My first Leah Mercer book and I really enjoyed it. Isobel returns home to her mother with her teenage son in tow. Her mother doesn’t know why she suddenly left and the book slowly explains it. It’s quite a sad book. They both make so many mistakes and the son Isaac seems to bear the brunt of it. That said it’s a really enjoyable read.

An edge-of-your-seat thriller with twists and turns I didn't see coming, and a surprisingly emotional component as well, which I really appreciated. Not only did I want to know what happened, but I was invested in the characters.

Just finished reading this book and I'm famished and sleepless from staying awake through the night to read it!

Leah Mercer is a fantastic storyteller and I cannot believe I haven't read her works yet. Why She Left is fast paced with quick chapters narrated by Ruth and Isobel, two mothers from two generations whose POV's are so different and very interesting to read.


Ruth, the dutiful, doting headmistress of the prestigious school from her family would do anything to keep up her family legacy and maintain the reputation of the school she'd given her lifetime to.

Meanwhile, Isobel had ran away from it all. Once, the school was her dream and she doted on her mother but she had ran because of something that happened to her at the very same place and she cannot look back. Now, she's back at her mother's place with her own son and she's left with no choice than to stay as Issac starts going to the same school!

There are several layers to this story and I completely enjoyed the alternative chapters of the mother and daughter. Sometimes, it made me cringe at the decisions Ruth takes, just for her school but at last I can't help but feel sad for her.

Very addictive and compelling, I swallowed the book whole over a night. Thank you Bookouture for allowing me to read this. All options mine.

Leah Mercer, Why She Left, Bookoutre 2021

Leah Mercer develops a sensitive family story around a searing public issue, in a well written, gripping story. The reason for Isobel’s departure from her mother’s beautiful home and the associated prestigious private school on Burlington Square is not revealed until well into the narrative. Her arrival with her teenage son, Isaac, years after she departed possibly provides a clue. However, regardless of an apparent resolution, there is far more to be unearthed in this story about a family with a commitment to the family heritage; family dysfunction associated with this commitment; affection for each other impacted by the legacy; and the family’s interaction with students, parents, and teachers at the school.

Isobel has left her partner, seeing her mother, Ruth, and Burlington Square as a respite from his abuse. However, the price she pays is the fraying of her and Isaac’s close relationship as they become part of Ruth’s household, and he joins the school adopting its ideals. Isobel’s sister, Cecily, has taken Isobel’s place as the proposed inheritor of the school, also committing to the school and its position as a prestigious and sought-after place of well rounded education.

The narrative takes place from Isobel and Ruth’s point of view: it is really their story, from the love they have for each other; to Isobel’s departure because of that love; to her return to Ruth, but rejection of her heritage. With Isaac, Cecily, and the mysterious outsider, Alex, the story moves between intrigue, examination of human relationships, and the conflict between protection of a legacy and responsibility to those impacted by protecting that legacy at any cost.

This novel provides an excellent debate around the human issue that is at the core of Isobel’s departure, the role of a prestigious school and its responsibility to its students and the community, and resolution of the human shortcomings that come to light. The ends are all tied up neatly at the end. However, I felt a sense of disappointment at the ending despite having enjoyed the novel through its engrossing twists and turns. So, for me, Why She Left is a great commentary on social issues and human relations in the main but delivers some disappointments as well.

i enjoyed this book but thought quite sad ,Isobel has got nowhere to go she fled with her son Isaac from her violent partner and there only one place she can go back to her mother in London ,Burlington Square School . but Isobel left without telling her mum when she was young and never had contact with her ,Ruth Isobel s mum is shocked to see her after all this time and got a grandson but there is only one thing ruth cares about the school , and Isobel s sister came back to and deputy head teacher but Cecily is as bad as Ruth with the school . this story is about lies deceit and getting what you want

Mystery surrounds the beginning of this book and it had me thoroughly hooked right from the start. As it trips from one character perspective to the other, each time you are left wanting to know more. Both key characters felt real and I liked how the author slowly uncovered their inner feelings. Readers should be warned there is an underlying theme of sadness, loss and pain in the background which the story revolves around, however the action and plot focus on the present so it never felt overwhelming. I did guess Isobel's trauma before it was revealed in the book, however the surrounding twists were unpredictable, creating a tangled web of intrigue. I found this refreshing because, as an avid reader, I often guess more predictable plots but this one kept me on my toes until the end. It is not overly descriptive, which I like, yet it provided plenty of detail to allow me to imagine the setting. Overall a great read which will make you keep going back for more!

Ruth has spent every day of the last fifteen years wondering why her daughter Isobel left. Walking around the school to which she has given her life, every child she sees reminds her of her family’s bright future which vanished in an instant.



So when Ruth opens the door to find Isobel and a teenage grandson she never knew existed, she feels a rush of relief. Despite the years of hurt she never stopped loving Isobel and wants to help rebuild her life. Enrolling her grandson at the school, Ruth wants to make sure they stay for good.
Finished this one in one sitting! Recommend ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

I enjoyed this fast paced thriller. I was hooked from the start. Thanks to Publisher And and NetGalley for allowing me to read this book .

Devastating Secrets…?
Psychological suspense and emotional familial drama combine in this well told story of devastating secrets and what happens when the past catches up with the present. A nicely crafted plotline is populated with a credible cast of characters and interspersed with twists and turns aplenty. A solid and often powerful read.

This was a compelling read that I couldnt put down, it was gripping and full of emotion and unpredictabilitity. I loved it

I love this fast paced thriller. The story absolutely can’t be transfixed. It was incredibly interesting and I couldn’t wait to find out what happened. Highly recommend.

Good book , the storyline was a bit heartbreaking at times but it also had suspense, intrigue, and a very interesting story! The storyline flowed well, it was a well written book! I definitely recommend reading this book! Its well worth reading! Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for sharing this book with me!

Great read. A little slow at times in the middle but otherwise very interesting and keeps your attention. Isabel was a great character and you can really connect with her. Her story of privilege and wealth and why she disappeared. The secrets and lies that come out. This story was very well written but not a thriller. More so a psychological thriller.

Why She Left is a stunning read-heartbreaking and gripping in equal measure, this family drama had everything I needed for an unputdownable read. I was hooked from the very first page as I looked for clues as to the reason that Isobel had left her beautiful family home fifteen years ago and why she has now returned…

Told in alternate chapters by Ruth and her daughter Isobel, Why She Left explores the relationship between the women in the family and the school at the centre of all of their lives. Isobel has returned with her teenage son Isaac but the secret that drove her away is still bubbling beneath the surface of all her relationships. When her son is hurt in an incident at the school that has been in her family for years, it sets off a chain of events that has tragic consequences for them all. I had an inkling of the reason that Isobel left but wasn’t sure how it connected to the other characters we are introduced to. I found Isobel relatable as a mother and got angry when the lovely relationship I thought they had seemed to disappear once he got to know his grandmother and was also taken under the wing of Alex, a friend and business associate of Ruth. And I started off feeling so sorry for Ruth! Her daughter had left without a word, she’d had a stroke and she was desperately trying to maintain her family legacy! But my opinions changed quite dramatically towards the end!

Why She Left is a gripping read and I found myself returning to it whenever I could. The family dynamics were perfectly pitched and the emotions released as the narrative evolved felt authentic. As the truths were finally revealed, there were some shocking revelations but I loved how the book ended as it felt like an organic continuation of what had come before. Why She Left made me so angry at times and I love it when a book evokes such strong emotions and connections in me! It’s definitely a book to look out for in December and worthy enough to be one of my December Hot Books so keep an eye out for me discussing it further when I meet up online with Tracy Fenton, Linda Hill and Anne Cater later this month!

Highly recommended by me!

This is a psychological thriller with more than a dash of family drama. This suspenseful tale is the story of Isobel who runs away from her rich family and private school background from some trauma she faced at school. She returns year's later with her son in tow looking for a place of safety but is this place really safe for them?

The twists and turns in this book were something else. Just when I thought I had it sussed then the twists and turns lead me down a totally different path. You could see why each character had their views but sometimes these were really frustrating and made you like them a little less at times. The ending and the way that it all came together in the end was really clever. Yes it covers some quite deep and dark issues/trauma but set aside a day to read this because once you start you won't want to put it down until you get answers.

Such a good story with unexpected twists. Both narrators were imperfect. At times their faults were frustrating and made them unlikable, but it also humanized them. The ending was perfect. Things were resolved with no major plot holes.

TW: grooming, sexual abuse, suicide, self harm

Isobel returns home to Burlington Square with her teenage son Isaac in tow, her past and present on a collision course of quite some magnitude. Why did she leave so suddenly all those years ago? This remains a mystery to her mother Ruth, the headmistress of the prestigious Burlington Square School. She contemplates the possible reasons and reflects on the close relationship they’d shared prior to Isobel leaving so abruptly.

This book gets better and better the deeper you go into the plot. The school is central to the Ruth’s character and actions, it’s at the epicentre of everything as it looms over the square like an imposing and demanding character in its own right. Both Isobel and her older sister Cecily have been shaped by the school, it explains their personalities and actions just as it does with Ruth. The characterisation is good and the fluctuating dynamics between Ruth, Isobel and Cecily are fascinating, it’s often tense but softened by the presence of lovely Isaac. There are a number of unsettling events and it’s interesting watching how things improve or take a step backwards because of them. There’s so much pain that needs expunging as it’s very damaging and a lot of anger and at times this feels as if it’s haunting them. Lurking at the heart of much of what occurs is maternal instinct or lack thereof. There are some shocking secrets that have to be exposed and events in the present force the past to become unlocked and the shackles of trauma broken. The plot becomes almost Machiavellian at times as we witness the lengths and depths that some protagonists will go to in order to save something and get what that want. It builds really well towards the conclusion and we see how seriously messed up some characters are. I like the end, it’s not a perfect solution but it fits well.

Overall, this is an enjoyable easy read especially once it ‘warms up’ which it most certainly does!

With thanks to NetGalley and especially to Bookouture for the much appreciated arc in return for an honest review.

“Why She Left” by Leah Mercer follows two characters - Ruth (mother) and Isobel (daughter), told in alternating chapters. Ruth runs a prestigious school, that currently is hit by financial issues. Isobel, who left home when she was sixteen, has returned home with her previously unknown to the family fifteen year old son. This is a psychological thriller with a dash (maybe a bit more!) of family drama. I found the overall story to be well thought out, but thanks to some heavy foreshadowing hints, figured out the reason why Isobel had left pretty quickly. There are other twists in the books, so it was an enjoyable read (though, again, heavy foreshadowing didn’t make the twists difficult to solve). There was one part I had issues with (Ruth not consulting a lawyer regarding papers she given), but without that scene part of the plot doesn’t quite work properly - so while I understand it, I didn’t think it was plausible in today's financial world. But, that little quibble aside, I did read this book in one day - and would read another book by Ms. Mercer - so I found the book a fast and engaging read.

‘Why she left’ is a psychological thriller, telling the story of Isobel - a former rich kid, born with a silver spoon in her mouth who fled everything and everyone she had ever known at sixteen; only to return, child in tow, fifteen years later. The book, using a dual narrative, allows us to discover exactly what series of events occurred to lead to her departure.

Whilst it was a well-written novel with intriguing plot, the reason I hesitate to award it to the full five stars is because, i found a lot of the reveals and plot twists to be predictable. Though I acknowledge this is a sign of good foreshadowing, it was a little *too* obvious at points - barely 16 pages in and I had guessed the titular question of the novel.

Overall, a very good read. One which explores the dangers of extreme wealth and privilege, and the extents that the elite will go to to ensure they remain in power.

Thank you to NetGalley for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an unbiased review :)

This story had me glued to my chair!
You will not believe the twists and turns as you devour the pages!
It has secrets fear, strength, mystery and suspense!
Can these secrets and surprises be forgiven and forgotten or will they be ripped open, creating hurt and hatred?

Life for Isobel has been difficult. She left her mother suddenly when she was a teenager following an awful trauma at school.
She never returned and has not been in contact with any of her family.

However...now, she needs to return back home for the safety of her son and herself.. It is her only choice and her son is the priority!
Isaac is a teenager and he has no idea that he has any other family.
His estranged grandmother, Ruth, does not know that Isaac even exists.
The real question to be determined is " Will Ruth allow them to come in to her home and stay?
Will love, truth and trust ever return?
Do yourself a favor and put aside a day to read this novel.
It is so good!


"Once you broke free from the prison of the past- there was a chance of becoming something better."