I sincerely loved Blitt's debut and have been eagerly awaiting her next YA release! THE TRUTH ABOUT LEAVING intrigued me, as I haven't read many books involving Jewish characters (especially ones straight from Israel, now living in the United States). I actually read this book in one sitting; it was easy to fall into and get lost in.The story centers around Lucy, who is in her final year of high school and trying to balance everything - helping with her brothers while her mom is away, figuring out what she wants to do about college, getting back into her old hobbies, and that new boy in town. Dov is the aforementioned character who comes to the US from Israel for a year, transferring into her senior class. Despite the very different futures they have planned, they quickly fall for each other.While the plot itself is pretty straightforward and simple (meaning not much actually happens - just a lot of character development and "finding yourself" moments), the bigger issues are definitely covered well. They have different lives, different plans, and different family situations. I thought they had pretty good chemistry but nothing overly swoonworthy. Dov was a nice, complex character, and Lucy was fine? The parents were super frustrating (for both of the MCs) but I could see how everyone was struggling. I got it, for sure.It sucks that I don't have more to say about this book. I think there were some powerful moments and messages, but somehow I don't feel that it will have a lot of staying power for me.

So, I was really interested in this book at first. So interested that I ignored things that had bothered me from page one. I just cannot get through a book where I hate the writing style. DNF 20% of the way in.

I loved the book. It is so interesting. This book kept me going and going,looking for more. Can't wait to read more from the author

The Truth About Leaving, by Natalie Blitt, is a story about a Jewish high school senior in the Chicago suburbs, and how her world turns upside down when she meets an Israeli transfer student on the first day of her senior year. The story follows her throughout her senior year as she navigates college applications and stressful family dynamics, and falling in love all over again.

After reading the book’s description, I was excited by the story and I found it to be well-written, and the characters to be well-developed. It was really interesting to see Lucy’s relationship with her mother over the course of the year, and the role that Lucy played within her family during the time her mother was away.

As a young Jewish woman, I really enjoyed seeing aspects of the Jewish culture in print, as so few novels address growing up as a Jewish teen in the US, but I felt as though these aspects of the plot could have been further explored. Poetry also played a large role within the novel, and I liked how it was woven throughout parts of the story, but wish it could have been used more widely. Overall, I enjoyed the book, but I didn’t love it, and felt like more could have been done with the concept.

Thank you NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for a free electronic ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.

Lucy Green thought she had her senior year in the bag. Cute boyfriend? Check. College plan? Check.
But when her boyfriend dumps her the week before school starts and she literally stumbles into Dov, the new Israeli transfer student, on her first day of school, Lucy’s carefully mapped-out future crumbles.
Determined to have a good senior year, and too busy trying to hold her family together while her mom is across the country working, Lucy ignores the attraction she feels to Dov. But soon, Lucy and Dov’s connection is undeniable. Lucy begins to realize that sometimes, you have to open yourself up to chance. Even if the wrong person at the wrong time is a boy whose bravery you admire and who helps you find your way back to yourself.

“The Truth About Leaving” by Natalie Blitt was an emotional read although the pacing was very slow. Definitely a coming of age story that deals with some tough issues. There are talks of suicide in the book. Overall, the book was ok. Definitely appeals to the YA audience.

* I received a copy of this book from NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.*

This book is very light hearted yet heavy as two teens navigate their prospective futures. The plot was ok. The poems through the book were good. The book is about family bonds. An the two teens are figuring out what to do after high school. I didn’t really relate to either of 5e main charcters. Lucy is ok. Dovwas a jerk for lack of a better term. Sweet book. Heavy at times.

W A R N I N G :  I ' M  G O I N G  T O  M E N T I O N  
P A L E S T I N E  B E C A U S E  T H I S  B O O K  D O E S N ' T

This book. THIS BOOK. It's so hard to finish a book when you can find better things to do/read every time you look away. I have so many conflicting feelings in regard to this book. Perhaps most of it lies on the fact that I don't care about teenage angst + romance. It's just not appealing to me and I can't find a connection. I've never wanted someone so much that I would not prioritize myself in the process.

Lucy is in the throes of such an ordeal. Her mother has moved across the country to pursue a job and her father is not exactly the stay at home type. So the responsibility to take care of her younger brothers fall on her shoulders. She quit ballet to be with her boyfriend Scott, but they broke up when he revealed he wasn't interested in a long distance relationship. Her only reason to go to Northwestern was to be with Scott and now those plans are in question. Did she ever want to go to that school or was she doing what others expected of her. In fact, it's starting to feel a lot like everyone else has a say on her life except for her.

In comes Dov, an Israeli transfer student who's...exotic. This is when I started taking issue with the characters. Lucy eloquently tells him that his "English is great." After being corrected that most people in Israel are bilingual, she doubles down and says "What I mean is you don't have much of an accent." I know some people may take this as a compliment but can we agree that this is a sort of microaggression that seeks to other people. I'm assuming Lucy is white and here comes Dov with his ethnicity who brings something different to her suburban life. She's fascinated with his culture but on a superficial level. It's similar to when people like anime and think that's all to Japan. Lucy likes the hebrew poetry and is enamored with the idea that mandatory military service is noble.

So, I don't think this book has to be about the Palestine and Israeli conflict. It would be too much to handle for a fluffy romance. There are some mentions of the killings in the Gaza strip, but NO MENTION OF PALESTINIANS. We aren't asked to question why Dov wants to serve aside from honoring his brother. He even says a reason why he wants to join the military is because he's worried what his friends and classmates will think of him if he doesn't. It's...troubling. A place does not have to be defined by violence and there are many normal days. But it's something else when you can hear bombings and there are walls erected to keep out the Palestinians after they were evicted and their homes were demolished. I mean, colonialism right?

Did I even like The Truth About Leaving? Well there were nice things. Amy, her grandmother, was the voice of reason. She helped Lucy understand her mother's intentions as a parent and as a person. Her mother wasn't portrayed as an uncaring monster. I think it's reasonable to want the best for your child even if it means doing what's best for you. Lucy for the most part took care of her brothers no matter how begrudgingly and her parents were active in the story. There's diversity if you consider Judaism an ethnicity.

In the end, did Lucy learn anything? No. She fell in love with Dov because every other character aggressively coupled them. It's always a mention of how hot Dov is and mistaking them in a relationship. We are led to believe they should be together but in reality there isn't any evidence to show for it. Another thing, Lucy's main problem is that she has too many options. The future is limitless. Yeah, I want to sigh and roll my eyes. I get there is anxiety when it comes to choosing the right path, but it's a tad bit dramatic to try and sell me on the idea that one can be too privileged. Lucy is never really concerned with money and how she can afford to go to these expensive schools let alone find the time to take a gap year and travel the world. Some people join the military just so they can go to college and here she is "bemoaning" an opportunity to teach ballet overseas. I'm just over it.

I recommend this if you like weird happy endings that makes you think this could only happen if your parents have enough money and are almost unrealistically supportive of you discovering yourself. Here's to another teen romance where they spout I love yous and it's pretty empty.

Thanks to NetGalley and Amberjack Publishing for this advance readers copy in exchange for a fair review!

I received a free copy of this book from the publisher through Net Galley, thank you. This book went way beyond any expectations that I had based upon the description. A sympathetic main character, Jewish YA love story that is PG 13 rated and kept my interest. I loved Lucy, her family including her grandmother who insisted she be called Amy. Her best friend Maddie, the dance studio.

Lucy's parents depend on her a little too heavily, expecting her to help with her younger siblings so her mom can work in California. She has just been dumped by her boyfriend Scott, who seemed to just want sex. The relationship seemed to cause her anxiety because of the pressure to have sex when she wasn't ready. She gave up something she loved to spend time with him. So when she literally runs into Dov, an Israeli transfer student, it doesn't spark an immediate love connection but there is an attraction. Dov has baggage and grief, and Lucy brings him back to life in a way, in turn she goes back to her passion of dance. He is such a great book boyfriend. He doesn't pressure her for anything. He pushes her away but there is a happy ending. It brought back memories of going to Israel when I was 18. My Hebrew isn't as good as I wish so i need a translation of what Dov says to Lucy. The author leaves something to the imagination.
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This book starts with scott breaking up with lucy and maddie being there for her. I love how Lucy evovled around in the book by the end.My baby boy Dov is a complex character whom you would want to protect at all costs.I loved reading their blooming love and their intensity. I mostly loved the part where they get poems in connections for an english project.
Putting love aside, i loved lucy's dad. He was supportive and affirm . Her mother wasnt exactly a mother idol but the boat sailed. And lastly her grandmother AMY, she's a treat and im glad lucy has her through her rough situations. Amy knows exactly what to say and how to say to make lucy better. Lucy getting back to ballet is one of her sheer ambitions and determination. It started going emo at the end and I wasn't sure if this would have a happy ending, but the way the author pulled the climax was splendid. Lucy and Dov are one hell of an adorable couples who deserve everything.
On a whole, this book is a blend of intense emotions and relations.You really don't want to miss out in this.

This book was such an amazing and relatable read for me. I enjoyed reading from the perspective of someone who is in their last year of high school, as that is the same for me. Her story line was so interesting. I really liked that we had such diverse characters, because that is something that we need more of in YA. This book is a 5 out of 5 star read.

No.
Just no.
I didn't finish it.
I didn't like the characters, the writing style, the story.
The chemistry between Lucy and Don seemed forced and one-dimensional.
Story filled with cliches.
I would roll my eyes at least once every 2-3 pages.
I tried to push myself, but, even though I absolutely adore YA contemporary, this one just wasn't my cup of tea.

Thank you so much to Amberjack Publishing for providing me with an Advanced Readers Copy, via Netgalley, in exchange for an honest review. The quotes included in this review are subject to change upon publication.

“I want to be as open to my past as I am to my future.”

The Truth About Leaving is about a girl named Lucy navigating her way through her senior year of high school. Her and her boyfriend have just broken up and she decides to focus on her schoolwork this year and achieving her goals. Then she meets a new transfer student, Dov, who changes the course of Lucy’s life. This story is full of the innocence and whirlwind of teen romance along with Lucy finding herself.

“I lost myself in him, I see it now with perfect clarity. I gave up me to fit better into his life.”

I really loved the relationship between Lucy and Dov. They had good chemistry and I loved how they communicated with one another in the beginning of their meeting with poetry. The story is told from Lucy’s point of view so we really see Lucy grow throughout her last year of high school. It would have been interesting to learn a little bit more about Dov’s family but overall Natalie presented great character development between the two and Lucy’s families.

“When you don’t know where you’re going, you can’t get lost.”

I thought it was such a thought provoking process of Lucy deciding the path of her future. It brought me back to the days of high school ending and how young you really are at 18 and presented with so many life-altering decisions. I really did like the story, however it was slightly predictable for me and didn’t have a twist within. If your looking for a teen romance, this is the one for you.

TW: talk of suicide, loss of a sibling

This book is not what you expect going into it. Yes, it's a sweet love story between an Israeli boy and an American girl, both of whom are Jewish. Yes, it's a coming-of-age story about choosing a college and learning how to be selfish for yourself when necessary, and when the situation is about more than your preferences. But it's also a beautiful take on honoring one's country with military service, the romantic power of poetry, and the significance of one's culture.

Lucy is a selfless, sweet older sister who is always at home babysitting her younger brothers while her parents both work as professors... her mother in California, her father at the local university. There's a ton of pressure on her to attend the same university so she can live at home and still help out, but Lucy is more interested in helping the world and teaching dance than remaining in Chicago. Especially after she meets Dov, a transfer student from Israel recovering from a recent tragedy in his family.

Dov was kind of like a modern Mr. Darcy. Very hot and cold, but as romantic as he is withdrawn. He had a tough couple of years and Lucy's naturally sweet nature brought out the kinder side of him which we all deserve. I will never get over how tender some of those scenes with Lucy are. Dov owns up to his mistakes and is utterly respectful of Lucy and her needs. Both of these characters are extremely mature for 18, and dealing with adult problems. This book is mature, not necessarily in the content but in the themes and discussions. These are situations younger readers will have a hard time understanding the significance of.

Dov wants to serve in the military, as is required for men in Israel. Due to a circumstance, however, it is no longer mandatory for him and his eerily absent parents don't want to sign the consent for him to serve. His need to return to Israel also places stress on his relationship with Lucy, as she feels she is second to him and his culture. Lucy also explores the idea of taking a gap year between high school and university. I have never seen either of these topics discussed in a YA novel before. I also rarely see YA with such a Jewish presence, particularly with the culture and including Hebrew while not making the story overtly religious.

I did find the story to be a little too mature at times for the target audience and the characters' ages, especially with such absent parents. Dov's parents never being around was really a convenience to the story. I also felt that ending didn't fit the story at all. It was too perfect, too much like Serendipity and all the overly Hollywood love stories out there. The scenes leading up to it were perfect, paced evenly and realistic, and then the ending felt like it was part of a separate draft a bit. It was as if the ending was what the author wanted, but not what fit the story.

All in all, I loved the unique story with the topics discussed and the diversity included. I'd recommend to anyone looking for a contemporary that's different for anything else on the market currently and for an older audience.

Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for providing me with an arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions are my own.

A few years back I read a book from a new debut author and I fell in live with it. So much so in fact I made a lot of people I know also read it and fall in love with it. That book was Natalie Blitt's The Distance Between A to Z. Since the I have been waiting for a new book from Natalie (I just found out about her two books published by Scholastic) to arrive and when I heard about The Truth About Leaving I was so ecstatic. And man did it live up to my over hyped expectations. It was so good. So good in fact I think I love it more that I did The Distance from A to Z.

The Truth About Leaving is the story of Lucy and Dov, two very different people on very different paths that cross and change both of them drastically. Lucy has everything figure out. She know where she is going to college and what she wants to study and what her life will look like. That is until her mom takes a job in a different state and Lucy's boyfriend breaks up with her. Now Lucy is trying to find her footing and figure out what she really wants. When she literally runs into Dov, the new student from Israel, the two of them start to learn things about themselves and the world and use each other to figure out what they both want.

There aren’t enough words for me to tell you how much I actually love Lucy and Dov and their whole story. It is one of those rare books that you didn’t know you needed to read and it takes you completely by surprise. I laughed and I cried watch these two deal with life and responsibilities that an 18 year old doesn’t always have to deal with. They broke my heart a lot of the time when they fumbled through things and got scared and ran. They also filled me with so much love and hope. Simply put they are everything amazing about reading.

I waited years for this book and Natalie did not let me down. She gave me a book that wasn’t something I read a lot of in YA. She introduced me to a culture I now know more about, and two characters I hope are happy long after the pages end. I can’t say enough how much you need this book in your life. Go and get it as soon as humanly possible!

Guys. GUYS! I loved this book so much! We are introduced to our main character the day before her senior of high school, right after being dumped by her boyfriend before he leaves for college. All she's left with is an overwhelmed dad, a flighty mom, and two young brothers that she is stuck babysitting at the drop of a hat. When she walks into school the next day, she never thought she would literally run into the love of her life.

Dov moved to Chicago from Israel just in time for his senior year of high school. As I've talked about before, I grew up in a predominately Jewish neighborhood and I was surrounded by Jewish culture for most of my adolescence. I loved hearing my friends speaking with their families in Hebrew and learning about the different holidays and traditions. And now we have an Israeli love interest.

When they are put together for partner work in poetry class, Lucy and Dov make a connection through words and poetry. There is a significant amount of Hebrew in the book—something I really loved, but may put off some readers. While Lucy is also Jewish, its much more casual—the more time she spends with Dov, the more she learns about her religion and her own family. 

Another aspect that I really connected to was Lucy's love of dance. I will read any book that features dance, more specifically ballet. As Lucy is starting to realize that she has been living her life for the people around her and not for herself, she decides to return to one of her greatest passions. I loved that we got to see her kind of rediscover her love for dance and how she can continue to feel so rewarded as she looks as to what she’ll do after graduation.

I really loved Lucy and Dov's relationship and the passion they shared with each other, something they built towards as they formed a friendship. They pretty much stayed in their own little bubble, not interacting with hardly anyone else at school. Even Lucy's best friend Maddie was rarely around. I wish I could have seen how they were kind of out in the world together, instead of just spending so much of their time locked up in one of their homes. 

All in all, I want to shove this book into everyone's arms so they can experience this romantic and self reflective story. I can't wait to read more from Natalie Blitt.

I received this book from NetGalley in return for an honest review.

I don't have a whole lot to say about this book. Not a lot happened. It was well written, but certainly you could tell that an adult wrote this and not a teenager. Imagine, if you will, the "kids" from Dawson's Creek --any two of them--were the main characters of this book. They all talk like that.

And I know teenagers can be smart and well read. I have one, myself. She's smart and has an extensive vocabulary. She still doesn't talk like a dictionary. Also? Teenagers have temper tantrums and attitude problems in the real world. The MC and her love interest are unusually calm and controlled.

It was a good story and touched on some important notes, but never felt real to me. In the end, it's a story about some sheltered teens and their rather regimented lives. I thought this one was just OK.

The Truth About Leaving by Natalie Blitt is a book that is both upbeat and heavy as it tells the story of two teens figuring out their futures. I found certain aspects such as the use of poems to communicate interesting, but I didn’t enjoy reading about either of the main characters. The plot is also very convenient, and because of this, I didn’t love the book as much as I had anticipated.

The Truth About Leaving is a love story about two teens who meet and try to figure out what they’re going to do after high school and how that will impact the other person. There are some interesting poems shared throughout the novel which I thought was a creative way for the characters to communicate, and I also loved the ballet aspects. As well, there is a strong theme of family which is complicated as the main character is forced to assume more responsibility in the household. Overall, I found this book to be relatable but also heavy at times, creating a nice balance.

❀ CREATIVE AND INTERESTING CONCEPT

While I found the concept of the book to be interesting, I didn’t really love either of the main characters. Lucy is facing some tough decisions as she is about to graduate, and it is easy to see how caring she is. That being said, she is pretty plain, and I couldn’t get past some of the ignorant remarks she makes. As for Dov, he is rude, especially at the beginning of the book, and he is still a jerk as his relationship with Lucy progresses. Because I found the characters dislikable, I couldn’t support and root for their relationship as much as I wished I could have. This proved to be an issue for me as the romance is the focus of the book.

❀ SIMPLISTIC PLOT

Another aspect of the book I didn’t enjoy was the predictable plot. The story is pretty simple, which one could generally expect from a contemporary coming of age novel, but many of the events are awfully convenient. Normally, this is something that I am willing to ignore, but some of the things that take place are too perfect. Personally, I couldn’t see them happening realistically, especially because of the way things unfolded. There are other ways of executing the story that are a little more believable.

The Truth About Leaving is a story that is both sweet and serious as the characters plan their futures. Although I found the concept intriguing, I didn’t enjoy the characters or the simplistic and unbelievable plot. I didn’t completely dislike this book, but I feel like it could have been better executed.

3.5 stars.
I’m a little on the fence about this one. I was eagerly anticipating Natalie Blitt’s next young adult contemporary after The Distance from A to Z. I really liked that one a lot and Blitt’s writing is still great throughout this one. This was much more emotional than I was ultimately prepared for. It was so different than anything else I’ve ever read. There was a lot of great poetry discussed through the book that I really enjoyed. But, I also felt like it was slow paced and really hard to relate to these characters. Lucy definitely changed throughout but she was not what I would call a normal teenager at all even from the beginning. She basically had her life plan worked out, and hadn’t given any thought to anything except that, and it wasn’t because of parental influence either. Dov was pretty difficult to get a proper read on. He was dealing with some very heavy issues. The whole story and these characters have given me a lot to think about.

* ARC provided by NetGalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This one is a young adult, coming of age story about Lucy, a senior in high school and an unexpected relationship that forces her to question the status quo.
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The Truth About Leaving is much more than a YA romance, it shows the reader, sometimes taking a break from the expected to explore is how we grow as a person. Loyalties are also examined and what it means that to leave and return “home” - ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5 for sure.
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Added bonus: got to learn some Hebrew as one of the main characters is from Israel.

The Truth About Leaving is a beautifully honest love story between two teens, Lucy and Dov who have both had so much responsibility at such a young age. Even with some very had hitting topics, this definitely has the perfect mix of the drama and the humor of a teen romance. Throughout the book we see the characters grow and learn more about the world and what their place is going to be in it.

Lucy's voice and her love for quotes and words is what ultimately drew me into this book in the beginning. I have that same love for quotes and expressing how I feel and although I dont have the strongest opinion on poetry I could feel the emotion Lucy and Dov felt when they discussing poems which meant so much to them. I also felt this similar emotion what they were talking about their Jewish identity and what it meant to them to go to Israel and share their culture.

Although the romance between Lucy and Dov was the main plot of the book, the focus on the family really hit hard for me. I understand what its like to have so much responsibility within the family that it feels like I cant make my own choices. The conversations between Lucy and her mother were so real and although it sometimes hurt to read them it was so brutally honest and was like I could have had the conversation with my own mother.

One of the main points this book stated was that college does not always have the be the automatic go to option after high school and that there are other options which can be just as rewarding. The themes surrounding this were very similar to Alice Oseman's Radio Silence and I love how this is becoming a topic of conversation in a lot more books. Even if the protagonist does decide to carry on with the college route I wish I had more books like this when I was in High School myself because I definitely would have give it a lot more thought to what I wanted to do because I just went for the easiest option.

There was quite a lot packed into a shorter book and this is one I will be picking up many times when I need a beautiful and heartwarming romance.