This is a debut novel for Bridget and I think she did a fantastic job.

This book follows Martin and Petra who meet at there high school grad for the first time because they end up sitting together. There happens to be a tragedy that happens on graduation that pulls them closer together. I did end up reading this book in one sitting. This story has everything every emotion imaginable. An by the end your heart is put back together aside from the emotional ride you go on to get there.

Petra is smart and caring person. Martin is the funny guy he’s always trying to make Petra laugh.

I really loved the Back to The Future references. It’s one of my favourite movies.

I received this book from netgalley in exchange for an honest review

This is graduation day for Petra and her seatmate Martin. It is also the first time they are meeting despite having spent four years in the same school. Martin teases Petra and even invites her to a party after the ceremony. When Martin leaves early and gets into a car accident that same day leaving him in a coma, it changes lives forever. When Petra and his friends have dreams about Martin, they have to reckon with what that means and what they will do about it.

While this is an interesting story, I did have a problem with the changing voices of Petra and Martin in particular, as it wasn't smooth as it could have been. I kept going back and rereading passages. Some of the characters were not well-developed. I found myself not caring about them nor did they move the story forward.

However, the dream sequences made this a read I could stick with because as a “dreamer” and I thought the author did a great job with that part of the story. Very realistic.

I recommend you read this book as it deals with dreams, friendship, and tragedy. Special Note: This book is marketed as YA (Young Adult) but it does deal with Sexual Assault.

I felt like this book was somewhat (very, I'm sorry) unoriginal and I dnf. The premise was interesting but the prose, characters, and dialogue didn't pull through for me this time. Sadly.

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?

What You Left Me

by Bridget Morrissey

publication date June 5, 2018

courtesy of www.netgalley.com



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.

This story was amazingly written with two very lovable and relatable characters. This was a very easy read and wonderful in between two difficult plots or for anyone trying to get out of a reading slump.

I liked this book until I didn't. The premise is.... interesting, but to be honest, it's not believable that the two characters would be so drawn to each other. Yes, connections matter, but I didn't feel that the connection portrayed (simply sitting next to each other at graduation) held much weight. Other than that -- there's a few unbelievable characters here that will narrow the audience that enjoys this book. In particular, I found Mama Dorothy to be an impractical and silly portrayal of a mother in grief.

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.

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.

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.

The concept and structure of WHAT YOU LEFT ME is very unique. The book touches on a number of themes including death and assault, but it is mostly about friendship. It's about the relationships you make in high school, those unexpected but meaningful connections. Morrissey captures these relationships well and the characters in this book are well drawn. The ending surprised and moved me, which speaks to my investment in the characters' lives and relationships.
Something about the structure of this book didn't quite resonate with me, however, as I found the Martin chapters to be almost retellings of Petra's chapters and, especially at the start of the book, it felt quite repetitive.
While I didn't love this book, I would definitely recommend it to fans of Gayle Forman (especially fans of If I Stay) and Jennifer Niven, as it packs an emotional punch.

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.