The Leaving Gene
Essays on Staying, Going, and the Cost of Both
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Pub Date 27 Oct 2026 | Archive Date 30 Aug 2026
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Description
The Leaving Gene is a collection of deeply personal essays about the people who leave us, the people we leave behind, and the quiet ways those departures shape the rest of our lives.
With equal parts humor, vulnerability, and unflinching honesty, Huck Smith explores family estrangement, addiction, grief, friendship, love, identity, and the complicated search for belonging. From childhood memories and unexpected reunions to online dating, chosen family, and learning to build a life after heartbreak, each essay asks the same question: What if leaving isn’t just something that happens to us—but something we inherit?
Rather than offering easy answers, The Leaving Gene invites readers into the messy, often contradictory work of healing. Smith writes with warmth, wit, and remarkable emotional clarity, finding moments of laughter alongside loss and hope alongside disappointment.
Perfect for readers of Augusten Burroughs, Samantha Irby, and Paul Monette, The Leaving Gene is an intimate memoir-in-essays about staying when it’s easier to run, finding family in unexpected places, and discovering that the people who remain often save us in ways they never realize.
Advance Praise
“Original and exceptional… Huck Smith’s wicked humor and unflinching honesty create a memoir that is both emotionally and intellectually engaging. Each essay is a literary gem, offering moments of heartbreak, hope, and unexpected laughter. The Leaving Gene is a work that will linger long after the final page.”
— Midwest Book Review
Early Reader Praise
“Thoughtful, emotional, and quietly hopeful… a moving exploration of resilience and forgiveness.”
— Gaspar Mata, Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★
“His essays are deeply human… a beautiful, poignant collection that I won’t soon forget.”
— Bryan Head, Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★
“This book changed my perspective… It reminded me I’m not alone.”
— Goodreads Reviewer ★★★★★
Marketing Plan
The Leaving Gene will be supported by a comprehensive pre-publication and launch campaign.
* Advance Review Copies distributed through NetGalley and BookFunnel.
* Professional reviews submitted to Kirkus Reviews, Publishers Weekly BookLife, and other major review outlets.
* Recipient of advance praise from Midwest Book Review.
* Goodreads Giveaway featuring signed first-edition copies.
* National outreach to memoir, LGBTQ+, and literary media.
* Author’s debut memoir, Boys Bars Becoming, reached #1 in its Amazon category.
* Ongoing promotion across the author’s combined social media audience of more than 150,000 followers on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook.
* Podcast appearances, author interviews, and digital media outreach.
* Signed copies available directly through the author’s website and events.
* Launch supported by Amazon, IngramSpark, and Draft2Digital for broad print and ebook distribution.
Available Editions
| EDITION | Paperback |
| ISBN | 9798233305269 |
| PRICE | $16.99 (USD) |
| PAGES | 299 |