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capybooks's review
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
I love the sibling relationship that develops throughout the book, and that’s honestly what made it a good read for me. There were times where I felt I couldn’t read on, purely because I was so uncomfortable when reading about Ryle, and because I was reminded that this happens to thousands of women every single day. I’m glad this prequel to It Ends With Us focuses on healing, recovery and a headstrong protagonist, rather than romanticising abuse. I’m grateful that Hoover didn’t use the book to say that once you leave an abusive relationship, life is easy and goes back to normal; it shows the ups and downs of recovery, dealing with past trauma, and shows that it isn’t always sunshine and daisies (or shall I say lilies). It focuses on how every woman/man/person should be treated in a romantic and/or familial relationship. And I love that.
Still hate how cringe the Finding Nemo references are though lmao
Ryle kinda reminds me of Hardin from After, and that’s another no from me
Still hate how cringe the Finding Nemo references are though lmao
Ryle kinda reminds me of Hardin from After, and that’s another no from me
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, Emotional abuse, Violence, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, and Panic attacks/disorders
Minor: Injury/Injury detail, Kidnapping, and Mental illness
ellie_murdock's review against another edition
emotional
funny
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
Content Warnings
Moderate: Mental illness, Emotional abuse, Physical abuse, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Sexual harassment, Sexual violence, Domestic abuse, Bullying, and Child abuse
ap3837's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Physical abuse, and Violence
brownsugar25's review against another edition
dark
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
reflective
sad
tense
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? It's complicated
5.0
I absolutely loved this book, this is even better than It Ends With Us. The plot takes a few more turns & I thought this would be past but it starts off exactly where we’re left with Lily & Atlas.
For the first time, we read about Atlas’s pov as well in this book & how they seek each other & start going out because now that Lily’s on the journey of healing from her trauma & Ryle keeps getting in the way & how Lily retaliates in this book & takes better care for Emerson. How any mother in that situation would create, this book also reminds us how abuse is never done and over with even after you walk out of that abuser's life and save yourself. It's saving yourself every single day and get reminded how things can go south in a matter of seconds if you're not careful enough. There are still remnants of the abuse and the PTSD that follows in this books. Everyone will need a trigger warning for this one too, so please be careful while reading.
And its made possible with everyone’s cooperation of how things work out but some people just never change. I hated Ryle even more in this book and the gaslighting that followed was incrutating experience since Lily was choosing herself and Emerson's happiness and safety every single day while Ryle is still around the picture, the good part is he will be gone at some point. But what annoys me is how his parents are not getting involved thinking about Ryle's anger. I think he needs to discuss this side of himself with his parents because what the actual F-.
But I will not talk about him. Because It Starts With Us is more about the blooming relationship between Lily & Atlas, how Atlas reminds her everyday how much he loves her with his love letters to her and making it up for Lily for all the missed years and opportunities where he could have swooped into her life. We also know a little more about Atlas's past as well and something that comes back for him in his present. Please readers stay tuned to read this book if you wanna what happened in the past and what happens thereafter.
There is a happy ending to them.
For the first time, we read about Atlas’s pov as well in this book & how they seek each other & start going out because now that Lily’s on the journey of healing from her trauma & Ryle keeps getting in the way & how Lily retaliates in this book & takes better care for Emerson. How any mother in that situation would create, this book also reminds us how abuse is never done and over with even after you walk out of that abuser's life and save yourself. It's saving yourself every single day and get reminded how things can go south in a matter of seconds if you're not careful enough. There are still remnants of the abuse and the PTSD that follows in this books. Everyone will need a trigger warning for this one too, so please be careful while reading.
And its made possible with everyone’s cooperation of how things work out but some people just never change. I hated Ryle even more in this book and the gaslighting that followed was incrutating experience since Lily was choosing herself and Emerson's happiness and safety every single day while Ryle is still around the picture, the good part is he will be gone at some point. But what annoys me is how his parents are not getting involved thinking about Ryle's anger. I think he needs to discuss this side of himself with his parents because what the actual F-.
But I will not talk about him. Because It Starts With Us is more about the blooming relationship between Lily & Atlas, how Atlas reminds her everyday how much he loves her with his love letters to her and making it up for Lily for all the missed years and opportunities where he could have swooped into her life. We also know a little more about Atlas's past as well and something that comes back for him in his present. Please readers stay tuned to read this book if you wanna what happened in the past and what happens thereafter.
There is a happy ending to them.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Misogyny
lovelybibliomanic's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Mental illness, Panic attacks/disorders, Toxic relationship, and Violence
Moderate: Gaslighting, Blood, Classism, Physical abuse, and Sexual content
Minor: Pregnancy
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
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Vomit, Homophobia, Abandonment, Alcohol, Physical abuse, Violence, Injury/Injury detail, Mental illness, Sexual content, and Toxic relationship
emmalouise_xx's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? It's complicated
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.25
Content Warnings
Graphic: Physical abuse, Gaslighting, Child abuse, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, and Mental illness
Moderate: Rape and Emotional abuse
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