It Starts with Us

Before It Ends with Us, it started with Atlas. Colleen Hoover tells fan-favorite Atlas’s side of the story and continues the emotional journey in this long-anticipated sequel to the #1 New York Times bestseller It Ends with Us.

Lily and her ex-husband Ryle have just settled into a civil co-parenting routine when she unexpectedly runs into her first love, Atlas, again. After nearly two years apart, Lily is overjoyed to realize that, for once, time is finally on their side. When Atlas asks her on a date, she immediately says yes. However, her happiness is complicated by the reality that Ryle is still very much present in her life, especially as they continue to share responsibility for their daughter—and Atlas is the one man Ryle will never accept in their lives.

Alternating between the perspectives of Lily and Atlas, It Starts with Us continues directly after the epilogue of the bestselling novel It Ends with Us. The story reveals more about Atlas’s past while following Lily as she navigates a second chance at love, emotional conflict, and the challenges of co-parenting with a difficult ex-husband.

Powerful, emotional, and deeply engaging, this novel explores love, healing, and second chances, proving once again that Colleen Hoover delivers unforgettable emotional storytelling.