whitneydaniell

by: Colleen Hoover
Published: Oct 18, 2022
Genre: Romance, Fiction, Contemporary
323 Pages, Audio Book (HH:MM) 08:41
GoodReads Link

Other Books in this Series:
Book #1: It Ends with Us

First of all: I only read this because I read, ‘It Ends with Us’ which by all accounts was, meh. Understand, that I went into reading this with no expectations outside of completing the series that is Atlas, Ryle, and Lily.

This book is now from Atlas’ point of view and gives the backstory to his character we met in, It Ends with Us. Atlas is Lily’s saving grace, her protector, her knight, the Prince who slays the dragon and saves her from the big bad man – Ryle. I hated it.

CoHo wrote every possible plot line just so that Atlas could be the hero in all of them. A 12-year-old brother, out of nowhere. Sutton just kicking him out over a man. Hell, if he had gone to court and just told his own stories of being with Sutton, he would have gotten custody for that alone. Instead, he strongarms her into giving up parental rights. Seriously, this whole plot line CoHo could have left on the hard drive.

I get it, Atlas needed to have a rough life so that he could grow up with a savior complex. He’s mentoring his co-worker’s son, if that’s what you can call telling adult business to a child – that was strange that he divulged so much to a child. Boundaries? He lets Ryle storm into her restaurant (again) and then beat him up outside while Atlas pulls up a chair and then tries to “therapize” him – what?! Why must Atlas be a savior to everyone, even Ryle?

Lastly, Atlas and Lily have no business being together. They have a trauma bond and are filled with teenage lust for one another but, neither of them has the capacity to be in an adult relationship. As adults, they do not know each other but yet, and still, there is a happy ending with the two and it is so far-fetched that I don’t even think Colleen knew what she was shooting for.

A drag. Hard pass. No need to read.

Other Colleen Hoover books I’ve reviewed:
Verity

One-Word Summary: Boring