Reviews

The Life You Left Behind by Debbie Howells

lauzz's review against another edition

challenging emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

thepagelady's review

3.0

The life you left behind was emotional and heartbreaking but uplifting as well. I had a little trouble getting into the book but after a few chapters I was ok. I wasn't expecting just how emotional this book would be. So that took me by surprise but it really is part of what makes this a great read! There's a dual timeline so the reader can see Casey's life with Ben but also her life in France. The timelines move well together and really do give you a complete picture. Overall it's an emotional ride but a great read!

Thank you Rachel's Random Resources and Debbie Howells for sharing this book with me!

kt08ttu's review

emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.5

yers's review

emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

3.5

The writing in this book is lyrical, grief-stricken and heavy hearted with a beautiful depth and pensiveness to it. The story touches on many important topics such as over consumerism, work burnout and climate change. The chemistry between Cassey and Ben was charming and touching but also inconsolable. Casey's journey understandably hard, makes you think about the world around you. On the other hand, the story was unnecessarily long and repetitive. Also a few missed opportunities to give Cassey's character a true meaningful venue for growth, but otherwise a very nice read full of insightful quotes and warming moments for reflection.

jodisney's review against another edition

dark emotional sad tense medium-paced

4.25

mads_gwen's review

challenging dark emotional funny hopeful informative inspiring reflective sad medium-paced

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

4.0

lynette_kristeg's review

challenging dark emotional reflective sad slow-paced

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

4.0

ciiku's review

emotional reflective sad medium-paced

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

2.75

I think this book would have been better if it was 100 pages less and better edited. Trying to make it seem as if it was a 

breakup and not death

for half the book didn't work. Also, when discussing the environmental and climate issues that Ben was passionate about and also how Casey talked about it, it came across as "I can excuse racism but I draw a line at animal cruelty" vibes. 

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Content Warnings

Graphic: Suicide

Moderate: Child death and Mental illness

marilanoire's review

reflective sad tense slow-paced

3.5

This book is nicely written and kind of interesting to read, it is however not for me. I have a different opinion on some of the aspects and this clearly is represented in my rating. If this kind of book is interesting to you, absolutely read it, it’s worth it.  

lianareadsblog's review

4.0

The life you left behind

This story is so raw and beautiful and touching. After these two years of pandemic and so many changes, the story really makes you stop and rethink everything around us.

The family we love, the friends we make, the environment we live in, whether it is a big city or a small town, each person who we get in contact with every day, they all count.

I must admit that I had to read this book in a few episodes because it made me sad but also filled out my heart with the passages that really touched me.

I would probably recommend this story to anyone that needs a touch raw reality and how we many times forget what humanity means.

Very grateful to the publisher for my review copy through NetGalley