Most Anticipated Summer Books: Electric Literature
Praise for Leave and Come Back
“Prepare to be dazzled… Lakshmi packs her debut with all the swoonworthy romance, family drama and hilarious antics of your favorite Bollywood film… [A] beautiful debut about returning home, making peace with old familial wounds and finding love.”—BookPage
“Sparkling.. The novel turns grief and misunderstandings into life-affirming renewal.”—Christian Science Monitor
“A charming and funny debut that asks what it means to be open to love and how to be present while honoring the past.”—Electric Literature
“Debut novelist Lakshmi masterfully meets the challenge of such big topics… and readers will embrace the entire flawed but beloved family with ease. With memories, Bollywood references, love, and loss, all conveyed in vibrant detail, Lakshmi’s tale is an excellent choice for book discussions and readers who will enjoy a culturally vibrant ‘rom-com-fam-dram.”—Booklist
“[Leave and Come Back] rise[s] to the level of Austen’s devastatingly accurate reads on how tightly connected communities celebrate, argue, mourn, and forgive. A warm, witty comedy of manners in which family members matter as much as the marriage plot.”—Kirkus
“Readers will find themselves as drawn into the range of distinct characters in Simran’s family as Leo is… The romance is sweet and tender, and the shenanigans [make] the ending feel truly earned. With this delightful debut, Lakshmi shows great promise in the romance/family drama world.”—Shelf Awareness
“Leave and Come Back is a delightful romance that expertly blends humor and heart. Every relationship pulses with warmth. The light from the Iyer house pops off the page and envelops the reader. It’s fantastic to see a South Indian family so lovingly portrayed.”—Lilly’s Library
“Bright and light even as Lakshmi explores grief, second chances, and the mixed blessing of cultural and familial expectations.”—The Modern Mrs. Darcy
“Fun. . . . Lakshmi sets up a lot of meaty character conflicts and disparate desires among her large cast.”—Publishers Weekly
“Leave and Come Back is a gorgeous debut – wildly romantic, wise, and deeply redemptive. This was a five-star read for me.”—Annabel Monaghan, New York Times bestselling author of It’s A Love Story
“Leave and Come Back is a phenomenal debut. I cannot remember the last time I smiled this much while reading! Prepare to fall in love with the entire cast of characters while Lakshmi expertly weaves humour, heart, and tenderness onto every page.” —Hannah Bonam-Young, New York Times bestselling author of People Watching
“Hilarious and deeply romantic, Leave and Come Back is a gorgeous exploration of grief, culture, and community. Lakshmi’s heartfelt debut reminds us that home isn’t just a place; it’s the people who hold space for us when we leave, and the knowledge that we can always go back.”—Regina Black, USA Today bestselling author of August Lane
“Leave & Come Back is the kind of book that stays with you forever. Lavanya Lakshmi has created characters who feel so real it’s like you can hear their hearts beating through the page. A deeply moving, supremely witty, simply phenomenal debut.”—Jessica Joyce, USA Today bestselling author of You, with a View and The Ex Vows
“Leave and Come Back is a sweet, funny, and refreshing debut. Lavanya Lakshmi has written a beautiful story celebrating South Asian culture, family, and what it means to be in love.”— Joss Richard, international bestselling author of It’s Different This Time
