A review by telepathyjmin
It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

  • 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

3.5

Decent book, but not nearly as good as the first in the series. Loved to see more of Atlas's relationships, with the other characters, especially Theo and Josh.

Just a few complaints about this book:

1. Repeating word for word the letters Lily wrote in book one. I guess if you read the books when they came out, instead of reading them directly back to back, it might be fine. But felt very unnecessary to me. Really could have just included a summary of them. 

2. As a few other people have pointed out, really didn't like Alyssa + Marshall in this. If you were friends with someone who was abused physically + mentally by your brother/best friend would you still continue to be on good terms with them? I know i sure as hell wouldn't. 

Took them until the very end of the book to get their act together and side with Lily instead of Ryle, EVEN THOUGH she went through abuse from this dude for over a year(?)

Last small critique is that i noticed quite a few typos throughout the book, with the words 'me' and 'my' being used interchangeably at times for some reason.
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