Reviews tagging 'Bullying'

It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

20 reviews

lovesbug787's review against another edition

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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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Abandonment, Cursing, Pregnancy, Addiction, Gaslighting, and Sexual violence

Minor: Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Outing, Bullying, Alcohol, Kidnapping, and Mental illness

aprilyvonne's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

3.75

⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

“It Starts With Us” had so much potential. I understand that CoHo was convinced to write this for her fans, and I commend that effort. I was slightly disappointed that it just didn’t live up to some of her previous writing. It was a bit flat to me. 

Now, I wasn’t a fan of Ryle in the first book, so I was excited to see Atlas have his own story. Of course, I also wanted Lily to be happy and safe. There was still some tension and stress, but the drama was lacking. Not that I wanted more violence. I suppose there wasn’t enough rising action (or even a true climax) in my opinion. 

Again, I appreciated the author’s note about her why and her vision, like before. So, based on that, Hoover did exactly what she had intended. The story was more happy, but I think I would’ve enjoyed it more if there was just a little extra to make that joy impact me as a reader. 

At least the sequel didn’t upset me as much as the first. 🤓

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Physical abuse, Stalking, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Addiction

karin_goodreads's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

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

3.5

I am once again back in this universe. I don't know if this book was really needed? It's great that everyone got a happy ending, but how we actually got there was a whole ass mess and seemed a little strange. I don't want to dwell on this too much, I'm pretty torn in my own mind. There's just something peculiar that irks me and no matter how hard I try, I can't figure out what exactly is it.

Hoover's books have always been easy to read for me - time kind of flies by and they're fairly simple. The plot on the other hand is... wild.

First of all, Ryle's entire existence makes me want to erase him from my memories. Why didn't he lose everything? I know I'm just observing the story that's being told, but come on! He had it too easy.
Even Allysa and Marshall got tainted by the shadow he left. It's a weird situations all over.

Why doesn't mother Kincaid know what the fuck his son has done? I'm frustrated. Not sure how any one of them continued to have a fairly good relationship with an abuser, but oh well.

I'm sorry, but Lily just doesn't make complete sense to me, something just doesn't fit with me anymore. 

I may not be perfect, but I don't deserve to fear for my life every time I make a mistake.

Atlas' and Lily's love story was fine. I feel like they have a trauma bond rather than being so unbelievably in love. Every other second there had to be a mention how Lily saved Atlas, which is fine, but that kind of muddles the waters for understanding where else the love is growing from.

The wedding vow in the end was strange, that didn't feel totally on character, I'm frowning even now thinking about it. The letter's ending where Atlas asked Lily to move in got me, I did not expect that!

At some parts I forgot Lily even existed, because I was so into Atlas' family's story. To be honest, I liked Atlas' story on it's own the most. I would genuinely like some Atlas and Josh only content.

OH YEAH, Josh, the little brother who came out of fucking nowhere?? I mean the behaviour suits the mom's character, but this felt way too sudden and random, more for a shock effect.

Despite that, I was into their story! Atlas felt like a different person to me.
FYI, I need everyone to know that Atlas' 12-year-old therapist Theo was the star of this book! He had my heart with those quips. Not sure what his purpose was, but I would like to keep him, yes & thank you!
 

I can draw a seedling with two tiny branches. Yours and mine. We’ll be on our own brand-new, tiny family tree—one that starts with us.

(That part was so satisfying.) 

Now, the ending was just way too easy. How is every "villain" suddenly having a change of character (not really, I'm dramatic), it was too sudden and too fast. Lord, I really don't know, I have so many thought that I'm not even sure where my mind is. Plus, the random gen Z and booktok's mention? What even was that about..? Some things I won't even discuss, but believe me I had too many thoughts. 

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Content Warnings

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

Moderate: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Violence

Minor: Blood, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail

kaylasbookgram's review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring sad tense fast-paced

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

5.0

“Sometimes people think if they love a broken person enough, they can be what finally repairs them, but the problem with that is the other person just ends up broken, too.”

I love that we got more of the story with Atlas and Lily. This was everything and more! I loved watching Lily grow as a mother and standing up for herself to raise her daughter away from abuse and conflict. I absolutely love Colleen Hoovers books I can’t praise them enough! 

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Infidelity, Alcohol, Cursing, Toxic relationship, Emotional abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, and Physical abuse

becca_w_'s review against another edition

emotional hopeful inspiring 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? Yes

4.25

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Sexual content, Grief, Classism, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Bullying, Cursing, Infidelity, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Alcohol, Blood, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, and Violence

Minor: Vomit, Gore, and Rape

gmbooks11_'s review against another edition

dark emotional inspiring sad 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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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcohol, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Grief, Injury/Injury detail, Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, and Violence

issyd23's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad tense slow-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

3.0

Surprisingly enjoyable after detesting the first book 3🌸 

NB I picked up this book expecting to hate & make fun of it, but ended up liking the story. I found it really satisfying & empowering to see Lily call out Ryle’s abusive behaviour & get a second chance of love with Atlas. There are still Ellen DeGeneres diaries but thankfully not as much as book 1 + the inclusion of Atlas’ perspective was a good addition. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Violence, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse

kaynic22's review against another edition

emotional hopeful slow-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Alcoholism, Bullying, Child abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Emotional abuse, Abandonment, Sexual content, Violence, Cursing, Panic attacks/disorders, Pregnancy, Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, and Toxic relationship

ellaticonstellation's review against another edition

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative reflective sad tense medium-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? It's complicated

5.0

Yay! It's Lily and Atlas' time. I love how considerate he was and also respected Lily's decisions. It's just so sweet. There are problematic parts still like Ryle, the walking red flag. Sutton, a weird name, but she's a horror show as well. Atlas hugging Lily's mom when they were younger was a sweet gesture. They were meant to be together, but I thought a year after a divorce was too soon. Not that she doesn't deserve to be happy or anything, but it was fast. I also liked that she's not letting Ryle get to her in the latter parts, because it was obvious that he had a hold on her in the earlier parts even if she was pointing out that he won't let him, he did. I'm just so happy for Lily and Atlas being together finally with Emmy❤️

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Cursing, Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Bullying, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting

worldofv33's review against another edition

emotional hopeful 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? It's complicated

4.5

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Bullying, Injury/Injury detail, Alcohol, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Violence, and Mental illness