Told in alternating timelines, THE THINGS WE LEAVE UNFINISHED examines the risks we take for love, the scars too deep to heal, and the endings we can’t bring ourselves to see coming. Twenty-eight-year-old Georgia Stanton has to start over after she gave up almost everything in a brutal divorce–the New York house, the friends, and her pride. Now back home at her late great-grandmother’s estate … great-grandmother’s estate in Colorado, she finds herself face-to-face with Noah Harrison, the bestselling author of a million books where the cover is always people nearly kissing. He’s just as arrogant in person as in interviews, and she’ll be damned if the good-looking writer of love stories thinks he’s the one to finish her grandmother’s final novel…even if the publisher swears he’s the perfect fit.
Noah is at the pinnacle of his career. With book and movie deals galore, there isn’t much the “golden boy” of modern fiction hasn’t accomplished. But he can’t walk away from what might be the best book of the century–the one his idol, Scarlett Stanton, left unfinished. Coming up with a fitting ending for the legendary author is one thing, but dealing with her beautiful, stubborn, cynical great-granddaughter, Georgia, is quite another.
But as they read Scarlett’s words in both the manuscript and her box of letters, they start to realize why Scarlett never finished the book–it’s based on her real-life romance with a World War II pilot, and the ending isn’t a happy one. Georgia knows all too well that love never works out, and while the chemistry and connection between her and Noah is undeniable, she’s as determined as ever to learn from her great-grandmother’s mistakes–even if it means destroying Noah’s career.
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Some books just live in your heart for a while. This is a story that does that.
The Things We Leave Unfinished is the latest stand-alone novel by Rebecca Yarros.
It is one of the best books I’ve ever read. Two love stories intertwined in ways that had my heart breaking. This is story that will have tears falling all the while your heart is bursting with joy.
Georgia and Noah were extraordinary characters. Georgia has been put through hell for years and returns home to heal. She had no idea what was waiting for her or how much her life is about to change. Noah is the epitome of what a hero should be. He is a bit haughty but underneath that arrogance is a good man. A man that will always do the right thing. Both characters are written brilliantly. Both will live with me for a while. This is a story for the ages!
The things we leave unfinished took me on a journey through so many emotions. This book that made a huge impact on me. I will never forget it or the way it made me feel.
Highly recommend reading it!
Captivating, poignant, and incredibly romantic!
The Things We Leave Unfinished is an absorbing tale set in England during the early 1940s, as well as present-day Colorado, and is told from two different perspectives; Scarlett, a young officer in the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force who loves to tells stories and unexpectedly finds the love of her life in a tall, handsome American pilot, and Georgia, the newly divorced, great-granddaughter of a famous author who after her passing struggles to allow her final, uncompleted manuscript and life story to be finished and published.
The writing is passionate and moving. The characters are independent, hesitant, and stubborn. And the plot, using a story within a story, sweeps you away into an engaging, touching, heartfelt tale about life, loss, friendship, family, heartbreak, tragedy, forgiveness, war, and the magic of love.
I don’t even know how to express how much I loved The Things We Leave Unfinished. It blew me away. It’s an evocative, enchanting, immersive, beautifully written tale by Yarros that I absolutely devoured, highly recommend, and will undoubtedly be one of the books on the top of my favourite reads list for 2021!
First things first – you must read this. There is so much more to this stunning book and you will experience so many different emotions as the story unfolds. Not only do you get the modern day love story between Noah and Georgia, and the heartbreaking, gut-wrenching romance of Scarlett and Jameson during world war two. You also get a compelling account of sisterly love and the details of a troubled mother-daughter relationship. The author gives us 3 brave and courageous women, who are inspiring and show what can be done when circumstances demand it. We get to hear about their lives and the men in their lives.
The account of life during the war was honest and brutal at times. The description of what Scarlett and her sister Constance went through and their contribution to the war effort was fascinating and informative. My fingers were crossed every time we found out more about Scarlett and Jameson. The realities of loving during this period of history were realistic documented in Scarlett’s words and it was one hell of a love story.
In total contrast to the sisters the reader is brought up to date and introduced to Georgia. She has recently gone through a divorce and the pain of her great grandmother Scarlett dying. She arrives home to sort out Scarlett’s affairs and finds her meddling mother causing problems. Scarlett was a successful author who wrote a hundred romance novels in her lifetime, however she left one unfinished and unread. This becomes the crux of Georgia’s storyline.
Georgia first meets Noah in the local bookstore and blatantly tells him what she thinks of the books he has chosen to buy. Tells him how they are not in the romance section due to the endings and the unsatisfying steamy parts !! She points out that Scarlett Stanton, whose books she is looking at, always leaves the reader with a happy ever after.
Georgia finds out the handsome stranger from her encounter is the famous author Noah Harrison. Although attracted to him and his charming ways, she doesn’t like his arrogance. When the publishers tell her that he has been chosen to finish Scarlett’s book all hell breaks loose between. Noah is a fan of Scarlett work and wants to do the book justice. He has an instant attraction to Georgia and feels like he is in one of his books. She is so stubborn and thought the world of Scarlett that she refuses to let Noah taint her reputation. Will the Ice Queen melt when Noah proves he is worthy of the job?
After finally agreeing to a compromise, the couple work their way through the story and are helped by the letters accompanying the original pages. Georgia realises she wants the type of love her great grandmother had and Noah gets as caught up in Scarlett’s story as she does.
The balance of the two stories is just right with the true love of one couple against the slow burn of the younger ones. The passion is the same for all of them but both are complicated in different ways. The twists kept coming throughout the book, building and building up until the final one was sensationally revealed. There was no anti climax either because the author cleverly gave us more suspense and intrigue to tie all the loose ends together and give us the HEA we knew we would finally get to recover from all the shock.
To me the author gives us Scarlett’s life story as she wrote it in chronological order but the letters included seem to work backwards. I felt this made the happiness and hope written in the letters stand out as the actual story gets inevitably harder to read. The reader can almost feel the longing for when they will see each other again and their dreams for a safer life, while you read what actually happens. Rebecca Yarros has yet again written a truly unforgettable book. Yes it is sad but it does leave you feeling happy for everyone involved at the end.
I have had the privilege of reading every single book this author has shared with the world, as well as countless other stories penned by a slew of other authors, so what I’m about to say is something I don’t say lightly: The Things We Leave Unfinished is, hands down, one of the most remarkable novels of any genre that I’ve ever read. Rebecca Yarros has created a book that has not just one, but two stories about true love, and woven them so seamlessly together that there was simply no way for me to fall in love with one story and not the other. There was so much anticipation leading to the release of this book, and Yarros more than delivered. She’s gifted readers with a story of love, family, perseverance, and honoring the stories of those who came before us. This gets all the stars. Each and every one out there.
Rebecca Yarros has given us such an exceptional love story! Make sure you have some tissues close by as you read.
A captivating story from the first chapter, wonderful characters, heartbreaking, yet brings you happiness as a story of true love unfolds. From Scarlett and Jameson finding love during the WWII to present day with Georgia and Noah. This story will touch your emotions and make you feel right along with each character as they bring you on their journey. Definitely a book that will stay with you long after the last page and would highly recommend.
I will admit that books that flip between the past & the present have never been my favourite. Mostly because I have a hard time connecting with characters when constantly switching couples & time periods. So when I started reading this book I was a little disappointed because even though I love Rebecca’s writing & her stories I just wasn’t connecting with this one whatsoever. I was more interested in Scarlett & Jameson’s story than I was Noah & Georgia.
I’m not gonna lie I flipped to the end at about the half way part & read the last chapter because I just wanted to know. Well I’m warning you, don’t do that cause it won’t make sense & you’ll be even more confused. I decided to keep pushing through & god am I glad I did. Never would I have expected that ending. Holy wow. Honestly my eyes teared up at the unfairness of it all, but also it all came together & just made way more sense. It became a book that I’d read again. Noah & Georgia’s story is good but 1942 won me over as my favourite. Another truly great read by Rebecca.
5+++ BRILLIANT STARS!!!
Where do I even begin with this review? There are no words, just an overwhelming sense of emotion. I wish you could hear my sobs and see the tears hitting my keyboard. This story was EVERYTHING! Everything I have come to love from this author and SO much more. The Things We Leave Unfinished is a culmination of every love, every swoon, every sigh, every tear, every loss that I have felt while reading a Rebecca Yarros novel and then taken to the next level. This was more than just a romance, it was an EPIC love story!
There is so much I want to say, but can’t really put into words, as no words would justify how extraordinary this story is. Unlike anything I have read, I was captivated by this remarkable tale. It is not about a delicious hero or a strong heroine. It’s about what we do for love. Love of country, love of family, love of another. It’s about the sacrifices we make and the love that makes the heartache worth it.
Don’t read any other review. Don’t spoil the experience of reading such a magnificently crafted story. Go into it blind like I did. I promise, it will be an amazing journey!
Review by Lys
Stop what your doing right this instant and read this book. Seriously, read this book now. I’m not going to lie..you will need tissues! LOTS.OF.TISSUES. And you will cherish every tear because this book is spectacular. It’s is beautiful. It’s is heartbreaking. It is inspiring. It is uplifting. It’s is frustrating at times. It is enduring. It is proof that selflessness is the ultimate sacrifice. It is LOVE!
The author has interwoven two stories to show us how one families love and sacrifice has a ripple effect through time.
One story takes place in England during the Second World War. An American fighter pilot flying for England, Jameson meets Scarlet who’s in the WAAF (Women’s Auxiliary Air Force) doing her part for the war movement. They fall in love. But their time together is overshadowed by fear and the ever present threat of Germany’s relentless air raids and bombings.
Georgia and Noah are in present day Colorado. And Georgia’s grandmother is Scarlet from the other story. She is who brings Georgia and Noah together now.
What happens in the pst has a huge impact on this family and the ones they love in the present. The road is rocky and filled with twists and turns but in the end…the difficult journey to love is worth the sacrifice.
The Things We Leave Unfinished is a definite must read. It’s part historical romance, part contemporary romance, and 100 percent hard to put down and immersive.
As I was reading, I kept thinking that I was getting two books in one–the story of Jameson and Scarlett and the story of Noah and Georgia–and it almost feel too good to be true. While their storylines were completely interconnected, it also felt like they were mini-novels on their own. Yarros did a really good job of totally sinking me into one couple’s story and then the other without making it feel confusing or like I was having whiplash trying to keep up. If anything, she did such a good job that I always found myself loving the couple’s story I was in, impatient to get back to it, only to love the progression of the other couple’s story and equally impatient to get back to that one. I have no idea how she managed to keep her sanity balancing it all but I’m so glad she wrote it the way she did. It made for a truly unique reading experience.
Not only was it a reading experience I wasn’t expecting, it was also much more emotional than I anticipated. I was verklempt almost the entire time Scarlett and Jameson were together–just waiting for the other shoe to drop–and dang it, the tears! the tears just leaked right out when that shoe did drop. I loved Jameson and Scarlett so much–their entire love story was just so romantic–even if it was what you might expect from a WWII romance in some ways, it never felt cliché or overdone. Equally, fun to read was Noah and Georgia’s story. Their snark and snappishness, their stubborn natures, and the chemistry, really all of their story, was so modern and just fun to see how ultimately, resistance was futile.
The Things We Leave Unfinished was one of those reads that I wanted to continue reading long after the last page. I enjoyed reading about these characters and their lives and while their endings were completely satisfactory, I just wasn’t ready to say goodbye; just one of many reasons I enjoy Rebecca Yarros’s novels and am eager to see what she writes next.
So this is a Rebecca Yarros book, so I know I need to bring some tissues with me because Ms. Yarros is a master at tugging at your heart, giving it a hard squeeze and showing that love often comes with tears. I definitely like that.
Georgia has just gone through a nasty divorce and ends up at her great-grandmother Scarlett’s estate in Colorado. Also in attendance is Noah Harrison, a bestselling author who is going to finish Scarlett’s last book. I had to laugh when I realized this was an author writing about an author and that can and does get interesting!
As Noah starts to work on the love story, he and Georgia unearth Scarlett’s story — it’s hers and very personal and set in World War II. The dual timeline between past and present is quiet interesting and brings a uniqueness to this story. As a former historical romance reader I enjoyed that aspect of the story very much, along with the growing attraction between Noah and Georgia.
This is a story that capitalizes on common themes of fate, destiny and true love. The characters are complex and interesting and the story is emotional and comes with some surprises. I really couldn’t ask for me as a reader which is why I’m rating this 5 big stars.
A complementary copy was provided by the publisher. This is my honest review.
I do not even know where to start. This story had me completely captivated from start to finish. I could not put it down. Told in alternating timelines, we get two stories that were beautifully written. In the present, Georgia is finding a new normal after her divorce. This includes helping to finish her great-grandmother’s last book. But the person brought in to do so, Noah, drives her crazy. They each want to do things their own way. Even so, you can feel the chemistry between them with every interaction. At the same time, we delve into her great-grandmother’s past love and the heartache she faced.
As I said, I have no words and hope I can do this story justice in my review. The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros was an absolutely amazing read. Each woman faced struggles and obstacles in their lives. And yet, you could feel their determination and strength in every word you read. Their separate journeys were faced with grit and risks and in the end neither was left unscathed. Their stories are so worth reading and I highly recommend this book!
Read and reviewed for Sultry Sirens Book Blog.
Happy reading!
Five stars are not enough for this book.
This book is going in my all-time favorite vault. I am not even sure that I have the words to give this book the accolades that it deserves because it is just that good. It not only met my expectations but exceed them. When I first started this book, I wasn’t sure what to expect other than knowing it would be a moving piece of fiction. Yet, I didn’t know where the focus would be. For some reason, I thought that it would just be a few the grandmother’s letters that were told and the rest would be on Georgia and Noah. I couldn’t have been more wrong. This was a love story featuring two separate characters and was everything I have come to love about romance.
The story of Scarlett and Jameson was beautiful. Normally, I struggle with romance that is from the past. However, it was so well done that I felt sad when it would no longer be their chance to shine. Their love was poignant and raw and made me picture all those amazing love stories and photographs of WWII. It was very reminiscent of one of my favorite movies, Pearl Harbor in some aspects. When it switched over to Georgia and Noah, I felt the story mirroring their love in many ways. These two had great chemistry and banter. It was a more contemporary feeling, in how they acted and even the intimacy aspect. Both love stories were seamlessly entwined and I loved that the author was able to create connections throughout the two couples and honoring both. I liked that the author tied a little bit of the writing process into the story through the creation of two different ways of writing the story.
I enjoyed the clues that were within the story that once the twists came out they were like lightbulb moments. The twist at the end shocked me but it also gave me a chance to see an ending that otherwise wouldn’t have made sense make perfect sense. From the beginning to the very last paragraph, this book owned me. The complexity of how this author was able to create two love stories in their entirety into one book is mindboggling. Even with two stories neither was left out and had an equal share of the book.
I struggled with the mother and the ex. They didn’t really feel like they needed to be in the story but I am looking past this because the epicness of the love that Scarlett, Jameson, Georgia, and Noah shared was worth everything. This book and their stories had so many powerful hidden messages, and as I mentioned, those twists?!?! Yeah, never did I see it coming. Definitely, in the best of 2021 and also all-time.
My top read of 2021!!
There are not enough adjectives to give this story it’s proper descriptions and five stars are not enough for this book!
This is not a true romance story, but it is a love story. It mixes military romance, historical romance beautifully.
The author intricately and flawlessly intertwined 2 interconnecting stories. Flawlessly written, well paced, with unique and lovable characters this a a story within a story. The result is a journey where I embarked on an all consuming soul searching story of love, forgiveness and missed opportunities.
Told in dual POV, present and past, initially I was confused with how the story evolved but when I realized what was going on. However, I just sat back and enjoyed.
Insightful and thought provoking for me the meaning this read gave was a lesson on how to cherish every moment of everyday and happy endings are in the eyes of the beholder.
Lire un roman de Rebecca Yarros est l’assurance de lire un roman intense et plein d’émotions. The things we leave unfinished est un coup de coeur pour moi car je n’ai rien vu venir et de plus les divers personnages que nous rencontrons sauront nous offrir des histoires poignantes et intemporelles.
Georgia Ellsworth est de retour à Poplar Grove après une déception importante. La souffrance est là mais elle n’est pas au niveau de la perte qu’elle vient de subir. Perdre son arrière grand mère Scarlett la laisse inconsolable mais elle va devoir régler les affaires de cette dernière. C’était une grand écrivaine reconnue et elle a laissé un manuscrit inachevé qu’elle n’a donc jamais publié car c’est le plus personnel de son écrit. En effet, ce récit autobiographique va nous permettre de suivre deux intrigues à deux époques différentes. Heureusement Scarlett l’a nommé tutrice pour gérer la publication de ce manuscrit car on va vite comprendre que la mère de Georgia n’est intéressée que par une seule chose : l’argent. Georgia va donc avoir une grande responsabilité sur ses épaules étant donné qu’elle va superviser la publication de ce manuscrit. Elle n’a plus confiance en personne et on la comprend après la trahison de Damian qui va se retrouver à la une de tous les tabloïds. Elle ne croit plus en l’amour et la convaincre de faire un happy ending est inconcevable. On va donc la découvrir face à Noah, celui en charge de la rédaction du dernier tiers du manuscrit et leurs joutes seront épiques.
Georgia est donc la détentrice de l’histoire de Scarlett et nous allons découvrir l’histoire de cette dernière via les lettres qu’elle a échangées avec Jameson. Ils se sont rencontrés en 1940 donc en pleine guerre mondiale. Je vous laisse imaginer les émotions que ces deux héros vont ressentir. Leur histoire d’amour sera incroyable et tellement épique. On vit à travers eux une romance magnifique faite de sacrifices et de souffrance mais jamais ils ne renonceront. On se demande donc pourquoi Georgia ne souhaite pas une fin heureuse mais nous savons pertinemment vers quoi elle nous dirige. La mémoire de son arrière grand mère est donc essentielle et ce combat elle le mènera jusqu’au bout. Georgia se refusera de céder aux sentiments qui risquent de naître en côtoyant Noah et nous avons envie qu’elle connaisse le bonheur de Scarlett, aussi éphémère soit il. J’ai aimé ce personnage car elle va s’ouvrir au fil des pages mais attention à ne jamais la trahir car elle n’acceptera plus qu’on se moque d’elle.
Noah Harrison est un héros que j’ai aussi aimé découvrir . Cet écrivain n’a pas dit son dernier mot et dès leur rencontre j’ai su qu’il allait donner du fil à retordre à notre héroïne. Il est d’accord pour certains compromis mais il va devoir s’armer de patience pour atteindre son but. On sent qu’il a à coeur de bien faire car lui aussi va adhérer à l’histoire de Scarlett, Jameson et Constance , la soeur de Scarlett. Il sent que leur histoire a besoin d’être couchée sur la papier et terminée par le biais de sa plume. Pour lui , la fin heureuse est ce que les lecteurs attendent de lui mais l’auteur reste libre de ses choix. Le souci c’est que Scarlett a laissé la porte ouverte en n’achevant pas ce manuscrit . Elle voulait garder une trace de cette histoire magnifique mais en faisant cela , elle a mis des obstacles sur la route de notre héros. Sa petite fille va défendre becs et ongles son passé familial et il devra mettre tout en oeuvre pour gagner sa confiance. Il va y mettre toute son énergie et on espère une issue positive même si des révélations vont changer la donne.
Bref, je ne peux que vous recommander de lire ce roman car j’ai adoré chaque instant , chaque scène , chaque émotion et chaque personnage. Rebecca Yarros nous mène au fil des pages le long de son intrigue et croyez moi que vous n’êtes pas au bout de vos surprises
This was a truly amazing book! I didn’t know this author could write so beautifully. The story surprised me, made me cry, made me laugh, made me swoon. I am so emotionally raw after reading this fantastic book. I can’t stop crying in thinking about some of the passages.
From the first page to the last, it is gripping, heart wrenching, emotional, with the most beautiful scenery and it reads like a movie. Every step of the way, I could clearly picture everything in my mind. And it doesn’t happen to me with a lot of books.
The book tells two love stories set in two different timelines, more than 60 years apart:
– the love story of Scarlett and Jameson set in the 1940s, on the backdrop of WWII; they meet by chance and fall in love despite the horrors and challenges of the war;
– the love story of Georgia (Scarlett’s grand-granddaughter) and Noah (the writer tasked with finishing Scarlett’s last novel)
The way both timelines were intertwined was both effortless and brilliant. I loved every minute of my reading experience. And it will be one of my favorite reads of 2021!
This book should be made into a movie!
Such great writing and another wonderful story from Rebecca Yarros. This story is two romances on one. Wonderful weaving of the past and the present for an epic story. I loved everything about from the characters to the writing style. Georgia and Noah start out more as enemies as she does not want him to be the one to finish the final story her grandmother wrote. Slowly the two start toward what could be a HEA for them. The love story for Scarlett and Jameson takes place in the time of WWII. I don’t want to ruin any of this story so I just want to say that you will not be disappointed and these two love stories will stay with you long after you read the last line.
Once again, Rebecca Yarros delivers something so raw and powerful with such uniqueness that you cannot help but fall in love with her words. I was blown away at the concept and fell in love with the past and the present in the world that was created. My heart ached for Georgia as she struggled to find her footing again. Then you have the past with her grandmother. I felt the depth of this story to my soul. Honestly, there are no words that can honestly describe something like this. There are so many moments that have your heart racing, your emotions all over the place and everything in between.
One thing I can say about this book is that it will impact you in so many ways. I could feel all the emotions bleed through the pages. The concept was something so amazing that I could not put it down once I started. Yarros writes with such poise that you are so engulfed in her words. This is very much one of those books you have to read to fully understand why my review is a jumbled mess!
What a phenomenal book! I absolutely loved it! It was a beautiful story full of drama, history, romance, and steam. This book is two stories intertwining into one brilliant heart wrenching tale. It is the story of Georgia and her great grandmother Scarlett. The author takes us back and forth between the world of 1940 England and present day Colorado. We learn Scarlett and Jameson’s story through love letters and an unfinished book Scarlett left behind. We learn about Georgia and Noah’s story through their perspectives as they delve deep into Scarlett and Jameson’s story. The author keeps you enthralled by masterfully unraveling the stories in bits and pieces perfectly placed until the puzzle is finally formed that includes a brilliant plot twist at the end!
This book is utterly captivating. I was so enthralled with their stories I ran through the gamut of emotions, tense, sad, frustrated, swooning! I absolutely despised the mom. My heart was racing from her antics and the hurt she caused Georgia! Overall, it is an incredible story! Rebecca Yarros definitely knocked this one out of the park!!
The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros
5 out of 5 stars
Georgia Stanton is back to Poplar Grove, her hometown, to heal and start over after a scandal. Being also newly divorced and handling her diseased great grandmum’s estate, she discovers an unfinished manuscript of her famous relative that seems to have sparked an interest in a good few publishers. The problem is who will be finishing the work of a legend like Scarlett Stanton and continue so that the transition between two writers goes unnoticeable as one person wrote it?
In comes the current “it writer” in the romantic genre, Noah Harrison, for the job but who unknowingly gave Georgia the wrong impression before an important meeting with the great-granddaughter of Scarlett and the owner of the new manuscript that he needs to secure his seat in the romance book industry.
So how can he redeem himself in the eyes of Georgia to be able to have a chance at getting first dips on his novelist idol?
When I started the book, my emotions were heightened and cautious because I know this will be epic. I wanted to protect my heart but didn’t know how everything happened quickly without letting me up for air. The signs were everywhere – it spells tons of “feels” and drama of epic proportion. The author has successfully drenched, wrung, and dried me out from start to finish. I felt that I went through so much denial that Stella’s story abruptly ends in the unknown. This part is where Georgia and Noah have to piece together to give honor to this great novelist.
The story is from various character’s POVs which provided so much color and connections for readers. The jump between time/era and place did not confuse or disrupt the flow of the story. Instead, it pulls and engages readers’ emotions and intellect. The storyline focuses on the Stanton women’s stories. There were some hints of Georgia’s mother’s story, but most are focus and juxtaposed between great-grandmother romance novelist Stella and granddaughter Georgia.
Georgia’s great grandmum’s (Stella) and Jameson’s story is epic but sad, not because of them but of their situation and the era when they found each other. Their story is recreated based on an unfinished manuscript, letters, and journals between her and Jameson. Readers will fall in love and connect strongly to them through everlasting promises, emotional love letters, and unforeseen plight. Their stories are what readers want to immortalize and be given the honor, especially in an era where hope and love are fleeting and uncertain. They all had to be brave for the other in the face of justice and peace. Stella and Jameson’s story left “unfinished” is why Noah and Georgia have to piece-together and finish the story – no matter what it would be.
Georgia’s life was not pretty when the book started. She had so many issues that it was surprising to see her so calm and “amicable” with being recently divorced. Granted that she also had to take care of Stella’s estate, she exuded detachment being present. She focused on her mother and Stella’s affairs and placed everyone else first instead of her happiness or pursuits.
It was only meeting Noah Morelli that her “well-kept emotions” start coming up to the surface. I love this moment – where character “epiphany” happens, and it’s not only Georgia feeling it but also Noah! I love stories that provide ample room for main characters to grow and take charge of their future and happiness. They will be brought through “the wringer” and learn how to adjust and adapt to the situation.
The Things We Leave Unfinished is a book with two love stories in one – a story within a story:- a past revisited, a memoir written, and a relationship formed. Each Stanton women’s story is uniquely personal and highlighted in its own right.
Even with readers bouncing between the past and the present, the author successfully ties both eras’ themes together beautifully. It is with the technique of reiterating that Stanton women are of love, redemption, and hope. They are written with care and respect that readers would be asking if this is a real-life story because the author described every detail was vividly and without prejudice.
This book will make you believe in Fate and leave a lasting impression of how “true love” can come from anywhere and anytime.
In summary, this book is for readers who love to:
1) believe in forlorn, fated love,
2) enjoy being gutted or be taken to an emotional rollercoaster of new and indescribable emotions, and
3) second chance to live, love, and laugh…
This book is for you.
Expect a lot of emotions from tears to laughter, from happiness to pain, from gut-wrenching loss to a “rise-from-the-ashes” rebirth/birth to become someone beyond what they expect. You name it; this book has every emotion in the dictionary.
A lifetime of stories and experiences will make readers appreciate and “seize the day” for hope and bravery. The ending will grab you and haunt you – this book was amazingly GOOD!
The last thing I want to highlight about the book is that after finishing it, I realized how lucky and grateful I am to be in the present – Covid and all because living during the War was scary, unimaginable, and challenging, especially for a woman. This book will open your eyes more to the hardships and the fight that cost countless lives and find great relief that there were people, not only countrymen, who are willing to sacrifice their lives and sovereignty to protect and serve a significant cause.
Oh, this book. THIS BOOK. This one got me right in the feels from page one.
This story is really two stories in one. There is modern-day tale of Noah and Georgia. Noah has been brought in to finish a manuscript started by Georgia’s gran. Despite some serious chemistry, Georgia fights him on the entire process every step of the way. I loved these two. Both are such strong and admirable characters. Noah has got that swagger and confidence without being a total jerk. Plus, he’s a writer which is just super swoon-worthy. Georgia is coming off a divorce and you can’t but help cheer for her to have a happy ending. She is fiercely loyal to her Gran and has an inner strength to her that I really appreciated.
And then there is the story of Scarlett and Jameson. Goodness. This one takes place in 1940s England where the two meet while serving in the Armed Forces there. Their relationship and the struggles they had to deal with hit close to home as the wife of an active-duty soldier. I both sighed and cried at times as it truly was so very romantic while still so heartbreaking in parts.
Normally, I’m not a fan of a book that constantly flips back and forth between stories…especially when there is a time jump. Yarros made the exact right choice with this book. Told any other way, it would not have been nearly as effective. I loved it. I loved the letter-writing aspect to it. I loved the book writing parts. I loved the family connection and love. And I really loved the parallels between the two couples. It truly is just a well-written masterpiece.
This is the first book I’ve read by Rebecca Yarros. I can promise it will not be my last. She will be an auto-read from this point forward.
Thank you to NetGalley and Entangled for an ARC of this book. The opinions here are my own.