Lauren is a 41 year old first time bride who lost weight for her wedding, only to be left at the altar. Lauren throws herself into her work and her binge eating tendencies. Crazy to Leave You highlights Lauren after one of her biggest life embarrassments in figuring out what and who she wants out of life.
I loved this book having an older (41) MC something not often highlighted in books. Lauren’s relationships with her sisters were a high point for me.
There are a lot of plot points at all times, highlighting that you never know what’s going on behind closed doors.
Crazy to Leave You was funny, but touched on serious issues such as weight, discrimination and family dynamics

Diet obsessed from the outset, I have no tolerance for that. Unfortunately a DNF for me.

I do understand the reasons for this, but its a trigger for many people.

Happy pub day to this new release novel!

MC Lauren is stood up at the altar by her fiancé Eric. Eric let her know that he could not go through with the wedding by text to Lauren’s sister Stephanie. The story flows as Lauren begins to pick up the pieces of her life. Many of Lauren’s insecurities about her weight and her perceived faults swirl around her in light of her break up.

I loved the fun and quirky characters including Lauren, her sisters Margo and Stephanie, and her mom. Throughout the book, Lauren is witness to the fact that everyone has bad things happened to them and other peoples lives are not always what they appear. Because of this realization, Lauren begins to grow into her own self and self-confidence. This is a story of learning to love and trust others, but also learning to love yourself as you are.

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for allowing me to review this eARC in return for my honest opinion.

4 ⭐️

Solid Tale Of Discovering Yourself In Mid-Life. There is an overarching theme through many of the lower-starred reviews (at least as I read Goodreads early on release day, just after finishing the book myself) that they "didn't know where this tale was going". To me... *this is the very point of the book*. Our main character suddenly finds herself directionless after what she thought she had in the bag collapses around her, and we get to watch as she picks up the shattered pieces and rediscovers herself - and discovers her voice for possibly the very first time - in the aftermath. In this, Rothstein does a truly tremendous job of having a solid combination of support and antagonism - often in the same supporting characters. Thus showing that *everyone* is flawed to some degree, but also that *everyone* is good to some degree as well. The banter is great, the emphasis on her time at summer camp as a teen is excellent nostalgia reminiscent of Wet Hot American Summer, the slow burn romance is well executed, and even the very serious issues discussed - workforce discrimination (though never truly fleshed out there), diet "culture", overbearing but well intentioned parents, etc - are done well, with just enough weight to give substance without becoming truly overbearing. Very much recommended.

BLIND LOVE VS. REAL LOVE!

Author Marilyn Simon Rothstein writes classic women’s Jewish humor and she is good at it. Her plots are full of angst caused by a man who manages to find a way to bring some form of humiliation to the main character. What follows, and what keeps me reading, is the main character’s journey of growth into becoming the woman she was created to be – living her best life, surrounded by a family that loves her through it all, friends that support and encourage her, and a career that challenges her and she enjoys. In Crazy to Leave You, Lauren Leo finds herself left at the altar. She realizes that she had been blinded by what she thought was love. After Rothstein takes readers on Leo’s journey of self-discovery and growth, she finds real love in the most unlikely place.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book by Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley. The opinions expressed here are completely my own and without influence.

CRAZY TO LEAVE YOU by Marilyn Simon Rothstein is a heartfelt and engaging story of love, family and second chances at happiness. It features the author’s signature blend of humor, wit and emotional insight that had me both laughing and crying while reading. The main character is forty-one-year-old Lauren Leo who has just been unceremoniously left at the altar via a text to her sister. She finally thought things were going her way, but after suffering the “Great Humiliation”, Lauren is left to re-examine everything in her life including her career in advertising, her struggle with eating and her weight and her relationships with her family and friends. In doing so, she soon realizes that she is not the only one dealing with disappointment and pain in their lives. Can Lauren pick up the pieces of her shattered life and find happiness and self-acceptance along the way? You’ll have to read the book to find out! I so enjoyed this delightful and heartwarming story and highly recommend it. Thank you to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the chance to read and review an early copy.

(Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC in exchange for a honest review)

Publication date: 24 May 2022
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing

2.5⭐

Plot

Lauren Leo, a 41 year old finally managed to loose weight and step her foot on the wedding altar, only to have her fiancé dump her at the last minute. This drives her down a tangled and confusing life journey where we see her battling her self-destructive tendencies and eating disorder inclinations. To add onto the problems she has, her family also creates additional trouble for her which she has suffered with her entire life. What will Lauren discover when she ditches her scale in favor of a new way of measuring love and success?

Thoughts

I liked that this book tackled various important issues such as eating disorders and body shaming which is very relevant in our community now. It's not often that you get an older FMC's pov and I think it made the experience of reading it a little more personal. The romance isn't a big subplot because the book focused more on her journey of self-love again. Lauren had very good character development through the book as I read the chapters and it was heart warming to see it.

However the writing style just made it difficult for me to be absorbed into the book. It took me a couple of tries to pick up the book again. I also felt that the plot was a little disorganised where the focus of the book changed a few times and I didn't know what was the intention of the book.

Please check your trigger warnings (toxic family, body shaming, abandonment, cheating) and especially regarding eating disorders while reading this book because this book has quite a few descriptive lines.

This book was just ok, in my opinion. I liked it enough to finish it and not DNF it, but it just fell short of being great to me.

In this story we basically follow Lauren and how she moves on with her life after being stood up at the alter by her fiancé.

While I felt the story was a little lackluster, I did like how by the end Lauren was able to stand up for herself, demand what she wanted and fight for what she deserved in life.

While it was just ok for me, if you enjoy contemporary fiction with a touch of romance, you may very well enjoy this book!

Read this if you like: Clean romance, funny stories, dysfunctional families

Lauren Leo is 41 and finally getting married. She is in her gown There’s just one thing missing: the groom. With one blindsiding text, Lauren has been dumped at the altar.

In the aftermath, her family is anything but helpful. Her mom gives terrible life advice, one sister is too perfect, and the other is smothering her. Lauren turns to her work in advertising as she gathers courage to move on and plan her next step.

This is a really a story of learning to stand on your own and accepting yourself. Don't get me wrong, there is a handsome man involved. There is romance. This book reads super fast. There are some hilarious laugh out loud parts.

My biggest issue is there was wayyy too much focus on eating, her size, her mom talking about her eating, her friends talking about her eating, etc. I didn't enjoy that. I felt like that was the focus of the story for the most part. It didn't need it at all but I think the author was trying to add in serious subjects. That aside the story was a funny, quick read, and I would definitely read more by Marilyn. This comes out May 24th!

Check the triggers as there are many especially with disordered eating**

Thank you to NetGalley, Marilyn, and Lake Union Publishing for the gifted copy. ❤️

Marilyn Simon Rothstein's new novel Crazy To Leave You will make a reader laugh and cry-simultaneously. When forty-one year old Lauren is left at the alter she thinks she has lost her chance for marriage and children. She quickly returns to her job as head of accounts at an advertising agency, and throws her pre-wedding starvation diet to the wind. While Lauren tries to piece her life back together, the lives of those closest to her fall apart. Rothstein's plot combines life lessons, fantastic characters and her amazing humor. This combination makes her novel a reader's delight. Crazy To Leave You is entertaining and thought provoking-a perfect combination.

I thought this was such a cute, heartwarming novel! There’s lovable Lauren, our MC who’s just about to get married when the groom, well, he ghosts her. The story follows Lauren as she navigates life after being left at the altar.

I really enjoyed the characters in this one. Lauren is adorable, and I kind of want to be friends with her. She’s got some family members that drive her up the wall, and I thought they created an interesting side-story dynamic!

This is a romance, but I liked that it’s also about the healing and growth for Lauren. There is room for both in this one! Overall, I would recommend this for readers who want to slip into an easy read that will have them smiling and happy!

Lauren faces one of the most humiliating situations, being left at the alter. It actually, inadvertently, turns out to be just what she needs. I liked how Lauren got real with herself and her family. Two of my favorite scenes are when she confronts the worm ex-fiancé and her mother. I like it when she found her own self worth and demanded what she rightfully had earned at her job.
Crazy to Leave You delves into several themes that will definitely resonate with readers.

Whoa! What a ride. It was very fast-paced. The writing style kept me hooked and I didn't find myself losing any interest. I enjoyed getting to know each of the characters and how real the story felt. The author did a great job painting the setting, so it was easy for me to visualize the scene played out before me. I recommend giving this one a chance!

I felt for Lauren and was looking forward to following her journey from left at the alter to great new life, but I wasn't able to get there. I had to stop reading the book after her sister Margo arrived.

Why? Because of all the talk about weight. It's not a topic that is triggering for me, but it just became to repetitive and overbearing in the story, that it sucked all the joy out of it for me.

I understand that talking about weight and diet was an important part of Lauren's story, but it filtered into all parts and all characters that I just got sick of hearing about it.

Thank you NetGally and Lake Union Publishing for the opportunity to read the book in advance in exchange for my honest opinions.

This was a fun little book that I flew through in a day, which rarely happens. I enjoyed the easy writing style, and the storyline was fun albeit the weight talk did get extremely tiresome. I wish there had been less about that and more just her dealing with life, and not making weight the focal point of every.single.thing.. I also found it kind of weird/sad that a 41 year old woman is still excited to meet up with her childhood summer camp friends but maybe I'm the weird one for not having any...all that to say, I will still be picking up other books by Rothstein because I did really enjoy it.

4.5/5

What a fun, witty, and lighthearted story. This had me laughing out loud throughout the book. The characters were delightful and relatable. I loved Rudy the driver and kept hoping something would happen between him and jilted bride Lauren. Their conversations during those car rides were a blast! If you want to forget your worries for a day, pick up this book. It will have you laughing and not wanting to do anything else but escape into Lauren's world. Marilyn Rothstein's writing style is just fabulous. I highly recommend this book!

I received a review copy from Lake Union Publishing via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.

Looking for a fun, laugh-filled, novel full of heart that will run the gamut of emotions (but mostly you’ll be laughing)? Marilyn Simon Rothstein has outdone herself with Crazy to Leave You, her third novel published by Lake Union.

Flourishing in her career, forty-one-year-old Lauren Leo is on the road to her next long-dreamed-of successes. She’s in love. She’s finally minutes from being married. She can’t wait to have children. (Seriously, her bio-clock is deafening.) Just before she walks down the aisle at Temple Sons of Abraham synagogue, however, Lauren's perfect-in-every-way sister, Stephanie, receives a text from Eric, the groom:

“Please tell Lauren I am too young (emotionally) to get married.”

Humiliated and devastated, there’s only one place where Lauren can escape so she won’t have to face the wedding guests. Of course, it’s the diner across the street because Lauren has spent a lifetime dieting, her weight bouncing like the spherical object she doesn’t want to become. (Her mother, naturally, always sees an opportunity to mention her weight. Lauren was thrilled to have achieved size 12 for her wedding.)

To add undo stress to massive injury, Lauren’s overbearing actress sister, Margo Lamour of soap opera fame, the sister who refused to show up for the wedding, arrives at Lauren’s tiny apartment, camps out like a female Pigpen, and declares that Lauren needs her.

Miserable on many levels, Lauren squares her shoulders, raises her chin, and bravely returns to work; she’s an account executive with impressive billables at a Manhattan advertising agency. Despite her best attempt at resiliency, everyone she meets or runs into reminds her that she's forty-one, single, and childless.

Lauren decides her best bet is to zero in on her work, reevaluate her value to the company (after all, she’s of no value to Eric, the bastard), and plan what she should do next professionally, because she’s never going to get involved with anyone ever again.

Rothstein’s signature humor is ubiquitous—smooth, clever, in your face—with characters well-versed in repartee. So is her uncanny ability to gently unearth her characters’ ingrained conflicts while celebrating dysfunctional family dynamics.

Crazy to Leave You is great fun, open-hearted, and suggests many questions. One comes to mind most often:
What could go wrong next?

To find out, pull up your favorite comfort snacks, bottle of wine, or slathered bagels. Commiserate with, laugh with, and cheer for Lauren Leo as she goes from suffering the title of jilted bride to finding unexpected successes, changing assumptions to realizations, and even stumbling upon a surprising second chance.

After a lifetime of feeling like she's less than good enough, Lauren finally finds the man of her dreams. She is at the church, getting ready to walk down the aisle, and Eric (the fiance) texts the bridesmaid (not Lauren!) to say he's not ready to get married after all!!!

Of course, Lauren is devastated by this news, and falls back into some self-destructive behavior that has been the source of discontent between she and her mother over the years. Yes, she had an eating disorder, yes, she tends to be overweight, and yes, the constant struggle has left her with little confidence. So little that she allows her family and others to belittle her, and at times, this was hard to read.

Does Lauren find a more healthy balance in her life? Does she find someone to accompany her in the journey? Go ahead and read this book to find out...it is funny in places and heartbreaking in others.

Thanks to the author, publisher and NetGalley for the opportunity to read and review this book, but my opinions are my own.

This book was very funny and sweet. I appreciated the body positivity and would highly recommend reading it!

Thank you to the author, Lake Union Publishing and NetGalley, for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

This was a quick, fun read - although it does touch on plenty of deeper issues like self-image, dysfunctional family relationships, body shaming, eating disorders and sexism, it does so gently and with a light touch. I found the protagonist relatable and smart, and it was a joy to see her develop as a person through adversity - some self-created, some stumbling blocks put in her way by others. From being dumped via text just before stepping to the altar, to opening up and seeing new possibilites both professionally and personally, the writer made her protagonist so personable that I closed this book with a smile on my face. The secondary characters are not spared, and a good lesson is imparted there too: what you see on the outside is not always what's actually going on on the inside, and true friendship can help through rough times, if you're willing to ask for that help.