Music isn't just background noise in a Colleen Hoover adaptation. It’s the connective tissue. When Justin Baldoni set out to bring It Ends With Us to the big screen, the pressure was immense because fans already had "book soundtracks" playing in their heads for years. You know the ones—those Spotify playlists with millions of saves that basically defined the CoHo era of TikTok. Honestly, the final soundtrack It Ends With Us delivered is a massive, moody, and surprisingly expensive-sounding collection that does more than just fill the silence. It acts as a mirror for Lily Bloom’s internal chaos.
The movie doesn’t just lean on indie darlings. It swings big. We’re talking Taylor Swift, Lana Del Rey, and Ethel Cain. It’s a specific vibe. Sad girl autumn meets cinematic grit.
Why the music in It Ends With Us feels so personal
Music in this film functions like a secondary narrator. When you're watching Lily (played by Blake Lively) navigate the messy transition from her past with Atlas to her complicated present with Ryle, the songs aren't just playing; they're telling you what she can’t say out loud. Take the inclusion of Taylor Swift’s "my boy only breaks his favorite toys." It’s not just a "get the Swifties in seats" move. It’s a literal thematic breakdown of the cycle of abuse and the "pretty" packaging that often hides deep-seated trauma.
Most people didn't expect the film to lean so heavily into alternative textures. You have these sweeping, orchestral moments composed by Rob Simonsen and Duncan Blickenstaff, but then it’ll cut to a raw, stripped-back vocal. This contrast is vital. It highlights the difference between the life Lily thinks she’s building and the reality that's slowly fracturing underneath her.
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That Taylor Swift moment everyone is talking about
It’s almost impossible to discuss the soundtrack It Ends With Us without mentioning "my boy only breaks his favorite toys" from The Tortured Poets Department. The placement is deliberate. It occurs during a pivotal realization for Lily. Blake Lively, being close friends with Swift, likely had some hand in the synergy here, but the track fits because it deals with the duality of being loved and being "handled."
The lyrics mirror Ryle’s behavior perfectly. He’s charming. He’s successful. He’s also destructive. The song provides a rhythmic, almost haunting backdrop to the realization that love shouldn't hurt. It’s one of those rare moments where a massive pop hit feels like it was written specifically for a screenplay, even though the timelines don't quite align that way.
The full tracklist: A mix of nostalgia and new hits
If you look at the total list of songs, it’s a journey. It isn't just one genre. You've got Post Malone. You've got Birdy. It’s a weirdly cohesive mess, much like Lily’s flower shop.
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- "Strangers" by Ethel Cain provides that atmospheric, almost religious weight to the heavier scenes.
- "Everytime" by Britney Spears (the Lewis Capaldi version) hits like a freight train. Using a Britney track—specifically one about regret and being "small"—is a genius move for a story about breaking cycles.
- "Skinny Love" by Birdy brings back that 2011 nostalgia that many original readers of the book associate with the early days of BookTok.
- "Cherry" by Lana Del Rey brings that trademark "doomed romance" energy that Lana does better than anyone else on the planet.
Lana’s "Cherry" is particularly interesting. It’s sultry but warns of "ruin." That is the Ryle Kincaid experience in a nutshell. He’s the cherry, but the rot is right there in the lyrics.
The score vs. the soundtrack
While the needle drops get the social media clicks, the original score by Rob Simonsen is what holds the movie together. Simonsen is known for The Age of Adaline and The Whale, so he knows how to manipulate heartstrings without being overly sappy. His work here is subtle. It’s a lot of piano and soft strings that swell when Lily is in her "Atlas" headspace—her safe space.
When things shift toward Ryle, the score gets slightly more dissonant. It’s barely noticeable at first, which is exactly how the red flags in the relationship appear. They're quiet. They're muffled by the beauty of the cinematography.
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How to use this music to understand the story better
If you're looking for deep meaning, listen to "With Me" by Sum 41. Yeah, a pop-punk ballad from the 2000s. It’s used to anchor the flashback scenes between young Lily and young Atlas. It feels authentic to that specific time period. It’s the kind of song a teenager in that era would have actually listened to while hiding out in an abandoned house. It grounds their romance in a specific reality that feels separate from the glossy, high-fashion world of adult Lily in Boston.
- Pay attention to the lyrics during the transitions. The songs usually start before the scene changes, acting as a bridge between Lily's memories and her current reality.
- Note the silence. Some of the most violent or emotionally draining moments in the film have no music at all. This is a stylistic choice by Baldoni to ensure the audience isn't "protected" by a soundtrack. You have to sit with the discomfort.
- The Atlas Theme. There is a recurring melodic motif associated with Atlas Corrigan. It’s steadier. It’s more acoustic. It feels like home.
Where to listen and what to look for next
The soundtrack It Ends With Us is available on all major streaming platforms, but there are different versions. You have the "Music From and Inspired By" albums and the official score. To get the full experience, you really need to listen to both. The "inspired by" tracks often capture the vibe of the characters even if they didn't make the final cut of the film.
Actionable Insights for Fans:
- Create a chronological playlist: Don't just hit shuffle. Arrange the songs in the order they appear in the film to track Lily's emotional descent and eventual reclamation of herself.
- Look into the lyrics of "White Ibis": The song by Mountain Goats is a deep cut that speaks to the fragility of Lily’s situation.
- Compare the two versions of "Everytime": Listen to the original Britney Spears version and then the film’s version. The shift in tone from a pop ballad to a haunting acoustic cover mirrors how Lily’s perception of her "fairytale" life shifts as the plot progresses.
- Follow the music supervisors: Keep an eye on the work of Season Kent. She’s the supervisor behind this and many other emotional powerhouses like The Fault in Our Stars. Her ability to pick "heartbreak hits" is unmatched.
The soundtrack isn't just an accessory; it's the heartbeat of the movie. It acknowledges that sometimes, the only way to process something as heavy as the cycle of domestic violence is through the safety of a song. It gives the audience permission to feel the weight of the story while providing a melody to hold onto when the scenes get hard to watch.