What Age Is It Ends with Us Appropriate For? A Parent’s Guide

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Quick answer: It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover is an adult novel best for ages 16 or 17 and up. It deals with domestic violence and includes sex scenes, strong language and an attempted sexual assault, so it’s not appropriate for younger teens without a parent’s guidance.

Quick facts
Recommended age: 16+ (17+ for many families)
Reading level: Adult
Genre: Contemporary adult fiction and romance
Published: 2016; sequel It Starts with Us, 2022
Main concerns: Domestic violence, sexual content, attempted rape
Movie rating: PG-13 (2024 film)

It Ends with Us became a huge bestseller thanks to BookTok, and many teens want to read it, especially after the 2024 movie. It’s often described as a romance, but it’s really a story about domestic violence and the cycle of abuse. It can be powerful for older readers, but it’s emotionally heavy and includes adult content. This guide explains what’s in the book so you can decide whether your teen is ready.

Table of Contents

What Is It Ends with Us About?

Lily Bloom moves to Boston, opens a flower shop and falls for Ryle Kincaid, a charming neurosurgeon. Their romance seems perfect at first, but Ryle has a dark side, and Lily begins to see patterns from her own childhood, when her father abused her mother.

Interwoven with Lily’s present are her teenage journal entries about Atlas, a homeless boy she helped and loved. When Atlas reappears in her life, Lily faces a painful decision about breaking the cycle. Hoover has said the story was inspired by her own mother’s experience.

It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover book cover

Check price of It Ends with Us on Amazon

Content Guide for Parents

Content	Level	What to Expect
Domestic violence	Significant	Ryle pushes, hits and hurts Lily in several scenes, and Lily remembers her father abusing her mother.
Sexual content	Moderate to explicit	Several sex scenes, some fairly detailed.
Sexual assault	Present	Ryle attempts to rape Lily in one scene.
Language	Strong	Frequent swearing, including the f-word.
Drinking	Moderate	Adults drink socially.
Positive messages	Strong	Recognizing abuse, the courage to leave and breaking generational cycles.

Age-by-Age Breakdown

Age	Is It Ends with Us a Good Fit?
Under 14	Not appropriate because of domestic violence, sexual content and an attempted rape.
14 to 15	Most parents say not yet; consider Dreamland by Sarah Dessen instead.
16 to 17	Possible with a parent’s involvement and a conversation about abuse.
18 and up	The intended audience.

Is It Ends with Us Okay for a 13-, 14- or 15-Year-Old?

Most parents feel it isn’t. The domestic violence scenes are disturbing, the sex scenes are adult, and the attempted assault is difficult to read. Younger teens may also see the early romance as ideal without fully understanding the warning signs.

Some families choose to read it together with an older teen to talk about healthy relationships and abuse. If your teen is younger, Sarah Dessen’s Dreamland covers an abusive teen relationship in an age-appropriate way.

What Parents Should Know

It’s not a typical romance. The book is about recognizing and escaping abuse.
It can open important conversations about warning signs, control and getting help.
The sequel is lighter. It Starts with Us focuses on Lily and Atlas, but it’s still adult fiction.
The movie is PG-13. It softens some content but keeps the abuse themes.
Colleen Hoover’s other books vary. Some, like Verity, are much more explicit.

How to Tell If Your Child Is Ready for It Ends with Us

Read the first chapter yourself. Ten minutes with the opening pages tells you a lot about the tone of It Ends with Us.
Think about what upsets your child. Every child is different, so match the content table above to your own child rather than to their age alone.
Ask what they already know. Kids often hear about popular books from friends, so ask what they expect and why they want to read it.
Offer to read it together. Reading at the same time, or aloud, makes it easy to pause and talk about hard scenes.
Keep the door open. Tell your child they can stop at any time and come to you with questions.

Questions to Talk About With Your Child

What early warning signs do you notice in Ryle’s behavior?
Why do you think it’s so hard for Lily to leave?
How does Lily’s childhood shape her choices?
What does breaking the cycle mean in this story?
What would you say to a friend in a relationship like Lily’s?

If you or someone you know is experiencing abuse, you can call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1-800-799-7233 or text START to 88788 (US).

Better Choices for Younger Teens

These books explore relationships and hard choices in ways better suited to younger readers.

Dreamland by Sarah Dessen: ages 14 and up. A teen falls into an abusive relationship with her charismatic boyfriend. It’s honest, powerful and written for teens.

Check price of Dreamland on Amazon

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon: ages 13 and up. A girl who can’t leave her house falls for the boy next door. It’s romantic and hopeful.

Everything, Everything by Nicola Yoon book cover

Check price of Everything, Everything on Amazon

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon: ages 13 and up. Two teens meet and fall in love over one day in New York. It’s moving and thoughtful.

The Sun Is Also a Star by Nicola Yoon book cover

Check price of The Sun Is Also a Star on Amazon

Frequently Asked Questions