A review by natlbugz
Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult

emotional mysterious reflective sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

5.0

TLDR: Leaving Time is a masterful exploration of grief, love, and the lengths we go to for the people we’ve lost. If you’re looking for a story that will break you and rebuild you all in the same breath, this is it. Jodi Picoult is my forever comfort author, and books like this remind me why. I’ll keep working through her extensive backlist and cherish each one. 
 
Jodi Picoult has done it again. Leaving Time is one of those books that reminds you exactly why Picoult is the queen of deeply human, emotionally charged storytelling. Every time I pick up one of her books, I know I’m going to cry, question life’s biggest mysteries, and fall in love with characters who feel as real as the people I know. 
 
This story blends a fascinating exploration of grief with a twisty, jaw-dropping mystery and just enough tenderness to break your heart. Picoult weaves together the threads of a mother’s disappearance, a daughter’s relentless search for answers, and, somehow, elephants—yes, elephants—in a way that feels so unexpected yet so perfect. 
 
The themes of grief, love, and letting go are at the heart of this story, and no one writes them quite like Picoult. She creates moments of wisdom that stop you in your tracks, like: 
 
“I wonder if, as you get older, you stop missing people so fiercely. Maybe growing up is just focusing on what you've got, instead of what you don't.” 
 
Or this one that hit me right in the feels: 
 
“Could it be as simple as that? Could love be not grand gestures or empty vows, not promises meant to be broken, but instead a paper trail of forgiveness? A line of crumbs made of memories, to lead you back to the person who was waiting?” 
And of course, the elephants. Their grief and ability to move on offer such a profound contrast to how humans handle loss. 

“One of the most amazing things about elephants mourning in the wild is their ability to grieve hard, but then truly, unequivocally, let go. Humans can't seem to do that.” 
 
The twist in this story? Absolutely stunning. Just when you think you have it all figured out, Picoult flips the entire narrative on its head in a way that feels shocking yet entirely earned. It’s the kind of twist that stays with you long after you’ve turned the last page.