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What You Left Me
Martin and Petra meet for the first time at graduation, and though they’ve shared the halls of their high school for four years without crossing paths, there’s an instant connection the moment they’re seated next to each other at the commencement ceremony.
Then a car accident puts Martin into a coma, and Petra is somehow left picking up the pieces, using friends, family, and shared dreams to keep their surprise connection going.
Together they must unlock the truth of his situation, and with time running out, their bond becomes Martin’s best shot at waking back up to the life he's left behind.
Then a car accident puts Martin into a coma, and Petra is somehow left picking up the pieces, using friends, family, and shared dreams to keep their surprise connection going.
Together they must unlock the truth of his situation, and with time running out, their bond becomes Martin’s best shot at waking back up to the life he's left behind.
304 pages, Paperback
First published June 5, 2018
48 people are currently reading
1897 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 121 reviews
June 13, 2018
I got approved ayeee
Merged review:
When I requested the book, I definitely had a different kind of story in mind. The premise was good but to be honest this book just felt... weird. And not in a good kind of weird. There are times where this book confused the hell out of me. I didn't connect with any of the characters and I actually wanted to dnf'ed this so bad
Merged review:
When I requested the book, I definitely had a different kind of story in mind. The premise was good but to be honest this book just felt... weird. And not in a good kind of weird. There are times where this book confused the hell out of me. I didn't connect with any of the characters and I actually wanted to dnf'ed this so bad
May 19, 2018
“Death is just another milestone. Another thing we spend our whole lives working toward, waiting for, and it’s all over in an instant.”
So this was a powerful and honest book. It was such a snapshot character study that you couldn’t help but fall into their character’s lives and invest yourself. What You Left Me follows Petra and Martin as they instantly connect while sitting next to each other at graduation, but a car accident leaves Martin in a coma. This story is really about human connection and the potential that exists when two people meet.
Things I Liked
Petra and Martin’s meeting could have been the standout meet-cute in any contemporary, but it’s honestly so much more than that. They just happen to be sitting next to each other at graduation and their shared boredom leads to whispered ernest conversations and genuine fun.
Even though Petra and Martin do have this connection, there is nothing romantic between them! This story is purely about the power of platonic relationships and I couldn’t be happier. Honestly, all the relationships in the story feel deep and meaningful which is vital to this story.
The writing was so great. The story flowed well and shifted POV nicely. I was a big fan of how the writing and dialogue from Martin’s POV reflected his status. It felt airy and ethereal, which really worked for the headspace he was in after the accident.
Things I Didn’t Like
The first chapter felt so incredibly long that it made me nervous for the rest of the book. It kinda dragged and just felt so long. But it was only a problem with the first chapter, but it wasn’t the strongest start to the book.
There’s this overwhelming hopeful feeling you get after finishing this story, but it’s also kinda bittersweet. It’s the perfect blend of appreciation and sorrow, for what you have and what you lost. What You Left Me is a gripping and powerful story about friendship, hope, and the power that exists when you meet the right person at the right time.
Trigger warning for dealing with the aftermath of sexual assault (happens off page, but there are allusions and descriptions)
I received a copy of the book from Sourcebooks FIRE via Edelweiss in exchange for an honest review.
August 10, 2021
The plot sounds a bit promising but sorry, I just can't get into it.
March 28, 2018
Thanks Netgalley for the ARCs.
It is graduation day and Petra happens to sit beside Martin for the entire ceremony. You would think they would have ran into each other during their years in high school but they met for the first time that day. After leaving the ceremony, Martin gets into an accident and is in coma. Petra on hearing this feels drawn to Martin for more reason than one.
What You Left Me is a debut YA that explore friendship and living your best life. If you love the YA genre I am sure you will appreciate this one. I just did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
It is graduation day and Petra happens to sit beside Martin for the entire ceremony. You would think they would have ran into each other during their years in high school but they met for the first time that day. After leaving the ceremony, Martin gets into an accident and is in coma. Petra on hearing this feels drawn to Martin for more reason than one.
What You Left Me is a debut YA that explore friendship and living your best life. If you love the YA genre I am sure you will appreciate this one. I just did not enjoy it as much as I thought I would.
May 27, 2018
3.5 stars
I loved the premise of this story and even though I try so hard not to read angsty things, I couldn’t resist.
I liked Petra and Martin. They’re both interesting MCs and their relationship was fairly captivating. There’s a pretty large cast of characters here, but I never felt overwhelmed.
Plot wise, it was a struggle to settle into. All of the POVs sounded exactly the same and there isn’t any indication of whose turn it is. For that reason alone, I wanted to DNF and seriously thought about it around 35%. Somehow in a last ditch effort to try, I kept reading...and I’m mildly glad I did. This was a great story of friendship, how everyone is intertwined, and how everyone keeps a few secrets.
Overall, it was the characters who kept me reading. I was intrigued enough was their individual situations, that I couldn’t help but want to know how it ended.
And FYI: there is talk of sexual assault. One of the characters is assaulted and it is referenced often.
**Huge thanks to Sourcebooks Fire for providing the arc free of charge**
I loved the premise of this story and even though I try so hard not to read angsty things, I couldn’t resist.
I liked Petra and Martin. They’re both interesting MCs and their relationship was fairly captivating. There’s a pretty large cast of characters here, but I never felt overwhelmed.
Plot wise, it was a struggle to settle into. All of the POVs sounded exactly the same and there isn’t any indication of whose turn it is. For that reason alone, I wanted to DNF and seriously thought about it around 35%. Somehow in a last ditch effort to try, I kept reading...and I’m mildly glad I did. This was a great story of friendship, how everyone is intertwined, and how everyone keeps a few secrets.
Overall, it was the characters who kept me reading. I was intrigued enough was their individual situations, that I couldn’t help but want to know how it ended.
And FYI: there is talk of sexual assault. One of the characters is assaulted and it is referenced often.
**Huge thanks to Sourcebooks Fire for providing the arc free of charge**
May 6, 2018
I read this beautiful debut by Bridget Morrissey in one sitting. I was so completely captivated by this story that I simply had to keep turning the pages. I must admit that I ended the book in tears, both happy and sad. Such a powerful story about life, death, love, pain, fear, letting go, moving on, and learning to breathe again. I was moved in more ways than one and I highly recommend this book!
March 11, 2018
No, YOU cried your eyes out over this wise, lyrical meditation on the ways we touch each other's lives, the nightmares we get stuck in that hold us back, and the terrifying, beautiful freedom of not knowing what comes next. Weaves deftly between utterly believable characters and perspectives with the occasional well-placed sucker punch of an echo between them. Bring kleenex.
June 23, 2018
Have you ever read a book where you were constantly hoping for the best but preparing for the worst? That's how I was for the entirety of What You Left Me. I kept hoping that Bridget wouldn't take a certain path, but at the same time, I could see it being a very strong possibility.
What You Left Me wasn't what I was expecting. Honestly, I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but I wasn't expecting such a deep and moving read. This book made me laugh and cry. I alternated between angry, happy, and sad. There were so many times I wished that things could be different, but at the same time, I gave props to Bridget for making the choices she did regarding the plot. It made it a tough read for sure, but a tough read that I won't forget for quite some time.
What You Left Me introduces Martin and Petra. They couldn't be anymore different. Martin is the funny guy, constantly in trouble with his teachers and family but loved by his classmates. Petra, on the other hand, has always been the star student, the trustworthy daughter, and the steadfast friend but all that changed one night. Now she's stuck sitting next to Martin at graduation instead of being at the front with the top of her class. Martin can tell that something isn't right with Petra, that she's brooding about something big, and even though it spells out nothing but trouble, he tries to get her attention, to make her smile, and this is what changes everything.
Over the course of the book, I came to love Martin and Petra. On the surface, they seemed incredibly different. Martin seemed wild and carefree, forever the life of the party, while Petra was the smart girl, sticking to her books and her tight knit group of friends. Deep down, however, both Martin and Petra were lost...
Petra is dealing with the backlash of suddenly not being the perfect daughter, the perfect student. Everyone thinks she's graduating, but the truth is she's one credit short. She knows she should feel bad, even mad at herself for getting to this place, but she can't bring herself to feel anything. My heart broke for Petra. It was easy to tell from the start that something wasn't right, that she was just going through the motions. I wanted to know more, to learn more about what happened that night. More importantly, I wanted her to smile again, to live again. Yes, her decisions following that night weren't the best, but they were understandable. They could easily be fixed. What couldn't be easily fixed, however, was the non visible scars that remained on Petra, something that everyone failed to see but Martin.
Martin, on the other hand, is growing tired of always being the funny, goofy guy. He wants people to see that there's more to him than his jokes and his bets. He wants more for himself. Some parts of him wonder if he even lived high school to the fullest...
Martin and Petra's meeting is sudden and quick, but it not only changes everything but starts What You Left Me off with a bang. I wanted to see more of Martin and Petra, to see them interact, to see if maybe there was more to everything than a quick meeting, but a car accident shatters everything. Suddenly, Martin is in a coma and Petra is devastated. Sure, she didn't know him well, but for some reason she can't get over what has happened, she's pulled to his bedside and pulled into his life.
At its heart, What You Left Me is a book about second chances and how random encounters can change everything. What You Left Me is primarily character driven. Bridget spends a great deal of time building Petra and Martin's characters, and I really liked that aspect. There was something very interesting about their bond, something that made me curious to know what would happen next. I also liked how Bridget made everything interconnected. I loved seeing Martin and Petra's friend groups come together, often in some very surprising ways.
There are two things, however, that I didn't like about What You Left Me. For one, I wish the POVs would have been labeled with the character's name. At first, it was hard to tell who was talking when, especially when the POVs expanded beyond just Martin and Petra. Additionally, I wish there was more about what happened to Petra that night. There was some resolution to it, but I wish there would've been more. In some ways, I feel like it was slightly pushed under the carpet by the end of the book.
Overall, What You Left Me is a an emotional, deeply moving addition to contemporary YA. If you're anything like me, it will probably make you cry your eyes out, but I promise it's worth it. Bridget has something very special here.
4.5 stars!!
What You Left Me wasn't what I was expecting. Honestly, I don't know exactly what I was expecting, but I wasn't expecting such a deep and moving read. This book made me laugh and cry. I alternated between angry, happy, and sad. There were so many times I wished that things could be different, but at the same time, I gave props to Bridget for making the choices she did regarding the plot. It made it a tough read for sure, but a tough read that I won't forget for quite some time.
What You Left Me introduces Martin and Petra. They couldn't be anymore different. Martin is the funny guy, constantly in trouble with his teachers and family but loved by his classmates. Petra, on the other hand, has always been the star student, the trustworthy daughter, and the steadfast friend but all that changed one night. Now she's stuck sitting next to Martin at graduation instead of being at the front with the top of her class. Martin can tell that something isn't right with Petra, that she's brooding about something big, and even though it spells out nothing but trouble, he tries to get her attention, to make her smile, and this is what changes everything.
Over the course of the book, I came to love Martin and Petra. On the surface, they seemed incredibly different. Martin seemed wild and carefree, forever the life of the party, while Petra was the smart girl, sticking to her books and her tight knit group of friends. Deep down, however, both Martin and Petra were lost...
Petra is dealing with the backlash of suddenly not being the perfect daughter, the perfect student. Everyone thinks she's graduating, but the truth is she's one credit short. She knows she should feel bad, even mad at herself for getting to this place, but she can't bring herself to feel anything. My heart broke for Petra. It was easy to tell from the start that something wasn't right, that she was just going through the motions. I wanted to know more, to learn more about what happened that night. More importantly, I wanted her to smile again, to live again. Yes, her decisions following that night weren't the best, but they were understandable. They could easily be fixed. What couldn't be easily fixed, however, was the non visible scars that remained on Petra, something that everyone failed to see but Martin.
Martin, on the other hand, is growing tired of always being the funny, goofy guy. He wants people to see that there's more to him than his jokes and his bets. He wants more for himself. Some parts of him wonder if he even lived high school to the fullest...
Martin and Petra's meeting is sudden and quick, but it not only changes everything but starts What You Left Me off with a bang. I wanted to see more of Martin and Petra, to see them interact, to see if maybe there was more to everything than a quick meeting, but a car accident shatters everything. Suddenly, Martin is in a coma and Petra is devastated. Sure, she didn't know him well, but for some reason she can't get over what has happened, she's pulled to his bedside and pulled into his life.
At its heart, What You Left Me is a book about second chances and how random encounters can change everything. What You Left Me is primarily character driven. Bridget spends a great deal of time building Petra and Martin's characters, and I really liked that aspect. There was something very interesting about their bond, something that made me curious to know what would happen next. I also liked how Bridget made everything interconnected. I loved seeing Martin and Petra's friend groups come together, often in some very surprising ways.
There are two things, however, that I didn't like about What You Left Me. For one, I wish the POVs would have been labeled with the character's name. At first, it was hard to tell who was talking when, especially when the POVs expanded beyond just Martin and Petra. Additionally, I wish there was more about what happened to Petra that night. There was some resolution to it, but I wish there would've been more. In some ways, I feel like it was slightly pushed under the carpet by the end of the book.
Overall, What You Left Me is a an emotional, deeply moving addition to contemporary YA. If you're anything like me, it will probably make you cry your eyes out, but I promise it's worth it. Bridget has something very special here.
4.5 stars!!
May 19, 2019
1.5 STARS
At graduation, Petra and Martin sit beside each other due to their alphabetically consecutive last names. Meeting for the first time he makes her laugh although she has little cause to celebrate. She won’t actuslly graduate, not until she takes a final exam she’s put off for a year because she was sexually assaulted the night before the exam. They plan to meet at a party that evening but car accident leaves Martin comatose. Petra sees Martin in her dreams as he struggles to regain consciousness.
WHAT YOU LEFT ME starts off weak and confusing and gets progressively worse. I’m not sure why Bridget Morrissey decided to include multiple points of view within the same chapter, but I was constantly confused as to who was narrating or whose third person POV I was reading. Word building was the strongest component of this novel.
Morrissey barely scratched the surface of Petra’s character and Martin wasn’t at all fleshed out. The sexual assault seemed to be merely a plot device, other than postponing the exam, Petra didn’t show signs of trauma. The minor characters has more personality than the major ones.
Because Morrissey writes compelling sentences, I will read her again to see if her sophomore effort is better.
At graduation, Petra and Martin sit beside each other due to their alphabetically consecutive last names. Meeting for the first time he makes her laugh although she has little cause to celebrate. She won’t actuslly graduate, not until she takes a final exam she’s put off for a year because she was sexually assaulted the night before the exam. They plan to meet at a party that evening but car accident leaves Martin comatose. Petra sees Martin in her dreams as he struggles to regain consciousness.
WHAT YOU LEFT ME starts off weak and confusing and gets progressively worse. I’m not sure why Bridget Morrissey decided to include multiple points of view within the same chapter, but I was constantly confused as to who was narrating or whose third person POV I was reading. Word building was the strongest component of this novel.
Morrissey barely scratched the surface of Petra’s character and Martin wasn’t at all fleshed out. The sexual assault seemed to be merely a plot device, other than postponing the exam, Petra didn’t show signs of trauma. The minor characters has more personality than the major ones.
Because Morrissey writes compelling sentences, I will read her again to see if her sophomore effort is better.
March 22, 2018
*I received this book for free via Netgalley in exchange for an honest review*
To be honest, in the beginning I was a bit iffy on this book. I had kinda forgotten what the plot was, so everything felt like it was moving early slow. About half way through, I started to understand, and after that I couldn't put it down.
Let's start with the plot. This is the type of plot I like. Implausible, magical, yet real all the same. Petra and Martin met for the first time at their graduation, and instantly hit it off. When Martin gets in a car accident and goes into a coma, Petra feels compelled to visit him. He starts visiting her in her dreams. This sounds weird and creepy but it isn't, I promise. Martin describes himself as being stuck "in between", and in this in between he can reach other people's dreams. I really liked this part. I have always believed that dreams are more, and while I don't know if you can just talk to other people while they are comatose (and not even just the dreamer's perception of the person but actually them. If you've read Dreamology think that), I liked it in the book. It was weird because I ended up rooting for Martin and Petra even though they really only got to know each other through their shared dreams. But something about them made me feel safe and comforted. They didn't really have the puppy dog, intense, passionate feelings of first love, but skipped right to the old married stage where they could hug and talk and just felt safe together, and I really liked that.
So characters. Martin was the goofball. He spent all of graduation trying to make Petra laugh, and goes by Fly. As in Marty McFly. As in Back to the Future. I love that. But he is also genuinely sweet and caring and funny and just made me happy every time I saw him. And his interior monologue, where you could hear how much he cared about his friends and family, was so touching.
I really liked Petra. Something about her drew me in right away, and I'm struggling to find the words to describe her. She's smart, but there's more than that. She's caring, feeling compelled to visit Martin after only talking to him for a couple hours and bringing his friends into her life. She is struggling, but strong, and fights her way through senior year and the week after graduation. She was a pretty inspiring character that I appreciated more and more as the book went on.
Then we get the side characters. All of the friends. Cameron, Aminah, and Daniel are Petra's friends, and are pretty close to perfect. In that they aren't perfect. They don't dig deep enough when maybe they should, they don't always know what to say, but they care so deeply about each other that they would drop everything to be with Petra when she needs it. Turrey and Brooke are Martin's friends, and Petra kinda brings them into the group. I like how Martin unites these two friend groups, even though he is in a coma, and that they so easily fit in. It was kind of beautiful to watch. And a nice testament to high school and how you could spend your entire four years with your best friends never wanting more, only to miss out on some amazing things. Spencer, or Spits, or Spitty, was Martin's best friend. I wanted more from him. It was obvious he was a huge part of Martin's life, and we got some lovely dream sequences from the two of them, but at the ned, he seemed to be unresolved.
Another flaw was the parentals. I liked Martin's, but that is about it. One, they don't really play a huge role in the novel. Two, most of them prioritize academics over their own child's wellbeing, which I strongly dislike. However, I think that was the point- to show just how important mental health and a child's wellbeing is, even more so than school. I just wish maybe Martin's had a more active role, or Petra and Aminah's weren't tied up so easily in a nice little bow but more fleshed out.
So overall, I am really glad I chose this book on NetGalley and totally recommend reading it!
To be honest, in the beginning I was a bit iffy on this book. I had kinda forgotten what the plot was, so everything felt like it was moving early slow. About half way through, I started to understand, and after that I couldn't put it down.
Let's start with the plot. This is the type of plot I like. Implausible, magical, yet real all the same. Petra and Martin met for the first time at their graduation, and instantly hit it off. When Martin gets in a car accident and goes into a coma, Petra feels compelled to visit him. He starts visiting her in her dreams. This sounds weird and creepy but it isn't, I promise. Martin describes himself as being stuck "in between", and in this in between he can reach other people's dreams. I really liked this part. I have always believed that dreams are more, and while I don't know if you can just talk to other people while they are comatose (and not even just the dreamer's perception of the person but actually them. If you've read Dreamology think that), I liked it in the book. It was weird because I ended up rooting for Martin and Petra even though they really only got to know each other through their shared dreams. But something about them made me feel safe and comforted. They didn't really have the puppy dog, intense, passionate feelings of first love, but skipped right to the old married stage where they could hug and talk and just felt safe together, and I really liked that.
So characters. Martin was the goofball. He spent all of graduation trying to make Petra laugh, and goes by Fly. As in Marty McFly. As in Back to the Future. I love that. But he is also genuinely sweet and caring and funny and just made me happy every time I saw him. And his interior monologue, where you could hear how much he cared about his friends and family, was so touching.
I really liked Petra. Something about her drew me in right away, and I'm struggling to find the words to describe her. She's smart, but there's more than that. She's caring, feeling compelled to visit Martin after only talking to him for a couple hours and bringing his friends into her life. She is struggling, but strong, and fights her way through senior year and the week after graduation. She was a pretty inspiring character that I appreciated more and more as the book went on.
Then we get the side characters. All of the friends. Cameron, Aminah, and Daniel are Petra's friends, and are pretty close to perfect. In that they aren't perfect. They don't dig deep enough when maybe they should, they don't always know what to say, but they care so deeply about each other that they would drop everything to be with Petra when she needs it. Turrey and Brooke are Martin's friends, and Petra kinda brings them into the group. I like how Martin unites these two friend groups, even though he is in a coma, and that they so easily fit in. It was kind of beautiful to watch. And a nice testament to high school and how you could spend your entire four years with your best friends never wanting more, only to miss out on some amazing things. Spencer, or Spits, or Spitty, was Martin's best friend. I wanted more from him. It was obvious he was a huge part of Martin's life, and we got some lovely dream sequences from the two of them, but at the ned, he seemed to be unresolved.
Another flaw was the parentals. I liked Martin's, but that is about it. One, they don't really play a huge role in the novel. Two, most of them prioritize academics over their own child's wellbeing, which I strongly dislike. However, I think that was the point- to show just how important mental health and a child's wellbeing is, even more so than school. I just wish maybe Martin's had a more active role, or Petra and Aminah's weren't tied up so easily in a nice little bow but more fleshed out.
So overall, I am really glad I chose this book on NetGalley and totally recommend reading it!
July 18, 2018
Dove is back on her reading grind, she's been reading all day and all night, and I finished this book in literally two days because it was so good I could not put it down. I'm so happy to have found such amazing books again that truly capture my attention and make me want to read it all day. This book was a lot like "If I stay" and "before I fall." This girl meets this guy at graduation and they have a spark and they like each other. She's going to go to his party, but then finds out he got in an accident and he's unconscious now, in a coma. She has this connection to him and wants him to come back. She gets to know his family, his friends, his ex-girlfriend, etc. She learns more about him, even visits his house and bedroom. She's determined to get him to wake up. She dreams about graduation day, relives what happens, and in her dreams she actually talks to the boy, and he proves to her that he isn't dead, and he relies on her to bring him back. It's a super sad book, because you see the friends blame themselves, and you see how big an impact one person has on the world. You get to see his mark on the world, and you get even sadder because you're yearning for them to be together because you know it would be such a good romance, but you can't get it. It reminds you of how precious life is, and how we should be grateful for what we have because it could all be gone in one day. I like how she goes the extra mile and gets to know all about him, and it makes it super sad and emotional. I just wanted him to wake up, and it's so difficult. It's about grieving, moving on, getting closure. And then you realize the accident was a two car accident, so you think of the impact it had on the guy in the other car, and how many other people were affected. I just loved how they incorporated the concept of talking to each other in their dreams, and that in between world that they clung onto, it added more fantasy. A beautiful and worthwhile read.
May 27, 2018
Thank you to NetGalley and Thomas and Mercer for the advance reader copy, What You Left Me by debut author, Bridget Morrissey, in exchange for an honest review. Teens will enjoy this stunning debut, that examines through alternating perspectives and dream sequences, the power of love, friendship, hopes, and dreams when two teens, Petra and Martin, seated next to each other (alphabetically) meet for the first time at their graduation from high school. Petra has a secret so she holds Martin’s antics at arms-length, but she really enjoys his kidding, prodding, and agrees to attend his graduation party that night. Morrissey has a real gift for description and drama as she treats the reader to Petra and Martin’s friends and the way they talk, laugh, cry, and communicate with each other. I really enjoyed these teens, their honesty and fierce protectiveness toward each other. Much will be learned through the time these new friends spend together as they gather in the hospital, waiting for news about Martin after he and his best friend are in a car accident. Verdict – a must read for teens!
March 18, 2018
Oh, this book. Haunting, but in a bittersweet way. The way memories haunt you but you let them. The way the ghosts of your past selves like to hang around and remind you of where you could have been, where you could have gone, where you lost the life that almost was.
Haunted by what has happened to you. What was out of your control but you desperately wish had been in your hands. The choices you make before everything went spinning out of control.
Haunted, but in (almost) a good way— a necessary way. Sometimes, I think, we want to be haunted. Until we can figure out what all those ghosts and all those memories are trying to tell us. Trying to help us break through. To get to the other side, I think.
***
I don't write real reviews. I write my experience with a book. Why? Because I have books that when I read I would have rated them two stars. And I ended up moving them from Houston to LA to Houston to LA to Chicago to LA to Oakland and (whew, finally) back to LA. My favorite books are the stories that stick with me. I'll hand out five stars, but that's about it.
Haunted by what has happened to you. What was out of your control but you desperately wish had been in your hands. The choices you make before everything went spinning out of control.
Haunted, but in (almost) a good way— a necessary way. Sometimes, I think, we want to be haunted. Until we can figure out what all those ghosts and all those memories are trying to tell us. Trying to help us break through. To get to the other side, I think.
***
I don't write real reviews. I write my experience with a book. Why? Because I have books that when I read I would have rated them two stars. And I ended up moving them from Houston to LA to Houston to LA to Chicago to LA to Oakland and (whew, finally) back to LA. My favorite books are the stories that stick with me. I'll hand out five stars, but that's about it.
February 3, 2019
I went into What You Left Me thinking I was going to get a meet-cute followed by a lot of feels…and I wasn’t disappointed. But I also had no idea what I was getting myself into and this book left me in a puddle on the floor. With a title like What You Left Me, this is bound to be a feeling and thinking book, which is my favorite.
Petra and Marty share alternating chapters, which weave into each other. Sometimes it was hard to know who was speaking, which made sense considering the dream state they share through most of the book. I fell deeply in love with these realistic characters and their stories. When they hurt, I hurt. When they felt joy, I smiled. Their story is about the little moments and the big moments and how every moment counts. There are also elements of healing and reconciling what you can’t change. Friendships based on a shared experience. I could not stop reading, even as the tears fell.
Petra and Marty share alternating chapters, which weave into each other. Sometimes it was hard to know who was speaking, which made sense considering the dream state they share through most of the book. I fell deeply in love with these realistic characters and their stories. When they hurt, I hurt. When they felt joy, I smiled. Their story is about the little moments and the big moments and how every moment counts. There are also elements of healing and reconciling what you can’t change. Friendships based on a shared experience. I could not stop reading, even as the tears fell.
April 22, 2021
What You Left Me is an emotionally evocative story that is hauntingly beautiful and achingly sad at the same time. The two together makes this one of the most heart wrenching books I have read this year and yet, a book that I loved every minute I spent reading it.
The topic is not an easy one to contemplate but Ms. Morrisey penned this poignant tale with creativity and grace. My hat goes off to her for such a beautiful written story!
There is no higher praise I can give than to say this book truly touched my soul and I am a better person for having read What You Left Me. I highly recommend this for you all to read ~ just keep the Kleenex close by!
I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Ms. Morrisey, Sourcebooks Fire and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read/review this book.
The topic is not an easy one to contemplate but Ms. Morrisey penned this poignant tale with creativity and grace. My hat goes off to her for such a beautiful written story!
There is no higher praise I can give than to say this book truly touched my soul and I am a better person for having read What You Left Me. I highly recommend this for you all to read ~ just keep the Kleenex close by!
I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own. Thank you to Ms. Morrisey, Sourcebooks Fire and Edelweiss for the opportunity to read/review this book.
March 29, 2019
Semi-spoilers under dotted line!
This book was a beautiful, well-paced jewel of a YA that engaged me from beginning to end and made me cry twice.
Even though our main characters Marty and Petra meet briefly before things go astray, their connection and the shock and emotional turmoil she felt was entirely convincing.
The dream element was right up my alley and was handled uniquely.
I CANNOT wait to read Bridget Morrissey's novel set for release this summer, "When the Light Went Out"
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Hinting at spoilers!
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Even though it was sad, I like how this book ended, and believe it was an important message for all readers, especially teen. It honored the beautiful mark on the world that was made by that character, but showed the reality of the situation. I thought that was meaningful and a really good decision writing-wise.
This book was a beautiful, well-paced jewel of a YA that engaged me from beginning to end and made me cry twice.
Even though our main characters Marty and Petra meet briefly before things go astray, their connection and the shock and emotional turmoil she felt was entirely convincing.
The dream element was right up my alley and was handled uniquely.
I CANNOT wait to read Bridget Morrissey's novel set for release this summer, "When the Light Went Out"
--------------------
Hinting at spoilers!
--------------------
Even though it was sad, I like how this book ended, and believe it was an important message for all readers, especially teen. It honored the beautiful mark on the world that was made by that character, but showed the reality of the situation. I thought that was meaningful and a really good decision writing-wise.
February 5, 2018
This book is different and just so lovely. I was rooting for the progression of Petra's character from beginning to the end and Morrissey didn't disappoint. I was confused by the changing voices in the beginning but once I realized it was both Martin and Petra I was looking forward to what was going on. This book is a rare find in the YA genre which makes me believe it is going to be a huge success that will sit on shelves in bedrooms and in the hands of book lovers. The gentle romance of Martin and Petra, the character of Petra changing for the better, and the secondary characters make this novel one you can't put down once you've started.
My copy was provided by NetGalley for an honest review
My copy was provided by NetGalley for an honest review
February 8, 2018
This book "What you left me by Bridget Morrissey" is personally highly recommend. I cannot explain to you how amazing this book is. So much life lessons you can learn from this book. The characters are so relatable in so many ways. Though if you have a trigger to sexual abuse you may want to take precaution to certain pages in this book. The author Kindly named off each page that mentions this subject in a personal review on goodreads. Check it out first before reading and proceed with caution. Everyone could benefit from reading this novel. I know I did!
- spookylilpeach
- spookylilpeach
March 14, 2018
Petra and Martin sit next to each other at graduation, meeting for the first time. Martin gets in a car accident that same afternoon, and Petra feels drawn to visit the hospital to check on the boy she barely knows. What You Left Me tells the tale of two teens, struggling to overcome the odds.
This book will appeal to fans of If I Stay, Wake, and Goodbye Days. My only complaint was that it was difficult to keep track of the alternating perspectives and dream sequences.
I read an ARC from NetGalley.
This book will appeal to fans of If I Stay, Wake, and Goodbye Days. My only complaint was that it was difficult to keep track of the alternating perspectives and dream sequences.
I read an ARC from NetGalley.
April 22, 2018
I received a copy from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I kind of rushed through this one in order to meet some deadlines, but I wish I could have slowed down and truly savored it because I think this book was very good. Some of the POV changes confused me in the beginning and I had to suspend my disbelief at some of the more minor plot points, but I think plenty of teens are going to love this book. Plus there are Back to the Future references, so what could be better?
I kind of rushed through this one in order to meet some deadlines, but I wish I could have slowed down and truly savored it because I think this book was very good. Some of the POV changes confused me in the beginning and I had to suspend my disbelief at some of the more minor plot points, but I think plenty of teens are going to love this book. Plus there are Back to the Future references, so what could be better?
February 18, 2018
I really enjoyed this book and plan to purchase a hard copy of it when it is released. It is so different from any YA read that I have read in the past. I really enjoyed following the development of the two main characters as they move through their past, interconnect in the present, and push forward into their futures. It was a beautiful book about love, loss, tragedy and the celebration of life.
April 5, 2018
For fans of IF I STAY... imagine being the last senior left on earth - because you haven't yet taken your final exam with everyone else, and then instead of studying you're at the hospital in a bedside vigil for a boy you just met at graduation. Why? You'll have to find out by reading on. I liked the concept of changing 'everything happens for a reason' to - 'make a reason for everything that happens...'
April 15, 2018
I was not prepared for how beautiful this book would be! Morrissey has a gift for descriptive language, and she wields it mercilessly as she depicts the story of a boy stuck between living and dying and the friends who speak with him in dreams. It will make you cry, but more than that, it will remind you of the endless possibilities around you every day if only you take the time to look.
June 5, 2018
Happy release day to this awesome debut! I was lucky enough to get to read an ARC of WHAT YOU LEFT ME, a fantastic story that deftly explores the realities of tragedy and the fragile bonds that hold us together. Two high-school seniors meet for the first time at graduation; what happens next unfolds with gut-wrenching clarity and resonance. Get your copy now!
May 28, 2024
I absolutely loved this book. The plot was so intriguing and it was developed in a better way than I could have imagined. I wasn’t even mad at the ending because of how it all came together. The writing of this book is absolutely beautiful. I applaud Bridget Morrissey, this book was lovely
July 6, 2018
lovely. just, so so so so so lovely.
November 18, 2023
2.75 stars
I feel like I had really high expectations for this book since I really liked Bridget Morrissey's other novel. But this book kinda just fell flat. I really appreciate Morrissey's way with words and her analogies and metaphors, but sometimes I feel like she pushes them a little too far and it sounds cringey and fake. And basically all of the conversations between characters and all the thoughts of the main character were super profound - which is unrealistic! Not every conversation between friends is going to be deep, nor are they going to have the exact right words to say!
I also feel like the concept of her plot was great but it just wasn't executed that well... the way that she switched perspectives and whether people were dreaming or not got really confusing. If you're going to write about parralel (ish) universes and entering other people's dreams, I feel like it should be clear and well-executed, and this...wasn't.
Really good concept though, and definitely a nice easy read!
I feel like I had really high expectations for this book since I really liked Bridget Morrissey's other novel. But this book kinda just fell flat. I really appreciate Morrissey's way with words and her analogies and metaphors, but sometimes I feel like she pushes them a little too far and it sounds cringey and fake. And basically all of the conversations between characters and all the thoughts of the main character were super profound - which is unrealistic! Not every conversation between friends is going to be deep, nor are they going to have the exact right words to say!
I also feel like the concept of her plot was great but it just wasn't executed that well... the way that she switched perspectives and whether people were dreaming or not got really confusing. If you're going to write about parralel (ish) universes and entering other people's dreams, I feel like it should be clear and well-executed, and this...wasn't.
Really good concept though, and definitely a nice easy read!
April 30, 2018
Plot:
Graduation. The day where you sit next to the person you are alphabetically closest too by last name, sweating in a borrowed gown, so that you can walk across the stage, get your diploma, and be free from the public (or private) school system. This is where Martin meets Petra. Trying to make her laugh, while avoiding the watchful eye of their teachers, Martin was generally enjoying the graduation service. When a note flies into his lap from best friend Spence, aka Spitty, betting him that he could not get Petra to come to Martin’s party, why not? Asking Petra to come, in which she gave a witty reply that means a maybe, nothing could take Martin down. Except something did. Getting in a car crash with Spitty, Martin finds himself in an in-between zone. Only being able to access his friends through their dreams, Martin is a surprise to see Petra there so much. Using Petra to communicate his final wishes, their bond became stronger, as Martin’s hold on life becomes weaker: “She’s been my constant” (81).
This was not how her life was supposed to go. She was supposed to be the top of her class, giving the valedictorian speech, making her family proud. Instead she fell to the top eleventh person in the class. Where the top ten got to sit on stage, Petra, being number eleven, was in the masses, sitting next to Martin McGee. With 868 in her graduating class, Petra did not know them all. Focusing on her studies, she kept close to her friend group of Cameron, Aminah, and Daniel. Which is how she never knowing Martin McGee, even though they have both been going to this school since freshman year. When he started talking to her, why not have a conversation? Finding him funny, and nice, Petra agrees to go to his party. Showing up at his house was how she found out about the accident. Going to the hospital, Petra becomes swept up in the Believe Marty can Fly campaign, as with his friends Mike and Brook, Petra tries to bring Martin back to life.
Thoughts:
The story is divided between five parts, switching between the point of view of Martin and Petra throughout the chapters. First titled The Place Where We Exist, Bridget Morrissey renames it to be What You Left Me. The story revolved around the story of Martin and Petra, both whom only knew each other during the last few hours of their graduation ceremony. So it was in the right mind that Petra’s friends were confused why she wants to spend time in the hospital waiting for Martin to wake up, instead of feeling sad at the pool with them. After all, she only had one conversation with him, where there are people there who knew Martin his whole life. Still they went with her, which was good writing on Morrissey part, as it is nice to see an actual supportive friend group. Morrissey writing did get a bit confusing, as she switches by blocking off a paragraph, but never said who was starting the next line. Martin’s part was also confusing, as the in someone else dreams, or exist in an in-between place, was not clearly outline by Morrissey. With the added drama from Petra’s education, her friend group, to Martin’s group, made this story seem more realistic, as the world does not stop because Martin’s in the hospital. With Petra and Martin only meeting once, a lot of their relationship grew from her dreams of him. And maybe they were never meant to be, or were soul mates who met at the wrong time. Either way Martin meant something to Petra, that she has never experienced before, and there was no way she was going to let him go.
Graduation. The day where you sit next to the person you are alphabetically closest too by last name, sweating in a borrowed gown, so that you can walk across the stage, get your diploma, and be free from the public (or private) school system. This is where Martin meets Petra. Trying to make her laugh, while avoiding the watchful eye of their teachers, Martin was generally enjoying the graduation service. When a note flies into his lap from best friend Spence, aka Spitty, betting him that he could not get Petra to come to Martin’s party, why not? Asking Petra to come, in which she gave a witty reply that means a maybe, nothing could take Martin down. Except something did. Getting in a car crash with Spitty, Martin finds himself in an in-between zone. Only being able to access his friends through their dreams, Martin is a surprise to see Petra there so much. Using Petra to communicate his final wishes, their bond became stronger, as Martin’s hold on life becomes weaker: “She’s been my constant” (81).
This was not how her life was supposed to go. She was supposed to be the top of her class, giving the valedictorian speech, making her family proud. Instead she fell to the top eleventh person in the class. Where the top ten got to sit on stage, Petra, being number eleven, was in the masses, sitting next to Martin McGee. With 868 in her graduating class, Petra did not know them all. Focusing on her studies, she kept close to her friend group of Cameron, Aminah, and Daniel. Which is how she never knowing Martin McGee, even though they have both been going to this school since freshman year. When he started talking to her, why not have a conversation? Finding him funny, and nice, Petra agrees to go to his party. Showing up at his house was how she found out about the accident. Going to the hospital, Petra becomes swept up in the Believe Marty can Fly campaign, as with his friends Mike and Brook, Petra tries to bring Martin back to life.
Thoughts:
The story is divided between five parts, switching between the point of view of Martin and Petra throughout the chapters. First titled The Place Where We Exist, Bridget Morrissey renames it to be What You Left Me. The story revolved around the story of Martin and Petra, both whom only knew each other during the last few hours of their graduation ceremony. So it was in the right mind that Petra’s friends were confused why she wants to spend time in the hospital waiting for Martin to wake up, instead of feeling sad at the pool with them. After all, she only had one conversation with him, where there are people there who knew Martin his whole life. Still they went with her, which was good writing on Morrissey part, as it is nice to see an actual supportive friend group. Morrissey writing did get a bit confusing, as she switches by blocking off a paragraph, but never said who was starting the next line. Martin’s part was also confusing, as the in someone else dreams, or exist in an in-between place, was not clearly outline by Morrissey. With the added drama from Petra’s education, her friend group, to Martin’s group, made this story seem more realistic, as the world does not stop because Martin’s in the hospital. With Petra and Martin only meeting once, a lot of their relationship grew from her dreams of him. And maybe they were never meant to be, or were soul mates who met at the wrong time. Either way Martin meant something to Petra, that she has never experienced before, and there was no way she was going to let him go.
April 15, 2018
Magical realism. As a result of a drunk driving accident during their high school graduation, friends get connected through dreams to the friend who "is stuck" in limbo from his injuries. I might have liked this better if the characters beyond the three main characters were more developed. The other 'friends' are not stereotypical; it's just that they're not described enough for me to empathize or connect with any of them. They are more like plot devices than participants.
My suspension of disbelief isn't working when someone with a class rank of 11 gets over a year to make up one exam in order to keep her class rank. The real pressures of high school report cards, class rank, and accountability required magical realism to make this work.
I'd like to think teens are smarter than to ditch in the middle of their high school graduation ceremony in order to go on a drunk joy ride all while expecting to return to the ceremony and have no one notice they'd been gone. The ditch, the drinking... as well as magically connecting to one's alphabetical neighbor for the first time at graduation?
I did appreciate the humorous lightness Morrissey offered throughout the story, but it wasn't enough to undo the falseness of the ending, "Do you really think you had control over what was going to happen to you?" Yes, don't get into a car with your impetuous, impulsive drunk friend.What You Left MeBridget Morrissey
My suspension of disbelief isn't working when someone with a class rank of 11 gets over a year to make up one exam in order to keep her class rank. The real pressures of high school report cards, class rank, and accountability required magical realism to make this work.
I'd like to think teens are smarter than to ditch in the middle of their high school graduation ceremony in order to go on a drunk joy ride all while expecting to return to the ceremony and have no one notice they'd been gone. The ditch, the drinking... as well as magically connecting to one's alphabetical neighbor for the first time at graduation?
I did appreciate the humorous lightness Morrissey offered throughout the story, but it wasn't enough to undo the falseness of the ending, "Do you really think you had control over what was going to happen to you?" Yes, don't get into a car with your impetuous, impulsive drunk friend.What You Left MeBridget Morrissey
May 23, 2018
I happened upon this book at the Los Angeles Book Fair a few weeks ago and thought it had a stylish cover and interesting premise; in a moment of divine spontaneity I purchased "What You Left Me", and boy am I glad. What a treasure. What a delight. What a perfect understanding of the traumas of youth and the healing power of communication.
The book concerns two high school students, Petra and Martin, who meet at their graduation, but can only communicate through dreams after (I won't spoil the why). The book deals with Petra and Martin's traumas in a nuanced and beautiful way, through their dreams. The dreaming in WULM is featured almost in a Kafkaesque way, it's a magical device, but done with such pragmatic realism that one can't help but get entirely wrapped up in the dream themselves.
Ms. Morrissey writes with an elegant prose that glitters with wit and wisdom, there are dark moments to be sure, but she knows that the darkest part of night is right before the morning, and sprinkles moments of joy throughout. I looked her up afterwards to fiendishly read whatever else she's put out into the world only to find that this is her debut. And what a way to announce herself to the world than with a novel that elucidates the complex way we deal with pain and with joy. I loved "What You Left Me". I think you will too. XX
The book concerns two high school students, Petra and Martin, who meet at their graduation, but can only communicate through dreams after (I won't spoil the why). The book deals with Petra and Martin's traumas in a nuanced and beautiful way, through their dreams. The dreaming in WULM is featured almost in a Kafkaesque way, it's a magical device, but done with such pragmatic realism that one can't help but get entirely wrapped up in the dream themselves.
Ms. Morrissey writes with an elegant prose that glitters with wit and wisdom, there are dark moments to be sure, but she knows that the darkest part of night is right before the morning, and sprinkles moments of joy throughout. I looked her up afterwards to fiendishly read whatever else she's put out into the world only to find that this is her debut. And what a way to announce herself to the world than with a novel that elucidates the complex way we deal with pain and with joy. I loved "What You Left Me". I think you will too. XX
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