This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration.

Left To Chance

Summary: From the author of The Good Neighbor and The Glass Wives comes an enchanting story of returning home and discovering what truly matters after loss.

No one knows why Teddi Lerner left her hometown, but everyone knows why she’s back.

Twelve-year-old Shayna— talented, persistent, and adorable—persuaded “Aunt Tee” to return to Chance, Ohio, to photograph her father’s wedding. Even though it’s been six years since Shay’s mother, Celia, died, Teddi can hardly bear the thought of her best friend’s husband marrying someone else. But Teddi’s bond with Shay is stronger than the hurt.

Teddi knows it’s time to face the consequences of her hasty retreat from family, friends, and, her old flame, but when she looks through her viewfinder, nothing in her small town looks the same. That’s when she truly sees the hurt she’s caused and—maybe—how to fix it.

After the man she once loved accuses Teddi of forgetting Celia, Teddi finally admits why she ran away, and the guilt she’s carried with her. As Teddi relinquishes the distance that kept her safe, she’ll discover surprising truths about the people she left behind, and herself. And she’ll finally see what she overlooked all along.

 

Traveling With T’s Thoughts:

Stories about best friends really hit my sweet bookish spot. Stories when one best friend has passed on and the other is trying to figure out life without her bestie- even more!

 

What I liked:

The cover. I love wedding dresses. I love covers like this. Simple and yet so complex.

The town of Chance. First, great name for a town. Second- current day Chance is a great town, days gone by Chance- well I can see why Teddi wanted to leave.

Teddi figuring out life. Chance is not an all or nothing- you can love parts of it, love some of the people and still be able to leave and come back. Roots and wings, baby.

 

What I didn’t love:

Listen, Teddi leaving her best friend’s funeral was a tough pill for some (many) to swallow. And yes, on the surface it seems very selfish. But it wasn’t as selfish as it appeared. And while I understood that some people would not want to welcome her back with open arms immediately- it did seem that some held on to grudges a bit too long. Teddi was not perfect and she made mistakes. And some anger and hurt feelings was to be expected because the whole “fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me”  philosophy.

However, I did want to pinch Teddi when she was trying to act a bit too maternal about Shay. You can’t pop back in and expect everyone to share absolutely everything that has been going on in that girl’s life. Some things you have to show you are in the long haul for.

 

Bottom line: I read this book in a day- it was quick and easy reading with a town and characters that I could really enjoy!

 

*This book was sent to Traveling With T for review consideration. All thoughts and opinions are mine alone.*

**Left To Chance is a November #FuturisticFriday selection from Traveling With T.**

 

Pin For Later:

 

Happy Reading and Bookishly Yours,

T @ Traveling With T