Parents' Guide to

It Starts With Us: It Ends With Us, Book 2

By Andrea Beach, Common Sense Media Reviewer

age 15+

Fans will love this tamer, feel-good romance sequel.

Book Colleen Hoover Romance 2022
Surrounding the title in large print, white and yellow jonquils float in tropical blue water.

A Lot or a Little?

What you will—and won't—find in this book.

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age 18+

Based on 3 parent reviews

Shannon S.
Shannon S. Adult
July 12, 2023
age 18+

MUST READ

After reading it ends with us , I did not expect the sequel (it starts with us) to be anywhere near as brilliant to read , the story of atlas and lily is truly beautiful, I understand that not everyone will have the same view but it is safe to say Colleen has such a pure talent at portraying such disasters into beautiful words
Amanda S.
Amanda S. Parent of 2, 4 and 13-year-old
April 21, 2023
age 18+

This title has:

Too much sex
See all 3 parent reviews

What's the Story?

IT STARTS WITH US, begins right where the story left off in It Ends With Us. Lily and Ryle are divorced but have worked out a relatively amicable, if still very tense, co-parenting arrangement for their daughter Emmy, now almost a year old. Past ugliness begins to resurface when Ryle suspects that Lily is seeing Atlas again. Ryle's not wrong, but how long will Lily and Atlas have to tiptoe around Ryle's jealousy? While all this is going on, Atlas is in for the surprise of his life when his mother gets in touch for the first time since she threw Atlas out of their home when he was a teen. Are either Atlas or his mother ready to be a family again?

Is It Any Good?

Our review:
Parents say (3 ):
Kids say (6 ):

This popular romance sequel will have fans of the first book cheering for, and sighing with, the couple they've wanted to see all along. It Starts With Us brings back many familiar and favorite characters and introduces some intriguing new ones. And although there are a few steamy sex scenes, it's less edgy than It Ends With Us.

Most of the writing is less corny, although there are still some gems like using being "taken" for having sex. But author Colleen Hoover does a good job of continuing Lily's authentic voice while creating a new and very believable voice for Atlas. Fans will enjoy the chance to see events past and present through his eyes.

Talk to Your Kids About ...

  • Families can talk about the sexy stuff in It Starts With Us. Is it too much? How much is OK in books and other media? Is it a big deal?

  • How are Atlas and Lily positive models for empathy and teamwork? How is Atlas in particular a good model of communication? Why are these important character strengths?

  • Did you read It Ends With Us first? If you did, which book do like best? If you didn't, would you like to now?

Book Details

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