A review by booksaremysoulmates
It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

emotional reflective medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? N/A
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

4.5

Honestly I felt conflicted reading this one. If I judge it solely on being a sequel to it ends with us for me, than I am dissatisfied since personally I expected/wanted more of a plot between Ryle and Lily, or at least I wished for more of her thoughts and feelings on being trapped with her past abuser in her life since he is the father of her child. I know that Colleen touched on that topic but I wished fore more, more detail more depth to that one. Maybe even getting a chapter from the POV of Ryle or Alyssa and their feelings and thoughts on that situation. Also the plotline with Atlas and his family felt a little rushed and a lot of depth was missing. But if you thought it ends with us was a romance book, which personally I don‘t, then you‘ll probably enjoy this one a lot. Considering what Colleen said herself about writing this sequel and how it ends with us was never supposed to have one, but she gave in writing Atlas‘ and Lily‘s story because the fans asked for it, then this book was a nice one. Since to me it solely was a romance book with the love story of Atlas and Lily, so she gave the fans exactly what they asked for, but personally I didn‘t need the romance part, I was more interested in the plotlines I mentioned above.
So do I personally believe the sequel was necessary? No it wasn‘t but I still enjoyed reading it. Do I think you should read it? Yes, if you solely want the romance between Atlas and Lily but no if you are looking for a more in depth plot about co-parenting with Ryle and all those deeper and darker themes. 
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