Just as Lily and her ex-husband, Ryle, settle into a steady co-parenting routine for their daughter, Emerson, Lily runs into her first love, Atlas—two years after they last saw each other. Overjoyed and believing the timing is finally right for a real chance at love, Atlas asks Lily out on a date. However, Lily’s excitement quickly gives way to apprehension and anxiety as she remembers the significant role Ryle still plays in her life. While Ryle might not be pleased about Lily dating anyone else, he would find the presence of Atlas Corrigan—specifically—intolerable in the lives of his ex-wife and infant daughter. *It Starts with Us* alternates between Lily’s and Atlas’s perspectives, offering the reader a deeper look into Atlas’s past as he reconnects with Lily and rekindles the romance of their teenage years, all while navigating the challenges standing in their way.