Reviews

The Leavers by Lisa Ko

bookish_calirican's review against another edition

challenging emotional hopeful informative reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.75

nonagon's review against another edition

emotional sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? It's complicated
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.25

a_augustine12's review

Good book! Just EXTREMELY slow. 

mnwatson's review against another edition

dark hopeful reflective sad

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

4.75

sleeprunreadrepeat's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? No

5.0

orlily's review against another edition

dark emotional hopeful reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

lisaboylewrites's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75

mitskacir's review against another edition

4.0

A really compelling book, well written with interesting imagery and turns of phrase. The characters are extremely compelling, particularly the narrators Deming and Polly. Their actions and choices were realistic and unusual for fictional characters, in my experience. Deming’s cross-cultural experiences and challenges were sincere, relatable, and illuminating, and my heart often broke at the impossible space he and his mother were trapped in. I particularly enjoyed Polly’s relationships with Leon and Yong, which were written is such gentle, nuanced, and unexpected ways. My only complaint is that Kay and Peter veered into caricature, making them easy to hate, but less realistic.

badatplants's review against another edition

3.0

Profoundly important but incredibly tedious

monkeyjess's review against another edition

emotional sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.75