Usually, I write reviews within twelve hours or so of finishing a book, but I had to sit with this one and really simmer on my thoughts. I know this a polarizing book, and after reflection, you can place me in the thumbs up camp. 

The cover of Leave the World Behind evokes the Barb scene in the first season of Stranger Things. The protagonists remind me of the wealthy family in Bong Joon-ho’s Parasite. The vibe felt a lot to me like the early episodes of The Walking Dead, when Rick wakes up in the hospital and the world is different but we aren’t totally sure how. Mix those references together for an idea of what this book was like as an experience. 

I don’t really read thrillers. And it certainly wasn’t what I was expecting as I dove in. But this book is *deeply* unsettling in such a quiet, prescient way. The writing is piercing and smart. The exploration classism and racism in the midst of an unnerving social unraveling is pretty brilliant. 

I can see why some people don’t like it. Some have said it isn’t thriller “enough.” Others have taken umbrage with the ending. And depending on your tastes or preferences both are valid. But I think those takes diminishes the novel’s point. 

My only significant criticism is that the introduction of the “conflict” felt odd to me. When Ruth and G.H. arrive, the thing they are fleeing is too nebulous. As someone who lives in NYC, a power outage did not evoke for me the level of concern they seemed to telegraph. I wanted a bit more about the eeriness of the city right before they decided to drive out to Long Island. 

On the whole, LTWB was a book that I think begs for discussion and analysis, like something that would fit well into an advanced literature course. I certainly think it’s worth the read, even if at points it gave me serious chills.