The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word UNTAKEN
U
N
T
A
K
E
N
More clues leading to the result UNTAKEN
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "left on the shelf" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case left on the shelf = untaken.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does UNTAKEN mean?
UNTAKEN adjective- Not taken.