Books Books: Domestic Fiction

When People Leave

June 27, 2025June 27, 2025 by onemoreexclamation

Welcome to the When People Leave by Leslie A. Rasmussen book tour hosted by Suzy Approved Book Tours.

About When People Leave

Title: When People Leave

Author: Leslie A. Rasmussen

Released: May 6, 2025

Find it: Amazon

When People Leave takes place in 2025 in Los Angeles. It’s the story of three adult sisters who are left reeling after the sudden and inexplicable suicide of their single mother.

With questions swirling and not being able to truly grieve, they decide to leave their lives and families of their own and move into their mother’s home hoping to unravel the mystery surrounding her death.

As they sift through the remnants of their mother’s life, they uncover clues that hint at a hidden past filled with untold secrets. Determined to unearth the truth, the sisters embark on a mission that takes them to Las Vegas and Brooklyn, New York. There, the hidden secrets begin to surface, forcing them to confront painful truths and resentments and forge new bonds of sisterhood.

The sisters realize that their mother’s secrets may not only hold the key to understanding her but also to why they have made decisions in their own lives. They must use this information to determine how to change the course of their futures. When People Leave shows the enduring power of family ties.

When People Leave is a captivating contemporary fiction filled with heart, witty dialogue, drama, and strong family dynamics.

Book Blurb

A novel for anyone who has ever sought closure, Leslie Rasmussen’s When People Leave explores the lies, we tell ourselves, and others, to survive. Carla’s unexpected death rocks her three daughters’ lives and sends them on a mission to find out what happened—only to discover secrets that bring them closer together. Perfect for fans of Liane Moriarty, readers will identify with the tale of personal growth and take hope in the message that it’s never too late to find oneself. -Sara Goodman Confino, bestselling author of Don’t Forget to Write and Behind Every Good Man

Review for When People Leave

Leslie Rasmussen has done it again with another heartfelt, emotionally layered novel that somehow manages to balance grief, mystery, and family drama. In this slow-burn story, three adult sisters set out to uncover the reasons behind their mother’s choice to commit suicide. They dive into layers of secrets that shake everything they thought they knew.

Told from the alternating points of view of the sisters and their mother, the book gives a raw, honest glimpse into sibling dynamics, individual struggles, and the messy beauty of searching for closure. With realistic banter, emotional depth, and a twisty undercurrent of mystery, this is a must-read for anyone who loves character-driven family stories with heart, secrets, and just the right amount of sass.

About The Author

Leslie A. Rasmussen was born and raised in Los Angeles and graduated from UCLA. She went on to write television comedies for Gerald McRaney, Burt Reynolds, Roseanne Barr, Norm McDonald, Drew Carey, The Wild Thornberrys, and Sweet Valley High. After leaving the business to raise her boys, Leslie obtained a master’s degree in nutrition and ran her own business for ten years. Leslie has been published in the Huffington Post over twenty times and speaks on panels discussing female empowerment. She’s a member of The Writers Guild of America, Women in Film and The UCLA Alumni Association.

After Happily Ever After is Leslie’s debut novel and has won over fifteen awards, and her second novel, The Stories We Cannot Tell, has won eleven awards, and she’s been interviewed about it on NPR and XM radio. Leslie’s newest novel, When People Leave, will be published in May 2025. When Leslie isn’t writing, she loves reading, exercising, and spending time with friends. Leslie lives in Southern California with her husband and two sons.

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