Thank you for the arc, unfortunately I did not finish it, I just wasn't the right audience for this book.

When You Leave is a solid 4-star read. I loved Cass and how she was developed as a character. She's strong, loyal, and relatable. The topics Ropal takes on are heavy: abandonment, drugs, and messy relationships. There's also a murder mystery to solve. Even as an adult I thoroughly enjoyed this novel meant for young adults.

Cass has one rule she never forgets - everyone leaves. When her mother remarries and she has to attend a new, private, school, she wants only to blend in and get through the rest of high school without any drama. She still hangs out with her skater friends after school and is determined that nothing will change just because she moved. All this changes, though, when she meets a popular jock and starts a secret relationship with him, and then again when he is murdered and one of her best friends is accused of the murder. Cass sets out to prove her friend innocent and make sure the guilty party is found.

Cass is such a great heroine because she has depth and is multidimensional. You get a lot of background on her which helps you connect with her. Her friends, Mattie, Franklin and Rav, are great secondary characters. The plot is engaging and the mystery is interesting with all of its twists and turns. I enjoyed the story very much.

Recommended - 5/5 stars.

This is a book that I wanted to love, but just didn't....I think though that that was perhaps just me; not book is for everybody after all.