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We Can Never Leave
Sweet Tooth meets The Raven Boys in this queer young adult contemporary fantasy about what it means to belong from H.E. Edgmon.
You can never go home…
Every day, all across the world, inhuman creatures are waking up with no memory of who they are or where they came from–and the Caravan exists to help them. The traveling community is made up of these very creatures and their families who’ve acclimated to this new existence by finding refuge in each other. That is, until the morning five teenage travelers wake to find their community has disappeared around them overnight.
Those left: a half-human who only just ran back to the Caravan with their tail between their legs, two brothers–one who can’t seem to stay out of trouble and the other who’s never been brave enough to get in it, a venomous girl with blood on her hands and a heart of gold, and the Caravan’s newest addition, a disquieting shadow in the shape of a boy. They’ll have to work together to figure out what happened the night of the disappearance, but each one of the forsaken five is white-knuckling their own secrets. And with each truth forced to light, it becomes clear this isn’t really about what happened to their people–it’s about what happened to them.
You can never go home…
Every day, all across the world, inhuman creatures are waking up with no memory of who they are or where they came from–and the Caravan exists to help them. The traveling community is made up of these very creatures and their families who’ve acclimated to this new existence by finding refuge in each other. That is, until the morning five teenage travelers wake to find their community has disappeared around them overnight.
Those left: a half-human who only just ran back to the Caravan with their tail between their legs, two brothers–one who can’t seem to stay out of trouble and the other who’s never been brave enough to get in it, a venomous girl with blood on her hands and a heart of gold, and the Caravan’s newest addition, a disquieting shadow in the shape of a boy. They’ll have to work together to figure out what happened the night of the disappearance, but each one of the forsaken five is white-knuckling their own secrets. And with each truth forced to light, it becomes clear this isn’t really about what happened to their people–it’s about what happened to them.
320 pages, Hardcover
First published June 10, 2025
32 people are currently reading
11992 people want to read
About the author
H.E. Edgmon
11 books833 followersH.E. Edgmon (he/they) is a high school and college dropout, a militant queer, and an author of books both irreverent and radicalizing. His stories will always center the perspective of Indigenous people, trans people, and survivors of trauma. At present, he’s probably biting off more than he can chew, emulating the aesthetic of Dwayne from The Lost Boys (1987), and living out the found family trope in Brooklyn. Online, he can most often be found on Twitter @heedgmon.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 144 reviews
May 15, 2025
You Can Leave… but you might just want to come back. 🐾🌀
We Can Never Leave by H.E. Edgmon is a shape-shifter of a novel, equal parts fantasy, mystery, and found-family feels, all wrapped in a queer coming-of-age tale that howls with heart.
I'll admit it: I'm not usually one to sink my teeth into fantasy (Sweet Tooth pun very much intended), but this one lured me in like a siren song... or maybe a shadow-boy with secrets. The concept is killer: inhuman creatures with no memory of their origins, all banding together in a roaming community called the Caravan. But when five teens wake to find the entire Caravan gone without a trace, things get vanish-y real fast.
What follows is a story that unfolds like a deck of tarot cards, each chapter flipping between different characters and timelines. With multiple POVs and frequent flashbacks, it was sometimes hard to keep track of who was who and when was when. I’m not usually a fan of that format, and yeah, I got a little tangled in the narrative threads. But the mystery at the heart of it all, what happened to the Caravan, and what’s each character hiding? Kept me curious to the last page.
Each character in the forsaken five carries their own emotional luggage (no light packing here), and their secrets unravel slowly, like a tail curling out of a hiding spot. There’s venom and vulnerability, troublemakers and truth-seekers, and one especially eerie shadow who gives off big unsettling energy. The book does a solid job of exploring themes like identity, trauma, and belonging, all while being delightfully weird and wildly original.
Overall, while the story structure threw me off at times, the idea itself had claws. This is one Caravan ride that may leave you disoriented, but not unmoved.
👁️ 👁️ 👁️ out of 5 – for the slow reveal of truth and hidden identities.
We Can Never Leave by H.E. Edgmon is a shape-shifter of a novel, equal parts fantasy, mystery, and found-family feels, all wrapped in a queer coming-of-age tale that howls with heart.
I'll admit it: I'm not usually one to sink my teeth into fantasy (Sweet Tooth pun very much intended), but this one lured me in like a siren song... or maybe a shadow-boy with secrets. The concept is killer: inhuman creatures with no memory of their origins, all banding together in a roaming community called the Caravan. But when five teens wake to find the entire Caravan gone without a trace, things get vanish-y real fast.
What follows is a story that unfolds like a deck of tarot cards, each chapter flipping between different characters and timelines. With multiple POVs and frequent flashbacks, it was sometimes hard to keep track of who was who and when was when. I’m not usually a fan of that format, and yeah, I got a little tangled in the narrative threads. But the mystery at the heart of it all, what happened to the Caravan, and what’s each character hiding? Kept me curious to the last page.
Each character in the forsaken five carries their own emotional luggage (no light packing here), and their secrets unravel slowly, like a tail curling out of a hiding spot. There’s venom and vulnerability, troublemakers and truth-seekers, and one especially eerie shadow who gives off big unsettling energy. The book does a solid job of exploring themes like identity, trauma, and belonging, all while being delightfully weird and wildly original.
Overall, while the story structure threw me off at times, the idea itself had claws. This is one Caravan ride that may leave you disoriented, but not unmoved.
👁️ 👁️ 👁️ out of 5 – for the slow reveal of truth and hidden identities.
December 26, 2024
I received a free copy of, We Can Never Leave, by H.E. Edgmon, from the publisher and Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. Five half humans are left to figure out what happened to everyone else, but they all have their own secrets. Im not normally a fan of fantasy, but this was different.
May 22, 2025
Special thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for a free, electronic ARC of this novel received in exchange for an honest review.
Expected publication date: June 10, 2025
’s newest YA, contemporary fantasy novel, “” is evocative, heartbreaking and page-turning.
The Caravan is a collection of misfits- individuals that the human world has rejected, due to their eccentric appearances or mystical powers. With very little memories of what happened to them and how they got there, the Caravan is a found family for those who are seeking a safe place to land. One day, five teenagers from the Caravan wake up and discover that everyone else is gone. Completely abandoned, with nothing but their strong dislike for each other, the five teenagers decide to set out in search of the only home they’ve ever known only to discover that home is not necessarily a place, but the people you surround yourself with.
“” has a very cool magical component, with half-animal, half-human creatures and teenagers with the ability to set fires and turn into shadows all described with powerful and poetic language. “Leave” is atmospheric and character driven, with all of the protagonists narrating their own stories, both before they were abandoned and afterward.
All of the main characters are edgy and awkward, set apart from their peers due to their uniquely strange appearance or abilities but, due to being sensitive, moody teenagers, they don’t necessarily get along with each other, either. I loved the complicated and angsty relationships that the main characters had, and I enjoyed experiencing their extreme ups and downs, only made more intense by their ability to, literally, cause chaos and destruction.
I was intrigued by the Caravan and how they “collected” their members and, although Edgmon did provide some background, I wanted more, more, more. I hope that Edgmon brings these characters to life again in a prequel, or perhaps takes each character and creates an individual story for each of them, delving more in-depth into their upbringings before and after the Caravan came around. For me, this was the most interesting part and there was not enough detail to satisfy my unending curiousity.
Edgmon makes a connection with readers through their honest and authentic portrayal of the main characters. As the plot unfolds, it is obvious that something mysterious hides just below the surface, but the final, jaw-dropping twist doesn’t come into play until the final pages and it packs a heck of a punch.
“Leave” is the only novel I’ve read by Edgmon, but it has definitely left an impression. I really hope to see more not only from Edgmon, but from this world of Caravan misfits.
Expected publication date: June 10, 2025
’s newest YA, contemporary fantasy novel, “” is evocative, heartbreaking and page-turning.
The Caravan is a collection of misfits- individuals that the human world has rejected, due to their eccentric appearances or mystical powers. With very little memories of what happened to them and how they got there, the Caravan is a found family for those who are seeking a safe place to land. One day, five teenagers from the Caravan wake up and discover that everyone else is gone. Completely abandoned, with nothing but their strong dislike for each other, the five teenagers decide to set out in search of the only home they’ve ever known only to discover that home is not necessarily a place, but the people you surround yourself with.
“” has a very cool magical component, with half-animal, half-human creatures and teenagers with the ability to set fires and turn into shadows all described with powerful and poetic language. “Leave” is atmospheric and character driven, with all of the protagonists narrating their own stories, both before they were abandoned and afterward.
All of the main characters are edgy and awkward, set apart from their peers due to their uniquely strange appearance or abilities but, due to being sensitive, moody teenagers, they don’t necessarily get along with each other, either. I loved the complicated and angsty relationships that the main characters had, and I enjoyed experiencing their extreme ups and downs, only made more intense by their ability to, literally, cause chaos and destruction.
I was intrigued by the Caravan and how they “collected” their members and, although Edgmon did provide some background, I wanted more, more, more. I hope that Edgmon brings these characters to life again in a prequel, or perhaps takes each character and creates an individual story for each of them, delving more in-depth into their upbringings before and after the Caravan came around. For me, this was the most interesting part and there was not enough detail to satisfy my unending curiousity.
Edgmon makes a connection with readers through their honest and authentic portrayal of the main characters. As the plot unfolds, it is obvious that something mysterious hides just below the surface, but the final, jaw-dropping twist doesn’t come into play until the final pages and it packs a heck of a punch.
“Leave” is the only novel I’ve read by Edgmon, but it has definitely left an impression. I really hope to see more not only from Edgmon, but from this world of Caravan misfits.
January 17, 2025
I just do not think that this book was for me. The writing was good, but I got very lost in all of the points of views. It was bouncing from character to character every chapter and it got mixed up for me. I thought they all had good thoughts and complexities to them, but it felt very difficult to concentrate on each person and the overarching plot. I found myself skimming often, and could not invest myself into the book like I initially thought I would be able to. The idea was really good, I loved the outcasts, but I felt like it got too mixed up in the end.
I appreciate the publisher reaching out to me in exchange for an honest review.
I appreciate the publisher reaching out to me in exchange for an honest review.
February 21, 2025
i think this book was right up my alley with the queer rep and outcasts, characters of which i always favor in literally anything, and i truly did like all the characters, but it felt confusing sometimes with the many povs, although i understand that it’s crucial for the layout of the story.
it was different for me as someone trying to branch out into more fantasy books, and i honestly had a good time. i dont have much bad to say, maybe it felt a tiny bit dull at times but other than that i enjoyed it!
thank you netgalley and st. martin’s press for the arc in exchange for my honest review!!
it was different for me as someone trying to branch out into more fantasy books, and i honestly had a good time. i dont have much bad to say, maybe it felt a tiny bit dull at times but other than that i enjoyed it!
thank you netgalley and st. martin’s press for the arc in exchange for my honest review!!
January 8, 2025
this book is so confusing the narrator has to keep pausing the story to blatantly tell you information and it’s STILL confusing
June 10, 2025
Safety info, content warnings and tropes down below.
I’m not quite sure what to say about this one. I loved the whole premise, the characters were interesting and pretty distinct, the writing was solid, and I adored the narration. Yet, the actual execution of the story itself was lacking. I’m not sure I can explain exactly how or why. While I can see why the author set up the story like they did, the confusing effect of the timeline and mystery went beyond giving that exact effect, and instead it seemed to sort of lose its way. I was more confused than I was supposed to be, I think.
There was certainly lots to love, and the concept is really clever. It just didn’t quite pull it off. Sometimes I just felt dumb, so maybe it’s entirely a me-thing.
Felix was my favorite character. It was a lot of fun to get his POV plenty throughout. Surprisingly, the ending actually made me cry. I wasn’t expecting that.
Maybe eyeball reading this book would improve some of the confusion, but the narration was a big part of my enjoyment, so I’m not sure what’s ‘best’. I certainly recommend listening to the book narrated by the talented Vico Ortiz if you’re planning on reading this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for this audio ARC.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Teenagers
Fantasy
Queer fiction
Nonbinary character?
Mystery
Themes of faith
Neurodivergent character
Non-hunam characters
Trans character
Everyone is crushing on everyone
Mystery
Thriller
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Graphic violence
Themes of religion
Accidental misgendering
Details of MC being kept hidden and abused as a child
Mild and brief sexual content
Underage drinking
MC deadnamed on page
Death of pet fish (on page)
Mention of suicidal ideation
Brief mention of cannibalism
Vague references to maybe-murder/suicide
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: N/A
Other person drama: N/A
Breakup: N/A
POV: 3rd person, multi
Genre: Queer mystery thriller
Pairing: N/A
Strict roles or versatile: N/A
Main characters’ age: Varied, teenagers
Series: Standalone
Kindle Unlimited: No
Pages: 320
Happy ending: No, somewhat open
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well:
I’m not quite sure what to say about this one. I loved the whole premise, the characters were interesting and pretty distinct, the writing was solid, and I adored the narration. Yet, the actual execution of the story itself was lacking. I’m not sure I can explain exactly how or why. While I can see why the author set up the story like they did, the confusing effect of the timeline and mystery went beyond giving that exact effect, and instead it seemed to sort of lose its way. I was more confused than I was supposed to be, I think.
There was certainly lots to love, and the concept is really clever. It just didn’t quite pull it off. Sometimes I just felt dumb, so maybe it’s entirely a me-thing.
Felix was my favorite character. It was a lot of fun to get his POV plenty throughout. Surprisingly, the ending actually made me cry. I wasn’t expecting that.
Maybe eyeball reading this book would improve some of the confusion, but the narration was a big part of my enjoyment, so I’m not sure what’s ‘best’. I certainly recommend listening to the book narrated by the talented Vico Ortiz if you’re planning on reading this book.
Thank you to NetGalley and RBmedia for this audio ARC.
Blanket spoiler warning ⬇️
⚠️ Tropes & content tags ⚠️
Teenagers
Fantasy
Queer fiction
Nonbinary character?
Mystery
Themes of faith
Neurodivergent character
Non-hunam characters
Trans character
Everyone is crushing on everyone
Mystery
Thriller
⚠️ Content warning ⚠️
Graphic violence
Themes of religion
Accidental misgendering
Details of MC being kept hidden and abused as a child
Mild and brief sexual content
Underage drinking
MC deadnamed on page
Death of pet fish (on page)
Mention of suicidal ideation
Brief mention of cannibalism
Vague references to maybe-murder/suicide
⚠️Book safety ⚠️
Cheating: N/A
Other person drama: N/A
Breakup: N/A
POV: 3rd person, multi
Genre: Queer mystery thriller
Pairing: N/A
Strict roles or versatile: N/A
Main characters’ age: Varied, teenagers
Series: Standalone
Kindle Unlimited: No
Pages: 320
Happy ending: No, somewhat open
You can find most of my reviews on Instagram as well:
December 13, 2024
Queer rep, young adult, contemporary fantasy! A perfect mix! This novel leaves you reeling and wanting to see more!
Secrets, found family, and an interesting mystery! I loved seeing how this story unfolded and the characters all will steal your heart!
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Secrets, found family, and an interesting mystery! I loved seeing how this story unfolded and the characters all will steal your heart!
5⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
June 4, 2025
A group of kids wake up in the morning and find their campsite empty of all adults. They aren't typical teens, they have traits both their personality and physically of animals. They woke up one day and were just, suddenly, part animal and part human with no memory of any time before. So these missing adults are a really big deal in their world - they provide money, guidance, and community. They decide to pack up their RV and head to the only place they know their adults might have gone - to another group in WA just like them.
But this group of kids are a mess with each other. The story tried to say that these kids had known each other for a while but they seemed to barely know each other. One of their party, Hugo, was nothing short of a bully and he said awful, horrible, hateful things to them the whole time.
I liked the idea of this story. The premise was interesting and the curiosity as to what was going on drove me until about the 50% mark, But by then, there had been multiple weird occurrences with not a single one of them even trying to figure out what was going on. They were just drama. They were just Hugo flying off the handle and being mean to everyone. It was so hard to read and so hard to keep going, knowing they had no defense against him and that he would just do it again and again, hurt them over and over. By 75%, there was still no progress and their arguing and hurting each other just wasn't fun anymore. I wish I'd liked this one more but I couldn't take how awful they were to each other with no real guidance of a plot or exploring the mystery until the last 10%.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
But this group of kids are a mess with each other. The story tried to say that these kids had known each other for a while but they seemed to barely know each other. One of their party, Hugo, was nothing short of a bully and he said awful, horrible, hateful things to them the whole time.
I liked the idea of this story. The premise was interesting and the curiosity as to what was going on drove me until about the 50% mark, But by then, there had been multiple weird occurrences with not a single one of them even trying to figure out what was going on. They were just drama. They were just Hugo flying off the handle and being mean to everyone. It was so hard to read and so hard to keep going, knowing they had no defense against him and that he would just do it again and again, hurt them over and over. By 75%, there was still no progress and their arguing and hurting each other just wasn't fun anymore. I wish I'd liked this one more but I couldn't take how awful they were to each other with no real guidance of a plot or exploring the mystery until the last 10%.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
June 5, 2025
We Can Never Leave follows a group of teens who wake up to their whole camp missing and proceed to take a road trip where everyone hates each other but not really but maybe they do. There are some fantastical/paranormal aspects to the story that never felt well explained to me. The chapters jump around in time and sequence. I wanted a bit more solid ground to stand on as much of the book is vague. There were parts and sections that I liked and wanted more in that vein. The last about 20% was the part that kept my attention the most and I wish we could have had a bit more of the fallout and aftermath of the situation.
*Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC and Ariel for buddy reading with me :) All thoughts are my own*
*Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the eARC and Ariel for buddy reading with me :) All thoughts are my own*
December 30, 2024
I received an e-arc of this novel from netgalley and the publisher.
I don't know how I feel about this book. Starting with the writing style, this book had very poetic descriptions, lots of metaphors and what not. Personally, I felt like some of these descriptions were borderline incomprehensible, but I feel like a lot of readers tend to gravitate towards poetic writing, so this is more of a me problem. As for the plot... well, there barely is one. You get a little plot at the beginning and a little plot at the end, but most of this book is just the characters meandering around and arguing. Speaking of characters, they were quite unlikable, but I still liked reading about them. However, they are quite stagnant throughout the narrative. Since there was so little plot, I figured there would be a lot of character growth, but we don't really see any of that until about the 70% mark. The narrative mostly goes back and forth between present day when the characters are just arguing and fighting and the past where we get vague snippets of the characters traumatic pasts. We don't really learn that much about the character's pasts, the caravan, or the plot itself. I did like the few answers that were given, but I was just left with way too many questions to really feel satisfied. Also, I did not like the Felix chapters. For some reason, the "author" decides to speak to the reader in the Felix chapters. I don't know why. It just felt super condescending. For example. "This whole thing is reeking of a religious cult. Have you picked up on that yet?" (chapter 8) and "Okay, pause. Hello again, reader. I imagine you might be having some thoughts right now." (chapter 18). Each of these interjections took me out of the moment and, again, felt so condescending. It felt like the author doesn't think the readers are smart enough to pick up on subtext so they decided to actively address the reader and be like "hey, btw, did you pick up on that subtext earlier???" Now I just feel like I'm ranting. Anyway, this book was fine, I guess? Not much plot, not many answers, and not much character growth. But despite all that, it was still a pretty good reading experience.
I don't know how I feel about this book. Starting with the writing style, this book had very poetic descriptions, lots of metaphors and what not. Personally, I felt like some of these descriptions were borderline incomprehensible, but I feel like a lot of readers tend to gravitate towards poetic writing, so this is more of a me problem. As for the plot... well, there barely is one. You get a little plot at the beginning and a little plot at the end, but most of this book is just the characters meandering around and arguing. Speaking of characters, they were quite unlikable, but I still liked reading about them. However, they are quite stagnant throughout the narrative. Since there was so little plot, I figured there would be a lot of character growth, but we don't really see any of that until about the 70% mark. The narrative mostly goes back and forth between present day when the characters are just arguing and fighting and the past where we get vague snippets of the characters traumatic pasts. We don't really learn that much about the character's pasts, the caravan, or the plot itself. I did like the few answers that were given, but I was just left with way too many questions to really feel satisfied. Also, I did not like the Felix chapters. For some reason, the "author" decides to speak to the reader in the Felix chapters. I don't know why. It just felt super condescending. For example. "This whole thing is reeking of a religious cult. Have you picked up on that yet?" (chapter 8) and "Okay, pause. Hello again, reader. I imagine you might be having some thoughts right now." (chapter 18). Each of these interjections took me out of the moment and, again, felt so condescending. It felt like the author doesn't think the readers are smart enough to pick up on subtext so they decided to actively address the reader and be like "hey, btw, did you pick up on that subtext earlier???" Now I just feel like I'm ranting. Anyway, this book was fine, I guess? Not much plot, not many answers, and not much character growth. But despite all that, it was still a pretty good reading experience.
June 10, 2025
The Caravan. A place for monstrous, inhuman creatures to find a home with others just like them; a traveling found family. At least, until one morning when five teenagers with a complicated history wake up to find that everyone else in the Caravan has disappeared overnight. It's up to them to work together to try to solve the mystery of what happened, but the truth but be something none of them are ready to face.
This is a super complicated book for me to review, just like all of H.E. Edgmon's books have tended to be. I think it always comes down to a case of "this is a perfect book - for someone else" or "this book is amazing - for my students." The reality is that I didn't vibe with it at all, and found myself downright frustrated right by at times to the point that I probably would have DNF'ed it if I were reading it for myself. The perspective shifts so often that it was hard to get attached to any one character, and none of them are particularly likable - or have any revealing chapters that make them overly redeemable, sadly. But, I know a lot of my students who absolutely WILL dig this book, who will pick it up and devour it in a single sitting because it's just so quirky and dark. It has a wide diversity of characters that has always appealed to my classroom readers, and that is more meaningful than any opinion I might personally have as a reader.
(Vico Ortiz is perfect as a narrator and I would like to hear them narrate all of the things from now on please. Catching the edits between the audiobook and the ebook were also delightful!)
This is a super complicated book for me to review, just like all of H.E. Edgmon's books have tended to be. I think it always comes down to a case of "this is a perfect book - for someone else" or "this book is amazing - for my students." The reality is that I didn't vibe with it at all, and found myself downright frustrated right by at times to the point that I probably would have DNF'ed it if I were reading it for myself. The perspective shifts so often that it was hard to get attached to any one character, and none of them are particularly likable - or have any revealing chapters that make them overly redeemable, sadly. But, I know a lot of my students who absolutely WILL dig this book, who will pick it up and devour it in a single sitting because it's just so quirky and dark. It has a wide diversity of characters that has always appealed to my classroom readers, and that is more meaningful than any opinion I might personally have as a reader.
(Vico Ortiz is perfect as a narrator and I would like to hear them narrate all of the things from now on please. Catching the edits between the audiobook and the ebook were also delightful!)
June 22, 2025
CW: gaslighting, emotional abuse, child abuse, child death, animal death, kidnapping, panic attack, religious bigotry, abandonment, toxic relationship
My thanks to Netgalley for the eARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review. This has not impacted my final rating.
Five teens, abandoned. Their parents and guardians, vanished. To find the adults, the mysterious members of the Caravan, they must delve into themselves and their pasts to understand where they came from - and where they are going.
I have never been especially drawn to magical realism. I find it often features language that leans a bit further on the poetic spectrum than I prefer with situations that, when presented inconcretely, leave me floundering to follow the plot. Unfortunately, this book definitely features both of those aspects. I found the language beautiful, but ultimately a bit opaque. While the focus on the characters' past was interesting to me, the present situations felt insubstantial.
While I enjoyed the diversity of the characters' backstories, personalities, and sexualities, I didn't find any of them drawing me in. I never really found a "favorite" to root for.
I deeply respect Edgmon's motives in writing this book, to process religious trauma and to offer a life raft to those who might need one. Luckily, I am not one of those people. Unluckily, that meant I didn't feel much connection to the story or the format in which it was told.
We Can Never Leave is an inventive, explorative, dark character study that was not for me.
My thanks to Netgalley for the eARC, which I received in exchange for an honest review. This has not impacted my final rating.
Five teens, abandoned. Their parents and guardians, vanished. To find the adults, the mysterious members of the Caravan, they must delve into themselves and their pasts to understand where they came from - and where they are going.
I have never been especially drawn to magical realism. I find it often features language that leans a bit further on the poetic spectrum than I prefer with situations that, when presented inconcretely, leave me floundering to follow the plot. Unfortunately, this book definitely features both of those aspects. I found the language beautiful, but ultimately a bit opaque. While the focus on the characters' past was interesting to me, the present situations felt insubstantial.
While I enjoyed the diversity of the characters' backstories, personalities, and sexualities, I didn't find any of them drawing me in. I never really found a "favorite" to root for.
I deeply respect Edgmon's motives in writing this book, to process religious trauma and to offer a life raft to those who might need one. Luckily, I am not one of those people. Unluckily, that meant I didn't feel much connection to the story or the format in which it was told.
We Can Never Leave is an inventive, explorative, dark character study that was not for me.
June 5, 2025
I'm a fan of H.E. Edgmon's books, and have read their two prior YA duologies. This was definitely along the same veins of nebulous and vague with symbolism and characters with messy trauma to unpack. This book follows five teenagers as they've been caught up in a toxic cult-like "sanctuary" for nonhumans. The chapters bounce around quite a bit and I found it hard to follow at times, and while I think it was intentional to have more questions than answers throughout the book, I think I would have enjoyed more solid background and establishing of the characters. As the reader, we discover things as the characters do, and even then the discoveries bring up more questions. I think it goes out what it sets to do, which is an examination of teens experiencing religious trauma and not having the tools to process or understand what's going on, and the narrative reflects that. Overall, a quick read and the last few chapters did tie up into a fitting conclusion of this tale.
A huge thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts as well as Colleen for buddy reading this with me!
A huge thank you to the publisher for sending me an eARC in exchange for my honest thoughts as well as Colleen for buddy reading this with me!
abandoned
June 14, 2025DNF @ 25%
This one was kind of gross in a way that could have got me really invested if I'd liked the characters even a little bit- and I say that as someone who loves an unlikeable main character 9 times out of 10. There's maybe a possibility that the mystery would've become more interesting for me with more context, but the barrage of characters with their rapid POVs and overwhelming exposition really made it hard to feel anything but unmoored in this world. I like the concept of a magical look at something like a religious community, or the separation that comes from living on a reservation- two things I've definitely seen people say this book is drawing on- but it's just not playing out for me.
This one was kind of gross in a way that could have got me really invested if I'd liked the characters even a little bit- and I say that as someone who loves an unlikeable main character 9 times out of 10. There's maybe a possibility that the mystery would've become more interesting for me with more context, but the barrage of characters with their rapid POVs and overwhelming exposition really made it hard to feel anything but unmoored in this world. I like the concept of a magical look at something like a religious community, or the separation that comes from living on a reservation- two things I've definitely seen people say this book is drawing on- but it's just not playing out for me.
June 11, 2025
We Can Never Leave by H.E. Edgmon was confusing to me with the changing timelines and too many POVs. When the pieces started coming together, I started to enjoy it more but the fighting between characters soured my experience again. There were some choices that the narrator made, one specific character’s voice, that got on my nerves. ALC was provided by RB Media /Recorded Books via NetGalley. I received an audiobook listening copy for free and I am leaving this review voluntarily.
December 27, 2024
This book confused me to no end.
And, unsurprisingly, I loved it.
PLOT SUMMARY:
When five teenagers awaken from sleep to find their found-family–a caravan comprised of “freaks” of nature–missing, they take to the road in search of them. But, as time wears on, and these five teenagers butt-heads and find common ground, they begin to realize that the mystery surrounding the Caravan is far darker than they had anticipated…
PLOT REVIEW:
Sometimes, you find a book that is so deeply confusing and full of careful thought that you can’t help but shout “WHAT?!” through huge crocodile tears.
We Can Never Leave is that book for me.
It’s a touching story about gender, sexuality, and the complicated feeling of belonging. I loved these aspects of the book. Many novels are touching on these sorts of subjects, but H.E. Edgmon took such care in representing them that I felt truly grateful.
But.
This book is about a Caravan (cult, to be more clear) with buried secrets and mysterious ways. I would have loved to learn more about this society and how, exactly, they “find” their members. However, that aspect of the story was never really resolved or fully touched on. We see the gruesome acts of the members directed towards their children, but we are never told WHY this is happening.
What is their motivation? Why do they do what they do? Where are they getting all of their members?
I would have loved to learn more about these subjects.
While that may be the case, I still immensely enjoyed each plot point of our characters. They were nuanced and very intentional.
Bonus, the ending actually left me surprised! Something that rarely happens.
CHARACTERS:
It is a rare book that is able to create such unique characters with multiple defining qualities.
Even better, it takes a super special book to make me hate and love MCs equally and interchangeably.
The most interesting character in this book?
Eamon, for sure. He was the most fascinating to me. And his ending was quite shocking and left me reeling.
Bird was also a very intriguing person. They have a very deep story with nuances and difficulties that make them both relatable and understandable. Their struggles with gender and acceptance were also deeply touching and most likely helped young teens relate to them a lot more.
Felix and Hugo were my least favorite characters, but I still loved them all the same. I realize that makes no sense, but it was truly impossible for me to hate anyone in this book. They are each what they were raised to be. Can we blame any of them for their actions, no matter how horrible?
Even Cal, who was my favorite character out of the five, I hated and loved in intervals. She’s deeply complicated and snarky, with a heart of gold and hidden desires even she seems unaware of.
Even better, all of these characters are Queer in one way or another. We have such broad representation, and I love seeing that in books for teens. We need more books like this, and I hope that we start to get them.
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
Confusing, Queer, and so emotionally gripping that I want to scream and cry into the abyss that is life….
Huge thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC!
And, unsurprisingly, I loved it.
PLOT SUMMARY:
When five teenagers awaken from sleep to find their found-family–a caravan comprised of “freaks” of nature–missing, they take to the road in search of them. But, as time wears on, and these five teenagers butt-heads and find common ground, they begin to realize that the mystery surrounding the Caravan is far darker than they had anticipated…
PLOT REVIEW:
Sometimes, you find a book that is so deeply confusing and full of careful thought that you can’t help but shout “WHAT?!” through huge crocodile tears.
We Can Never Leave is that book for me.
It’s a touching story about gender, sexuality, and the complicated feeling of belonging. I loved these aspects of the book. Many novels are touching on these sorts of subjects, but H.E. Edgmon took such care in representing them that I felt truly grateful.
But.
This book is about a Caravan (cult, to be more clear) with buried secrets and mysterious ways. I would have loved to learn more about this society and how, exactly, they “find” their members. However, that aspect of the story was never really resolved or fully touched on. We see the gruesome acts of the members directed towards their children, but we are never told WHY this is happening.
What is their motivation? Why do they do what they do? Where are they getting all of their members?
I would have loved to learn more about these subjects.
While that may be the case, I still immensely enjoyed each plot point of our characters. They were nuanced and very intentional.
Bonus, the ending actually left me surprised! Something that rarely happens.
CHARACTERS:
It is a rare book that is able to create such unique characters with multiple defining qualities.
Even better, it takes a super special book to make me hate and love MCs equally and interchangeably.
The most interesting character in this book?
Eamon, for sure. He was the most fascinating to me. And his ending was quite shocking and left me reeling.
Bird was also a very intriguing person. They have a very deep story with nuances and difficulties that make them both relatable and understandable. Their struggles with gender and acceptance were also deeply touching and most likely helped young teens relate to them a lot more.
Felix and Hugo were my least favorite characters, but I still loved them all the same. I realize that makes no sense, but it was truly impossible for me to hate anyone in this book. They are each what they were raised to be. Can we blame any of them for their actions, no matter how horrible?
Even Cal, who was my favorite character out of the five, I hated and loved in intervals. She’s deeply complicated and snarky, with a heart of gold and hidden desires even she seems unaware of.
Even better, all of these characters are Queer in one way or another. We have such broad representation, and I love seeing that in books for teens. We need more books like this, and I hope that we start to get them.
OVERALL THOUGHTS:
Confusing, Queer, and so emotionally gripping that I want to scream and cry into the abyss that is life….
Huge thanks to NetGalley for allowing me to review this ARC!
January 26, 2025
If you like your fantasy to be mainly character driven as opposed to plot, you might love it. It does feature multiple POV + flashbacks, found family, and queer characters!
This one probably just wasn't for me. The majority of the book is written as the different POV arguing with each other, and each POV sorta blended with the last. They are all rather unlikeable, and honestly, I think they all hate each other as well. There was essentially no plot, just a long journey and lots of tension from the constant arguing. I wanted to love this one, but it's just not my preferred type of fantasy. I truly appreciate the opportunity to read and review!
This one probably just wasn't for me. The majority of the book is written as the different POV arguing with each other, and each POV sorta blended with the last. They are all rather unlikeable, and honestly, I think they all hate each other as well. There was essentially no plot, just a long journey and lots of tension from the constant arguing. I wanted to love this one, but it's just not my preferred type of fantasy. I truly appreciate the opportunity to read and review!
January 30, 2025
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for inviting me to read an ARC of this book in exchange for an honest review!
4.5 stars.
It’s giving a mix of “The Wilds” and “The Walking Dead” just on vibes.
It was a very unique plot. I liked the writing style a lot. There were so many lines that I underlined because it was so beautifully written or made me feel so many emotions.
There was less so an actual plot but more so vibes. The story is definitely working toward something, but it’s more character driven than anything. Don’t expect going into this with a riveting plot with tons of action. Don’t get me wrong, it is still a good read, but if you’re expecting something plot heavy this is not that. I was just along for the ride and I loved every second of it!
It was a mystery but not the kind you may think. You are wondering what happened to these characters but it’s moreso getting to know these people and following along on their journey.
I was hooked right away! The banter between the characters was amazing. I was laughing so many times.
The characters were supposed to be unlikeable, but honestly I loved them all. They were flawed but I didn’t dislike any of them. I liked some more than others though.
I loved Eamon. He was my favorite. He was just so endearing and funny without trying to be. There was just something about him that I latched on to right away.
Even though you probably aren’t supposed to like him, I loved Hugo. He was my second favorite. I have a soft spot for ‘angry at the world’ characters like him even though he was quick to anger and gruff. You could tell he was hurting inside. He was straightforward with what you were going to get with him, but also complex at the same time.
Don’t even get me started on the sibling trope. I liked Felix, he didn’t stand out as strongly to me other than being a sweetheart most of the time. But the angst and the love between the two brothers is always my favorite. Give me close siblings and I will eat it up! That was one of my favorite dynamics of the book.
I liked Bird, but they weren’t my favorite. I’m not a huge fan of characters where every single person is obsessed and in love with them for no real reason. We knew a lot about them and I didn’t dislike them by any means, but I didn’t care much for them either. Even though they were, I would say, the main character of the novel.
Even though I really think Cal was made to be unlikeable, I really liked her. I am also a sucker for ‘rough around the edges most people hate them’ women in books, and Cal had that going for her. I wish we could have explored more of Bird and Cal’e relationship.
I liked that all the characters had some strong connection to each other in one way or another. They each had a moment between the two of them, whether it was one or many, that connected them. It wasn’t necessarily found family, but the dynamic between each of them was fascinating.
I thought it was an interesting twist on Bird and Hugo and how they were clearly soulmates, but it would never work out between them for a multitude of reasons. Their whole journey throughout the book was incredible to me, even though I was more interested in the dynamic between Hugo and Eamon. There were so many complexities between these characters, it was exciting to read about.
There were so many scenes in this book that were inherently sexual without being sexual and I was living for it! So many times I gasped at some of the things that was done or said.
I love a good breaking of the fourth wall, which this book had. I personally thought it was well done, though I could see where people may get confused or find it jarring.
The pop culture references threw me off. I don’t know what time period I thought it was, but it didn’t feel like modern day. Maybe because of the fantasy aspects, but I could have done without that. It’s fine for them to have a cell phone, but it didn’t really feel like it was in the era of iPhones, though some of what they said made it seem like it was set in recent years.
It had a jaw dropping sort of ending. It is a little confusing to be honest, but I think I can piece together what happened. We were told the tone of the ending but I still didn’t want it to be true! It very much had an open ending, and while I’d love another book to get more answers, I personally think this is good as a stand alone. The open ending was done appropriately since it’s pretty heavily a mystery and I almost think too many answers would ruin the book.
Some people may be frustrated with the lack of answers, but I think it makes the novel cooler and makes you think a little more. You can come to your own conclusions on what happened.
I highly recommend this, but only if you are prepared for seemingly not much to happen throughout and ready to read about characters you may find unlikeable. What I loved about this book was its uniqueness. I haven’t read much like it.
4.5 stars.
It’s giving a mix of “The Wilds” and “The Walking Dead” just on vibes.
It was a very unique plot. I liked the writing style a lot. There were so many lines that I underlined because it was so beautifully written or made me feel so many emotions.
There was less so an actual plot but more so vibes. The story is definitely working toward something, but it’s more character driven than anything. Don’t expect going into this with a riveting plot with tons of action. Don’t get me wrong, it is still a good read, but if you’re expecting something plot heavy this is not that. I was just along for the ride and I loved every second of it!
It was a mystery but not the kind you may think. You are wondering what happened to these characters but it’s moreso getting to know these people and following along on their journey.
I was hooked right away! The banter between the characters was amazing. I was laughing so many times.
The characters were supposed to be unlikeable, but honestly I loved them all. They were flawed but I didn’t dislike any of them. I liked some more than others though.
I loved Eamon. He was my favorite. He was just so endearing and funny without trying to be. There was just something about him that I latched on to right away.
Even though you probably aren’t supposed to like him, I loved Hugo. He was my second favorite. I have a soft spot for ‘angry at the world’ characters like him even though he was quick to anger and gruff. You could tell he was hurting inside. He was straightforward with what you were going to get with him, but also complex at the same time.
Don’t even get me started on the sibling trope. I liked Felix, he didn’t stand out as strongly to me other than being a sweetheart most of the time. But the angst and the love between the two brothers is always my favorite. Give me close siblings and I will eat it up! That was one of my favorite dynamics of the book.
I liked Bird, but they weren’t my favorite. I’m not a huge fan of characters where every single person is obsessed and in love with them for no real reason. We knew a lot about them and I didn’t dislike them by any means, but I didn’t care much for them either. Even though they were, I would say, the main character of the novel.
Even though I really think Cal was made to be unlikeable, I really liked her. I am also a sucker for ‘rough around the edges most people hate them’ women in books, and Cal had that going for her. I wish we could have explored more of Bird and Cal’e relationship.
I liked that all the characters had some strong connection to each other in one way or another. They each had a moment between the two of them, whether it was one or many, that connected them. It wasn’t necessarily found family, but the dynamic between each of them was fascinating.
I thought it was an interesting twist on Bird and Hugo and how they were clearly soulmates, but it would never work out between them for a multitude of reasons. Their whole journey throughout the book was incredible to me, even though I was more interested in the dynamic between Hugo and Eamon. There were so many complexities between these characters, it was exciting to read about.
There were so many scenes in this book that were inherently sexual without being sexual and I was living for it! So many times I gasped at some of the things that was done or said.
I love a good breaking of the fourth wall, which this book had. I personally thought it was well done, though I could see where people may get confused or find it jarring.
The pop culture references threw me off. I don’t know what time period I thought it was, but it didn’t feel like modern day. Maybe because of the fantasy aspects, but I could have done without that. It’s fine for them to have a cell phone, but it didn’t really feel like it was in the era of iPhones, though some of what they said made it seem like it was set in recent years.
It had a jaw dropping sort of ending. It is a little confusing to be honest, but I think I can piece together what happened. We were told the tone of the ending but I still didn’t want it to be true! It very much had an open ending, and while I’d love another book to get more answers, I personally think this is good as a stand alone. The open ending was done appropriately since it’s pretty heavily a mystery and I almost think too many answers would ruin the book.
Some people may be frustrated with the lack of answers, but I think it makes the novel cooler and makes you think a little more. You can come to your own conclusions on what happened.
I highly recommend this, but only if you are prepared for seemingly not much to happen throughout and ready to read about characters you may find unlikeable. What I loved about this book was its uniqueness. I haven’t read much like it.
June 9, 2025
Ohhhh, this is one you'll be turning over in your head for a while. It's the sort of narrative that unfurls slowly as you're putting pieces together (there are some bits that the narrator would break the fourth-wall and admit they were purposefully keeping secrets that I felt was unnecessary, both the wall-breaking and the actual secret-keeping itself - most of the secrets could have been elided against like you would in thought rather than the very obvious "there's something you don't know"), and by the time the horror has fully crept up on you, it's too late for any other path for our characters.
H.E. Edgmon's writing is both visceral and fairytale-like in that way that feels like walking through a quiet dark forest at dusk that fits perfectly for this group of teens lost in the woods and trying to figure out where to go and if they even want to be found. Their writing has jagged edges that match the edges of trauma each of the characters has had sharpened by their situations and while it took me a bit to get into the rhythm of it, it matches perfectly with the sort of story this is.
As Edgmon warns in the foreword, none of these characters are particularly likeable or know how to be good to one another, being shaped (and misshaped) by their lives and experiences in the Caravan. However, the narrative does tend to try and frame them within our moral code, and I wish that it had dipped into the inhuman cult aspect of the Caravan a little more with that, of what the characters see as wrong versus our perception.
There's so much I wish could have been expanded on, (it's very clear that this is a world Edgmon has turned over in their head for a long time, and there are some such leaps that are difficult to follow (how do they all have phones, how does the Caravan subsist and have a credit card)) but since it wouldn't have made sense given the scope and ultimate end of the story to include many of them here, I would love to see more from Edgmon in this world.
H.E. Edgmon's writing is both visceral and fairytale-like in that way that feels like walking through a quiet dark forest at dusk that fits perfectly for this group of teens lost in the woods and trying to figure out where to go and if they even want to be found. Their writing has jagged edges that match the edges of trauma each of the characters has had sharpened by their situations and while it took me a bit to get into the rhythm of it, it matches perfectly with the sort of story this is.
As Edgmon warns in the foreword, none of these characters are particularly likeable or know how to be good to one another, being shaped (and misshaped) by their lives and experiences in the Caravan. However, the narrative does tend to try and frame them within our moral code, and I wish that it had dipped into the inhuman cult aspect of the Caravan a little more with that, of what the characters see as wrong versus our perception.
There's so much I wish could have been expanded on, (it's very clear that this is a world Edgmon has turned over in their head for a long time, and there are some such leaps that are difficult to follow (how do they all have phones, how does the Caravan subsist and have a credit card)) but since it wouldn't have made sense given the scope and ultimate end of the story to include many of them here, I would love to see more from Edgmon in this world.
January 22, 2025
I'm incredibly thankful to NetGalley and the publisher for this advanced copy! It was an interesting read from the start to the finish. It was also a book that I was happy to read throughout the day.
It took some time to develop a fondness and understanding of the characters. The mystery surrounding each, specifically the boys, kept me hooked. I also loved the twist in the book. It was pretty well-established too and made sense for the narrative. Even some of the lesser developed areas of the book (the caravan's rules and how people join) could be explained by looking through the perspective of Felix and the other teenagers. They don't know much so we don't know much. However, some of the chapters from Charlotte's perspective could've explained this in greater detail.
My main issues with the book was the constant interruptions from the author / narrator by addressing the "reader." It completely took me out of the narrative. I didn't think it was necessary to explain the nuance and subtext. While much of the flowery and fanciful descriptions were nice in theory, some just made me confused. Like saying you can stuff emotions into your pocket then saying you should box them away in the next line. I would need to read some multiple times to understand them better. I also think that some of the pop culture references will probably date this book, too. Using "nepo-babying" as a verb or referencing Taylor Swift were ones that stick out.
It took some time to develop a fondness and understanding of the characters. The mystery surrounding each, specifically the boys, kept me hooked. I also loved the twist in the book. It was pretty well-established too and made sense for the narrative. Even some of the lesser developed areas of the book (the caravan's rules and how people join) could be explained by looking through the perspective of Felix and the other teenagers. They don't know much so we don't know much. However, some of the chapters from Charlotte's perspective could've explained this in greater detail.
My main issues with the book was the constant interruptions from the author / narrator by addressing the "reader." It completely took me out of the narrative. I didn't think it was necessary to explain the nuance and subtext. While much of the flowery and fanciful descriptions were nice in theory, some just made me confused. Like saying you can stuff emotions into your pocket then saying you should box them away in the next line. I would need to read some multiple times to understand them better. I also think that some of the pop culture references will probably date this book, too. Using "nepo-babying" as a verb or referencing Taylor Swift were ones that stick out.
January 14, 2025
~~Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the ARC!~~
This one just . . . confused and bored me, to say the least.
The beginning was strong, with the adult disappearance set up and showcasing the group dynamics (i.e., everyone hating each other), but so much of the middle chunk is dedicated so much to poetic writing that made visualizing the scene very difficult for me. I can tell that there is something meaningful wrapped up in the pretty prose, themes regarding gender, sexuality, outcasts, humanity, etc., but nothing properly is given time to breath and explain. Plus, the rules of the Caravan and the society aren't fully explored and the whole issue just drops in on itself by the end.
I can be all for unlikable characters, especially when they're deeply traumatized like our leads here, but it just doesn't work for me here. It really doesn't help that the five separate POVs are being torn between the past and future in a little over 300 pages; so much is rushed through or not explained enough in order for me to clearly understand all these kids and their motivations. Besides the brief flashback snippets, we don't know anything about these characters other than they argue constantly, which makes them so stagnant and boring. The book keeps saying there's sexual tension / soul mate connection between Bird and Hugo, but I never thought that at all. Cal could have been more interesting if she was given the proper time, Eamon was barely there and felt borderline invisible, and Felix - the whole thing with him should have been properly developed more before the end; that's all I'll say.
There actually is something that elicited some passion in me, but all for the wrong reasons. In a couple chapters in Felix's POV, Edgmon, disguised as the narrator, straight up condescendingly explains the point of the story, and not so subtly foreshadows the ending, to the reader. I know people think YA readers are dumb and don't understand literary analysis, but I never would expect that attitude straight from a YA author. This really got on my nerves so much because I despise authors who look down on their reader base like that.
All in all, while it may be a well-intentioned book, the lack of story and character development really dragged it down. I'm probably gonna read whatever Edgmon outs out next, though.
This one just . . . confused and bored me, to say the least.
The beginning was strong, with the adult disappearance set up and showcasing the group dynamics (i.e., everyone hating each other), but so much of the middle chunk is dedicated so much to poetic writing that made visualizing the scene very difficult for me. I can tell that there is something meaningful wrapped up in the pretty prose, themes regarding gender, sexuality, outcasts, humanity, etc., but nothing properly is given time to breath and explain. Plus, the rules of the Caravan and the society aren't fully explored and the whole issue just drops in on itself by the end.
I can be all for unlikable characters, especially when they're deeply traumatized like our leads here, but it just doesn't work for me here. It really doesn't help that the five separate POVs are being torn between the past and future in a little over 300 pages; so much is rushed through or not explained enough in order for me to clearly understand all these kids and their motivations. Besides the brief flashback snippets, we don't know anything about these characters other than they argue constantly, which makes them so stagnant and boring. The book keeps saying there's sexual tension / soul mate connection between Bird and Hugo, but I never thought that at all. Cal could have been more interesting if she was given the proper time, Eamon was barely there and felt borderline invisible, and Felix - the whole thing with him should have been properly developed more before the end; that's all I'll say.
There actually is something that elicited some passion in me, but all for the wrong reasons. In a couple chapters in Felix's POV, Edgmon, disguised as the narrator, straight up condescendingly explains the point of the story, and not so subtly foreshadows the ending, to the reader. I know people think YA readers are dumb and don't understand literary analysis, but I never would expect that attitude straight from a YA author. This really got on my nerves so much because I despise authors who look down on their reader base like that.
All in all, while it may be a well-intentioned book, the lack of story and character development really dragged it down. I'm probably gonna read whatever Edgmon outs out next, though.
June 12, 2025
We Can Never Leave is the latest from H.E. Edgmon and Edgmon’s books never fail to steal a piece of my heart. When the teen members of the Caravan wake up to find themselves abandoned by their adults, they must band together to figure out what happened. Members of the Caravan are a group of magical people who stay hidden from humans. Bird, Hugo, Felix, Eamon, and Cal couldn’t be more different. Secrets, magic, and their connection to the Caravan are all that bind them together. Will they discover what truly happened and finally be able to leave?
I read this book in one sitting because I had to find out what happened next! Every member of the group felt relatable in a different way. I loved all the characters, but especially Felix and Bird. H.E. Edgmon writes themes of belonging so well: what it means to belong, to want to leave, what it means to return. The sense of spookiness and that something is wrong with the adults’ disappearance haunts the teens as they untangle the secrets that connect them. The ending was both bittersweet and perfect. I can’t wait to read what H.E. Edgmon writes next!
Thank you to H.E. Edgmon, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
I read this book in one sitting because I had to find out what happened next! Every member of the group felt relatable in a different way. I loved all the characters, but especially Felix and Bird. H.E. Edgmon writes themes of belonging so well: what it means to belong, to want to leave, what it means to return. The sense of spookiness and that something is wrong with the adults’ disappearance haunts the teens as they untangle the secrets that connect them. The ending was both bittersweet and perfect. I can’t wait to read what H.E. Edgmon writes next!
Thank you to H.E. Edgmon, Wednesday Books, and NetGalley for a free ARC in exchange for an honest review.
May 19, 2025
I got an advanced reader copy of this book from a 카지노싸이트 giveaway (thank you H.E. Edgmon). I was initially really excited to read this because the plot seemed unique and I really liked the cover lol. Unfortunately, this just wasn’t it for me. The writing style was so hard to get into. This was not like other books where I could just open it and let my brain go on autopilot while reading. I had to be “consciously” focusing on reading it the whole time because the writing style did not flow at all. On top of that, the plot completely lost me. The reason I entered the giveaway for this book was because it was categorized as fantasy & mystery, but this was not the type of “fantasy” I was expecting. The story was also told from 5 POVs, and I got them mixed up multiple times.
I could see other people liking this, but it was not the book for me.
I could see other people liking this, but it was not the book for me.
June 14, 2025
Thank you to Recorded Books and Netgalley for sending me a copy of this audiobook! All opinions are my own!
Well, that was horrible...and I absolutely ate up every single second. I'm not sure I completely understood everything, but I think that was a lot of the joy of it. I was not at all expecting the ending, and the way I gasped when it finally hit me....unmatched.
The creepiness of the setting and the premise really sets this story up for success. It lends itself to the real-life conversations about religion, cult-like life, and so much more while showing the awful faces behind the masks of these things.
I loved the narration and the way that everyone was so starkly different, it really helped you feel like you were getting to know the characters.
This is such a creepy, existential read, and if that doesn't get you to pick it up, then I don't know what will.
Well, that was horrible...and I absolutely ate up every single second. I'm not sure I completely understood everything, but I think that was a lot of the joy of it. I was not at all expecting the ending, and the way I gasped when it finally hit me....unmatched.
The creepiness of the setting and the premise really sets this story up for success. It lends itself to the real-life conversations about religion, cult-like life, and so much more while showing the awful faces behind the masks of these things.
I loved the narration and the way that everyone was so starkly different, it really helped you feel like you were getting to know the characters.
This is such a creepy, existential read, and if that doesn't get you to pick it up, then I don't know what will.
January 13, 2025
Me gustó mucho la estructura del mundo en el que se desarrolla, aunque al principio estaba tremendamente confundida. Me hizo pensar un poco en la serie de Netflix Sweet Tooth: El niño ciervo al inicio, pero después tomó un rumbo distinto.
El misterio de lo que ocurrió con la caravana hizo que las páginas volaran para mí, estuve muy intrigada. Llegué a sentir verdadero cariño por los personajes, y me gustó cómo se construyó el vínculo entre ellos. El tropo de familia encontrada es de los más reconfortantes.
Una novela juvenil que me hizo pensar en las decisiones que he tomado, en las personas que he confiado y en cómo todos tienen una historia que no necesariamente comparten incluso con sus amigos más cercanos.
El misterio de lo que ocurrió con la caravana hizo que las páginas volaran para mí, estuve muy intrigada. Llegué a sentir verdadero cariño por los personajes, y me gustó cómo se construyó el vínculo entre ellos. El tropo de familia encontrada es de los más reconfortantes.
Una novela juvenil que me hizo pensar en las decisiones que he tomado, en las personas que he confiado y en cómo todos tienen una historia que no necesariamente comparten incluso con sus amigos más cercanos.
April 21, 2025
Thank you to St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for providing me with a gifted ebook copy of We Can Never Leave through NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Bird belongs to the Caravan, which exists to take care of creatures that are part human, part animal. Bird was born into the Caravan, and has grown up in the community with their mother and grandparents. One morning following one of the community's moon festivals, five teenagers wake to find that everyone else is missing. Now Bird, Hugo, Felix, Eamon, and Cal must travel to the next Caravan community and try to find out why everyone has disappeared overnight. They all have their own secrets and along the way they start to discover dark secrets that have been kept by the very community that is supposed to protect them.
When I saw that We Can Never Leave was compared to Sweet Tooth, I was all-in, because it is one of my favorite series! The book definitely has a similar vibe to the series, introducing characters who have varying half human/half animal attributes. I really loved the mystery surrounding the emergence of half humans/half animals and the questions of how they came into being. I think I would have enjoyed the story even more, if the "sci-fi" aspect would have been explored and fleshed out more, instead of so much time spent on the characters relationships. I was really invested in the questions behind their existence and the secrets being kept by the cult-like members of the Caravan. I didn't mind the relationship aspects to the story, but it would have worked better for me, if equal or more of the story followed the sci-fi arc.
The writing was beautiful, and I loved the imagery that Edgmon created. There's a great sense of mystery as the five characters travel to find answers, and the varying POVs kept the story interesting. I also loved that Edgmon had some fourth wall breaks, that brought humor to the story, as well as insight into one of the characters. The book reads as young adult fiction, but there were some small moments of horror in the story, that really elevated the storytelling, for me.
We Can Never Leave is a captivating story of fantasy and science fiction, that follows complicated characters, dangerous secrets, messy family relationships, past traumas, and struggles with identity and seeking to find your place.
Bird belongs to the Caravan, which exists to take care of creatures that are part human, part animal. Bird was born into the Caravan, and has grown up in the community with their mother and grandparents. One morning following one of the community's moon festivals, five teenagers wake to find that everyone else is missing. Now Bird, Hugo, Felix, Eamon, and Cal must travel to the next Caravan community and try to find out why everyone has disappeared overnight. They all have their own secrets and along the way they start to discover dark secrets that have been kept by the very community that is supposed to protect them.
When I saw that We Can Never Leave was compared to Sweet Tooth, I was all-in, because it is one of my favorite series! The book definitely has a similar vibe to the series, introducing characters who have varying half human/half animal attributes. I really loved the mystery surrounding the emergence of half humans/half animals and the questions of how they came into being. I think I would have enjoyed the story even more, if the "sci-fi" aspect would have been explored and fleshed out more, instead of so much time spent on the characters relationships. I was really invested in the questions behind their existence and the secrets being kept by the cult-like members of the Caravan. I didn't mind the relationship aspects to the story, but it would have worked better for me, if equal or more of the story followed the sci-fi arc.
The writing was beautiful, and I loved the imagery that Edgmon created. There's a great sense of mystery as the five characters travel to find answers, and the varying POVs kept the story interesting. I also loved that Edgmon had some fourth wall breaks, that brought humor to the story, as well as insight into one of the characters. The book reads as young adult fiction, but there were some small moments of horror in the story, that really elevated the storytelling, for me.
We Can Never Leave is a captivating story of fantasy and science fiction, that follows complicated characters, dangerous secrets, messy family relationships, past traumas, and struggles with identity and seeking to find your place.
June 18, 2025
Thank you Recorded Books Media, Wednesday Books, and Netgalley for the ARC.
I am going to say, y'all should listen to the audiobook of this book over reading the physical book, because the way it is written fits so much better. I really enjoyed the cult like and religious aspect of it, the way the plot twist is set up, and how absolutely messed up the kids are. I appreciated the time switches and look into the different backgrounds, as well as the more current timeline and the struggle the group is going through. It was a delightful mix of horror, thriller, and contemporary that I appreciated.
I also appreciated how gender, racism, and similar was discussed, that even in a "perfect caravan" it still exists, even if people pretends it doesn't, due to existing within a society in which it does. I think the author handled it really well.
I am going to say, y'all should listen to the audiobook of this book over reading the physical book, because the way it is written fits so much better. I really enjoyed the cult like and religious aspect of it, the way the plot twist is set up, and how absolutely messed up the kids are. I appreciated the time switches and look into the different backgrounds, as well as the more current timeline and the struggle the group is going through. It was a delightful mix of horror, thriller, and contemporary that I appreciated.
I also appreciated how gender, racism, and similar was discussed, that even in a "perfect caravan" it still exists, even if people pretends it doesn't, due to existing within a society in which it does. I think the author handled it really well.
June 17, 2025
I loved this so much. I ended up doing a tandem read which I really enjoyed, Vico Ortiz does an amazing job. This book is part fantasy, part dystopian, part horror, part mystery- with experimental elements, like breaking the 4th wall (I personally loved this and thought it was done well). Once I got to the halfway point I really couldn't put it down and read the rest in one night. I love a book that makes me want to just flip back to the beginning and read it all over again now that I know what happens and the new context. This book deals with some heavy topics and as always H.E. Edgmon handles them with great care.
CW: childhood trauma, religious trauma, animal death, child death, violence, emotional abuse, gaslighting
CW: childhood trauma, religious trauma, animal death, child death, violence, emotional abuse, gaslighting
June 10, 2025
We Can Never Leave is at it's heart a story of found family, trauma, healing, and identity. The story is told from multiple points of view and various time lines. What happened to the members of the Caravan who vanished and the five souls left behind unravels slowly (and at times confusingly) over the course of the novel.
While I found the structure at times confusing, it wasn't enough to deter me. I was fully invested in figuring out what happened to all who disappeared and understanding the forsaken five left behind and their secrets. The characters here steal the show in my opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and it's imprint Wednesday Books for the advance e-copy of We Can Never Leave. All thoughts expressed herein are my own.
While I found the structure at times confusing, it wasn't enough to deter me. I was fully invested in figuring out what happened to all who disappeared and understanding the forsaken five left behind and their secrets. The characters here steal the show in my opinion.
Thank you to NetGalley, St. Martin's Press and it's imprint Wednesday Books for the advance e-copy of We Can Never Leave. All thoughts expressed herein are my own.
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