Nothing has been the same since Caleb Becker left a party drunk, got behind the wheel, and hit Maggie Armstrong. Even after months of painful physical therapy, Maggie walks with a limp. Her social life is nil and a scholarship to study abroad - her chance to escape everyone and their pitying stares - has been cancelled. After a year in juvenile jail, Caleb's free ...if freedom means endless nagging from a transition coach and the prying eyes of the entire town. Coming home should feel good, but his family and ex-girlfriend seem like strangers. Caleb and Maggie are outsiders, pigeon-holed as "criminal" and "freak." Then the truth emerges about what really happened the night of the accident and, once again, everything changes. It's a bleak and tortuous journey for Caleb and Maggie, yet they end up finding comfort and strength from a surprising source: each other.
Leaving Paradise
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"Maggie and Caleb are complex and authentic teens all readers will embrace and care about. Theirs is a delicate, delicious love story--without the happy ending."
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4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
By AngelGoneMad
VINE™ VOICE
Format:Paperback
Leaving Paradise is the first book in the Leaving Paradise series by Simone Elkeles.
Maggie has just started back at school after the accident. Not only does she have schoolwork to deal with but she has everyone staring at her because of her limp. She can't think her life could get any worse, but then Caleb is released from juvenile detention is back at school. Maggie is furious that the boy that left her for dead is being allowed back to the same school. So she does everything to stay out of his way. But their paths cross when Maggie gets a job with Mrs. Reynolds. Caleb turns is working at Mrs. Reynolds house as part of his community service which Maggie is not happy about but unwillingly lets him stay. They slowly get past the accident and start to grow closer together and form a relationship.
I think this book was so lovely. There were moments when I wanted to cry alongside Maggie and wanted to scream at Caleb but at the same time I was sad because their life-long friendship had been ruined by one horrible night gone wrong. I felt a bit sorry for Caleb too as he wasn't exactly welcomed home with open arms once he was released but at the same time I thought he deserved not to be able to waltz back into everyone's life as if nothing was wrong.
There are hints throughout the story that the accident isn't exactly as it seems. Life is not as that straight forward and some people are keeping their secrets hidden.
My favourite part of this book was the fight at Mrs. Reynolds house as this was the turning point for the whole story. This is where we see Maggie and Caleb starting to put the past behind them and work towards a better future for both of them.... Read more ›
Maggie has just started back at school after the accident. Not only does she have schoolwork to deal with but she has everyone staring at her because of her limp. She can't think her life could get any worse, but then Caleb is released from juvenile detention is back at school. Maggie is furious that the boy that left her for dead is being allowed back to the same school. So she does everything to stay out of his way. But their paths cross when Maggie gets a job with Mrs. Reynolds. Caleb turns is working at Mrs. Reynolds house as part of his community service which Maggie is not happy about but unwillingly lets him stay. They slowly get past the accident and start to grow closer together and form a relationship.
I think this book was so lovely. There were moments when I wanted to cry alongside Maggie and wanted to scream at Caleb but at the same time I was sad because their life-long friendship had been ruined by one horrible night gone wrong. I felt a bit sorry for Caleb too as he wasn't exactly welcomed home with open arms once he was released but at the same time I thought he deserved not to be able to waltz back into everyone's life as if nothing was wrong.
There are hints throughout the story that the accident isn't exactly as it seems. Life is not as that straight forward and some people are keeping their secrets hidden.
My favourite part of this book was the fight at Mrs. Reynolds house as this was the turning point for the whole story. This is where we see Maggie and Caleb starting to put the past behind them and work towards a better future for both of them.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
By Amber
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
I have to say, after reading Perfect Chemistry and hearing that Leaving Paradise is a better book (from some people at least) I was excited to start reading. However, I was left disappointed.
Maybe I had set my standards too high, or maybe this book is just not for me.The overall plot was, like in Perfect Chemistry, rather cliché, but I can live with that. There's nothing wrong with clichés! However, if you nitpick (as I do) then I think you'll find a few things that you dislike about this book. I won't go into too much detail in case of spoilers, but the ending was a major throwback for me. As was the fact that this book seemed to go in circles.
I did not like the ending. Perhaps that's because I know that there is a sequel, but I think this book could have benefited from being a standalone novel, and leaving the ending as it is. I just felt that the last couple of chapters seemed pretty pointless, and had too much lined up for the sequel, rather than focussing on the current story.
As with Perfect Chemistry, the story is told from the alternating points of view of Caleb - an `ex-con' - and Maggie, the girl that Caleb ran over in his car. As characters go, I felt that these two were fairly average in their personalities.
Although the two had amazing back-stories, and there was so much to tell about their lives, I felt that their personalities fell a little flat.
I found that Caleb was annoying and, at times, incredibly selfish. This trait didn't seem to be developed or go away during the novel, and that's one of the main things that put me off this character.... Read more ›
Maybe I had set my standards too high, or maybe this book is just not for me.The overall plot was, like in Perfect Chemistry, rather cliché, but I can live with that. There's nothing wrong with clichés! However, if you nitpick (as I do) then I think you'll find a few things that you dislike about this book. I won't go into too much detail in case of spoilers, but the ending was a major throwback for me. As was the fact that this book seemed to go in circles.
I did not like the ending. Perhaps that's because I know that there is a sequel, but I think this book could have benefited from being a standalone novel, and leaving the ending as it is. I just felt that the last couple of chapters seemed pretty pointless, and had too much lined up for the sequel, rather than focussing on the current story.
As with Perfect Chemistry, the story is told from the alternating points of view of Caleb - an `ex-con' - and Maggie, the girl that Caleb ran over in his car. As characters go, I felt that these two were fairly average in their personalities.
Although the two had amazing back-stories, and there was so much to tell about their lives, I felt that their personalities fell a little flat.
I found that Caleb was annoying and, at times, incredibly selfish. This trait didn't seem to be developed or go away during the novel, and that's one of the main things that put me off this character.... Read more ›
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback
Leaving Paradise is an awesome book and I would recommend that it's for an audience 12 and over.
Simone Elkeles really portrays the feelings of the two main characters as well as the minor characters. She uses a vast vocabulary to describe this and also the other feelings of Caleb and Maggie. For instance, when Caleb comes out of jail and goes home to his family Simone Elkeles really describes the way Caleb thinks that his family isn't acting the way that they should be. Then with Maggie she has to blend in again at school with not much self confidence in what she wears and she thinks that's important.
The plot of the book is very appealing, especially to the teenage market. I wonder in her next book whether she will continue with the same story and characters or start afresh. I hope Simone Elkeles will be able to keep writing the same standard of writing!
Simone Elkeles really portrays the feelings of the two main characters as well as the minor characters. She uses a vast vocabulary to describe this and also the other feelings of Caleb and Maggie. For instance, when Caleb comes out of jail and goes home to his family Simone Elkeles really describes the way Caleb thinks that his family isn't acting the way that they should be. Then with Maggie she has to blend in again at school with not much self confidence in what she wears and she thinks that's important.
The plot of the book is very appealing, especially to the teenage market. I wonder in her next book whether she will continue with the same story and characters or start afresh. I hope Simone Elkeles will be able to keep writing the same standard of writing!
By ghybjkl
Format:Kindle Edition
The cover instantly drew me in, and the title fits the book PERFECTLY, but you won't understand until you read it.
I loved the two characters, both Maggie and Caleb were really likeable characters, and really interesting. One minute I hated Caleb, the next I empathised with him.
The plot was really good and unique, it was interesting, however, sadly predictable. I knew what was going to happen from the beginning, but I still enjoyed the book.
Good read overall, slightly predicable in some parts but still a unique and interesting plot with good, likeable characters.
I loved the two characters, both Maggie and Caleb were really likeable characters, and really interesting. One minute I hated Caleb, the next I empathised with him.
The plot was really good and unique, it was interesting, however, sadly predictable. I knew what was going to happen from the beginning, but I still enjoyed the book.
Good read overall, slightly predicable in some parts but still a unique and interesting plot with good, likeable characters.
Format:Paperback
I would definitely recommend this book. Simone Elkeles writes in such a way that it's romantic passionate and tragic all at the same time. I think this book was a refreshing take on a love story, with strong characters that you can't help but connect with, and the ending was perfect for me as it was not the normal generic outcome. I think its one of the easiest and nicest books I've read in a long time.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
COMPELLING STORYTELLING
A year ago Maggie Armstrong was run down by a drunken Caleb Becker. During the past year Maggie has had more than one operation on her leg. She was for a time in a wheelchair. Read more
Published 8 months ago by L. Sims
2.0 out of 5 stars
Disappointed...
Firstly can i say that I am a huge Simone Elkeles i loved her other books and after reading that Leaving Paradise is actually better than Perfected Chemistry i was so... Read more
Published 9 months ago by BOOKSOBSESSED
5.0 out of 5 stars
Refreshing and utterly amazing
I love reading books which take a different slant on the whole YA romance genre, and this is definately a book which has done that. Read more
Published 13 months ago by bindiiromeo
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good, short read.
I enjoyed Leaving Paradise but after reading 'Perfect Chemistry' by Elkeles I was expecting something a bit juicier. Read more
Published 14 months ago by thatbookgirl
5.0 out of 5 stars
More than I expected!
I didn't know if I could find another book that is just as amazing as Perfect Chemistry but I was so wrong! Read more
Published 19 months ago by Daydreaming
5.0 out of 5 stars
What a Love Story!
I'd read Simone's Perfect Chemistry series (can't wait for Chain Reaction in 2 weeks!), and was in the mood for something of hers. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Mary-The Sweet Bookshelf
5.0 out of 5 stars
Review by Patricia's Particularity
Let me just first say how wonderfully surprised I am about this book! To be honest I didn't think I would really like it and I ended up LOVING it! Read more
Published 22 months ago by Patricia Leppla
4.0 out of 5 stars
Lovely story with a few flaws
I wanted so much to like Leaving Paradise as much as I fell in love with Perfect Chemistry, but the story of Caleb Becker and Maggie Armstrong fell short. Read more
Published on 15 Jun 2010 by May Gil
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