It Starts with Us: Full-Book Quiz

Quiz: It Starts with Us by Colleen Hoover

This quiz spans the entire novel. Answer all 20 questions, mixing multiple-choice and short-answer formats. Check your answers with the key below.

Part 1: Plot and Sequence (8 questions)

What is misspelled in red spray paint on the back door of Bib’s?
- A. “Ass whole”
- B. “Asshole”
- C. “A–hole”
- D. “Jerk”
What single item was stolen during the first break-in at Bib’s?
- A. A case of wine
- B. All the prepared croutons
- C. The cash register
- D. A chef’s knife
Why does Atlas refuse to call the police about the break-in?
- A. He knows who did it
- B. He once stole food when he was hungry
- C. He doesn't want to waste police time
- D. The damage is minor
What does Lily do immediately after Ryle threatens to change the custody arrangement?
- A. She calls her lawyer
- B. She retrieves and reads her handwritten list of abuse
- C. She agrees to his ground rules
- D. She locks herself in the bathroom
Where does Lily hide Atlas when Ryle unexpectedly arrives at the flower shop during their lunch?
- A. In the bathroom
- B. In her office closet
- C. Behind the display counter
- D. In the delivery van
Who is the teenager that has been vandalizing Atlas’s restaurants?
- A. A former employee
- B. Theo’s friend
- C. Atlas’s half‑brother, Josh
- D. A random homeless teen
What does Josh draw for his family‑tree homework after deciding not to meet his father?
- A. A large oak with many branches
- B. A seedling with two branches labeled “Josh” and “Atlas”
- C. A single branch with both names
- D. A blank page
What does Ryle do when he finds evidence that Atlas stayed overnight at Lily’s apartment?
- A. He calls the police
- B. He pins Lily against the door with a hand on her throat
- C. He cries and apologizes
- D. He takes Emerson without permission

Part 2: Character Motivation (5 questions)

Short answer: Why does Lily decide to pursue a relationship with Atlas despite fearing Ryle’s reaction? (2–3 sentences) Your answer: ___________________________________________________________________________
Short answer: Why does Atlas refuse to fight back when Ryle punches him at the restaurant? (2–3 sentences) Your answer: ___________________________________________________________________________
Short answer: What motivates Lily to demand anger management and supervised visits for Ryle after the intervention with Allysa? (2–3 sentences) Your answer: ___________________________________________________________________________
Short answer: Why does Atlas cook his mother’s favorite dish (coconut shrimp) during their meeting to discuss Josh’s custody? (2–3 sentences) Your answer: ___________________________________________________________________________
Short answer: What is the primary reason Josh vandalizes Atlas’s restaurants? (1–2 sentences) Your answer: ___________________________________________________________________________

Part 3: Theme and Symbol (4 questions)

What does the heart‑shaped tattoo on Lily’s shoulder, surrounded by bite‑mark scars, symbolize?
- A. Her love for Ryle
- B. The physical abuse she endured and her resilience
- C. A tribute to Atlas
- D. Her mother’s advice
What does the “list” that Lily keeps in her apartment represent?
- A. A grocery list
- B. A record of the abuse Ryle inflicted, helping her stay firm
- C. A bucket list of things to do with Atlas
- D. Expenses for the flower shop
What does the “family tree seedling” that Josh draws symbolize?
- A. A complicated family history
- B. New beginnings and chosen family between Josh and Atlas
- C. Josh’s hope to reconnect with his father
- D. The importance of school projects
What does the “Surprise Lily” nail polish mentioned in Atlas’s letter represent?
- A. Lily’s favorite color
- B. The moment Atlas first realized he loved her when she cared for him while sick
- C. A brand of polish Lily sells
- D. A gift from Ryle

Part 4: Synthesis (3 questions)

Short answer: How does the theme of “second chances” apply to both Atlas and Lily throughout the novel? (3–4 sentences) Your answer: ___________________________________________________________________________
Short answer: In what ways do letters and journals function as a narrative device in the story? (3–4 sentences) Your answer: ___________________________________________________________________________
Short answer: Compare Atlas’s approach to conflict with Ryle’s. How do these differences affect their relationships with Lily? (4–5 sentences) Your answer: ___________________________________________________________________________

Answer Key

Part 1: Plot and Sequence

A — The graffiti reads “Ass whole,” misspelled as two words.
B — Only the prepared croutons were taken.
B — Atlas admits he once broke into a restaurant and stole food when he was hungry, so he empathizes with the thief.
B — Lily reads the list of physical abuse she suffered, which reaffirms her decision to divorce and protect Emmy.
B — She hides him in her office closet when Ryle arrives to pick up keys.
C — Atlas discovers the vandal is his half‑brother Josh, who feels abandoned.
B — Josh draws a tiny seedling with two branches, one for each of them, symbolizing their new family.
B — Ryle pins Lily against the door with a hand on her throat, showing his explosive jealousy.

Part 2: Character Motivation

Sample answer: Lily decides to date Atlas because she realizes she deserves happiness and refuses to let Ryle’s jealousy control her life. Her past journals and Atlas’s letters help her trust again, and she wants to reclaim her own future.
Sample answer: Atlas refuses to fight Ryle because he wants to break the cycle of violence. He knows that cooperating and staying calm is the best way to protect his relationship with Lily and ensure a stable co‑parenting arrangement for Emmy.
Sample answer: After Allysa’s intervention, Lily demands supervised visits and anger management to protect Emmy from Ryle’s volatility. She has documented abuse and wants professional help for Ryle rather than further conflict.
Sample answer: Atlas cooks coconut shrimp to evoke a positive memory of Cape Cod and soften his mother’s defenses. He balances his demand for custody with an offer of weekly dinners, giving Sutton a chance to be part of Josh’s life.
Sample answer: Josh vandalizes Atlas’s restaurants because he feels abandoned and wants to get his brother’s attention. He is angry that Atlas didn’t know about him and didn’t reach out.

Part 3: Theme and Symbol

B — The tattoo and bite marks represent the abuse Ryle inflicted and Lily’s survival; Atlas later kisses the scar to overwrite the trauma.
B — The list serves as a concrete reminder of Ryle’s violence, helping Lily resist his manipulation and maintain her boundaries.
B — The seedling represents the new family Josh and Atlas are building together, free from their toxic parents.
B — The “Surprise Lily” polish reminds Atlas of the night Lily cared for him when he was desperately ill, the first time he realized he loved her.

Part 4: Synthesis

Sample answer: Both Atlas and Lily are given second chances at love and family. Lily escapes an abusive marriage and rekindles her connection with Atlas, while Atlas gains a half‑brother and the opportunity to be a guardian. Their relationship allows them to heal and build a future together.
Sample answer: Letters and journals provide direct access to characters’ inner thoughts and past traumas. They bridge the gap between teenage Lily and Atlas and their adult selves, showing how memories shape their present decisions. The device also deepens emotional intimacy between the characters.
Sample answer: Atlas handles conflict with restraint and empathy, refusing to retaliate against Ryle and prioritizing peaceful co‑parenting. Ryle uses anger, intimidation, and physical force. These differences affect Lily deeply: she feels safe with Atlas and trusts him, while she fears Ryle and must set firm boundaries. Ultimately, Atlas’s calm approach helps Lily heal, while Ryle’s volatility forces her to protect herself and Emmy.