Reviews tagging 'Alcohol'

It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

56 reviews

ink_and_wings's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful 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? Yes

3.75


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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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awxhhlilla's review against another edition

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adventurous challenging dark emotional funny lighthearted sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • 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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annabananadel's review

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

4.5

“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.”

It’s a good story to end the duology and I’m so happy that Colleen had written it after IEWU was popularized. To be honest, I was surprised to know that there was a second book because I was very much happy with how it ended but after reading this now, I’m just so grateful. 

I love how they showed how Lily was still traumatized of Ryle even after being divorced. Divorcing/Being separated your abuser does not clear out the trauma that was already in place. A little bit of action or phrases that might be connected to what had happened could easily scare you. Trauma is not that easy to erase and it was evidently seen in this second book. It showed how Lily, as a mother, was always there to protect her daughter. Fighting for her. And I’m so glad to see her support system because everybody who’s going thru the same situation should have had at least one person who supports and be constant. It makes me cheer for Lily because she’s been through so much. 

With Atlas and his new addition family member, I was kind of skeptical with it because why add a step-brother, right? Why not just focus on his love and relationship with Lily? But I later learned that it is a good addition to the story because I was able to see and understand Atlas clearly. How he became the man he came to be. Also, Josh is an amazing character together with Theo. I’m glad LGBTQ+ was added as well and at an early age too. 

Overall, I love this story but less of an impact compared to the first book. If asked if I recommend this book, I would say that it is a good way to end the story once they’ve read the first one. 

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embla_v's review against another edition

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dark emotional funny hopeful reflective sad tense

5.0


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izzygraff's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad 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

3.0

This book was fine. I felt that the ending wasn’t super satisfying though. I listened to it in one day because I was doing an art project, but if I hadn’t been listening to it, I would not have finished it very quickly. I love Atlas and Josh, though!! Also, something that really bugged me in the first book and a little in this one….there was no therapy. Ryle is a neurosurgeon and Lily owns her own business. They had MORE than enough money to be able to afford marriage counseling. I feel like that would have solved so many issues before they even began, and it made me very angry that therapy was never even mentioned until <spoiler: Lily demanded Ryle go to anger management classes.>

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bakergirlsbooks1999's review against another edition

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

4.0


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alexisgillogly's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Overall I'd say it wasn't quite as powerful as the first book in the series but it wasn't a dud by any means either. I enjoyed it. I'm glad it was written. The back and forth in narration was wonderful, I loved hearing things from Atlas POV. There was one chapter in particular that was so emotional I had to stop everything else I was doing and just listen (I read the audiobook version). 

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kaylasbookgram's review against another edition

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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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becca_w_'s review against another edition

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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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