love narrative with Atlas through these journal entries. Later in the novel, these journals become a source of tension when Ryle discovers them.
Throughout the film, a scene featuring a journal appears during a flashback sequence. However, it’s not shown that Lily revisits these journals as an adult.
Atlas’ Restaurant Is Called Root Instead Of Bib’s
In the story, Atlas’ restaurant is called “Bib’s,” a nod to the phrase “Better in Boston” that Bib (Atlas as a kid) once shared with Lily. This saying served as a source of motivation for them both, and when he eventually opened his own business, he chose this name. In the movie version, though, it goes by the name “Root.”
During a recent interview on TopMob, author Colleen Hoover shared that she genuinely appreciated the narrative change in her book “It Ends With Us“.
As a devoted reader and fan, I must admit I breathed a sigh of relief when the restaurant’s name was altered. The moniker “Bib’s” didn’t resonate as strongly in the movie adaptation. In the book, the term held a deeper significance for both characters, embodying shared memories and emotions that were challenging to convey on screen.
In this described scenario, Atlas and Lily are seen tending to their garden together. Lily explains to Atlas the significance of roots, which creates a heartwarming dialogue. This conversation underscores the role they play as pillars of support for each other, thus making the name “Root” particularly meaningful – just as the name “Bib” held significance in the book.
The Boston Magnet Is Not A Big Deal
When Ryle discovered that Atlas titled his restaurant based on his book’s portrayal of his relationship with Lily, it struck him that the Boston magnet she possessed could potentially be linked to her earliest romantic attachment. Upon delving into an article in a magazine where Atlas unveiled the significance behind the name, this revelation prompted Ryle to question about the magnet during their subsequent confrontation, which ultimately resulted in Lily being hospitalized.
That, mixed with him reading Lily’s journals is what led to his violent outburst.
In the film, the magazine article is the only factor that triggers the sequence of events leading to Lily’s departure from Ryle, her search for Atlas, and her visit to the hospital.
Lily Goes To Atlas At Root Instead Of Calling Him
Following a particularly intense moment from Ryle, as depicted in the film, Blake Lively’s character, Lily, left their shared apartment and encountered Atlas at Root. That’s the sequence of events as portrayed in the movie.
In the book, instead of leaving a number like in the film, he was personally contacted by her when she dialed his number. On the other hand, in the movie, it’s unclear whether she remembered Atlas’ number or just went straight to him without contacting him first. As for Lily, in the novel, she didn’t need to leave his number somewhere; instead, she memorized it and called him herself.
Atlas Notices Lily’s Tattoo
In the novel “It Ends With Us,” readers learn that Lily’s tattoo of a heart on her collarbone symbolizes her relationship with Atlas. As children, Atlas carved an open heart onto her, and later, when she was in college, she had it permanently inked onto her skin. Notably, in the story, Atlas never actually saw this tattoo.
He saw the tattoo for the first time in It Starts With Us, the sequel to It Ends With Us.
– Spoilers for It Starts With Us ahead. –
In the story titled “It Starts With Us“, Atlas and Lily are going out for the evening. When he caught sight of her exposed collarbone, it stirred a deep, instinctive response within him. The tattoo on her skin was significant to him, yet there were bite marks surrounding it that belonged to Ryle. To provide some context, this is how Atlas responded in the sequel:
Atlas hesitates momentarily before continuing, “I didn’t get a clear view of the situation when it happened, but I overheard you say that he bit you, and I didn’t notice your tattoo at the time either.”
In the movie “It Ends With Us,” I found myself in a hospital scene reminiscent of the one mentioned in the second book. During this checkup, following a harrowing encounter with Ryle, Brandon Sklenar’s character noticed my tattoo for the first time and inquired about its meaning.
Lily’s Mom Does Not Move To Boston
In the book, Lily’s mom assumes a more substantial part compared to her screen counterpart. Following Lily’s father’s passing, the novel portrays her mom relocating to Boston to be nearer to Lily. While it isn’t explicitly stated whether this transpired in the movie, in one scene where she dines with Ryle and Lily, Blake Lively’s character mentions that her mother is visiting rather than moving residence permanently.
All The Fights Happen At Ryle’s Apartment Rather Than Lily’s
In the movie adaptation, I found myself captivated by the fact that Ryle has an apartment adjacent to Marshall and Allysa’s. Contrastingly, in the book, he resides with them. This spatial change significantly alters the dynamic of their relationship, as most of the intimate and violent encounters between Ryle and Lily unfold at her apartment (with a few exceptions, such as the last one, which transpired in the new abode they shared post-marriage).
Throughout the film, both violent episodes within their home (three in total) and their private, affectionate scenes transpired at Ryle’s residence.
Lily Dosen’t Stay At Atlas’ Home For Days
In the story, after Lily visited Atlas, she stayed with him for a period, eventually feeling comfortable enough to return to her own apartment. This prolonged stay allowed her to encounter some of Atlas’ friends and uncover a secret: the woman he had mentioned during their initial meeting at the restaurant, Cassie, was actually fictitious.
Given that movies can’t possibly include all the details from the book due to time constraints, it’s not surprising that some parts get omitted. In the movie, we were shown Atlas’ residence, which resembled an apartment (he owns a house in the book), and there was a bond formed between them. However, this interaction wasn’t as elaborate as it is described in the book.
Allysa Tells Lily About Emerson Instead Of Ryle
Just as in the story, it’s disclosed that Ryle unintentionally shot and killed their brother Emerson, who was also Allysa’s brother, when they were all young. In the narrative, Lily learns about this tragic incident from Ryle.
In the movie, a significant change occurs in the narrative: Instead of Ryle sharing the story with Blake Lively’s character, it is Jenny Slate’s character, Allysa, who does so. The story revolves around Allysa expressing to her friend that, despite wanting to forgive her brother, she knows if she doesn’t distance herself from him, he will cut off their relationship completely.
The Last Line Is Different Because Finding Nemo Isn’t A Big Part Of Atlas And Lily’s Story
In the narrative of “It Ends With Us”, Pixar’s hit movie, “Finding Nemo”, significantly influences Lily and Atlas’ tale. They found solace in the phrase “just keep swimming” as they had endured hardships in their youth. Consequently, at the conclusion of the book, Atlas encourages Lily with this very sentiment:
You can stop swimming now, Lily. We finally reached the shore.
In the movie, you’ll find hidden references to “Finding Nemo,” but there’s no explicit dialogue about it. During the climactic scene where Atlas and Lily meet, their dialogue unfolds as follows:
Lily: Are you with anyone?
Atlas: No, not yet.
And that’s how the film ended.
Essentially, the movie “It Ends With Us” closely adheres to its original source, the book by Colleen Hoover. Yet, there are several notable differences that distinguish the film from the novel as adapted by Justin Baldoni and Blake Lively.
To verify that the project is listed in the 2024 movie schedule, you can watch “It Ends With Us” in cinemas at present.
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2024-08-11 16:37