Leave the World Behind: A Novel

Amanda and Clay, seeking a peaceful escape from New York City, rent a luxurious house in a remote corner of Long Island for a family vacation with their two teenage children. Their idyllic retreat is disrupted by a late-night knock on the door from Ruth and G. H., an older Black couple who claim to be the homeowners, explaining that a sudden blackout has swept the city. With no television, internet, or phone service, the vacationing family is cut off from external information, leaving them to question the truth of their unexpected guests' story and the nature of the unfolding crisis.

As the two families, strangers to each other, are forced together under the same roof, a palpable tension builds amidst the growing uncertainty of the world outside. The novel explores themes of race, class, and humanity's reliance on technology, revealing how prejudices and anxieties surface when faced with the unknown. This suspenseful narrative offers a look at how individuals cope when the familiar world begins to unravel, prompting readers to consider what truly matters when everything is left behind.