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lcg527's review against another edition
emotional
reflective
sad
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
5.0
Content Warnings
Graphic: Infidelity, Grief, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Medical trauma, Vomit, Medical content, and Suicide attempt
natalieba's review against another edition
challenging
dark
emotional
reflective
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? No
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
3.5
Leaving is a story about love - romantic love and familial love - and the things that can bring people together and tear relationships apart. There are two main characters, Sarah and Warren, who were each others’ first loves in high school and into college. They break up and then bump into each other thirty years later, which is how the book opens. The story explores their bond and the bonds they each share with the families they made in their years apart.
What worked for me?
The writing just sucked me in. Every time I picked up this book, I was immediately absorbed right back into the story and didn’t want to put the book down. The characters are so honest with the reader, there is no issue of trust or unreliability. The author explores human emotions and really brings the reader into the hearts and minds of her characters.
There are so many passages dog-eared in my copy because they hit such a tender place in me - passages about motherhood, being in love, having relationships with little children and adult children, parenting your parents, seeing your children as their own people, sitting in the ICU worried about a loved one, being a daughter, being a mother, and being a woman. I can see myself writing many of them down in a journal, that’s how special Robinson’s writing is - it is relatable, poignant, and memorable.
What didn’t work for me?
I loved this book until the end. I of course won’t spoil it, but I find myself with mixed feelings. I thought this would be a five-star read for me - and maybe it will with time - but my visceral reaction to the end is holding me back right now. I could be convinced that it works with the arc of the book, but I found it so difficult. I may adjust my rating up in time but for now, I am having a hard time reconciling my feelings. Perhaps the sign of a great book. But I feel troubled in the moment.
Would I recommend it?
Yes, but with reservations (sadly). Check for content warnings.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide, Infidelity, and Pregnancy
Moderate: Grief, Medical content, and Medical trauma
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