It Starts with Us: A Novel (It Ends with Us)

It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover absolutely delivered. 💛 This book felt like a warm, healing exhale after It Ends With Us. Getting Atlas’s POV was everything I didn’t know I needed—soft, protective, and so deeply emotional. Watching Lily finally get the love, safety, and peace she deserves was incredibly satisfying and emotional in the best way. The story didn’t rely on chaos or shock value; instead, it focused on growth, healing, and choosing better—for yourself and for your kids. It was hopeful without being unrealistic and tender without being boring. I smiled, teared up, and closed the book feeling complete. If you loved It Ends With Us, this one is a must-read. It’s proof that sometimes the most powerful love stories are about second chances and choosing yourself.

I loved that this was so relatable to so many people. These situations are often romanticized and "oh, im sure it wasn't like that"... when they werent there. They don't know. This book, as well as "It Ends With Us" capture this amazingly!! Hoover just gained a new reader!

‘It Starts With Us' is the sequel book for Colleen Hoover's best-selling novel “It Ends With Us’. This book begins immediately after It ends with us when lily was dragged through a divorce and domestic abuse from her partner Riley. “It Ends With Us" is a must-read before moving on to "It Starts With Us’. ‘It Starts With Us’ is a more uplifting read than it ends with us. Lily Bloom and Atlas Corrigan have a second chance at their childhood love but not without many struggles and situations they have to tread carefully. To me, this novel, unlike many I have read, didn't feel like it was drugged and unnecessary. The plot lines transitioned very seamlessly throughout the two books not leaving unanswered questions between one and the other. Though it is the sequel, it ends with us. It has its very own unique plot and doesn’t feel repetitive. Taking you through many new character paths and revealing more about each character. The portrayal by Colleen Hoover of a divorced family dynamic and co-parenting situations is very accurate in the sense I have gone through this with my own family. Lily is trying to pursue this relationship with Atlas but still trying to respect her ex-husband Ryle. In time as the book progresses Lily Bloom realizes she deserves the love that Atlas gives her. Once she realizes she deserves this love Atlas and Lily work to rekindle the love they felt for each other as kids. There are different repercussions to this love forming again. The love that is portrayed through the two characters is genuine and child-like in a way making it easy to fall in love with it. Though this book travels through a lot of people's instances of love there are always instances of hatred. Throughout the book, there are instances where it is hard to tell who is right and who is wrong, or what is right and what is wrong. She never makes the antagonist truly the antagonist; she makes them ready to feel empathy towards them because it may not be their fault it’s happening. They may just be stuck in a cycle. “It starts with us giving us more of the background of Atlas Corrigan's life than we got in. It ends with us where it was mainly only Lily's point of view. ‘It Ends With Us’ takes you through the emotional roller coaster of domestic abuse happening and there being someone in that situation that has the resources to break out. “It Starts With Us’ is a story of rekindling love and hope for recovery from her earlier abuse. This book is proving that not every love is unconditional. They can be toxic and unhealthy, but there are those once-in-a-lifetime loves like Atlas and Lilys. Relationships are flawed and nothing comes easy. “It Starts With Us” is a beautiful and comforting read. The novel gently sorts through the aftermath of complications in “It Ends With Us”. This sequel demonstrates the sense that there is always a light at the end of the tunnel. There is a chance to have happiness even in fearful situations.``It starts with us” successfully brings forth lilies and atlases story at their second chance at true love. (This is for an English class )

I’ve enjoyed every book I have read by Colleen Hoover. Her writing keeps you wanting more and she delivers. When I wake in the morning, I am anxious to get back to her books. “It Starts With Us” is as much entertaining, if not more, than “It Ends With Us”. I’m sad I’ve finished reading “ It Starts With Us” but now on to another of her wonderful books. But which one next? That’s part of the adventure.

It is a cute love story. A great read!

I didn't get disappointed, but didn't get highly enjoyed either. I always wonder what happened to Lily and Atlas after, and this sequel quite explained well. But I think this book is simply for an answer to fans' needs, not a "great" episode. I enjoyed, though.

AWESOME BOOK

It Starts With Us offers a softer, more hopeful continuation that focuses on healing, growth, and the beauty of choosing yourself. Colleen Hoover gives readers the closure they wanted, with emotional moments that feel earned and tender. While it’s less intense than its predecessor, it’s a satisfying, heartfelt follow-up that celebrates resilience and new beginnings.

Good

Good quality

Good sequel read to ' it ends with us'

I read "It ends with us" in a couple of days and absolutely loved it. I immediately ordered this one after. It's such an easy read!

I am a novice reader, having completed this novel as my 4th novel, but I won't complain a single bit! The whole novel series journey is beautiful, like some parts are rough, some are very beautiful, that explains life as well! I will really recommend this novel series to anyone, specially 18+, because there are some contents which shouldn't be for underage.😅 Nonetheless, in adults, this series truly explains the meaning of giving respect to anyone and accepting their past! Atlas's character is truly amazing, his demeanor in difficult situations is just wow! I am really moved by him and want to become like him! I will definitely recommend this novel to girls/women, if they want to know the meaning of respect, whereas for boys/men, how to be like Atlas and not be like Ryle a single bit!