LEAVE THE WORLD BEHIND

Marin Ireland narrates a stunning audiobook that explores race, class, family, and global catastrophe. A married couple and their teenage children are on summer vacation at a rented secluded home in the Hamptons. However, the house's owners arrive unexpectedly after fleeing New York City during a mysterious blackout. While the situation is uncomfortable, the two families--one white and middle class, the other Black and wealthy--cohabitate and try to figure out what's happened. Ireland portrays all the characters with pitch-perfect nuances. The tensions that arise feel organic and very much of our time. Whether Ireland is focused on the character dynamics or omnisciently describing the terrifying events of the world at large, she delivers an unforgettable powerhouse of a performance. A.T.N. Winner of AudioFile Earphones Award, 2020 Best Audiobook © AudioFile 2020, Portland, Maine [Published: SEPTEMBER 2020]