Where You Left Me

Lucky—that’s how Jennifer would describe herself. This reading group guide forWhere You Left Me includes an introduction, discussion questions, and ideas for enhancing your book club. Jennifer Gardner Trulson is the founder of the Douglas B. Gardner Foundation, a non-profit.
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Jennifer is so in love with herself, the entire book is about me, me, me. The author has a nanny for her kids, plenty of money that includes building a house in the Hampton's even if it is on the wrong side of the beach according to her and even enough money to buy a Valentino dinner bag! She loves to name-drop and talk about the "trendy" places she eats and shops. Jennif I have read several books written by people devastated by this tragedy and this book, by far was the worst one I read.

Jennifer gushes and gushes over her friendship with the family of Howard Lutnick, President of Cantor Fitzgerald, whom her husband was employed by. Jennifer's poor dead husband is truly lost in her story - A horrible book! Nov 18, Jen rated it it was amazing Shelves: Like other reviewers I found myself sometimes in disbelief at her wealth and lack of financial worry after Doug's murder. Yes, even recoiling from it a little, even though I liked Jennifer. It felt tasteless and shallow of her to be so open about her wealth However, it is her life, her book, her experience.

To self-censor herself would be to compromise the integrit Like other reviewers I found myself sometimes in disbelief at her wealth and lack of financial worry after Doug's murder. To self-censor herself would be to compromise the integrity of herself and the book. Jennifer has every right to tell her story as it truly was, and if she had enough money to keep her Hamptons home and re-decorate her Manhattan apartment, so be it.

Were the practical aspects of her life no doubt easier by having wealth than for someone who lost a spouse who didn't hold a prestigious position in Cantor Fitzgerald? However, that doesn't diminish her emotional experience, her grief. That transcends all income brackets. Doug swept her off her Massachusetts feet and introduced her to the New York City lifestyle.

He promised her three things: Until death, he did those things. I feel like people might think of her as a my-man-will-take-of-me mentality, but keep in mind she earned her J. Doug and Jennifer built a home and a life together, and while more traditional in gender roles than what we often see in modern times, it worked very well for them.

Jennifer's book begins when Doug rescues her one snowy evening; it fast-forwards quickly to the day of his murder. She writes about how gone is generally an innocuous word the carrots are all gone because the toddler ate them until it isn't. Until it's the gut-wrenching tragedy of your husband dying in the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil.

Jennifer's story captivated me; her honesty made the book impossible to put down. Jennifer meets Derek Trulson on a chance encounter, and she articulates her role strain between being Doug's wife and Derek's girlfriend. She struggles in this period, obviously, but also relishes the in-between phase. If she has not chosen Derek as a serious partner, then she has not rejected Doug.

She struggles with feeling like Doug's wife even while dating Derek. We also meet Doug's family and friends as they experience Derek fulfilling Doug's role. All people, including Jennifer, feel ambivalence at some point about her new love. Especially unique is her children's relationships with Derek. To Michael, Doug is his father. Derek will never be "Daddy". To his younger sister Julia too young at Doug's death to have any memories of him , "Daddy" has been the word for what she sees that she doesn't have in relation to her friends with fathers, and Derek truly becomes her Daddy.

We see Michael's realization and integration of his reality with his sister's. The last chapter of the book is devoted to Derek and Jennifer's wedding the perennial bachelor's first. It's a beautiful, emotional day between the three merging families Doug's dad jokingly refers to Derek as his "son-in-law" that honors Doug as the fifth member of their immediate family.

Four words to capture this book: Jennifer has been loved by two amazing men, and she knows this. I wish Jennifer, Derek, Julia, and Michael long and happy lives as a family. Apr 12, eb rated it it was ok. Clearly she went through a terrible trauma, but she doesn't compellingly convey what she felt and thought about her husband's death. I came away most struck by how unconscious she is of her great wealth. View all 10 comments.

Aug 30, Doreen rated it liked it Shelves: This was the fifth in a series of memoirs that I've been reading for ELLE Magazine, and I admit, I'm suffering from second-hand-personal-tragedy fatigue. That said, I tried to be kind to this book, but I sincerely believe that, unless you have something new to say, or a new way to present universal truths, please don't write a book about it. And for God's sake, don't be disingenuous about your circumstances! Jennifer Gardner Trulson lives a privileged life, and it's annoying when she tries to do This was the fifth in a series of memoirs that I've been reading for ELLE Magazine, and I admit, I'm suffering from second-hand-personal-tragedy fatigue.

Jennifer Gardner Trulson lives a privileged life, and it's annoying when she tries to downplay her wealth. It doesn't sound like modesty, just obliviousness to the hoi polloi, compounded by her incredibly silly views regarding people she doesn't know, e. I suppose that's how this book is "quintessentially New York," as the publisher's blurb goes. Way to live up to the stereotype of self-absorption. They're madly in love, have two kids, he dies, her friends and family are supportive while she grieves. She brings absolutely nothing new or interesting to that narrative. As a personal tragedy, something she had to undergo, I feel incredibly sorry for her.

As a not-very-well-written book, something I have to read to review, I feel incredibly sorry for me. Fortunately, that's only the first half of the book. Once she starts talking about her religion and relationship with God in the aftermath of the tragedy, she starts bringing real depth to the conversation. And then she meets Derek Trulson. It isn't a spoiler to say that they eventually marry since, you know, the cover clearly displays her taking of his surname, but her struggles to reconcile her feelings for him with her feelings for her late husband, as well as her worries about the kids and how to integrate their extended families, are written with insight, grace and wit.

I even teared up a few times as she discussed their efforts to honor her past while combining their futures. I'm glad I stuck out the incredibly boring first half and really, how sad is it that the tale of a widowing can be rendered boring? Sep 13, Jen rated it really liked it. They say you can't judge a book by it's cover.

I chose this book solely by its cover and knew it would be a story that grabbed my heart. This is for anyone who has ever lost someone they love, or someone who fears losing someone they love, or someone who remembers September 11th, or just someone, anyone. If it were a novel, it would probably be cheesy and cliche, but it's not; it's one woman's real story of tremendous, earth-shattering loss, and ultimate redemptive ending.


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I devoured this They say you can't judge a book by it's cover. I devoured this story, and cried throughout. Where You Left Me hits the spot when you're looking for a book that covers the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, and leaves you with hope for the future. My only gripe with the book was the author's failure to acknowledge the elephant in the room -- her incredible privilege. I wish she would have acknowledged that despite her tragic loss, the external circumstances that she found herself in were pretty damn good, all things considered. I wouldn't have expected her to see this in the immediate aftermath, or even in the few years that followed, but I wish she would have recognized it in retrospect.

Aug 20, Honey-Squirrel rated it it was ok. After finishing this memoir, however, I remain uncertain as to why the author sought its publication. Was it designed to inspire others facing loss to retain hope for the future? Is it a manual for navigating the grieving process? A testament to her personal tragedy and resilience? Or perhaps its main goal was to memorialize her late husband and keep his essence alive. On all those counts, this book misses the mark. The author has extraordinary resources that soften the blow of her loss: Moreover, she meets another handsome, successful, and doting man less than a year after her first Mr.

Such resources and good luck provide less insight into human resilience and less inspiration to prevail over loss than the plight of a less privileged and less fortunate survivor dealing with the impact and fallout of the same tragedy. The author is not a gifted storyteller; the memoir unfolds mostly in a flat, commonplace, and simplistic manner.

HAVE YOU EVER LOST SOMEONE?

As a result, her late husband's essence never emerges beyond two dimensions. Nov 08, Connie rated it did not like it. I wanted to like this book. The premise intrigued me: Very similar to my life except the losing husband part. Or so I thought. I'm going to echo what several people have previously pointed out: But she didn't have to worry financially. I didn't like that Jennifer constantly liked to remind the reader that she didn't always live a privileged live -- as if trying to make herself more appealing to the reader.

She also likes to drop mentions of expensive clothing people wear, bags, places they frequent. Not my type of story. I didn't finish the book. I read it about halfway and stopped. Sep 20, Phillygirl rated it liked it. But she did have a number of important things going for her. First, she and her husband were very wealthy.

They lived in an apartment on Central Park West. They were able to send their children to private schools. They were involved with numerous charities, and she and her late husband chaired an event. You can't do that unless you are a large donor. Her husband had custom-made shirts, dozens at a time, from a Savile Row tailor. Their friends were very wealthy, too.

Jennifer didn't have to give up her life style after she lost her husband. She kept the apartment and she kept the house in the Hamptons. She still went to expensive restaurants and bought expensive clothes. She stayed in the same wealthy circles. She didn't have to work to maintain her lifestyle, or put food on the table. And she met a man who was new to the city and who recognized that she could provide an entree into her wealthy New York circles.

The book is well written, especially the chapters dealing with the initial loss of her husband and her struggle to survive one day at a time. When she started name dropping, and gushing about all of her wealthy friends, it all seemed too easy and, frankly, annoying. She shopped at Vera Wang for the dress for her second wedding, which was held at an exclusive Central Park location. Her former in-laws loved her new husband. He fit in with everyone, including the higher echelons of the Cantor Fitzgerald firm. The new husband redesigned the whole place. I've been living in the same house for 28 years and I still have the original kitchen and an unfinished basement.

She didn't have to give up much to move forward. Aug 27, Tricia rated it liked it. I've read a fair number of similr books. Maybe it's my cop-fireman family upbringing, middle class NYC--this was a bit too yuppified for me. Dad travels the world, but Mom is more absent. Sometimes I like it this way. I spot the airport, magnificent with its glass facade and dangling vines, and I want him to slam on the brakes. I tell him I love him.

He gives me his usual over-the-top grin. I watch him carry his duffel bag through the doors, beneath the departures sign, until he disappears into a crowd of tourists. Buy from another retailer: Right Where You Left Me. Charlotte is holding it together okay—until the FBI comes knocking on her door.

Her father has been taken hostage! The quake has left so many orphans and widows, but Charlotte refuses to be counted among them. Even if it means breaking a promise…or the law. Your Cart items Cart total. Buy from another retailer. Charlotte copes by weaving tales from Russian folklore throughout her story as a way of coming to terms with her own personal struggles A thought-provoking examination of familial love.

Free eBook available to NEW subscribers only. Must redeem within 90 days. See full terms and conditions and this month's choices. More Books from this Author. Tell Me Something Real. Read more about this book. The Death of Mrs. Westaway By Ruth Ware. Lying in Wait By Liz Nugent. The Outsider By Stephen King. I alternated between angry, happy Have you ever read a book where you were constantly hoping for the best but preparing for the worst?

I alternated between angry, happy, and sad. There were so many times I wished that things could be different, but at the same time, I gave props to Bridget for making the choices she did regarding the plot. It made it a tough read for sure, but a tough read that I won't forget for quite some time. They couldn't be anymore different. Martin is the funny guy, constantly in trouble with his teachers and family but loved by his classmates. Petra, on the other hand, has always been the star student, the trustworthy daughter, and the steadfast friend but all that changed one night. Now she's stuck sitting next to Martin at graduation instead of being at the front with the top of her class.

Martin can tell that something isn't right with Petra, that she's brooding about something big, and even though it spells out nothing but trouble, he tries to get her attention, to make her smile, and this is what changes everything. Over the course of the book, I came to love Martin and Petra. On the surface, they seemed incredibly different. Martin seemed wild and carefree, forever the life of the party, while Petra was the smart girl, sticking to her books and her tight knit group of friends. Deep down, however, both Martin and Petra were lost Petra is dealing with the backlash of suddenly not being the perfect daughter, the perfect student.

Everyone thinks she's graduating, but the truth is she's one credit short. She knows she should feel bad, even mad at herself for getting to this place, but she can't bring herself to feel anything. My heart broke for Petra. It was easy to tell from the start that something wasn't right, that she was just going through the motions. I wanted to know more, to learn more about what happened that night. More importantly, I wanted her to smile again, to live again.

Yes, her decisions following that night weren't the best, but they were understandable. They could easily be fixed. What couldn't be easily fixed, however, was the non visible scars that remained on Petra, something that everyone failed to see but Martin. Martin, on the other hand, is growing tired of always being the funny, goofy guy. He wants people to see that there's more to him than his jokes and his bets. He wants more for himself.

Some parts of him wonder if he even lived high school to the fullest Martin and Petra's meeting is sudden and quick, but it not only changes everything but starts What You Left Me off with a bang. I wanted to see more of Martin and Petra, to see them interact, to see if maybe there was more to everything than a quick meeting, but a car accident shatters everything. Suddenly, Martin is in a coma and Petra is devastated. Sure, she didn't know him well, but for some reason she can't get over what has happened, she's pulled to his bedside and pulled into his life.

At its heart, What You Left Me is a book about second chances and how random encounters can change everything. What You Left Me is primarily character driven. Bridget spends a great deal of time building Petra and Martin's characters, and I really liked that aspect. There was something very interesting about their bond, something that made me curious to know what would happen next.

I also liked how Bridget made everything interconnected. I loved seeing Martin and Petra's friend groups come together, often in some very surprising ways. For one, I wish the POVs would have been labeled with the character's name. At first, it was hard to tell who was talking when, especially when the POVs expanded beyond just Martin and Petra. Additionally, I wish there was more about what happened to Petra that night. There was some resolution to it, but I wish there would've been more. In some ways, I feel like it was slightly pushed under the carpet by the end of the book.

If you're anything like me, it will probably make you cry your eyes out, but I promise it's worth it. Bridget has something very special here. Jul 17, Dove rated it it was amazing. Dove is back on her reading grind, she's been reading all day and all night, and I finished this book in literally two days because it was so good I could not put it down. I'm so happy to have found such amazing books again that truly capture my attention and make me want to read it all day.

This book was a lot like "If I stay" and "before I fall. She's going to go to his party, but then finds out he got in a Dove is back on her reading grind, she's been reading all day and all night, and I finished this book in literally two days because it was so good I could not put it down. She's going to go to his party, but then finds out he got in an accident and he's unconscious now, in a coma.

She has this connection to him and wants him to come back. She gets to know his family, his friends, his ex-girlfriend, etc.


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    5. She learns more about him, even visits his house and bedroom. She's determined to get him to wake up. She dreams about graduation day, relives what happens, and in her dreams she actually talks to the boy, and he proves to her that he isn't dead, and he relies on her to bring him back. It's a super sad book, because you see the friends blame themselves, and you see how big an impact one person has on the world. You get to see his mark on the world, and you get even sadder because you're yearning for them to be together because you know it would be such a good romance, but you can't get it.

    It reminds you of how precious life is, and how we should be grateful for what we have because it could all be gone in one day. I like how she goes the extra mile and gets to know all about him, and it makes it super sad and emotional. I just wanted him to wake up, and it's so difficult. It's about grieving, moving on, getting closure. And then you realize the accident was a two car accident, so you think of the impact it had on the guy in the other car, and how many other people were affected. I just loved how they incorporated the concept of talking to each other in their dreams, and that in between world that they clung onto, it added more fantasy.

    A beautiful and worthwhile read. Mar 28, BookOfCinz rated it liked it Shelves: 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. 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. Jul 06, Caitlin Carnes rated it it was amazing. Jun 01, Renee rated it it was amazing Shelves: What You Left Me is an emotionally evocative story that is hauntingly beautiful and achingly sad at the same time.

    The two together makes this one of the most heart wrenching books I have read this year and yet, a book that I loved every minute I spent reading it. The topic is not an easy one to contemplate but Ms.

    Where You Left Me

    Morrisey penned this poignant tale with creativity and grace. My hat goes off to her for such a beautiful written story! There is no higher praise I can give than to say this book tru What You Left Me is an emotionally evocative story that is hauntingly beautiful and achingly sad at the same time. There is no higher praise I can give than to say this book truly touched my soul and I am a better person for having read What You Left Me. I received this book for free. A favorable review was not required and all views expressed are my own.

    Thank you to Ms. Jun 05, Elizabeth Tammi rated it it was amazing. Happy release day to this awesome debut! Two high-school seniors meet for the first time at graduation; what happens next unfolds with gut-wrenching clarity and resonance. Get your copy now! May 26, bjneary rated it really liked it Shelves: Teens will enjoy this stunning debut, that examines through alternating perspectives and dream sequences, the power of love, friendship, hopes, and dreams when two teens, Petra and Martin, seated next to each other alphabetically meet for the first time at their graduation from high school.

    I really enjoyed these teens, their honesty and fierce protectiveness toward each other. Much will be learned through the time these new friends spend together as they gather in the hospital, waiting for news about Martin after he and his best friend are in a car accident. Verdict — a must read for teens! Mar 22, Sydney rated it really liked it Shelves: I had kinda forgotten what the plot was, so everything felt like it was moving early slow. About half way through, I started to understand, and after that I couldn't put it down.

    Let's start with the plot. This is the type of plot I like. Implausible, magical, yet real all the same.

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    Petra and Martin met for the first time at their graduation, and instantly hit it off. When Martin gets in a car accident and goes into a coma, Petra feels compelled to visit him. He starts visiting her in her dreams. This sounds weird and creepy but it isn't, I promise. Martin describes himself as being stuck "in between", and in this in between he can reach other people's dreams.

    I really liked this part. I have always believed that dreams are more, and while I don't know if you can just talk to other people while they are comatose and not even just the dreamer's perception of the person but actually them. If you've read Dreamology think that , I liked it in the book. It was weird because I ended up rooting for Martin and Petra even though they really only got to know each other through their shared dreams.

    WHERE YOU LEFT ME by Jennifer Gardner Trulson | Kirkus Reviews

    But something about them made me feel safe and comforted. They didn't really have the puppy dog, intense, passionate feelings of first love, but skipped right to the old married stage where they could hug and talk and just felt safe together, and I really liked that. Martin was the goofball. He spent all of graduation trying to make Petra laugh, and goes by Fly. As in Marty McFly.