The Edge of Belonging is the debut novel of Amanda Cox, but one would never know it just from reading the story.  The book draws the reader in with its almost poetic introduction to Harvey James.  The description is so real the reader can picture exactly how things looked and felt through his eyes.

Don’t worry though, the author doesn’t leave you with just one set of eyes to see through.  You soon get to meet many other characters in both the past and the present.  Cox switches off between the two in a way that brings the reader much closer to the characters.  The ending may be rather obvious, because the book has a dual timeline, but it is a heart-wrenching pleasure to read about how the ending came about.

It is clear from reading this story that the author has much experience with people who are broken and hurting.  There are so many positive and uplifting messages wrapped up into a non-preachy novel that allows readers to glean the lessons from the experiences of the characters.  If reading well written emotional stories about heartache and redemption cause you to be weepy, you might want to be prepared with a box of Kleenex.  Can’t wait to read the next story Cox writes!

This book was sent to Compass Book Ratings for review by Revell

Content Analysis:

Profanity/Language:  None

Violence/Gore:  It is implied that a character suffering from PTSD committed suicide; a man grabs a woman and during a struggle, she strikes her head and it bleeds; several references are made to domestic violence and human trafficking; a character recalls emotional abuse and a threat to kill someone; a character has a cut that bleeds; a man grabs another roughly to detain her. 

Sex/Nudity:  Non-married characters kiss and embrace.

Mature Subject Matter:

Death of close family members, adoption, infertility, suicide, emotional abuse.

Alcohol / Drug Use:

A character wonders if another is a drug addict; a character is reported to be drunk often.