ARC Review | WHAT YOU LEFT ME by Bridget Morrissey

Title: What You Left Me

Author: Bridget Morrissey

Rating: ★★★★☆

Publisher: Sourcebooks FIRE

Release Date: June 5, 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.”

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.