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jayisreading's review
emotional
sad
medium-paced
3.0
I wasn’t sure what I wanted from this book, but it didn’t really work for me. I wanted to enjoy this book, especially because I was interested in the period this book took place (1950s to 1960s Korea), a tumultuous and transitory time that doesn’t seem to receive as much attention in fiction about Korea. However, I’m not very invested in drama and love triangles, and this book had plenty of drama with its somewhat intense love triangle at the front and center. In some ways, If You Leave Me felt like a book form of a Korean drama.
I think my greatest concern was the incredibly ableist thinking that existed throughout this novel. One reason for this could be that this is reflecting the dominant beliefs about trauma and disability during this time period (which, unfortunately, is still present to this day). However, I think this could be addressed while still empowering and giving agency to the disabled characters in this book (and there are a few!). Most (if not all) of them were just treated as weak or at fault for being disabled. While it wasn’t anything super egregious, the off-handed comments, internalized ableist thoughts, etc. all add up.
I think I do have more thoughts, but these were my main takeaways from the novel.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Blood, Sexism, Violence, Death, Suicidal thoughts, Grief, Emotional abuse, War, Ableism, and Suicide
Moderate: Alcoholism, Police brutality, and Physical abuse
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