The Things We Leave Unfinished

Rebecca Yarros

Feb 2021 · Sold by Entangled: Amara

About this eBook

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 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.

Ratings and reviews

Nice book to read once, the background story was touching, although I did have issues with the main character - the conflict between her and the love interest seems far-fetched and, in a way, childish. The multiple points of view on the story allow you to understand characters' perspectives, however, the parts about past were a tad boring to read. Personally, I've a hard time relating to the main characters because of the feeling that they live in a bubble, where the only problems in their lives are trust issues...

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.

The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros is one of those rare books that reminds me while I read and blog for that book that has me wanting to scream from the rooftops READ THIS BOOK! As a reader, I think you go into this one early on knowing you will shed a tear but wow the way this one unfolds will have your heart pounding out of your chest as the tears stream down your face - pure literacy genius. This is such a beautiful story on so many levels and forget formula.... Yarros tells the reader a story... well two actually, maybe three pure, love stories that will sit in your soul long after you finish reading. This story belongs on the big screen.... because WOW just WOW..... The story grabbed me from the opening lines and sucks me in more and more... time stopped and all there was was this story... these characters and I am rarely surprised but this one got me! As I closed this one, I didn't know what to do with myself.... this story felt so real and t touched me so deeply and then.. then... I needed to talk to someone about it.... but who... so I message a ton of reading friends and said you have to READ THIS BOOK! For those wondering this book is completely standalone set in a different world than any other Yarros book. And... for the first I think ever I said nothing about the amazing characters because well the blurb does that.... grab this book and let the amazingly talented Rebecca Yarros pull you into her web as she spins one heck of a tale. Oh and if you can't tell this is a 5 star, All-time Favorite TOP Pick... One so amazing my next few reads will be m/m romance.... like I legit had to re-arrange my reading schedule because this one left me with a book hangover so bad that it isn't fair to another author of a m/f romance for me to try to read and review this book right now........ Yes, this book is THAT FREAKING GOOD!

About the author

Rebecca Yarros is the Wall Street Journal and USA Today bestselling author of over ten novels, including The Last Letter and Great and Precious Things. She is the recipient of the Colorado Romance Writer’s Award of Excellence for Eyes Turned Skyward from her Flight and Glory series and can survive on coffee and peppermint bark when necessary.

Rebecca loves military heroes and has been blissfully married to her now-retired apache pilot for nineteen years. She’s the mother of six children, ranging from first grade to law school, and is somehow surviving the teenage years with three of her four hockey-playing sons. When she’s not writing, you can find her catching her sons’ games at the hockey rink or sneaking in some guitar time. She lives in Colorado with her family, their stubborn English bulldogs, and a Maine coon kitten who rules them all. Having fostered, then adopted their youngest daughter, Rebecca is passionate about helping children in the foster system through her nonprofit, One October.

rebeccayarros.com