Alex Michaelides’ fascinating psychological thriller - although having its fair share of controversy among readers – instantly took first place in my ranking of favorite reads after I flicked through the novel’s last few pages, as many may say, with my ‘jaw dropped.’ Alicia Berenson, the book’s enigmatic protagonist and a famous painter, shatters her perfect façade of a marriage when her husband, Gabriel, is shot five times in their house and Alicia is the one found behind the gun. Being sent to The Grove, a forensic psychiatric unit in London, she retreats into six years of complete silence and does not speak another word to anyone; “The Silent Patient” becomes Alicia’s new identity. 
Michaelides’ clever implementation of Greek mythology was pivotal in Alicia’s complex characterization and undoubtedly intensified my passion for this book. Alcestis, her final painting before being institutionalized, serves as a recurring motif from beginning to end of the story, depicting a dead woman on a bed as a man observes behind her. It arguably mirrors Alicia’s own expectations of her relationship with Gabriel, convinced he should be willing to die for her if he truly loves her. This reflects the infamous Greek myth of Alcestis, a woman who sacrifices herself so that her husband, Admetus, can live. Intrigued in the painting’s possible significance and the motive behind Alicia’s silence, Theo Faber, the novel’s narrator, is the only psychotherapist at the institution eager to take on her case, confident he can get her to talk again. 
As readers closely accompany Theo in his consistent sessions with Alicia, revelations gradually begin to blur the boundaries between therapist and patient, exposing unexpected parallels between Alicia’s and Theo’s troubled pasts. Michaelides impressively enhances this connection by employing dual timelines, with a fast-paced and seamless shift between the therapy sessions and former events that led to Gabriel’s death. The split narrative was an aspect of the book that suffered considerable backlash in many reader reviews for the slight puzzlement it caused, but I confess the novel would not have been the same without this crucial element - it provided meaningful context of the protagonists’ lives and essentially paved the way for the staggering plot twist at the end.
For another book to replace this one in my ranking, it’ll also have to be one that I read in solely two sittings, finish in utter shock, and think of repeatedly the following months. From reading it alone in my bedroom to reading it in a TV room as my friends watched a World Cup game, my attention never wavered from the pages. I was unaware I even could read amidst any noise because until then, I had simply not yet found a book that hooked me quite like this one. Despite my disliking of its bland cover, ‘The Silent Patient’ did not fail to impress me in its plot construction, unconventional time framing, and intricate layering of its characters (particularly Theo, which, well, you’ll understand what I mean once you read it). His statement that “We’re all crazy, [he believes], just in different ways” perfectly encapsulates the novel’s exploration of psychological depth and reveals more about him than what meets the eye. Truly, my only regret in reading this book was not reading it in 2019, right after publication! 10/10!

"My dearest Jameson," - Rebecca Yarros 
The romance novel The Things We Left Unfinished by Rebecca Yarros will keep you spending hours in the same place, holding this book, eager to finish it. Having personally read it and after it was recommended to me by my sister, I can say that it is one of the books I have read with the most beautiful storylines, especially Scarlett Stanton's. Yarros creates an emotional and captivating story that makes it difficult to put the book down. 
After a messy divorce, Georgia Stanton returns to Colorado, where she grew up, having been raised by her great-grandmother, Scarlett Stanton, a famous author. After Scarlett's death, Georgia's mum, Ava Stanton (who was absent during her childhood), decides to sell the rights to the ending of an unfinished book by Scarlett. Georgia and her mother were never close and disagree over the book. Ava wants to make some extra money by selling it to Noah Harrison, a New York bestselling author. Georgia does not think it is right to have someone else finish her great grandmother's book – especially someone who doesn't even know her great-grandmother or the ending of her love story. Through Scarlett's and Jamesons letters, we learn more about their relationship. Scarletts love story was tragic, which explains why Scarlett was never able to finish her novel. Scarlett's past influences Georgias views on love and shapes her relationship with Noah. The plot revolves around two romances: Scarlett and Jameson's relationship during the Second World War and Georgia and Noah's relationship in the present day. Although the two stories are separated by decades, they gradually become connected, allowing the reader to understand how one generation can influence the next. 
The novel is a romance, but its use of alternating timelines gives it a more complex structure. Yarros directly compares the past with the present, showing both their similarities and differences. By alternating between Scarlett's past and Georgia's present, the author gradually reveals how the events of one generation continue to affect the next. The contrast between Scarlett and Jamesons relationship and Georgias and Noahs relationship allows Yarros to explore how love can be shaped by the circumstances in which people find themselves. I found myself comparing the two relationships throughout the novel, particularly because their very different circumstances made me question whether love can remain strong when life does not go as planned. The alternating timelines are one of the novel's most effective features, as they kept me curious about how the two stories would eventually connect. At times I found myself so engaged that I was awake until late hours at night trying to finish the book.  
In my mind the characters become real, especially Scarlett and Jameson, because, if you think about it, their experiences reflect a reality for many people during the Second World War.  The historical setting (set during a period of enormous uncertainty and change) gave me an insight into the past - a reality which is not mine, but which I experienced through the book. The Second World War is something I know about historically, but Scarlett and Jameson's story allowed me to see the impact of that period through individual people; therefore, the historical setting feels more real and emotional to me. Yarros successfully turns a historical period I have only studied into something personal and emotional meaningful.  
The book has also received a largely positive response from readers. On Goodreads, it has received an average rating of four stars from hundreds of thousands of ratings, with many readers praising its emotional impact, its two love stories and its alternating timelines. However, some readers have criticised the book for being overly predictable, cliché or lacking character development. Personally, I found myself very emotionally connected to Scarlett, which was the part of the novel that stayed with me the most.  
The Things We Leave Unfinished was published in 2021 and is one of more than twenty novels written by Rebecca Yarros. She is now a #1 New York Times, USA Today and Wall Street Journal bestselling author, known for novels including Fourth Wing and In the Likely Event.  
"A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies. The man who never reads lives only one."- George R. R. Martin 
This is exactly what I felt while reading The Things We Leave Unfinished: although Scarlett and Jameson's world is not mine, Yarros allowed me to experience it through their story and it is one that I will remember long after finishing the book.  ​

By: V. Toledo