"It’s easier to be a Leaver. It’s harder to be a Stayer."
Wow. I don’t say this lightly, but this might just be one of the most moving, original, and breathtakingly beautiful books I’ve ever read. Gospel by A.M. is a YA novel-in-verse that completely shattered the boundaries of storytelling as I thought I knew them, and then lovingly stitched something brand new in their place. Set in the hauntingly poetic Leaving Room, this story follows Gospel, the Keeper of this liminal space between life and death. Her job is simple: comfort the newly deceased, called Leavers, then guide them through to the next phase. No questions. No deviations. No attachments. But Gospel begins to break the rules. She peeks into memories. She takes naps. She longs for more.
And then a door appears.
Enter Melodee, a fellow Keeper and a forbidden love. As the two form a quiet, fragile connection, Gospel is forced to confront everything she’s ever known about life, death, love, and the cost of choosing to stay. Written in luminous verse, this novella holds the emotional weight of a 300+ page epic inside fewer than 150 pages. It’s poetic, aching, and endlessly profound. The language is so vivid and intentional, it left me breathless more than once. I laughed. I cried. I sat in silence. I reflected on my own grief, my own fears, and what it means to live.And can we talk about the recipes? The way memories and food were interwoven into the storytelling felt like pure magic. Full recipes, yes, real ones, are included, giving the book a sensory depth I didn’t know I needed. It made the memories Gospel uncovers feel even more intimate and deeply human. This book is for anyone who’s ever felt lost in the in-between. It’s for the ones navigating life, death, identity, and the raw, radiant ache of being young and Black in America.
If I could give it infinite stars, I would. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Hands down, one of my top reads of the year. I’ll be talking about this one until long after its release on October 13.
🫶🏻💕🥰 Perfect for everyone.

There are some stories you must feel before you understand. The Leaving Room is one of them. A story that feels like memory—soft around the edges, but sharp where it matters. One of those rare stories that slips under your skin and lingers.

Told in exquisite, poetic prose, The Leaving Room is a meditation on what lingers and what leaves us, what we carry, and what sets us free. It unspools a tender, surreal world between life and death—a space where love, memory, and letting go are all tangled up. I read it in one sitting, tears in my eyes by the end. I’ll carry this book with me always—and I’ll be recommending it to everyone I know.

Wow, I am honestly completely blown away. I'm not sure there are any words that I could use to truly convey the entire experience that is this novel.

I know I say this frequently, but I have NEVER read anything like this before. This book broke the boundaries of what I thought writing and storytelling were and showed me what they could be.

Written in verse, the story follows Gospel. She is the Keeper of the Leaving Room, a place hovering somewhere in between life and death.

Her job? To follow the rules and help the Leavers who visit her room through to the afterlife. Contended with her role, she fulfills it happily.

But eventually, she starts to question the rules, her job, and whether or not she'll ever be able to leave the Leaving Room.

This one is better left to be experienced for yourself. So, I don't really want to say too much.

However, I do want to take a moment to talk about the writing style and language. It was perhaps the best thing about this novella. Somehow, the author made me feel like I had read 300-plus pages, even though it was barely 150 pages long.

The storytelling itself was phenomenal. My emotions were pulled in several different directions. 😭 This one definitely made me reflect on the most difficult moments of my life, but I mean that in the best way possible.

It is meant to be evocative and bring those emotions to the forefront as it confronts topics such as life and ☠️ itself, what it means to be alive, accepting one's mortality, and the fears of being young and Black in America.

I feel the need to immediately reread it, knowing what I know now, as it will bring a new and deeper meaning to the overall story itself, which I absolutely love. I will definitely come back to this book time and again.

I also want to say that my favorite part of this story is how memories were tied to food, and that full recipes with instructions were also included in the narrative, which gave it just that added personal touch, making it all the more magical.

Hands down, without question, 5 🌟. I would give it infinity stars if I could. This is perfect for everyone 🫶🏻💕🥰 Releases everywhere October 13th!

Thank you to Amber McBride, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, and NetGalley for sending me an advanced reader copy in exchange for an honest review.

The Leaving Room is a truly beautiful story I was drawn into such a unique world. It deals with souls transitioning to the next life. The characters connect so closely. What stands out most is how the author explores memory, and hope. However, the writing style is a little bit poetic, and sometimes, I needed to reread a few sentences to make sure I understood it. But, overall, it's such a moving and thought-provoking read that stays with you long after you finish it. Thank you to Macmillan Children's Publishing Group and NetGalley for this advance copy in exchange for my honest review Releases October 14th 2025.

Gospel is a Keeper of a Leaving Room, the place all young people must pass through before passing on. In this room Gospel makes them comfortable, before helping them move on. Gospel is alone and that is how she's always remembered it. That is until one day a door appears and through it walks another Keeper named Melody. The two girls become wrapped in each other as they continue to try and abide by the rules of being a Keeper but as long as they remain in the Leaving Room a part of them will always feel trapped. Now, it is there time to leave the room, if only they could find the door...

McBride paints a haunting story chalked full of nostalgia and a longing to know what comes next. Told in lyrical verse The Leaving Room will leave readers with a deep sense of comfort and curiosity. McBride will never write something I have no interest in reading. Her poetry while often somber always leaves me feeling seen and understood in a way others haven't. The Leaving Room is worth entering, I hope you enjoy.

I am very certain that I did not understand all of this book, but it was beautiful and complicated as all of Amber McBride's books are. This was the third of her books that I've read, so I was not surprised that I didn't totally follow along. The story is a YA verse novel about Gospel, who is a Keeper in charge of the Leaving Room. It is a room she can change but cannot leave, and children come there, assumingly after they have died, and she helps them move on to the next place. Through the story, you meet several children who touch Gospel's life in different ways. One day another Leaving Room opens, and Gospel and Melody join together and become close. They have to make decisions to see where their future goes; I don't want to spoil the rest, but there is a moment that changes the course of the story, so stick with it if you're confused as you read, and let students who pick it up know the same! It starts off easy to read but maybe hard to understand, but it comes together in a very clear way in the end. Thank you to Net Galley and the publishers for this ARC.

Gospel is the Keeper of the Leaving Room for children--the place where they go to find comfort before passing into the afterlife. She follows the rules and creates a space for each child to leave, until the rules keep getting broken and everything changes.

This incredibly unique story was a little confusing at first, but I stuck with it because of the beautiful writing. By the end, everything comes together and makes perfect sense. Amber McBride's talent shines in this story that is unlike any other I've read. Verse makes it more accessible even though it is a little difficult for reluctant readers to follow at first.

Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, Feiwel & Friends, and Amber McBride for the opportunity to read The Leaving Room in exchange for an honest review.

The Leaving Room is a HiLo Novel-in-Verse that takes place over the span of four minutes. The novel follows Gospel, a Keeper of the Leaving Room. The Leaving Room is the place where people go after death, but before the next place beyond that. Being a teen, Gospel is in charge of seeing the children who enter and leave. Before the children move on, they must offer their most precious memory to Gospel.

When Gospel meets Melodee, there is confusion about who is the Keeper of the room. It turns out, there is more than one Leaving Room, and everyone's experience in that room is different. Gospel and Melodee aim to help each other, growing closer than friends in a space that is unfamiliar, yet reminiscent of recent memory...

The Leaving Room is meant to represent that place where people go during near-death experiences. The body dies, for a few minutes, but the people don't go to the beyond when they are pulled back to life. Many people have shared what their own near-death experiences were like, and share what their "Leaving Room" was for their own individual experience. This is a unique perspective, especially for those who wouldn't relate, but also for those who would. How accurate does this tale across four minutes in limbo hold true?

Overall, this novel-in-verse is an interesting and unique experience that offers a diverse read for teens and explores a unique concept when it comes to life and death.

The writing for this book was beautiful! It feels like poetry! I will definitely be purchasing this in physical form once it comes out to add to my shelf

The Leaving Room is a beautifully written, poignant story that earns a solid 4 stars. Amber McBride crafts a unique world where young souls transition, guided by Keepers. The characters Gospel and Melody are compelling, and their connection is both heartwarming and heartbreaking. McBride's exploration of memory, connection, and hope is unforgettable, packing an emotional punch in a short span of time. However, the poetry style of writing, while adding to the ethereal atmosphere, can sometimes be a bit confusing. It requires a closer read to fully grasp the nuances of the plot and character development. Overall, this is a thought-provoking and moving novel that lingers in the mind long after the final page. Despite the occasional confusion from the poetic style, the story's depth and emotional resonance make it worth the read.

With every book Amber McBride writes, the more in love with her storytelling I am. I have read each of her releases, and I know I’ll read each new one as well. The Leaving Room is a beautiful, quiet, hopeful, sad story in verse. The development of the story of Gospel and Melodee and the way it all came together was so masterfully woven. This is such a sweet book, and I cannot wait to see what will be next from Amber McBride.

The Leaving Room is a beautifully written, poignant story that explores love and letting go through the eyes of Gospel, a "Keeper" who oversees a quiet in-between space for children who have passed on. Gospel cannot leave the Leaving Room herself—she is bound to this place and her purpose: to comfort and guide young souls, or "Leavers," on their way to what lies beyond. The concept is unique and imaginative.

The prose is lyrical, and while I initially thought it was a book of poems, it quickly became clear that the structure and language were intentional and powerful.

Admittedly, this book wasn't quite my style, and I recognize that I may not be the intended audience. I suspect this will resonate more with readers in the 11–16 age range. That said, I found the messaging and wordplay incredibly thoughtful and well-executed. It’s a quick read, but one that lingers emotionally.

It’s simply a beautifully crafted tale that wasn’t personally for me, but I can absolutely see its brilliance and value for younger readers navigating big emotions and difficult topics.

McBride has given us another profound, lyrical and twisty story. A poet first, McBride always finds an interesting question and a buried slice of the world, and winds her way in, across and through it. The Leaving Room is a big story that takes place in mere minutes, yet manages to invoke many lifetimes along with the concept of choice and home.

This book left me in actual tears. Like, clutching my chest deep release crying. The Leaving Room had been on my radar since the beginning of the year and I had added it to my list as it also releases on my birthday (present for me!). So, when the opportunity to read it beforehand came up, I jumped at the chance.

I didn’t expect the poetic prose BUT once I got into the flow, I was fully immersed in the story. The imagery was so so beautiful and much of the symbolism felt personal to me. The idea of there being a “leaving room” or waiting space upon death was interesting enough but the story is much more complex than that. I absolutely loved this book.

Every single book that McBride writes leaves me breathless! What I love about her characters is that they are all facing their own demons, they move through their world with such realistic grace, a quiet strength that resonates deeply with you long after the story has ended. You know those books that leave you slightly better after you've finished them? Those are always McBride's books for me and this might be her best yet.

The Leaving Room is one of those books that feels like a whispered secret you carry with you long after the last page. Amber McBride’s verse is stunning—spare but powerful, each word pulsing with emotion. Gospel and Melody are two souls caught between worlds, and their journey through memory, grief, and unexpected love unfolds over just four minutes but resonates like an eternity.

This story may be brief, but its impact is enormous. McBride handles themes of death, connection, and vulnerability with breathtaking care. Gospel’s quiet strength and Melody’s unraveling fear are beautifully rendered, and watching them find comfort in each other in the most liminal of spaces is deeply moving. It’s haunting, yes—but also hopeful, tender, and filled with light. If you’re looking for a quick but emotionally rich read that will stay with you, The Leaving Room is not to be missed.

I enjoy poetry, but this was my first book written in prose, and it was incredible. The writing added so much dimension to an incredible story. So many pieces were incredibly evocative.

4 stars! 🌟

“I am the keeper named Gospel. The keeper who has lied, who has broken rules. The keeper who plays human to help the leaving.”

This book is entirely unique and in a genre of its own. Along with the flowery, poetic style writing, and elaborate comparisons this story felt like a quick but lovely fever dream. But, I liked it. I am not sure how to describe it other than that.

Thank you to Netgalley and by Feiwel & Friends for an e-arc in exchange for an honest review.

We are brought into this world with many questions, being slowly answered and explained by Gospel. Gospel is a keeper of what she refers to as the “leaving room” and she herself is a “keeper” of this room. She helps younger souls - aka children remember their most impactful memories in order to move their soul forward. One day, another keeper named Melody crosses paths with Gospel and they are stuck with one another. They start to develop feelings for each other and can’t help but what is next for them both in this unique situation.

When I read the synopsis of this book on Netgalley I was immediately intrigued. The concept of having a room to help you move from one plane in life to another is very comforting and creative. I was not expecting the writing to be so poetic. I thought the story would be more straightforward, so it took me quite some time to figure out what was taking place. I can see this being a controversial read for others. Please read at your own discretion 🙂

Seriously, this was so beautiful I had a hard time putting it down. It’s a quick read but kept me thinking days later. Amber McBride is always an author I check out and this book should not be missed. I seem to find myself gushing about her books because I’m always left in awe of her work. It was so touching and sweet. Definitely give this book a read.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the arc

“It’s easier to be a Leaver.
It’s harder to be a Stayer.”
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Gospel is the Keeper of the Leaving Room—the place where young people go after they die and before passing on. Gospel feeds them, gives them something to drink, sometimes plays a game with them and then ushers them into the next phase, but little by little she starts breaking the rules. She’s not supposed to look at Leavers’ memories, but she does. She’s not supposed to sleep but one day finds herself napping. There aren’t supposed to be doors, but one a door appears and a Keeper named Melodee arrives and the two share rooms to usher in more Leavers together, something that’s also forbidden. As the two spend more time together they begin to fall in love, but can they find a way to leave The Leaving Room where this, too, is forbidden?
🚪
Brilliant. AM this might be my favorite of yours so far. Fans of The Giver, Tuck Everlasting and other stories that buck the status quo and have characters questioning their existence and place in the world will devour this YA novel-in-verse the same way I did. Four minutes between life and death is the best tagline I’ve seen. I will be booktalking this one to death when it releases October 14. An easy 5 ⭐️!

CW: death, child death, car accident, medical trauma, grief, homophobia, trauma, hospitalization