It starts with us A novel

Hoover breaks hearts all over again in this stunning sequel to her bestselling It Ends with Us. After Lily Bloom finds the strength to exit her abusive relationship with Ryle, her ex-husband and the father of her child (the adorable Emmy), she's reluctant to let anyone else capture her heart, even her childhood crush, Atlas Corrigan. Atlas has past trauma of his own: he grew up in an abusive home and was forced to live on the streets as a teenager. Now he's a successful restaurateur while Lily runs a flower shop--and they're back in each other's orbits. Their chemistry is even stronger than it was in their earlier years, but their budding relationship is complicated by Ryle. He's still in the picture as Emmy's father--and he wants Lily back. Meanwhile, Josh, the half brother Atlas never knew he had, enters Atlas's life, and Atlas takes him in, hoping to finally have a real family. The author's talent for creating nuanced and empathetic characters is on full display, and fans will be especially excited to finally hear Atlas's side of the story. Hoover is as unafraid as ever to explore the darker and more vulnerable aspects of love, expertly demonstrating the soul-deep trust required to reach happily after ever. The author's fans will be thrilled. Agent: Jane Dystel, Dystel, Goderich & Bourret. (Oct.)

The sequel to It Ends With Us (2016) shows the aftermath of domestic violence through the eyes of a single mother. Lily Bloom is still running a flower shop; her abusive ex-husband, Ryle Kincaid, is still a surgeon. But now they're co-parenting a daughter, Emerson, who's almost a year old. Lily won't send Emerson to her father's house overnight until she's old enough to talk--"So she can tell me if something happens"--but she doesn't want to fight for full custody lest it become an expensive legal drama or, worse, a physical fight. When Lily runs into Atlas Corrigan, a childhood friend who also came from an abusive family, she hopes their friendship can blossom into love. (For new readers, their history unfolds in heartfelt diary entries that Lily addresses to Finding Nemo star Ellen DeGeneres as she considers how Atlas was a calming presence during her turbulent childhood.) Atlas, who is single and running a restaurant, feels the same way. But even though she's divorced, Lily isn't exactly free. Behind Ryle's veneer of civility are his jealousy and resentment. Lily has to plan her dates carefully to avoid a confrontation. Meanwhile, Atlas' mother returns with shocking news. In between, Lily and Atlas steal away for romantic moments that are even sweeter for their authenticity as Lily struggles with child care, breastfeeding, and running a business while trying to find time for herself. Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over. Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.