Chapter 39: Dankwoord (Acknowledgments) Summary
Spoiler Notice: This chapter contains no narrative spoilers; it is the author’s personal note of thanks and reflection that closes the book.
Summary
The final chapter of It Starts With Us is not a continuation of Lily and Atlas’s story but Colleen Hoover’s own “Dankwoord”—the Dutch word for “acknowledgments.” She begins by revealing that for years she was adamant about never writing a sequel to It Ends With Us, convinced the story had concluded exactly where it should. BookTok, an online petition, and countless messages and videos changed her perspective. Hoover realized that most readers were not asking for more suffering; they simply wanted to see Lily and Atlas happy. Once she started outlining, she discovered she genuinely wanted the same. She then dedicates the rest of the chapter to thanking the people who made the book possible and who have supported her journey as a writer—from her sons and closest friends to agents, editors, the Atria team, fellow authors, bloggers, librarians, and especially the readers who take the time to share what her books mean to them.
Key Events
- Hoover explains her long-held refusal to revisit Lily’s world, believing the original ending was definitive.
- She recounts how BookTok, online petitions, and emotional reader messages gradually showed her that the demand was for happiness, not more turmoil.
- The author admits that once she allowed herself to envision the sequel, she found she personally wanted to give Lily and Atlas their joyful ending.
- She offers specific thanks to her four sons, three close female friends, her agents Jane Dystel and Lauren Abramo, editor Melanie Iglesias Pérez, publicist Ariele Stewart Fredman, publisher Libby McGuire, and the full Atria and Simon & Schuster Audio teams.
- Colleagues like Tarryn Fisher, Anna Todd, and Susan Stoker are acknowledged, along with the Bookworm Box and Book Bonanza community.
- The chapter closes with the most significant thank-you: to every individual who has ever sent a message or email to an author expressing what a book meant to them.
Character Development
While this chapter features no fictional characters, it offers a window into Colleen Hoover’s own voice as the architect of the series. Her initial stubbornness about never writing a sequel reveals how protective she felt over her characters’ fates. The shift from “never again” to “I, too, wanted them to be happy” underscores an emotional bond between author and creation that mirrors the reader’s investment. The acknowledgments also humanize the solitary act of writing by highlighting a vast network of personal and professional support, turning the author into a grateful connector of stories and people.
Themes, Symbols, or Motifs
Gratitude as a structural pillar: Every paragraph is a thank-you, making the chapter a mosaic of appreciation that elevates the community around a single book.
The transformative power of reader community: BookTok, petitions, and direct messages embody how collective hope can reshape a creative decision, moving the story from a closed chapter to a new beginning.
Author-reader reciprocity: The chapter illustrates that the reader’s desire for a happy ending was not just a commercial force but a genuine emotional request that the author internalized and fulfilled for herself as well.
Found family and professional kinship: The list of names—from sons to fellow authors—reflects the idea that a book is never made in isolation; it is the product of a personal and professional ecosystem.
Why This Chapter Matters
Chapter 39 matters because it documents the real-life genesis of It Starts With Us. Without the grassroots demand from BookTok and the patient, persistent voices of readers, the sequel would not exist. The chapter also reframes the entire book as a gift—a response to love from fans and a personal project of joy for the author. It closes the volume on an intimate, honest note, inviting readers to see not only Lily and Atlas’s happiness but also Hoover’s own gratitude and growth. In doing so, it blurs the line between fiction and the vibrant community that sustains it.
Study Questions and Answers
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What was Colleen Hoover’s initial stance on a sequel to It Ends With Us, and which specific forces changed her mind? Hoover insisted for years that the story had ended definitively and did not need a continuation. The combination of BookTok enthusiasm, an online petition, and personal videos and messages from readers gradually reshaped her view. She recognized that the demand was for a happy conclusion for Lily and Atlas, not for additional pain.
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How does Chapter 39 highlight the relationship between an author and their readership? The chapter openly credits readers’ voices as the spark for the book’s existence. Hoover emphasizes that the public’s desire made her realize she, too, wanted to see her characters happy, showing that the author-reader bond can be a collaborative, emotionally reciprocal relationship rather than a one-way transmission.
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Why might Hoover end the book with acknowledgments rather than another narrative scene? By placing the acknowledgments at the very end, Hoover directly bridges Lily and Atlas’s fictional happiness with the real-world goodwill that made it possible. It honors the reader as a co-creator and leaves a lasting impression of shared gratitude, turning the final page into a celebration of community.