I loved the book. It is so interesting. This book kept me going and going,looking for more. Can't wait to read more from the author

The Truth About Leaving, by Natalie Blitt, is a story about a Jewish high school senior in the Chicago suburbs, and how her world turns upside down when she meets an Israeli transfer student on the first day of her senior year. The story follows her throughout her senior year as she navigates college applications and stressful family dynamics, and falling in love all over again.

After reading the book’s description, I was excited by the story and I found it to be well-written, and the characters to be well-developed. It was really interesting to see Lucy’s relationship with her mother over the course of the year, and the role that Lucy played within her family during the time her mother was away.

As a young Jewish woman, I really enjoyed seeing aspects of the Jewish culture in print, as so few novels address growing up as a Jewish teen in the US, but I felt as though these aspects of the plot could have been further explored. Poetry also played a large role within the novel, and I liked how it was woven throughout parts of the story, but wish it could have been used more widely. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I didn’t love it, and felt like more could have been done with the concept.

Thank you NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for a free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Lucy Green thought she had her senior year in the bag. Cute boyfriend? Check. College plan? Check.
But when her boyfriend dumps her the week before school starts and she literally stumbles into Dov, the new Israeli transfer student, on her first day of school, Lucy’s carefully mapped-out future crumbles.
Determined to have a good senior year, and too busy trying to hold her family together while her mom is across the country working, Lucy ignores the attraction she feels to Dov. But soon, Lucy and Dov’s connection is undeniable. Lucy begins to realize that sometimes, you have to open yourself up to chance. Even if the wrong person at the wrong time is a boy whose bravery you admire and who helps you find your way back to yourself.

“The Truth About Leaving” by Natalie Blitt was an emotional read although the pacing was very slow. Definitely a coming of age story that deals with some tough issues. There are talks of suicide in the book. Overall, the book was ok. Definitely appeals to the YA audience.

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

This book is very light hearted yet heavy as two teens navigate their prospective futures. The plot was ok. The poems through the book were good. The book is about family bonds. An the two teens are figuring out what to do after high school. I didn’t really relate to either of 5e main charcters. Lucy is ok. Dovwas a jerk for lack of a better term. Sweet book. Heavy at times.

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley, thank you. This book went way beyond any expectations that I had based upon the description. A sympathetic main character, Jewish YA love story that is PG 13 rated and kept my interest. I loved Lucy, her family including her grandmother who insisted she be called Amy. Her best friend Maddie, the dance studio.

Lucy's parents depend on her a little too heavily, expecting her to help with her younger siblings so her mom can work in California. She has just been dumped by her boyfriend Scott, who seemed to just want sex. The relationship seemed to cause her anxiety because of the pressure to have sex when she wasn't ready. She gave up something she loved to spend time with him. So when she literally runs into Dov, an Israeli transfer student, it doesn't spark an immediate love connection but there is an attraction. Dov has baggage and grief, and Lucy brings him back to life in a way, in turn she goes back to her passion of dance. He is such a great book boyfriend. He doesn't pressure her for anything. He pushes her away but there is a happy ending. It brought back memories of going to Israel when I was 18. My Hebrew isn't as good as I wish so i need a translation of what Dov says to Lucy. The author leaves something to the imagination.
Comment

This book starts with scott breaking up with lucy and maddie being there for her. I love how Lucy evovled around in the book by the end.My baby boy Dov is a complex character whom you would want to protect at all costs.I loved reading their blooming love and their intensity. I mostly loved the part where they get poems in connections for an english project.
Putting love aside, i loved lucy's dad. He was supportive and affirm . Her mother wasnt exactly a mother idol but the boat sailed. And lastly her grandmother AMY, she's a treat and im glad lucy has her through her rough situations. Amy knows exactly what to say and how to say to make lucy better. Lucy getting back to ballet is one of her sheer ambitions and determination. It started going emo at the end and I wasn't sure if this would have a happy ending, but the way the author pulled the climax was splendid. Lucy and Dov are one hell of an adorable couples who deserve everything.
On a whole, this book is a blend of intense emotions and relations.You really don't want to miss out in this.

No.
Just no.
I didn't finish it.
I didn't like the characters, the writing style, the story.
The chemistry between Lucy and Don seemed forced and one-dimensional.
Story filled with cliches.
I would roll my eyes at least once every 2-3 pages.
I tried to push myself, but, even though I absolutely adore YA contemporary, this one just wasn't my cup of tea.

Thank you so much to Amberjack Publishing for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. The quotes included in this review are subject to change upon publication.

“I want to be as open to my past as I am to my future.”

The Truth About Leaving is about a girl named Lucy navigating her way through her senior year of high school. Her and her boyfriend have just broken up and she decides to focus on her schoolwork this year and achieving her goals. Then she meets a new transfer student, Dov, who changes the course of Lucy’s life. This story is full of the innocence and whirlwind of teen romance along with Lucy finding herself.

“I lost myself in him, I see it now with perfect clarity. I gave up me to fit better into his life.”

I really loved the relationship between Lucy and Dov. They had good chemistry and I loved how they communicated with one another in the beginning of their meeting with poetry. The story is told from Lucy’s point of view so we really see Lucy grow throughout her last year of high school. It would have been interesting to learn a little bit more about Dov’s family but overall Natalie presented great character development between the two and Lucy’s families.

“When you don’t know where you’re going, you can’t get lost.”

I thought it was such a thought provoking process of Lucy deciding the path of her future. It brought me back to the days of high school ending and how young you really are at 18 and presented with so many life-altering decisions. I really did like the story, however it was slightly predictable for me and didn’t have a twist within. If your looking for a teen romance, this is the one for you.

TW: talk of suicide, loss of a sibling

This book is not what you expect going into it. Yes, it's a sweet love story between an Israeli boy and an American girl, both of whom are Jewish. Yes, it's a coming-of-age story about choosing a college and learning how to be selfish for yourself when necessary, and when the situation is about more than your preferences. But it's also a beautiful take on honoring one's country with military service, the romantic power of poetry, and the significance of one's culture.

Lucy is a selfless, sweet older sister who is always at home babysitting her younger brothers while her parents both work as professors... her mother in California, her father at the local university. There's a ton of pressure on her to attend the same university so she can live at home and still help out, but Lucy is more interested in helping the world and teaching dance than remaining in Chicago. Especially after she meets Dov, a transfer student from Israel recovering from a recent tragedy in his family.

Dov was kind of like a modern Mr. Darcy. Very hot and cold, but as romantic as he is withdrawn. He had a tough couple of years and Lucy's naturally sweet nature brought out the kinder side of him which we all deserve. I will never get over how tender some of those scenes with Lucy are. Dov owns up to his mistakes and is utterly respectful of Lucy and her needs. Both of these characters are extremely mature for 18, and dealing with adult problems. This book is mature, not necessarily in the content but in the themes and discussions. These are situations younger readers will have a hard time understanding the significance of.

Dov wants to serve in the military, as is required for men in Israel. Due to a circumstance, however, it is no longer mandatory for him and his eerily absent parents don't want to sign the consent for him to serve. His need to return to Israel also places stress on his relationship with Lucy, as she feels she is second to him and his culture. Lucy also explores the idea of taking a gap year between high school and university. I have never seen either of these topics discussed in a YA novel before. I also rarely see YA with such a Jewish presence, particularly with the culture and including Hebrew while not making the story overtly religious.

I did find the story to be a little too mature at times for the target audience and the characters' ages, especially with such absent parents. Dov's parents never being around was really a convenience to the story. I also felt that ending didn't fit the story at all. It was too perfect, too much like Serendipity and all the overly Hollywood love stories out there. The scenes leading up to it were perfect, paced evenly and realistic, and then the ending felt like it was part of a separate draft a bit. It was as if the ending was what the author wanted, but not what fit the story.

All in all, I loved the unique story with the topics discussed and the diversity included. I'd recommend to anyone looking for a contemporary that's different for anything else on the market currently and for an older audience.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

A few years back I read a book from a new debut author and I fell in live with it. So much so in fact I made a lot of people I know also read it and fall in love with it. That book was Natalie Blitt's The Distance Between A to Z. Since the I have been waiting for a new book from Natalie (I just found out about her two books published by Scholastic) to arrive and when I heard about The Truth About Leaving I was so ecstatic. And man did it live up to my over hyped expectations. It was so good. So good in fact I think I love it more that I did The Distance from A to Z.

The Truth About Leaving is the story of Lucy and Dov, two very different people on very different paths that cross and change both of them drastically. Lucy has everything figure out. She know where she is going to college and what she wants to study and what her life will look like. That is until her mom takes a job in a different state and Lucy's boyfriend breaks up with her. Now Lucy is trying to find her footing and figure out what she really wants. When she literally runs into Dov, the new student from Israel, the two of them start to learn things about themselves and the world and use each other to figure out what they both want.

There aren’t enough words for me to tell you how much I actually love Lucy and Dov and their whole story. It is one of those rare books that you didn’t know you needed to read and it takes you completely by surprise. I laughed and I cried watch these two deal with life and responsibilities that an 18 year old doesn’t always have to deal with. They broke my heart a lot of the time when they fumbled through things and got scared and ran. They also filled me with so much love and hope. Simply put they are everything amazing about reading.

I waited years for this book and Natalie did not let me down. She gave me a book that wasn’t something I read a lot of in YA. She introduced me to a culture I now know more about, and two characters I hope are happy long after the pages end. I can’t say enough how much you need this book in your life. Go and get it as soon as humanly possible!

Guys. GUYS! I loved this book so much! We are introduced to our main character the day before her senior of high school, right after being dumped by her boyfriend before he leaves for college. All she's left with is an overwhelmed dad, a flighty mom, and two young brothers that she is stuck babysitting at the drop of a hat. When she walks into school the next day, she never thought she would literally run into the love of her life.

Dov moved to Chicago from Israel just in time for his senior year of high school. As I've talked about before, I grew up in a predominately Jewish neighborhood and I was surrounded by Jewish culture for most of my adolescence. I loved hearing my friends speaking with their families in Hebrew and learning about the different holidays and traditions. And now we have an Israeli love interest.

When they are put together for partner work in poetry class, Lucy and Dov make a connection through words and poetry. There is a significant amount of Hebrew in the book—something I really loved, but may put off some readers. While Lucy is also Jewish, its much more casual—the more time she spends with Dov, the more she learns about her religion and her own family. 

Another aspect that I really connected to was Lucy's love of dance. I will read any book that features dance, more specifically ballet. As Lucy is starting to realize that she has been living her life for the people around her and not for herself, she decides to return to one of her greatest passions. I loved that we got to see her kind of rediscover her love for dance and how she can continue to feel so rewarded as she looks as to what she’ll do after graduation.

I really loved Lucy and Dov's relationship and the passion they shared with each other, something they built towards as they formed a friendship. They pretty much stayed in their own little bubble, not interacting with hardly anyone else at school. Even Lucy's best friend Maddie was rarely around. I wish I could have seen how they were kind of out in the world together, instead of just spending so much of their time locked up in one of their homes. 

All in all, I want to shove this book into everyone's arms so they can experience this romantic and self reflective story. I can't wait to read more from Natalie Blitt.

I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

The Truth About Leaving by Natalie Blitt is a book that is both upbeat and heavy as it tells the story of two teens figuring out their futures. I found certain aspects such as the use of poems to communicate interesting, but I didn’t enjoy reading about either of the main characters. The plot is also very convenient, and because of this, I didn’t love the book as much as I had anticipated.

The Truth About Leaving is a love story about two teens who meet and try to figure out what they’re going to do after high school and how that will impact the other person. There are some interesting poems shared throughout the novel which I thought was a creative way for the characters to communicate, and I also loved the ballet aspects. As well, there is a strong theme of family which is complicated as the main character is forced to assume more responsibility in the household. Overall, I found this book to be relatable but also heavy at times, creating a nice balance.

❀ CREATIVE AND INTERESTING CONCEPT

While I found the concept of the book to be interesting, I didn’t really love either of the main characters. Lucy is facing some tough decisions as she is about to graduate, and it is easy to see how caring she is. That being said, she is pretty plain, and I couldn’t get past some of the ignorant remarks she makes. As for Dov, he is rude, especially at the beginning of the book, and he is still a jerk as his relationship with Lucy progresses. Because I found the characters dislikable, I couldn’t support and root for their relationship as much as I wished I could have. This proved to be an issue for me as the romance is the focus of the book.

❀ SIMPLISTIC PLOT

Another aspect of the book I didn’t enjoy was the predictable plot. The story is pretty simple, which one could generally expect from a contemporary coming of age novel, but many of the events are awfully convenient. Normally, this is something that I am willing to ignore, but some of the things that take place are too perfect. Personally, I couldn’t see them happening realistically, especially because of the way things unfolded. There are other ways of executing the story that are a little more believable.

The Truth About Leaving is a story that is both sweet and serious as the characters plan their futures. Although I found the concept intriguing, I didn’t enjoy the characters or the simplistic and unbelievable plot. I didn’t completely dislike this book, but I feel like it could have been better executed.

3.5 stars.
I’m a little on the fence about this one. I was eagerly anticipating Natalie Blitt’s next young adult contemporary after The Distance from A to Z. I really liked that one a lot and Blitt’s writing is still great throughout this one. This was much more emotional than I was ultimately prepared for. It was so different than anything else I’ve ever read. There was a lot of great poetry discussed through the book that I really enjoyed. But, I also felt like it was slow paced and really hard to relate to these characters. Lucy definitely changed throughout but she was not what I would call a normal teenager at all even from the beginning. She basically had her life plan worked out, and hadn’t given any thought to anything except that, and it wasn’t because of parental influence either. Dov was pretty difficult to get a proper read on. He was dealing with some very heavy issues. The whole story and these characters have given me a lot to think about.

* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This one is a young adult, coming of age story about Lucy, a senior in high school and an unexpected relationship that forces her to question the status quo.
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The Truth About Leaving is much more than a YA romance, it shows the reader, sometimes taking a break from the expected to explore is how we grow as a person. Loyalties are also examined and what it means that to leave and return “home” - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for sure.
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Added bonus: got to learn some Hebrew as one of the main characters is from Israel.

My Thoughts
This is a character-driven coming of age story that touches on the topics of grief, duty, responsibility, education, family, and love. But at its heart, this is a story about growing up. It is about figuring out what you want to do with your life rather than just doing what others want for you. It is about learning and making tough decisions. I felt this book was a very realistic and highly emotional portrayal of the issues and stresses that many high school students experience as they prepare to embark on life as adults. Here are my Pros and Cons:

Pros:
1. I definitely fell in love with Lucy and Dov. I thought it was a touching and realistic romance between two mature young adults. I love how they bonded over their shared love of poetry. I felt the book at quite an intellectual slant to it and I really appreciated that.

2. I loved seeing Israel through Dov’s eyes. It was clear he loved where he was from and it wasn’t just from a superficial level. I also loved that the author put plenty of Hebrew in the book – I learned some vocabulary!

3. Lucy and Dov were both really relatable characters. The reader easily becomes emotionally connected to both and will ultimately root for them! Their maturity and growth throughout the book was a joy to read. I think a lot of teens/young adults will feel an instant connection to Lucy in particular.

4. The book has a storyline that addresses grief and loss of a loved one. I thought the topic was respectfully and realistically incorporated into the story, without making the story overly sad or depressing.

5. Lucy had some tough discussions with her parents. I thought those were handled extremely well. I thought Lucy’s final confrontation with her parents about her college decision was particularly well written. Lucy and her parents were at odds over her decision. There was anger and confusion and the discussion was tense, but it was also civil. It was nice to see a confrontation that didn’t end up just being a screaming match between participants.

6. I think this would be a great book for parents of high school seniors to read. It might remind of them that mapping out a future is hard and super stressful… particularly at such a young age. Support and encouragement can be way more beneficial than providing a specific roadmap that may not match the desires of their child. On the flip side, I hope that young adults reading this book will understand that not all parents will discourage your dreams (even if they don’t understand them) and that you need to have a dialogue with your parents so they understand what you want and need for your future. Both sides needs to LISTEN and LEARN and UNDERSTAND. The best decisions are made when those three things occur!

7. I kind of wanted to see/read Lucy’s walls!

8. Amy (a.k.a. Grandma) was an awesome character – definitely not a typical grandma! I became a step-grandma (Grammy) myself at age 32, so I am not your typical grandmother figure either. I totally related to Amy in this book because I try to communicate (talk and listen) to my granddaughter (who is 15 now) the way Amy communicates with Lucy in the book. I REALLY loved Amy! There is a line in the book that actually says something like “Everyone needs an Amy in their lives!” and I couldn’t agree more!

9. The ending wasn’t what I anticipated and that is a good thing. I thought the ending was appropriate and very satisfying.

Cons
1. I hated how much responsibility the parents put on Lucy. I know it was a plot point and necessary for the story, but jeez! They sure expected a lot from her!

2. Lucy’s mom was super selfish in my opinion. I did not like the mom character one bit.

YA romances can sometimes seem a little silly and overly dramatic to me. They are often written with some kind of contrived misunderstanding that everyone has to overcome for the “happily ever after” to happen. This book was totally different in my opinion. While this story also had a conflict to overcome, the conflict was authentic and serious… it felt realistic and not at all contrived. The romance between Lucy and Dov was really organic and genuine. Although their connection was quick, it really felt honest to me – and that is coming from an old, married reader!! 

This is definitely a book I will recommend highly to mature young adult readers. I think a lot of young adults will relate to this story and enjoy it thoroughly.

Thank you NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for a free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I haven’t read a book that’s kept me this engrossed for a while. I’ve devoured it on my breaks at work today, and have just finished it tonight because I couldn’t wait until my breaks tomorrow to find out how it finished!

Lucy is going into her Senior year and everything has changed - her boyfriend has dumped her, her mother has moved across the country, she’s given up something she loves & she has so much extra responsibility, but she’s determined to enjoy the last year of school. Then she meets Dov, a transfer student from Israel who’s set to turn her world upside down.

This is not your usual simple love story. The complicated relationship between Lucy and her Mom (& the rest of her family to an extent) is very real, and more than you usually get to see in a stand-alone novel. The character development is also great, and I would have loved to see more of Amy and Maddie. The only thing I could say is that the ending feels a little rushed or cut short, but the path to that point & where Lucy ends up is more than satisfying.

I really enjoyed it! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

*I received this E-ARC from Netgalley in exchange for my honest review*

I will start by saying I really liked that the book included a Jewish aspect. I have no idea how accurate the representation is but I enjoyed it. I really enjoyed the indecisiveness if the main character about her future (which is very relatable). My major issue is I felt like I couldn’t completely connnect to the characters, and I just wasnted a little more for the book that was given. Overall I really enjoyed the characters, and the romance tugged at my heart stings for sure!

Lucy is a 17-year old girl that has it all on the surface. A good student, a sassy best friend, and a perfect boyfriend that her parents approve. But when Scott, her boyfriend, decides to go to off to college early, Lucy is left a sore heart at the very beginning of her senior year of high school, of course. That is...until she meets Dov -- the new kid from Israel that just moved to town. Dov is moody and quiet and seemingly temperamental, but underneath the surface, there's a lot of suffering that he'd rather forget about.

Their relationship starts off rocky, but their friendship blossoms throughout the book so beautifully that, as a reader, I couldn't help but feel butterflies all the way through. Here are two kids in the throes of what feels like the biggest moments of their lives, trying to decide whether to follow their hearts or to follow what's right.

The book was such a cozy read this winter. The character of Lucy reminded me so much of myself when I was in high school. As an adult, we often forget all the angst that comes with being a teenager trying to decide a future that is unimaginable and overwhelming. This is exactly why I love young adult novels so much. We forget what it's like to have all of those jumbled feelings for the first time.

I will say though, it took me a little longer to read this than I thought. The first half of the book is a little slow and sort of reads a little amateurish but once it gets going, it was hard to put down. It's one of those books that you can't help but get involved with the main characters.

Thank you Netgalley/Publisher for an early copy

A well-done YA novel that hooked me. I will be reading more from this author. I recommend this to fans of YA Contemporary.

When I read the blurb for Natalie Blitt's novel, The Truth About Leaving, I was reminded that there are no new ideas. The book opens with Lucy, the main character, getting dumped by her long-time boyfriend right as senior year was about to begin. I had a similar idea for National Novel Writing Month nine years ago. So I was very interested in reading this book.

Lucy's life is complicated. Her mother is a college professor and working in California, leaving Lucy, her dad, and two younger brothers home in Illinois. Lucy has had to pick up the slack for her missing mother, resulting in a life not her own.

On the first day of school, Lucy literally collides with new transfer student Dov, an Israeli boy with issues of his own. Though Lucy originally declares she has no interest in Dov other than friendship, as their friendship develops, so do deeper feelings.

What I really enjoyed about this book was the immersion in Jewishness, and how Dov schools Lucy on what it means to be Israeli. Lucy is Jewish but non-practicing, though she does take her little brothers to Hebrew school and has been Bat Mitzvahed. It's nice to see Jewish characters who are just Jewish.

Blitt's book is a great blend of love story and finding oneself - as Lucy develops throughout the text, she realizes how much of herself she's lost in putting others first, and when she finally stands up to her parents in asking for what SHE wants, it's a stand up and cheer kind of moment. Well worth the read.