Leave: A Postpartum Account by Shayne Terry was a wonderfully written, real-life account about giving birth and the fourth trimester. The book was written in a totally relatable way, even if scenarios written about are not something you personally experienced. Since giving birth myself, I am extremely interested in hearing the stories of others and the circumstances they have faced.

I would strongly recommend this book to anyone who has given birth, or may in the future.

This book will be released on February 25, 2025.

Thank you to NetGalley and Autofocus Books for the ARC!

An intricate portrayal of the fourth trimester of pregnancy not always discussed in not just media, but life itself.

Terry brings pain, empathy, and understanding to her story and those of the women that come before her that is a wonderful read from start to finish.

Although at times it’s a hard read due to the subject, it is nonetheless a worthwhile read that I will be thinking about going into my own last few weeks of pregnancy and soon motherhood.

Really enjoyed reading this short book on a postpartum experience. It is brutal and very honest but a conversation that needs to be had more often. It definitely made me terrified to get pregnant and give birth and at the same time, I have been wanting to read about brutally honest birth experiences so I really appreciated it. Highly recommend. Thank you Net Galley and Victory Editing for this e-arc.

This was an absolutely tremendous book. Shayne writes in an illustrative but somehow also conversational style about what must have been the hardest year of her life. At the same time, she weaves in a lovely portrait of the women in her family, flaws and all. This book was brutal, sweet, and inspiring. It elevates a common experience, but one that we hide and minimize. This story deserves to be told, and it deserves to be written.

I would recommend this book to mothers with or without birth trauma, to doctors, to social workers, and to spouses supporting their postpartum partners. I feel better and more empathetic for having read it.

This is the book I wish I had when I was postpartum. To feel seen in literature is validating and incredibly healing. These are important conversations that need to be had more openly. I appreciate the author's vulnerability and cadence. Though it's mostly focused on the fourth trimester, it also touches on the opioid crisis and generational trauma in such interconnected ways. The essay format is incredibly accessible. I actually read the entire book in one sitting, which I think is perfect for a topic that will probably be read by many postpartum mothers during their healing process. I will be recommending this to those who have given birth or are considering it (also their partners), but I also believe it'd be helpful for boards/HR considering leave policies. Thank you for the arc, NetGalley!

Oof. This account of the initial postpartum period hits hard, but you don't have to be someone who has birthed to feel its impact. Shayne Terry's birth-related trauma opens up a layered examination of intergenerational trauma, among other things. Using some of the simplest, most straightforward language, she was able to express so much depth and feeling. I admire that quality in a writer and feel appreciation for what Terry was willing to reveal so that we might also be able to sit with it and reflect.

Leave is a very frank and honest account of one woman's experience after giving birth. It's well written, easy to read and relate to - even though I had two positive, straightforward births and recovery.

I think this book probably needs a trigger warning but there is no sensationalism and the raw emotions that accompany every detail are honest. It's a relatively short read and also talks a lot about death and how family relationships can change after having a baby.

I enjoyed this book greatly.