The new novel from the author of 'Little Children' asks, what if one day some of us simply vanished? How would the rest of us cope? Following the sudden disappearance of thousands of citizens, Kevin Garvey, Mapleton's new mayor, wants to bring a sense of hope to his traumatised community, but his family has fallen apart in the wake of disaster. Kevin's wife has joined a homegrown cult, and his son is a disciple of the prophet Holy Wayne. Only Jill, Kevin's daughter, remains, and she's no longer the sweet student she once was. Written with a rare ability to illuminate our everyday struggles, 'The Leftovers' is a startling novel about love, connection and loss. 'An American Nick Hornby' Newsweek