No one knows why Teddi Lerner left her hometown, but everyone knows why she’s back.Twelve-year-old Shayna– talented, persistent, and adorable–persuaded “Aunt Tee” to return to Chance, Ohio, to photograph her father’s wedding. Even though it’s been six years since Shay’s mother, Celia, died, Teddi can hardly bear the thought of her best friend’s husband marrying someone else. But Teddi’s bond … Teddi’s bond with Shay is stronger than the hurt.
Teddi knows it’s time to face the consequences of her hasty retreat from family, friends, and, her old flame, but when she looks through her viewfinder, nothing in her small town looks the same. That’s when she truly sees the hurt she’s caused and–maybe–how to fix it.
After the man she once loved accuses Teddi of forgetting Celia, Teddi finally admits why she ran away, and the guilt she’s carried with her. As Teddi relinquishes the distance that kept her safe, she’ll discover surprising truths about the people she left behind, and herself. And she’ll finally see what she overlooked all along.
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Amy Sue Nathan is a Tall Poppy Writer and an amazing author. I loved Left to Chance so much. You should definitely read it as soon as possible!
Once I started reading this book, I could not put it down! I loved the way that Teddi deals with her grief after losing her best friend. It wasn’t the best way to keep her relationships alive in her small hometown though, as we find out as the story moves along! The author’s description of the small town makes the reader fall in love with the characters and settings! I felt like I recognized The Perk from my own life! Each character lent their own personality and quirks to make this an enjoyable read! I may be a tired girl today after staying up to finish it, but it’s a book that I will carry with me for a long time!
I love a good family drama with loss, love, change and with an ending that just gives you all the warm and fuzzies! Left to Chance by Amy Sue Nathan delivered! I wish we could give half stars because this story is a 4.5!
Some say you can never go home again, others say there’s no place like home. Yes, people and things will have changed but perhaps change is good. This was a heart felt story of friends, loss, and moving on. It’s about priorities and finding love. About going home and healing. It’s about…so much more.
Teddi Lerner loses Celia, her best friend since childhood. On the day of her funeral, she abruptly leaves Chance, Ohio without letting anyone know. Six years later, she’s a photographer and lives in San Francisco. Celia’s twelve-year old daughter, Shay, invites her “Aunt Tee” to photograph her father’s wedding. Shay and Teddi have a very close bond, and in her innocent mind, wants Aunt Tee to marry her father, Miles.
Teddi returns to Chance, and things have changed in the past six years – the physical landscape as well as her relationships with those she left behind. Still grieving, she needs to face the reality and emotions that are still pent-up inside her as well as the emotions of those she left. Finally, she moves forward and explains why she had to leave her small childhood hometown. She loved and missed Chance, Ohio and the people in it. She always had. Resolution and peace finally find Teddi.
I thoroughly enjoyed Amy Nathan’s Left to Chance. This is her third book, and I believe this is her best. Her characters’ emotions are pure and raw. The pain of losing a loved one, family ties, heartbreak, love and relationships are the main issues in this novel. I highly recommend reading this book. It will leave you with a peaceful feeling.
I love stories about extraordinary characters as much as the next person; it’s easy to get caught up in the lives of monied world-travelers, ingenious detectives, or even a good old-fashioned serial killer. But there is a special satisfaction in being pulled into a story about ordinary people, especially those from small towns. Maybe it’s because I’m a small town girl myself. Maybe it’s because most of us, when it comes down to it, are wonderfully ordinary.
It’s not easy to write about small lives but Amy Sue Nathan knows exactly what she is doing and does it extremely well. Teddi, our protagonist, returns to Chance, Ohio, after a six year absence and is reminded, often painfully, of what it is like to live in other people’s pockets. Teddi’s sense of humor is sharp, her grief over her best friend’s death is raw, and her list of regrets is long. Through Teddi’s eyes and those of the other nuanced, memorable characters, Nathan weaves a touching, well-paced story. But the real benchmark of any small town story is always its honesty and I’m here to tell you that I believed every word.
Lovingly rendered and generous in spirit, this novel is an absolute pleasure.