Ginny Fite

“Leave Everything You Know Behind” opens with a cold wintry scene on Lake Champlain where we meet Anne, who sees something she can’t turn away from. Like how I feel as I read each page. I connect with her quickly, then with Indira, and the command of their friendship keeps me intrigued.

It is effortless to get sucked into this raw and tender story. It unearths many emotions, moves at a good pace, and covers weighty topics. It carries themes of friendship, family, life, and loss. I must say, it’s heavier than my usual reads and triggers a bit of past trauma for me but has left a lasting impression.

First Line: Anne inhaled tart winter air deep into her lungs, savored the sensation, and leaned on her walking sticks.
Genre: Women’s Fiction
Author: Ginny Fite
Page Count: 276
Content/Trigger: Cancer

#CoverLoverBookReview received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions are 100% mine.… (més)

Leave Everything You Know Behind is another good book from talented author, Ginny Fite. I have read other works from her and enjoyed them. This one is no different. I loved getting to know Anne and Indira. I love how the two were able to bond with one another despite their differences and backgrounds. I thought it was a beautiful story of forgiveness, love, friendship, redemption and facing one's fears. With the subject matter of cancer and losing my dear husband from it, the story hard for me to read at times. There were scenes I found myself teary eyes and wanting to keep my tissues handy. Other times, I could not help but to smile and feel my heart warm. It does make one think about what would you do in these circumstances. It was interesting how the characters were able to deal with their issues. There were few secrets revealed that affected others that kept me wanting to continue to read to see how it would all end for Anne and Indira.

I am giving Leave Everything You Know Behind a very well deserved five plus stars. I highly recommend it for readers who enjoy reading Adult Women's Fiction. I would love to read more books like this one from author, Ginny Fite.

I received a paperback copy of Ginny Fite's Leave Everything You Know Behind from the publisher, but was not required to write a positive review. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.… (més)

This book explored some really hard topics. We have two women who live very different lives, are at different points in those lives, and have vastly different ideas about life and death, who are diagnosed with cancer. Anne and Indira are both given different survival outcomes. Anne is determined to live life to the fullest while Indira wants the choice to die with dignity. What started out as chance encounters eventually blossoms into a friendship which helps Indira remember reasons for being alive. I honestly thought this would be a bigger focus but it isn't. Most of the book is just each woman dealing with their diagnosis with their family. A bigger plot points was Laura trying her best to destroy Anne's family.

Each storyline had extra elements that really didn't add anything to the story and mostly just left unanswered questions. A big part of Anne's story becomes an affair she had with Colin, which doesn't play out the way Laura expects. However, we also learn that Anne has some huge secret she doesn't want revealed but we never learn what it is. I think this is a sweet story about friendship and family. However, I just wish it had been a little more in depth. The characters all felt very surface level as did most of the plot. I feel like the book had the potential to emotionally ruin me but it just never went deep enough to do it.

I feel like it's hard to comment much on this one because it didn't feel like anything happened. The action that took place all kind of felt rushed. I did enjoy that both Anne and Indira were at vastly different places in their lives. Indira wanting to die and Anne wanting to live also made for an interesting plot. I loved that Indira became such a good friend for Anne, but in reality Anne became so much more to Indira. I just wish the story had given us more of their friendship or anything. The big issue really was trivial in the end and so it just felt disappointing.… (més)

Time is irrelevant in Irene's story. She wakes in a field, later in a hospital bed, remembers her family, recalls her time in school, remembers the accident, and tells memories of her past with her separated parents. The story is written in the present tense - a personal preference - which further demonstrates time is irrelevant in life, only the experiences in the moment. And Irene has a life lesson every time. The story is heartbreaking and soul-touching, showing the interpretation of 'the ways of life'. The book gives off peace, anger, and sadness as the content includes acceptance, violence, abuse, and neglect. This book is not for young readers.


I received a free copy and am leaving a review voluntarily.
Thank you to Hidden Gems Books and author.… (més)