Colleen Hoover's It Starts With Us is not just a sequel to her immensely popular novel It Ends With Us—it's a continuation of a powerful journey that fans have been eagerly waiting to follow. In this poignant and deeply emotional story, Hoover picks up where she left off, giving readers an intimate look at Lily Bloom's life after leaving her toxic marriage to Ryle Kincaid. But more importantly, the novel explores what happens when Lily, battered by her past, finds the courage to build a future with Atlas Corrigan—the man who has always been her source of strength.
A Glimpse Into Lily's Life After the Storm
At the core of It Starts With Us is Lily Bloom's journey of healing. After leaving Ryle in It Ends With Us, Lily is now trying to find her footing in a world free from abuse and manipulation. While she is still haunted by the memories of her traumatic marriage, she begins to open herself up to new possibilities. Atlas, a figure from her past, reenters her life as both a romantic partner and a source of emotional stability.
For readers who were invested in Lily's struggles with Ryle, It Starts With Us offers a well-deserved emotional reprieve. The novel is not about erasing the past but about accepting it, growing from it, and embracing a future that offers the potential for love and fulfillment. Hoover expertly weaves themes of recovery, personal growth, and finding the courage to trust again.
Atlas: A Love Built on Respect
Atlas Corrigan, who was an integral part of It Ends With Us, takes center stage in this sequel. While It Ends With Us revealed him as a supportive and selfless character, It Starts With Us gives readers a more profound understanding of Atlas’ own struggles and the resilience he has built as a result. Raised in poverty and abandoned by his family, Atlas is no stranger to hardship. But it’s his ability to love deeply and genuinely that makes him a perfect match for Lily.
What stands out in this sequel is the balance Hoover strikes between Lily’s emotional recovery and Atlas’ quiet yet unwavering support. Their relationship is not about grand gestures or a whirlwind romance. Instead, it’s about mutual understanding, patience, and respect. For Lily, Atlas is a constant reminder that love should never be painful or degrading—it should nurture and heal. And for Atlas, Lily offers him the possibility of a life he’s always dreamed of: one filled with love, stability, and the kind of future he never thought possible.
