The Truth About Leaving

The Truth about Leaving by Natalie Blitt is a heartwarming young adult novel. I fell in love with Lucy and Dov and I couldn't wait to find out how this one ended. Great read for anyone who loves a good romance.

About: Lucy just started her senior year and their school has a transfer senior for the first time in years- Dov who has come from Israel and plans to go back to join the army by the end of the year. When Lucy and Dov start to develop a relationship, it feels right. But they both know that Dov has to go back when the year ends. This book has the perfect title and story is just about that.

Characters: Lucy is a very relatable character. The way she has to manage her time in respect to others and cancel her plans to babysit her little brothers or fill in for her mom who took up a job miles away is what makes her a submissive character. Dov is a gentleman who is dealing with his own grief. Both characters are very lovable. I found Lucy's mom selfish in many ways. Plus point for having Jewish characters and the Hebrew language.

Feelings: I loved the author's The Distance from A to Z so I was extremely thrilled when I received an ARC of this book becoming my 100th read of the year. This book was based more on reality than romance. It was cute but also dealt with important subjects like grief. It was emotional and adorable at the same time.

Recommendation: Yes. It was a great read with understanding characters and a heartbreaking story.


Favourite Quote:
Sometimes we have to live in a world that is not always ideal.

The Truth About Leaving is a great story about a girl who meets an Israeli boy on the first day of school and how they come together to be friends.
I had a hard time with the the girls mother and how her parents put so much on this girl. I wanted to reach inside this story and slap her mom.
Having said that I did enjoy the story and would definitely read more by this author.

Lucy is still reeling from Scott breaking up with her when she bumps into Dov. Literally bumps into him and knocks him down. Who is this new student from Israel and why is he so moody. Lucy finds herself wanting to find the answers to these questions and so many more as she begins a rollercoaster relationship with Dov and tries to find herself in the process. Should she go to the college that her parents want her to go to so she can "help out" at home or should she go somewhere far away to get away from it all? So many decisions for her to make during her senior year of high school. The Truth About Leaving is a realistic look at the decisions and stress that many high school seniors feel as they prepare to leave their parents' home to attend college.

I honestly loved this book! It was so cute in so my ways. It was amazing to see the growth in Lucy as th book went on. I would honestly recommend this book.

The Truth About Leaving broke me in all the best ways. Lucy is such a beautiful, caring character who like others, takes care of everyone else's needs before her own. Dov is an immigrant from Israeli who is struggling with his new life. Blitt takes us on a winding journey through the love of two teens whos lives a tearing at the seams, only to be put together again.

This is not one of those stories that I'll read over and over again. However, I enjoyed the slow pace read I am Lucy-- Lucy is such a caring, open hearted, a girl who , takes care of everyone else’s needs before her own. Lucy has a real life journey I think teens can relate to.

I have been eagerly awaiting a new YA read from Natalie Blitt ever since I fell for The Distance from A to Z. This book was so different from her debut but in a powerful and emotional way. I adored the characters, the story and the heart of The Truth About Leaving.

At the heart of it, The Truth About Leaving is the tale of how two lovely teenagers find each other and grow. It made my poor little ache and swell with emotions and it was all thanks to the characters. Lucy was the shining star of this book. Her voice was fresh and relatable. What struck me was Lucy sense of loyalty to her family. In her senior year, her mom decides to accept a job in a different state, leaving Lucy and her dad to fend off for themselves and for her brothers. Instead of spending her time doing teenage things, she would spend her free time looking after her little brothers and she would do it without complaining. Throughout the book, we see how she discovers new parts of herself and learns to stand up for what she wants. I especially the storyline of her making decisions on where to go to college and what she wanted to do with her life. It was thought-provoking and I think many teens will relate to that.

Dov comes into Lucy's life as a transfer student from Israel. At first, I wasn't quite sure what to make of him. He had this intense quietness to him that took a while to figure out. Soon, we realize the grief that he was going through and it just about broke me. Dov was a sweet boy who deserved nothing but happiness. The friendship that he formed with Lucy was one of the highlights of the book. The two of them discover their shared love for poetry and their Jewish identities. What followed was a friendship that had both its ups and its downs, but that slowly forced them to grow while also falling in love. There was something very peaceful about their relationship that's hard to put into words.

As you can imagine, family is also a big part of The Truth About Leaving and it was executed so perfectly. Lucy's grandmother, especially, was insightful, clever and just the funniest. I loved this woman! I also have to give a shout out to Lucy's best friend who was just one of the most supportive girlfriends I have ever come across in a book.

The Truth About Leaving was a touching tale of love, family, and decisions. This one needs to be on your to-read lists.

Lucy’s boyfriend doesn’t want a long distance relationship, so he breaks up with her and then leaves for college. She is now starting her senior year alone when she meets the new Israeli transfer student entering the school on their first day. It doesn’t help that her world is completely out of control; her mother is teaching in California and her guidance counselor has her questioning her college choices. Will Lucy take a chance on a relationship that may not be long term? Will her post-high school choices be her own or what her parents want?

The Truth About Leaving is a stand-alone novel that explores how choices in high school may affect more than just a teen’s day to day life. Blitt has developed a story and characters that are captivating and simple at the same time. Lucy must struggle with relationship questions, family responsibilities, and college choices while also learning who she wants to become. The Truth About Leaving is a wonderful coming of age story that will please readers without all the tragic angst that seems to be in many young adult novels recently.

Lucy is fresh off two different breakups: a more traditional one with her boyfriend, Scott, and a physical one, in which her mother has left their family in Chicago to pursue a career opportunity in Berkeley. Both required Lucy to give up pieces of herself, from her love of dance to the free time she has now ceded to babysitting her little brothers, but when a new kid named Dov transfers to her small school for senior year, he gives her a little piece back, and even finds a few she never knew were absent. The two are assigned to work together on a poetry assignment, and as they bond over the lyrical language of Yehuda Amichai and e.e. cummings, they also learn there’s still joy out there for them both. But how real can it get and how long can it last when Dov is headed back to Israel next year to begin mandatory army service? This contemporary romance is a great choice for teens who already have or who want a special connection to Israel, or just readers who love reading about swoony love!

This was a lovely romantic read! Lucy and Dov meet at the beginning of their senior year and both are carrying baggage from past relationships and loss in their lives. Dov and Lucy find each other and as their relationship devlopes, the reader learns more and more about their lives and their families. This is a lovely book because of the growth of character that the reader sees in Lucy. She changes dramatically from the beginning of the story to the end and in a way that many seniors in high school may be feeling. Her journey is a true and believable one. Dov is also a character who goes through a significant growth. His story is just as beautiful as Lucy's and the incorporation of his culture to the story makes it even stronger. I really enjoyed this novel and the way the author deals with family, friends, growth and loss. I look forward to reading more YA by Natalie Blitt. Thank you netgalley for an arc of this in exchange for my honest opinion.

The Truth About Leaving tells us Lucy Green's story. Lucy is about to start her senior year when her boyfriend breaks up with her out of the blue. She feels lost in every area of her life and doesn't know what to do with herself anymore. It doesn't help that her mother just left for a job across the country and barely keeps in touch and that it means that she has to help around the house sacrificing her social life and extracurricular activities, like her dancing. When she meets Dov, a transfer student from Israel, she realizes her priorities need to change.

I mostly liked this. Lucy was interesting and so was her family situation. What I had trouble with was her relationship with Dov. The insta-love thing really doesn't work for me. There was also a lot of army talk and glorifying the fact that 18 year old kids have to enlist and I just can't agree with that. I felt for Dov but I didn't fall for him. I enjoyed Lucy's character development but I didn't fall for her either. I guess I didn't really relate to any of them.
Still, it was a pretty interesting book and I'm sure lots of people would enjoy it.

Lucy's mother takes a job that sends her out of state, leaving Lucy to take care of her younger brothers and the home while juggling her senior year of high school. Her perfect plan for her future is interrupted when her boyfriend doesn't want a long distance relationship and breaks up with her right before he leaves for college. School starts with Lucy quite literally running into the new transfer student Dov. They form a friendship and bond over a shared culture and family expectations, and loss. The Romance is a main focus, but it is not the only focus, which I greatly appreciated. The book has a slow pace but tells a good story. A great coming of age for any reader.

Should Lucy take a chance on love so soon after her betrayal? And why bother investing her time and heart into a relationship with an expiration date? Lucy dealt with these and other questions of the heart during her senior year, which was a year filled with lots of changes, joy, disappointment, and growing up.

• Pro: I adored both Dov and Lucy, which was a good thing, because this was very much a character driven story.

• Pro: Blitt did such a good job conveying the characters' emotions. This was especially true of Dov. His sadness and conviction were so clear. I was really captivated by his desire to serve his country, and Dov reminded me of an Israeli exchange student from my high school, who spoke the same way about her service commitment. I also thought Lucy's unease about her future was well illustrated, and I really appreciated all the different choices Blitt had her explore, because I think those alternatives are often overlooked.

• Pro: Lucy suffered some big changes in her life all at once, but it was great that she had people like her grandmother, her best friend, and her teacher to support her. While Lucy struggled with her loyalty to her family, it was those three who reminded her, that she had rights and needs too.

• Pro: I couldn't even with Lucy's mother, but I thought her father was great. There were these rather honest discussions between them, which were really healthy and productive. I like seeing things like that.

• Pro: I LOVED all the poetry and ballet that was incorporated into the story. Both were such wonderful outlets for the characters and gave them a chance to share their passion with us.

• Pro: I thought the ending was brilliant and meaningful. It wasn't super neat and tidy, if you think about it, but it was a great way to illustrate the tremendous growth Lucy experienced over the course of the book.

Overall: An emotional and heartwarming tale of friends, family, love, growth, and learning to make tough choices.

When I read the blurb for Natalie Blitt's novel, The Truth About Leaving, I was reminded that there are no new ideas. The book opens with Lucy, the main character, getting dumped by her long-time boyfriend right as senior year was about to begin. I had a similar idea for National Novel Writing Month nine years ago. So I was very interested in reading this book.

Lucy's life is complicated. Her mother is a college professor and working in California, leaving Lucy, her dad, and two younger brothers home in Illinois. Lucy has had to pick up the slack for her missing mother, resulting in a life not her own.

On the first day of school, Lucy literally collides with new transfer student Dov, an Israeli boy with issues of his own. Though Lucy originally declares she has no interest in Dov other than friendship, as their friendship develops, so do deeper feelings.

What I really enjoyed about this book was the immersion in Jewishness, and how Dov schools Lucy on what it means to be Israeli. Lucy is Jewish but non-practicing, though she does take her little brothers to Hebrew school and has been Bat Mitzvahed. It's nice to see Jewish characters who are just Jewish.

Blitt's book is a great blend of love story and finding oneself - as Lucy develops throughout the text, she realizes how much of herself she's lost in putting others first, and when she finally stands up to her parents in asking for what SHE wants, it's a stand up and cheer kind of moment. Well worth the read.

There are a lot of books that deal with the turmoil of senior year, but none so deftly, I think, as The Truth About Leaving. Blitt beautifully balances Lucy's parental and societal expectations about college with her own assumptions and fears, and offers a view of life post–high school that I think is largely missing from media. Blitt also brilliantly handles a bunch of important threads, from Lucy's complex relationship with her parents, to her history with her ex-boyfriend.

Dov and Lucy's relationship is both unbelievably romantic and fully believable, and I adore them. Lucy is loving, bighearted, and determined, but that doesn't mean she has all the answers. Dov is broken and sometimes angry, but is much more than the broken boy trope—he is complex, soft, and doesn't make excuses for bad behavior. These characters have quickly found a way into my heart.

Delightful side characters abound—I would love this book for Lucy's grandmother alone—but they don't overwhelm the main plot.

As the ending approached, I didn't know what to expect, and I didn't know how I could possibly not be disappointed. But I should have trusted Blitt, who had handled all these delicate threads so beautifully this far, and who gave this book the ending it needed.

Utterly delightful in every sense of the world. Be prepared to be swept up in this story and these characters. Very unique young adult story.

I received this book in exchange for a fair and honest review.

You know those books that leave you feeling so impacted by them, even though you can't put your finger on why? This is one of those books.

I felt so deeply while reading this book. My eyes stung with tears, my stomach twinged, my heart clenched... This book will stay with me for awhile.

I related to Lucy with her love for words and analyzing lyrics (and other works).

I'm truly going to miss Lucy and Dov.

A YA book with not only a hot new guy from Israel, but a Jewish-American family in the forefront. Israel and its beauty and the complex relationship not only between these two teens, but with this beautiful country that holds a sacred meaning to each of them to varying degrees. The parent-child relationship that is also explored and how Lucy doesn’t leave her best friend behind for s boy. This book is different than a lot of TA books for so many reasons—most of them great. Lucy does get annoying at times, but I think it’s her anxiety we really get to feel through the strong character development. This was a good story with romance in the mix of a very crazy, hectic, stressful and important time for high schoolers and this book doesn’t just focus on the romance, which was nice.

My Thoughts
This is a character-driven coming of age story that touches on the topics of grief, duty, responsibility, education, family, and love. But at its heart, this is a story about growing up. It is about figuring out what you want to do with your life rather than just doing what others want for you. It is about learning and making tough decisions. I felt this book was a very realistic and highly emotional portrayal of the issues and stresses that many high school students experience as they prepare to embark on life as adults. Here are my Pros and Cons:

Pros:
1. I definitely fell in love with Lucy and Dov. I thought it was a touching and realistic romance between two mature young adults. I love how they bonded over their shared love of poetry. I felt the book at quite an intellectual slant to it and I really appreciated that.

2. I loved seeing Israel through Dov’s eyes. It was clear he loved where he was from and it wasn’t just from a superficial level. I also loved that the author put plenty of Hebrew in the book – I learned some vocabulary!

3. Lucy and Dov were both really relatable characters. The reader easily becomes emotionally connected to both and will ultimately root for them! Their maturity and growth throughout the book was a joy to read. I think a lot of teens/young adults will feel an instant connection to Lucy in particular.

4. The book has a storyline that addresses grief and loss of a loved one. I thought the topic was respectfully and realistically incorporated into the story, without making the story overly sad or depressing.

5. Lucy had some tough discussions with her parents. I thought those were handled extremely well. I thought Lucy’s final confrontation with her parents about her college decision was particularly well written. Lucy and her parents were at odds over her decision. There was anger and confusion and the discussion was tense, but it was also civil. It was nice to see a confrontation that didn’t end up just being a screaming match between participants.

6. I think this would be a great book for parents of high school seniors to read. It might remind of them that mapping out a future is hard and super stressful… particularly at such a young age. Support and encouragement can be way more beneficial than providing a specific roadmap that may not match the desires of their child. On the flip side, I hope that young adults reading this book will understand that not all parents will discourage your dreams (even if they don’t understand them) and that you need to have a dialogue with your parents so they understand what you want and need for your future. Both sides needs to LISTEN and LEARN and UNDERSTAND. The best decisions are made when those three things occur!

7. I kind of wanted to see/read Lucy’s walls!

8. Amy (a.k.a. Grandma) was an awesome character – definitely not a typical grandma! I became a step-grandma (Grammy) myself at age 32, so I am not your typical grandmother figure either. I totally related to Amy in this book because I try to communicate (talk and listen) to my granddaughter (who is 15 now) the way Amy communicates with Lucy in the book. I REALLY loved Amy! There is a line in the book that actually says something like “Everyone needs an Amy in their lives!” and I couldn’t agree more!

9. The ending wasn’t what I anticipated and that is a good thing. I thought the ending was appropriate and very satisfying.

Cons
1. I hated how much responsibility the parents put on Lucy. I know it was a plot point and necessary for the story, but jeez! They sure expected a lot from her!

2. Lucy’s mom was super selfish in my opinion. I did not like the mom character one bit.

YA romances can sometimes seem a little silly and overly dramatic to me. They are often written with some kind of contrived misunderstanding that everyone has to overcome for the “happily ever after” to happen. This book was totally different in my opinion. While this story also had a conflict to overcome, the conflict was authentic and serious… it felt realistic and not at all contrived. The romance between Lucy and Dov was really organic and genuine. Although their connection was quick, it really felt honest to me – and that is coming from an old, married reader!! 

This is definitely a book I will recommend highly to mature young adult readers. I think a lot of young adults will relate to this story and enjoy it thoroughly.

Thank you NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for a free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

I haven’t read a book that’s kept me this engrossed for a while. I’ve devoured it on my breaks at work today, and have just finished it tonight because I couldn’t wait until my breaks tomorrow to find out how it finished!

Lucy is going into her Senior year and everything has changed - her boyfriend has dumped her, her mother has moved across the country, she’s given up something she loves & she has so much extra responsibility, but she’s determined to enjoy the last year of school. Then she meets Dov, a transfer student from Israel who’s set to turn her world upside down.

This is not your usual simple love story. The complicated relationship between Lucy and her Mom (& the rest of her family to an extent) is very real, and more than you usually get to see in a stand-alone novel. The character development is also great, and I would have loved to see more of Amy and Maddie. The only thing I could say is that the ending feels a little rushed or cut short, but the path to that point & where Lucy ends up is more than satisfying.

I really enjoyed it! Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC.

Thank you Netgalley/Publisher for an early copy

A well-done YA novel that hooked me. I will be reading more from this author. I recommend this to fans of YA Contemporary.