{"product_id":"leave-and-come-back","title":"Leave and Come Back","description":"\n\u003ctable align=\"center\" border=\"0\" cellpadding=\"2\" cellspacing=\"0\" width=\"100%\"\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd class=\"productDetailSmallElements\"\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eBiographical Note\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eLavanya Lakshmi\u003c\/b\u003e has lived in nine cities across India, China, the US, and Canada. One of her many childhood homes was a suite on the 37th floor of a luxury hotel. She earned a Master's degree from NYU and lived in New York City for nine years before moving to Toronto, where she currently resides, despite being a very vocal hater of cold weather. She has worked in and around book publishing her whole career. \n\u003ci\u003eLeave and Come Back\u003c\/i\u003e is her first novel.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Quotes\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eMost Anticipated Summer Books: \u003ci\u003eElectric Literature \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003ePraise for \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003eLeave and Come Back\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"Prepare to be dazzled... Lakshmi packs her debut with all the swoonworthy romance, family drama and hilarious antics of your favorite Bollywood film... [A] beautiful debut about returning home, making peace with old familial wounds and finding love.\" \n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--BookPage\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Sparkling.. The novel turns grief and misunderstandings into life-affirming renewal.\" \n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--\u003c\/i\u003eC\u003ci\u003ehristian Science Monitor\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"A charming and funny debut that asks what it means to be open to love and how to be present while honoring the past.\" \n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--Electric Literature\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Debut novelist Lakshmi masterfully meets the challenge of such big topics... and readers will embrace the entire flawed but beloved family with ease. With memories, Bollywood references, love, and loss, all conveyed in vibrant detail, Lakshmi's tale is an excellent choice for book discussions and readers who will enjoy a culturally vibrant 'rom-com-fam-dram.\" \n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--Booklist\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"[ \n\u003ci\u003eLeave and Come Back\u003c\/i\u003e] rise[s] to the level of Austen's devastatingly accurate reads on how tightly connected communities celebrate, argue, mourn, and forgive. A warm, witty comedy of manners in which family members matter as much as the marriage plot.\" \n\u003ci\u003e--\u003cb\u003eKirkus\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\"An endearing, laugh-out-loud family portrait that examines grief and cross-generational relationships. Sometimes to fall in love you just have to come back home.\" \n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--Shelf Awareness\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\" \n\u003ci\u003eLeave and Come Back\u003c\/i\u003e is a delightful romance that expertly blends humor and heart. Every relationship pulses with warmth. The light from the Iyer house pops off the page and envelops the reader. It's fantastic to see a South Indian family so lovingly portrayed.\" \n\u003ci\u003e\u003cb\u003e--\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cb\u003eLilly's Library\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003ci\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\"Bright and light even as Lakshmi explores grief, second chances, and the mixed blessing of cultural and familial expectations.\" \n\u003cb\u003e\u003ci\u003e--The Modern Mrs. Darcy\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Fun. . . . Lakshmi sets up a lot of meaty character conflicts and disparate desires among her large cast.\" \n\u003ci\u003e--\u003cb\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\" \n\u003ci\u003eLeave and Come Back\u003c\/i\u003e is a gorgeous debut - wildly romantic, wise, and deeply redemptive. This was a five-star read for me.\"-- \n\u003cb\u003eAnnabel Monaghan, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003eIt's A Love Story\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\" \n\u003ci\u003eLeave and Come Back\u003c\/i\u003e is a phenomenal debut. I cannot remember the last time I smiled this much while reading! Prepare to fall in love with the entire cast of characters while Lakshmi expertly weaves humour, heart, and tenderness onto every page.\" \n\u003cb\u003e--Hannah Bonam-Young, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003ePeople Watching\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\"Hilarious and deeply romantic, \n\u003ci\u003eLeave and Come Back\u003c\/i\u003e is a gorgeous exploration of grief, culture, and community. Lakshmi's heartfelt debut reminds us that home isn't just a place; it's the people who hold space for us when we leave, and the knowledge that we can always go back.\" \n\u003cb\u003e--Regina Black, \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eAugust Lane\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\" \n\u003ci\u003eLeave \u0026amp; Come Back\u003c\/i\u003e is the kind of book that stays with you forever. Lavanya Lakshmi has created characters who feel so real it's like you can hear their hearts beating through the page. A deeply moving, supremely witty, simply phenomenal debut.\" \n\u003cb\u003e--Jessica Joyce, \u003ci\u003eUSA Today\u003c\/i\u003e bestselling author of \u003ci\u003eYou, with a View \u003c\/i\u003eand \u003ci\u003eThe Ex Vows \u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ci\u003e\"Leave and Come Back \u003c\/i\u003eis a sweet, funny, and refreshing debut. Lavanya Lakshmi has written a beautiful story celebrating South Asian culture, family, and what it means to be in love.\" \n\u003cb\u003e-- Joss Richard, international bestselling author of\u003ci\u003e It's Different This Time\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003ePublisher Marketing\u003c\/strong\u003e:\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cb\u003e\"\u003ci\u003eLeave and Come Back\u003c\/i\u003e is a phenomenal debut. Prepare to fall in love with the entire cast of characters while Lakshmi expertly weaves humor, heart, and tenderness onto every page.\" --Hannah Bonam-Young, \u003ci\u003eNew York Times \u003c\/i\u003ebestselling author of \u003ci\u003ePeople Watching\u003c\/i\u003e\u003c\/b\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003ci\u003eYou're invited to the most romantic, chaotic wedding of the season\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFor the first time, Simran Gopal is living out her own swoon-worthy romance to rival the beloved Bollywood films of her childhood... until she receives her cousin's wedding invitation. Now, Simran finds herself returning to the family home she's been avoiding for the last seven years to take part in a two-week long Indian wedding. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFamily drama is already at a high when Leo Bridgers, Simran \n\u003ci\u003e'\u003c\/i\u003es new boyfriend, accidentally crashes the engagement party. To avoid full crisis mode and provoking the ire of Veena perima, Simran's aunt and judgmental family matriarch, the cousins need to rally. Commence: Operation \n\u003ci\u003eDDLJ.\u003c\/i\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFollowing the lead of their favorite Bollywood movie, they need to trick Veena into adoring Leo. In a mess of misdirection and hijinks, Leo must prove himself to be the most charming, helpful wedding guest imaginable, and he certainly can't give away that he's ever met--let alone is currently in love with--Simran. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eFor Simran, being back with her family also brings up memories of the difficult years after her parents died. As old grievances and new secrets arise--with nosy aunties always watching--Simran must find a way to heal her wounds or risk losing her happy ending with Leo \n\u003ci\u003eand \u003c\/i\u003eher family. \n\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003eCharming, tender, and hilarious, \n\u003ci\u003eLeave and Come Back\u003c\/i\u003e asks what it means to open up to love, what makes a family, and how to honor the past while embracing the present.\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eReview Citations:\u003c\/strong\u003e\n\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003ePublishers Weekly\u003c\/span\u003e 04\/13\/2026 (EAN 9780593834220, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eKirkus Reviews\u003c\/span\u003e 05\/15\/2026 (EAN 9780593834220, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eBooklist\u003c\/span\u003e 06\/01\/2026 (EAN 9780593834220, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003e\n\u003cspan class=\"italic\"\u003eShelf Awareness\u003c\/span\u003e 12\/30\/0001 (EAN 9780593834220, Hardcover)\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n","brand":"Pamela Dorman Books","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":51496242315542,"sku":"9780593834220","price":36.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0857\/9910\/8886\/files\/9780593834220.jpg?v=1783057994","url":"https:\/\/lusper.myshopify.com\/products\/leave-and-come-back","provider":"Lusperbooks","version":"1.0","type":"link"}