3.5 stars
It’s set during the WWII, when Audrey, a young painter, marries a naval doctor and forms an unlikely friendship with her roommate Lucille. However, Lucille's mysterious past and sudden departure years later have a lasting impact on Audrey and her daughter Lake, leading to a complex journey of love, motherhood, and reconciliation.

It dragged in the beginning, but got better towards the end. I felt as if the characters lacked depth, which something crucial to me because it explains characters motivations and behaviour, why the character did something, the “why” is more important to me and I felt this book fails to convey that.

Talking about Audrey and Lucille, their relationship feels weird to be and something about Lucille just feels off(for lack of a better word). I just did not vibe with them.

Overall, I loved the concept and the themes that this books deals with like motherhood and independence and depending upon others but I’m afraid it didn’t quite hit the mark though it had potential.

Recommended to people who love historical fiction, and slow burn genres, as there isn’t much happening at once. Things pick up the pace quite slowly so you can enjoy it.

And on a personal note, I love the author. She is so sweet and kind. Keep up the good work.

Thanks NetGalley, Regal House Publishing, and the author for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. Appreciate it!

I really liked this book, mostly because the friendship is the main topic. Audrey and Lucille's friendship is complicated and touching, and the way the story go through decades, from the World War II to 1973, truly adds depth and I found it very interesting. Themes of motherhood, love, art, and reconciliation are handled with sensitivity and nuance, which I really liked. I would definitely recommend this book!

The cover of this book drew me in, the synopsis made me request it! However I found myself having a hard time reading to the end. I didn't connect with the characters and the pacing was often very slow. I'm sure many would find this a great read, but unfortunately it wasn't for me.

This is a tough book to rate because of the tough, tough subject matter. I am giving it 3.5 stars rounded up to 4 because this was such an ambitious story to write. This is a dual timeline story. During WWII, two women meet by chance, Audrey and Lucille. Audrey has married a soldier right before he was sent off to war. She is accepting of friendship with Lucille who ends up moving in with Audrey while her husband is away. Lucille has secrets she doesn't want to reveal, and the story just gets more and more complicated. The second timeline is over 20 years later and explores the family dynamics of both of these women. They both have complicated views of motherhood and have had very different experiences with marriage and their extended families.

Thanks to NetGalley, the author and the publisher for the eARC of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.

This is a raw and intimate family saga that is centred around the themes of womanhood, motherhood, ambition and abandonment. Thank you for the opportunity to read the arc copy and was not expecting it to be this good. It captivated me from the very first page and definitely a book I read in one sitting!

Their stories in the book span decades, starting from wartime in Washington, D.C. all the way to the 1970s - pretty atmospheric and I couldn’t help but imagine the scenes as I was devouring the pages. The plot is largely around how two women, Audrey and Lucille, cross path, become friends whilst navigating their own complex lives, and it also tells the story of Lucille’s daughter, Lake, who ends up being brought up by Audrey and her husband, Ben as Lucille decides to return to North Carolina. When Lucille reappears in 1973 trying to make amends, Audrey is trying to leave her husband and Lake is in an unhealthy relationship herself.

As you’d expect, the book goes through complex themes of codependency and abandonment, which could be triggering for some, but overall, it’s a story that shows not only the complexity of human relationships, but also the strength of their bonds. In a way, it’s also a poignant tale of redemption and reconciliation.

Certainly an impactful debut novel!

This is a cozy and lovely story about friendship and overcoming struggles, with characters that are, for the most part, likeable and realistic enough so that the reader can easily feel relatable. The setting, the ambience and the prose are interesting enough and the conclusion might please most readers.

Unfortunately, I slogged through this book. I didn't find the characters to be particularly likable, and the plot dragged, especially in the beginning (I enjoyed the last ~40 pages).
Here are some of my thoughts, bulleted:
>Lucille was such an unsympathetic character, and I couldn't understand her actions and motivations*
>I wished there was more about Audrey and Daniel's relationship, especially at the end of the book and when they lived together with Lucille
>Lots of things happen off-page but are not explained well
>There isn't enough inner monologue- I felt like I didn't know what the characters were thinking/their motivations, which I think led to them feeling flat

*I didn't understand why she decided to have the baby and then essentially abandon it, then try to be a part of her life 30 years later? Lucille's interactions in the 70's part of the book were so frustrating to me, especially how she interacted with Ray and Lake.

Overall, I think that the premise of this book has a lot of potential, but I think it was not executed as well as it could have been. Don't get me wrong, it had its moments- I liked the dynamic of Audrey, Lucille, and Daniel, but I felt like we didn't get enough of it. I also felt like Audrey and Ben's relationship as well as his relationship with Lucille could've been fleshed out more. I also liked Audrey and Prudy's interactions, but again, wanted more.
This book had its good moments, but unlikable characters and a vague, meandering plot made it forgettable.

ARC provided by Netgalley

This is the story of Audrey and Lucille who meet in Washington as young women during the Second World War.
Lucille has a baby, Lake. Lucille goes back to her home town for her brother's funeral, leaving Lake with Audrey, but doesn't return to Washington, leaving Audrey and her husband Ben to raise Lake.
Eventually Lucille returns to Washington in 1973 to try and have a relationship with Lake.
The book goes back and forth between the war years and the present day, relating Audrey and Lucille's lives and how they get to this point.
The writing was lovely and I did enjoy reading the book, but I didn't find either of the women particularly engaging. There are so many secrets they are keeping but they are only hurting themselves.

Heartbreak, truly beautiful read. This novel had me hooked from beginning to end. I found the characters well developed and the storyline cleverly executed.

A beautiful story who find themselves thrown together during a chaotic time of war. A stoey of friendship betrayal, abandonment and coming to terms with it all. Told in two timelines. During ww2 and in the 197os the characters feel very real and I perfectly imperfect. I found myself cheering th3m on and also frustrated with them. Really grea5. 5 stars

Beautifully written tale of two women who met by chance and forever changed each other's lives. Told in two timelines, If You Leave captures a story of Audrey and Lucille against a backdrop of WWII and then again in the 70s. It captures the motifs of motherhood, family and abandonment which take you on an emotional journey.
The characters felt real, their relationships complex and imperfect, their actions sometimes frustrating and other times evoking sympathy. I think that the author crafted a captivating story which flows slowly yet it is hard to put down and in a way, it leaves you haunted.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If You Leave is a quietly powerful debut that probes the difficult choices women make around love, art, and motherhood. With empathetic insight and beautifully measured prose, Margaret Hutton builds a story that lingers—an elegiac portrait of how we carry departure and return within our lives.

Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction with emotional subtlety, and anyone interested in stories of female identity grappling with loss and commitment.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 STARS!
beautifully written story about two women who cross paths and end up on a journey of their own complex stories, a journey they go through alone and together. it is deep, intimate, emotional, and overall, a poignant read about being a woman and wanting to be seen. the characters here feel so real, raw, and relatable. i think that's wherein the power of the story lies.

i am truly at a loss for how good and powerful this was. this book is for one of those days you need a good cry, for sure! the author's writing is immersive, compelling, and captivating. while some may find this a bit of a slow read, it's perfect as is. from start to finish, it is breathtaking.

you don't even HAVE to ask if i would recommend this, because YES! hands down, would recommend this. i think this is a book i will reflect on for quite some time. and i think it would be one that others would agree on as well.

thank you to Regal House Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy via NetGalley. i leave this review of my own volition. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. A beautiful historical novel of the bond between two women over the course of many years. I loved the character development in this book and the beautiful descriptive way each scene was set for me as the reader. I am all about stories where women realize how empowered they can be so this one had me so giddy inside. Friendship is never easy and this books reinforces that in so many ways.

Your husband is overseas during WWII. You rent a room to a mysterious woman. Years later they meet up again. A wonderful story of friendship.

"If You Leave" by Margaret Hutton is a beautifully written novel that explores the complexities of motherhood, friendship, and art. The story follows Audrey and Lucille, two friends whose bond is tested by secrets and impossible requests. With lyrical prose, Hutton masterfully captures the longing and vulnerability of her characters, set against the backdrop of wartime Washington, DC. This sweeping narrative spans decades, delving into themes of betrayal, forgiveness, and the delicate balance of female relationships. With its emotional depth and nuanced characterization, "If You Leave" is a captivating read that will resonate with fans of literary fiction and character-driven stories ¹.

'If You Leave' is a story that beautifully reflects on the complexity and potential loneliness of pregnancy, motherhood, and life in general. The story follows two women, Audrey and Lucille, who reconnect by chance and become roommates/friends during WWII and the readers are treated to a back and forth their lives during 1944 and 1973. We see the struggles, the secrets, the fear, and the joy these women share throughout this thirty year period.
Margaret Hutton's written imagery is some of the most beautiful I have read. I highlighted quite a few sentences just because of their pure beauty, that of which I have rarely seen on the page in other novels. Scenes that I did not think were essential to the plot suddenly became especially vivid and truly transported me to the time and place.
I also just want to state how absolutely beautiful I find the cover. That is was I was drawn to the most when selecting this book to read. Everything about it is extremely enticing.
I rated this a 3.5 leaning toward a 4 star, mainly due to the writing, not necessarily the plot/character development.

As mentioned above, I wanted to highlight a few of the quotes that will stick with me:

"'Yes, I just got a letter from him. After I read it, I felt like I'd eaten a meal but without any salt. I was full from hearing his voice, but unsatisfied without him beside me.'"

"And then there was the name defined. Lake: water in the middle of land, cut off from any source. Of great depths, always seeking the darkest place, in the heaviness of the earth."

"She had been thinking of a self-portrait, but hadn't decided between leaving the page blank--because she couldn't find herself--or blacking it out with charcoal for the same reason."

Our story begins at the beginning of WWII, Audrey's new husband has just been sent overseas, leaving his mother's huge house empty. Audrey decides to take on boarders to fill the loneliness. An unlikely friendship, and secrets, are grown within these spaces. Over the course of three decades, we embark on a journey with Audrey and Lucille as they navigate raising Lucille's daughter, and how their lives fit, or don't fit together.

First and foremost, impeccable writing. Hutton brings the reader into the fold. We are living in the home with both these women; we are facing their deepest struggles and desires as we try to navigate their lives and choices that will follow them forever.

It's a slow burn. There's not a ton happening, but when it does, it's remarkable and effortless. I felt for these characters on a much deeper level, and I haven't had a novel quite reach that point in the last year. These women are broken, but relatable and make decisions that regular, normal people would make, whether they are right or wrong.

Although the reader learns the "secret" well before our protagonist does, the pacing is perfect, watching Audrey face this over the course of the novel was not rushed or painstakingly slow.

For me, the themes of independence v. codependence, love v lust, motherhood v childlessness, were so poignant and well done. As a reader who cannot relate to themes of motherhood, I felt for these women regardless of my childlessness.

Well done. I would read anything by this author again.

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved If You Leave for its quiet power and emotional depth. Margaret Hutton captures the heartbreak and hope woven into motherhood, friendship, and art. It’s a beautifully written story that lingers long after you finish.

If You Leave is an intimate, emotionally nuanced narrative about the compromises women make—for love, family, and themselves. Hutton’s strength lies in crafting genuine, multi‑layered characters and exploring how a single act of abandonment reverberates across decades. While the pacing is reflective and the secondary plotlines may leave you wanting more detail, the novel’s quiet emotional power, lyrical prose, and moral complexity will resonate with fans of character‑driven historical fiction.