It Starts with Us

“I don't care if you've changed, Ryle. I hope you have. But it's not my responsibility to test that theory.”

I had planned on not reading this but my sister gifted me a copy for christmas and I decided to take the plunge and go for it.

There's a lot for me to say but the best way for me to explain my thoughts and feelings for this is to inform everyone that I read this with my new tabbing system where I use a colour for a feeling. You can imagine my reaction when I realised it was mainly anger that had been tabbed once I had finished.

I was in an abusive relationship for five years and the one thing that I will say about Colleen's writing is that she doesn't write the stereotypical abuser. Ryle appeared to be charismatic and funny and kind when he was first brought into It Ends With Us and once he lost control over Lily, especially in this book, he loses it.

Ryle reminded me of my ex on his good and bad days. The constant walking on egg shells because you didn't know which version of him you would be getting that day. Even the way Ryle would speak had me biting the inside of my cheek because it almost gave me flashbacks. So, yeah, I will give Colleen that.

I did love Atlas and getting to know him more was super fun.

My main issue with this story is my anger towards the topic of Ryle's abuse and how the book overall ends. I feel like there shouldn't ever be any potential redemption arc for Ryle. He should rot in jail where he belongs. I still feel like he is being enabled in ways and I, as a survivor, feel icky about that.

Once again, I just want to repeat what I said in my review of It Ends With Us. I don't like seeing anyone talking about how annoyed they are that Lily didn't leave sooner or report Ryle while she was with him.

Overall, I'm happy to knock this off my tbr :)