It Ends with Us: Plot Summary

Full Book Summary

The story follows the life of Lily Bloom, a young woman who runs her own successful business in Boston. 

The novel opens with Lily sitting on the roof of a building in Boston, reflecting on her father’s funeral and her resentment towards him for abusing her mother. She meets Ryle Kincaid, a charismatic neurosurgeon, and the two begin to flirt and share intimate stories. Despite her initial reservations, Lily falls deeply in love with Ryle, and their relationship quickly becomes intense and passionate.

As their relationship progresses, Lily begins to uncover troubling things about Ryle’s past. She learns that he has a history of violence and aggression, which makes her question whether he is the right person for her. Despite her concerns, Lily continues to believe that Ryle can change and they remain together.

Lily struggles with her feelings for Ryle and her unresolved feelings for Atlas Corrigan, her first love who she hasn’t seen in years. Atlas had a difficult childhood and was always there for Lily when she needed him. As they spend more time together, Lily begins to realize that she still has feelings for Atlas, which complicates her relationship with Ryle.

As Lily’s relationship with Ryle becomes increasingly volatile, she begins to question whether she should stay with him or leave. When Ryle becomes physically violent towards her, Lily realizes that she must break the cycle of abuse in her family and choose a different path for herself.

In the end, Lily decides to leave Ryle and start a new life with Atlas. She discovers that Atlas has been dealing with his own demons and is struggling to come to terms with his past. The two of them reconnect and begin a new chapter in their lives, while Lily finds the strength to move forward and create a better future for herself.

Plot Summary by Chapters

Chapter 1 Summary:

In the opening chapter of It Ends With Us, we meet Lily Bloom. She has just come from her father’s funeral and is sitting on the roof of a building in Boston, looking out at the city and the stars. As she reflects on her father’s abusive behavior towards her mother, a man named Ryle Kincaid joins her on the roof. The two start to flirt and share intimate stories, revealing their fears and past traumas. Lily tells Ryle about losing her virginity to a homeless boy named Atlas, while Ryle shares the story of losing a child patient. Lily finds herself drawn to Ryle but is hesitant to pursue a relationship with him due to his aversion to commitment.

Chapter 2 Summary:

In chapter two, we learn more about Lily’s life and her determination to break the cycle of abuse in her family. Lily’s mother suffered years of abuse from her father, which has left Lily with emotional scars. She is determined not to let her own life be defined by her father’s actions and has built a successful career for herself as a business owner. As Lily continues to spend time with Ryle, she begins to see both his charming and dark sides. Ryle reveals that he has a history of violence and aggression, and Lily starts to question whether he is the right person for her.

Chapter 3 Summary:

In chapter three, Lily reconnects with Atlas Corrigan, her first love who she hasn’t seen in years. She learns that Atlas is in town and decides to meet up with him. As they catch up, Lily realizes that she still has feelings for Atlas, which complicates her relationship with Ryle. She starts to wonder if she is making the right choice by staying with Ryle, especially after he becomes possessive and jealous of her spending time with Atlas. Lily is torn between her loyalty to Ryle and her unresolved feelings for Atlas, leading her to question what she truly wants in a relationship.

Chapter 4 Summary:

Lily gets a call from her mother, who tells her that her sister, Alyssa, has gone missing. Lily is worried and rushes to her mother’s house, where they call the police. Lily realizes that her mother has been living with her sister and that her sister’s boyfriend, Corbin, is the reason Alyssa disappeared. Lily thinks back to how Corbin has always been controlling of Alyssa and that Alyssa has been acting strange lately. As they wait for news from the police, Lily receives a text from Ryle, and she realizes that she has developed feelings for him.

Chapter 5 Summary:

Lily returns home after spending the night with her mother and worrying about her missing sister. She receives a call from Ryle, who invites her to a charity event for his hospital. Lily agrees to go, and they have a great time. Ryle tells her about a patient he’s been treating who has been through a lot of abuse and how he’s been trying to help her. Lily starts to realize that Ryle is more than just a one-night stand, and she feels herself falling for him. However, she’s also afraid to get involved with him because of his aversion to commitment.

Chapter 6 Summary:

Lily receives a call from her mother, who tells her that they found Alyssa, but she’s not doing well. Lily rushes to the hospital and finds out that Alyssa has been beaten and raped by Corbin. Lily is heartbroken and angry, and she feels guilty for not doing more to help her sister. She thinks about how Corbin reminds her of her father and how she never wants to let anyone hurt her like her father hurt her mother. Lily tells Ryle what happened to Alyssa, and he is there to support her. She realizes that she needs to be strong for her family and for herself, and she decides to focus on her career and helping other women who have been through similar experiences.

Chapter 7 Summary:

Lily is still trying to wrap her head around Ryle’s confession and her conflicting feelings for him when her mother, Jenny, calls her. Her mother is having trouble sleeping and is feeling anxious, so she wants to come over to Lily’s place. Lily agrees, but as she waits for her mother, she starts to feel guilty about keeping her mother in the dark about Atlas. She also starts to think about how she doesn’t want to end up like her mother, trapped in an abusive relationship.

When Jenny arrives, she’s clearly in a bad state, and Lily worries about her mental health. Jenny reveals that her husband (Lily’s stepfather) has been cheating on her and that she’s not sure what to do. Lily tries to comfort her, but she’s also thinking about her own situation with Ryle and wondering if she’s making the right choices.

Chapter 8 Summary:

Lily is still processing her mother’s revelations and thinking about the similarities between her own situation with Ryle and her mother’s relationship with her stepfather. She starts to worry that Ryle might be cheating on her too, and she decides to confront him about it.

Ryle is confused by Lily’s accusations and insists that he’s not cheating on her. Lily starts to feel guilty for doubting him and realizes that her past experiences with her father are affecting her ability to trust Ryle.

Chapter 9 Summary:

Lily attends a conference for her floral business and meets a woman named Allysa who works for a magazine. Allysa is impressed by Lily’s work and invites her to do an interview for the magazine. Lily is excited but also nervous about the prospect of being in the public eye.

At the conference, Lily also runs into Ryle, who surprises her by showing up unannounced. He apologizes for their argument and tries to make up with her, but Lily is still feeling uncertain about their relationship. Ryle asks her to give him a chance and promises to be more open with her. Lily agrees, but she’s still unsure if she can trust him completely.

Chapter 10 Summary:

Lily feels confused and hurt by Atlas’s sudden reappearance and disappears before he can catch up with her. She spends the next few days trying to push him out of her mind, but she can’t help feeling drawn to him. Meanwhile, Ryle tells her he’s going to San Francisco for a few days and invites her to come with him. Lily is excited but can’t shake the feeling that Ryle is hiding something from her. Before he leaves, Ryle tells her that he loves her for the first time, but Lily can’t bring herself to say it back.

Chapter 11 Summary:

Lily decides to join Ryle in San Francisco, and they spend a romantic weekend together. However, the trip is soured by Ryle’s controlling behavior and the revelation that he’s been lying to her about his past. Ryle admits that he hit his ex-girlfriend in a fit of rage when he found out she was pregnant with his child, causing her to miscarry. He promises Lily that he’ll never hurt her like that, but she’s left feeling uneasy.

Chapter 12 Summary:

Lily returns home from San Francisco to find that her mother has left her abusive husband and moved in with her. Lily is overjoyed to have her mother back in her life, but she’s also worried about how her father will react. She decides to call Ryle and tell him about her father’s abuse, hoping that he’ll understand her better. Instead, Ryle becomes angry and defensive, insisting that her father had nothing to do with their relationship. Lily realizes that Ryle is unwilling to see things from her perspective and begins to question their future together.

Chapter 13 Summary:

Lily is trying to navigate her feelings for Ryle and Atlas. She receives a call from Atlas, who has returned to Boston, and they meet up. Atlas tells her he’s been clean for a while and wants to get back into landscaping. He invites her to a charity event the following day, and she agrees to go. Ryle shows up at her apartment later that night, and they end up having sex. The next morning, Lily wakes up feeling guilty about cheating on Atlas, but she pushes those feelings aside and gets ready for the charity event.

Chapter 14 Summary:

At the charity event, Atlas and Lily talk about their past and present lives. Atlas tells her that he’s going to be staying in Boston for a while and asks if she wants to grab dinner with him. Lily agrees, and they end up going to the same restaurant where Ryle took her on their first date. During dinner, Atlas kisses Lily, and she realizes that she still has feelings for him. However, she’s also conflicted about her feelings for Ryle.

Chapter 15 Summary:

Lily is in her apartment when Ryle shows up unexpectedly. He tells her that he loves her and wants to be with her, but Lily realizes that she can’t ignore the fact that he hit her. She tells him that they can’t be together and ends things between them. Later, Atlas comes over to her apartment, and they talk about their feelings for each other. They end up kissing and spending the night together.

Chapter 16 Summary:

Lily and Ryle are having a picnic in the park when she gets a call from Atlas. Atlas is in Boston and wants to see her. Lily is hesitant to see him, but Ryle insists she go. When she meets Atlas, he tells her that he’s in Boston for good now, and he’s bought the flower shop across the street from Ryle’s building. Lily is surprised, but she’s also happy to see Atlas. They talk about their lives and Atlas reveals that he’s been in love with Lily since he was a teenager. Lily feels guilty for not telling Ryle about Atlas and realizes she needs to tell him the truth. When she gets back to Ryle’s apartment, she tells him about her past with Atlas and how he was her first love. Ryle is understanding and tells her he’s not threatened by Atlas.

Chapter 17 Summary:

Lily and Ryle go on a date to a fancy restaurant, and she tells him that she loves him for the first time. He responds by saying he loves her too. Lily is overjoyed, but she can’t shake the feeling that something is wrong. Ryle has been drinking more and more, and she’s worried that he’s going to hurt her. She confronts him about his drinking, but he brushes it off and tells her that he can handle it.

Chapter 18 Summary:

Lily’s mother calls her and tells her that she’s going to leave her husband. Lily is surprised but happy for her mother. She tells Ryle about her mother’s decision, and he responds by telling her that his mother was also in an abusive relationship. He tells her that his father was physically abusive to both him and his mother, and he doesn’t want to be like his father. Ryle promises Lily that he will never hurt her, but Lily is still worried about his drinking. When Lily goes to bed that night, she realizes that she’s falling in love with Ryle but also feels guilty for still having feelings for Atlas.

Chapter 19 Summary:

Lily goes to her mother’s house and talks to her about Atlas. She learns that her mother has kept in contact with Atlas, and he is now living in Boston. Lily decides to go to Atlas’s tattoo parlor and meets him again after so many years. She tells him about her relationship with Ryle and how she is struggling with it. Atlas confesses that he is still in love with her, and Lily admits she has never stopped loving him either. They kiss, but Lily feels guilty about cheating on Ryle.

Chapter 20 Summary:

Lily returns home to find Ryle waiting for her. He tells her he is going to change and that he wants to be a better person for her. He also reveals that he has a brain tumor, which is affecting his behavior. Ryle asks Lily to marry him, and she agrees, but she feels conflicted because of her feelings for Atlas. Meanwhile, Lily learns that Ryle’s father was also abusive towards his mother, which gives her some insight into why Ryle behaves the way he does.

Chapter 21 Summary:

Lily and Ryle get married, and they seem to be happy together. However, Lily is still struggling with her feelings for Atlas. She learns that Ryle’s tumor is operable, and she hopes that once it’s removed, he will go back to the person he was before. Lily goes to Atlas’s tattoo parlor and tells him that she can’t be with him anymore because she is married. Atlas understands, but he tells her that he will always love her. When Lily returns home, Ryle tells her that he has made an appointment to get his tumor removed. He also tells her that he loves her and that he will always be there for her. Lily realizes that she loves Ryle too and decides to stay with him.

Chapter 22 Summary:

Lily is worried about Ryle’s reaction to her pregnancy, so she avoids telling him. She is struggling with the decision to keep the baby and raise it alone or to have an abortion. She meets with her mother to talk about it, and her mother shares the story of Lily’s father’s abuse towards her when she was pregnant with Lily. Her mother encourages her to make her own decision, and Lily decides to keep the baby.

Chapter 23 Summary:

Lily tells Ryle that she’s pregnant, and he is shocked. He tells her that he doesn’t want a child and that he’s not ready for that kind of commitment. Lily is devastated and feels like she’s back in the same situation as her mother was with her father.

Chapter 24 Summary:

Atlas comes back to town for his father’s funeral, and Lily runs into him at a coffee shop. They catch up on each other’s lives and Lily reveals that she’s pregnant. Atlas is happy for her but can tell that she’s struggling with Ryle’s reaction. He encourages her to do what’s best for her and the baby and tells her that he will always be there for her. As they say goodbye, Atlas kisses Lily, and she realizes that she still has feelings for him.

Chapter 25 Summary:

Lily is completely stunned by Atlas’s sudden appearance in Boston. He’s there to help Ryle with his surgery, but he also wants to talk to Lily. They take a walk, and Atlas tells Lily the truth about his life for the past several years. He’s been living in Boston, but he’s been working for a construction company that doesn’t exist. He’s been doing odd jobs and sleeping in his car. He’s been saving money for years so he could build a better life for himself, but he’s never forgotten about Lily. He tells her he loves her and always has.

Chapter 26 Summary:

Lily is overwhelmed by the truth that Atlas has just told her. She needs some time to think, so she goes for a walk by herself. She reflects on everything that has happened over the past few years and realizes that she still has feelings for Atlas. She remembers all the good times they had together and wonders if she made the right decision by choosing Ryle over him.

Chapter 27 Summary:

Lily is torn between Ryle and Atlas. She loves Ryle and wants to support him through his recovery, but she also has feelings for Atlas and wonders what her life could be like with him. She talks to her mother about her situation, and her mother tells her that she needs to make a choice based on what will make her happy in the long run. Lily realizes that she can’t keep trying to please everyone else and needs to do what’s best for herself. She decides to end things with Ryle and explore a relationship with Atlas.

Chapter 28 Summary:

Lily goes on a date with Atlas and feels a connection with him that she hasn’t felt with anyone else. They talk about their past and Atlas tells her about his childhood in Boston. They kiss and Lily feels guilty about betraying Ryle, but also realizes that her feelings for Atlas are strong.

Chapter 29 Summary:

Lily’s father comes to town and tells her that he has been sober for six months. He wants to make amends and start a relationship with her again, but Lily is hesitant. She invites Ryle over to talk and tells him about Atlas. Ryle is angry and hurt, but Lily realizes that she can’t let his feelings dictate her decisions. She tells him that she needs space and time to figure things out.

Chapter 30 Summary:

Lily goes to visit her grandmother’s grave and runs into Atlas. They talk about their future and Atlas tells her that he loves her. Lily feels happy and hopeful, but also scared. She knows that her life will be complicated and that there will be obstacles, but she’s willing to take the risk for love. They kiss and Lily feels that everything will be okay.

Chapter 31 Summary:

Lily is packing her things to move out of Ryle’s apartment. She has made the difficult decision to end things with him and start a new life with Atlas. Ryle is devastated and begs her to stay, but Lily knows that she needs to put herself first. She leaves him a note saying goodbye and heads to Atlas’s house.

Chapter 32 Summary:

Lily and Atlas start their new life together. They move into a house on the lake and spend their days renovating it and enjoying each other’s company. Lily is happy with her decision to be with Atlas and feels like she’s finally found the love and stability she’s been searching for. She reflects on her past experiences with abuse and realizes that she has the power to break the cycle and create a better life for herself.

It Ends With Us: Ending

Lily is now a successful businesswoman, and Atlas is a stay-at-home dad to their two children. They have been married for over 20 years and are still deeply in love. Lily reflects on the lessons she has learned throughout her life and the impact her relationship with Ryle had on her. She recognizes that while the experience was painful, it also gave her the strength and courage to pursue the life she deserves. She ends with a message of hope and encouragement to anyone else who may be in a similar situation, reminding them that they have the power to create a better life for themselves.