The New Fifty Shades Ends Differently Than Book 1

Oh, Ana. Oh, Christian — here we go again. With the release of the new Fifty Shades of Grey book, Grey, we start right back at the beginning of Fifty Shades of Grey with Christian at work about to meet Ana for the first time in his office. But how does the new Fifty Shades of Grey book end compared to the first one? Actually, it's different. To give us a little more insight into the world of Grey, James included an additional 40 pages of narrative in this latest book. So, if you're dying to know what's new but don't want to spend 500-plus pages in Christian's head, allow me to spoil it for you.

Getting the blow by blow (no pun intended) from Christian certainly gives a bit of a new angle to his character, and the new ending does the most towards showing us more of Christian Grey. But first let's catch up to where we were left hanging at the end of the first installment in the series, Fifty Shades of Grey, which happened entirely from Ana's perspective.

At the end of Fifty Shades, Christian punishes Ana in the "red room of pain" (as Ana refers to Christian's dungeon), giving her quite the intense flogging. If you're thinking "yowza!", you are right in step with where we left Ana at the end of her narrative. All tears and murmurs, she tells Christian that she's out, she just can't give him what she wants.

We're told from her point-of-view that Christian looks hurt, and she feels pretty busted up about it. But little did she know how much of a self-loathing spiral he would launch into. Oh, Christian! Ana was also unaware of the fact that Christian's most recent ex was feeling suicidal and hiding out who knows where. He's worried! He has a lot on his mind! Weirdly, this whole Leila bit doesn't go anywhere else in this book.

In the pages after Ana peaces out, Grey's musings turn to "I'm a monster"-type thoughts. Much ado about how this is best for her, but he's just so torn up inside. He wonders why he hit her so hard (good question!), and expresses feelings of anger and betrayal: "For fuck's sake, she said she'd try!" he laments to himself, while playing his grand piano.

He dreams about her and his abusive mother, he wakes up wondering where Ana is, then remembers that she's left him. The man is in pain (and I am sure so was Ana after he striped up her back-side all the livelong day).

Grey is very possessive and obsessive about Ana, her safety, and her whereabouts throughout the entire series, and these characteristics go from questionable and creepy to downright pathetic (he sleeps with the model glider Ana gifted him in bed with him... oh boy) now that he's been jilted by his lady-love. A pathetic Christian is almost refreshing.... almost.

But it doesn't stop there. Mr. Grey can't be satiated, and he lets his post-breakup blues get the best of him. He pulls the old "I'll just drive by her apartment" move. Twice. Then runs past her apartment on one of his daily runs.

Dude...

Luckily, the good Dr. Flynn, Christian's therapist is there to help him through, grounding Christian a tad and basically letting him know that he done screwed this one up, and asks him if he could consider trying a relationship "her way" i.e. more holding hands and going to the movies, and a little less time in the red room of pain.

And here's where we start to pick up with book two in the series, Fifty Shades Darker , where Christian is on a mission to win Ana back. (Cue creepy music here.)

Essentially the new 40 pages in Grey are there to add more of a human element to Christian Grey. But I'm not exactly how well this softer-side-of-Grey approach worked. Do Christian's self-deprecation and regret spirals really indicate that he is a compassionate and gentle soul? Ultimately, Christian still seems like he needs a lot more time on Dr. Flynn's couch. It's one thing to be the dom to her sub... but you can't just stalk your ex-girlfriend, buddy.

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