It Starts with Us

The novel continues from where It Ends with Us ended and centers on the relationship between Lily and Atlas.[6] The novel alternates chapters between the first-person narration of Lily and Atlas.[5]

The love story continues with Atlas Corrigan and Lily Bloom through It Starts with Us nearly a year after their last encounter. Lily's daughter Emerson, who she had with her ex-husband and neurosurgeon, Ryle Kincaid, is 11 months old now. Lily and Atlas run into each other unexpectedly on the streets of Boston, but the encounter is short because they are both running late. After dropping Emmy off with Ryle, Lily returns to work unable to stop thinking about her run-in with Atlas. However, she is hesitant to text Atlas anticipating the negative reaction of her abusive ex-husband and father of her child.

Atlas talks to his coworker/friend's son, Theo, about what happened with Lily. Theo encourages him to text her, but when Lily responds rather shortly, Atlas gets disappointed. When Lily returns to her apartment that evening, she finds her ex-husband and daughter inside. He reveals he wants to start having overnights with Emmy. She says Emmy will not be allowed to stay at Ryle's apartment overnight until she can speak. She also asks for her apartment key back that Ryle has, and he begrudgingly gives it up.

Atlas' restaurants are being vandalized but he chooses not to report it to the police because he discovers some food missing. He relates to the vandal because he too was once a hungry homeless kid. When inspecting some of the vandalism, he receives a call from his perverse mother, who he hangs up on and immediately blocks.

Atlas brings lunch to the flower shop for Lily. While he's there, Ryle comes in unannounced. Lily gets nervous about his reaction to seeing Atlas there, so she hides Atlas in a closet. After Ryle leaves, Atlas and Lily agree to talk on the phone later. While on the phone later, Atlas asks Lily on a date and she agrees. While on the drive to the restaurant for their date, Lily falls asleep. Instead of waking her up, Atlas occupies himself by reading some of the journal entries that Lily wrote about Atlas when they were kids. When Lily awakens she finds out they missed their reservation and feels bad.   

Lily leaves her daughter with her best friend and Ryle's sister, Allysa, for her date. When Lily returns from the date Ryle is there with Emerson watching Finding Nemo. Ryle is angry because he is under the impression that Emerson's middle name, Dory, is dedicated to Atlas because of the significance the movie had to Lily and Atlas when they were children.

Atlas's mother, Sutton, shows up at one of his restaurants and reveals to him that he has a brother named Josh and she cannot find him. Later that night he waits at one of his restaurants, ready to confront the vandal if he/she returns. The vandal returns and Atlas discovers it is his 11-year-old brother. Atlas takes him in but calls Sutton the next day. Atlas decides to return Josh to his mother but before he leaves, he sees Sutton abuse Josh. Atlas does not want Josh to stay with their abusive mother so he immediately takes Josh back to his house.

Atlas brings Lily lunch again, a few days later. While there, Lily invites him to a wedding. When Atlas picks Lily up for the wedding he notices the heart tattoo on her collarbone. They kiss after she tells him he was the reason she got the tattoo. After the wedding, they return to Lily's apartment and have sex. Atlas has to leave in the morning because Josh is at his house so he writes Lily a note. Ryle shows up at Lily's apartment and sees undergarments around her living room. Ryle gets jealous and angry and pushes Lily. Lily leaves her apartment scared and picks up Emmy from Lily's mother's house. Lily and Emmy go to Atlas' house. While Lily stays there, they become an official couple.

Ryle sends Lily aggressive texts throughout the days following the incident. Eventually, he shows up at Lily's flower shop looking for Lily. Lily lets him know she will be talking to a lawyer about his custody of their daughter. He leaves the flower shop angry. Ryle then goes to Atlas's restaurant and punches him in the face. Atlas does not engage and instead tries to talk him down. Ryle is still frustrated but ends up leaving.

Emerson has a birthday party and while there, Ryle asks Lily to talk. Lily declines and refuses to speak with him alone. Lily asks Allysa and her husband, Marshal, if they would be there for Lily while she talks to Ryle. They agree. When they meet, Lily tells Ryle he needs to attend anger management classes and be supervised while he is with their daughter. Ryle is enraged but agrees to her terms.

Meanwhile, Josh denies his mother's requests that he come live with her when she shows up at Atlas's house. Josh insists on living with his father in Vermont. Atlas takes Josh to see his father but Josh decides after watching his father from the car that he wants to live with Atlas. Atlas meets with their mother at his restaurant and asks her to give her parental rights to him. He also proposes they meet up for weekly family dinners at Atlas's restaurant. Sutton ultimately agrees.

6 months later, Atlas asks Lily to move in with him and she accepts. A year and a half later, Atlas prepares for his and Lily's wedding with Theo. He nervously goes over his vows, which include a reference to Finding Nemo.

By the end of its release day, the novel sold 800,000 copies, a number that includes pre-orders and first-day sales.[7] It Starts with Us debuted at number one on The New York Times fiction best-seller list for the week ending October 22, 2022.[8] It was the third best-selling novel of the year according to Publishers Weekly, selling a total of 1,885,351 copies.[9]

In its starred review, Publishers Weekly called it a "stunning sequel" that showcases "the author's talent for creating nuanced and empathetic characters".[10] Kirkus Reviews wrote, "Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over."[11] Marianka Swain of The Daily Telegraph gave the novel 2 out of 5 stars, describing Hoover's writing quality as "closer to Fifty Shades of Grey, a strange mix of twee and graphic, plus the added irritant of solemn therapy-speak pronouncements." Swain also lamented, "She [Hoover] favours blunt dialogue and inner monologues over description, subtext or character development."[5] Alice Giddings of Metro wrote, "While it doesn't have the grit or the emotional pain and catharsis of the first book, Colleen's latest work is exactly what it needs to be, which is the light at the end of the tunnel."[12]

It Starts With Us was named W H Smith's Book of the Year for 2022.[13]