Reviews tagging 'Grief'

It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

12 reviews

brittany_ballin's review against another edition

challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense 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

5.0

Check Goodreads for my review. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Mental illness, Violence, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Grief, and Vomit

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

redheadorganist's review against another edition

challenging emotional inspiring reflective tense 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

3.75

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Grief, Emotional abuse, and Sexual content

Minor: Blood and Alcohol

sldibened's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful inspiring fast-paced

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

4.0

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Stalking, Alcohol, Sexual content, Child abuse, Cursing, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Abandonment, Adult/minor relationship, Addiction, Alcoholism, Emotional abuse, Grief, and Toxic relationship

soft_plush's review against another edition

emotional hopeful lighthearted reflective 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? Yes

4.75

Definitely an easier read and not as intense as it ends with us. Still a very great book loved it as much as the first! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Gaslighting, Grief, and Cursing

Moderate: Cursing and Gaslighting

Minor: Cursing and Gaslighting

hmw98's review against another edition

emotional hopeful reflective tense 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

4.25

Loved the book but was disappointed in the plot a tad bit, wasn’t as event packed as the last! Also the ending was a bit of a bummer as I expected more from Coho! 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Mental illness, Sexual assault, Death, Grief, Abandonment, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, Pregnancy, Sexual content, Alcoholism, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Sexual violence, Violence, Addiction, Cursing, and Toxic relationship

lovelymisanthrope's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful lighthearted sad tense fast-paced

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

4.0

I read "It Ends with Us" earlier this year and was blown away by how much I enjoyed the story. I knew I wanted more, especially from Atlas, so I quickly added "It Starts with Us" to my TBR.
"It Starts with Us" picks up almost immediately following the end of "It Ends with Us". Lily and her ex-husband Ryle have been separated for a while, but they have come together to create a great coparenting system for their daughter. Although there is no chance of reconciliation, they are living in relatively good harmony. Lily is happy and ready to move on with her life when she bumps into Atlas on the street, and she enthusiastically agrees to go on a date with him. The timing seems perfect, and everything seems to FINALLY be falling into place for Lily and Atlas. The only thing that could come between them now is Ryle.
This story alternates between Lily's and Atlas's perspectives, which was a great treat for those who adored Atlas in "It Ends with Us". Atlas is such a good guy, and after such a difficult life, it was really nice to see him have some wins and finally get a real shot with Lily. I do think he suffers from being too perfect, but in the most ideal world, it was fun to see "the perfect man".
In "It Ends with Us", Lily becomes best friends with Ryle's sister, and I was curious to see how their friendship was affected when it came out that Ryle is abusive. I was pleased to see that the two girls remained friends and Ryle's sister stood by Ryle and Lily's sides. She acknowledged her brother was wrong and out of line in his treatment towards Lily, but she supported him getting better and getting to spend time with his daughter. She also supported Lily and was nothing short of a best friend for her.
I do not think you have to read "It Ends with Us" before you pick this up, but you will definitely have a better appreciation for the characters if you do. The only thing that would have made this better for me is if the book was solely Atlas's perspective. I appreciated seeing Lily's character grow and stand up for herself, but I wanted this book to finally see Atlas's side of the story. I think we still could have gotten an update about Lily through Atlas's point of view.

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Violence, Rape, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Domestic abuse, Grief, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Physical abuse, and Death of parent