Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

56 reviews

erica_reads_things's review against another edition

hopeful lighthearted medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

2.75

This was an alright follow up to the first book. Much less plot going on and more so to just give readers more Atlas and Lilly content. I wish there had been more conflict or plot besides random bits of Ryle. It was also pretty cliche in how it talked about the dynamics of domestic violence this time around, which was a change from the more nuanced ways it tackled the subject in the first book. Highlight of the book for me was

Atlas's brother and mother involvement.

All in all it was okay to read but pretty clearly just written to give fans more of Atlas and Lilly. 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Injury/Injury detail

Minor: Bullying, Child abuse, and Alcohol

arthur_ant18's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail and Sexual content

Minor: Alcohol, Bullying, and Sexual assault

violetbentbackwards1036's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Abandonment, Blood, Domestic abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Violence, Child abuse, Cursing, and Emotional abuse

m_h_t's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.25

Liked it because I liked it ends with us, and therefore I wanted to know how the story continues. Also I really like Atlas. 
But overall it was too cheesy for me, and too much of a happily ever after. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Violence, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Domestic abuse

Moderate: Physical abuse, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, Alcohol, Bullying, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Drug abuse, and Gaslighting

mirandap442's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse

Moderate: Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Violence, Alcoholism, and Cursing

Minor: Panic attacks/disorders, Cursing, and Blood

charlie29's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

probably the most anticipated book of the year, but I'll be honest it wasn't what I expected. It was a cheesy, cute romance, that felt like a long epilogue to It ends with us. so did you need it? no, but was it a nice read? yes.
 

why the hell wasn't there a plot twist?!?! and god's sake why isn't Ryle in jail, or hasn't been at least charged with domestic abuse?!?!

 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, and Cursing

Minor: Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Sexual assault

zc2's review against another edition

emotional funny lighthearted tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Plot
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

1.0

I was not happy with how it ended but it’s okay. I wanted more history on Atlas’ mom and why she abandoned herself and her kids. I wanted to know if after two years did Ryle get the help he needed. Did he attend the wedding? At the age of 3 is Emerson the flower girl in the wedding? I hated the last line of the book. I Ike the introduction to Theos love interest and how it progressed. Josh was honestly a huge Plot twist in my book. all in all the book wasn’t terrible just rushed and not my favorite 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Vomit, Homophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship

hannahjuliano's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? It's complicated
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

excruciatingly slow-paced, but then again, thank you atlas corrigan for reminding me that all i've ever been with are shitty men.

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Minor: Child abuse, Alcohol, and Cursing

hannibanani29's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual content, and Child abuse

Moderate: Cursing, Physical abuse, Violence, Abandonment, and Domestic abuse

Minor: Alcohol, Pregnancy, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Homophobia, Death of parent, and Sexual violence

booksaremysoulmates's review against another edition

emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? N/A
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

Honestly I felt conflicted reading this one. If I judge it solely on being a sequel to it ends with us for me, than I am dissatisfied since personally I expected/wanted more of a plot between Ryle and Lily, or at least I wished for more of her thoughts and feelings on being trapped with her past abuser in her life since he is the father of her child. I know that Colleen touched on that topic but I wished fore more, more detail more depth to that one. Maybe even getting a chapter from the POV of Ryle or Alyssa and their feelings and thoughts on that situation. Also the plotline with Atlas and his family felt a little rushed and a lot of depth was missing. But if you thought it ends with us was a romance book, which personally I don‘t, then you‘ll probably enjoy this one a lot. Considering what Colleen said herself about writing this sequel and how it ends with us was never supposed to have one, but she gave in writing Atlas‘ and Lily‘s story because the fans asked for it, then this book was a nice one. Since to me it solely was a romance book with the love story of Atlas and Lily, so she gave the fans exactly what they asked for, but personally I didn‘t need the romance part, I was more interested in the plotlines I mentioned above.

So do I personally believe the sequel was necessary? No it wasn‘t but I still enjoyed reading it. Do I think you should read it? Yes, if you solely want the romance between Atlas and Lily but no if you are looking for a more in depth plot about co-parenting with Ryle and all those deeper and darker themes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

Moderate: Abandonment, Alcohol, and Blood