Love & Leftovers

Love & Leftovers is a young adult novel written in verse that follows Marcie, a teenage girl relocated from Idaho to New Hampshire when her parents separate. Her mother takes her away from her friends, her life, and her maybe-boyfriend Linus to stay in her grandmother's empty house. In New Hampshire, Marcie faces the challenges of being the new student at school while dealing with her mother's depression. Her father remains in Idaho with his new boyfriend, leaving Marcie to navigate complex feelings about her family's changes and her own identity. The story explores romance, loyalty, and self-discovery as Marcie becomes entangled with J.D., a new potential love interest in New Hampshire, while maintaining a long-distance connection to Linus back home. Her poetry notebook becomes both a confidant and a record of her experiences. Through verse and emotional depth, Love & Leftovers examines how teenagers cope with family upheaval and questions of belonging. The novel connects themes of first love and finding one's place with broader explorations of what makes a home.

Readers appreciate the authentic teen voice and emotional depth conveyed through the verse novel format. The poetry style makes complex feelings accessible while maintaining a quick reading pace. Liked: - Realistic portrayal of family struggles and relationships - Complex handling of teen romance/sexuality - Character growth throughout the story - Poetry format enhances emotional impact Disliked: - Some found the protagonist selfish in her decisions - Romance plot considered predictable by several readers - Poetry format felt forced or superficial to some Ratings: Goodreads: 3.9/5 (4,800+ ratings) Amazon: 4.2/5 (50+ reviews) Notable Reader Comments: "The verse format perfectly captures a teenager's inner thoughts" - Goodreads reviewer "Main character makes frustrating choices that feel true to her age" - Amazon review "Poetry sometimes feels like chopped-up prose rather than true verse" - Barnes & Noble reviewer

Words in Deep Blue by Cath Crowley Two teens reconnect through their shared love of books and letters while dealing with loss and unrequited feelings.

The Last Time We Say Goodbye by Cynthia Hand A teen processes her brother's death through journal entries and memories while learning to move forward with life and love.

What to Say Next by Julie Buxbaum Two unlikely friends form a connection through shared grief and navigate the complexities of high school relationships.

Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy by Sonya Sones A girl copes with her sister's mental illness through poetry while finding her own path through adolescence.

The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen A structured teen's life changes when she takes a summer catering job and learns to embrace imperfection through new relationships.

🌟 The entire novel is written in verse - using free-form poetry to tell its story through the main character's journal entries 📚 Author Sarah Tregay was inspired to write in verse after reading several novels-in-verse during her lunch breaks at work 💕 The book explores themes of divorce, long-distance relationships, and finding one's identity through both poetry and music ✍️ The protagonist Marcie writes poetry as a way to cope with her parents' separation and her own romantic struggles, mirroring how many teens use creative outlets to process emotions 🎵 Musical references play a significant role in the story, with song lyrics and mixtapes helping to establish both mood and character relationships throughout the novel