I was initially drawn to Rumaan Alam's Leave the World Behind by its unique premise. While vacationing in a rented home far more luxurious than their NYC apartment, a family encounters some unexpected guests late one night - the owners of the rental. They show up on the doorstep claiming that a blackout has struck the city and that they have retreated to their second home as a safety measure. What to believe? Should the vacationing couple trust these strangers? And is there really a disaster happening in New York City? Lately, I have been rating books as five star reads if they capture my attention and keep drawing me back into the book, making me think about it even when I am not reading. Leave the World Behind is one such book. In this time of COVID-19 and Stay-at-Home orders, a book featuring the fun and warmth of a vacation in a beautiful, peaceful place is just what I needed. What is ironic is this story quickly turns into a book that is eerily similar to current events. This novel begs the question, do you shelter in place while on vacation when trouble comes knocking at your door or do you "leave the world behind?" Leave the World Behind is a highly descriptive and engaging novel, which made it a really enjoyable read for me. I literally felt like I was on vacation with this family, taking in the sights and sounds, savoring delicious meals, and enjoying the ambiance of a beautiful vacation home. The book got even better when the Washingtons, the owners of the home, showed up on the doorstep, taking this novel from a light-hearted, fun read into something much more dark and sinister. Recommended for a variety of readers, but especially those who love getting lost in what they are reading.
Availability: Book; Large Print Book; eBook & eAudiobook in cloudLibrary Rating: ***** Stars (I loved it) Reviewer: Brooke, Public Relations Librarian
ARE YOU AND THIS BOOK A GOOD MATCH? DISCOVER MORE WITH NOVELIST APPEALS! Leave the World Behind
GENRE: Psychological Suspense
TONE: Menacing; Suspenseful
STORYLINE: Character-Driven; Intricately Plotted
WRITING STYLE: Compelling
CHARACTER: Culturally Diverse; Flawed; Sympathetic
LOCATION: Long Island, New York
SUBJECT: African Americans; Catastrophism; Disasters; Families; Fear; Homeowners; Married People; Power Failures; Race Relations; Secrets; Social Isolation; Strangers; Vacation Homes; Vacations
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