Reviews with content warning for Gaslighting - It Starts With Us

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.

Content Warnings

mar1ahanne's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? No

4.25

Content Warnings

rosemarianduffy's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful reflective tense medium-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

2.0

Content Warnings

karin_goodreads's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional funny hopeful reflective medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Diverse cast of characters? No
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

I am once again back in this universe. I don't know if this book was really needed? It's great that everyone got a happy ending, but how we actually got there was a whole ass mess and seemed a little strange. I don't want to dwell on this too much, I'm pretty torn in my own mind. There's just something peculiar that irks me and no matter how hard I try, I can't figure out what exactly is it.

Hoover's books have always been easy to read for me - time kind of flies by and they're fairly simple. The plot on the other hand is... wild.

First of all, Ryle's entire existence makes me want to erase him from my memories. Why didn't he lose everything? I know I'm just observing the story that's being told, but come on! He had it too easy.
Even Allysa and Marshall got tainted by the shadow he left. It's a weird situations all over.

Why doesn't mother Kincaid know what the fuck his son has done? I'm frustrated. Not sure how any one of them continued to have a fairly good relationship with an abuser, but oh well.

I'm sorry, but Lily just doesn't make complete sense to me, something just doesn't fit with me anymore.

I may not be perfect, but I don't deserve to fear for my life every time I make a mistake.

Atlas' and Lily's love story was fine. I feel like they have a trauma bond rather than being so unbelievably in love. Every other second there had to be a mention how Lily saved Atlas, which is fine, but that kind of muddles the waters for understanding where else the love is growing from.

The wedding vow in the end was strange, that didn't feel totally on character, I'm frowning even now thinking about it. The letter's ending where Atlas asked Lily to move in got me, I did not expect that!

At some parts I forgot Lily even existed, because I was so into Atlas' family's story. To be honest, I liked Atlas' story on it's own the most. I would genuinely like some Atlas and Josh only content.

OH YEAH, Josh, the little brother who came out of fucking nowhere?? I mean the behaviour suits the mom's character, but this felt way too sudden and random, more for a shock effect.

Despite that, I was into their story! Atlas felt like a different person to me.
FYI, I need everyone to know that Atlas' 12-year-old therapist Theo was the star of this book! He had my heart with those quips. Not sure what his purpose was, but I would like to keep him, yes & thank you!

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.

(That part was so satisfying.)

Now, the ending was just way too easy. How is every "villain" suddenly having a change of character (~~not really, I'm dramatic~~), it was too sudden and too fast. Lord, I really don't know, I have so many thought that I'm not even sure where my mind is. Plus, the random gen Z and booktok's mention? What even was that about..? Some things I won't even discuss, but believe me I had ~~too~~ many thoughts.

Content Warnings

ellsbellss1's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional tense 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

3.5

Content Warnings

caseyf's review against another edition

Go to review page

emotional hopeful 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

4.5

Content Warnings

More...