It Starts With Us
⭐⭐⭐.5
⭐⭐⭐.5
Synopsis
I found this book so much more engaging and entertaining than the first! Lily Bloom happens to run into her first-love, Atlas, after finally settling her divorce from her abusive ex-husband, Ryle. Just as she thinks life will settle in so that she can reignite the spark her and Atlas had, she realizes that she is still very much involved with Ryle. Though they’re no longer together, they must find a way to manage co-parenting while separated. This sequel follows both Lily and Atlas as they navigate their new “normal” and a possible second-chance at true love.
“I prefer honesty over loyalty any day, because with honesty comes loyalty.”
Spoilers
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Spoilers ‼️
Favorites
I really loved Atlas in the first book but - OH MY GOD. He is such a darling in the sequel and you get to see him take on this (hot) fatherly figure to his much younger brother who appears one day. I loved watching him provide a safe stable home to such a young troubled kid - it felt so full circle, as if he was healing his inner child as well.
“Treating Lily the way she deserves to be treated is the easiest part of my life. I think you should be relieved she’s with someone like me.”
Icks
The only thing I had a hard time reading about was a few of Lily and Alyssa’s conversations. I understand that they are best friends, however I feel that Lily definitely crossed some boundaries when talking about Ryle. It’s an uncomfortable situation to navigate, I just felt that I would have gone about things differently, and perhaps not confided so much in his SISTER!
“If it takes a million kisses for her not to think about the scars that surround her heart tattoo, then I’ll kiss her there a million and one times.”
Final Thoughts
I was an Atlas stan before this book but now I am gushing over him. He is just the best thing since sliced bread and I would love to see this movie adaptation. With the negative press going around about the original, I doubt this will happen, but I’d love to see in fatherly/brotherly Atlas in a movie adaptation!
