Many Colleen Hoover fans are preparing to go on an emotional roller coaster. On Oct. 18, Colleen Hoover published “It Starts With Us,” the long-awaited sequel to 2016’s “It Ends With Us.”

“It Ends With Us” gained high popularity due to a well-known TikTok subcomminity, “BookTok.” Hoover’s series took the internet by a storm, sparking much anticipation “It Starts With Us.”

“It Ends With Us” is a novel written through the eyes of a girl named Lily, whose newfound relationship with a boy named Ryle gets complicated after she reconnects with her first love, Atlas. In “It Ends With Us,” Hoover takes her readers through Lily’s journey as she navigates through this challenge. Lily’s mother suffered from domestic abuse from Lily’s father and Ryle was startings to do the exact same thing. When lily learns is expecting Ryle’s baby, she has to decide whether she should continue to live in the cycle of abuse or change it. 

That’s where “It Starts With Us” picks up. There’s been so much suspense for this sequel, sprouting conspiracies on whether or not the book will be from Atlas’ point of view, what will happen to Lily and her daughter, Emerson and whether or not Ryle and Altas will calm down the rivalry.

While reading this adventure, many exciting conspiracies turned out to be true. “It Starts With Us” sent me through a whirlwind of emotions. From crying in my room to screaming on top of my lungs, to the warm and fuzzy feelings I get when the main character learns how to love again. Colleen finally gives us Atlas’ perspective on the events that occurred in and before “It Ends With Us.” 

The book digs its claws into you and won’t let go until you’ve read the entire book in one sitting. Colleen also keeps what happened in “It Ends With Us”  in mind as she takes the readers through the aftermath and ties any loose ends left from the original book. 

After all the trauma Lily had to go through in the original book, she still keeps moving forward, reminding the readers that you need to just keep swimming until you meet the shore.

A lot of people would agree that the original book is always better than the sequel, and I stand-by that. “It Starts With Us” did meet my expectations, but “It Ends With Us” will forever have a special place in my heart. 

Rating: 9/10