Yates creates well-founded, flawed characters that are interesting to follow. The narrator, Noah, has a self-aware voice on top of his snark, and the supporting cast is likewise colorful. The writing flows well, and scenes are presented with enough detail to get a good feel for the moment..

However, for me, there's too much plot in too little novel. In about 250 pages all of the following occur: learning about a mother (who also happens to be a famous poet) having ALS, trouble with a kleptomaniac cousin, reuniting with an old flame (and breaking him up with his overly possessive husband), tracking down a lost long half-sibling (the product of incest and rape), dealing with a passive aggressive neighbor who doesn't want people petting his dog. Because there is SO MUCH, nothing feels like it has any real significance or emotional weight.

A family drama that kept me turning the pages to see what would happen next. I loved the humor but also the touching moments.
Many thanks to Kensington and to Netgalley for providing me with a galley in exchange for my honest opinion.

This novel is about Noah, a single gay man in his 30s who is summoned home by his mother who tells him she’s been diagnosed with ALS - and that she wants to try to find the child she gave up for adoption long ago. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg, as there is plenty of other family drama that ensues in the week or two in which this book takes place.

This was a book I had never heard of, but was initially drawn to by seeing the cover on Netgalley, and then reading the description. I usually try to avoid requesting books randomly like that, but then I could miss out on little gems like this one! This book kind of reminds me of what it would be like if Jonathan Tropper wrote a book with a gay main character. There is a lot of family drama - and trauma - but with so much humor and a lot of heart. It packed a lot into its short length.

It wasn’t til I read the suggested book club questions at the back that I realized this was a sequel of sorts to a book Bart Yates wrote years ago about a 17 year old Noah. Obviously you can read it as a stand-alone since I had no idea, but now I want to go back and read that one for sure.

Best book I have read so far this year. Wow!!! If a book leaves you wanting more. the likelyhood is that’s it going to remain in your heart forever.
My heart aches and smiles at the same time. Xx

I thought the book was ok. Touching upon grief and moving on, I'm sure many can relate to it. I didn't have a connection to the story and I suppose it made it hard for me to become invested in it. I kept reading because I wanted to know how it ended.

Noah returns home and finds out his mom has been diagnosed with ALS and she wants him to come back to live with her. While trying to come to terms with what this means for them, his mom has also tasked him with finding his sister, who was adopted as a baby. This results in a rather difficult family reunion when their family past is revealed. Meanwhile, Noah is also trying to get back with his ex-boyfriend J.D., whom he broke up with for reasons that made little sense, even though J.D, is now married. Overall, a quick read about a dysfunctional family with a lot of drama, told with a touch of humor and sarcasm. Many difficult topics were mentioned including child abuse, terminal illness, infidelity, and adoption. All of the characters have flaws, but they do seem to care about each other and are trying their best to support each other.

A witty, poignant, funny and heartwarming book full of quirky characters and emotions.
There's a lot going on, there's life that brings changes and there's a past of leave behind.
I loved the storytelling and the characters.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher for this ARC, all opinions are mine

This was an unexpectedly charming and fun book! The characters are both quirky, human, imperfect, and bold. The descriptions were such that I could easily imagine the setting and I wanted to turn up on the doorstep for breakfast.
This is really a love story on so many levels and that's what the world needs right now.

Thank you to NetGalley for an advance copy of this book. I hope it finds wide readership because it will do the heart good, I promise!

A very nice book by Bart Yates. I’ve never read a book by this author before so I wasn't sure what to expect. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the story and the characters.

Noah York loves his mother but finds it difficult to spend time with her. A famous poet, whose most famous poem is about what she views as one of Noah's failures, his mother, Virginia, is a larger-than-life figure. When Virginia insists that Noah come and visit, Noah reluctantly goes, and she shocks him with the news that she has a terminal disease -- and a request he does not feel like he can refuse. So Noah embarks on an effort to try to locate his long-lost sister. all the while connecting with his cousin, who he has never met but has come to visit Virginia in the wake of her news, and dealing with the return of his former boyfriend who he has never gotten over.

This was a touching and heartfelt story about getting older, reconnecting with family, and navigating one's past.

Highly recommended!

I love Noah, but he’s not an easy narrator to like. He can be petty, cruel, immature, full of himself (while simultaneously thinking he’s poop) and personal growth is questionable at best. He can also be caring, empathetic, loyal and bright. It’s a bit of a rollercoaster following him. I respect the way he approached the added family members, and finding his sister. Was it right? Perhaps not, but it was done with good intentions.

Watching him interact with the different characters was interesting and the book had a good flow. I could wish we got to know a bit more about JD, because I am struggling with his character… but reading Leave Myself Behind will most likely get me that. Plus I might like to see a time when Noah was less jaded (if he ever was). There were moments of hilarity, and moments that broke me. I feel like there was character development, though the extent of which was questionable for all the characters. All this said, I loved going through this with Noah and I wanted to know every petty thought in his head. For me, this is a four star book.

⭐⭐⭐⭐
Rating: 4 out of 5.
On the adult content scale, there’s a lot of language, drinking, and violence. If you are easily triggered by familial abuse or very early pregnancy, be advised that there is some here but I felt like it was tastefully done. Geared toward adults, I would still say it’s good for older teens as well (15+).


I was lucky enough to be awarded an eARC from Netgalley and Kensington books in exchange for an honest review. My thanks!

“What can I say? A lot of things worth hating are also worth loving.”

Something about this book completely captured my heart. Call it timing, the characters, or the funny banter throughout, but it just worked.

Noah York heads back to his hometown after his mother calls him to tell him she's been diagnosed with ALS. What follows is a funny and chaotic family drama that kept me flying through the pages. A LOT happens in this book, and sometimes that bugs me, but Yates pulled this one off and I really, really enjoyed it.

The characters are really the meat of this story. They are sarcastic (my favorite type of humor), but also tender, loving, caring, and loyal. They're feelings are BIG and the reader feels the ups and downs of this ride that feels like a real-life roller coaster ride. I couldn't help but become invested in ALL of them!

The ending was beautiful...maybe one of my favorite endings to a book in a long time. It just felt like the perfect way to wrap this story up! I think these guys will stick with me for a long time, and I hope you take a chance on the York family and fall in love with them just as I did!

The Language of Love and Loss by Bart Yates is a very readable family drama and at the same time it has a lot of humor, romance and heart. Noah's mom Virginia has recently been diagnosed with ALS and she asks Noah to come home and do two things for her. That set up makes it sound like a dark book about ALS but actually it's a tale of Noah and Virginia finding their personal ways and their way together.

I enjoyed all the characters and highly recommend this book. Thanks to NetGalley and publisher for an advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

This book is an unexpected quick and easy read. The story has a moving insight about a wonderful relationship in between a mother and a son which also transcends to family issues that both characters went through. It also covers a heavy theme that addresses kleptomania, ALS, domestic and sexual child. It’s a book that is something that you will think about afterwards. The guide questions at the end of the story are helpful to process things about this book. Nonetheless, the author has creatively woven the story to balance everything. It also explores passion, love and family relationship.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable read. The ending is pretty satisfying and neatly wrapped. It’s a book with life lessons to learn from - allow yourself all the time you need to grow.

Thank you to the author, Kensington Books and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick read, I loved the snappy dialogue - but it did leave a bit of a bad taste in my mouth. Noah, the narrator, returns home to the devastating news that his mother has been diagnosed with a terminal illness. Their relationship is volatile at times, with lots of big feelings on both sides. Underneath all the drama there is a deep love, but it's very well hidden at times. Oh, and there's *lots* of drama and plot points - so many that you wonder how everything can happen in the space of a few days, and it becomes a bit much after a while. As do the endless metaphors - yes, humor, but enough already.

Noah York is a grown man who is going home to visit his mother. He is shocked to find out that she has been diagnosed with ALS, and she has two asks of him. 1) to move back home and spend time with her and 2) to help her find her daughter she gave up for adoption.

I agree with some other reviewers that it seemed as though Noah could do no wrong. He’s a smart ass, a dick, and has no regard for other’s feelings. He gets everything he wants… with no consequences.

His relationship with his mother is beautiful and I love how he loves her. I also thought it was a cop out that his ex left his husband for Noah. He didn’t learn anything from letting his ex go. I thought the book would have been more interesting if his ex stayed with the husband. The car crash at the end was definitely not needed.

That being said, this book was easy to read. I just thought it was wrapped up a little too nearly. I didn’t know it was a sequel but I won’t seek out the first book.

Thank you NetGalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Noah discovers it is possible to go home again, to face a former lover, and most importantly, literally find family. He left his small home town years ago (I missed the first novel but this works as a standalone) and now he's back because his mother is facing a diagnosis of ALS. She wants him to find the daughter he gave up for adoption- a daunting but critical task. And he's got to deal with JD, who is now married to another man. So much is packed into this slim volume but Yates has a style that makes it seem much larger. Thanks to the publisher for the ARC. A good read.

This is EXACTLY the book I needed at this point in my life. The emotions, the family, the love! Without a doubt, my favorite book that I have read this year so far, and it will forever hold a special place in my heart!

I can't thank NetGalley enough for an ARC of Yates' latest novel. I adored it! Five shiny stars. The dialogue between the main character and his mom were spot on and reminded me a bit of the relationship my husband has with his aging mama. Yates paints a perfect picture of small town New Hampshire. I also enjoyed the searching for a sister placed for adoption as this topic is close to my heart. What a well written and entertaining book!

I suspect this novel will get a lot of harsh judgement based on the inclusion of some vulgarities and other 'inappropriate' language. All largely rooted in the times we live in. An important distinction however that we, as readers, often forget is 'author's voice' vs 'character voice'.

As far as the authors voice, BY writing is brisk and effortless. His narrative draws you in and as a result the novel is a page turner.
I would be lying if I said The Yorks are not a family after my own heart. Deeply troubled relationship between mother and son, often clashing, the son seeking independence but also craving recognition and approval. BY renders perfectly the style of their communication with their sarcasm and cynicism filled banter indicating intimacy and intelligence.
I appreciate the depiction of characters that are unconcerned with being judged based on the political or social climate they exist in. It is our role as a reader to decide if we find them likeable or not based on these and other qualities.

As far as the plot, there is a lot that has been packed into these 200 pages, at times it feels way too much. At one point "The Language ..." even ventures into a soap opera territory. Characters become so sad and pathetic but in a strange way also endearing, and the smallest of events blow up to nearly life altering proportions. Are these deal breaker, heck no!

This book is a fun, emotions filled ride and overall a great entertainment.