BookBrowse Reviews Leaving by Roxana Robinson

BookBrowse:

Veteran writer Roxana Robinson returns with a novel that explores the intricacies of late-in-life romance.

Roxana Robinson is the author of many previous books, including the novels Dawson's Fall, Sparta and Cost. BookBrowse's First Impressions reviewers were impressed with Leaving, giving it an overall rating of 4.4 out of 5 stars.

What the book is about:

Several decades after the abrupt end of an intense affair in young adulthood, a chance encounter re-ignites the connection between a married man and a long-divorced woman (Teresa R). The pair rekindle what they once had, but of course life is now far more complicated: both have adult children, and Warren is married (Jill S). This suspenseful domestic drama deals with relationships, boundaries, betrayal, morality, and what we owe to others in our quest to fulfill our own desires (Betsey V).

Readers felt Leaving tackles many salient issues:

Difficult questions come into play in this masterfully written story: What exactly is honor and where is the boundary for morality? What binds us to our marital oaths, our partners, our children? What do we owe ourselves? (Susan P). Is there only one way to honor a marriage? Do sacrifices have limits, and who gets to decide what they are? What is weakness, what is strength? Can you expect respect from those you deeply hurt, and can you respect yourself for the choices you make to survive? (Connie O).

Several reviewers mentioned the author's stellar writing style…

Robinson's ability to draw the reader into the lives of her protagonists is achieved through pitch-perfect dialogue and exquisite description (Molly O). I loved how she paints pictures with unique phrases: Sarah inches her way to "join the slow scrum in the aisle." Upon greeting her dog, "the dog twists with pleasure." "[A] pale chunk of butter … skates across the slick black surface, sizzling" (Carol D). The author gives the story a sensuous finesse; she vividly describes the notorious baggage that can come with obtaining your heart's desires and does it without dropping into cliche (Betsey V). She writes with deep understanding of the emotional rollercoasters her characters endure (Patricia L). I appreciated Robinson's craft as it evolved over the course of the novel, as well as her attention to adult parental relationships (Pamela K).

…and most thought Robinson's ability to bring her characters to life was a real highlight:

Leaving is most impressive in the author's ability to skillfully illustrate her characters' personalities in just a few short scenes. Warren's daughter Katrina and Sarah's daughter Meg are fully realized despite their brief appearances in the book. Sarah's very young grandchildren are beautifully rendered in their individuality. Even Sarah's beloved dog, Bella, isn't just a generic dog, but a fully realized individual with an endearing and tender love for Sarah (Laurie B).

The plot kept readers rapt…

I was hooked from the first line (Michele N). I could not put this book down once I started (Janice P). It was intriguing to follow the individual loyalties and betrayals, the selfishness of some and the rational decisions of others. The author keeps the events so real that it is impossible to guess the final outcome before the end of the book (Shirley T). I tore through the pages, especially the last quarter of the story (Betsey V).

…and many continued thinking about it long after they'd turned the last page:

After finishing the book, I thought about it for days (Molly O). The cast lingered in my thoughts longer than the close of the book. Even now, I want to peek into their lives and see how everyone is adjusting (Betsey V).

Not everyone was a fan of the ending, and some were unsatisfied with other aspects of the story:

Leaving is a very well-written book with interesting characters and events, but…the male lead behaves in an increasingly unbelievable manner as the book progresses (John A). It got to the point where I didn't care about what happened to these characters anymore. I was no longer rooting for their reunion. And the end made no sense to me. Very unsatisfying (Lesa R). There were parts of the story that felt too drawn out, then parts that felt too abrupt. The ending was more than I could take (Jennie R).

Most, however, would recommend Leaving, and book clubs may find it to be a great discussion read:

Fans of Edith Wharton and Henry James will find this novel's central conflict particularly appealing as it plays out in a contemporary framework. Book clubs, too, will find grist for spirited exchanges on the merits of choosing personal happiness over "doing the right thing" (Teresa R). It was a satisfying read and is highly recommended for those who want to be reminded that no family is perfect, that selfishness is shortsighted, and life doesn't always go as planned (Patricia L). This book would be a great choice for book clubs or buddy reads, because it lends itself to many questions that would likely evoke interesting discussions, and I would also recommend it to anyone who enjoys an in-depth character-driven story (Beatrice M). This is a book to treasure and reread (Shirley T).

This review first ran in the March 20, 2024 issue of BookBrowse Recommends.