I love Gayle's writing but something about this book just wasn't the same and ended up being a DNF for me.

Maribeth woks to the bone, takes care of the kids, home, bills, etc. She's so overworked that she ended up having a heart attack. No one is reliable enough to do much, and that includes her husband. Yup he called in his mother in law for help when Mari was released instead of taking on more of the load.

First, he is just a stubborn pain and needs to share the load and get his shit together. Then with Mari she was so work driven that after a few chapters I got tired of hearing it. Even after she left her family behind she just kept over thinking everything.

It made it hard to like her and that made it hard to even like the book.

Leave Me, by Gail Foreman 2016
I’m not sure what kind of woman would leave behind 4 year old twins and run off without communicating to her children why she is leaving them. Foreman ensures a happy ending for those who need one, but I felt like many plot threads were left hanging, plus the protagonists husband changed his tune pretty quickly and was, in my opinion, unrealistically forgiving. I think he could have been granted full custody after his wife’s disappearing act. I have experienced first -hand a major health event and I realize that it can often cause trauma and depression. However, while women might fantasies about running away from home, few would abandon their young children in such a cold-hearted manner. Recommended for romance readers.

This book was a great story dealing with when a person just needs to take time to fix themselves first. Even when we have a family - or especially when, sometimes we need to put ourselves first. This woman who thought she had bad indigestion, was actually suffering from a heart attack and had to rethink her life. She left her family to spend some time resting somewhere else.

This was a book that makes your heart hurt as Maribeth strives to settle all the broken pieces in her life and find the room to love once again.

Unfortunately, "Leave Me" did not qualify for a Marvelous Novel of the Month on my website (The Marvelous Site) and I do not post negative reviews on my site . . . only all things marvelous. I have given more detailed thoughts about the book to the publisher.in the feedback section.

Forman is at her best here. This is a book that has stayed with me for over a year.

Maribeth is overworked; a mother of 4 year old twins, and has a husband who is distant and not helpful. She has a heart attack and takes herself to the doctor. While recuperating, no one is supportive or helpful. She needs a major break so she up and leaves. She realizes that she has to live her life differently and cannot change things by staying in her home. She has many issues to work out and she needed time away to learn about herself. She runs into many interesting characters and works on how she can improve her life. She doesn’t abandon her family for selfish reasons but from a deep confusion about who she is, she was adopted, and from the near death experience and extreme neglect of her family. Surprisingly things work themselves out and Maribeth learns many things about herself and the people in her life. This novel is a fast, smooth and easy read! Thought provoking!

What a deliciously written, skillfully paced novel! Readers are blessed with characters that are absolutely beyond compelling and the plot sticks with you even after you're finished. Will be reading again!

I read a lot of negative reviews about this book. Not about the quality of story or writing but because people had a hard time liking the main character. I personally enjoyed her story. Honest, real and personal I couldn't stop reading to see where her journey took her. Well done!

Sorry, requested but did not find the time to review.

With the popularity of her YA novels, I wanted to see if Forman's foray into adult literary fiction would still have some crossover appeal for a teen audience. While I certainly enjoyed this and it definitely has Forman's formative voice and writing style, this will have little appeal for her teen fans. I'm not saying that's a bad thing - this is clearly an adult novel, it was marketed as such, as an adult reading an adult novel I wholeheartedly believe it deserves a space on library shelves, and even going into it, I understood that Forman was writing a novel that wasn't for the YA reader. As a teen librarian, however, that crossover curiosity crept in and I had to know what sort of appeal it "could" have. Ultimately though, I'll leave this one for the adults with the hope that Forman has something in store for her teen audience soon!

Another fun Hiaasen book with a cast of characters that only he can create. There is is his usual take on environmental issues but he also throws in commentary about 'reality' TV. This isn't his strongest book but is nonetheless an enjoyable read.

Forman is one of my all time favorite teen writers. She writes believable characters and engaging stories.

The subject of adoption and relinquishment is close to home. My daughter gave up her baby son shortly after turning 16, a victim of date rape while inebriated, and once she was aware that she was pregnant, declined offers of money for abortion extended by friends. My baby has fingernails, she said.

Late in pregnancy she chose adoption and upon the advice of her adoption counselor, wrote a book about herself for her son to be given when he was 18. She wanted his adoptive parents to have him all to themselves, a total and unselfish relinquishment. When he started to struggle with the unknowns of adoption, they gave him the book at 17, and a few years later contacted us, opening the channel for what has been an extraordinary experience.

I was so disgusted initially by Maribeth that I wasn't sure I cared enough about her to keep reading, but I'm glad I did. Closed adoption can be a hard road to navigate and I'm glad my daughter didn't take that route. I already know from my grandson how hard the not-knowing was. When Maribeth opened her mind to what she had suppressed I cried and cried. I felt the author wrote a genuine portrayal of adoption.