What happens when the world outside suddenly stops making sense?
Imagine taking your family on vacation. You’ve rented a beautiful house, far from the noise and responsibilities of everyday life. No work. No obligations. Just a chance to relax and enjoy some time together.
Then something happens.
The television stops working. The internet goes down. Your phones lose service. And suddenly, you have no idea what’s happening beyond the walls of your vacation home.
Is it just a temporary outage?
Or is something much worse happening?
That’s where we’re headed this month with the Echoes Book Club. Our November selection is Leave the World Behind by Rumaan Alam.
– November 2026 –
Welcome to the End of Normal
Amanda and Clay have rented a luxurious vacation home on Long Island, hoping to enjoy a quiet getaway with their two children.
Everything seems perfect.
Until a late-night knock at the door changes everything.
An older couple, G. H. and Ruth, arrive claiming to own the house. They explain that a massive blackout has struck New York City and ask to stay in the home until they can figure out what’s happening.
But Amanda and Clay have no way to verify their story.
As communication systems fail and strange events unfold around them, the two families find themselves isolated, uncertain, and increasingly suspicious of one another.
What happens when the world you depend on suddenly becomes unreliable? And how do you decide whom to trust when you don’t even know what you’re afraid of?
That’s about as much as I want to say before we start reading.
I hope you enjoy this month’s reading. I’ve started with the audiobook, and I’m loving it.
New to Echoes?
Echoes is an online book club for people who love memorable stories and talking about what makes them work.
Every month we read something different—from supernatural suspense and thrillers to speculative, historical, and literary fiction. Members help choose what we read next at the end of each month, and there’s no meeting you have to attend or schedule you have to follow.
To join, click here. It’s Free.
💬 Join the Conversation and Win
Participate in at least two discussions each month to be entered into this quarter’s Echoes reader giveaway.
To participate, simply leave at least two meaningful comments. Each month, you have three opportunities to comment on posts. Comment on at least 2 each month for a chance to win!
I will announce the Jan. 1st prize soon…
Discussion Question
If the internet, cell phones, television, and every other source of information suddenly stopped working, what would worry you most?
Would it be not knowing what was happening in the world? Not being able to contact your family? Or simply realizing how much of your everyday life depends on technology?
You don’t have to be reading Leave the World Behind yet to answer, and there isn’t a right answer. Tell us what would concern you most in the comments below.
And if someone else’s answer makes you think of something you hadn’t considered, reply to them. Echoes isn’t just for me to talk about books. This is where we get to talk about them together.
👇 What would worry you most? Tell us in the comments.
What do you think?