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A review by rachelshubin
Things We Left Behind by Lucy Score
adventurous
challenging
emotional
funny
hopeful
lighthearted
mysterious
tense
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.0
The fans of this book are split 50-50. Those who love the entire series, and those who have strictly been waiting for Lucian’s story. I’m from the latter group and while I wouldn’t say I am disappointed with this book, I definitely don’t think it was the story Lucian and Sloane deserved. I’ve read several reviews saying the same, mostly because the story was dragged on for 600 pages and it was trying to be both a romance story but also a thriller with several side stories going on - and that just didn’t work for me as a reader. Not every side character needs a name and a back story! At one point during reading, I started focusing on what could be cut to make the story move along faster.
What I loved was seeing Lucian and Sloane’s high school past most of all and how it led them to become the adults they were. For me, that was the highlight. Two words: cherry tree. The epilogue was fine and everything was neatly wrapped up and ended.
Overall this book packed a lot in 600 pages and I’m exhausted from reading it honestly haha. It was a solid 250 pages too long and I don’t think I will continue to read Lucy Score’s books from here on out. I just don’t click with her writing style, especially writing in the past tense. I’m pretty sure none of the conversations in this book would pass the Bechdel test.
Sloane’s borderline obsessive behavior about finding a husband and starting a family felt excessively annoying because it was one of her most important focuses but also took away from the idea of being a powerful, single badass that she was in book one and two.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
What I loved was seeing Lucian and Sloane’s high school past most of all and how it led them to become the adults they were. For me, that was the highlight. Two words: cherry tree. The epilogue was fine and everything was neatly wrapped up and ended.
Overall this book packed a lot in 600 pages and I’m exhausted from reading it honestly haha. It was a solid 250 pages too long and I don’t think I will continue to read Lucy Score’s books from here on out. I just don’t click with her writing style, especially writing in the past tense. I’m pretty sure none of the conversations in this book would pass the Bechdel test.
Thank you to NetGalley and Bloom Sourcebooks for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Murder, Cancer, Violence, Child abuse, and Physical abuse