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Discussion Guide

The Things We Leave Unfinished

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.

These book club questions were prepared by Bookclubs staff.

Book club questions for The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros

Use these discussion questions to guide your next book club meeting.

The novel alternates between two timelines - Scarlett's life during WWII and Georgia's present day story. How did this dual narrative structure impact your reading experience?

Which love story were you most invested in, Scarlett and Jameson’s in the past, or Noah and Georgia’s in the present? Why?

Explore the theme of trust, which is pivotal for both Georgia/Noah and Scarlett/Jameson's relationships. What factors make trust difficult for the characters to give or obtain?

The roles and sacrifices of women during WWII are vividly depicted through the life of Scarlett and her sister Constance. What struck you most about their experiences on the home front?

Scarlett's unfinished novel and the letters documenting her WWII romance are central to the plot. How did reading excerpts from her writings enhance your understanding of Scarlett as a character?

Family dynamics play a big role in the novel, whether it’s the bond between Scarlett and Constance or Georgia's strained relationship with her mother. How did familial ties impact the characters' choices and emotional arcs?

The idea of leaving things "unfinished" resonates through the characters' stories. What do you think the novel says about finding closure or acceptance when something remains incomplete or has an unhappy ending?

Let’s talk about that twist! Did you see it coming? How did it make you feel? Did it make you reassess previous events in a new light?

The Things We Leave Unfinished Book Club Questions PDF

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