The Recommended Reading Order
Colleen Hoover’s bestselling contemporary romance duology follows a linear storyline. The recommended reading order matches the publication order exactly, as the story continues directly from the events of the first book.
- It Ends with Us (Published: August 2, 2016) – The story introduces Lily Bloom, her new flower shop in Boston, her passionate but volatile relationship with neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid, and the reappearance of her childhood first love, Atlas Corrigan.
- It Starts with Us (Published: October 18, 2022) – Picking up right after the epilogue of the first book, this sequel explores Lily's attempt to rebuild her life and rekindle her romance with Atlas, while navigating co-parenting and the ongoing complexities of her relationship with her ex-husband, Ryle.
Publication Order vs. Chronological Order
Because the events of the second book, It Starts with Us, take place immediately following the conclusion of It Ends with Us, there is no difference between the publication order and the chronological order. Reading the books out of order is not recommended, as the sequel contains major spoilers for the first book and relies on character growth and emotional milestones established in the debut novel.
However, there is an interesting narrative structure to keep in mind. In It Ends with Us, the narrative is told entirely from Lily’s point of view, interspersed with old journal entries written to Ellen DeGeneres that detail her childhood and her relationship with Atlas. In contrast, It Starts with Us features alternating perspectives, switching between Lily and Atlas. This narrative shift gives readers a deeper look into Atlas's history, feelings, and adult life, adding a layer of depth that builds on the foundations of the first book.
The Origin and Inspiration Behind the Series
Colleen Hoover has openly shared that It Ends with Us is the hardest book she has ever written. The novel is loosely based on her own mother’s real-life experiences with domestic abuse. Hoover drew upon these childhood memories to portray the grey areas of abusive relationships, aiming to show why leaving a toxic partner is incredibly difficult and complex. This emotional honesty resonated deeply with readers and helped propel the book to critical and commercial acclaim, eventually winning the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance in 2016.
While It Ends with Us was originally written as a standalone novel, the intense demand from fans—coupled with the massive resurgence of the book on TikTok's BookTok community in 2021—convinced Hoover to write a sequel. Released in 2022, It Starts with Us was dedicated to the fans who wanted Lily and Atlas to have the happy ending they deserved.
Understanding the Themes and Tone
Before diving into the duology, readers should be aware that these books are not standard, lighthearted contemporary romances. Instead, they deal with heavy, real-world themes, including:
- Domestic abuse and intimate partner violence
- Intergenerational cycles of trauma
- Co-parenting after separation and divorce
- Self-love, boundaries, and personal empowerment
Hoover balances these difficult topics with heartwarming elements of childhood love, friendship, and resilience, but the heavy emotional load is a defining aspect of the series. Reading guides and community discussions frequently highlight the importance of content warnings for those sensitive to descriptions of domestic violence.
The Movie Adaptation and Other Media
In August 2024, a major feature film adaptation of It Ends with Us was released in theaters. Directed by Justin Baldoni and written by Christy Hall, the movie stars Blake Lively as Lily Bloom, Justin Baldoni as Ryle Kincaid, and Brandon Sklenar as Atlas Corrigan. The film was a massive box office success, grossing over $351 million worldwide, though it also attracted media attention for reported behind-the-scenes tensions between its leads.
Due to the franchise's immense popularity, there were plans to publish an official It Ends with Us coloring book in early 2023. However, the project was met with significant backlash from fans who felt that a coloring book was a tone-deaf product for a story focusing on domestic abuse. Colleen Hoover and publisher Atria Books listened to the criticism and officially cancelled the project before its release, with Hoover issuing a public apology to her readers.
Tips for New Readers
If you are planning to pick up the series for the first time, keep these practical tips in mind:
- Start with Book One: Do not skip It Ends with Us. The sequel is built entirely on the emotional closure of the first book and will not make sense without it.
- Prepare for the Emotional Impact: Give yourself time to process between the two books. The first book can be emotionally exhausting, whereas the second book is generally considered more hopeful and lighter in tone.
- The Series is Complete: Colleen Hoover has indicated that Lily's story is fully resolved in the sequel, and there are currently no plans for a third book in this specific series.