Right Where You Left Me

by Calla Devlin

In search of the perfect story to put a human face on a tragedy for his newspaper, my dad will fly into the eye of the storm. And now he’s heading to Ukraine, straight into the aftermath of a deadly earthquake. I don’t want him to leave. I don’t want to spend the week alone in a silent house with my mother, whose classically Russian reserve has built a wall between us that neither of us knows how to tear down. But I don’t tell him this. I don’t say stay.

I think I’m holding it together okay—until the FBI comes knocking on our door. Now it’s all I can do to fight off the horrifying images in my head. The quake has left so many orphans and widows, but Mom and I refuse to be counted among them. Whatever it takes to get Dad back, I’ll do it. Even if it means breaking a promise…or the law.

Genres: Young Adult, Contemporary, Romance, Coming Of Age, Family, Ebooks, Fiction

256 pages, Hardcover

First published September 5, 2017

About the author

Calla Devlin is the author of Tell Me Something Real, a finalist for the PEN Literary Award, finalist for the William C. Morris Debut Award, and International Literacy Literary Award Honor, and Right Where You Left Me. A Pushcart nominee and winner of the Best of Blood and Thunder Award, her stories have been included in numerous literary journals and anthologies.

Reviews

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Read this review and more on my blog.The Book Return Blog
'Right Where You Left Me' is the story of Charlotte. Her mother is a Russian immigrate who works in the bakery downstairs from their apartment. Charlotte's father is a larger than life newspaper reporter who loves to be the first on the ground during natural disasters. At the very begging of 'Right Where You Left Me', Charlotte's father leaves for Ukraine to cover an earthquake. Her father soon becomes missing. Charlotte's shared experience with her mother of worrying about Charlotte's father draws them both closer together and further apart.
I began reading 'Right Where You Left Me' the day before hurricane Irma hit here in Florida. It was an interesting surprise to find out that this story was about someone who covered natural disasters. I loved that this was a fresh topic that hasn't been touched on much in YA. I think how a family reacts when a member is missing in a faraway place is a very interesting premise to explore.
Some of the great elements of this story that I really enjoyed was the details about the baking.  I also thought an important topic that is explored is that Charlotte has to deal with competing with her dead sister. My absolute favorite part was the few Russian folk tales that are peppered throughout the book. These were fresh stories that I never heard before. They made me want to read more east european tales. These folktales also helped to give an inside look into the state of Charlotte's mind. 
Now for the elements that didn't work for me. With the exception of Charlotte's mother I really didn't connect with any of characters. I just felt that were kind of flat and I really didn't get a sense of who they were. For some reason I really didn't like any of Charlotte's friends (or the jerky FBI guy). I also felt like they were too involved in the story and just seemed like they were constantly mentioned.
I also wasn't crazy about all the photography stuff. I feel like half of the YA books I've read lately have inspiring photographers as characters and I just find  the photography details to be boring.
Finally, I felt like this should have been a short story and not a novel. It seemed so long for a 247 page book.  All the action was at the beginning and at the end. The middle was just filled with the fluffy details of Charlotte's everyday routines.
My final judgement is that despite being problematic in many areas, 'Right Where You Left Me' is a culturally rich and ethnically diverse novel with a unique premise. The storyline is timely and relevant in today's world and worth a read.
This review was originally posted on The Book return...

[Christy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Last year, I loved Tell Me Something Real and enjoyed visiting with Calla when she launched here. When I learned she was writing a book set in San Francisco, I knew I had to read it!

“I’ll be here,” I say. “Right where you left me.” He kisses my cheek. I tell him I love him.

Calla Devlin shall hereby be crowned as queen of writing family dynamics. Right Where You Left Me is a stunning follow up after Tell Me Something Real and is a treat for fans of Jeff Zentner and Jandy Nelson.

This is one of those rare books where the plot and characters play an equal role in why I loved it so my. Generally I am a character driven reader but Calla manages to make me care about what's going on around them as much as I do the people. Charlotte, our main character, is so tangible that I felt I could see her in the pages.

Charlotte's dad is a journalist and heads into dangerous territory to cover stories. This time he's in the Ukraine, where he doesn't come right back from. Charlotte and her father are very close, a polar dynamic from her mother and relationships with many of her peers. But we all know experiences change people and their support networks. This book is less about rescuing her father and more about rescuing Charlotte from the rocky relationships she has.

Why do terrible and wonderful things occur at the same time?

Given the context and severity of her father's capture, Right Where You Left Me has the potential to be absolutely heartbreaking. I won't share the ending but the one thing I can say is that Charlotte's journey through the book makes it worth the journey of losing her father. There's certainly some adventure in the story, given that Charlotte goes on her own search to figure out where her father is, both helping and muddying the investigation (but someone has to get stuff done!). You know it's not safe but you can't help but cheer for her.

Calla Devlin has created a fan of me and I can't wait to see what comes next!

[MsArdychan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Please Note: I received and advance reader's copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. This did not influence the opinions of my review in any way.

About a year ago, I had the great pleasure of reading Calla Devlin's first novel, Tell Me Something Real. It was an emotional roller-coaster of a book! I loved it. So when the publisher offered an advance reader's copy of the author's next book, Right Where You Left Me, I couldn't resist.

Although these books very different, they both explore the complicated relationship between mothers and daughters. With foggy San Francisco as a backdrop, the compelling story of Charlotte's missing father pushes her to confront her challenging relationship with her mom. If her dad doesn't come home, can Charlotte and her mom continue as a family? The sense of impending doom is palatable.

What I Liked:

Setting:

Okay, I am very biased here. I live in the San Francisco Bay Area, so any book set here is one I will be partial to. But the author's descriptions of specific neighborhoods are so vivid, I must assume that she has lived in San Francisco at some point in her life. There is simply too much love in her descriptions to have been made up. Now I want to revisit the areas Calla Devlin has placed the story, walk the streets, and fall in love with San Francisco all over again!

Food:

The Russian bakery items that Charlotte's mom, Valentina, makes are prominently featured as part of this book! The descriptions of bird's milk cake, rogaliki, and Tulskie prianiki are mouth-watering! I thought making sharlotka the dessert that she associates with Josh (her crush) to be so clever because of how Charlotte and sharlotka sound so similar.

Characters:

Charlotte and her mom, Valentina, are both complex characters. Valentina is distant and is not very affectionate with her daughter, making Charlotte feel isolated and unloved. At first, I thought she was a little bratty for feeling this way, but as the book slowly unfolded, we begin to understand why Charlotte feels this way.


Charlotte is also very conflicted about many aspect of her life. She is attracted to Josh, but knows her friends don't approve of him. She also thought she wanted to be a journalist, like her dad. But she is also drawn to photography and art. Can she disappoint her dad (if he ever returns), given what he has gone through?


Valentina is Russian and immigrated to the United States when she married Charlotte's dad, Jeremiah. Although it seems like they are living a happy life, tragedy lurks in the corners. Their first child, Lena, died as an infant, and when Charlotte was born, Valentina suffered a stroke. Does her mom blame Charlotte for causing her stroke? Does she resent that Charlotte is alive while Lena isn't?

There is so much misunderstanding on both sides. It is rather heart-breaking, yet I get how people's perceptions can cause a rift in a relationship.

What I Was Mixed About:

I thought the main event in the book was a bit too easily resolved. As it was pointed out in the book, these situations can continue for years. However, I think that unless you want an epic saga that spans a decade, resolving the event was a smart move.

[Kristen · Rating 2 out of 5]

No matter how much I list the many reasons he's probably safe, my anxiety builds. Something's wrong. I know it.

When disasters happen, reporters go out to document the event. This is an infallible truth for Charlotte Lang, whose father is one of those reporters. Every time he leaves, she worries for him, and struggles with the thought of staying alone with her mother for an extended period of time. Then there is a devastating earthquake in Ukraine, and her father packs up and heads out. Like always, Charlotte worries about him. The days pass without any contact with him, and Charlotte is heartbroken to discover that her father has officially been declared missing. Then the FBI shows up with more bad news. Charlotte would do anything to get her father back, but is there anything she can even do?

Right Where You Left Me is an extremely short novel detailing the coming-of-age story of Charlotte, who is struggling with what she wants from the future, as well as a strained relationship with her mother, a Russian immigrant. It was an extremely quick read, but I just didn't connect with it as much as I wanted to, so I'm giving it 2 stars.

I didn't really connect with any of these characters. I felt that they were all pretty one-dimensional, from our narrator, Charlotte, to her mother and her friends. Charlotte's anxiety and grief over her father being declared missing is understandable, but it didn't really hit me emotionally. The same can be said for her relationship with her mother, a relationship that she feels is strained and distant, stemming mostly from the death of her older sister before Charlotte was even born.

"I think things might be changing with my mom, though. She's talking to me more. That's good."

When she's not focused on her issues with her mother, Charlotte is having an internal crisis over what she wants for her future. She loves photography and has always said that she is going to follow in her father's footsteps and be a journalist. But deep down inside she knows it's not what she loves best.

But with Dad gone, I can't do anything besides photojournalism. I want to be like Dad. I need to be like him. He's strong and smart and has a lightness that lifts up everyone around him. If I'm not like him, then I'm like Mom, fragile and afraid.

I think what I took issue with in this coming-of-age story is that Charlotte is the one standing in her own way. She looks down on her mom because of what she perceives their relationship to be like, but she never makes an effort to discuss things with her mom, nor understand her. She's having a crisis about what college to go to and what to study when she gets there, but it's not because her parents are pushing her for one thing while she wants another, it's because she's stubbornly holding onto something she knows she doesn't love.

And I think this book could've done without the mild romance. It's just another fruitless, emotionless relationship for Charlotte. Apparently she's had a crush on this boy for years, a boy who her friends don't like, and he's finally starting to pay attention to her. It was unnecessary and I didn't really care for it.

Right Where You Left Me isn't a particularly bad book. I just didn't really care much for it. I wanted so much more from it than what I got. For me, it was "just okay," nothing more, nothing less.

[Didi · Rating 4 out of 5]

If you need some emotional, family-related reading, I recommend you to pick this up.

𝗥𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝗪𝗵𝗲𝗿𝗲 𝗬𝗼𝘂 𝗟𝗲𝗳𝘁 𝗠𝗲 𝗯𝘆 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗮 𝗗𝗲𝘃𝗹𝗶𝗻
𝗥𝗮𝘁𝗲; 𝟰 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗿𝘀

The story tells of Charlotte Lang, who has been living in San Franciso with her parents. Her dad is a catastrophe reporter, which later is lost when working in Ukraine. She and her mother, both cannot live without him, he is like their anchor, Charlotte thinks if he's gone, she going to lose everything.

The journey reading from the first page till the end was very captivating as everything's happened has a silver lining.

Charlotte learned more about her parents, have friends who are always by her side, a boy who like her back, about the school, future, and how to make choices — which also taught me and make me think about my relationships with those I love.

“𝙂𝙮𝙚 𝙗𝙮 𝙫𝙮 𝙣𝙞 𝙢𝙤𝙮𝙚 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙙𝙩𝙨𝙚 𝙗𝙪𝙙𝙚𝙩 𝙨𝙡𝙚𝙙𝙤𝙫𝙖𝙩.“ 𝙒𝙝𝙚𝙧𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙜𝙤 𝙢𝙮 𝙝𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙩 𝙬𝙞𝙡𝙡 𝙛𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙤𝙬.

The ending is everything! Perfect! It makes me cried 😭 And her interaction with her mother — all the love messages and Russian — make me so emotional 😭

And ofc, there is a boy named Josh *I think I don't need to explain more on him, he's hot!*

[Mina Moreland · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well I finished this book fast...

I’ll also keep this review spoiler free and be very vague for anyone who hasn’t read this book already!

“Right Where You Left Me” was definitely not why I expected. The way the plot was described I thought it would be more of an adventure-thriller type novel. The actual book was more of a drama novel and didn’t have much action at all- though the book was still great!

This book is filled with descriptive and accurate visuals of Charlotte’s life and San Francisco it self. Having lived in the Bay Area majority of my life I can confirm how perfectly accurate the visuals and descriptions are: “From this high up, I can see most of the block, yards filled with paper lanterns, container gardens, and clotheslines. Lights twinkle from the base of Bernal Hill. This part of the city feels so charged, so full of life.”

I related a lot to Charlotte’s relationship with her father in how close she is with him, and how much she cares for him, and her struggle connecting with her Mother as well. Charlotte and I have a lot in common from where we live, to our personalities, to our photography passion, and parent relationships; our similarities made this book especially enjoyable for me.

Charlotte also seems to be a sort of sentimentalist (yet another thing I relate to). She has many traditions and rituals she does quite often- mostly because of how her Dad often has to go away for work. “I started doing this a couple of years ago, taking a goodbye picture each time he leaves. When I get home I’ll print it out and tape it on the fridge.”

There is also a relationship between Charlotte and boy named Josh- for anyone who loves romance in books 😘

The only thing that kept me from giving this book five stars was how the plot, at times, felt sort of unrealistic. Partially it was what the characters said and partially it was the story and thing happening.

Overall this was a good read, and not too long either and I think it’s definitely worth reading.

[Jayde Windus - Crazy☆Jayde☆Reads · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charlotte is your average teen living in San Francisco with Russian immigrant mother Valentina and adventure-seeker father Jeremiah. Her father goes to the Ukraine to get footage of the devastating earthquake and, as a compassionate truth-seeking journalist, he feels compelled to write a story on it. But lo and behold, he goes missing. This book is about Charlotte's struggle to adjust to life without her father and her persistence in doing everything she can to bring him home, even if it goes against the orders of the FBI.

For the most part, I enjoyed this book and adored the deep and lyrical writing of Calla Devlin. She had an artistic way of telling the story through delicious Russian pastries and fascinating folklore. It's what kept the story interesting, otherwise it was a rather boring read.
Although the story centred around the disappearance of Charlotte's father, there were elements to the story that didn't fit. The romantic interest for one. Charlotte clung to him like a kitten too afraid to jump into the water. Her desperate "need for him" was ridiculous. Emotionally, she needed his attention to make her feel better, so it only questioned why she was even with him at all if only for that. It felt like the story dragged a bit with these two and could've been better had the writer focused more on the sister-like friendship between Emma and Charlotte instead.

Sadly, the ending fell flat. It seemed to go in the direction of how it should of ended, but ended in such an unsatisfying way it was frustrating.

All in all, it was an okay book. However, I ADORE Calla Devlin's writing and it wasn't at all her ability to write a story that lost my interest, but the story itself. There was not much to run with.
Despite the fact that I didn't love this book does not mean I won't be willing to read her other novels. In fact, I'd be more than keen to read them. Never judge an author based on ONE book!

[Casey, with a book · Rating 3 out of 5]

Because I now live in San Francisco, what initially caught my attention about this book was the stunning cover with the Golden Gate Bridge. And, while reading, one of my favorite things about it was the familiar details of the city. But in fact, the setting makes only one layer of the novel's atmospheric richness. Reading through Charlotte's lens, I enjoyed both her observations of the world and her inner reflections, which sometimes melded together. I particularly appreciated her portrait of her mother, the nostalgia she evoked in describing her mother's baking, the infusion of Russian folklore, and how she used that fiction to make sense of her life.

Despite how charmed I was by the writing, I never got as invested in the story or characters as I wanted to be. This book tends to be more on the reflective side as Charlotte goes through the hardship of her journalist father being held captive by a Ukrainian rebel group after a natural disaster. However, while Charlotte's grief is the focus of much of this book, I don't know that it was ever as moving as the more nostalgic moments were. Charlotte's hardship is also spliced with her school life and her worries about transitioning to college. This meshing of two realms, and especially the very out-of-place romance, interrupted the more contemplative tone rather than balancing it. Perhaps it was the awkwardness of this that made a sub-300-page book seem to stretch a bit too long. That, added to a rather convenient ending, made me not connect with the book as much as I wanted to.

Overall, while I think this book is heartfelt, I feel as though all the different aspects of this story never came together smoothly. And while some instances of beautiful writing stood out, the plot did not not equally hold my attention.


An ARC of this title was provided by NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

[Renee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ms. Devlin is a master at writing novels with intricate and challenging family dynamics, overlapping layers of intrigue and suspense, gut wrenching twists and turns that pull the reader in and engage them right up till the very end of the story.

Right Where You Left Me starts out so lovingly that you know that something just has to collapse and it soon does. The trauma of this family crisis becomes more intense as the story progresses. In addition, the author's portrayal of Charlotte and her Mother's relationship as well as their Russian roots really enhances this hauntingly beautiful story.

I loved reading every page of this book! The intricacies of the plot, the cast of well developed characters and the experience of a budding young love amidst a tragic family event just grabbed my heart and wouldn't let go.


4.5 Stars (I marked 5 stars for rating as Goodreads doesn't have the 4.5 option)


I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Ms. Devlin, Atheneum Books and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read and review this book.

[Jan Blazanin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The narrator of this young adult novel is Charlotte, a teenage photography buff who lives in San Francisco with her parents. Her dad is a journalist who flies around the globe to report the human angle of disasters. Her Russian mom, a baker, is quiet and detached. When Charlotte's dad disappears in Ukraine while covering the aftermath of an devastating earthquake, she's frightened but tries to keep positive. Then the FBI steps in and tells Charlotte that any attempt by her, her friends, or family to free her dad will be considered treason.

This novel is as much about Charlotte's estrangement from her mom as it is about attempting to bring her dad home. The complex relationship between mother and daughter brings this story to a deeper level than many novels reach. Highly recommended.

[Kerran Olson · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5/4* I found this to be quite a unique contemporary YA- it covered topics I hadn't really come across much, especially relating to politics of conflict/journalism. I also really liked the family dynamics explored between Charlotte and her mother throughout the book, and the cultural interactions- I loved the Russian folklore included, and the phrases scattered throughout the book. I did find a lot of the other characters and relationships a bit flat- I felt like I was told that Charlottes friends were great, but I felt like I didn't get to know them and they were just a constant fixture, and even the love interest didn't really interest me. This was a cute, quick read for me, I enjoyed the writing style and would definitely pick up this author again!

[Melinda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Charlotte's dad is a reporter who likes to travel around the world covering a story. When he is kidnapped by rebels in Ukraine, Charlotte is devastated. She has a hard time connecting with her Russian mother and feels guilty that she survived childhood while her sister died. As Charlotte falls in love with one of the guys on the school newspaper, they work together to find a way to force the FBI to bring her dad home. After years of misunderstandings with her mother, they realize they have to lean on each other in this tough time. I enjoyed the book. Give to readers of Rachel Cohn or Nancy Werlin.

[Kezia · Rating 2 out of 5]

I felt disconnected emotionally with the characters most of the time, even during moments where I should have been able to empathize. The writing style was not for me, and as for the plot it was too slow for my taste. On top of that the romance just seemed so out of place... I had hoped Right Where You Left Me would be a raw and heart-wrenching read — HECK, I was ready to bawl my eyes out :( — but apparently I was wrong...

[Azelyn Klein · Rating 4 out of 5]

Listened to the audiobook on a road trip. Highly enjoyable. I liked the suspense and the emphasis on family, storytelling, and exploring what one enjoys. I feel like too many novels are cut and dry about "this character enjoys this thing!" whereas this book explores what it means to acknowledge what that just because one person likes one thing doesn't mean they can't pursue something else and change their mind on what they want to do.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

On the one hand there's a lot to like--it's a one shot, Devlin does a really great job of making the father's absence its' own character, there's some really great imagery in here. On the other hand, I feel like this wrapped up too quickly and nicely, and it's a very internally driven book. It's not bad! I don't know that I need to revisit this ever, but for a short listen I liked it.

[Abby G · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this book. It had fast rising action and a nice climax. I wish we had gotten a good epilogue though, because it would have wrapped up the whole story very nicely.

[Kourtnee Futcher]

DNF

[Kieran · Rating 4 out of 5]

I could feel the struggle and the feelings of Charlotte and her family just through the thin pages and the text. The suspense was killing me in the end.

[Barb Royal · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another page-turner and a touching story from an outstanding Iowa author!

[Rose | Adventurous Bookworm · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.5

[blayne :] · Rating 3 out of 5]

beginning was great and ending was great but the majority of the book was literally just waiting for something to happen…which is lowkey the point but i didn’t like it🤞🏾💀

[Ellie · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't bad to read, it was fairly quick and easy to read, but I didn't care much for it. I thought the plot was interesting and unique, but I just think it could he=ave been done better. I didn't feel any connection to any of the characters and I didn't feel the emotion that I wish I had felt. Normally stories involving fathers, especially good ones, always get to me because of my close relationship with my father, but unfortunately this one didn't do it for me. The main character annoyed me. I mean, I understand the anxiety and fear of not knowing what's going to happen to your parent, but she really irked me. She took her mother for granted, especially when her dad's life was up in the air, she had toxic friends who I felt she was also toxic to and she blamed other people for things that were completely up to her and she should have figured out on her own or at least with others in a more helpful and efficient manner. Some things in this book also just felt forced, including the romance that had potential but wasn't well thought out and just got annoying with how problematic it was for some of the other characters. I also felt the Russian was a bit forced. I understand the elements of culture that were added, like the baking and the folk tales which I thought were interesting and well done, but the bits of language inserted just felt like someone wanted to show how well they could use google translate and adding a Russian word to every sentence. Being bilingual I understand switching back and forth sometimes when needed and using words in the other language when you can't think of the word in the other language but inserting one into every sentence didn't seem realistic and just felt annoying and forced. Despite all of these things however I didn't hate this book and I thought that it had a good concept I just wish it could have been better done with more emotion and deeper characters.

[Kayla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Calla Devlin’s sophomore novel offers a look into what happens to those left behind after disaster.

The story begins with the poignant line, “My father specializes in devastation,” and from that point onward, readers are swept into Charlotte’s devastation. After her father leaves for the Ukraine following a deadly earthquake, Charlotte is forced to face her biggest fear: what if her father doesn’t come back home?

Throughout this story, Devlin expertly crafts a story filled with heartbreak, grief, friendship, first love, and what’s more: the redemptive power of love amidst loss. It becomes clear early on that Charlotte’s father has always been the anchor holding her and her mother together. After all, Charlotte wants to be a photo journalist just like her father, and holds a place on the school newspaper with the hopes of following in her father’s footsteps.

Without her father, Charlotte discovers her own creativity, and a pull toward a different kind of photography. Devlin uses this hobby to ground the reader in Charlotte’s every day life, while also characterizing her and her relationship with her father. Photography shapes the way Charlotte looks at the world, as well as the way she tells readers her story. But what proves most astounding, is just when the space between Charlotte and her father grows too wide, it acts as a force to rebuild a tumultuous mother-daughter relationship.

Too often in YA, parents are nonentities or antagonistic forces, but Charlotte’s parents are loving, fractured, somewhat dysfunctional, and absolutely authentic. And through the lens of Charlotte and her mother processing the possible disappearance of her father, more rich history finds its way to the page, including the reveal that Charlotte once had a sister who died and whose presence still haunts the vey people they’ve become since. There seems to be a conscious echo between the way Charlotte believes her mother must view her, and perhaps the way Charlotte might view her mother if her father doesn’t return home.

But instead of resentment and pain, there is a tenderness and all-consuming love that is exchanged between Charlotte and her mother.

In much the same way that photography shapes the world of this story, so too does baking and Russian folklore. Some of the most intricate and rich details of this world come from the items Charlotte’s mother creates in the downstairs bakery with Tatya Nadine, who also helps shape this fictional world into one, which feels authentic. Charlotte’s mother’s Russian heritage lends a lyricism and deeper mythos to this story, which only works to add other characters to this world, that though inhuman, feel just as real as any person.

While the bonds of family are tested within this novel, it becomes clear that they are not easily broken. The writing is beautiful, story all encompassing, and the fate of the characters is fulfilled. My only wish after spending so much time with Charlotte is for one more chapter. There are places I wanted to see, and adventures I wanted to live before leaving Charlotte behind.

[ambery · Rating 3 out of 5]

finished it so fast, and it’s such a cozy read about family, friends and love 🧡