It Starts with Us: A Novel

This book was no different than the first, I found it hard to put down and I still want more of Atlas & Lily’s life! Their love is refreshing, their life is interesting, and the life challenges they face are inspiring in how they handle them. It is just as much a self help book as it is a “can’t put it down novel”. Thank you Colleen for your amazing artistry in writing and you continuing the story. (Hopefully!!!). I pray you will continue it into their next decades & even further into their senior years and how their decisions are rewarded in the lives of Josh, Emmy and even Sutton and Tim. This book gives hope and encouragement.

Thank you, Colleen Hoover, for giving Lily and Atlas their happily ever after. I truly appreciate it because they are my favorite couple in one of the books. They have now found a place in my top five couples, a list I love to revisit. This story is one of forgiveness and healing. I am so glad that Lily was given the freedom to love who she chooses. There were moments in the book when it seemed touch and go. I imagined various scenarios where Ryle lost control and hurt Lily, but thankfully, it didn't escalate to that. Ryle's issues stem from what was revealed in 'It Ends With Us': he shot his brother with a loaded gun as a child, an event that undoubtedly scarred his psyche. Whether he received help or not, or whether he pretended to be helped or was not encouraged to overcome his issues, remains unclear. Then there's Lily, who grew up in an abusive household and knew she had the strength to walk away if she ever met someone like her father. I am relieved she recognized that abuse is not love. Regardless of Ryle's actions, he always tried to blame her or thought an apology would suffice. I've heard it said that 'sorry' is a word for sorry people, but I don't believe that applies to Ryle. He had a sister who adored him and loving parents, so perhaps the trauma of accidentally killing his brother left him with unresolved anger. Lily, seeking and obtaining a divorce, still faces anger from her ex, who blames Atlas for their breakup rather than acknowledging his own abusive behavior as the cause. Then there's Atlas, dubbed the 'Greek Adonis' by Alyssa, who was abused by his mother—a twist, as I initially believed it was his stepfather. The revelation that Atlas's mother had another child adds yet another layer to his story.

I am so glad that Colleen Hoover decided to write this follow-up novel to It Ends With Us. Like other readers, I wanted to see where Lily's life would take her. As someone who has suffered from verbal abuse, I know how hard it can be to move on and persevere. This story is well told, the characters are real, damaged, yet highly lovable, and there is hope.While not as good as It Ends With Us (is a sequel ever as good as the first?), it is definitely worth the read.

I just started reading Colleen Hoover’s novels. Finished 3 so far and currently reading another. I started reading It Ends With Us because I wanted to read the book before seeing the movie. Then I had to read It Starts With Us. It was a great! I hope they make it a movie as well, even though the movies are never as good as the books. Great stories. You won’t want to put the books down.

Book was very well written, with great detail! 10/10 recommend. Kinda left me wanting more, but I still recommend! I want to read verity, I hear that one is good too

📚BOOK REVIEW📚It Ends With Us & It Starts With Us by Colleen HooverIEWU Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5ISWU Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️.5/5Genre: Contemporary Romantic FictionTropes:-domestic abuse-best friend’s brother-dual timeline-childhood friends-strong heroine-“breaking the cycle”-found family-diary entries~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~I want to start by saying that for some reason these books are classified as romances in some places, but I personally do not agree with that. I think these fit more as contemporary fiction/women’s fiction with a romantic storyline. I also think that if you go into reading these with the expectation of them not being romances, you’ll like them more.There were things I liked about these, and things I disliked. The way they are written really make you feel for Lily and emphasize with the situation she is in. It really showcases how your entire life can become intertwined with someone, which makes removing them from your life difficult. It was a little disappointing to not see her “found family” step in and intervene a little more though.There were a couple interactions between Lily and her other friends that seemed weirdly unrealistic (she mentions Devon and her “weren’t really friends” but they’re comfortable enough that he can just reach into her dress and fix her bra? Like bruh). Also, Ryle blowing up a photo of Lily and hanging it in his sister’s apartment is such a weird red flag 🚩🚩Also, I have a love/hate relationship with using diary entries to explain someone’s past. Sometimes it can feel a bit lazy/boring (which, in this case, it did).It Starts With Us was pretty average. I was interested in seeing what happened between Lily and Atlas but overall the book fell a little flat for me. There wasn’t anything wrong with it, it just felt slow to me. I did enjoy seeing the relationship between Atlas and his brother form though.Overall, if you view these as contemporary fiction (which I did), they’re an okay read. Definitely check online for the TWs/CWs before starting.

I saw the move "This Ends with Us" and decided to buy the book, which I really liked. Then I discovered she wrote a sequel, and I bought it. This book is written very well. Lily and Atlas have a full chapter and tell their story. Very enjoyable story, so much more connection and details of each character in the story of their lives. Hoping the Author will write another continuation of these people. XOXO

I loved the writing style of the author and the humanity of the characters. Lily deserved a happy ending !

Livro muito bom, veio bem embalado e em ótimo estado. Nada a reclamar.

Estoy encantada con esta continuación, al principio no estaba muy convencida porque amé el primer libro y tenía miedo que esté segundo arruinara el primero pero después de haberlo leído me parece que fluyó muy bien y se sintió muy natural la continuación y ya después de leer todo lo qué pasa siento que es lógico que este libro exista porque a todos nos hizo falta más de la historia de lily y Atlas después del final del primer libro , no necesariamente es como el primero pero a mi parecer es muy bueno.El libro llegó en perfecto estado pero es verdad que pudo no ser así porque no tenía protección venía sin el plástico que usualmente traen y en un paquete de sobre sin nada que los protegiera.

Ich hätte nicht gedacht, dass mir die Fortsetzung fast genau so gut wie der erste Teil gefällt. Unbedingt lesen

Loved the book , was a nice read.