Not quite the emotional punch as ‘It Ends With Us’ but perfectly readable nonetheless! I went back and read my review of IEWU and it was a rave review. I remember the heartbreak, the pain and the bravery of both Lily and Atlas. The book was an absolute homerun for me.
I have been reading Colleen Hoover’s books for many years and have watched in awe as her career has really grown to almost unimaginable heights. It really couldn’t happen to a nicer person. I am not sure if I have moved on to other genres or whether this book just felt a little thin. In any event, I did love the alternating chapters here, it made for an interesting, fast-paced read.
While I question the openness that Lily had in allowing Ryle access to their child, I also cannot judge the actions of a victim of abuse, with limited funds and limited access to the courts. It was also curious to me that Lily and Ryle’s sister still remained close.
“My choice helped me realize that sometimes the hardest decisions a person can make will most likely lead to the best outcomes.”
I wasn’t a fan of the shout-out to Tik-Tok, which has led to the author’s insane popularity in real life. But I did like the humor that was interjected throughout the book, to balance out the serious themes. ( “Our weekend special,” Atlas says. “It’s called why are you avoiding me pasta.” )
Overall, this book will certainly appeal to Colleen Hoover’s die-hard fans.
(Thank you to the publisher for providing a paperback copy. All thoughts are my own.)
About the Book:
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).
