Stephanie Sullivan: Review - It Starts with Us

TITLE: It Starts with Us

RATING: ★★★★

Summary (from Goodreads): Before It Ends with Us, it started with Atlas. Colleen Hoover tells fan favorite Atlas’s side of the story and shares what comes next in this long-anticipated sequel to the “glorious and touching” (USA TODAY) #1 New York Times bestseller It Ends with Us.

Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, have just settled into a civil coparenting rhythm when she suddenly bumps into her first love, Atlas, again. After nearly two years separated, she is elated that for once, time is on their side, and she immediately says yes when Atlas asks her on a date.

But her excitement is quickly hampered by the knowledge that, though they are no longer married, Ryle is still very much a part of her life—and Atlas Corrigan is the one man he will hate being in his ex-wife and daughter’s life.

Switching between the perspectives of Lily and Atlas, It Starts with Us picks up right where the epilogue for the “gripping, pulse-pounding” (Sarah Pekkanen, author of Perfect Neighbors) bestselling phenomenon It Ends with Us left off. Revealing more about Atlas’s past and following Lily as she embraces a second chance at true love while navigating a jealous ex-husband, it proves that “no one delivers an emotional read like Colleen Hoover” (Anna Todd, New York Times bestselling author).

REVIEW: With It Ends with Us being so near and dear to my heart, I couldn’t wait to dive into this book, and I'm so glad it didn’t disappoint. Atlas Corrigan is one of my favorite male characters of all time, and I really loved getting his point of view. He is still just as swoon-worthy as ever. (*happy sigh*) I also love how Lily’s character has evolved since the birth of her daughter, and I was very happy to see her take a bigger stand against Ryle in order to protect Emerson. As I stated in my review of It Ends with Us, I was in an abusive relationship for several years before I met my husband, so there are parts of both books that pierce my heart because there is such a deep connection and understanding of what Lily has been through. There were many times I had to put this book down, take a few deep breaths, and come back to it when my head was clearer. Don’t get me wrong, though - that’s not a bad thing. It just shows how wonderful Colleen Hoover is at what she does when she is able to immerse you in a story so profoundly that you feel everything her characters are going through. This is just one of the many reasons she’s at the top of my list of must-read authors. The only reason I didn’t give this book five stars is because there was a lot of repetition (or “filler”) from It Ends with Us. But that wouldn’t ever stop me from recommending it. If you enjoy Colleen Hoover, then you’ll fall in love with this book too, so by all means put it at the top of your reading list. You won’t regret it!