A review by girlonbooks
Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

dark mysterious tense slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes

4.0

🦩🦩🦩🦩(four stars as rated in flamingos because.... um... flamingos?)


Something is happening. Something is happening. It was supposed to be relaxing a weekend away for Clay, Amanda and their two teenage children; a few days to unwind. And then, well, something happened. This other couple arrived. The power went out in the city. And that noise... What even was that? Are they safe where they are? Should they leave? Or should they wait until they know what's going on? What do you do when you have no idea what to do? You leave the world behind you.

“They had asked themselves questions when they decided to have children — do we have the money, do we have the space, do we have what it takes — but they didn’t ask what the world would be when their children grew.”

If you are into the kind of film where you don't see the monster until 2/3 of the way through, then have I got the book for you! Leave The World Behind is, in my opinion, the definition of a psychological thriller. What is most unsettling about this story isn't what it shows you but what it doesn't. There is very little action, but don't take that to mean that the book does not move. I genuinely could not put it down. The prose, the characters, the narration... it was all expertly done, in my opinion. I would highly recommend listening to this book. Rumaan Alam's words in Marin Ireland's voice was as beautiful as it was unsettling. This is the kind of story you keep thinking about for days afterward.

✨ Rep in this book: Black supporting characters, AOC

✨ Content warnings for this book: the mention of death, disease and unrest, vomit, medical stuff, cursing, racism, blood

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