The author reads from and discusses her new book "The Perfect Other: A Memoir of my Sister." Presented both in person at the library and virtually via Crowdcast in this hybrid event.

“The Perfect Other” centers around Kyleigh Leddy's sister and her battle with schizophrenia. It covers a range of topics, including the mental healthcare system, neuroscience and grief, but at its core, the author sees it mostly as a story about sisterhood and love.

While a senior at Boston College, Kyleigh Leddy won The New York Times’ 2019 Modern Love college essay contest with her emotionally authentic piece, “Years Ago, My Sister Vanished. I See Her Whenever I Want” — a probing and perceptive exploration of grief and the enduring love between sisters. It was only the second piece of writing Kyleigh had ever submitted anywhere — drawn from the heartbreak of her own experience navigating life since her beloved older sister, Kait, who suffered from schizophrenia, had disappeared five years before. With the release of this memoir, Kyleigh Leddy now probes more deeply, and with great clarity and maturity, into the tragedy of her sister’s mental illness and the rippling effects it had on those who loved her.

Kyleigh is a graduate of Boston College and is currently pursuing an MSW at Columbia University in advanced clinical practice and public policy. Her work has appeared in The New York Times, Parents and other publications. She is based in New York City, and “The Perfect Other” is her first book.

Kyleigh Leddy book launch for "The Perfect Other"