Themes/TW's:
Relationships, love, parenting, friendship, domestic violence, gaslighting, divorce, homelessness, child abuse, physical, emotional and psychological trauma, found family, found love, self-growth, sexuality.
Synopsis:
Lily is settling into her new life without Ryle after being separated from him for two years. But he is still very present in Lily's life through co-parenting their daughter Emerson. Mindful of their past Lily is forced to set boundaries for Ryle around herself and Emerson but, Ryle is still hopeful for a future with them both.
When Lily suddenly bumps into Atlas, her first love, she is positive that fate is on their side. But Atlas is the one person Ryle absolutely cannot stand. With Atlas facing ghosts from his past and Lily navigating her jealous ex, will Lily and Atlas get a second chance at true love?
Thoughts:
This was one of my most anticipated reads for this year and it was everything I hoped it would be. The story picks up one year later from where It Ends with Us finishes, opening with us seeing Atlas in the present day. Lily is new, single mum, she's exhausted and has no time for herself. She is still coping with the aftermath of her break-up with Ryle when the prospect of a new relationship occurs for her. With minimum repetition in to the past, there are a few important scenes which we revisit through Lily's letters that bring some closure in to what happened, like when Atlas was caught in Lily's room and the truth behind Atlas's move to Boston. So, if like me, you had questions after It Ends with Us, you'll get some answers!
There is a lot of light and positivity in this book with countless sweet moments between Lily and Atlas which was lovely to read in comparison to her experiences in It Ends with Us with Ryle. If you've read Colleen Hoover, you'll know she has a way of addressing darker topics/serious issues in her romance novels but in the most relatable way. Even if you haven't had first hand experiences you will feel like you have through the character's point of view. I found it frustrating that Ryle was still in the picture, but it was empowering to see how Lily deals with the situation and keeps control. Although the reminders are traumatic, she faces the discomfort of her past and keeps herself in check with the truth of Ryle's behaviour. Ryle is a very realistic portrayal of an abuser, making false promises to change, gaslighting, living in denial of his actions and trying to keep Lily in fear with the hope that will keep her in his life. Lily's journey after the divorce shows how lengthy and messy healing from domestic violence can be.
For me this book was mostly about Atlas with a deeper look into his past and his journey to find his way back to Lily. Alongside he makes some other unexpected discoveries which I thought was a good addition to the plot and was equally important for his closure. I favoured Atlas's point of view in this book, it was refreshing and extremely healthy given his life experiences. It truly goes to show the devastation of abuse, how it affects people differently and the strength of survivors. Both characters stories are an ode to non-linear success and a reminder to keep pushing through the difficult times. One of my favourite scenes is where the book title is embedded - an emotional, heart-warming moment between Atlas and Josh.
Like the first book, I thought the letters to Ellen were a bit odd but they held value and depths of information. I just began to see them as diary entries or an outlet for Lily, so they didn't bother me too much in the sequel. Surprisingly, I've seen a lot of negative reviews on this book, but I honestly really enjoyed it. There were good supporting characters and a nice mix of humour, especially from Theo. It Starts with Us gave me a feeling of hope, warmth and the happy ending that I really wanted. Seeing how Atlas and Lily grow into adults but still keep that explosive connection was perfection. Their combined friendship and boundless love is everything I want in a romance. Saying that, it is important to remember that this is fiction and sadly in real life we don't always get a happy ending. To make sense of this story and feel connected to the characters I'd say it has to be read as a duology. I would definitely recommend this book if you enjoyed It Ends with Us, for fans of childhood friends to lovers or if you want an easy, adult romance to read. It's one of those books that you can just get cosy with and devour.
Favourite Quotes:
'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.'
'Thank you for being the most comforting part of my life right now. Thank you for always being the beacon I need every time I feel lost. Whether you mean to shine on me or not. I am grateful for you.'
'Maybe the idea of love ending being a negative thing is simply a matter of perspective. Because to me, the idea that a love came to an end means that, at some point, there was love that existed. And there was a time in my life, before you, when I was completely untouched by it.'
'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.'
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