By Erica Wiggins
Content warnings: domestic violence, child neglect
It Starts With Us is the long-awaited sequel to Colleen Hoover’s best-selling novel, It Ends With Us. These novels do need to be read in order as It Starts With Us continues from where It Ends With Us ended. It focuses on the relationship between Lily and Atlas and is told in first person alternating chapters. It debuted at number on the New York Times Best Sellers list. Colleen Hoover writes romance and YA fiction and has sold over 20 million books. She writes that It Starts With Us is a thank you for the support she has received from her readers.
Many readers have a love-or-hate relationship with Hoover’s books, but for me, it is love. It Starts With Us shows us what can happen even after someone leaves an abusive relationship, especially when children are involved. You are not always able to completely sever the tie to that person. It can also affect how you interact with people moving forward. It felt like an accurate portrayal of what could happen, and I thought she approached this topic carefully and thoughtfully.
When It Ends With Us was written, there was no intention for a sequel, but I am so glad it was written. Lily gets to become her own person and continue to grow and build her resilience. We get to watch Lily and Atlas fall in love all over again. I love their interactions, the slow pace that they move, and watching their connection grow. The letters Atlas writes added a tenderness to their story and it truly becomes about these two finally getting their happy ending.
Hoover took the time to fill out the story with some great supporting characters. I had two favourites. First Theo, his weekly therapist, who at just twelve is giving Atlas advice and Josh—I just loved the relationship that develops here (but don’t want to give any of the story away).
I appreciated that we got to see a little more of Atlas’ history in this story. We get to see more of what his life was like before he met Lily. It is both heartbreaking and heartwarming. It is a reminder of how good can come out of a bad childhood. It doesn’t hurt that Atlas is gorgeous and in his element as a chef.
I know readers’ feelings about this book will be mixed. Domestic violence is a difficult topic to address, even more so in a fictional book. However, it is a reality of our world, and the effects can be long-lasting. I am by no means an expert, but I felt it was portrayed in an accurate and considerate way. I loved having the opportunity to read this book and follow Lily and Atlas on their journey to happiness. I will be recommending this story to fans of Hoover who want to see just a little more of where this story goes.
“P.S. It is my wish for you to be my fish”
Thank you, Simon and Schuster Canada, for the complimentary copy in exchange for an honest review.