Those Who Leave and Those Who Stay is a 2013 novel written by Italian author Elena Ferrante, published by Edizioni e/o [it].

Pasquale and Nadia convince Lila to go to a meeting of the Italian Communist Party, where she talks about her working conditions.

Lenù writes an article denouncing the situation of the factory and with Pietro's connections, she manages to have it published in the newspaper L'Unità.

She becomes pregnant on her honeymoon, giving birth to her daughter Adele (Dede), named after Pietro's mother.

At home with two young girls, Lenù has a hard time writing, and feels trapped and alienated.

She feels inspired by Nino, who seems to recognize her intellect and blames Pietro for letting her be wasted by a routine with small children.

"[3][4][5] It was praised for its portrayal of an intelligent young woman who finds motherhood stifling, a perspective not often portrayed, as argued by Roxana Robinson in The New York Times: "She (Elena) has joined the intelligentsia and is about to marry into the middle class, yet her life is still rife with limitations.