Reviews with content warning for Emotional abuse - It Starts with Us

THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS

The depiction of the cycle of abuse is portrayed without a clear resolution. Lily's relationships with Ryle's sister and best friend intensify this challenge, making it difficult for her to break free from the cycle. The casual discussions about Ryle by Allysa and Marshall, minimizing his abusive tendencies, feel unsettling and fail to provide the necessary support for Lily's healing process. It becomes evident that Lily requires a robust support system to effectively heal, including going no contact with her abuser and anyone associated with him as a crucial first step.

While the portrayal of Lily's legal battle with Ryle may reflect the realistic challenges faced by survivors of abuse, the ending leaves a sense of unease. It's understandable that winning a legal case against Ryle would be arduous, but the narrative's conclusion, with Ryle still involved in Lily's life, raises concerns about the safety of both Lily and her daughter. Lily's continued excuses for Ryle's behavior underscore the lingering impact of abuse and the necessity for her to prioritize her own well-being.

Contrary to the narrative's suggestion, love alone cannot heal the trauma of an abusive relationship, especially when the only common ground is shared trauma. Seeking therapy is crucial for Lily's recovery; relying on Atlas or any external figure won't suffice.

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kzweig13's review against another edition

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emotional tense medium-paced

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

3.75

Ending felt fushed, but good book. Can be triggering with its story line.

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briaranne's review against another edition

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challenging dark emotional hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective tense fast-paced

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

4.0

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enchantingreads_rosyreviews's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful reflective 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? It's complicated

4.5

"Nothing you have done and nothing you could do would excuse any man’s hands on you out of anger."

Just when I thought I couldn't be more in love with a character, they impress me more. Men, we think it's sexy when you support your women... we WILL love you more, I promise. I have never finished one book and moved to another as fast as I did when I finished It Ends with Us (in the wee hours of the morning). Sure, there was an open ending with the first book, but mostly, I just needed MORE of these characters! This was the sequel we NEEDED in our lives. Once you’ve read the first, you MUST read this… life is not complete without it.

As with the first, this story deals with surviving domestic violence and the trauma that lingers with every interaction and memory drudged up. But it’s also a story about fighting and building your happily ever after. Lily has to be brave enough to go after what she wants and realize the value in being and having a supportive partner and found family.

Although there was still conflict to keep us engaged, this book was just icing. Because I am a new #cohort fan, I didn't know there was a world where this sequel didn't exist. So, THANK YOU to the fans for demanding one and THANK YOU Colleen for listening and delivering such a great book!

"How in the world she can make me feel so whole when I had no idea I was only half of myself without her."

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kyaranelson's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective medium-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

4.5

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cjfooks's review against another edition

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emotional funny hopeful inspiring mysterious sad tense medium-paced

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

4.0

The perfect closure to ‘it ends with us’. It starts off exactly where it left off in the end of the first book and, although it doesn’t have as much depth or unpredictability as it ends with us, I actually enjoyed it more than its predecessor.

It ends with us is a stressful (though still enjoyable) book to read, with an ending that’s hopeful, insinuating but not quite resolved. It leaves you feeling tentatively optimistic but guessing what happens next.

Although it starts with us wasnt strictly needed (in fact Coleen Hoover actually said that she was adamant in leaving the ending with the first book), after growing passionate about all the characters in the first book, the optimistic, light hearted (although not without it’s dark themes, consistent with the story) was so satisfying a read.

(It ends with us spoilers):

The story revolves around lily finding her way around Ryle and atlas (and Emerson) in her life and how to navigate them all together. But we also see so much more of atlas’s character and past as well, as the perspective switches character by chapter between him and lily.

(Overall spoilers):

It also ends in the most perfect, wholesome way (without feeling too out of reach and therefore fairytale-esque).

Love love loved this

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lovesbug787's review against another edition

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adventurous emotional hopeful inspiring reflective medium-paced

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

3.75

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