You’ve probably seen the floral covers everywhere. TikTok, Instagram, or that one shelf at Target that always looks like a pink bomb went off. Colleen Hoover—or CoHo if you’re already part of the club—basically rewrote the rules of modern romance with this series. But here is the thing. People get really confused about the it ends with us books order because of how the timeline jumps around. It isn't just a simple "part one and part two" situation. It is a heavy, emotional rollercoaster that deals with trauma, cycles of abuse, and the kind of hard choices that make you want to throw the book across the room while simultaneously hugging it.
Honestly, the hype is real. But if you read them out of order, or if you jump in expecting a fluffy beach read, you are going to be severely disappointed and probably a little bit traumatized.
Getting the Sequence Straight
There are only two books in this specific series. Just two. Yet, the internet makes it feel like a sprawling cinematic universe.
First, you have It Ends With Us. This is the catalyst. Released in 2016, it follows Lily Bloom as she opens a flower shop in Boston and falls for a neurosurgeon named Ryle Kincaid. Then, Atlas Corrigan, her first love from her homeless teenage years, pops back into her life. It is messy. It is heartbreaking.
The second book is It Starts With Us. This one came out in 2022, largely because the fans—the "CoHo Cohorts"—practically rioted for a sequel. It picks up exactly where the first book’s epilogue leaves off.
So, the definitive it ends with us books order is:
- It Ends With Us (The Heartbreak)
- It Starts With Us (The Healing)
Don't let anyone tell you to read the prequel-heavy chapters of the first book separately or anything weird like that. Just go 1 to 2. It's the only way the emotional payoff actually hits.
Why the Order Actually Matters for Your Brain
If you try to read It Starts With Us first, you’ll be totally lost. You won’t understand why Lily is so hesitant. You won’t get the weight of why Ryle is... well, Ryle. The second book is very much a "fan service" novel. Hoover herself has admitted she didn't originally plan to write it. It lacks the high-stakes tension of the first book because it's meant to be a light at the end of a very dark tunnel.
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Reading them in order allows you to experience the gaslighting and the confusion alongside Lily. You need to feel that "is this actually happening?" vibe of the first book to appreciate the soft, steady pace of the second one. If you skip the pain, the peace doesn't feel earned.
The Lily Bloom Backstory
In the first book, we get these diary entries addressed to Ellen DeGeneres. Yeah, it sounds quirky, but it’s actually how Lily processed her childhood growing up in an abusive household. These flashbacks are crucial. They introduce Atlas, the boy who lived in the abandoned house next door.
Wait.
I should mention that while It Ends With Us is categorized as romance, many readers (and domestic violence advocates) argue it’s more of a contemporary drama or a "trauma-romance." This distinction is important. If you’re looking for a spicy, easy read, the first book is going to hit you like a freight train. It’s based loosely on Colleen Hoover's own mother’s experience, which explains why the emotions feel so raw and uncomfortable.
Breaking Down the Characters (No Spoilers, Sorta)
Lily is a florist. Ryle is a surgeon. Atlas is a chef. It sounds like the setup for a joke, but their dynamics are incredibly complex.
Ryle isn't your typical "bad boy" trope. That’s what makes it scary. He’s charming, successful, and seemingly perfect. The book does a terrifyingly good job of showing how "just one time" turns into a pattern. On the flip side, Atlas represents safety, but he also represents the past.
It Starts With Us switches things up. We finally get Atlas’s perspective. In the first book, he’s this almost saint-like figure we only see through Lily's eyes. In the sequel, he’s a real person with his own baggage and his own family drama. If you read the it ends with us books order correctly, seeing Atlas get his own voice feels like a reward for sitting through the 300+ pages of stress in book one.
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The Movie Factor
Let's talk about the Blake Lively of it all. The film adaptation of It Ends With Us brought a whole new wave of people asking about the books. There was a lot of chatter about the age-up. In the book, Lily is 23. In the movie, she’s clearly older.
Does this change the reading order? No. But it does change how you might visualize the characters. If you watch the movie first, you might find book-Lily a bit young, but the core themes remain identical. The movie focuses heavily on the first book, leaving the door wide open for a sequel adaptation based on It Starts With Us, though nothing is set in stone yet.
A Quick Reality Check on the "Romance" Label
There is a huge debate in the book community about whether these books should be marketed as romance. Traditionally, romance novels require a "Happily Ever After" (HEA) or at least a "Happy For Now" (HFN).
It Ends With Us challenges this.
The "happy ending" isn't about finding a man; it's about finding yourself and breaking a generational cycle of violence. This is why the it ends with us books order is so vital. You have to see the cycle to understand why it needs to be broken. If you just read the second book, it looks like a standard, slightly sugary romance. You lose the context of the bravery Lily showed in the first installment.
Common Misconceptions and Where People Trip Up
Sometimes people think November 9 or Ugly Love are connected to this series. They aren't. Colleen Hoover has a "multiverse" of sorts where characters sometimes make tiny cameos in other books, but the Lily/Atlas/Ryle storyline is strictly contained to these two novels.
- Misconception 1: It Starts With Us is a prequel.
Truth: Nope. It’s a sequel that contains some flashbacks, but it moves the story forward. - Misconception 2: You can skip the first book if you saw the movie.
Truth: You could, but you’d miss the nuanced internal monologue that makes the ending of the first book so powerful. - Misconception 3: There is a third book coming.
Truth: As of right now, Hoover has said the story is finished.
The Emotional Toll (A Fair Warning)
Before you dive into this specific it ends with us books order, check the trigger warnings. Seriously. Domestic abuse, attempted sexual assault, and emotional manipulation are front and center.
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It is not a "fun" read in the traditional sense. It’s a "I need to talk to my therapist after this" kind of read.
However, It Starts With Us is much lighter. It’s almost like a warm hug after a cold shower. It focuses on co-parenting, new beginnings, and the tentative steps of a new (and healthy) relationship. If you’re in a dark place, you might actually find the second book more comforting, but again, it won't make sense without the foundation of the first.
Expert Tips for New Readers
If you are just starting, don't rush.
Read It Ends With Us and then give yourself a week. Process it. Talk about it with friends. The ending of that book is one of the most discussed moments in modern fiction for a reason. It forces you to ask yourself what you would do in that situation. Most people like to think they’d leave immediately. The book shows why it’s never that simple.
Then, when you’re ready for some closure and a bit of sweetness, pick up It Starts With Us.
Actionable Steps for Your Reading Journey
- Buy them together: You’ll want the second book the moment you finish the first. Trust me.
- Journal your thoughts: Especially during the "Ellen" letters in book one. It helps to track how your opinion of Ryle changes as the plot progresses.
- Join a community: Whether it's a subreddit or a Facebook group, these books are better when you have someone to scream with.
- Check out the "Bonus Scenes": Sometimes special editions or Colleen’s newsletter have extra snippets that aren't in the main text.
The it ends with us books order is straightforward—1. It Ends With Us, 2. It Starts With Us—but the emotional journey is anything but. Start with the 2016 original, brace yourself for the heavy themes, and follow through to the 2022 sequel for the resolution you'll inevitably crave.
Once you’ve finished both, you might want to look into Colleen Hoover’s standalone novels like Verity (if you want a thriller) or Reminders of Him (if you want to keep crying). But for Lily Bloom’s journey, those two books are your entire world. Stick to the order, keep the tissues nearby, and remember that "it ends with us" is a promise, not just a title.
Next Steps:
- Purchase or borrow It Ends With Us and It Starts With Us as a set to avoid wait times between books.
- Verify the trigger warnings for It Ends With Us if you have a history of trauma related to domestic violence.
- Schedule a "palate cleanser" book to read after you finish the series—something light like a romantic comedy to help transition out of the heavy themes.