Leaving: A Novel Hardcover – February 13, 2024

Love the point of view this book was written from. Poignant story with beautiful descriptive insightful prose. The ending is the title.

The authoress does an excellent job of portraying the emotional conflict in both of the main characters. Also a great job of building the tension to the book’s conclusion.

I read this book in a day and a half, and was totally immersed. When I turned the last page, I looked up from the book and felt such remorse. Yes, this is a book about both Sarah and Warren (two main characters) but, for me, the whole book revolved around Warren. What he thought, what he did, how he reacted. So at the very ending, I could only mourn the loss of this (fictional) remarkable man. All of his wit, his sensitivity, his romantic nature, his intelligence and empathy, even his short-comings and humanity...........all of it was lost at the young (yes, I said "young".......) age of 60.I felt like I lost a friend; perhaps because Warren reminds me so much of male friends I have had. This was the first book I have read by this author -- I am eager to read her book about Georgia O'Keeffe.

I think there is a pretty good story in here but it needs some heavy editing. The author repeats herself often and that is boring. There are typos (letters dropped and even once or twice a word). The level of detail becomes ponderous, frequently. At least one time the author contradicts herself. The two times in the book where Warren's meeting with Bella is described (a dog) contradict each other.I also wonder who acts this way? Warren and his family are such a mess, okay, some families are messes. But the level of emotional blackmail that Warren puts up with and gives in to is unbelievable (to me). I don't understand why Sarah, an intelligent woman, would pine away for this guy who acted so stupidly, continually letting his daughter dictate his life, who wants him!? And not sure why the wife would take him back, but I suppose there are some women who would. I never got a back story on these people, esp Warren, that would explain their behavior.Finally, I want to say, as a nurse, the comment that nurses are "trained" to "withhold themselves emotionally". As a nurse I must ask; how would such training occur? I've been a nurse for 30 years and I know that most nurses I have met and worked with are compassionate caregivers and put their patients needs above their own. Please don't repeat stereotypes such as this.I will say that I finished the book because I wanted to see how it ended but I had to skip a lot of wordy description in order to get there.

Told with great understanding of late-life romance, this tale of young lovers reuniting in old age offers an insightful glimpse into what it takes for a mature relationship to succeed. The main complication that disrupts their happy ending feels a little forced, and the resolution doesn't feel quite earned either. But overall, the story is thoughtfully rendered and features two fully fleshed-out leads who are worth following.

Fabulous, fantastic terrific. I cannot say enough about this book. At first, 30 pages in I wasn’t sure if I was going to like it. It started out very common with two people who went to college together meeting up years later, and an affair begins between them.I finished this book in a day and a half and cried, took notes, parts of it were like my life and the life of many women I know.Without giving it away, The theme is basically people leave us either through death marriage estrangement divorce, but life is filled with leaving others. Favorite quotes: paraphrasing here ; you raise children and they need you to survive while growing up and then they leave they no longer need you and you become irrelevant. Another quote: when you have a crisis in life, it is like a volcano exploding you then have lava which hardens and that’s what’s left. This Book spoke volumes to my heart and echoed many of the sentiments my husband and I are feeling at this stage of our lives. Please read this book No matter what stage you are at, and I hope it helps you in your healing process!

This is a skillfully written novel that is also emotionally true and plausible. I identify with the characters and their conundrum, albeit was saddened by the resolution.This may not have been the right thing for someone widowered two years ago—who still gets sobbing spells—to read. But life is full of love…and loss…and new joy to counter it if we’re lucky.

Although a well written novel, I found the story quite depressing. I’m sure many that read this will reflect on their own lives and wonder how they may react to the same situations. I was hoping the ending would have been uplifting.Also, the subtle political jabs I could have done without.I would read another novel by this author.