It Starts With Us

The story of Lily and Atlas continues in the sequel of It Ends With Us. Lily and Ryle have managed to settle into a life of Co-parenting whilst Lily and Atlas are trying to make a life together, one they have always dreamt of living with since adolescence. Yet, things become complicated as Ryle is still heavily involved in the life of Lily. Throughout the book we start to see a deeper insight to the struggles Atlas is faced with regarding is family particularly his mother...Will Lily and Atlas ever get their happy ending they have been fighting so hard for? 

Toxicity plays a key theme and role within the book. From it Ends With Us we have dreaded Ryle...a character known for his manipulative personality along with his abusive traits. As if Ryle was not enough for one book, there is also Sutton. Atlas Corrigan's mum. The woman who left her child alone and homeless, the woman who kept two brothers apart. The woman who blames everyone but herself for her actions. These two characters help carry the plot line of the story, showing us that elements in life such as romance, marriage and family life is never a walk in the park however, the actions carries out by these two are one hundred percent out of order. Yet, interestingly, Lilly and Atlas juxtapose Ryle and Sutton. Perhaps this is why Lily and Atlas work so well. They build a relationship based on trust, communication and love.  It could be argued that Colleen Hoover deliberately chose toxicity from certain characters to highlight the importance of the trust, communication and love in which Atlas and Lily show. 

Watching Lily and Atlas live out and build the life they should've had years ago is beyond sweet. Despite being grown adults, at the beginning it is as though they are fifteen again. Getting excited at a text back from one another, debating how to ask another on a date, getting butterflies seeing each other. As though their life which was broken as teens is coming together again, showing us what is meant to be will simply be. It amazes me how Atlas manages to help Lily through every single situation Ryle places her in, his patience for her and her awful situation is admirable and his love for Lily through it all is beautiful. Lily shows him the same amount of love and patience when Josh is all of a sudden apart of Atlas' life. Although to avoid drastic spoilers, I won't get into the character Josh. Yet it seems that all the tragedies, complications and chaos life throws at the pair, although it is all set out to break them, it makes them stronger. Their tragic beginning and middle leads to their potential happy ending. However, do they get their happy ending? 

It has been a while since I have wrote a review but never will I conclude a review without including a quote from the book: 

'We don't focus too much on what isn't working in our lives. We focus on what is and there is a lot to be grateful for.'