Margaret, Are You Leaving?

by Dianne Yarwood

'Such a warm, generous, uplifting book. Full of heart and wisdom, emotionally sharp and funny in a very human way' EMMA PEI YIN

An uplifting and life-affirming novel about family lost and found from the author of Australian bestseller The Wakes

Sydney, 2001. Now in her forties, Maggie Reid has built a good life for herself, surrounded by good people. She has an adorable but needy dog and a new relationship. She has tried hard to leave her painful past behind her, but when her beloved brother Lucas calls with news of their adopted mother's death, he also delivers a bombshell about Maggie's birth mother.

So begins an uncertain, bumpy journey to trace her mother's identity, a quest that brings fresh heartbreak but also unexpected joy. Maggie's spent her whole life leaving, but now, for the first time, will she feel like staying?

Deeply empathetic, uncommonly witty and wise, Margaret, Are You Leaving? celebrates the messiness of family and the beauty of life in all its heartache and wonder.

Praise for Dianne Yarwood's debut novel, The Wakes:

'An insightful, emotionally intelligent writer . . . her book is like a warm embrace' The Times

'Heartfelt, funny, uplifting' The Australian Women's Weekly

'Few people can write about food and heartbreak like Nora Ephron - that was until Dianne Yarwood . . . comfort food for your mind' Harper's Bazaar

'Funny, moving, tender and wise' LIANE MORIARTY

'An uplifting novel about how the joy of living can be found in the most unexpected places' The Guardian

'A delectable fusion of comedy, hope, loss, and great food' Weekend Australian

Heartfelt . . . blends humour with poignant reflections on life and death' Better Homes & Gardens

'Full of wry, astute observations of the human condition . . . We are left with a sense of hope and a fierce consciousness of the preciousness of life' Living Arts Canberra

'A celebration of what it means to be alive, and the joy of finding friendship' JOANNA NELL

'Warm and profound. I can't wait for everyone to read it' SALLY HEPWORTH

'Immensely human and warm and satisfying' SHELLEY BURR

'Rich with wisdom, love, humour and a sparkling joy' KELLY RIMMER

'So warm and poignant and sweetly funny. I loved it' JACQUELINE MALEY

Genres: Fiction

331 pages, Kindle Edition

Published April 28, 2026

Reviews

[Wendy Beech · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh my goodness this book! There is heart, tenderness and humanity on every page and I was dripping with happy tears for the last hour or so reading it. At it's core, this is a book about friendship and love (giving and receiving it) - two of my most favourite book themes. It follows Margaret and Anna - two women with very different experiences of familial love. Margaret is tracing her family history, and Anna is having struggles of her own. Their relationship was my favourite part of the book. I loved both women's perspectives - both broke my heart and healed my heart. The side characters - Andy, Will, Lucas, Heather, Suella, gosh they got me good too. While there is a good bit of grief and trauma in these pages, it's handled with the greatest care and will leaving you feeling like everything can be ok.

I also LOVED the Melbourne and surrounds setting - it felt so familiar and accurate.

If you're looking for a book to remind you of the good in the world and what it is to be human, you won't regret picking up this book. Dianne Yarwood, I reckon this was the book you were born to write. Magnificent and one of my favourites of the year, thank you so much for writing it! This is the easiest of 5 stars for me. Loved every minute!

[Janene · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely loved this book. It had me from the very beginning and never let go.

Maggie is such a beautifully written character, with real depth and vulnerability, and I found myself connecting with her very early on. The relationships in this story feel genuine and layered, especially the friendships, which added so much warmth throughout.

I particularly loved the Scrabble club scenes—they brought a lovely sense of community and familiarity—and the small threads of history woven through the story added a nostalgic touch that made it even more meaningful.

This is a thoughtful, emotionally rich story about family, identity, and finding where you belong. A truly beautiful read.

[Terri | Twist & Doubt | Bookstagram · Rating 5 out of 5]

4.5 stars

Margaret, Are You Leaving? by Dianne Yarwood is a deeply empathetic and quietly powerful story about Maggie Reid, a woman in her forties whose life is upended when the death of her adoptive mother leads to shocking news about her birth mother. What follows is a tender, often painful journey of self-discovery as she searches for where - and to whom - she truly belongs.

This is a story driven by identity, by the need to understand where we come from and how that shapes us. It’s about love in all its forms - romantic, familial, and the kind we find in the people who choose us. It also touches on mental health and the way grief can quietly unravel us, showing how loss can shape our sense of self and impact the people around us. It explores grief, motherhood, friendship, and the messy beauty of both blood family and found family.

There’s a warmth to this book that makes even the heavier moments feel comforting. Yarwood balances humour with heartbreak so beautifully, giving Maggie a voice that feels real, sharp, and incredibly human. There is tragedy here, but also hope, resilience, and the quiet reminder that sometimes healing comes from finally allowing yourself to stay.

A thoughtful, moving, and life-affirming read that lingers long after the final page (and I’m definitely hopeful we might get a sequel exploring Lucas’s story 🤞).

Thank you Dianne Yarwood and Hachette Australia for my copy!

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily

[Rebecca Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A beautifully written piece about life, grief, loss, love and everything in between! A stark reminder of the preciousness of life, the importance of family, friends and finding a sense of belonging. Yarwood writes with such a deep care and tenderness in the face of some poignant themes, a truly heart-warming read

[Marianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret, Are You Leaving? is the second novel by bestselling Australian author, Dianne Yarwood. It’s when her brother Lucas rings her at work to tell her their adoptive mother, Caroline, neither loving to, nor beloved by, Maggie Reid, has died, that she begins talking about the traumatic childhood she’s buried deep in her memory, the one she kept trying to escape.

Her new(ish) colleague at Channel Five Reception, Anna Jamieson is shocked. The younger woman has gradually become a friend; they seem to be of the same mind about a lot of the calls they field from viewers, in a job they see as being the gatekeepers of complaint (compliments are rare); Anna has invited her to join Scrabble Club; sharing these facts about her early life strengthens their friendship.

When the mother Anna has always been close to dies in faraway Oxford, her grief prompts her to urge Maggie to find her birth mother. The Adoption Service provides some information to supplement the scant (and possibly, false) facts Caroline dispensed: Maggie learns she was abandoned to a church-run children’s home at seven months by Martha (Marta), disowned by Marta’s husband, and that there are half siblings. Braving a phone call, she perhaps expects surprise and wariness, maybe curiosity, but resentment?

The facts about her early childhood accumulate and, with each new revelation about her past, Anna and Scrabbler, Will Bevan provide Maggie with unfailing support, understanding, encouragement, insight, the voice of reason, and the perspective of a mother plagued by fear and fighting to survive.

Yarwood gives the reader a tale that features the heartbreak of abandonment, the post-war migrant experience, and the horrific conditions suffered by those incarcerated in a Magdalene laundry. There’s grief, doubts about self-worth, benzodiazepine addiction, and breath-taking cruelty and selfishness, but also friendship, loyalty, hope, and, eventually, unexpected enthusiasm and kindness.

Few will be able to read the final chapters unaffected by a lump in the throat or a tear in the eye, but there’s also plenty of humour, some of it quite black, throughout. Yarwood’s second novel surpasses her brilliant debut, and more from this talented author is eagerly anticipated. Moving, thought-provoking, hopeful and often funny: highly recommended.
This unbiased review is from an uncorrected proof copy provided by NetGalley and Hachette ANZ.

[Melissa Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story I found to be a very heartwarming and emotionally rich and satisfying read, which also included some humour filled, laugh out loud moments.

The setting is Sydney, where we meet two main characters Maggie (Margaret) and Anna, who are colleagues manning the switchboard at a news network. Maggie was adopted and had a particularly hard relationship with her adoptive mother, who was very strict and emotionally abusive. Maggie is told her adoptive mother has died and she is not sure how to feel but knows she hates the woman. This kickstarts her journey toward discovering who she really is.
Anna on the other hand, has had a loving, close relationship with her mother, who also suddenly dies and Anna’s world falls apart.

Both characters subsequently go on an emotional journey whilst both facing grief and loss, in an attempt to piece together Maggie’s story and find answers about where she came from. Maggie’s journey also somewhat helps Anna to start healing from the loss of her own mother.

I found Maggie’s character to be a very warm, loving and likeable person, who shows true vulnerability, particularly when she has a strong sense that she was unloved, hence meaning she must also be an unloving person herself (which we can tell from her relationships, is not true).

Some heavy themes are included in the book such as; adoption, institutional care, trauma (parent’s experiences of war), migrant life in Australia, alcohol abuse, anxiety, depression and Prescription medication addiction.

In the end, strong friendships and relationships prevail to overcome grief. Additionally, this journey of self discovery and finding out who you really are, can help to heal past wounds caused by trauma and help move forward. There may have also been a few ‘happy tears’ shed for Maggie as she discovers a few extra family members along the way.

Overall this was an emotionally powerful story. I rate this book a 5 star read.

Thank you to Good Reading and the Publisher Hachette for an Advanced Reading Copy to review.

[Karren Sandercock · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sydney, 2001. Margaret Reid lives with her dog Brian and has just started dating Richard, she tries not to dwell on her painful childhood and until her estranged brother Lucas calls to inform her that her adopted mother Caroline has passed away and it makes her think about how bad it was.

Maggie works as a teacher’s aide and at night she answers the phones at channel five with Anna Jamieson, an anxious mum and she and her husband Andy are involved in a scrabble club and she invites Maggie to join. Here she meets a group of interesting people, including Suella and Will and he’s a father of three boys and newly divorced.

In-between calls Maggie and Anna chat, and she tells her about her terrible childhood and it was the complete opposite to her colleagues. Maggie decides to find out who her real mother is and her story is complicated, sad and not at all what she’s expecting. It does explain why Maggie always struggled with relationships, never felt loved, worthy and good enough. Maggie and Anna are very different but both have issues and I felt a connection to them and rode their ups and downs and shed a few tears when they did.

I received a copy of Margaret, Are You Leaving? From NetGalley and Hachette Australia & New Zealand in exchange for an honest review. Author Dianne Yarwood is a brilliant story teller, the dual timeline explores the importance of love and friendship and other topics such as being a migrant.

Many people moved to Australia after World War Two, they left what remained of their family, home and their country behind, hoping for a fresh start and they found it hard to fit in, often didn’t speak English, had scars and demons and this caused all kinds of issues, situations and break ups.

So far this year I have read forty five books, and this is one of my favourites, and five stars. I’m keen to get my hands on a copy of her debut novel The Wakes and I hope the library has it.

[Gillian Gates · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret Are You Leaving is a beautifully written story. I was captivated and engaged from the start right through to the end.

I loved the characters of Maggie and Anna who worked together and formed a strong bond and friendship. Each had their own struggles and issues. They helped one another and told each other what had happened in their lives. I felt sad and sorry for Maggie as she described what it was like being abandoned by her parents. She had been forced to work in a Magdalen laundry for 9 hours a day, six days a week for a year.

I liked the quote, “Doesn’t life offer a fundamental promise to every child born: You will be loved, you will be cared for, you will be nurtured.” Maggie felt she was owed an apology from her mother for leaving her. She had one question for her mother; did she love me?

The story has many themes including relationships between mothers and daughters, friendships, family lost then found, new relationships, adoption, grief, hope, love, migrants along with the struggles they faced and identity.

I highly recommend reading this wonderful book. Thank you to Good Reading Magazine for allowing me to read this ARC of Margaret Are You Leaving? by Dianne Yarwood. I thoroughly enjoyed this and gave it five stars. Looking forward to her next book.

[Lori S. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maggie Reid has been getting along just fine, or so she thinks when she gets a call from her brother to tell her their adopted mother has died. It's now she starts reliving the traumatic childhood with this "mother". It's the past she wanted to keep firmly behind her. But along with this death, her brother relates information regarding her birth mother. And so, with the urging of her colleague and friend, Anna, she searches for her birth mother.
This is a fairly heart-wrenching novel with all the feels. While the story centres on Maggie, it also encompasses Anna, who has just lost her mother and is also grieving.

I will admit I am not a bit fan of heart-wrenching stories. It all gets to be too much at times. But here, I never found it to be that and there are highs and lows that get the characters through. By the end of the book, I felt satisfied with how things work out for Maggie. I think what she finds in her searches helps bring a certain peace to her past that she had never reached before.

I really liked this and recommend to those looking for characters with deep-seated past stories that have massively shaped their lives. Thank you to Netgalley and Hachette Australia/New Zealand for giving me a free advanced reader copy. I've provided my feedback voluntarily and with no obligation.

[Jennifer (JC-S) · Rating 4 out of 5]

In this novel, Ms Yarwood explores friendship and experiences of love and family. And as I read, I wondered whether the past ever be escaped from.
Maggie is in her forties and living in Sydney when her brother Lucas calls to advise her that their adopted mother has died. Maggie works late night shifts with Anna, who is astounded by Maggie’s seemingly unemotional reaction to this news. Anna herself is emotionally very close to her mother who lives in the UK. But when he provides information about their adoptive mother’s death, Lucas also mentions Maggie’s birth mother. And gradually, Maggie embarks on a journey to find out more about her mother and why she left.

The friendship between Maggie and Anna is central to this story. Both women need to negotiate experiences of loss and face a changing future. Maggie’s journey will deliver both heartbreak and joy, while Anna’s journey requires her to reestablish herself in her changed world.

I kept reading. Having captured my attention, Ms Yarwood held it as I needed to know how the story would end. I finished the story completely satisfied.

Note: My thanks to NetGalley and Hachette Australia and New Zealand for providing me with a free electronic copy of this book for review purposes.

Jennifer Cameron-Smith

[Carly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was lucky enough to receive an advance reader copy of “Margaret, are you Leaving?” and my goodness did I adore this book!

I appreciated the exploration of grief and loss through the two main characters, Anna and Maggie. Both experienced drastically different childhoods, one with a loving mother and another who had varying levels of absent mother figures. This books explores how their respective childhoods have influenced their experiences and expectations of relative, platonic and romantic love. As well as how both women deal with grief and hard realities.

This book is set in early 2000’s Sydney, with some retrospective plot lines. This book also explores the alienation of migrants post-world war 2, and how difficult it would have been to adapt to a new country, a different language and the unforgiving Australian outback.

Dianne Yarwood’s writing is beautiful and almost lyrical at times. I also adored the character of Will and his representation of the under-appreciated soft masculinity. I felt warm whilst reading this book, and was so happy it ended the way that it did.

“Margaret, are you Leaving?” Is a quiet, sunny but not too hot, Saturday morning read.

[Lisa Hall · Rating 5 out of 5]

If we keep leaving and running, how will we ever arrive?

Maggie Reid has had a rough start to life. Abandoned as a baby, she is now in her forties, single, and has just found out that her fearsome adoptive mother has died. Along with her work colleague Anna, she decides that the time has come to trace her birth mother .

Meanwhile, Anna is drowning in her own grief, as her own much-loved mother has also died. Joy and gladness seem a long way away. 

Throw in a Scrabble Club full of kind and thoughtful neighbours and the delightful Will, who is not put off in the slightest by Maggie's heart-wrenching discoveries, and you have a beautiful, raw, but uplifting story about the deep imprints that our families leave on our souls.

I loved this book and read it in two days. Maggie, Anna, Will and all the minor characters are relatable, real and likeable. It tugged at my heartstrings but in an excellent way. If you are looking for a story that will fill your cup and bring joy deep down in your bones, Margaret, Are You Leaving? is the book for you.

[Sharon J · Rating 5 out of 5]

Margaret, Are You Leaving by Dianne Yarwood is a heartwarming and heart breaking story of two women, Maggie (Margaret) and Anna. While their journeys are different, both are incredibly emotional and moving. A story about friendship and family, of love and hate, of despair and joy, of hope and hopelessness!

A highlight for me was the Scrabble Club which was novel but a wonderful way for people to socialise and added a fun element to the story giving the characters a different environment to bring out their personalities and interactions. It certainly gave many of the characters the emotional support they needed when times were tough and a place to share in a safe place.

Well written and easy to read with well developed and interesting characters and situations.

Highly recommended read.


This review is based on a complimentary copy from Hachette Australia & New Zealand via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

#Margaret,AreYouLeaving? #NetGalley

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

Margaret, Are You Leaving?
Release May 2026

Thanks to @hachetteaus for the gifted ARC of Dianne Yarwood’s upcoming release (I loved The Wakes 💛)

The premise had me hooked straight away — it felt really close to my own experiences, which made it hit even harder.

A story of never knowing who you are, always leaving, wondering What If?

This is definitely a slow, character-driven story, the kind that gives you space to sit with the emotions and really reflect.

ARCs can be tricky to review since they’re not always the final version, but I did find the flow a bit disjointed at times. The jumps between scenes weren’t always smooth, which made it a little harder to stay fully immersed.

That said, I really enjoyed the overall storyline and the depth of the characters ✨

If you love thoughtful, character-driven reads, this one’s for you.

[Lucy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Margaret, Are You Leaving? by Yarwood explores themes of friendship, family, adoption, and grief. At its heart is Maggie, a character shaped by a traumatic childhood, who is searching for her real mother. The search becomes intertwined with her friendship with Anna, who is dealing with her own struggles.

I found this to be a thoughtful, character-driven novel, and for the most part, I enjoyed it. The relationships and emotional themes held my attention. However, I did find my interest begin to drift around the 60% mark, where the flow didn’t quite work for me. As more characters were introduced in the final third, I found it harder to stay fully engaged and to keep track of everyone.
Overall, though, I appreciated the heart of the story and the focus on complex relationships and personal histories.

I received an advance review copy from NetGalley, and this is my honest review.

[Charlene · Rating 4 out of 5]

Margaret, Are You Leaving? By Dianne Yarwood is a beautifully written, compelling novel that will stay with me for a long time.

The protagonist, Margaret, is an interesting character, drawn with empathy and depth. Her struggles and decisions are authentically portrayed, making it easy to become invested in her poignant search for her lost family, and the unconditional love we all deserve. The other characters in the novel, each with their own stories and personal battles, are also well developed and highly relatable. The plot is well balanced, threading humour and happiness through the central themes of early trauma and abandonment.

Overall, Margaret, Are You Leaving? is a thoughtful, entertaining and engaging read, which I would highly recommend.

Thanks to Good Reading Magazine for the Advance Reader Copy.

[Gem ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book such an emotional journey, where we follow Maggie as she comes to terms with the news of her adopted mother's death and the emotions that come with that as they were very much estranged. Her adopted brother and best friend Anna help her to piece together clues of her life before she was adopted and finally so much falls in to place that was previously held away from her.
The historical true life story that is interwoven into the fiction of Maggie's past was done really well and although I did know some of the background to what was experienced by post war immigrants to Australia, and also children taken in to care, this was a truly raw and gripping part of the story.
It was stunning to read Maggie's evolvement to recognise her worth and find her happiness despite such difficult experiences.
This is a wonderful book.

[Meg · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is the story of Margaret and her friends and family. She is middle aged in 2001 and after the death of her adoptive mother, has been inspired to look into her family history and find out who her birth parents were.
Margaret is a great character, but I found the supporting cast a bit of a mix. There were too many of them - which one is her boyfriend, her brother, her dog?? None were well fleshed out and they seemed to come and go from the story in a confusing way. I liked the plot as a whole, but it jumped around a bit and took a bit long to get to the point. So overall, a fine but not memorable read.

[Lauren Ali · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book will break your heart and then mend it again. A story of abandonment and identity with or without our mothers. It follows grief and how we navigate it when the person that dies is tied to a traumatic relationship. Maggie is a gorgeous central character with a supportive group of friends and family that help her navigate her journey. Anna especially provides a great counter to Maggie and her journey. The setting of 2001 adds an incredible layer to the already rich personal stories. A must read this year!

Thank you to NetGalley and Hachette Australia for the eARC!

[Tammy O'Keefe · Rating 3 out of 5]

✨ *Margaret, Are You Leaving?* by Dianne Yarwood ✨

This novel, inspired by real events, is a deeply moving story about loss, resilience, and healing.

At its heart is Maggie, a woman shaped by a traumatic childhood and early abandonment. As she begins her journey to find her biological mother, a friendship with Anna—formed through her work—helps her face the truth about what happened all those years ago. Anna, dealing with struggles of her own, finds strength alongside Maggie.

Together, through this unexpected bond, they begin to heal and discover the peace they’ve both been searching for.

A powerful and emotional read that stayed with me long after I finished. Highly recommended for anyone who enjoys heartfelt stories about family, identity, and friendship. 📖💛

[Elisa Kay · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was able to make so many connections to my life whilst reading this book.
Maggie grew up in Bundoora, I grew up in the next suburb. This did cause a slight problem, as Bundoora was mentioned to have a landmark which I could not place.
Later in the novel Maggie goes to Daylesford and spends time there seeing the sights. My family has a holiday house there which I have known all my life.
Maggie was left at church as a young baby. Her mother claimed she would return shortly to collect her but never returned.
The book goes into Maggie's search for her family.

[tinkingaboutbooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Following the death of her adoptive mother, a discovery about Maggie's birth mother sends her on a life changing search to find her identity.

While the search drives the plot, it was the connection between Maggie and her colleague, Anna, that hit the spot for me. Forging a bond over late night shifts at a call centre, games of Scrabble, and the shared weight of family trauma, their friendship felt truly authentic and I really enjoyed reading Margaret, Are You Leaving?

Thank you to Hachette Australia for my ARC of this fantastic book.

[Kyra Geddes · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful novel! Dianne Yarwood has a rare gift. In quiet yet searing prose, she reveals the human heart in all its flawed glory. Margaret, Are You Leaving? will speak to anyone lucky enough to have been mothered well, but especially to those who have not - for whom, I hope, it will act as a salve. It is also a timeless yet timely plea for peace.

[Beverley Streater · Rating 4 out of 5]

How refreshing to read something outside of today's cookie cutter fiction. I enjoyed the story and found the characters very realistic and relatable. Oh, and there's a Scrabble club!

There was one question left unanswered for me but not sharing here. I'll wait to see if others were looking for the same thing.

[Robyn Hunter · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a wonderful book, written with compassion and empathy, warmth and humour. As with her first novel The Wakes, there are captivating explorations of love and friendship, there’s a fabulous canine character, the trademark references to food and a beautiful underlying joy for life and living and all that can mean. Such a great read!

[Edward · Rating 4 out of 5]

This novel is written about a neighbour and friend. It is a terrific adaptation of a real life. It is a hard story of a tough early life. Many questions are answered and a tough start has turned into a wonderful life.

[Christina Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book of discovery.
Maggie takes a call to say her adoptive mother has died, and this sets her on a quest to trace her birth mother. A truly lovely story about friendship, relationships and love.

#NetGalley #OrionPublishingGroup #DianneYarwood #MargaretAreYouLeaving?

[Sue Thorpe · Rating 5 out of 5]

A definite 5 stars!
Review to follow!

[fiona wilson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful thought provoking story

[Beatrice Holman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just a really lovely and gorgeous read 🥹