“You never know when a time is the last time, because if you did you could never go on with life.”


Okay, what. I don’t even know how to describe this book... but I kinda loved it?? The only words I have are: apocalyptic, suspense, confusion, human nature, family dynamics, sci-fi, end of the world, madness. It was weird, it was terrifying, it revealed a lot about human nature. I will be thinking about this for awhile.

I really liked this book and will be including it in my roundup of recent releases next month for Mashable.com

One of my favorites of the year! This was so gripping and at times I had to take it outside to read because I felt claustrophobic reading it inside my house.

Alam managed to give words to all the feelings I've had since March and condense them into just a weekend's worth of dread. I've been telling everyone I know to read this. It's so amazingly unsettling.

Well-developed characters shape this book as two couples try to navigate what has become a very unstable world. One wealthy, black, older couple and one middle-class, white with a family find themselves thrown together in a secluded Long Island house as they search for answers for why New York City has been thrown into a blackout. There’s so many strange things going on in what could be the new normal. There’s lots of suspense and no easy answers. This could be a problem for those readers who like a satisfying conclusion, but it is a book for the times. There are no easy answers.

Holy moly this book is incredible! The writing is top notch and the story is gripping. I love the detailed inner dialogue of the characters. It is terrifying without revealing what exactly was going on. I cannot give this book enough praise. It will end up being on many best of lists for the year. Thank you to HarperCollins and NetGalley for granting access to this book in exchange for an honest review. I will post this review tomorrow to my Bookstagram and companion Facebook page @thatreadingrealtor.

I am just not sure how I feel about LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND by Rumaan Alam; I enjoy and occasional dystopian novel but this one was bizarre at times. I found some of the descriptions of bodily functions difficult to read but that is a testament to the descriptiveness of Alam’s writing. Descriptive but at times too wordy and too many words that could have easily been replaced by a simpler word bringing more clarity to the situation.

Clay, Amanda and their two teenaged children rent a well-appointed Airbnb in a remote area of Long Island to escape city life for a week, to recharge and unwind. It all starts out well and they are relaxing and enjoying being together without all the distractions home offers when there is a late-night knock on the door. It is the owners of the Airbnb, claiming to have fled the sudden blackout that has swept the city. Clay and Amanda cannot assess their claims as there is no internet service, phone service or tv available to them. Are they what they seem to be?

The book sounds intriguing, perhaps a thriller but it is mostly dystopian. The book does a great job of addressing age, class and race. Just not sure about the writing style; it almost seemed condescending at times. That said, the author made me feel terrified, uneasy and apprehensive. Can’t deny the powerfulness of Alam’s words. This book will surely appeal to readers of dystopian novels.

Hi. Be prepared to be creeped the fuck out. Did you watch Jordan Peele’s “Us” and enjoy it? Then, boy howdy do I have a book you need to pick up ASAP.

Honestly, this review took a lot longer than I planned because I had to sit there and think, “WTF did I just read?” I was not expecting this book to turn into what it did, but the more I think about it, the more I am.

The descriptions are extremely vivid. I get annoyed when authors are too descriptive because my ADD can only hold on for so long. Alam does a great job of painting the picture beautifully, but uses just enough imagery to keep my attention. Sometimes I thought, well, okay that was a 16 word sentence when that could be shortened into 2, but, overall, it wasn’t too extensive.

I found it to be a wonderful parallel to today’s society. Here they were, Amanda, trying overly hard to show she’s not racist because she’s with a Black family, but still has her underlying suspicions. Is it the end of the world? Are we really attached to our phones so much that we really could not survive without them? Simple things like directions or the weather are relied on from them. This book made me feel claustrophobic from the helplessness I felt for the characters. It’s very vivid.

There’s an ominous tone the entire time that you just help but turn furiously to figure out what is going to happen next. At first, I hated the ending. But, now I appreciate it for what it is.

This is for those who like realistic apocalyptic reads, those that enjoy books that have a deeper social issue inside the plot, and those who enjoy beautifully descriptive sentences. Thank you Ecco & Net Galley for the gifted copy. This is out Oct. 8th.

Reading this book during a pandemic reminded me of some of the fear and uncertainty that I felt early on and I am reminded that I can’t take a normal day for granted. I love how the author never fully reveals exactly what the mystery is and we the readers do not know how it all ends, as the story is all about the not-knowing for the characters themselves. I loved this unique story!

“It was like some tacit agreement; everyone has ceded to things just falling apart. That it was common knowledge that things were bad surely meant they were actually worse.”
▫️
I expected a simple story about a family vacation gone wrong in LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND, so I was totally unprepared for what this book actually is! it reminded me of STATION ELEVEN but with strong themes of parenting, class, and race explored throughout the novel. it was strange and even eerie at times, and I could not put it down! this book affected me so much I had to do a thorough plot summary and analysis at dinner with my family. you will want to talk about this one as soon as you finish it, and it’s really worth your time! 4/5⭐️—I liked it!

This is my third book by Rumaan Alam and I love everything that man writes. This book! The creepy, the ominous, and those minute details. Should you read a book about isolation during a pandemic? You absolutely should if it's this one!

This is a brilliantly atmospheric book; I was so tense when reading it. The book relies more on your imagination than gory descriptions. There are several high tension events to remember long after finishing the book. For a new twist on an old idea, Alam has done an excellent job and I think the short length of the book helps with the suspense.

A great story well told and I understand that the film rights have been sold, and it's easy to see why - captivating, unusual and thrilling. Three great features of any story.

First, let me say that I know many readers and librarians who adored this book. Unfortunately, I am not one of those readers, but I acknowledge this is entirely due to my personal tastes rather than a fault of the author. I read RICH & PRETTY by Alam several years ago and it was not for me. Yes, he writes very relatably (is that a word?) and eloquently about the banal mundanities of quotidian happenings, but unfortunately, for me this means his stories come off as banal and mundane. I thought I would give this one a try because of the great reviews I saw, and it definitely has a more original and intriguing premise than RICH & PRETTY, but that wasn't enough to make me enjoy the book. Perhaps you will have better luck!

A middle-aged white couple and their two teenage children have their vacation at a luxurious, secluded Airbnb interrupted by a late night knock at the door. The black owners of the home are at the door with a story of a major unknown event that knocked out the power along the east coast.

Over the course of the next few days, tensions surface between the two families and fear is the overriding emotion. There is no cellphone, radio, or tv reception, leaving them totally cut off from the world with no idea what is happening beyond their four walls. The third person omniscient point of view allows the reader brief glimpses into what is happening in the outside world. It becomes clear a cataclysmic event took place. The lack of details and the unknown adds to the overriding sense of menace. (The same type of technique that made Bird Box so terrifying.)

The author give the reader a look into the thought processes of all involved, which reveals hidden biases. The underlying themes of age, class, race, and the blindness of modern life bubbles beneath the surface. I give credit to the author for respecting the intelligence of his readers by handling them all with a light touch, which makes more of an impact. The beginning chapters meanders along and what looks at first glance to be mundane filler, such as the vacationer’s grocery list, is very revealing, as it is later made clear.

Atmospheric, character-driven, and thought-provoking, this is a literary mix of genres that totally worked. I read it in two sittings and when I wasn;t reading it I was thinking about it.

A taught and seductive atmospheric thriller unlike anything I've ever read. A tensely woven exploration of personality, full of insight on the modern human condition. Full of notorious topics, like racism and classism, and seemingly mundane tasks, all are explored in this uniquely suspenseful surrealist prose.

Thanks to Ecco and Netgalley for the e-book of this title to read prior to publication in October.

Amanda, Clay, Rose and Archie travel to a remote part of New York for their vacation. They’ve rented a house with a pool and a hot tub, that’s not too far from a beach. The first couple of days go splendidly. Then one evening there’s a knock on the door that terrifies Amanda and Clay, the parents. They finally open the door and a black couple, claiming to own the home they’re renting, stands there stammering about a black out in New York City where they have an apartment.

They want to stay at their house thinking it’s safer. Yet Amanda and Clay feel totally unsafe and full of questions. How do they know the couple is telling the truth? Where is their car? Are they going to kill them and the kids while they sleep?

As they all get to know each other, they become friends. Then a strange thunderous noise cracks the glass in one of the sliding doors. Nobody knows what causes it.

Then the daughter, Rose, sees hundreds of deer in the yard. They all see flamingos in the pool. What is happening? They have no cell service, no tv, but they do have electricity. Still they can't find out anything. Clay says he'll drive into town and see what he can find out.

Alam has a knack for compelling text that keeps the reader coming back for more. His characters have real flaws yet you tend to like them.

One of the reasons I gave this book four stars was I found the omnipotent viewpoint jarring until I figured out what it was. I also would have liked a more satisfying ending and a trigger warning about the focus of the book. Some books I'd rather not read while in this pandemic.

But it was still a great read, and I highly recommend it.

Chilling and all too realistic, with a pervasive feeling of doom amid the beautiful summer countryside. Horrifying and terrifying.

I received a ARC copy for an honest review #LeavetheWorldBehind #NetGalley

I loved this book. It was thought provoking as well as entertaining and challenged me to look beyond the easy. It covers many situations we face today like parenthood, race, class and how we will react in crisis. It surely hits home in our current pandemic situation.

Amanda and Clay head out on vacation to a remote area of Long Island when catastrophe hits--or does it? The home they rented and the week the planned with their teenagers goes awry when news of a sudden communications and electrical blackout in the city comes from an unlikely source--the supposed homeowners who show up in the middle of the night.

Should these owner be trusted? Should Amanda and Clay? Read it to find out.

Thank you to NetGalley, HarperCollins Publishers, and Ecco for this advanced reader's copy of Leave the World Behind by Rumann Alam.

Wow. Just, wow. That could be it, the whole review. I'll say a bit more even though being longlisted for the National Book Award should be enough to convince anyone to read this book. This is the story of one family's vacation, interrupted by the arrival of the rented vacation home's rightful owners. Why the owners return is a question best answered by reading the book. Really, read the book. I don't want to give anything away so that's all you get for a synopsis.

Rumann Alam does an outstanding job of keeping the reader engrossed in two parallel stories, one happening in and around the vacation home and one happening everywhere else, without actually changing the setting of the story. Is this a thriller? Kind of. I would call it a modern horror story. It definitely terrified me. Don't let that stop you from reading it though.

Who's this book written for? Everyone. You'll be better off for reading Leave the World Behind.

You could argue that this is the perfect book to read during a global pandemic or the last book you'd ever want to read. What starts off as family getaway at a luxurious rental home slowly becomes more sinister. Amanda and Clay hear a knock at the door one night only to find the homeowners there, wanting to spend the night. Was there really just a blackout or is there more to the story? This is one of those books where the tension and uncertainty crept into my real life and often had me remembering a sordid detail and thinking "was that in the book or did I just read that in the news?" Alam keeps you guessing until the bitter end.

On the second night of their vacation in the Hamptons, Amanda and Clay answer the door of their Airbnb rental to a couple claiming to be the owners of the house. Apparently, there's been a major blackout in New York City and they didn't know where else to go. The mystery, the creep factor, has little to do with the question of whether these people are who they say are. It becomes clear fairly quickly that they are telling the truth and that there has been a major event of some kind, but with cell phones, landlines, internet, and television all out, no-one knows any details. Cue the dramatic music.

This book was very suspenseful, due to two things: First, the characters' lack of knowledge. The reader, through the omniscient narrator, knows quite a bit more than the character do about what's going on. Not that it helps. Second, this book is deeply introspective. Alam slides seamlessly from the perspective of one character another, and we are privy to each one's sense of insecurity that they aren't responding "well" to the crisis. And it turns out that the inside of peoples' heads during a mysterious calamity is a deeply creepy place.

Review // Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam
⠀⠀
❓Literary Suspense

💗 Fast-Paced, Menacing, Suspenseful AF

📖 Clay and Amanda, a white couple from Brooklyn, are on vacation with their kids at an Airbnb on the rural tip of Long Island. A Black couple knock on the door late one evening, claiming to be the owners of the home. Something terrible has supposedly happened in Manhattan. Clay and Amanda are suspicious and skeptical. Then things start to get weird.

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Things To Know
✨ THIS BOOK SCARED ME! The suspense was real. Granted, I don't read much horror, and I'm a huge scaredy cat who slept in my parents bed until I was, like, 12. But really, this was incredible! It wasn't horror in the Riley Sager sense, but was much more literary. Lots of tension, cultural explorations and political commentary.

✨ Speaking of literary, I'm glad I read this one on my Kindle because I used the dictionary feature on almost every page. Remember the spelling bee in the movie 2Gether, where someone was given the word "susurrus?" This was the first book where I've ever seen the word susurrus. Now I know what it means!

✨ Not only was this a horror novel, but there was brilliant social commentary. This may be the first great pandemic-era novel. It's very much a Trump-era novel. It's a BLM-era novel. Alam explores race, class, family dynamics, fear itself and the end of the world. As a Bangladeshi man married to a white man and raising Black children, he has some really interesting insights.

✨ I'm a sucker for books that take place on vacation. There were a few chapters where Clay and Amanda were simply food shopping for the Airbnb and I was like yaaaas! I wish I was food shopping for MY Airbnb! Descriptions of room arrangements? Check. Long poolside afternoons? Check. Steamy vacay sex scenes? Check. I loved it.

✨ The book has already been optioned by Netflix, starring Denzel Washington and Julia Roberts. Hop on the bandwagon early!

Read If You Like:
✨ Get Out
✨ Lovecraft Country
✨ Rear Window

Another new favorite, that I flew through in only three days! This one is out on October 6.Thank you so much to @netgalley and @harpercollins for the advanced copy!