The Things We Leave Unfinished is a standalone novel by the New York Times bestselling author Rebecca Yarros.
At the time of publishing this guide, this story is available on Kindle Unlimited.
Here’s more about the book, along with our free Dirty Dozen downloadable discussion question guide for your spicy book club.
Book description
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.
The Things We Leave Unfinished book club discussion guide
**PLEASE BE AWARE THAT THIS DISCUSSION QUESTION GUIDE MIGHT INCLUDE SPOILERS**
We’ve provided the Dirty Dozen below; twelve spicy and intriguing questions to spark discussion and help you uncover the spine-tingling depths of the story.
The Dirty Dozen
Foreplay – Warm Up Questions
1. What’s the overall spice level? 1 (Not Spicy) – 10 (Spiciest Thing I’ve Ever Read)?
2. How does the spice level compare to the other books we’ve read together?
3. “Romance isn’t about unrealistic expectations and sex. It’s about love and overcoming adversity through what can be considered a universal experience.” What makes something a true romance for you: is it the grand gesture, the quiet loyalty, or the choice to stay when it would be easier to walk away?
The Spicy Bits – Gettin’ Down and Dirty with the Plot
4. Would you have listened to the book deal discussion if you were in Georgia’s position, knowing that sometimes “just listening” is the first crack in your armor with your mom?
5. At the beginning of the story, what kind of ending do you think they deserved: something soft and safe, or that more poignant ending? We’ll come back to this at the end.
6. Do you think Jameson and Scarlett’s love was true or rushed by the stress of war?
7. Do you think love should confront someone’s flaws head-on and push them to grow (even if it’s uncomfortable), or should love feel more like acceptance without conditions?
8. Noah says he tries to live his life like his mom will find out everything he’s done. What do you think about living your life as if someone you respect would eventually find out every choice you make? Is that integrity or just fear of being exposed?
9. Discuss the fight between Jameson and Scarlett about the Pacific; was her anger warranted? Why or why not? What about when Georgia finds out that Noah lied about finishing the novel: was her anger warranted? Why or why not?
10. When trust breaks, do you believe there’s a specific moment you feel it – a shift in your chest – or does it erode slowly until you suddenly realize it’s gone?
11. What do you think of the twists and turns that come out in the last 10% of the story?
Aftercare – Final Thoughts
12. Revisiting our earlier question… with all that we know at the end, did your answer change from the beginning about needing a happy vs. poignant ending? Which do you generally prefer in your stories and would you have put Noah in the romance section even with “poignant endings?” Did you agree with the changes that Georgia made in the end?
Bonus: What questions do you have for the author? If you could dog-ear a page with a question for the author, what would it be?
Please feel free to use this post as a starting point for your spicy book club discussion questions and use the comments below to share your thoughts and insights about the book. You can also get a free downloadable copy of the discussion guide using the button below.
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