Book Review – It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover

The sequel to It Ends With Us is not the brilliant piece of writing that the first book was, but it is readable nonetheless.

The story follows Lily as she moves on from Ryle and starts a relationship with Atlas. Lily soon realizes that Ryle will not let her move on without hurting her so she seeks the help of his sister and brother-in-law. Meanwhile, Atlas discovers he has a brother and tries to get custody of him from his abusive mother.

A lot goes on here, but it seems like Hoover forgets about certain plot points for long periods of time to give Lily and Atlas juicy scenes alone together. Atlas’s mom says she will be arrested if Atlas does not find his brother, but then she never gets arrested when Atlas finds him and does not return him to her.

Honestly, I didn’t mind the plotting here but it was not to the same level as the first novel. I also don’t like Hoover’s way of naming her characters. If you’re going to name the guy that helped Lily get out of a bad relationship Atlas to show that his was always her compass, then give the other guy a more evil name. Ryle just seems empty. Riled up? Maybe when he is angry.

Three and a half out of five stars for giving me a juicy story that lacks the depth of the first book. Still very readable, though.