"We are imperfect people made that way by an imperfect world, and we don’t always get a say in what shapes us."

Ryan MacKenzie is Ella's older brother, a single parent raising Maisie and Colt on Solitude's family property in Telluride, Colorado. Solitude is a B&B with a main house and 15 secluded luxury cabins on 200 acres in the San Juan Mountains. It is Ella who is the owner, taking over the reins of responsibility after her grandmother died. Ryan is in special ops, deployed overseas, locations always undisclosed. Yet knowing all that's on Ella's plate, Ryan has asked his sister for a favor; someone in his unit needs a pen pal. And so it began, a sister introducing herself through her words to a man she was only permitted to know as Chaos, using his call sign due to the regulation of no real names in correspondence.

At year's end, I read "The Things We Leave Unfinished" and knew I wanted to read more of the author's writing. I finished this novel at 4:20 a.m. It was my 2nd night of reading this book, and the more I read, the more I knew I would not sleep without finishing it. I have sometimes used the descriptive "heart wrenching," but this was beyond that. It was, at times, gut-wrenching, but beyond the times of agony, there was also exhilaration within the developing relationships.

Rebecca Yarros' writing style is akin to a constellation of emotions, with each character's development so intimately portrayed that it draws the reader into their highs and lows. Her words have a profound effect, piercing the soul and leaving a lingering desire for a happy ending for all of them. ( )

This book is an emotional roller coaster. It addresses the agony of losing family members to military service and in dealing with cancer and its toll on the family. It also tackles the loneliness of growing up without a loving family and the need to belong.
Ella and Chaos begin writing to each other, at the request of Ella's brother Ryan. Ryan and Chaos are both in special ops. Ryan's last letter to Chaos is to take care of Ella. So, Chaos / Beckett Gentry enters Ella's life, but she doesn't know he is Chaos. Slowly, they fall in love, but Ella's daughter, Maisie, twin to Colt, is sick with neuroblastoma, and Ella is at her wits end trying to cope.
This novel takes your emotions on an up and down ride, perhaps a bit too much, but I still loved every minute. ( )

I've read a number of books by this author. This one is not one of my favorites. ( )

Love these characters but this entire book had me sobbing from beginning to end. ( )

This book will have your heart hurting! Please read the trigger warnings.

I am not sure how to write a review without giving spoilers. I will say that I don't like the ending, there is an unnecessary tragedy that honestly does not fit at all with the entirety of the book. This part should have been left out completely, but Whatever. Despite this part the book is very good.

I don't know how realistic the book is, but then a good read doesn't have to be close to reality does it? I mean who doesn't want a handsome military man to be sent by your brother to look over you, stand beside you and ultimately pull you out of all your debt and sorrow???

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