Reviews

It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

waddlealot's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful medium-paced

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

3.5

marymary91's review against another edition

3.0

Okay, it was cute but not really what I was expecting with the healing for Lily. I wanted so much more. She went through so much and I just wanted to see the process bc I have been thru it. I was just disappointed. We need to take things slow straight into never mind we need to kiss. I just…ugh. Ryle would not be her only issue with a new relationship after that kind of trauma. I’m happy they are happy.

katrinagrubb's review against another edition

emotional lighthearted sad 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? It's complicated

2.0

I enjoyed this prequel to “It ends with us”. However, I feel like the story itself lacked the same intensity as the first book. Because of this, at times it felt like an unnecessary addition, taking somewhat  boring moments and stretching them out to create another story. I felt as though the first book ends in a great place, and this book doesn’t add anything more, you’re still in the same place after reading.
Although that’s negative, I still enjoyed this book. The deeper delve into Lily’s relationship with Ryle and Atlas’ past were interesting plot points. However nothing felt entirely resolved or added or changed after reading this book, it just felt like a really long epilogue. I normally love Colleen hoover, and I would recommend reading this book if you’re looking for a lighter continuation of the first book, it was just disappointing to not be taken anywhere new. 

emaestaveley's review against another edition

emotional reflective 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

3.0

ebedler's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense fast-paced

4.75

reeceh06's review against another edition

4.0

I didn’t think this was as good as the first, but it was still a very good book.

nadiamasood's review against another edition

2.0

This is my least favourite book from Ms Hoover. Atlas and Lily’s interactions feel like watching a typical KDrama.

horsesushi's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

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

5.0

readwithdes's review against another edition

3.0

It Starts With Us was one of my most anticipated reads this year and I have to say I was disappointed. There was nothing really memorable about this book, and the more I read, the more I wondered what Lily and Atlas even had in common besides the trauma they endured when they were kids. There was really no plot, and all they talked about was their childhood, Emerson, and Josh. The drive-by hugs were sweet though.

As I kept reading, I found that I actually preferred the ambiguity of Lily and Atlas’s relationship in It Ends With Us. We really didn’t need a sequel.

This was more of an overly extended epilogue, and it really could have just been a bonus chapter.

P.S. don’t get me wrong, Atlas Corrigan is still *chef’s kiss

francisca_trindade's review against another edition

emotional funny hopeful tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A

5.0