Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam

Reviewed by Bre'Anna

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Amanda and Clay are ready for a family vacation far away from their busy life in New York City. They choose to rent a remote home on Long Island, expecting a relaxing and quiet vacation with their two kids. The family notices upon arrival just how isolated their remote vacation home is, and that cell service is spotty at best. They try to embrace the uneasy disconnect and focus on this great opportunity to escape the hustle and bustle of their lives, but their vacation bubble pops when they hear a knock on the door one evening. Who could that be? Should Amanda and Clay let them in? Should they believe what the strangers say? Is the family safe staying in the vacation home they paid for? Is their disquieted anxiety well-placed in their suspicious guests?

The story for me was predictable, but it kept me entertained and I flew through it pretty quickly. As an avid traveler myself, I could totally see something like this happening to me: a stranger knocks on my door and asks for my help. We never know what our true moral compass is until we are thrown into action in a time of crisis. Leave the World Behind is a thought-provoking suspense story that inspires the reader’s imagination with uncomfortable possibilities, more than providing a satisfying narrative of one family’s journey.

Rating: 3/5 stars


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