It didn't actually live up to my expectations. It left me with a "that's it?" feeling. Maybe because it isn't as deep as IEWU, maybe because it didn't leave me heartbroken this time. BUT, it only made sense to me what It Starts With Us actually means several minutes after I read the book.

It's not actually about Lily and Atlas. It's about Atlas and Josh.

It's about how Atlas has to stand up for his brother and take him away from an abusive household (Josh's parents) so that he will grow up knowing what love is. So that he won't have an awful teenage life. It's about how Josh's family tree, which has two seedlings for him and Atlas. It starts with them.

To be honest, I think I cried more about Atlas and Josh's story rather than the whole drama Lily and Atlas are facing together. I am somehow disappointed with how fast things transpired between them. I know it's been a year already since Lily and Ryle divorced, but I don't think it is the right time yet for them to be in the relationship. Yes, I am one of the readers looking forward to their journey together, yes they've waited for so long, but I honestly think that it would feel better if things between Lily and Ryle have been settled. I don't mean redemption from Ryle, but I guess I would want to see him be better, at least for his daughter. I honestly thought he would be in therapy already in this book, but I guess Colleen gave us a more realistic view of an abusive person.

Overall, I would give this book 3.5/5. Maybe it would have been a 4 if the ending was not rushed.