ninaleeray's review against another edition
- 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
4.5
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Toxic relationship, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Misogyny
Minor: Classism
samlhfc98's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, and Misogyny
issyd23's review against another edition
- 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
3.0
Graphic: Panic attacks/disorders, Abandonment, Addiction, Alcoholism, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Bullying, Classism, Death of parent, Gaslighting, Infidelity, Violence, Sexual violence, Misogyny, Grief, Suicidal thoughts, Stalking, Sexual harassment, Sexism, Mental illness, Toxic relationship, and Physical abuse
v1l25's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
4.0
Graphic: Cursing, Domestic abuse, Toxic relationship, Sexual violence, Violence, Vomit, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Sexual content, Abandonment, Misogyny, Child abuse, Emotional abuse, Injury/Injury detail, Medical content, Blood, and Alcohol
joey1914's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.25
Graphic: Emotional abuse, Toxic relationship, Cursing, Child abuse, Infidelity, Misogyny, Physical abuse, Violence, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Abandonment, and Gaslighting
brownsugar25's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
5.0
For the first time, we read about Atlas’s pov as well in this book & how they seek each other & start going out because now that Lily’s on the journey of healing from her trauma & Ryle keeps getting in the way & how Lily retaliates in this book & takes better care for Emerson. How any mother in that situation would create, this book also reminds us how abuse is never done and over with even after you walk out of that abuser's life and save yourself. It's saving yourself every single day and get reminded how things can go south in a matter of seconds if you're not careful enough. There are still remnants of the abuse and the PTSD that follows in this books. Everyone will need a trigger warning for this one too, so please be careful while reading.
And its made possible with everyone’s cooperation of how things work out but some people just never change. I hated Ryle even more in this book and the gaslighting that followed was incrutating experience since Lily was choosing herself and Emerson's happiness and safety every single day while Ryle is still around the picture, the good part is he will be gone at some point. But what annoys me is how his parents are not getting involved thinking about Ryle's anger. I think he needs to discuss this side of himself with his parents because what the actual F-.
But I will not talk about him. Because It Starts With Us is more about the blooming relationship between Lily & Atlas, how Atlas reminds her everyday how much he loves her with his love letters to her and making it up for Lily for all the missed years and opportunities where he could have swooped into her life. We also know a little more about Atlas's past as well and something that comes back for him in his present. Please readers stay tuned to read this book if you wanna what happened in the past and what happens thereafter.
There is a happy ending to them.
Graphic: Physical abuse, Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Mental illness, and Misogyny
lisaarthur's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Gaslighting, Misogyny, and Violence
Minor: Domestic abuse
amanda_reads13's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Graphic: Misogyny, Domestic abuse, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Emotional abuse
thatswhatshanread's review against another edition
- 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
5.0
WHEN I TELL YOU I READ THIS THROUGH MANY TEARY EYES—well two eyes. I only have two eyes. But there were many tears on the surface of said eyes. WHATEVER THE CASE, I WAS AND CONTINUE TO BE IN A GLASS CASE OF EMOTIONS.
Having read “It Starts With Us” earlier in the year, and thinking about it nearly everyday since, I was all too eager to dive into this one. I loved that it started right where the original left off. I loved that it gave us the story from Atlas’ POV in addition to Lily’s. I loved that it focused on the several different complicated relationships in both of their lives. I loved Atlas + Lily in love in present day. I loved it all.
I appreciated the fact that Hoover didn’t make this sequel one big happily ever after with no hitches or conflicts. Although it was much lighter and much sweeter in overall tone, it didn’t brush over the heavy topics of the first one. It laid out the realities of domestic abuse and child abuse with ironclad honesty. How hard it can be to move on from something so terrible, and how easy it can be to want to forgive for the sake of peace and past feelings.
Hoover is exceptional at injecting her characters’ feelings right into your veins. I felt every bit of emotion being revealed on the pages. From Lily to Atlas to Josh, I felt it. Even Ryle, which really is a testament to how well written the characters are.
And can I just say that I’m sooooooo happy that Lily and Atlas’ lives finally started to bloom together in the same place and the same time??!! Ugh. I love their love.
Graphic: Injury/Injury detail, Sexual content, Medical trauma, Toxic relationship, Abandonment, Child abuse, Death, Physical abuse, Violence, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Domestic abuse, and Grief
Moderate: Infidelity, Addiction, Alcohol, Drug use, Stalking, and Misogyny
Minor: Panic attacks/disorders and Pregnancy
andeng's review against another edition
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Graphic: Physical abuse, Child abuse, Abandonment, Cursing, Gaslighting, Injury/Injury detail, Domestic abuse, Emotional abuse, Misogyny, Panic attacks/disorders, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, and Violence