Is ‘It Starts With Us’ worth the read after reading the first book?

[Jasmine]

So I finished reading ‘It Ends With Us’ last week, fell in love with it and was excited to read the second book, but it has mixed reviews. I loved the way IEWU ended. Is the second book worth the read?

[L]

Pros: it was good from the sense that it was a realistic look into moving on from a narcissist and abuser, in a very complicated family dynamic. I liked that CoHo didn’t leave us with “Now they have each other and it is all roses”.

Con: expected more about Atlas. You get a sense of him by proxy of witnessing interactions with his family, but still very much outside looking in. Not as satisfying.

[bre]

I’d say it’s worth the read but it isn’t near as good as IEWU.

[readwithmichele]

Thanks for asking this, Jasmine! I've put off reading the new one due to the mixed reviews as well!

[Jasmine]

Thanks so much for the input y’all ☺️!

[Pamela]

agree with Bre!

[Alysha]

Agree with Bre, I'm a new lover of CoHo but I do think IEWU was better x

[Anuradha]

Not worth it at all - I found it a sheer waste of time

[Amanda]

I dont think it’s as good, but definitely worth reading to sun up
the series.

[erifollows]

no its total waste of time

[Megan]

First book was definitely my favorite. The second is ok, and worth reading, but for sure not as great as the first.

[Ainee]

If you want to know more about Atlas’ life you can. What I can say is the 1st book is way better and can stand alone.

[Cortney]

I do not have the emotional attachment to ISWU as I did with IEWU. I am actually still pushing to work through book 2 but this one feels more like I am being told an ending to a story as opposed to feeling the story like I usually do with cohort books. I hope that makes sense. I will finish book 2 but reluctantly. I am at least over 50%.

[Erica]

I enjoyed reading It Starts With Us but it left me wanting more. I could've gone with their story ending that way it did with It Ends With Us and used my imagination for Atlas and Lily's happily ever after.

[CiCi]

Absolutely worth the read AND the second book even better.

[Meredith]

I liked It Ends With Us, but I didn't love It Starts With Us. In this book, you learn more about Atlas and you learn more about her moving on from an abusive marriage, but that's it really. It was a sweet book, but even the author puts a note at the end that she never intended to write it.

[Brooke]

I put it off for a while because I didn’t think it would be worth it. But, I owned the book and my friend had told me it was worth the read and I have to say I did really enjoy it. I definitely thought It Ends With Us was much better than It Starts With Us, however it’s a quick and easy read, and you’re already familiar with the characters so you can connect with the story more.

Overall I recommend reading it when you’re in a reading slump, because the characters are familiar. That’s what I did.

[Pamela]

I’m looking forward to reading both of these books, have them on my shelf!

[Bec]

I like that it rounded things out

[Catherine]

Wasn't a fan.
IEWU was much better imo. It felt too much like Atlas was one-upping Ryle. Kept comparing on smallest details; felt very unnecessary.

[Taylor]

I was not a fan, I felt like I forced myself to finish it. It felt rushed to me.

[Kaitie Reads]

no it's awful.

[Kaitie Reads]

It felt like a cash grab

[hope]

don’t read it. it’s a money grab and ruins the first book.

[Brooke]

I deff loved It Ends With Us much much more, buttt I thought It Starts With Us was a fun read and easy bc I already knew the characters. I wouldn’t pay for it but maybe read it from a library when you just want something easy to read.