It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

"This is book 2 in the duet it ends with us and must be read second. This book carries on with Lily, Atlas and Ryles's story and all the issues surrounding these 3 and co parenting. Trigger warning DV. When Lily and Atlas finally bump into each other again after all this time there is no way that they will let this moment pass. They have alot to overcome but are willing to do whatever it takes. I loved these characters and I'm glad that we get to see the HEA for these guys especially after what they've been through. Domestic violence is horrible to live with and I'm glad Atlas is the guy Lily needs in her life....." " ..... This author certainly knows how to write a deeply emotionally charged story , that is not only tender and loving, but also some of the content is dark and fearsome. Domestic violence, child abuse and neglect are not easy topics to incorporate in a romance novel, but Colleen has managed it with understanding and compassion. Lily may have been a victim, but motherhood has made her a lot stronger, and less able to be manoeuvred into a dreadful situation. Atlas although a victim of neglect and abuse as a child , has grown into a caring , kind , considerate, loving man. The story is so well written, and side characters such as Josh and Theo....."

'It Ends with Us'라는 작품이 전편이라면 이 작품 'It Starts with Us'는 후편에 해당한다. 전편을 읽은 독자들의 끊임없는 요구로 저자는 이 후편을 썼다고 한다. 개인적으로 DV, 가정폭력을 다루는 작품을 좋아하지는 않지만 전작을 읽은 죄(?)로 읽었는데 전작이 주는 충격에 비해서 후편의 이야기는 무난한 편인거 같다. 그리고 독자들의 요구에 작가는 충실하게 답해주는 거 같다. 문장의 구성이나 표현등은 전작과 비슷한 편이고 주로 편지형식, 대화, 일기 등의 구성으로 되어 있기 때문에 진도가 잘 나가는 편이다. 심플한 문장으로 이렇게 글을 잘 쓴다는 것은 정말 부러운 점이다.

"Funny how drastically life can change on a dime ..... The Atlas of last year wouldn't know what to think of the Atlas of this year ...... We're people. We're human. And humans can sometimes be disappointing ..... " 본문에서