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Book Cover - Leave the World Behind

Review – Leave the World Behind

Posted on September 12, 2026

Leave the World Behind. By Rumaan Alam. 2020.

Psychological thriller. Apocalyptic fiction. Mystery. Drama.

A family’s vacation is upended when two strangers arrive with news of a mysterious unfolding disaster, forcing both families to survive a collapsing world they cannot understand. 

The vibe here is that of a dream turning into a nightmare. Two families, previously strangers, share a house that is cut off from the outside world while something serious appears to be happening. Exactly what that is is something they do not understand and are powerless to correct or control.

The voice in this story is that of once-confident people who are realizing that they are in over their heads and may be in the process of losing everything.

I discovered this story while writing Noah, a novel that has many similarities. However, in my story, one character understands what is happening. But he is not at liberty to say what that is.

AUTHORS – Contact me through my website if you want to swap chapters with a well-read critique partner.

Tags

apocalyptic fiction, book review, Julia Barer, psychological thriller, Rumaan Alam, The Book Group

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