Beautifully written tale of two women who met by chance and forever changed each other's lives. Told in two timelines, If You Leave captures a story of Audrey and Lucille against a backdrop of WWII and then again in the 70s. It captures the motifs of motherhood, family and abandonment which take you on an emotional journey.
The characters felt real, their relationships complex and imperfect, their actions sometimes frustrating and other times evoking sympathy. I think that the author crafted a captivating story which flows slowly yet it is hard to put down and in a way, it leaves you haunted.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an e-ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review.

If You Leave is a quietly powerful debut that probes the difficult choices women make around love, art, and motherhood. With empathetic insight and beautifully measured prose, Margaret Hutton builds a story that lingers—an elegiac portrait of how we carry departure and return within our lives.

Highly recommended for lovers of historical fiction with emotional subtlety, and anyone interested in stories of female identity grappling with loss and commitment.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ 5/5 STARS!
beautifully written story about two women who cross paths and end up on a journey of their own complex stories, a journey they go through alone and together. it is deep, intimate, emotional, and overall, a poignant read about being a woman and wanting to be seen. the characters here feel so real, raw, and relatable. i think that's wherein the power of the story lies.

i am truly at a loss for how good and powerful this was. this book is for one of those days you need a good cry, for sure! the author's writing is immersive, compelling, and captivating. while some may find this a bit of a slow read, it's perfect as is. from start to finish, it is breathtaking.

you don't even HAVE to ask if i would recommend this, because YES! hands down, would recommend this. i think this is a book i will reflect on for quite some time. and i think it would be one that others would agree on as well.

thank you to Regal House Publishing for allowing me the opportunity to read an advanced copy via NetGalley. i leave this review of my own volition. all thoughts and opinions are my own.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily. A beautiful historical novel of the bond between two women over the course of many years. I loved the character development in this book and the beautiful descriptive way each scene was set for me as the reader. I am all about stories where women realize how empowered they can be so this one had me so giddy inside. Friendship is never easy and this books reinforces that in so many ways.

Your husband is overseas during WWII. You rent a room to a mysterious woman. Years later they meet up again. A wonderful story of friendship.

"If You Leave" by Margaret Hutton is a beautifully written novel that explores the complexities of motherhood, friendship, and art. The story follows Audrey and Lucille, two friends whose bond is tested by secrets and impossible requests. With lyrical prose, Hutton masterfully captures the longing and vulnerability of her characters, set against the backdrop of wartime Washington, DC. This sweeping narrative spans decades, delving into themes of betrayal, forgiveness, and the delicate balance of female relationships. With its emotional depth and nuanced characterization, "If You Leave" is a captivating read that will resonate with fans of literary fiction and character-driven stories ¹.

'If You Leave' is a story that beautifully reflects on the complexity and potential loneliness of pregnancy, motherhood, and life in general. The story follows two women, Audrey and Lucille, who reconnect by chance and become roommates/friends during WWII and the readers are treated to a back and forth their lives during 1944 and 1973. We see the struggles, the secrets, the fear, and the joy these women share throughout this thirty year period.
Margaret Hutton's written imagery is some of the most beautiful I have read. I highlighted quite a few sentences just because of their pure beauty, that of which I have rarely seen on the page in other novels. Scenes that I did not think were essential to the plot suddenly became especially vivid and truly transported me to the time and place.
I also just want to state how absolutely beautiful I find the cover. That is was I was drawn to the most when selecting this book to read. Everything about it is extremely enticing.
I rated this a 3.5 leaning toward a 4 star, mainly due to the writing, not necessarily the plot/character development.

As mentioned above, I wanted to highlight a few of the quotes that will stick with me:

"'Yes, I just got a letter from him. After I read it, I felt like I'd eaten a meal but without any salt. I was full from hearing his voice, but unsatisfied without him beside me.'"

"And then there was the name defined. Lake: water in the middle of land, cut off from any source. Of great depths, always seeking the darkest place, in the heaviness of the earth."

"She had been thinking of a self-portrait, but hadn't decided between leaving the page blank--because she couldn't find herself--or blacking it out with charcoal for the same reason."

Our story begins at the beginning of WWII, Audrey's new husband has just been sent overseas, leaving his mother's huge house empty. Audrey decides to take on boarders to fill the loneliness. An unlikely friendship, and secrets, are grown within these spaces. Over the course of three decades, we embark on a journey with Audrey and Lucille as they navigate raising Lucille's daughter, and how their lives fit, or don't fit together.

First and foremost, impeccable writing. Hutton brings the reader into the fold. We are living in the home with both these women; we are facing their deepest struggles and desires as we try to navigate their lives and choices that will follow them forever.

It's a slow burn. There's not a ton happening, but when it does, it's remarkable and effortless. I felt for these characters on a much deeper level, and I haven't had a novel quite reach that point in the last year. These women are broken, but relatable and make decisions that regular, normal people would make, whether they are right or wrong.

Although the reader learns the "secret" well before our protagonist does, the pacing is perfect, watching Audrey face this over the course of the novel was not rushed or painstakingly slow.

For me, the themes of independence v. codependence, love v lust, motherhood v childlessness, were so poignant and well done. As a reader who cannot relate to themes of motherhood, I felt for these women regardless of my childlessness.

Well done. I would read anything by this author again.

I want to thank NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.

I loved If You Leave for its quiet power and emotional depth. Margaret Hutton captures the heartbreak and hope woven into motherhood, friendship, and art. It’s a beautifully written story that lingers long after you finish.

If You Leave is an intimate, emotionally nuanced narrative about the compromises women make—for love, family, and themselves. Hutton’s strength lies in crafting genuine, multi‑layered characters and exploring how a single act of abandonment reverberates across decades. While the pacing is reflective and the secondary plotlines may leave you wanting more detail, the novel’s quiet emotional power, lyrical prose, and moral complexity will resonate with fans of character‑driven historical fiction.

‘If You Leave’ by Margaret Hutton is beautifully written. This engrossing novel flows smoothly like a river on a Spring day. Its rhythm is quiet and comforting.

It tackles friendship, art, love, motherhood, complex human relationships, raw honesty, and at times shame in a most graceful manner.

Many thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the e-ARC of this captivating read.

This is actually a very unique story that starts against the backdrop of the second world war and spans to about thirty years afterwards. It tells the story of two friends who actually had a falling out over a situation but after some time away from each other they realized that their old friendship was actually the strongest bond that they had. I for one enjoyed reading this story because it was different from other books that I had read in the past. Margaret Hutton did such an amazing job at crafting the story. I will have to look into read more books of hers in the future..

3.75 rounded off to 4 stars!

"if you leave" is quiet, emotional, and kinda haunting in the best way. it’s one of those books that doesn’t scream at you, it just slowly sinks into your chest and stays there.

the story explores love, loss, and the hard parts of moving on. the writing is soft but powerful, and the emotions feel real, like the kind of pain you don’t always talk about but definitely feel. margaret hutton has this gentle way of writing that makes even the saddest parts feel beautiful. it’s not a fast-paced book, but it doesn’t need to be. it’s more about the characters and the little moments that change everything. perfect if you're in the mood for something reflective and bittersweet.

this one’s for when you're feeling a little quiet yourself, or just need a good cry and some healing after! ^__^