Colleen Hoover’s “It Ends with Us” and “It Starts with Us”
Now I don’t want to sound Mom-biased or Woman-biased, but I think for the most part, we all love Colleen Hoover—and especially It Ends with Us and It Starts with Us—because these books give us all the emotional chaos we already live with, but in a way that’s way more entertaining and doesn’t involve stepping on Legos. They’re like therapy, but cheaper, portable, and can be read while hiding from your kids in the bathroom. It Ends with Us is the story of Lily Bloom (yes, she’s a florist, and yes, we love her name) who finds herself in a relationship that starts out hot and turns...not so hot. It dives into real, tough stuff like abuse and choosing yourself over what looks good on paper—and somehow, it still manages to keep you glued to the page like it’s the last cookie you don’t want to share. And It Starts with Us? That’s the mom-fantasy dream. Atlas—the sweet, respectful, emotionally available man who cooks—is finally back and ready to love Lily the way she deserves. It’s the literary equivalent of folding warm laundry while someone else watches your kids and makes you pasta (or a cake for me).
These books are for moms who want more from their summer reads than just fluff. They’re raw, heartfelt, and filled with just the right amount of swoon to make you forget your kids just asked for a snack again. Hoover delivers the perfect escape—no passport, babysitter, or actual emotional labor required. Just bring your beach towel, sunglasses, and maybe a waterproof mascara.
It Ends with Us
Let’s be honest—this might not be your lightest beach read, but it’s the one that’ll have you flipping pages with your sunglasses halfway down your nose, yelling “Lily, girl, nooo!” one minute and “YESSSSSS” the next. It Ends with Us is the story of Lily Bloom, a smart, ambitious florist who meets Ryle—a charming neurosurgeon with abs, a temper, and red flags flapping harder than beach towels in the wind. At first, it feels like a swoony romance. But when things start getting dark and complicated, Lily’s strength is put to the ultimate test. And just when you think your emotions can’t take more, in walks Atlas—her first love from her teenage years, who may or may not be carrying a bouquet of emotional healing and actual boundaries.
This book will make you laugh, cry, rage, and want to call your best friend for a group hug. Yes, it's intense. But it’s also empowering, beautifully written, and surprisingly relatable (minus the neurosurgeon part, think McDreamy). So if you're looking for a beach read with a soul—something that'll give your heart a workout while you soak up the sun—It Ends with Us is the one. Bring tissues, maybe a cocktail, and prepare to get attached to fictional people like it’s your full-time job.
But wait, there’s more…
It Starts with Us
If It Ends with Us shattered your heart into a million little pieces, It Starts with Us is the emotional Band-Aid wrapped in beach towel vibes and second-chance romance. This time, the spotlight is on Atlas Corrigan—the kind-hearted, trauma-healing, chef extraordinaire who we all secretly (or not-so-secretly) fell in love with during book one. The story picks up right where we left off: Lily has left Ryle (bye!), is juggling single mom life like a pro, and is cautiously exploring what could finally be her real shot at love—with Atlas. But of course, things can’t just be easy. Ryle still has opinions, and they’re still infuriating. Atlas, meanwhile, is dealing with a surprise secret brother (because why not throw in some unexpected family drama?), and all Lily wants is to date like a normal person without every coffee meeting turning into a custody battlefield.
This sequel is everything fans hoped for—sweet, honest, a little messy, and totally heartwarming. Think: romance that’s actually healthy (gasp), flirty texts, soft kisses, emotional maturity (yes, really), and plenty of swoon-worthy moments. Lily sets boundaries like a queen, Atlas communicates like an adult (bless him), and the story gives us that rare thing in romance novels: closure. It’s a feel-good, root-for-the-couple, "I’ll-just-read-one-more-chapter" kind of book—perfect for tossing into your beach bag or devouring in one sitting under a sunhat. So grab a cold drink, find a comfy lounge chair, and let yourself fall in love with Lily and Atlas all over again. This time, it starts with them—and maybe with you loving summer reading again.
