Burlington Square is not just a private privilege school - it's a lifestyle. Established by Ruth's grandfather, The Square has been running by the family ever since. And as a rule - The Square was meant to be inherited by Ruth's younger daughter Isobel who grew up sharing her mother's dream. At the age of fifteen, Isobel left home and her future at The Square behind, only to return fifteen years later. But she didn't come back in the hope to reunite with her family, she was seeking protection.

I was completely disappointed by the book. The reason Isobel ran from home was right there, at the very beginning of the novel. The ex she was now running from - was not as dangerous as he was portraited to be. Alex - do not get me even started on Alex. From his first mentioning in the novel, anyone could tell that he came to The Square with vengeance on his mind. And Cecily - I believe her character could have been so much more involved in the novel, but she was always "dismissed". Even at the end, her twist was not shocking, actually, it felt necessary. I just didn't see any mystery in the novel, no suspense. Characters felt forced. The plot was evolved around Isobel's physical and emotional trauma during her teenage years. It was a great idea of the plot, wish it was built better.

Thank you NetGalley and Bookouture publisher for a free and advanced copy of the novel.

This wasn't really a thriller at all, more of a family drama. It was not for me. I can see that people will enjoy it, but there was no element of surprise or shock for me.

I was looking forward to this book because from the description I knew that I would love it.
I liked the narrator, and I loved the fact that not too many details were presented. In my opinion, everything presented in this book helped the reader find out what is happening, who is who...maybe a little too easy. It was very predictable, and usually this bothers me, but this time it was okay.
The characters were awesome, even the hideous ones (like the mother) and Isobel reminded me a little of Lorelai from Gilmore Girls. Why? Because they both think they know their kid so well...until something bad happens, and they realize that their kid lies, hides things, and mostly they are no longer bffs. Comparison done. Enjoy the book!

The author did well to create some mystery around Isaac. However, I'm not sure which of the two mothers are more self-absorbed, Isobel or Ruth. And while I can understand why Silas is introduced, it seems a little lazy to simply refer to his dodgy background and not delve into it. I'm sure there might've been a different way to introduce the momentum provided by this character.

Really loved this family drama unfolding before our eyes. I kept changing how I felt for the family and wondering who to believe. I loved the narrative of the old school and the narrator did a beautiful job making the words visual. I really loved it and couldn't stop listening.

This wasn't quite the gripping thriller I had hoped for.
It was pretty predictable from early on.
While the writing is good the overall plot is a little disappointing.
This wasn't for me unfortunately.

I voluntarily read and reviewed this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own.

This one was just very average for me. I listened on audiobook thanks to Netgalley UK.

I didn’t find the storyline that deep, but it was an okay thriller with good characters and relationships.

This book kept me on my toes the entire read. With so many different things going on I was never quite sure what to expect. Just when you start “getting” one subplot the author says WHAM look over here! I couldn’t put it down because I had to find out what happened.

This is your classical drama/crime/secrets/suspension/posh mystery story.
It was a rough start, with all the forced words in writing, like for example word cringing in every 3rd sentence. The premise is intriguing, but also something that we have seen a lot around.
I wished characters were a bit more explored, and that with sensitive topics, like assault and grooming young girls, came more harsh words, so it would make it more real, and more intense.
However, I did enjoy the audio version, I think they did amazing,I suppose it would be a book that you could read in a day. And I would get it for my collection cause it wasn't that obvious as I thought it would be at the end.

2 *stars*

Okay, I have to say it's not really for me.

I really wanted to know why Isobel left home and came back 15 years later, but the answer was given in the first chapters and the intrigue was lost. Everything seemed to be going on a loop and I got the feeling like each chapter is about the same thing. Nothing interesting really happened. Boring for me. I skipped some chapters because I don't think I missed anything important. I really didn't care what happens to the characters and why. This book could have been much much shorter.
I must say the narrator of this audiobook was good. At the end there were few twists that was interesting enough but that didn't save the book for me.
I hope this book is for somebody else and someone will enjoy it more than me.

Thank you for the experience!
#WhySheLeft #NetGalley

This is a great twisty family drama.

Isobel left Burlington square 15 years ago with no explanation to her family. Now she turns up on Ruth's doorstep with a grandson whom Ruth never knew existed. Ruth actively tries to make them as welcome as possible in order to mend family ties. Isobel on the other hand is struggling with her past and can't wait to leave.

This book is definitely a slow burn but worth it to truly understand the complicated family dynamics as well as get a real feel for life at Burlington square.

Overall this is a good book - That I would recommend.

Summary:
After running from her abusive husband, Isobel has no choice as to return to her mother and the school that belonged to the family forever- the very place Isobel has sworn to never return to. Because something terrible happened there years ago, something she couldn't talk to her mother, Ruth, about. But her son seems to love the school. But when he's attacked there, Isobel knows she has been right about the high-privilege institution after all, wasn't she?

My opinion:
Oh my gosh, if I hear someone talking about a school for a second longer, I swear to god... 🤣 Anyway, while I didn't like how the school was almost personified and seemed to have some kind of pover over every single person in the book, I did like the story's twists and turns. At first, I didn't exactly like Isobel, but when I found out what had really happened to her, I felt for her. I was surprised by the whodunnit, and the ending was satisfying. But what I do need to say - Ruth is SUCH an insuffrable character and she made me SO angry, I just wanted to shake her multiple times, just to put some sense into her! Isaac was such a sweet boy, though, and I'd be lucky to have a son like him one day!

When Isobel shows up on her mother’s doorstep with her fifteen-year-old son, Isaac, Ruth is shocked. She has not seen her daughter in fifteen years, she has no idea why she left or what happened in the years in between. Right now, she just feels relief, and welcomes them inside. She quickly makers arrangements for her grandson to go to her school.

Isobel would rather be elsewhere, but she is fleeing an abusive relationship and has nowhere else to turn. Soon Isaac is attending school and she is working there, having reunited with both her mother and sister.

It doesn't take a rocket scientist to know that something bad happened to Isobel at the school. When something bad happens to her son, she won’t stop until she knows what happened to Isaac.

This is a domestic drama which entertained, and I enjoyed the narration. This book has a nice pace and make a good read with its twists and turns. I found this book to be enjoyable, but it failed to completely wow me. Some are enjoying it more than I did, and I encourage you to read their reviews as well.

Thank you to Bookouture audio and NetGalley who provided me with a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review. All the thoughts and opinions are my own.

On the positive side the narration of this book was excellent! On the negative side, I just couldn't connect with the characters or the storyline. The storyline dragged on and the characters were not engaging. Hopefully it will be someone else's cup of tea, but not for me. Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advanced copy of the audio version of this book.

This book started off a little slow for me but once the story picked up and the secrets started to build and spill, it really caught my attention. Isobel returns home with her teenage son after escaping an abusive relationship. Her mother, Ruth, is the headmistress and very well known around their town. Isobel is hiding why she left her town and family 15 years ago when she comes back and finds out her mother's school is still holding awful secrets. There were a few twists in this book about things that have happened to Isobel and her son and it's not until the end that Ruth finally realizes that family does trump buildings.

I listened to the audiobook, my prefer method for books, and though it was well read once the story started to pick up. I thought this would be a typical thriller book but it did have a few aspect that I have read in other stories and I was eager to finish the book to see how everything would turn out.

#whysheleft #netgalley

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC in exchange for my honest review. All options expressed are solely my own.

The description of the book sounded so interesting but unfortunately it wasn’t for me. I didn’t find it to be the thriller that it was stated to be. I listened to the audio version and the narrator was good.

Why She Left - Leah Mercer
Narrated by Mira Dovreni

I received an advance review copy for free thanks to NetGalley and Bookouture and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

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.

The further into this book you get the more enjoyable the book is - there a great number of uncomfortable topics discussed. It is an intriguing plot with very conflicted family relationships. I listened to the audiobook version and felt that Mira successfully managed to alter her voice to make each of the different characters come alive.

Leah has used a large range of distraction techniques to keep the reader from finding out the through before she is ready for the big reveal.

Rating: 4/5

Isobel left home fifteen years ago, leaving her mom, Ruth, questioning “why?”

But now, all these years later, she shows up on Ruth’s doorstop, and she’s not alone. After escaping an abusive relationship, she brings her teenage son with her.

Ruth, who runs a school which had been passed down through family generations, is happy to potentially have her long lost daughter and newly found grandson back, and it is not long before she is enrolling Isaac in the school and already seeing a brought future ahead.

Isobel, however, has a dark history with the school and secrets which are about to surface.

There were parts of this audiobook that I really did enjoy and I would be eager to keep listening. However, there were certainly slower sections, and at times I wanted to fast forward to the next chapter.

On a positive note, it was a fast note with relatively short chapters, I found both Ruth and Isobel to be well defined main characters. A decent read for those interested in family dynamics and drama.

Thank you NetGalley for this advanced readers copy in exchange for an honest review!

I didn't find it gripping or suspenseful. I finished it as it wasn't bad but it wasn't my cup of tea.

Thanks NetGalley for this ARC and Bookouture.

This turned out to be a decent read. I didn't find it particularly thrilling or really even surprising, but it was entertaining enough and I was interested in reading to the end to see how it would turn out. Unfortunately, the end fell a little flat for me. There were some unbelievable bits, few characters to wonder about, and a too tidy ending.

I did find the story easy to read and engaging, even if it was a bit predictable partially due to the lack of characters. I enjoyed the story well enough to be interested in reading more of Mercer's work in the future.

I listened to the audio version narrated by Mira Dovreni and she did an excellent job. I felt that she was able to alter her voice realistically to make each of the characters come alive and her narration added to my immersion in the story. I would recommend the audio version.