Leave Her Wilde — Courtney Brown

Leave Her Wilde is a raw and lyrical coming-of-age memoir-novel that follows Lenora Poet Wilde through the turmoil of broken homes and fierce women. Her story unfolds against a backdrop of family secrets, survival, and the search for a place to belong. Her childhood unfolded between a mother who couldn't, a father who wouldn't, and the many hands of kin who tried, in their imperfect ways, to hold her steady. Through it all, she discovers that survival demands both quick wit and a tender heart.Told with humor, grit, and aching honesty, Lenora's story captures the tangled beauty of growing up in a fractured home. It is a world where love and betrayal often coexist under the same roof. Along the way, she uncovers resilience in unexpected corners. She discovers them in school hallways that feel like freedom and in siblings who need her more deeply than she ever imagined. These quiet revelations shape her strength and guide her forward. She also encounters a love that pushes her to the edge of forgiveness.Blending memoir and storytelling, Leave Her Wilde captures what it means to grow up fast, to carry generational scars, and to still search for belonging. Both intimate and universal, it's a book for anyone who has ever felt caught between where they came from and who they hope to become.