Summary
Published in 2021, The Things We Leave Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros is a historical novel and romance capturing the power of love across time. It unfolds in dual timelines: the present and World War II. In modern-day Colorado, Georgia Stanton returns to her great-grandmother Scarlett Stanton's estate following a divorce. Scarlett, a noted author, left behind an incomplete manuscript that prompts Georgia's journey. Georgia collaborates with Noah Harrison, an author tasked with completing Scarlett's work. Their contemporary narrative parallels Scarlett's wartime love story, demonstrating the lasting impact of untold stories across generations.
Plot
The Things We Leave Unfinished unfolds across dual timelines, detailing the intertwined lives of two couples connected by love, loss, and an unfinished manuscript.
In the present timeline, Georgia Stanton returns to Colorado after her divorce and inherits an incomplete novel from her great-grandmother, Scarlett Stanton. She meets Noah Harrison, a well-known author who agrees to take on the task of completing Scarlett's work. However, they disagree on the conclusion—Georgia prefers a tragic finish true to Scarlett’s real-life romance, while Noah favors a happy ending reflecting Scarlett’s popular style.
In the past timeline, Scarlett embarks on a wartime romance with Jameson Stanton, an American fighter pilot. Their love story is partly told through letters, capturing the sacrifices and dangers of World War II. Scarlett, daughter of an English baron, also navigates family expectations and practical challenges. Their relationship takes a tragic turn when Jameson’s plane crashes, and he is presumed dead.
In the present, Georgia and Noah's professional relationship evolves into mutual attraction. Noah suggests writing two possible endings to Scarlett’s novel, leaving Georgia to choose the final version. The plot thickens when Georgia discovers a deception kept hidden for decades by her mother. This revelation changes Georgia's understanding of her heritage.
Characters
Georgia Stanton: Recently divorced, Georgia returns to her great-grandmother Scarlett's Colorado estate. She confronts her past and aims to complete Scarlett's unfinished novel. Georgia reflects on her marriage and draws inspiration from Scarlett’s romantic history.
Noah Harrison: A renowned romance novelist, Noah plays a key role in unfolding Scarlett's love story and develops a relationship with Georgia.
Scarlett Stanton: Georgia's great-grandmother and a well-known novelist. Her story is set during World War II, focusing on a romance with a WWII pilot. The manuscript links past and present events.
Jameson Stanton: A WWII fighter pilot and Scarlett's lover. Their wartime romance is central to the historical narrative, influencing current events and uncovering hidden truths.
Constance: Scarlett’s sister, who provides crucial wartime support. Her loyalty highlights themes of familial bonds and endurance.
Damian Ellsworth: Georgia’s ex-husband, whose betrayal causes lasting emotional wounds from which Georgia seeks to recover.
Setting
In The Things We Leave Unfinished, Rebecca Yarros uses a dual-timeline narrative to connect past and present events. The novel moves between Scarlett Stanton's wartime love story and Georgia Stanton's present-day efforts to understand her great-grandmother's unfinished manuscript. This structure links Scarlett and Georgia's stories together across time.
Scarlett’s love story unfolds against the backdrop of World War II. Details and excerpts from authentic letters place Scarlett’s romance with American pilot Jameson Stanton in the early 1940s, especially in England during the German bombing campaigns known as the Blitz. Scarlett decides to volunteer for the Women's Auxiliary Air Force, supporting Royal Air Force operations. This reflects the significant roles women played during the war. Her work in tracking aircraft movements underscores the pressures of maintaining composure in critical situations.
In these timelines, Scarlett's wartime relationship with Jameson parallels Georgia's evolving connection with Noah Harrison, an author working to complete Scarlett's manuscript. Georgia and Noah's exploration of Scarlett's writing uncovers a hidden love story that resonates with their own relationship. This connection suggests that past legacies and historical experiences impact the present, emphasizing the theme of enduring love across generations.
Dual timelines also contribute to character development. Scarlett's wartime resilience and Georgia's struggles after divorce show similarities in their personal journeys. This narrative approach explores themes of love, loss, and rediscovery, highlighting how characters grow and find strength through time.
Themes
Love and loss
The Things We Leave Unfinished explores love’s endurance through Scarlett Stanton's tragic World War II romance with Jameson Stanton, a fighter pilot. In the modern timeline, Georgia Stanton’s relationship with Noah showcases love’s ability to heal past wounds.
Resilience and sacrifice
Scarlett and Georgia’s stories exemplify resilience in adversity. Scarlett shows courage and selflessness during the war, while Georgia faces her challenges today. Their experiences illustrate sacrifice for love or duty and the strength that transcends generations.
Legacy and emotional healing
Scarlett’s unfinished manuscript serves as a link to family legacy, influencing Georgia’s self-understanding. As Georgia and Noah explore Scarlett's story, they confront authenticity and expectations, leading to personal growth. This journey helps Georgia embrace her family's history, paving the way for emotional healing.
New beginnings
The Things We Leave Unfinished emphasizes fresh starts through Scarlett’s romance with Jameson and Georgia’s bond with Noah. Scarlett’s tragic love story offers hope for the future, while Georgia’s relationship with Noah represents renewal, intertwining past and present in a saga of enduring love and revitalization.
Quick facts
The Things We Leave Unfinished features a dual-timeline narrative, intertwining present-day and World War II love stories.
Prominent themes in the novel include love, loss, unfinished stories, and the enduring impact of personal and historical events.
A central storyline focuses on an unfinished manuscript by Scarlett Stanton, inspired by her real-life romance with a WWII pilot.
Rebecca Yarros incorporates authentic letters from the WWII era into her novel.
The Things We Leave Unfinished has been favorably compared to Ian McEwan’s Atonement.
Main character Georgia Stanton returns to her great-grandmother Scarlett's estate in Colorado post-divorce.
Noah Harrison, a bestselling author known for tragic endings, is chosen to complete Scarlett Stanton's unfinished novel.
Georgia's struggle with romance mirrors her great-grandmother Scarlett's unresolved love story, bridging their experiences across generations.
The Things We Leave Unfinished became a notable TikTok sensation.
The audiobook version is performed by accomplished narrators Tim Paige and Carly Robins. The Things We Leave Unfinished ends with an emotional twist involving Scarlett's identity.
About the author
Rebecca Yarros is a #1 New York Times bestselling author of heart-wrenching romances and thrilling adventures. Driven by complex women characters, her works often explore themes of love, sacrifice, and resilience. She has published more than 20 novels, including the acclaimed historical romance The Things We Leave Unfinished, the Fourth Wing fantasy series, and the contemporary romance Variation. As a military spouse, she also loves a good, strong hero. She lives in Colorado with her family and is passionate about helping children in the foster system through her nonprofit, One October.
