We Can Never Leave: A Novel

I'll be honest this book is a slow burn on the plot. At points the writer is literally talking to the reader which is awkward at best, but I can see what they were trying to go for. The last 5% was an unexpected 180, and really saves the entire story, but still, it doesn't actually resolve anything. The majorly of the book is angsty teens fighting each other, and discovering themselves but not interested in the hook (the community disappearing). With the ending, it puts everything that came before it into question. Was it real? Why did we just take that journey? What will these kids do now that they know all they know about everything that happen? The reader is left to assume a lot, the book is supposed to be a deep dive on teens in bad situations, but we don't ever actually know what trauma each of them are facing really. We are left dissecting the paragraphs, which is a lot of work when there isn't a plot pulling us forward. The character development is thick, and well written, but they don't do anything. There is basically no plot arc to the story. I leaves me wanting more, but not like a second book. Just an expansion on this one. With each POV switch, and each timeline jump I kept thinking the plot was going to be dropped on us, and it would all make sense, but it doesn't really happen. It has good bones, but it feels like it's trying hard to be literary. Since the characters do not progress in the story plot wise, or emotional growth wise, it just fell flat for me. They all are well written characters though, deep introspective thoughts, and wants/fears. I was just hoping for more out of the main plot. No where does it say Eamon is autistic, but to me, this was a very well written representation of autism. This specific character really holds the cast together with You'll enjoy this book if you love reading YA characters handling tough topics.