Things We Left Behind

List three common romance tropes that Score uses. How are these tropes designed to develop the plot? Does the predictability of these frequently used patterns hinder the story in any way, or do they deepen reading enjoyment? Use specific examples from the text to support your analysis.

Compare and contrast Sloane and Kayla and hypothesize why Lucian decides to be with Sloane despite feeling the same pressure to protect her as he once did to protect his mother.

In what ways do the appearances of Knox, Naomi, Nash, and Lina build upon the romances that were first introduced and explored in the previous installments of the series? Use specific examples to support your discussion.

What is the significance of Shania Twain’s music to Lucian? List three instances in which he listens to her music, and explore what the songs mean in the context of each scene.

Lucian spends his life trying to correct injustices and to prevent new ones from occurring. How do his adult goals and values reflect his early childhood experiences, and how does his approach differ from Sloane’s commitment to community service?

Analyze three different ways in which Simon has a profound impact on the course of Lucian’s life and development. How does Lucian choose to honor this connection to Sloane’s father?

Using examples from the text, compare and contrast Score’s third-act breakup in Things We Left Behind to the typical third-act breakups that are often employed in the romance genre.

The romance genre is known for employing grand gestures in its plot resolution. Toward the end of the novel, Emry says to Lucian: “There’s a lot of undoing to be done. This is real life. It’s not like the movies where one grand gesture will convince Sloane that you aren’t going to close down and abandon her again” (533). Analyze the metafictional nature of this comment and determine the author’s larger views on the conventions of the romance genre.