Review: Leave Me by Gayle Forman

Maribeth Klein is a hard-working mother of twins.  Her schedule is overflowing with obligations to her children, job, and family, so many that she doesn't even realize she's having a heart attack.  The forced respite following the attack doesn't help at all...rather it does the complete opposite. She feels more overwhelmed than before, with the added feeling that she's become a burden to those around her.  Desperate, she leaves her life behind in the hope of finding herself, her place in this world, once again.

Let me start out by saying this: I am the full-time working mom of two boys, now sixteen and eleven.  While I, and many others like me, have felt completely overwhelmed by life, responsibilities, and obligations, never have I contemplated abandoning my family. Therefore, needless to say, I had a difficult time reading this book without throwing it across the room.

It’s one thing to take a break, with advanced planning and communication with one’s spouse. But to leave, with nothing but a note stating that you’ve left, with no indication of where you are heading?  That’s complete, unabashed, selfishness.  Sure, I felt for what Maribeth was dealing with, many mother’s do. Her reaction, however, infuriated me.  She had other options. Yet she chose to abandon her husband and young children so she could find herself.

Why did I finish? I hoped for something, some nugget of understanding, of sympathy.  What I found were more excuses as to why her life, her quest to find information about her birth mother, was more important than her family.  Instead, I became more and more infuriated by Maribeth’s quest and the lines she crossed in order to find herself.

My reaction saddens me, for I’m a true and ardent fan of Forman’s YA novels. This one, however, hit a deep, deep nerve. Unfortunately, there is no part of me that can, or will, recommend this title.