It Starts with Us

Let me start by saying my expectations for this was absolute shit after what I've heard about this so this has just been sitting on my shelf for years, but I finally picked it up. 

I was pleasantly surprised, this did not feel solely like a cash grab, atleast in my opinion. She definitely did put effort. 

Lily's character didn't grow all that much here, not that she needed to. But we get to see Atlas's pov, and I loved watching his character develop throughout. I love how they go on their seperate journeys without each other. That way when they did come together they were strong, and independent individuals. Not just ‘2 broken people fixing each other' trope that I was expecting. 

What I didn't like is how black and white it was, Ryle vs Atlas. Ryle bad, Atlas good. The reason why I loved It Ends With Us is because of how wonderfully well depicted Ryle was as an antihero, we see all sides of him whereas in this one he was completely villainised. Don't get me wrong, he is an absolute piece of shit, but he was so complicated in the previous book, I felt like he was really simplified here.
Meanwhile on the other end Atlas is so incredibly perfect, flawless in every way imaginable, and it was clear that the author was trying to point out that contrast. 

Despite that, I actually really enjoyed this one. I think she said all she had to say, all the right things that had to be said.