Thanks to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for a free book in exchange for an honest review.

At first I wasn't sure that I liked any of the characters-Stella was a bit of a doormat and Simon seemed like an egotistical jerk. But Leavitt skillfully wrote growth into her characters' stories and I soon was rooting for Stella, Simon, and Libby to get the happier endings they all deserved. This book didn't actually go where I expected it to, and I like it even more for that pleasant surprise. This was a solid four star read and I am looking forward to reading more of this author's work.

Soo story time: I have always had this weird fear of going into a coma and waking up and forgetting the life I had only to think I am 20ish again.
It's a fear because that was the hardest years of my life I was in a bad relationship, taking care of a addict parent, terrible view of my own self worth. It would be horrible to have that mindset again living in that life.
I worked so hard to get out of those relationships and gain back my confidence and it would all be somehow stripped away from me while in a coma.
I know WEIRD FEAR! But this book has literally made that fear lessen. Hear me out:
This is a story of Stella who has been in a unhealthy immature relationship for 20 years with little to show for it.
Simon is a want to be rock and roll wantabe waiting for his big break.
Stella is ready to move to bigger things in life and not live like they are college kids anymore. After a night of trying to recommit to her lackluster relationship she takes a party pill from Simon that will forever change their lives.
She falls into a coma and life moves on. Simon is now her caregiver and actually misses out on a huge opportunity for him to make it big.
Libby comes into the mix, which is Stella's best friend AND doctor.
Stella comes through and wakes to find she has an amazing artistic talent to draw portraits of people and their deep desires come through on the portrait. She grew through her time in a coma and became stronger from it.

I highly recommend this book if you want to read about the growth and resolutions people can come to from trauma. This is beautifully written and some characters you hate in the end you can begin to understand.

Thank you @Algonquinbooks @carolineleavitt @netgalley for providing me with a copy of this book to review.
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#withorwithoutyou #algonquinbooks #carolineleavitt
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He's a struggling musician. She's tired of life on the road and wants to get married and have a baby. They're both wondering: can a love of more than a decade survive their shifting life goals? Then Simon gets a chance at his big break. Struggling to reconnect with Stella, he encourages her to take a mystery pill with him. Stella, even though she's a nurse and knows better, takes it in a desperate attempt to get back to the old days with Simon. But the pill, combined with the alcohol, sends Stella into a coma.

Suddenly, Simon has to hold it together, figure out how to pay the bills and fight his growing attraction to Stella's best friend, Libby, who also happens to be Stella's doctor. And no one's sure if Stella will wake up or what her brain function will be like if she does. At its core, this book is about how people change over the years, and marriages have to flex and sometimes break.

This is a gripping, emotional tale. While I think I'd make different choices than the characters, it's easy to see why they do what they do. Stella, Simon and Libby are fascinating, and I loved seeing all the ways they were right for each other and wrong for each other.

Thank you to the publisher for the paperback copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

*3.75*

What an emotional journey this book was! I was so glad I had the chance to read it.
This is the story of Stella and her partner Simon, who always dreamed of make it big in the musical industry.
Stella ends up in a coma and she wakes up with new talents and with new prospects in her life. Meanwhile Simon got really close to Libby, a doctor at the hospital, and Stella's best friend.

I really enjoyed how this book depicted the changes that happen to a couple over the course of the years, how we aren't who we were ten or twenty years ago, and that's absolutely fine.
I would also say that this book was very hard to read at some points, the writing style was absolutely amazing and it sucks you in from the first page, but there's something so sad about this book, this inevitability I would say, a sense of an ending looming on every page.

I could not relate a lot to the characters, but I think that's fine, we're at totally different stages of our life and I can't say I really understood or agreed with every choices they made, but that's totally fine, as such is life. You don't always understand other people's choices but you want them to do what's best for them.

I think the middle part dragged a little bit in my opinion, but the writing style was what really made it for me. I love this kind of lyrical, kind of sophisticated style, and I think this book delivers it really well. I was able to feel deeply what the characters were feeling and sometimes it really seemed to be in their heads.

I can't give this book a higher rating because in the end a trope was used that I don't really enjoy, but other than that I really recommend this read, it was mesmerizing to get to know Stella, Simon and Libby, they will feel like real people to you, and you will feel a lot alongside them!

Another deep, thought-provoking novel from Caroline Leavitt. Other reviewers have done a great job with the summary, so I’ll jump right to my favorite thing about this book: from beginning to end, I had no idea what was going to happen next. It’s a rare and delightful thing to find oneself so totally in the hands of the author without even an inkling of what the next page will bring. The characters are unique, nuanced, really well-developed...and capable of decisions that were entirely different than what I expected based on what I knew. Not in a way that felt false, but rather in a way that gave the feeling I was seeing people mature and grow, right there on the page. There were times when I disliked each of them, but they always held my interest and won me back. All to say, this was a fantastic reading experience, and I highly recommend this book.

Many thanks to Algonquin Books and NetGalley for providing a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

I had been looking forward to the newest work from Caroline Leavitt after her novel CRUEL BEAUTIFUL WORLD blew me away a few years ago. I'm not sure why I waited so long to start this one, her follow-up, but perhaps it was because I was afraid it wouldn't live up to the former. Unfortunately, that is sort of what happened. WITH OR WITHOUT YOU is a very different novel than what I had expected; a melodrama about one's life being upended in your 40s and coming to terms with aging, love changing, and serious medical issues.

Stella and Simon are a long together couple, though never married and with no children. He is a former 90s rock star, and she is a nurse. After she slips into a coma, their lives are unexpectedly changed in ways they both did, and didn't, see coming. The story certainly starts with a bang. The circumstances of how Stella gets sick is page-turning, and this sucked me into the story right away. However, as the story moves forward, I got a bit lost and everything almost falls too neatly into place. There weren't a lot of surprises to keep me hooked, and while I was happy with how it all resolved, I wanted a bit more.

This story, at least I hope, seems to be realistic (as I've never been in a coma, I can't say it is). It's about finding yourself when your life completely changes, for both Stella and for Simon.

<i>With or Without You</i> has it all: friendship, heartbreak, life changing obstacles, friendship, and self discovery.

It left me asking myself, " What would happen to me if I woke up from a coma?".

With or Without You is a story about Stella and Simon who have been together for many years. Simon is a musician about to go on tour with his band. Stella is a nurse who has supported Simon’s music dreams but now wants a more stable life, maybe even a child.

The night before they were to leave for LA they argue with Stella telling Simon she’s not going. Simon convinces Stella to take a pill and have fun like the old days. The wine is flowing. Stella doesn’t wake up the next morning. She’s gone into a coma.

The story follows Simon and Stella as they grapple with wanting new adventures and finding old familiar paths. They are forced to decide what matters most to each of them.

The writing is well done without either character overpowering the other. With or Without You was my first book by Caroline Leavitt and I look forward to reading more of her work.

This novel is about choices, identity, self-worth in relationships and careers and remaining true to yourself. It’s about questioning everything that makes you happy and what you should do vs. what truly fulfills you. It’s a thoughtful, moody, amusing, relatable, emotional, delightful and unique read.

With or Without You tells the story of Stella and Simon, a couple who has been together for almost twenty years. Like any long term relationship, they are going through challenges.

Simon, a musician, has being chasing his dream for years. Stella, a nurse, is looking for something more. As Simon is about to leave for a tour, Stella unexpectedly falls into a coma the night before he leaves. Simon is with a decision - his dream or his love.

Both characters are faced with how they navigate their future after a Stella wakes from her coma a changed person. I loved how this dealt with real life troubles and hard decisions.

From bestselling author Caroline Leavitt comes WITH OR WITHOUT YOU, a poignant, instantly compelling novel about love, change and the power of timing.

Stella and Simon have been together for almost 20 years, yet their relationship still stands on rocky ground. Stella is a 42-year-old nurse who is starting to dream of putting down roots and raising children, and Simon is an aging rocker who claims that his big break is just around the corner.

One night, while preparing to leave for California, the site of Simon’s next gig --- the one that will really put him and his band on the map --- the two start to argue. Stella is tired of coming in second to Simon’s dreams, and Simon is sorely missing the young, spontaneous woman he fell in love with, who never spoke of buying real estate or siring children. Muddled by wine and desperate for a conclusion to their on-again off-again fight, they take some pills that Simon finds in his pocket, hoping to reinvigorate their relationship and find the passion of their youth. But the combination of the alcohol and the mysterious pill proves lethal for Stella, and by morning she has fallen into a coma.

As Stella swirls in the realms of her psyche, Simon sits by her bedside, steadfastly determined to bring her back from the brink. Although he stays with her day in and day out, long past visiting hours, he senses that one of her doctors, Libby, dislikes and distrusts him. Over time, he learns that she and Stella are friends, and she always has considered him to be out of Stella's league. She never got the appeal of his long-haired, greasy rocker look and saw only his faults: his inability to pay the bills, his willingness to leave Stella behind to go on tour, etc.

Seeing himself through Libby’s eyes, and hell bent on proving himself worthy of Stella’s return to consciousness, Simon slowly starts to improve himself. Bolstered by the routine required of him to see Stella daily and coordinate the rest of his life, he is growing into the adult Stella always wanted him to be. But he can’t help but wonder, Why now?

Having missed the opportunity of a lifetime in California and being effectively dropped by his bandmates, Simon takes center stage in the narrative, with Leavitt tracking his character growth, devotion to Stella, and the quiet, niggling attraction growing between him and Libby, the two people who love Stella the most. With Libby’s life unraveling in similar ways, the two strike up a careful friendship that continuously toes the line between friends and something more. And then the unthinkable happens: Stella wakes up.

But the Stella who greets Simon and Libby is not the one they remember. She is guarded and thrill-seeking, and contrary to her previous passion for nursing, she has a newfound drive to make art. While she is desperate to drop back into her old life, it feels nearly impossible: Simon is practically a stranger, and Libby seems more interested in doctoring her than being there for her as a friend. With Stella keeping everyone at bay, her relationships begin to unravel in shocking and painful ways. Putting all of her pain, frustration and hurt into her art, Stella starts to realize that she has accessed a deeper, more intuitive part of herself --- one that can see right through the people around her, even though it cannot turn the same keen eye on itself.

It is easy to sum up Stella’s journey from pill-popper to coma patient to miraculous warrior, but WITH OR WITHOUT YOU is far more perfectly paced than this review makes it seem. Leavitt layers every page with suspense and potential --- both for celebration and devastation --- and measures them out in equal parts, letting the narrative ebb and flow in ways that are both comfortably predictable and jump-out-of-your-chair shocking. This is a deeply moving novel, and the way that Leavitt plays with fate, the shifting of time and her own characters’ growth drives the emotion home to make it all the more intimate and personal.

Although Stella is technically the main character, it is Simon who experiences the most growth and has the most satisfying story arc. Leavitt allows him to surprise and upend readers’ and his own expectations at nearly every turn, while still keeping his character grounded and believable. Libby, though she plays the part of an adulteress, is equally satisfying to read; she, too, has her own history that Leavitt unpacks beautifully. But of course, it is Stella who is the real cornerstone of the book, and who Leavitt works and reworks with compassion, a keen eye for detail, and a surprisingly hopeful and inspiring journey of a woman coming into her own as an artist.

In the end, WITH OR WITHOUT YOU is all about timing. Leavitt asks us to consider who we are at every moment and who we love at the same time --- and how those facts may change with time, coming of age or even a blip, like falling for an old friend. This is an unflinchingly raw and honest novel, but it is also propulsive and suspenseful. The characters are so wholly realized and developed that they seem to move on their own, with Leavitt simply pulling the strings above them. She is a brave and risk-taking author, and WITH OR WITHOUT YOU is a perfect picture of what she can do when left with a spark of inspiration and a gripping premise.

It sounded like it would be a fantastic read- it just moved so slowly I couldn't get interested in the characters or their plight.
After she falls into a coma, the story just fizzled for me. I would not recommend.

I had high hopes for this and yet I was extremely disappointed. The three main characters were flat and didn't seem to really show signs of growth, even though that was the point of the novel. Simon was immature and reliant on other people. He was selfish and unlikeable and even when he was making good decisions, he still was able to ruin any goodwill.

Stella was in a coma for half the book and when she came out, it didn't seem like she cared about anyone but herself. I guess I can see why these two were a couple because they were too invested in themselves to be invested in each other. Also, it makes sense why they never did anything with their lives. However, it doesn't make for two people that you really want to read about or invest in.

Libby seems to be tossed in as a third character but not without a lot of purpose. I found myself losing interest in her story, maybe because she wasn't invovled in the beginning? Maybe because there was just something missing throughout this book. I don't know if it needed more backstory, more development or just something more, but I was kind of left feeling like I missed the point.

This is a story that one really needs to delve into. It's not something to devour in one go, at least it wasn't for me, as it definitely makes you think about your own choices and your own life. I loved reading about how Stella had changed after her coma, how difficult situations bring people together. It'll definitely feel frustrated with people's choices, make your heart hurt when things just don't work out. Beautiful yet heartbreaking story.

This was such a genuine, emotional, heart-wrenching book. The characters felt so real - with faults and mistakes and messy personalities and it felt like a real journey watching them change and grow as the story progressed. It was somber, yet hopeful and exactly what I needed to read!

An interesting read that asks the reader to think about what is comfortable and what is worth fighting for....and also thinking if circumstances changed would you stay in the life that you’re in. A moving book that gives you pause.

With or Without You is average at best. A once famous rock musician has lost his fame and is ready for the second break during this desperate peak in his life but his long-time girlfriend is in a coma now and things are not the same anymore. Stella, the girlfriend, wasn't on the page for half the book but when she came to consciousness, she seemed a more authentic character than Simon, the main character, ever did. The writing is definitely the most applause worthy aspect but the purpose of the book itself is a little lost, especially when it tries to shine an unfiltered light on characters who do wrong. A large attention is paid to the mistakes the characters make, sometimes too hard to ignore like cheating on the partner, and while it can be considered as a way to let readers feel whatever they wish to, it does give an undertone of giving the wrongdoers a chance to put across their reasons and that's not something I personally prefer to read about.

I really enjoyed this book about self discovery on both Stella's and Simon's journey. It tugged at my heart string because here is a couple that has been together for so long and seemed to have gotten too comfortable with each other. After a dumb decision, Stella slips into a coma and Simon's dreams are put on hold. He finds himself leaning more and more on Libby.

Stella wakes up but rediscovers herself. In a way, she almost reminded me of the Rachel McAdams character in the vow, and she stumbles through life to figure out who she is and where her place in the world is. I love how this was a touching story about love and self discovery and change.


Thank you #NetGalley and Algonquin books for the Arc in exchange for my honest review.

⁣WITH OR WITHOUT YOU by Caroline Leavitt @Carolineleavitt explores love and friendship, pursuing dreams and sacrificing those very dreams. It’s about relationships as people change, either because of a traumatic event or through gradual change. ⁣
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It really is a very moving story. It’s very quick paced, I finished it in 2 days! Leavitt packs a lot in and we get a huge back story for all three main characters. I felt like I really knew each one. Also part of this story is inspired by an event in Leavitt’s life. Very inspiring!! I really recommend this one! ⁣
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#WithOrWithoutYou comes out August 4th! Thank you to the lovely folks at @algonquinbooks for sending me an advanced copy! ⁣
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Stella and Simon have been together nearly twenty years. Simon, a rock musician, has spent most of those waiting for his one big break. He thinks he's found it now, but right before he and Stella are set to leave for California for the show that could change his life, she falls into a coma. Now Simon faces a choice: get on the plane with his band, or remain behind with his love. As for Stella, she's aware of the world around her while in the coma, and when she emerges, she's different, with a newfound artistic talent. Together, Simon and Stella must reexamine their relationship and figure out the path forward.

What a beautiful and striking novel. I discovered Caroline Leavitt through the power of ARCs in 2016, falling in love with her work through Cruel Beautiful World. She gives us another book filled with compelling characters here. I so enjoyed reading a book with a different plot, especially knowing that the coma story was somewhat based on Leavitt's own life. She's a remarkable writer in so many ways.

With or Without You is incredibly well-written--almost poetic at times. It's told from both Simon and Stella's perspectives, including while Stella's in her coma, and some of those moments are quite profound and touching. Both Stella's realizations as she struggles to realize where she is, and Simon's, as he tries to grapple with the idea of his partner being ill, as well as the awareness that he may be losing his last chance at fame and fortune as his band moves on without him.

"It's a kind of blankness. She's been erased for a while and then redrawn. When she comes back, she always feels a little bit better..."

Even worse for both Simon and Stella is the fact that they fought shortly before she fell into the coma. What kind of relationship, each wonders, would they come back into should Stella awake? In this way, Leavitt gives a beautiful character study: an in-depth observation into a flawed relationship. It just happens to be a relationship where a woman enters and exits a coma. It's an amazing look into love, loyalty, and loss. The novel makes you think, drawing you into the characters. What would you do in Simon's situation, you think? Or Stella's?

"Mostly she thought of all the things that she herself wanted, and like Simon's dreams, they had an expiration date she couldn't ignore."

Overall, I quite enjoyed this novel. It's so well-done and such a different and intriguing look at two people trying to find happiness. I love Leavitt's way with words. 4 stars.