Leave Me is a story of the pressures of motherhood. The pressures put on us by others, but more specifically the pressures we put ourselves.

Maribeth Klein finds herself in the position most mothers’ do, she has to juggle it all: work, friends, a husband and kids. But when she almost dies of a heart attack, her life is turned upside down.

The first thing I thought to myself when I heard about this story was I’m not sure I could like a story about a mother leaving her kids. But I was wrong. While this is the key plot line, it is only the beginning.

This story starts with Maribeth’s narrow perspective fuelled by stress, pain and selfishness. But as Maribeth reflects on memories and tries to reconnect with her husband, you learn more about her and her loved ones. As Maribeth learns to see past her anger and her own opinions, you start to see the situation from others’ perspectives.

Gayle Forman will toy with your emotions in this story about the mistakes we make when emotions run high and we can’t see past ourselves, when we forget to appreciate and communicate with the ones we love.

An easy read to get lost in these school holidays.