44 pages • 1 hour read
Tom PerrottaThe Leftovers
Fiction | Novel | Adult | Published in 2011A modern alternative to SparkNotes and CliffsNotes, SuperSummary offers high-quality Study Guides with detailed chapter summaries and analysis of major themes, characters, and more.
Before You Read
Super Short Summary
The Leftovers by Tom Perrotta follows the Garvey family in a small northeastern US town as they navigate life after a mysterious rapture-like event causes the sudden disappearance of millions of people worldwide. Wife Laurie joins a cult, while son Tom follows the Healing Hug Movement. Husband Kevin attempts to restore normalcy as the town's mayor, while daughter Jill struggles with teenage existential crises. The novel explores themes of grief, loss, and the search for meaning in the aftermath of tragedy.
Reviews & Readership
Review Roundup
Tom Perrotta's The Leftovers offers compelling storytelling with deep emotional and psychological layers, praised for its originality and character development. Some critics found the pacing sluggish and the ending ambiguous. Overall, it's a thought-provoking narrative that explores grief and human resilience effectively.
Who Should Read The Leftovers?
Fans of dystopian dramas and explorations of human resilience will appreciate Tom Perrotta’s The Leftovers. Readers who enjoyed the philosophical depth of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road or the sociocultural commentary in Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale will find Perrotta’s blend of emotional complexity and suspense compelling.