I have always admired Colleen Hoover for her novels. Her books connect with me on a personal level. “It Starts with Us” is the sequel to “It Ends With Us,” which provides the ending that readers have been waiting for.

Many readers of “It Ends With Us,’ published in August of 2016, were not happy with how the story ended. Lily Bloom decides to leave her abusive husband, Ryle Kincaid, and raises their daughter, Emerson Kincaid, without him. Readers wanted a different ending and were eager to know what would happen next. They were excited when Hoover announced “It Starts With Us” in February of 2022 and were hoping for a new beginning for Lily.

This book continues Lily’s story, but this time, it is told from both her perspective and from the perspective of Atlas Corrigan, Lily’s first love, while “It Starts With Us” was only from Lily’s perspective. In this book, Atlas returns to her and rejoins her life. Unlike the first book, which was full of pain and heartbreak, “It Starts With Us” is about healing, love and moving forward.

Lily remains a strong and independent woman, but now she has the chance to focus on her own happiness. She tries to co-parent with Ryle while also giving love a second chance with Atlas. Atlas has also faced many struggles in his life, but together he and Lily show that love can be kind, safe and peaceful.

What makes “It Starts With Us” special is that it gives readers the happy ending they hoped for. It shows that after pain there is still hope for love and happiness. Hoover once again writes a powerful story about choosing what is best for yourself.

This book is more than just a love story—it is about second chances, strength and healing from the past. I highly recommend reading “It Starts With Us” to see how Lily finally finds the happiness she deserves. It is a beautiful and meaningful story that will stay with you long after you finish reading.

Edited by Stuti Khadka and Jeremy Ford.