Type of read: Commuter Read.

What made me pick it up: Picoult is a regular on my TBR and I read both 'Where There's Smoke' and 'Larger Than Life' earlier this year.

Overall rating: I'm so happy I read 'Where There's Smoke' and 'Larger Than Life' before getting into 'Leaving Time.' It gives you a good perspective and baseline to the story so you know what you're getting into, especially if you read some of the other reviews and wonder where all the different perspectives, character backgrounds, and supplemental information come from. I won't lie, I know I'm biased when it comes to Picoult's books. Even their worst book would still be incredibly readable in my opinion. But there's something about 'Leaving Time' that scratches a reading itch. You've got love, you've got heartbreak, you've got mystery and intrigue, you've got deception, and an adventure to find answers. I do think there's part of 'Leaving Time' that leans a bit more to the 'The Book of Two Ways' side of their writing than 'A Spark of Light' or 'My Sister's Keeper' side of writing, simply due to the scientific nature of the content and the backgrounds of the characters. That's not to say it's bad, it's just not going to be the style for everyone. I don't think it comes as any surprise that I'd recommend 'Leaving Time,' just with the caveat that while it comes from one of my favorite authors, I don't feel as though it's their best work. Although there were still quite a few times I couldn't stop turning the page!

I'd say the rating is closer to a 3.5 than a 4. And I do think it's important to echo the words of another reviewer, if you're not into elephants and don't want to learn about elephants, this is not the book for you.

Reader's Note:  'Leaving Time' includes themes of domestic physical abuse, mental illness, suicide - including method, infidelity, death, abandonment, and the supernatural.