THE LEAVING ROOM, by Amber McBride, Feiwel & Friends, Oct. 14, 2025, Hardcover, $19.99 (young adult)
Amber McBride’s The Leaving Room is a hopeful YA novel-in-verse about a girl in between life and death.
Gospel is the Keeper of the Leaving Room―a place all young people must phase through when they die. The young are never ready to leave; they need a moment to remember and a Keeper to help their wispy souls along.
When a random door opens and a Keeper named Melodee arrives, their souls become entangled. Gospel’s seriousness melts and Melodee’s fear of connection fades, but still―are Keepers allowed to fall in love? Now they must find a way out of the Leaving Room and be unafraid of their love. —Synopsis provided by Feiwel & Friends
There’s a reason The Leaving Room is a National Book Award finalist. It’s one of those “Wow” books that constantly has you thinking and rethinking.
There’s so much to The Leaving Room that it’s hard to pinpoint feelings. It’s a book you need to sit with.
Not only is author Amber McBride’s plotline noteworthy, but how it plays out through her thoughtful verse is spectacular. McBride’s pacing, her ebbs and flows, and her feeling sit within a sparse framework that captures the human spirit.
This quiet exploration of the moments between life and death is beautiful. I can’t recommend The Leaving Room enough.
Copyright © 2025 Cracking the Cover. Unless otherwise noted, all books — digital and physical — have been provided by publishers in exchange for honest and unbiased reviews. All thoughts and opinions are those of the reviewer.
