Quick Synopsis – Every day, all across the world, inhuman creatures are waking up with no memory of who they are or where they came from–and the Caravan exists to help them. The traveling community is made up of these very creatures and their families who’ve acclimated to this new existence by finding refuge in each other. That is, until the morning five teenage travelers wake to find their community has disappeared overnight.

Those left: a half-human who only just ran back to the Caravan with their tail between their legs, two brothers–one who can’t seem to stay out of trouble and the other who’s never been brave enough to get in it, a venomous girl with blood on her hands and a heart of gold, and the Caravan’s newest addition, a disquieting shadow in the shape of a boy. They’ll have to work together to figure out what happened the night of the disappearance, but each one of the forsaken five is white-knuckling their own secrets. And with each truth forced to light, it becomes clear this isn’t really about what happened to their people–it’s about what happened to them.

Song This Reminds Me Of – Painkillers by Rainbow Kitten Surprise

Publication Date – June 10, 2025

Bookshop Link – We Can Never Leave a book by H.E. Edgmon – Bookshop.org US (Disclosure – I get a small commission if you use my link)

Content Notes – The Caravan in this book is very cult like, there is a lot of emotional manipulation and some mention of physical abuse. There are multiple mentions of child abuse and death of children. There is blood and violence between the main characters.

Rating – ⭐⭐⭐out of 5

Review – I love H. E. Edgmon’s writing style and I think a lot their writing is beautiful and painful. This book was no exception; I thought the characters were well done and the angst leapt off the page. The reason this wasn’t a 5-star read for me is because I thought there could have been more exposition. By the conclusion of the book, we never really understand the caravan’s purpose or why they seem so sinister. There are a lot of implications, but not concrete answers. This wouldn’t bother me if there was another book, but it seems like this is a stand-alone novel.

We Can Never Leave is really a story about religious trauma. Bird, one of the books main characters, leaves the caravan for 3 years to be human. But after she fails and returns “home” the caravan suddenly disappears during a New Moon ritual. Bird, and four other teens are the only ones left. From here, there is a lot of unpacking of preconceived notions and some sinister undertones that something isn’t right. One of the main fights Bird has with other characters is why she left. There’s a lot of discussion about how the Caravan seems to keep people ignorant and isn’t it mysterious that they just seem to find magical people?

I liked the character dynamics and the end of this book almost made me cry. Felix, one of the left behind teens, reminds me so much of the child who just wants to fix everything. His story arc, along with his brother Hugh, is truly difficult to read, but in a good way. The brothers suffer some pretty significant psychological abuse, the kind that fuels rage and ends lives. Their story felt so real, just two kids trapped in a commune with no outlet to leave.

There was so much about this story that I liked, but it was a little too jumbled and I wanted more background plot. If you like semi-horror YA novels, you’d probably enjoy this book.

Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press – Wednesday books for the advanced copy. All opinions are my own.