It Starts With Us

Written By Omma Ahmed

It Starts With Us by Colleen Hoover

Reviewed by Omma
📘📘📘📘

I was prepared to hate this book after reading @tankazama’s review and speaking to her about it but controversially, I really enjoyed it!

I loved Lily and Atlas’s story in the first book so it was nice to read their alternate chapters in this and learn more about Atlas and his POV as their relationship progresses.

Is it a little cheesy? Of course it is, but it’s fiction so you have to suspend reality a little.
I felt like Colleen did a great job of portraying domestic violence and what happens after you’ve left the relationship but are tied to the person because of a child.
As someone who has friends in similar situations, I could really feel for Lily and the palpable fear of her ex, Ryle.

What was great was her support system and how she leans heavily onto them and is aware that she’s very lucky since not everyone has one. Allysa is like the dream friend!

I only wish that we got more of Atlas’ story between the years that he and Lily weren’t in touch. The marines is mentioned but that’s about it.

I didn’t mind his 12yo ‘therapist’ because it wasn’t excessive and he didn’t really go to him for real problems.

So yeah overall, I enjoyed it!

Omma Ahmed

I’ve always loved reading as a kid because it was one of the few Asian-mum approved hobbies although she would have preferred ‘less novels and more school books’! I also grew up in the Harry Potter era so that’s when I really remember falling in love with reading. (Big up my Y7 English teacher for reading a few pages of Philosophers stone at the end of every lesson! You were a real one Mr Williams!) I love being part of this book page (even though I slack massively due to lack of energy and concentration!) because sometimes it felt like a lifeline to help keep me sane. We started it during the time I was feeling really shitty about my Crohn’s disease. It’s been a tough 7 years and the last 3 have probably been the hardest especially mentally so when Linda suggested putting this page together, without hesitation I was down and I’m so proud of us! Writing reviews helped me to organise my thoughts and even resulted in me creating a second Instagram page (@AnOstomateForLife) about my Crohn’s journey. Yes that was a shameless plug and I’m not sorry! Along with reviews, I’ve also loved the creative side of things such as having input in our logo, creating our bookmark and taking book pictures even though it’s awkward af in public! So a few of my fave books: The Godfather by Mario Puzo (made me love the film even more! I’m a self-proclaimed movie buff too btw), Autobiography of Malcolm X by Malcolm X and Alex Healy, The Harry Potter series (obviously), Jemima J by Jane Green, Moonlight over Manhattan by Sarah Morgan, Where’d You Go Bernadette by Maria Semple and We Should All Be Feminists Chimamanda Adichie.

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