Lily unexpectedly runs into her former lover, Atlas Corrigan, on the streets of Boston, but the encounter is cut short.

She is unable to stop thinking about her run-in with Atlas, but is hesitant to text him out of fear of how Ryle will react.

While inspecting some of the damage, he receives a call from his estranged mother, Sutton, whom he hangs up on and immediately blocks.

Sutton shows up at one of Atlas' restaurants and reveals to him that he has an eleven-year-old brother named Josh, who is missing.

When the four meet, Lily delivers Ryle an ultimatum, requesting that he attend anger management courses, and that his visits with Emerson be supervised.

A year and a half later, Theo helps a nervous Atlas go over his wedding vows to Lily, which include a reference to Finding Nemo.

By the end of its release day, the novel sold 800,000 copies, a number that includes pre-orders and first-day sales.

[7] It Starts with Us debuted at number one on The New York Times fiction best-seller list for the week ending October 22, 2022.

[10] In its starred review, Publishers Weekly called it a "stunning sequel" that showcases "the author's talent for creating nuanced and empathetic characters".

[11] Kirkus Reviews wrote, "Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, Hoover beautifully captures the heartbreak and joy of starting over.

"[12] Marianka Swain of The Daily Telegraph gave the novel 2 out of 5 stars, describing Hoover's writing quality as "closer to Fifty Shades of Grey, a strange mix of twee and graphic, plus the added irritant of solemn therapy-speak pronouncements".

Swain also lamented, "She [Hoover] favours blunt dialogue and inner monologues over description, subtext or character development.

"[4] Alice Giddings of Metro wrote, "While it doesn't have the grit or the emotional pain and catharsis of the first book, Colleen's latest work is exactly what it needs to be, which is the light at the end of the tunnel.