Such a fun read and a mix of humor, romance and serious subjects. Lauren's POV feels so real and relatable and i totally loved her character.

CRAZY TO LEAVE YOU by author, Marilyn Simon Rothstein
ARC - May 24, 2022

They say laughter is an instant vacation, and if this is the case, I just traveled around the world! But with the laughter, there can also be great heartbreak...

Marilyn Simon Rothstein has created a narrative which encompasses all emotion as the storms of life and humorous antics meld together and encircle one particular woman, our protagonist, Lauren. Being the forty-one year old she is, she's learning that being knocked down by sadness and failures, is a given~ that life is a constant readjustment.

Crazy To Leave You, an insightful story handled with care and understanding, takes the reader on a journey which shows us that it's okay to feel broken~ to be different, but it's equally as important to give life a good swift kick, dust ourselves off, and try again... because what could be waiting around the corner could be something that allows us to be our best-self yet!

I thank Ms. Simon-Rothstein for my personal copy of this meaningful and enjoyable story, and in allowing me to personally experience the life and times of Lauren, along with a whole cast of characters who became just as important to the storyline, all who made it a most worth-while read!

4 Stars

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Wild Sage Book Blog

Loved the fact how the characters dealed with real life problems. Funny, witty, the banter was on point. I really enjoyed this slow burn!

This was a quick read, loved the main character. She hadGreat sense of humour and wit. The story is very realistic and the dialog and self dialog very relatable.

Such a relateable ride...

The characters in this book faced real problems and handled them in ways that real people do, unlike some books that take their responses to outer space.

The use of humor and wit made for an awesome slow burn.

I am a member of the American Library Association Reading List Award Committee. This title was suggested for the 2023 list. It was not nominated for the award. The complete list of winners and shortlisted titles is at <a href="https://rusaupdate.org/2023/01/2023-reading-list-announced-years-best-in-genre-fiction-for-adult-readers/">

(Disclaimer for the late feedback: 2022 was a very rough year for me. I had to struggle between my personal and mental health struggles, in addition to losing access to my Netgalley account and retrieving it just now. My sincerest apologies for the late feedback.)

The opening of this book made me heartbroken. Eric was such an ass! Lauren is a charming lady and I'm glad when she got up and rose like a blooming flower after everything.

This was a fun read. I remember laughing and enjoying reading this book, even though at first, I had a tough time connecting with it. I like how it confronted the realities of having toxic family members, making big decisions for yourself, and forgiveness.

Special thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for my ARC. I wanna read more of the author's books and will definitely look into them soon.

Lauren Leo is 41, has just been left abandoned by the groom at her own wedding, her elder sister didn't even turn up, her mother has effectively been fat-shaming her her whole life, and everything but her work (at which she is excellent) seems to be falling apart.

Crazy to Leave You is a funny, sarcastic, pun-heavy, quietly emotional and thought-provoking book. I wish I'd read it sooner and I will definitely be checking out the author's other works.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read and review this book.

Thank you to Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley for an e-ARC of this novel in exchange for my review.

I want to thank Netgalley and the author for gifting me the ebook. A cute women's fiction novel. Recommend

I enjoyed this quick summer read! Left at the altar Lauren realizes she needs to learn to stand up for herself! I thought there were some very funny parts of the story!!

Thanks for the opportunity to read this fun book!!

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Lauren is 41 and about to walk down the aisle with Eric...but he bails! Her whole outlook is about marriage, babies, dieting and her work. Her family is dysfunctional, her mother is toxic and people's lives are changing radically around her. During this, Lauren finds her voice and decides to make some changes. The only genuinely likeable character around her is Rudy and she struggles with her doubts about trusting herself and her judgement.

A fun and heartfelt read! I loved and related to Lauren in Crazy to Leave You. I loved her struggled and journey towards growth. Recommend this read!

Forty-one years old, the last of her friends to marry, and down to a size 12, Lauren Leo is in her gown and about to tie the knot. There’s just one thing missing: the groom. With one blindsiding text, Lauren is unceremoniously dumped at the altar.

In the aftermath, her mother is an endless well of unsolicited advice (Stay on your diet and freeze your eggs). Her sisters only add to the Great Humiliation: one is planted on Lauren’s couch while the other is too perfect.

Picking her heart up off the floor, Lauren turns to her work in advertising as she gathers courage to move on and plan her next step. She should know by now that nothing in life goes according to plan. What lies ahead is the road to self-acceptance and at long last feeling worthy. With a new way to measure love and success, Lauren chucks her scale—and finds a second chance in the most unexpected place.

The main character Lauren is in her forties and just got left at the altar by her fiancé. The plot is told solely from Lauren's point of view. It focuses on the relationships she has with her mom and sisters. These all affect her life and affects how she sees herself. There is also a little romance in the book in the form of a handsome driver, but that is not the main focus of the story. It was a great read, thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the advanced reader copy.

This one blew me away, definitely underhyped for the representation of love and loss, would recommend for a follow up to Abby Jimenez

Thank you to NetGalley and Lake Union Publishing for a copy of this book to read and review!

This book was a light and quick read that overall was pretty good. I'll admit that most of the characters in the book were unlikable for me - most of the people in Lauren's circle (with the exception of a couple of friends) just aren't that great to her at all. I also had a hard time remembering that she was actually 41, except for it being mentioned quite a bit. There was a little bit of a juvenile feel to some of the actions and dialogue that skewed it a little younger to me.

I didn't mind that this book is less rom com and more women's fiction. I appreciated Lauren's journey of self-discovery, even though it took her a long time to get there. Rudy was cute, but much more of a minor character that I was expecting when I first started the book.

You need to try to read Marilyn Simon Rothstein books in the privacy of your own home where no one will look at you funny when you burst into laughter. Not only does she write a humorous book but she also provides a great story line and wonderfully written characters who are facing obstacles in their lives. She provides her readers with some laughs, an important life lesson and characters that you feel like you know in real life.

Forty-one year old Lauren Leo is finally getting married. She's starved herself to fit into a size 12 dress and can't wait to show her new figure off in her bridal gown. Until...her boyfriend calls off the wedding with a text to her sister. She's totally humiliated and her dysfunctional family isn't a lot of help. Her two sisters are supportive but she has a mom who has no filter on what comes out of her mouth. She decides that her only choice is to return to her successful advertising job as soon as possible. After she's in an accident, her boss hires a driver to take her to meetings. Rudy becomes the voice of reason in Lauren's chaotic life. She begins to wonder if she was really in love with her fiancé or in love with the idea of getting married because all of her friends were married. It was fantastic to see the changes in Lauren throughout the book as she learned to accept herself, her weight issues and gains the courage to look for the next step in her life that will make her happy. Lauren is a great character and I was cheering for her to get a second chance at happiness and a fulfilled life.

This book has a great mixture of humor, romance, and serious topics. I loved the writing style of the author after reading Husbands and Other Sharp Objects. I enjoyed a single, 40-year old POV; this is not a common character type and I think this book does a great job encompassing the struggles, fears, and triumphs of a woman of this age.


I received an advance copy. All thoughts are my own.

I enjoyed this! It was a quick read with many life lessons in the mix, so sweet but also touching.

Main themes that I absolutely adored revolved around overcoming heartbreak, second chances with love, learning to love yourself, embracing women empowerment .

There are a few triggers to be mentioned: being left at the altar, car accidents, cheating, body shaming and binge eating.
I do however feel these topics were perfectly and respectfully handled so hats off to the author.

This book was highly entertaining, but the plot was a bit scattered. The whirlwind of Lauren picking herself up after the wedding and rebuilding her relationships was a bit all over the place in the beginning, but I started to fall in love with the book because of her sarcastic banter with Rudy. I admire the elements of development that was added, I think I would have enjoyed the book more though if the main focus was just the romance.

I think a lot of readers will relate to Lauren, and the tenacity she showed is so empowering!
Can’t wait to read more of this author in the future.

Thanks to Netgalley for a copy of this book for an honest review.

Lauren is 41 and about to walk down the aisle with Eric...but he bails! Her whole outlook is about marriage, babies, dieting and her work. Her family is dysfunctional, her mother is toxic and people's lives are changing radically around her. During this, Lauren finds her voice and decides to make some changes. The only genuinely likeable character around her is Rudy and she struggles with her doubts about trusting herself and her judgement.