Reviews with content warning for Abandonment - It Starts with Us

Reviews tagging 'Abandonment'

It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

143 reviews

medini_l's review against another edition

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hopeful fast-paced

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

2.75

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telepathyjmin's review against another edition

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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

3.5

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.

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vickimarie2002's review against another edition

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hopeful medium-paced

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

5.0

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josiepowers's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring reflective sad 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

4.0

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saramaiabarbas's review against another edition

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emotional inspiring lighthearted reflective sad fast-paced

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

3.5

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karin_goodreads's review

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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.

Spoiler

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.

Spoiler

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.

Spoiler

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.

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brittany_ballin's review against another edition

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challenging emotional funny hopeful inspiring lighthearted reflective sad tense medium-paced

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

Check Goodreads for my review.

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alexisgillogly's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful reflective sad tense medium-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? It's complicated
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

Overall I'd say it wasn't quite as powerful as the first book in the series but it wasn't a dud by any means either. I enjoyed it. I'm glad it was written. The back and forth in narration was wonderful, I loved hearing things from Atlas POV. There was one chapter in particular that was so emotional I had to stop everything else I was doing and just listen (I read the audiobook version).

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becca_w_'s review against another edition

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emotional hopeful inspiring 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

4.25

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bbrewer14's review against another edition

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emotional hopeful lighthearted fast-paced

Plot- or character-driven? Character
Strong character development? Yes
Loveable characters? Yes
Diverse cast of characters? Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

After reading the first novel (It Ends With Us) in one sitting, I was looking forward to seeing how the author would continue the story of the characters. This novel does a wonderful job of showing how the main character proceeds to move on from from her choice at the end of the first novel. Lily’s story is not over by any means . It was comforting to follow her on the new arc given to her in this novel as well as learning more about her backstory and her first love, Atlas. Her path is one of healing, redemption, hope and the struggle to overcome abuse and toxic relationships. The book is calm and thoughtful and gives a nice respite from the tension of the predecessor. It did make me sad that the author used the journal from the first book as filler. I assumed she would expand on the scenarios presented in the journals and give new material in this book, however it is several pages of repeated material which was disappointing. Overall it is a nice novel to give closure to those invested in the lives of the characters from the first book.

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