Where You Left Us

by Rhiannon Wilde

Cinnamon Prince is angry. She’s living at home with her rockstar father after his latest breakdown, and she’s stuck in a town where people have whispered that the Princes aren’t quite right ever since the mysterious disappearance of her Great Aunt Sadie. Not that Cinnamon cares about anyone else’s opinion. Except, she might be really starting to care what her gorgeous co-worker Daisy Leung thinks.

Scarlett Prince is anxious. Most of the time, and also about spending the summer with her sister and barely there dad. She’s holding it together. Just. But when sister’s ex-boyfriend-now-best-friend Will starts helping her search for the truth about Sadie, things get all-the-ways complicated.

Can solving the mystery fix their broken family?

Genres: Young Adult, Mystery, Queer, Contemporary, Lesbian, Mental Health, LGBT

328 pages, Paperback

First published August 30, 2022

About the author

Rhiannon Wilde has been telling stories for as long as she can remember – inside her head, as well as through working as a journalist, terrible barista, and high school English teacher in Brisbane’s inner north. Rhiannon’s particular interests are caffeine, characters both real and imaginary, and the power of well-strung words to challenge and change us. Her second-person short story inspired by urban Brisbane, You Deserve Nothing, was longlisted for the Queensland Young Writer’s Award in 2014. Henry Hamlet’s Heart is her first novel, and won the Queensland Literary Awards Glendower Award for an Emerging Queensland Writer in 2019.

Reviews

[Sheree | Keeping Up With The Penguins · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s rare to read a gothic(esque) novel set in Australia, so Where You Left Us was wonderful on that basis alone. Wilde also weaves in two romances, both equally lovely, without overshadowing the family drama. It all culminates in a good (if fairly foreseeable) conclusion for a fun and intriguing read.

My full review of Where You Left Us is up now on Keeping Up With The Penguins.

[Chiara · Rating 3 out of 5]

For a while I’ve been talking about missing those hard hitting contemporaries from circa 2015. And then Where You Left Us (WYLU) arrived and I got what I wanted 😭🙌🏻 I really love contemporaries that are darker and dive into deeper themes and WYLU really delivered.

WYLU is narrated by the two Prince sisters: Cinnamon the bisexual disaster who was left by her mum and sister to take care of their mentally ill father by herself, and Scarlett who lives with anxiety and has returned home for the summer with no idea how to interact with her family.

To say that WYLU is rife with family drama is an understatement. The Princes all harbour grief, guilt, anger, and loneliness. And they don’t know how to forgive each other, even though they all still love one another. Contemporaries that includes these kind of difficult and messy family relationships give me life 👌🏻

That’s not to say there aren’t cute moments because there are TWO romances in WYLU, which are also messy and difficult but also really sweet. I loved both couples and was really rooting for them.

It would be remiss not to mention the fact it’s set in Australia. It gave me Noosa vibes back when I used to visit and it was small and cute and very relaxed. I love being able to relate to a setting like this!

Many thanks to @uqpbooks for the review copy!

[ivy · Rating 2 out of 5]

2.25 Stars

“sister’s best friend/ex-boyfriend/boy she lowkey still has feelings for” may just be my least favourite ship trope ever

[Trisha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Update: Good to be on holidays which lets me write reviews and it's now posted at Reading Time.

Review coming to Reading Time.

[Jillane · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed reading this! This book is about two sisters trying to solve a family mystery, but it’s really about the messiness of being a person, forgiveness, and all kinds of love and relationships (friends, family, romance). I found the resolution to be a bit quick, and wished there had been a bit more time to digest everything at the end.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for this e-ARC!

[Emma · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5. Stunning 🥺

[Jess · Rating 4 out of 5]

i enjoyed this. Loved both mc's, especially Scarlett with the anxiety rep. Australian weather seems interesting!
I wish we had a bit more Phe, however. All in all an enjoyable mystery to read.

[K. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Content warnings: mental health, panic attacks, alcohol, biphobia, vomit

I bought this when it came out and then put off reading it for over a year for literally no reason. It took me a little while to get into it, but the story of distant sisters struggling to find their place in the world was a compelling one and I ended up devouring this.

Wilde's voice shines on the page, and I loved the late December in a coastal town setting. I did find that I was more drawn to Scarlett's story than to Cinnamon's - perhaps because Cinnamon's a more prickly character?? - but on the whole this was compelling and I overrelated to the characters and their stories more times than I care to mention.

[Jessica (bibliobliss.au) · Rating 4 out of 5]

I adored HENRY HAMLET’S HEART (a stunning debut!) and Rhiannon Wilde’s second novel WHERE YOU LEFT US has cemented the author as one of my favourites on the #loveOZya scene!

Rhiannon Wilde captures so much emotion within this story. It gave me big, big feels and works through tough topics and themes in a way that makes me want to celebrate that books like this are available to younger readers.

Part gothic mystery, part coming-of-age & learning-who-you-are-and-loving-yourself sibling story, WHERE YOU LEFT US is a darker story than HENRY HAMLET, but offers the reader two romance storylines - both of which I adored! (Will & Daisy absolutely captured my heart!)

The summer vibes and end of year festivities throughout the book were in perfect contrast to the spookiness of the house on the hill, Halcyon House. Home of the troubled & tempestuous Prince sisters, Scarlett & Cinnamon. The author wove the setting beautifully into the sister’s stories and, like many gothic reads, it really helped to heighten the tension and emotion in the story.

Covering mental illness, sibling relationships and queerness, family secrets and grief, WHERE YOU LEFT US will appeal to readers of all ages. This is a wonderful second novel from Rhiannon Wilde and one that I recommend!

I received an advanced copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

[Therese · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautifully written - Rhiannon captures so much within the detail of each carefully placed phrase. I felt drawn into the book and could hear the waves crashing as I read.

[Cherie • bookshelvesandtealeaves · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 stars

First off, a huge thank you to UQP for giving me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I absolutely adored Rhiannon Wilde’s debut novel, Henry Hamlet’s Heart, so when I heard about this book, I was so excited to get my hands on it, and it did not disappoint.

Where You Left Us is so beautifully, simply written, with an easy-to-digest prose that means you fly through the book, but the story is also complex, with multiple layers and plots happening simultaneously.

There story follows Cinnamon and Scarlett, two sisters with a rocky relationship and a messy family history. Each sister has their own equally compelling romance while also dealing with mental health issues and solving the mystery of their great-aunt’s death and the rumours surrounding her life.

Each aspect of this book was treated with the care it deserved and the story felt so rich and vibrant and full. I saw so much of myself in Scarlett that it made it difficult to read at times, and is probably the reason I ended up loving Cinnamon more as a character.

Cinnamon’s relationship with Daisy gave ME butterflies reading it, remembering what that feels like, to be drawn to a beautiful girl and not know what to do with those feelings, to feel giddy and overwhelmed and confused and in love.

I was gripped by the mystery aspect of this story too, despite working it out for myself fairly early on. It was fun to follow, and exciting reading their excitement.

I feel like this book has a little bit of something for everyone and I can’t recommend it enough.

[Bec · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I feel like that’s not always a one size fits all way to type people.”

Cinnamon Prince is angry at the world. She’s stuck in the town she grew up on with her Rockstar father after his latest breakdown. Cinnamon’s hears every whisper of gossip dating back to her great Aunt Sadie’s disappearance. Not that she gives a hoot about anyone's opinion. Well anyone except for perfect Daisy, who Cinnamon has a huge crush on.

Scarlett Prince has her own challenges, she’s anxious not excited to spend her summer at home with her sister and dad. Being away for school did her a world of good and she’s worked really hard to work on her anxiety. Her progress takes a few steps back after returning home. When Scarlett starts going though some old boxes she discovers more things about Sadie. In search of the truth Scarlett gets help from Cinnamon’s best friend and ex boyfriend Will.

It’s coming of age, finding and accepting yourself, family drama, healing and a good old fashioned mystery in one. Wilde ever so delicately navigates though fixing the broken and picking up the pieces from the fall out.

I absolutely adored Henry Halmet and couldn’t wait to devour Wilde's follow up novel and it did not disappoint. I fell in love with these characters, their stories and the setting. It’s in stores now and I highly recommend picking up a copy of you love a great #loveozya coming of age novel.

[Hayley 〰 Hayley's Next Page · Rating 5 out of 5]

"I'm sort of obsessed with you. Just as, like, a general warning."
"Big ditto energy, Cinnamon Price. Huge."

Rating: 4.5/5

Where You Left Us is told from the perspectives of two sisters over one summer. Cinnamon is the eldest and a little angry and jaded about being stuck at home and deferring uni after her rockstar father's latest breakdown. But her new co-worker Daisy has captured her attention.

Meanwhile, Scarlett returns home after graduating from boarding school. Her relationship with Cinnamon is fragile, yet she's determined to solve the mystery of her great-aunt Sadie who disappeared without a trace decades ago. And who helps her? Cinnamon's ex and best friend, Will.

Cinnamon brings the angst. She's very good at self-sabotage and pushing people away, but really didn’t have the best role models. I loved seeing her guarded self finally be vulnerable and open up to Daisy, who was a ray of sunshine.

Scarlett was another complex character, with more in common with her sister than they both probably realised. She was delicate yet determined and I loved seeing her and Will awkwardly come together. Both of the sisters' character growth and depth were perfect!

Two more things: Rhiannon's writing style is so beautifully atmospheric, I ADORED it. I also thought the mental health rep (adult depression, OCD, anxiety, panic attacks and teenage therapy all included) was exceptional. Don't miss the author's note at the end, either.

Where You Left Us is complicated and messy, with a dash of angst, mystery and romance to keep every reader captivated until the last page. Obviously, I couldn't recommend it more.

[Alicia]

This book centres around two sisters, Cinnamon and Scarlett Price. Daughters of the famous rockstar Ian Price, and trying to not live up to the small town legacy of being another ���crazy Price’.
This had a very gothic style of narrator. Lots of telling, and very slow and melancholic as tiny pieces of the family history and the characters were slowly interwoven that slowly build to the solving of the ‘mystery’ at the end. I’m using ‘mystery’ loosely as it’s more of a reveal of information but plays out investigation style. There’s not much in the way of plot, and even the investigation is secondary to their daily lives. The wasn’t really much to the family mystery either and I didn’t find it particularly compelling.
There’s a slew of mental health rep issues in here. Namely: depression, anxiety and OCD. I liked how they presently differently in each person to show that everyone experiences their own difficulties and reactions. It kinda sucked that they were all annoying and really unlikeable characters through (except Will). Though his particular challenges are never shown on page. You can struggle with mental health and still be a good person and entirely likeable, and I just don’t think this is portrayed well here.

[Brittany]

disclaimer if you’ve read other reviews by me and are noticing a pattern: You’re correct that I don’t really give starred reviews because I don’t like leaving them. Most often, I will only leave them if I vehemently despised a book.

I enjoy most books for what they are, & I extract lessons from them all. Everyone’s reading experiences are subjective, so I hope my reviews provide enough information to let you know if a book is for you or not, regardless if I add stars or not.

Find me on Instagram: @bookish.millennial or tiktok: @bookishmillennial

Premise:
-contemporary teenage fiction with elements of mystery, romance, and coming-of-age set in a coastal town in Australia (called Princes Beach)
-dual perspective (third-person) of two main characters
-Two teenage sisters, Cinnamon and Scarlett, reunite for a summer as Scarlett returns home after graduating from boarding school
-Their father is a musician and went through an emotional/mental breakdown, and is now struggling with his depression
-Their family (Prince family) has had a darkened legacy because back in 1968,of their Aunt Sadie disappearing after being accused of murdering a young man of another local family
-Cinnamon has been navigating new feelings and wondering about her sexuality
-Scarlett has gotten closer to Cinnamon's ex and best friend, Will
-Yet, the two sisters have quite some emotional distance between the two
-Their mother Amy seems to be more of a friend than a maternal figure right now, especially for Cinnamon
-cw: depression, panic attacks, biphobia, alcohol, death, extremely tame sexual content (no on-page or open-door sex scenes)

Thoughts: Rhiannon's writing felt atmospheric and she really did paint a vivid scene of this coastal town. However, she still kept it light and a bit goofy with the teenage dialogue. It made me giggle, and it stayed true to how I think teens do speak to each other especially! I appreciated the mental health representation - there are characters who navigate anxiety, panic attacks, OCD, and depression. Therapy is even represented, which I loved! I know some people dislike that, because it feels inauthentic to them but I'd like to remind everyone that experiences with therapists can be varied, and I'd rather see it on page and normalize it, to destigmatize it as much as possible!

I was so proud of the characters for divulging these parts of themselves to each other, amidst their fear and shame. Beyond the unraveling of "What happened to Aunt Sadie?!", this book is mostly a character study, and though a few things do move the romance subplots, we unpack more and more of Cinnamon and Scarlett's struggles. They struggle to connect with each other, each harboring a bit of resentment and angst regarding their situations, and towards each other. It's as if they have become strangers, and that tugged at my heartstrings. Overall, it was a lovely character study, and I'd read more from Rhiannon in the future!

[Alex Rankine · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25ish rhiannon wilde continuing to singlehandedly save australian ya lit

[Scarlett · Rating 1 out of 5]

DNF at 60% I could get into the sorry HATED the characters they were soooo annoying and self cantered and the writing was not it!

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really thought this book might teter on the edge of an Australian soapy drama like you'd catch on TV. But I was pleasantly surprised by the depth and care of the writing in this story.

Thank you to Charlesbridge, Charlesbridge Teen, qnd NetGalley for providing an eARC for a honest review.

[Avril · Rating 5 out of 5]

Another excellent Young Adult book that I wish had been available when I was an actual young adult, with two lovely romances, one queer, and characters with depression, anxiety, and OCD. And, despite the various mental illnesses, happy endings for all the protagonists. Suspect I will be giving this to several teenagers of my acquaintance for Christmas.

[Cecile · Rating 4 out of 5]

Once I got used to the slightly unusual format of this book I was in and I was quite obsessed! Apart from wanting to just hug all the characters and let them know things would be alright I just felt so pleased that young (and old 🙋🏻‍♀️) readers are being exposed to quality Australian writing about teens and adults experiencing mental health challenges and navigating new and old relationships at the same time. The thing about life is that nothing happens in isolation, everything is connected and this young adult novel does a wonderful job of showing how our thoughts and actions impact more than just ourselves. That may all sound a little cryptic but I do not want to give away any spoilers. Basically the characters and situations in this book are richly authentic and there’s a unique Aussie ‘tone’ to the story that I just adored.

[mar ☆ · Rating 4 out of 5]

i'm in tears once again after finishing a rhiannon wilde book and once again unable to properly articulate my thoughts on it, all i know is that i will read anything else she comes out with like my life depends on it.
where you left us is a story about family, love, mental health & feeling like a puzzle piece that should technically fit but doesn't. it's filled with nostalgia and sea imagery that will make you want to pick up a paintbrush and depict every scenery described just so you can visualize it better. i found myself relating both to cinnamon and scarlett, invested in every word from their povs and relating to so much of their experience i never wanted this book to end–to be able to open it back up again and again and find myself still having so much of the story to go through. and even though that wasn't possible, i'm glad i could be with them for those few hundred pages they offered. the author has a way of describing feelings that will never fail to make me both tear up and feel so seen at the same time i wonder if she secretly took a peak in my mind before she started writing any of it.
all of this incredible cheesiness to say that i loved this book an embarrassing amount and that i'm glad i discovered henry first and then decided to wait and give this one a go as well, because they did not disappoint a single bit.

cw: panic attacks, anxiety, ocd mention & discussion, depression (depressive episode depicted), mentions of suicide.

[Bianca · Rating 3 out of 5]

✍️ This dazzling YA novel written by Rhiannon Wilde tells the story of Cinnamon Prince who is angry. She has a troubled relationship with her father and sister Scarlett and her family name is in turmoil after the mysterious death of her Great Aunt Sadie. Both sisters decide to uncover the truth and find out a lot more along the way.

This was a beautifully written and rhapsodic story. The writing style was filled with plenty of emotion, empathy and expression.

There were various contrasting themes including mystery, romance, depression, loss and sexual orientation. I enjoyed the setting of Halcyon House and it's eerie dwelling. It was a perfect balance between sorrow and bliss.

The mystery component of the story had me intrigued till the end. I liked the two person narration between Cinnamon and Scarlett and their varying discrepancies and opinions in life.

Highly recommend!!

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received an advance copy from the publisher via Netgalley for review purposes; this in no way influences my review.

This is an intriguing story of family secrets and nuanced mental health representation, plus complex interpersonal relationships and sweet romances. Full review closer to release.

Full review:

Where You Left Us is an emotional story full of family secrets and navigation of complicated relationships. I found the writing really compelling (though as someone living in the northern hemisphere it was an experience reading a Christmas story set during the summer lol) and the messy dynamics between Cinnamon and Scarlett made it hard to put this book down. In some ways this had a slow start, especially when the mystery of Sadie was a big part of what initially drew me to the book and with it opening with Sadie being sent away. But once things get moving, it kept me sucked in. I really appreciated the anxiety representation, which felt true to many of my own experiences with it. I also really liked Cin’s crush on Daisy and navigating those feelings and figuring out if they’re reciprocated. Both romances are sweet and full of obvious caring. And I did really love the final scenes of this book. Overall it was interesting and a great family secrets kinda drama with nuanced mental health representation.

[Nisha-Anne · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mm, that didn’t quite work for me. Loved the language, loved the descriptions, loved the use of text in space.

But I really couldn’t warm to the characters, particularly the sisters. Cinnamon was an arse and Scarlett was so hapless they both frustrated me so much. I half-understood their pain but clearly not enough. As a result, it took me way longer to finish this than the day and half I usually blaze through a YA novel.

And the plot was really quite insubstantial. Like I worked out all the secrets pretty early on so there was absolutely no suspense or even impetus for me.

But it is well-written. That much I can expect from Rhiannon Wilde.

[Sarah C · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a completely absorbing, wonderful YA book with sibling conflict, big life decisions, blossoming relationships and the added intrigue of a family mystery. It's full of authentic and relatable characters, frank about sexuality and sex, and deals sensitively with mental health issues.

I got a booksellers advance review copy and read it that night, and look forward to it being out in August.

[Poppy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Where You Left Us by Rhiannon Wilde is: raw, relatable, mysterious, romantic and addictive. I thoroughly enjoyed this novel and it was a raw, well-written break from the fantasy and magical books I usually read. I loved all the small, underlying plots that formed one incredible spiderweb of mystery and romance, and I think that this is a great read for everyone.

[Bea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read from September 10th, 2023 to September 12th, 2023. Written on September 12th, 2023.

Rhiannon Wilde strikes again! With her second book, Where You Left Us, I am once again in love with her stories, characters and words. After Henry Hamlet, Scarlett and Cinnamon Prince have shown me a really good time with a really good story.

Though I felt it was slow-paced at first, the book and its story progressed quite well and led me down audible gasps and a mind-blowing plot twist that I did NOT see coming. From the growth of characters, the blooming of new-found loves and a rekindling of bonds, this book is a perfect mix of murder mystery, romance and family secrets.

A new take that I definitely loved from Rhiannon Wilde and I am so so happy that I got to read and review her first and second books before they came out, a true honour. So, get your Sherlock Holmes hat and car keys ready because this book will lead you down a mystery even the brightest minds will struggle to solve!

(Free ARC from NetGalley and Charlesbridge that I chose to review after reading)

[mikayla mae · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was an amazing blend of mystery, romance, and family drama. The premise is interesting, and it was definitely a mystery to keep you on the edge of your seat, however I felt that the romance and family drama took precedence in the story, and detracted from the underlying mystery.

I did like the Australian setting, as it was different from most American teen novel settings. I would love to visit some of the places described in the novel, as they sound magical. Cinnamon and Scarlett are great characters, but I don’t feel like they were as well rounded as I expected them to be at the end of the book. I did enjoy their interactions with those around them, and how they were when the story finished, but I was wanting a bit more of a pay-off.

Overall it was good, and I would recommend it to readers looking for a similar vibe to A Good Girl’s Guide to Murder, but wanting more family dynamics and romance.

Thank you to NetGalley, Charlesbridge, and the author for allowing me to read an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

[Jasmine Shouse · Rating 4 out of 5]

Two sisters, one family legend.

Cinnamon and Scarlett Prince do not get along. But the tug of a family mystery regarding their great-aunt could be the thing that draws them back together. Meanwhile, they're navigating their feelings for new people: Cinnamon for perfect Daisy and Scarlett for Will, Cin's ex.

My favorite thing about this was the mental health rep. Their dad has depression, Cinnamon has anger issues, and Scarlett has a panic disorder. All were represented really well. I loved the changing dynamics among everyone. It was messy, just like real life. I thought the end cut off a little strangely, but I was happy for the resolution of everyone.

Bisexual MC, Australian setting, mental health rep

[Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you Charlesbridge Teen and Netgalley for this eARC, these opinions are my own. I’ve always loved family dramas! There’s something so heartwarming about them! Cinnamon and Scarlett are estranged sisters. Cinnamon was left being the one to take care of there mentally I’ll father when both Scarlett and there mother left. Scarlett is coming back for the summer but doesn’t know how to handle things, especially with her own anxiety. Can they repair their relationship? I loved this story of anger and grief! There is also some cute stories in it, filled with their own complications! If you like contemporary family dramas I highly recommend checking this one out! Can’t wait to read again!