When People Leave: A story of love, lies and finding the truth.
by Leslie A. Rasmussen
Pub Date: May 06 2025

When People Leave: A story of love, lies and finding the truth is about the story of three sisters who lose their mother to suicide and come together to search for answers. The relationship between the sisters felt so genuine and relatable. Coming from a family with one sister and a mother that committed suicide I could relate to this story. At times it was uncomfortable reading but it was definitely a worthwhile read. It’s filled with heart, humor, and meaningful life lessons about identity, family, and healing. I highly recommend it.

Synopsis: A heartbreaking loss. A life-changing secret. Will the truth bring three daughters closer or tear them apart?Morgan, Charlotte, and Abby Weiss are filled with mixed emotions. After their beloved mother took her own life without leaving a note, the sisters go through the motions of a funeral while grappling with grief and anger over their parent’s actions.

Many thanks to #WhenPeopleLeaveAstoryofloveliesandfindingthetruthbookclubssistersmothersanddaughterssummerreadcommercialfiction #NetGalley and #VanRoyenPress for providing me an E-ARC of this book.

This is insightful and sensitive, offering a touching account of how siblings interact while coming to terms with a parent’s suicide. The interplay between the sisters is interesting and shows how different people take in information and how they interpret different aspects of the same situation. It’s really well written, too, which makes it easy to read and avoids any sense of trauma tourism.

This is a story about family and forgiveness. I found this story resonates with me, as I am one of three sisters, who lost our mother several years ago and had to get together to finalize everything. I could just feel the immense love and teasing among the sisters, creating a complex yet deeply significant relationship. It was a heartfelt read for me, as I just lost one of my sisters a couple of months ago unexpectedly. This was a book I needed at this time in my life, to remind me of the special bond of sisterhood.

Thank you Net Galley and Van Royen Press for the ARC in exchange for my honest review.

i love the stories about sisters or siblings. the relationship between sisters is something beyond comprehension unless you have them. its a bond that even when its good or bad is bond like no other. and reading these woman's story was such a beautiful one.
Leslie manages to put so much heart and warmth into pages that are definitely not always roses and sunshine. she makes heartbreaking readable issue come to you with the sensitivity they deserve and ones you take on board and feel yourself with your whole readers heart.
this is talent in writing. i got swept up and along with these sisters journey. this book truly is a joy to read simply because of how well every single moment of it was done. the subject matter is not light bur Leslie touch is just that and has you sweeping through the pages so you can learn more and feel more from these girls lives.
this story introduces us to three sisters who come together to find out why their mother ended her life without a seeming explanation as to why?
they all have their own things going on. and so we see them as the daughter they areas the sisters they are and also what they are as individuals.
what comes up for them on their journey is shocks and surprises aplenty. we uncover the demons and secrets. we uncover emotional moments both for the highs and lows. we laugh and cry alongside the sisters. you just cant help root for these girls and want to scoop them up to mak sure they are ok.
this book will stay with me long after ive read it. and i cant wait to try and look up more from this author.