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Moms Don’t Have Time to Read Books™️
Kelly McMasters, THE LEAVING SEASON
Zibby speaks to author Kelly McMasters about The Leaving Season, a nuanced, heart-wrenching, and astoundingly gorgeous memoir in essays about "leaving"–a place, a job, a home, a version of oneself, and, particularly, a marriage. Kelly describes her life before, during, and after her divorce, revealing that it ultimately helped her as a mother. She also talks about the bookstore she opened in rural Pennsylvania (and the heartbreak of having to close it), the financial struggles she has faced in the past, and the book she is working on next.
The Leaving Season is the September pick for Zibby’s Book Club!
Purchase on Zibby's Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3r6X3UK
Purchase on Bookshop: https://bit.ly/3JCSqYK
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