tish12's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
reflective
sad
tense
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.5
ATLAS AND LILY
They are lovely together.
Atlas is an amazing person he sounds so good.
I am happy to have been able to put a happily ever after, or a possible one to their on going love story and where it start to where it ended. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
They are lovely together.
Atlas is an amazing person he sounds so good.
I am happy to have been able to put a happily ever after, or a possible one to their on going love story and where it start to where it ended. Thoroughly enjoyed it.
Content Warnings
Minor: Mental illness, Domestic abuse, Violence, and Physical abuse
ali1004's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
inspiring
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
4.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Cursing, Emotional abuse, Sexual content, Toxic relationship, Physical abuse, Domestic abuse, and Gaslighting
hannahelizabeth765's review against another edition
hopeful
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated
3.5
It’s a decent book, but could’ve been so much better in my opinion.
In the author’s note, Colleen writes that she wrote it for the fans who just wanted to see Atlas and Lily happy together, if I had known this beforehand, I might not have read it. I loved It Ends With Us so I was intrigued as to what she would do with a sequel, but disappointed when there wasn’t much tension or build-up, romantic or plot-wise.
About halfway through I lost any real connection to the book because it just felt like a money-grab. Lily seems magically ‘over’ everything with Ryle in terms of dealing with the abuse (she still has moments of anxiety and stress due to it, but it feels superficial) and knows everything about a being an abuse victim. Don’t get me wrong, there are great messages to abuse victims in there, but they feel placed and forced instead of flowing.
Another thing: because Atlas is so perfect, it feels almost like there’s nothing to him because he doesn’t go through any character development, the only development we are simply told about occurring during his time away from Lily. There’s no stakes because he is so perfect.
In summary, it’s a fluff book about Atlas and Lily with some troubles but nothing that they don’t handle quickly or at least make seem so small because of their love for each other and because Atlas knows her so well so he knows how to cheer her up so easily instead of there being a bit of tension between them at any point. Overall, it’s a decent book and did make me cry at some points and would be a good read for someone who just wanted closure from the first book.
In the author’s note, Colleen writes that she wrote it for the fans who just wanted to see Atlas and Lily happy together, if I had known this beforehand, I might not have read it. I loved It Ends With Us so I was intrigued as to what she would do with a sequel, but disappointed when there wasn’t much tension or build-up, romantic or plot-wise.
About halfway through I lost any real connection to the book because it just felt like a money-grab. Lily seems magically ‘over’ everything with Ryle in terms of dealing with the abuse (she still has moments of anxiety and stress due to it, but it feels superficial) and knows everything about a being an abuse victim. Don’t get me wrong, there are great messages to abuse victims in there, but they feel placed and forced instead of flowing.
Another thing: because Atlas is so perfect, it feels almost like there’s nothing to him because he doesn’t go through any character development, the only development we are simply told about occurring during his time away from Lily. There’s no stakes because he is so perfect.
In summary, it’s a fluff book about Atlas and Lily with some troubles but nothing that they don’t handle quickly or at least make seem so small because of their love for each other and because Atlas knows her so well so he knows how to cheer her up so easily instead of there being a bit of tension between them at any point. Overall, it’s a decent book and did make me cry at some points and would be a good read for someone who just wanted closure from the first book.
Content Warnings
Moderate: Domestic abuse
Minor: Child abuse, Emotional abuse, and Physical abuse
karin_goodreads's review against another edition
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. I'm sorry, but Lily just doesn't make complete sense to me, something just doesn't fit with me anymore.
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 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.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 (
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Physical abuse, Emotional abuse, and Child abuse
Moderate: Abandonment, Gaslighting, Sexual content, and Violence
Minor: Blood, Bullying, and Injury/Injury detail
gurnoor's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
lighthearted
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
2.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Domestic abuse, Child abuse, and Physical abuse
websterecho's review against another edition
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
3.0
Content Warnings
Moderate: Child abuse, Physical abuse, and Emotional abuse
eliya's review against another edition
hopeful
relaxing
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Plot
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? No
2.0
just as quick a read as the first one, which i do love about colleen hoover books. she attempted to do the same fake-aware bs that she did in the first one but she wasn’t as bad in this one.
i’m happy i read this book, it took me about 8 hours in-app (im a slow reader).
i’m happy i read this book, it took me about 8 hours in-app (im a slow reader).
Spoiler
i’m really happy we got to see atlas and lily have their happy ending. really nice to see best-case scenarios work out
Content Warnings
Graphic: Violence, Domestic abuse, and Emotional abuse
Moderate: Sexual content, Child abuse, Physical abuse, Classism, and Cursing
Minor: Death of parent
ellsbellss1's review against another edition
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
Graphic: Toxic relationship, Domestic abuse, Sexual content, Emotional abuse, Gaslighting, Drug use, and Physical abuse
ssrmb's review against another edition
emotional
hopeful
relaxing
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
5.0
Content Warnings
Minor: Physical abuse and Emotional abuse
Slightly refers to previous book where there was more abuse mentionedbakergirlsbooks1999's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
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? It's complicated
4.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Medical trauma, Child abuse, Cursing, Domestic abuse, Panic attacks/disorders, Physical abuse, Alcohol, and Sexual content