Like its predecessor, Good News from Haven, Leaving North Haven is a collection of related stories following one year in the life of the wise and understanding pastor of a small Presbyterian Church, Rev. David Battles. The books are set in the fictional town of North Haven, Minnesota.

North Haven is a place that has seen better days and Battles is torn by his love for the rhythms and folkways of the tiny village and his longing for a more glamorous assignment. Fans of Good News from North Haven will be pleased to encounter many of the same characters in the sequel, though the two can be read independently. In Leaving North Haven, Lindvall's storytelling is keener than ever, weaving emotion and compassion with gentle humor.