“In this dual-time narrative, Ivy Rose returns to her hometown to oversee an estate sale but soon discovers her grandmother left behind more than trinkets and photo frames–she provided a path to the truth behind Ivy’s adoption.”
I hadn’t even read this summary in full when I picked up this delightful story. I was pleasantly surprised with not only the character development and my attachment to each of them; but also by the unexpected twists and turns of the story. It was entertaining and enchanting, and while there was tragedy and loss they was coupled with the beauty of how the story unfolded. The story is nothing like my own and yet I felt hope growing in my own challenging circumstances. Family is not just what we are born with but also who we choose.
The Edge of Belonging also cast light on interesting stigmas around homelessness, foster care, infertility, and the way families are constructed. I recently read in The Bookish Life of Nina Hill that family isn’t just about DNA, and this story is another beautiful and dynamic depiction of that. Harvey’s self-sacrifice brings together an unlikely family and turns tragedy into triumph. If you’re looking for a great story, with some unexpected bends in the plot, and something to bring a little bit of beauty or hope in these strange times I highly recommend, The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox.
Thanks to the publisher for my copy of the book, all opinions shared here on my own.
SUMMARY
When Ivy Rose returns to her hometown to oversee an estate sale, she soon discovers that her grandmother left behind more than trinkets and photo frames–she provided a path to the truth behind Ivy’s adoption. Shocked, Ivy seeks clues to her past, but a key piece to the mystery is missing.
Twenty-four years earlier, Harvey James finds an abandoned newborn who gives him a sense of human connection for the first time in his life. His desire to care for the baby runs up against the stark fact that he is homeless. When he becomes entwined with two people seeking to help him find his way, Harvey knows he must keep the baby a secret or risk losing the only person he’s ever loved.
In this dual-time story from debut novelist Amanda Cox, the truth–both the search for it and the desire to keep it from others–takes center stage as Ivy and Harvey grapple with love, loss, and letting go.
