Where Does It Starts With Us Fit In The It Ends With Us Book Order

2026-07-24 06:50:30
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4 Answers

HazelFinn
HazelFinn
Ending Guesser HR Specialist
Wait, I'm confused. Are these the books with the flower covers? I think I've seen them. Is the one with the daisy first or second? I always get them mixed up on the shelf.
2026-07-25 07:08:54
5
NadiaOwl
NadiaOwl
Detail Spotter Cashier
I see some folks asking if they can just skip 'It Ends with Us' and read the sequel because they want a happier story. Absolutely not—that would be like starting a movie an hour in.

'It Starts with Us' is full of references, flashbacks, and emotional payoffs that only land if you've endured the first book alongside Lily. The entire relationship it focuses on is built on foundations laid in the first novel.

Its place is firmly and unambiguously as the second entry. The titles are a matched pair, telling you the sequence of events: something ends, then something else begins.
2026-07-25 09:08:23
14
Richard
Richard
Contributor Driver
I work at a bookstore, and we get this question daily. The official series order is 'It Ends with Us' (Book 1) and 'It Starts with Us' (Book 2). We shelve them together in that order.

Sometimes people see 'Starts' and think it's a prequel because of the wording. It's not. It's a sequel. The 'It' that starts is Lily's new life and relationship, which only begins after the 'It' (the cycle of abuse) ends in the first book.

It's a direct continuation, so please read them in order. You'll be deeply confused about character motivations otherwise.
2026-07-26 11:46:49
3
CamBlack
CamBlack
Careful Explainer Translator
I'm trying to remember if there are any prequel chapters or flashbacks in 'It Starts with Us' that actually predate the events of the first book. I don't think so. Everything is forward-moving or referencing the past we already saw.

Thus, chronologically, every single event in the sequel occurs after the final page of 'It Ends with Us.' Its narrative place is entirely in the future of the story we already know.
2026-07-26 15:20:42
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Related Questions

Where does It Starts With Us fit in the It Ends With Us reading order

8 Answers2026-07-24 01:23:41
Consider the reading order a journey. 'It Ends With Us' is the difficult, transformative path. 'It Starts With Us' is reaching the destination and learning to live there. You can't appreciate the destination without the journey.

In what order should I read It Ends With Us and It Starts With Us?

4 Answers2026-07-24 01:14:08
I'm not a crier with books, but 'It Ends With Us' got me. 'It Starts With Us' didn't make me cry; it made me smile. That emotional sequence—tears then smiles—is perfect. I wouldn't want to smile first and then cry. The release of tension flows in one direction.

What is the correct It Ends With Us and It Starts With Us reading order?

6 Answers2026-07-24 01:26:22
I think the confusion might come from people seeing 'Starts' and thinking 'beginning.' But it's not the beginning of the story; it's the beginning of the next phase of the story. The real beginning is 'It Ends With Us,' where we meet Lily and learn her history. That book contains the true origin story for all the characters. So the chronological order of events in Lily's life is also: Book 1 (past and present), then Book 2 (future).

What is the chronological reading order for It Ends With Us and It Starts With Us?

5 Answers2026-07-24 12:32:15
I'm always team publication order for any series, and this is no exception. 'It Ends With Us' (2016) then 'It Starts With Us' (2022). The gap between publications is huge, which actually mirrors the character's journey in a way. You get the intense, traumatic story, then a long pause, then the hopeful 'what comes after' story. Reading them in quick succession now is a different experience, but still effective.

Do I read It Ends With Us before It Starts With Us in order?

7 Answers2026-07-24 03:17:43
Honestly, just the thought of reading them backwards gives me a headache. The narrative whiplash would be immense. One book ends with a difficult, bittersweet decision. The next starts with the peaceful aftermath. Going from peace back to turmoil would feel jarring and unsatisfying.

How does It Starts With Us fit into Colleen Hoover’s series order?

3 Answers2026-07-24 07:26:08
If you're a completionist, it's book two. But if you're pressed for time and only want to read Hoover's most impactful work, many would say you can skip the sequel. 'It Ends With Us' is the landmark book. The sequel is enjoyable but not essential to understanding her impact as an author. Its place in the series order is solid, but its place in her literary significance is softer.

Where does It Starts With Us fit in the It Ends With Us timeline?

3 Answers2026-07-24 17:04:42
Yeah, no chronological tricks here. It's a straight-line sequel. 'It Ends With Us' has its final scene, which is a moment of hope and new beginning. 'It Starts With Us' is that new beginning. The entire narrative of the second book exists in the timeline after all events of the first. Simple as that!

Is It Starts With Us a sequel and where does it fall in book order?

2 Answers2026-07-24 18:29:31
Look at the copyright dates. 'It Ends with Us' came out years earlier. The sequel was written in response to its massive popularity. Narratively, it continues the story fans asked for. So in every sense—publication, narrative, marketing—it's Book 2.

Does It Ends With Us come before It Starts With Us in the series

3 Answers2026-07-24 20:53:19
Yep, 'It Ends With Us' is first. I think the confusion highlights how clever the titles are—they're intertwined conceptually. But in terms of plot, it's a linear progression. Lily's story with Ryle concludes in the first book, and her story with Atlas evolves in the second. You could read a summary of the first book and then read the second, but you'd lose all the emotional resonance. Hoover's writing is very character-driven, and the power comes from living in Lily's head during the difficult decisions of book one. That intimacy is what makes the hopefulness of book two feel earned.
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