It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover follows Lily and Atlas as they finally get a chance at the love they were denied years ago. Told from both of their perspectives, the novel explores Lily’s anxiety about navigating a relationship with Atlas while co-parenting with her abusive ex-husband, Ryle. Having walked away from a toxic relationship myself, I deeply understood Lily’s fear of Ryle’s reaction, though I can’t imagine the added complexity of sharing a child.

The easy banter and natural comfort between Lily and Atlas after all these years was sweet, making their reunion feel inevitable. However, the story itself lacked much excitement or tension. It felt more like a satisfying epilogue to It Ends With Us rather than a fully developed sequel. While I enjoyed seeing them finally build a life together, the plot didn’t offer much beyond that.