Spoiler warning: this post explains the full ending of Ugly Love. If you have not finished the book, stop here and come back later.
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Quick answer: Miles Archer, who refused to fall in love again after his teenage girlfriend Rachel lost their baby son in a car crash, finally opens up to Tate Collins. He tells her his story, they get together, and the epilogue shows them married with a child.
Quick facts
– Book: Ugly Love by Colleen Hoover
– First published: 2014
– Type: A romance novel
– Tone of the ending: Heartbreaking and hopeful
Table of Contents
What Leads Up to the Ending
Tate moves in with her brother Corbin and meets Miles, his friend and neighbour, a pilot. They agree to a physical relationship with no feelings. Through flashbacks, readers learn about Miles's past with Rachel.
What Happens at the End of Ugly Love
The flashbacks reveal that Miles fell in love with Rachel as a teenager, after his father began dating her mother. Rachel became pregnant, and their son Clayton died in a car accident shortly after he was born. Rachel left, and Miles shut down, believing love only leads to pain. In the present, Tate falls hard for him and finally refuses to accept his rules. Miles, realizing he is about to lose her, tells her everything. He chooses to risk loving again and asks Tate for a real relationship. The epilogue shows them married with a baby of their own.
The Ending in 4 Quick Points
- Miles's past is revealed.
- Miles finds closure.
- Tate and Miles get together.
- The epilogue shows their family.
What Happens to the Main Characters
| Character | What happens to them |
|---|---|
| Miles Archer | Marries Tate |
| Tate Collins | Marries Miles |
| Rachel | Miles's first love |
| Corbin | Tate's brother |
What the Ending Means
The ending shows that love can heal grief.
Other Ways to Read the Ending
Some readers find the relationship unhealthy because of Miles's rules and Tate's willingness to accept them, while others find his story of grief deeply moving. The alternating timelines are what most readers remember.
Themes the Ending Brings Together
Grief. Miles mourns his son.
Love. Love can heal.
Healing. Miles finds closure.
Is the Ending Happy or Sad?
Most readers describe the ending of Ugly Love as heartbreaking and hopeful. How you feel about it usually depends on what you hoped for the characters and what you expected Colleen Hoover to do with the story, so it is worth asking friends how they felt before you compare notes.
Who Will Like This Ending
Readers who enjoy endings that are heartbreaking and hopeful will find a lot to talk about here. If you prefer every thread tied up neatly, it helps to know in advance how Colleen Hoover closes the story, which is exactly why many readers look it up. Either way, the final chapters reward a second look once you know where everything is heading, because small details from the middle of the book start to matter. If you are reading with a group, agree beforehand whether everyone has finished, so nobody has the last chapters spoiled.
Discussion Questions About the Ending
If you are reading Ugly Love with a book club or a friend, these questions work well once everyone has finished:
- Did the ending surprise you, or had you seen it coming from the first chapters?
- What does the final scene say about grief, and do you agree with Colleen Hoover's view?
- Which character made the most important choice in the last part of the book, and was it the right one?
- How would the story feel if it had ended one chapter earlier or one chapter later?
- Does the ending leave you hopeful about the characters, or do you worry about what comes next?
- Would you describe the ending as heartbreaking and hopeful, or would you choose a different word?
How to Read the Final Chapters Again
- Compare the opening with the close. Look at how the first chapter introduces grief and how the ending answers it.
- Track each final choice. The table above shows where every main character ends up, so ask which of those outcomes was earned.
- Notice what Colleen Hoover leaves unsaid. Gaps in the last pages are often deliberate, and they are where most of the debate about the ending begins.
- Listen for echoes. Images, phrases or settings from earlier in Ugly Love often return in the final scene with a new meaning.
Questions to Ask Yourself After Finishing
- Was the ending of Ugly Love earned by what came before it, or did it feel sudden?
- Which character's final moment affected you most, and why?
- If you could change one thing about the last chapters, what would it be?
- Did the ending change how you think about the opening pages?
Check price of Ugly Love on Amazon
Books to Read After Ugly Love
- It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover
- Reminders of Him by Colleen Hoover
Related: 15 Books Like Ugly Love You’ll Love: Emotional, Heartbreaking Romance
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens at the end of Ugly Love?
Miles Archer, who refused to fall in love again after his teenage girlfriend Rachel lost their baby son in a car crash, finally opens up to Tate Collins. He tells her his story, they get together, and the epilogue shows them married with a child.
Is the ending of Ugly Love happy or sad?
Most readers call it heartbreaking and hopeful.
What does the ending of Ugly Love mean?
The ending shows that love can heal grief.
Who wrote Ugly Love and when was it published?
Ugly Love was written by Colleen Hoover and first published in 2014.
Is Ugly Love worth reading if I already know the ending?
Yes, especially if you enjoy romance novels. Knowing the ending can make a first read richer, because you notice how Colleen Hoover prepares for it from the opening chapters.
Should I read Ugly Love before reading the ending explained?
Yes, if you plan to read it, because this post gives away the whole ending.