30.1k reviews for:

It Starts with Us

Colleen Hoover

3.68 AVERAGE


Was so hyped for this and it kinda fell flat for me. Lots of potential but I was bored.
hopeful reflective 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

Enjoyable to read but wasn’t as good as the first book. It was a little bit slow at first and a bit boring too (I was taken aback by how much Hoover copied and pasted from It Ends with Us into this book), with some cringy bits sprinkled here and there, but things started becoming more interesting after a few chapters in. Overall, really happy with how the story ended.
emotional medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes
emotional lighthearted slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven: Character
Loveable characters: Yes

This was alright but we didn’t need this book. I realize that Colleen wrote this book for the fans that wanted to see a happy ending between Lily and Atlas but it read almost like a fan-fiction. It’s a nice story but it lacks complexity, depth, and exciting moments. After the first book, I understand the need for a book that is less traumatic for the characters but the writing seemed to suffer in doing so. 3 stars.
emotional inspiring sad tense fast-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

It gave what it was supposed to give. We got closure. I ship Lily and Atlas! And I’m happy for the outcome for Josh and Emmy. This wasn’t necessarily a page turner but for me - but I delved moreso into the characters and attained new perspectives. 

My draw backs: slow paced and drawn out in the first 50% and the timeline speeds up towards the end. I also didn’t like Atlas’ vows in the last chapter. I was expecting something more cheesy and romantic instead of him spewing off divorce statistics. 

But again - I can rest peacefully at night knowing that their love for each other is deep, real, safe, and healthy which brings me peace. 

Favorite quotes: 
“He’s a broken man, but he isn’t broken because of me. He was broken before he met me. Sometimes people think if they love a person enough, they can be what, finally repairs them, but the problem with that is the other person just ends up broken, too. “

“My loyalty is to the people who bring positivity into my life. My loyalty is to the people who want to build me up and see me happy. Those are the people I’m going to make decisions about my life for.”

“He’s going to live in this fantasy until he’s able to confront his reality. As a kid, I have the highest hopes for family, too but after years of being disappointed, I realize that just because you’re born into a family of people, that doesn’t make them your family.“

“I can draw a seedling with two tiny branches. yours and mine. Will be on our own brand, new, tiny family tree – one that starts with us.“

I loved the alternating POV between Lily and Atlas. I enjoyed ready from atlas’s POV and hearing more of his story.

It brought more awareness to domestic and family abuse. Atlas taking in his little brother was a great addition to the book. “A whole new family tree that starts with us” -Atlas
LOVED LOVED LOVED THAT. You can’t choose the family you were born in to but you can choose the family you want to surround yourself with.
emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Yes
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Yes

Lilly and Atlas are such a great couple.  They have been through so many struggles in their lives, and it was nice to see them work things out. Great ending to this story! 

4.6 stars