An immersive, heartbreaking story about war, passion, and the road not taken. People”One of the most beautiful and moving love stories youll read this year.” Nylon MagazineNAMED ONE OF THE BEST BOOKS OFTHE YEARBY The Washington Post The New York Post Vulture Real Simple Bustle Nylon Thrillist Mental Floss Self magazine Booklist Refinery 29An emotionally riveting debut novel about war, family, and forbidden lovethe unforgettable saga of two ill-fated lovers in Korea and the heartbreaking choices theyre forced to make in the years surrounding the civil war that still haunts us today.When the communist-backed army from the north invades her home, sixteen-year-old Haemi Lee, along with her widowed mother and ailing brother, is forced to flee to a refugee camp along the coast. For a few hours each night, she escapes her familys makeshift home and tragic circumstances with her childhood friend, Kyunghwan.Focused on finishing school, Kyunghwan doesnt realize his older and wealthier cousin, Jisoo, has his sights set on the beautiful and spirited Haemiand is determined to marry her before joining the fight. But as Haemi becomes a wife, then a mother, her decision to forsake the boy she always loved for the security of her family sets off a dramatic saga that will have profound effects for generations to come.Richly told and deeply moving, If You Leave Me is a stunning portrait of war and refugee life, a passionate and timeless romance, and a heartrending exploration of one womans longing for autonomy in a rapidly changing world.