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The Things We Leave Unfinished (2021) Parents Guide: Is the book OK for kids?

Name: The Things We Leave Unfinished
Rating: 3.9 (8 reviews)
Author: Rebecca Yarros

Age Rating, Sex, Violence & Language

When Georgia Stanton discovers that her late grandmother, Scarlett, the infamous romance author, didn't get the chance to finish her last book, she is determined to share her story. But first, it needs to be written. Enter Noah Harrison, the bestselling and most charismatic romance author of his generation. When Georgia meets him, she is distraught - athough he's charming and handsome, there's nothing beneath the surface. But as they start working together, Georgia begins to see that there might be more to Noah than meets the… Sign up for the full guide

Adult • 2021 • 448 pages • Adult

by Rebecca Yarros

3.9

Average rating by Bontent members

Age

17+

This dual-timeline novel follows Georgia Stanton in the present and her grandmother Scarlett during WWII, exploring themes of grief, betrayal, and sacrificial love. While it is marketed as romance, it is geared toward a New Adult/Adult audience due to descriptive sexual content, depictions of wartime trauma, and frequent strong language. Parents should note significant historical violence including plane crashes and casualty themes… Sign up for the full guide

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Is The Things We Leave Unfinished appropriate for kids?

Content severity in The Things We Leave Unfinished

Sex Intense 8/10

Violence Strong 7/10

Language Moderate 4/10

Substances Moderate 4/10

Themes Strong 5/10

What happens in The Things We Leave Unfinished, moment by moment

p. 12 🔥 Mature Themes 4/10
p. 25 💬 Language 4/10
p. 44 🔥 Mature Themes 3/10

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Sex and nudity in The Things We Leave Unfinished

The book contains several descriptive sex scenes in both the contemporary and historical timelines, intended for mature readers. Descriptions include physical sensations, undressing, and terminology for various acts, though it stops short of being clinical. Tension and chemistry are primary drivers of the plot as Georgia and Noah navigate their attraction, while Scarlett and Jameson's wartime romance is equally explicit. Readers will encounter scenes involving oral sex, manual stimulation, and penetrative…

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Violence and gore in The Things We Leave Unfinished

Set during WWII, the historical timeline features significant peril, including visceral descriptions of air battles and the physical aftermath of plane crashes. Characters deal with the loss of comrades and the constant threat of death, with Jameson describing the carnage he witnesses from the cockpit. The narrative includes scenes of blood, fire, and the physical degradation of pilots who suffer through crashes. In the contemporary timeline, the violence is limited to emotional conflict and a brief physical…

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Language in The Things We Leave Unfinished

Strong profanity is used frequently throughout the text, including multiple uses of the 'f-word' as both an interjection and an intensifier. Other terms like 'shit,' 'ass,' 'bastard,' and 'bitch' appear regularly in both dialogue and the inner monologues of characters like Noah and Georgia. The contemporary timeline tends to use coarser language during moments of frustration or heated arguments. The historical timeline uses slightly more period-appropriate but still modern-feeling profanity during high-stress…

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Drugs, alcohol, and smoking in The Things We Leave Unfinished

Characters frequently consume alcohol, particularly wine and whiskey, as a way to cope with stress, celebrate, or socialize. There is one instance of excessive drinking in the modern timeline where Georgia consumes too much to numb her pain, leading to a visible hangover. Casual cigarette smoking is depicted in the historical 1940s timeline, reflecting the social norms of the era among soldiers and civilians. Noah often has a glass of whiskey while working on the manuscript, and various social gatherings involve…

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Mature themes in The Things We Leave Unfinished

Major themes include infidelity and the dissolution of marriage, the ethics of finishing another author's work, sacrificial love during wartime, and processing the death of a beloved grandparent.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is The Things We Leave Unfinished appropriate for kids?

Bontent's parent guide suggests The Things We Leave Unfinished is best for ages 17+. This dual-timeline novel follows Georgia Stanton in the present and her grandmother Scarlett during WWII, exploring themes of grief, betrayal, and sacrificial love. While it is marketed as romance, it is geared toward a…

What age rating does The Things We Leave Unfinished have?

Books don't carry official age ratings. The Things We Leave Unfinished is shelved by its publisher as Adult, but that's a marketing category, not a content rating — Bontent's own review of what's actually on the page puts it at ages 17+.

What reading level is The Things We Leave Unfinished?

The Things We Leave Unfinished is 448 pages and its reading level is Adult. Bontent recommends it for ages 17+.

What is The Things We Leave Unfinished about?

Is there sex or nudity in The Things We Leave Unfinished?

How violent is The Things We Leave Unfinished?

Is the language in The Things We Leave Unfinished appropriate for kids?

Are drugs, alcohol, or smoking depicted in The Things We Leave Unfinished?

What mature themes appear in The Things We Leave Unfinished?

Major themes include infidelity and the dissolution of marriage, the ethics of finishing another author's work, sacrificial love during wartime, and processing the death of a beloved grandparent.

Where can I read the full The Things We Leave Unfinished parent guide?

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