When King Writes

For once in my life, I can say this: I rate the movie higher than the book. But this isn’t a book review. Nor is it a movie review. So I won’t dwell on why. Instead, I want to share the lessons that hit home for me while watching the film. (Spoilers ahead!)

#1 Relationships Are Complicated

Love alone isn’t enough. Ryle and Lily had passion, admiration, and a deep desire to make things work. But it still fell apart. Why? Because relationships are complex. Love can’t fix everything, and sometimes, despite your best efforts, things just don’t work out.

#2 Trauma Can’t Always Be Healed by Love

Two people who’ve experienced deep trauma can’t always fix each other. Ryle and Lily’s relationship became toxic because the time came when they could no longer handle each other’s pain. No amount of love could compensate for the emotional wounds they both carried.

However…

#3 Everyone Handles Trauma Differently

Take Atlas, for example. He had a traumatic childhood too, but he emerged from it with compassion and a loving heart. Why? Because Lily became a beacon of hope for him when he needed it most. Sometimes, all it takes is one person to change your trajectory.

#4 Some People Are Meant to Be in Your Life

I believe Lily and Atlas were always meant to find each other. Lily went to Boston, hoping to cross paths with Atlas again. In a way, Ryle was just a detour—a necessary one. He brought their daughter into the world, and that child gave Lily the strength to break the generational trauma she was trapped in.

#5 Facing Your Past Leads to Growth

But also, Lily’s relationship with Ryle wasn’t just a detour; it was a challenge from the universe. She had to confront her generational trauma head-on and choose whether to repeat her mother’s path or forge a new one. The universe has a way of putting us in situations where we either grow or stay stuck. It’s up to us to make the decisions that lead to growth.

#6 Healing Takes Time and Space

Lily and Atlas were both broken, but by the time they reunited, they had healed enough to build a relationship without the weight of their pasts dragging them down. They were never going to be “fixed,” but they had become whole enough to move forward.

#7 Shared History Creates Unbreakable Bonds

Lily and Atlas went through so much together as teenagers. And when you experience something that intense with someone you love, you never really get over it. You’ll always have each other’s backs.

You will always love each other. No matter what.

I almost didn’t give the movie a chance because, honestly, the book didn’t captivate me the way I hoped it would. But, as fate would have it, a meetup with a new friend led me to watch it. And despite all the controversies surrounding the movie and its cast, I’m so thankful I did. 

Watching it reminded me of these beautifully heartbreaking, yet incredibly relatable lessons about love, trauma, and growth. Sometimes, the universe nudges us in the right direction, even when we least expect it.