Wednesday, August 31, 2016

Leave Me by Gayle Forman


Every woman who has ever fantasized about driving past her exit on the highway instead of going home to make dinner, and every woman who has ever dreamed of boarding a train to a place where no one needs constant attention--meet Maribeth Klein. A harried working mother who’s so busy taking care of her husband and twins, she doesn’t even realize she’s had a heart attack.

Surprised to discover that her recuperation seems to be an imposition on those who rely on her, Maribeth does the unthinkable: she packs a bag and leaves. But, as is often the case, once we get where we’re going we see our lives from a different perspective. Far from the demands of family and career and with the help of liberating new friendships, Maribeth is able to own up to secrets she has been keeping from herself and those she loves.

With bighearted characters--husbands, wives, friends, and lovers--who stumble and trip, grow and forgive, Leave Me is about facing the fears we’re all running from. Gayle Forman is a dazzling observer of human nature. She has written an irresistible novel that confronts the ambivalence of modern motherhood head on and asks, what happens when a grown woman runs away from home?




REVIEW by CA BORGFORD 5 stars

Leave Me is a story about life, love, timing and finding your place in the chaos of everyday life.
Maribeth’s situation hit home hard with me. The concept of losing ourselves while trying to have it all isn’t new. However, Forman’s creativity, humor and well-thought-out cast of characters is refreshing and unique.

I appreciated that everything wasn’t always neat and tidy and that you didn’t have to have all the answers. That sometimes what you see only tells part of the story. While I absolutely adored experiencing Maribeth’s new reality and the people she met along the way, it was the constant belief in that connection to all she’d always held dear that kept me hopeful. Jason was a stand out for me. The honesty of his character and the actions he took convinced me there was only ever one possible outcome.


I highly recommend Leave Me. It’s smart, funny, honest storytelling at it’s finest.


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