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mom2triplets04's review against another edition
4.0
I debated between 3 1/2 stars to 4 stars. I started out really liking this book but as I read on I started to dislike the main character Ryden. He was a teen who got his girlfriend pregnant who died of cancer. He was left to raise the baby. I felt he was selfish and didn't take the responsibility of being a father the right way. This book is heartbreaking.
dizzybell06's review against another edition
2.0
This is probably my favorite by Verdi, but there were still a lot of problems with this book. I feel like Meg was very selfish in the book. Yeah she had cancer and died because of her pregnancy, but she also put her baby's life in danger by deciding to get pregnant when she knew her body wasn't strong and also made Ryden a single parent because of her choices. She didn't think about how hard it would be for him or their baby after she was gone and what it would be like for her baby to grow up without a mother - all she thought about was leaving a legacy behind. I understand her thinking and can't imagine what it would be like to deal with all she had to deal with at a young age, but I don't agree with her decisions. I'd give the book a 2.5.
nagam's review against another edition
4.0
Oh, man. What a book to read as a parent. A book that made me think about how HARD parenthood is, but also how hard it must be to do it alone. And to do it when your heart is just hurting and aching from loss, when it just so completely halts your life's plans and everything changes so, so drastically. I can't even imagine. My parental journey just looked so different (infertility, struggle), but my mom had me at 19 so I really thought so much about her. I never met my biological dad either so that I connected with pretty deeply too. There's so much goodness here, so much food for thought.
I cried, I cringed, and I rooted for Ryden. You want it all to work out for him, but then there's #reality. Definitely give this a read. It'll make you think and ache and FEEL.
I cried, I cringed, and I rooted for Ryden. You want it all to work out for him, but then there's #reality. Definitely give this a read. It'll make you think and ache and FEEL.
eiliux's review against another edition
2.0
Bien a secas.
Novela Young Adult sobre un chico que, a sus 17 años, tiene una hija bebé y ha perdido a la mamá de su nena debido al cáncer. Entretenida pero nada más.
Novela Young Adult sobre un chico que, a sus 17 años, tiene una hija bebé y ha perdido a la mamá de su nena debido al cáncer. Entretenida pero nada más.
akristinab's review against another edition
5.0
Actual Rating: 4.5 Stars
What an intense book, with a lot of heavy subjects. I understand why Meg did what she did. I get it. I don't agree with her choices but I get it. I also understand Ryden's reaction to all of it. I'm glad he finally makes peace with it all, even though it took THE WHOLE BOOK to get it through his thick skull. I just wish we got more of an insight into what happens after Ryden graduates from high school. I usually don't like books that have flashbacks in them because they tend to get confusing but the way this book was written it was done in such a way that I really liked. It's a really amazing book though, and I don't think I'll ever read anything quite like this again.
What an intense book, with a lot of heavy subjects. I understand why Meg did what she did. I get it. I don't agree with her choices but I get it. I also understand Ryden's reaction to all of it. I'm glad he finally makes peace with it all, even though it took THE WHOLE BOOK to get it through his thick skull. I just wish we got more of an insight into what happens after Ryden graduates from high school. I usually don't like books that have flashbacks in them because they tend to get confusing but the way this book was written it was done in such a way that I really liked. It's a really amazing book though, and I don't think I'll ever read anything quite like this again.
bluebeereads's review against another edition
5.0
Istyria book blog ~ B's world of enchanted books
I just love Jessica Verdi so very much. I have read all three books from her now and I love all of them. They’re all so fantastic and I really hope she keeps delivering great books like this in the future. They’re all very emotional and heartbreaking, but in the end I’m always smiling. And this one is no different and that makes me very happy.
What You Left Behind is about Ryden. Ryden feels guilty, because it’s all his fault. If he hadn’t gotten Meg pregnant, she would have never stopped her chemo treatments and she’d still be alive. Instead, Ryden is failing at fatherhood alone, one diaper at a time. Taken care of a baby while you’re still so young is hard enough, but taking care of a baby while mourning someone you loved so much is even harder. So when Ryden meets Joni at his work, he doesn’t tell her everything about him and he’s starting to feel like his old self again. But then he finds an old journey from Meg and it stirs up old emotions. Ryden’s convinced Meg has left him other journals to find with a message that could help him make sense of his life. But how can you have a future when you’re stuck in the past?
One of the reasons I love Jessica’s books is that she doesn’t shy away from tough subjects and how well she handles them in her books. I never feel like she’s beating me over the head with moral lessons. No, she’s telling a story of someone in a tough situation. One that is very much possible in real life. Though I’ve never been in a situation like those she’s tackled in her books so far, I know that someday she will write a book about a situation I am familiar with and I know she’ll do a great job at it. And I know it’ll hit me personally too. And it’ll be hard to read, but it’ll be worth it because of who wrote it. I don’t need to tell you the writing is great, do I? Good. Because it is. It really is.
In this particular book we deal with teen pregnancy and also cancer, a bit. And like always, Jessica doesn’t try to teach us a lesson on how stupid it is to get a kid when you’re still a kid yourself. Instead she shows how hard life is as a teen parent. It’s not easy and your life will change because you’ll have to take care of a whole other person. You will have to make sacrifices for that baby and though it’ll be worth it because there’s probably nothing greater in the world than being a parent (I’m not a parent, but I imagine that’s the general thought of most parents…), it’s really hard. And this book shows that because it’s not easy for Ryden. More so for him because he’s also mourning the mother of the baby, his girlfriend Meg, whom he loved so very much. He hasn’t been able to let go of her yet and he never really said goodbye either. He became a dad and he lost Meg all in one day and I really felt bad for him. He was a wonderful main character and I loved seeing him grow over the course of the book.
I also have to mention his mom, who is one of the best parents ever. She is so supportive and helpful and amazing and I just loved her! I also loved Joni and her romance with Ryden. I liked Alan and Mabel, Meg’s best friend and her sister. And yes, I have to say I also liked Meg. I didn’t get much from her and I only met her through the pieces of her journal, but I got a pretty good glimpse at who she was and I liked her. I saw enough to feel the struggle and pain Ryden felt.
What You Left Behind is another fantastic book by Jessica Verdi. It’s emotional and hearbreaking but also very sweet and touching and it made me smile in the end. I highly recommend this book to all fans of contemporary. Go read it!
This review is or will be posted on Reading With ABC.
I just love Jessica Verdi so very much. I have read all three books from her now and I love all of them. They’re all so fantastic and I really hope she keeps delivering great books like this in the future. They’re all very emotional and heartbreaking, but in the end I’m always smiling. And this one is no different and that makes me very happy.
What You Left Behind is about Ryden. Ryden feels guilty, because it’s all his fault. If he hadn’t gotten Meg pregnant, she would have never stopped her chemo treatments and she’d still be alive. Instead, Ryden is failing at fatherhood alone, one diaper at a time. Taken care of a baby while you’re still so young is hard enough, but taking care of a baby while mourning someone you loved so much is even harder. So when Ryden meets Joni at his work, he doesn’t tell her everything about him and he’s starting to feel like his old self again. But then he finds an old journey from Meg and it stirs up old emotions. Ryden’s convinced Meg has left him other journals to find with a message that could help him make sense of his life. But how can you have a future when you’re stuck in the past?
One of the reasons I love Jessica’s books is that she doesn’t shy away from tough subjects and how well she handles them in her books. I never feel like she’s beating me over the head with moral lessons. No, she’s telling a story of someone in a tough situation. One that is very much possible in real life. Though I’ve never been in a situation like those she’s tackled in her books so far, I know that someday she will write a book about a situation I am familiar with and I know she’ll do a great job at it. And I know it’ll hit me personally too. And it’ll be hard to read, but it’ll be worth it because of who wrote it. I don’t need to tell you the writing is great, do I? Good. Because it is. It really is.
In this particular book we deal with teen pregnancy and also cancer, a bit. And like always, Jessica doesn’t try to teach us a lesson on how stupid it is to get a kid when you’re still a kid yourself. Instead she shows how hard life is as a teen parent. It’s not easy and your life will change because you’ll have to take care of a whole other person. You will have to make sacrifices for that baby and though it’ll be worth it because there’s probably nothing greater in the world than being a parent (I’m not a parent, but I imagine that’s the general thought of most parents…), it’s really hard. And this book shows that because it’s not easy for Ryden. More so for him because he’s also mourning the mother of the baby, his girlfriend Meg, whom he loved so very much. He hasn’t been able to let go of her yet and he never really said goodbye either. He became a dad and he lost Meg all in one day and I really felt bad for him. He was a wonderful main character and I loved seeing him grow over the course of the book.
I also have to mention his mom, who is one of the best parents ever. She is so supportive and helpful and amazing and I just loved her! I also loved Joni and her romance with Ryden. I liked Alan and Mabel, Meg’s best friend and her sister. And yes, I have to say I also liked Meg. I didn’t get much from her and I only met her through the pieces of her journal, but I got a pretty good glimpse at who she was and I liked her. I saw enough to feel the struggle and pain Ryden felt.
What You Left Behind is another fantastic book by Jessica Verdi. It’s emotional and hearbreaking but also very sweet and touching and it made me smile in the end. I highly recommend this book to all fans of contemporary. Go read it!
This review is or will be posted on Reading With ABC.
bookfever's review against another edition
4.0
What You Left Behind is an excellent example of a well-written and very realistic young adult book in a guy's perspective. I definitely want to read more books like this.
This book revolves around Ryden. Six months ago his girlfriend, Meg, died giving birth to their daughter, Hope, because she refused another round of chemo therapy.
So obviously this book deals with some tough subjects. Usually I'm kinda on the fence about these type of books but I really liked this one. Most books featuring teen parents are in the girl's point of view but with What You Left Behind it was in the guy's. I loved that. It was so good.
Another thing I loved was how realistic it was. It really was like how I expected a seventeen year old single dad would think. Ryden struggled a lot and there was definitely no sugar coating the hard moments but I really liked it.
Ryden's mom was the best ever. She was so supportive through it all. She needs an award!
My only minor point was the romance between Ryden and Joni. It wasn't like I didn't like the girl but I just couldn't get on board with it. It felt almost like the story could've done without the romance between them and just let those two be friends. But it is what it is and I still thought it was a really good story.
My favorite thing, however, were the entries from Meg's journal that were about what Meg was thinking and feeling through it all when she was alive, that Ryden had found. I loved that.
This book revolves around Ryden. Six months ago his girlfriend, Meg, died giving birth to their daughter, Hope, because she refused another round of chemo therapy.
So obviously this book deals with some tough subjects. Usually I'm kinda on the fence about these type of books but I really liked this one. Most books featuring teen parents are in the girl's point of view but with What You Left Behind it was in the guy's. I loved that. It was so good.
Another thing I loved was how realistic it was. It really was like how I expected a seventeen year old single dad would think. Ryden struggled a lot and there was definitely no sugar coating the hard moments but I really liked it.
Ryden's mom was the best ever. She was so supportive through it all. She needs an award!
My only minor point was the romance between Ryden and Joni. It wasn't like I didn't like the girl but I just couldn't get on board with it. It felt almost like the story could've done without the romance between them and just let those two be friends. But it is what it is and I still thought it was a really good story.
My favorite thing, however, were the entries from Meg's journal that were about what Meg was thinking and feeling through it all when she was alive, that Ryden had found. I loved that.
kimching232's review against another edition
4.0
I went into What You Left Behind with huge expectations. I know I shouldn't have done that, but come on! The main character is a single dad, which is something that I've been waiting for, and I'm guessing a lot of other people have been as well.
The book started out with what I felt was an unnatural and tense tone, but got better a while later. I'm not sure if it really became better or I just got used to that tone, but it flowed more and more smoothly as the story went on. I was a bit disappointed at first, but as the story progressed, it began to live up to my expectations.
It seemed kind of weird that Ryder was able to love another girl after only seven months after Meg had died, but I think the journals and the other events in the book really helped Ryder find closure.
What I really liked about this book is how realistic the story felt to me. Ryder started out with no clue how to take care of Hope and he kind of despised the kid a little bit at the start. Then, as the story progressed, he learned to be more at ease with Hope, and he learned to treasure her, to become a father to her. I'm glad that things started and ended that way since I think that's what really happens. He is a single father after all, and Meg died conceiving Hope.
I really like how the plot in this book went as well. I loved the pacing of book - it was neither to fast nor too slow, but just right. I loved how things progressed and unravelled. The book was kind of predictable for me, although I'm not sure whether the author intended it to be that way or not. Either way, I still really enjoyed reading this book.
My favorite character in the book is Ryden's mom. Joni comes a close second, but the mom wins it all. There were times when it was clear that she didn't like Ryden's decisions regarding Hope, but since Hope is his daughter, she only supported Ryden and stood behind him; even helping him with the decision he made. She sacrificed a lot not only for her son but also for her granddaughter. At age 30+, that's really huge! She definitely wins a mother of the year award for me.
I like how despite Ryden blaming himself for what happened to Meg, this book is not full of self-pity and wallowing. This book is not centered on that, and it's more than that. It's about closure, family, friends and learning through one's own experiences.
What You Left Behind is definitely worth a read. I can't give it more stars because of the first few parts of this book, but I was really able to enjoy this one. It has such a unique story and I really connected with it. I even felt a bit teary eyed, which has not happened to me in a long time.
Overall, What You Left Behind is enjoyable and unique, and it will definitely be worth your time.
The book started out with what I felt was an unnatural and tense tone, but got better a while later. I'm not sure if it really became better or I just got used to that tone, but it flowed more and more smoothly as the story went on. I was a bit disappointed at first, but as the story progressed, it began to live up to my expectations.
It seemed kind of weird that Ryder was able to love another girl after only seven months after Meg had died, but I think the journals and the other events in the book really helped Ryder find closure.
What I really liked about this book is how realistic the story felt to me. Ryder started out with no clue how to take care of Hope and he kind of despised the kid a little bit at the start. Then, as the story progressed, he learned to be more at ease with Hope, and he learned to treasure her, to become a father to her. I'm glad that things started and ended that way since I think that's what really happens. He is a single father after all, and Meg died conceiving Hope.
I really like how the plot in this book went as well. I loved the pacing of book - it was neither to fast nor too slow, but just right. I loved how things progressed and unravelled. The book was kind of predictable for me, although I'm not sure whether the author intended it to be that way or not. Either way, I still really enjoyed reading this book.
My favorite character in the book is Ryden's mom. Joni comes a close second, but the mom wins it all. There were times when it was clear that she didn't like Ryden's decisions regarding Hope, but since Hope is his daughter, she only supported Ryden and stood behind him; even helping him with the decision he made. She sacrificed a lot not only for her son but also for her granddaughter. At age 30+, that's really huge! She definitely wins a mother of the year award for me.
I like how despite Ryden blaming himself for what happened to Meg, this book is not full of self-pity and wallowing. This book is not centered on that, and it's more than that. It's about closure, family, friends and learning through one's own experiences.
"Even though life has been fucking hard lately and it's going to be really fucking hard for the forseeable future, … I love this baby. She's more than just Meg's legacy. She's my daughter too. I'm her dad."
What You Left Behind is definitely worth a read. I can't give it more stars because of the first few parts of this book, but I was really able to enjoy this one. It has such a unique story and I really connected with it. I even felt a bit teary eyed, which has not happened to me in a long time.
Overall, What You Left Behind is enjoyable and unique, and it will definitely be worth your time.
inwonderland49's review against another edition
4.0
This book is an emotional and heart-wrenching story that I loved. Jessica Verdi brings us this story about a seventeen year old, Ryden Brooks and how he is now the father of a newborn baby. Oh and this baby, no longer has a mother. She died from cancer. So Jessica Verdi tells us this story about Ryden who is trying to do best by Hope (his baby) and who is trying to do what Meg (his dead girlfriend) would have wanted him to do.
Ryden goes through a lot of changes within this book. The loss of his girlfriend, the birth of his baby, his soccer career, his dream school, etc. There is a lot on Ryden's plate and he has to somehow fit it all in. Throughout this book, Ryden goes on a journey trying to find journals that Meg left behind. He also goes through a journey on how he grows.
As much as I loved this book. I could not give it a full 5 stars because there was just one thing missing. More father/daughter time. We don't see much of it. And there are times where it is a little depressing that he doesn't want to tell this girl that he has a daughter. I mean, I get it. Sometimes, you just need one outlet where no one really knows who you are and you can just be yourself. But it really bothered me.
But even with that complaint. I still loved this book. It was different. We hardly ever get teenage pregnancies from the father's viewpoint and I loved that. The narration is beautiful and raw. And I loved how Meg had this presence throughout the book without being physically there. I mean yes, she was physically there in the flashbacks. But the reader knows that she's not really there anymore. And it's just this beautifully poignant story that you won't be sorry for reading.
Ryden goes through a lot of changes within this book. The loss of his girlfriend, the birth of his baby, his soccer career, his dream school, etc. There is a lot on Ryden's plate and he has to somehow fit it all in. Throughout this book, Ryden goes on a journey trying to find journals that Meg left behind. He also goes through a journey on how he grows.
As much as I loved this book. I could not give it a full 5 stars because there was just one thing missing. More father/daughter time. We don't see much of it. And there are times where it is a little depressing that he doesn't want to tell this girl that he has a daughter. I mean, I get it. Sometimes, you just need one outlet where no one really knows who you are and you can just be yourself. But it really bothered me.
But even with that complaint. I still loved this book. It was different. We hardly ever get teenage pregnancies from the father's viewpoint and I loved that. The narration is beautiful and raw. And I loved how Meg had this presence throughout the book without being physically there. I mean yes, she was physically there in the flashbacks. But the reader knows that she's not really there anymore. And it's just this beautifully poignant story that you won't be sorry for reading.