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 … 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.
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As I read this book, I was amazed that a debut novel could touch me so deeply. From the first paragraph, when I met Harvey James for the first time, until the closing lines, I was mesmerized by this story. The Edge of Belonging is told in dual-time, alternating between 1994 and the present, but these times blend together so that I felt like I was seeing a movie unfold. Harvey James, who felt like he had never belonged, grabbed my heart when he found a newborn baby abandoned in weeds along a busy highway and decided that this baby would be treasured as he himself had never been. Move to present day and the story focuses on counselor Ivy Rose and newly discovered secrets of her past that will forever alter her future.
Author Amanda Cox has created a cast of remarkable characters, including Harvey, Ivy, Pearl, Rose, and Reese and she tells their stories with memorable words that often made me cry.
“Those people in children’s services, they try to do a good job. But it’s not the same as being loved by a mom and dad. It’s not love when you can be given back when it gets tough.”
“Above all, Christ called her his and was gracious enough to give her people to remind her if she lost her way.”
“I think…I still can’t believe I get to watch this beautiful life of yours unfold.”
Cox tackles some heavy topics, such as abandonment, abuse, addiction, and depression but she buffers them with love, hope, and the realization that a family unit can be created by more than blood ties. She also shows that there is mercy and grace through the power of God’s love.
If you enjoy contemporary Christian fiction, you absolutely need to read this book. I predict that Amanda Cox and The Edge of Belonging will be mentioned quite often in the months ahead and I wish that I could give it more than 5 Stars!
I received a copy of this book from Revell. There was no obligation for a positive review. These are my own thoughts.
The Edge of Belonging
By Amanda Cox
Ivy Rose Lashly outwardly seems to have the perfect life – loving parents, attentive fiancee, and a great job. But appearances can be deceiving – and her life is about to start unwinding after her grandmother’s death. Ivy Rose needs to know her past; she feels that her worth depends on what she does not know.
Harvey James exists but doesn’t truly live, at least, not until he finds a newborn abandoned near the highway bypass he called home. Finding this baby awakens a feeling in him that forces him to step out of what he knows and into the unknown.
From its gorgeous cover to the final page, The Edge of Belonging took me through the entire range of emotions before it was done with me. This beautifully crafted split time tale takes the reader on an incredible journey of what a family can be, even one not formed in the usual way.
Precious characters were a delight to get to know, especially Harvey with his tender heart and determination to take care of the abandoned baby despite his own lack of finances.
This story filled with love and compassion illustrates the difference that can be made in another person’s life if one can look past the outer appearances and get to know the true soul within.
Amanda Cox is a new author to me but I was so impressed by The Edge of Belonging that I will most certainly be on the lookout for her next book. I would definitely recommend it to all.
I voluntarily reviewed a digital copy of this book provided by Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group. A favorable review was not required. All views expressed are my own.
The Edge of Belonging is a fabulous debut for author Amanda Cox. I adored this story. My favorite type of books are time slips and this one does not disappoint. I enjoyed Ivy and Harvey so very much. The is such a beautiful tale of love, faith, and inspiration with the lessons of letting go, forgiveness and redemption.
I am giving The Edge of Belonging a very well deserved five plus stars. I am looking forward to the next release by Amanda Cox next fall.
I received The Edge of Belonging from the publisher. This review is one hundred percent my own honest opinion.
A compelling dual timeline story that follows the life of Ivy Rose as she returns to her hometown, she discovers more about her past as she makes choices about her future.
Captivating from the very beginning this heartfelt tale, is a story of faith, family, and the choices that bring us together. This book kept me guessing all the way to the end, and I didn’t want to put it down because I wanted to know what had happened as the two threads got closer to converging.
The characters are well crafted, I loved Harvey for his courage, unorthodox survival tactics, resourcefulness, and nurturing heart. I loved how this book introduces so many wonderful people in one small community who captured my heart, as I longed, laughed and cried along with them.
A stunning debut, with memorable characters, poignant storytelling, with equally engaging storylines. I loved how it explores the complex relationships, and the beauty of love in unexpected places. Well constructed and well worth your time. I highly recommend this masterpiece!
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Wow, wow, wow!! I cannot believe this is Amanda Cox’s debut book! This author truly tugs at ALL of your emotions. It was excellent. I absolutely have become a time-slip junkie so this book was right up my alley and she does both timeline so incredibly well. I didn’t know which timeline I wanted to stay in more because they were equally captivating.
In this story we meet some amazing main characters but four really stood out to me. Ivy is really the main one and whom the story is about centers on. She is an orphan who was adopted and is trying to find answers about how her adoption came about. She feels like something has been missing her whole life. She is a social worker and in abusive relationship. We meet Harvey who is also a broken soul and finds Ivy and his heart opens up in a way he never thought possible. He pours his unconditional love upon her without hesitation.
I can’t forget about Pearl because she truly was my favorite. She is the glue that holds all these people together. She is the person that you strive to be like in your Christian walk. She is not perfect by any means because after all she is a human but she has those godly characters that you seek after. She knows what its like to grieve and feel alone so she puts all those gifts at play when it comes to these people in her life.
I have to mention Reese because he is swoon-worthy!! And I am not going to ruin it for you because I promise you, you will swoon at his character traits.
Amanda Cox truly penned a beautiful story about acceptance, redemption, unconditional love, healing, hope and connections that come full circle. It really was an amazing story that I highly recommend. If you like dual time lines you will definitely love this story and you need to go pick it up ASAP!!
I received a copy of this book from the Revell. I was not required to post a positive review. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
Family is so much more than blood relatives…
Have you ever felt like you just didn’t belong? Anywhere and to no one? Have I got a story for you… The Edge Of Belonging is the story of a group of people, people who have been hurt and kicked around by life. Neglected by humanity. Forgotten by God. Or have they? Could God use one little baby girl to touch the lives of all those around her? Can the broken parts of our lives become something beautiful in His hands?
I’ve really come to enjoy debut novels over the last couple of years or so and this book is why. It’s a beautiful story, bittersweet, amusing in places and oh so poignant in others. And may I recommend that you read Amanda Cox’s debut with a tissue handy. Even I, who never cries over books and movies, got a little teary eyed while reading the last chapters.
I went on a real emotional roller coaster thanks to Amanda Cox’s vivid storytelling. I totally ran the gamut, anger, joy, despair, elation, desperation, excitement, you name it I felt it. It’s not often that a novel does this to me but when it does it’s usually a book I just can’t put down. The Edge Of Belonging is a trifle on the long side, around 400 pages, but I read it in around 24 hours. 2 am came and went and I was still reading.
Amanda Cox takes on some tough issues in The Edge Of Belonging, from abandonment to emotional abuse and infertility, from suicide to drug abuse and anxiety/PTSD. From depression, to grief and questions surrounding adoption. Essentially, this book deals with real people with real struggles who learn to lean on family and faith through the toughest times. It’s a story that readers won’t soon forget…
(I received a copy of this book from the publisher. All opinions are entirely my own.)
I was thrilled to have the chance to be on the blogger team for The Edge of Belonging because it touches on two subjects of importance to me. One, Ivy Rose is adopted. I was adopted as an infant, and I grew up knowing that to be the case. It was never a surprise to me, and I never doubted the love my parents had for me. I didn’t grapple with some of the same things Ivy struggles with. But I have that kinship with everyone who grew up in a family other than the one they were born to. Two, the story deals with an abusive relationship. Back in my days as an assistant district attorney, I saw my fair share of abused women. My heart ached for every one of them, and I saw how difficult it was for them to break free from the situations in which they often felt trapped. I’m no longer a trial attorney, but that is one of the very few things I would consider getting back into prosecution for, helping women and children who cannot, in those cases, help themselves.
The story is told from two perspectives in time. We see one aspect of the story unfolding from Ivy Rose Lashley’s point of view in the present day, and another through the lives of those who will become near and dear to her, back in 1994.
The Edge of Belonging grabbed me from the get-go. Ivy Rose learns that her grandmother is very close to dying. She wants to go to her family, but her fiancé bullies her into staying, into attending a function that’s very important for her career. This fiance is a control freak of the highest order. He tells Ivy what to wear, how she’ll act. It took me just about half a second to figure out that he was No Good For Her, and it broke my heart for Ivy. I wanted to hug her and tell her she deserved better, and I wanted to punch rotten ol’ Seth into the next county.
Finally Ivy decides that family means more, and she leaves the important function to try to get to her grandmother before she passes away. When she returns home, the fiance makes his displeasure with what he considers Ivy’s selfish actions abundantly clear. He threatens to ruin Ivy’s life, to take away the things he provides for her, the job he got for her. Her cell phone is turned off. Her car is damaged so that it won’t start. The funding for her job dries up suddenly. With nothing left to hold her there, Ivy returns to Triune, Tennessee, where she grew up. There she faces the task of going through her grandmother’s house and sorting through the things she left behind. And as it turns out, sorting through those things may include learning the truth behind her adoption – and figuring out how she feels about Reese, her childhood friend.
Oh, y’all. This book. I’m not one to cry at books, generally, but The Edge of Belonging had me running for the Kleenex. For so many of the characters, it’s about their perspective on relationships, and how they’ve handled the pain of loss, the pain of life going not according to plan.
I used to handle Child Protective Services cases as an assistant district attorney, and Harvey reminded me of some of the kids we’d see in foster care. He’d built such a thick shell around himself to protect himself, to make sure he didn’t get close to anyone, because as a child, he’d learned that love meant pain. He’d learned that if you love someone, they’ll just leave you, and he wasn’t willing to open himself up to that hurt again.
Miriam’s pain was caused by her inability to have a child. For so long, she couldn’t get past wanting a child from a pregnancy of her own. She let that pain distance her from her husband, her community of faith, and even God.
Pearl’s husband died from cancer, and her son came back from the war so emotionally damaged that he ended his own life. She lost those she loved to circumstances she couldn’t control.
And Ivy and Reese. They both danced around things so much, I was about ready to reach into the pages and give them each a little shake. But Ivy learned from her fiancé that love meant pain, and she also feared losing her best friend. Reese saw that she’d been hurt, and he knew he never wanted to make her feel that hurt from anything he said or did.
This is a marvelous story of finding your place, of learning that family doesn’t necessarily mean blood ties, of working past old hurts to find soul-deep healing. Faith is an important aspect of the story – Thomas is a pastor, after all. But it isn’t a “beat you over the head with a Bible” story. Rather, it’s a faith that gently seeks to draw others near, and a faith that allows the characters wrestle with and work out tough decisions in prayer, and grow stronger as a result.
The Edge of Belonging is a story that will break your heart and put it back together. You will wax indignant, laugh, cry, and cheer. When I turned the final page, I felt like I was saying goodbye to friends. It gets five enthusiastic stars and a wholehearted recommendation from me.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of the book from Revell Reads. All opinions here are my own, and I don’t say nice things about books I don’t actually like.
I am in love with “The Edge of Belonging” by Amanda Cox. The words to express exactly how moved I am by this book escape me, but I will try to do this work justice. The story of Ivy Rose and her determination to know from whence she comes is told in separate timelines decades apart, and brings to the forefront topics that would warm the heart of any reader. In Harvey James, one finds a soul searching for meaning and purpose, a kinship that touches the reader so deeply that it is difficult to lay the book aside, even to rest. This debut novel is inspiring, encouraging, and uplifting in ways that make me anticipate Amanda Cox’s future works with unbridled enthusiasm.
Disclaimer: I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher and was not required to write a favorable review. All opinions are my own.
What an absolutely beautiful debut! Amanda Cox weaves a perfectly complicated tale of intersecting lives and how each person affects others. The story of Ivy Rose trying to find the truth about her roots is told in the present time. In the past, we have Harvey, Miriam, Thom and Pearl, a group whose lives are forever touched by their choices and their kindness. Harvey is homeless. Thom and Miriam are childless. And Pearl is a good soul, the widow of a former pastor who just wants to make a difference in the lives of others. This story was told in a totally captivating, engaging and easy-to-read way. There is mystery, sacrificial love and romance, all within the pages of this wonderful book. I cannot say enough good things about it. The characters are well-developed and seemed to speak to me personally about their desires. The plot was complicated, but the author’s method of going back and forth between the current times and the past, unraveled the plot perfectly. It was like a well-woven tapestry, completely awe-inspiring when I read the conclusion. I highly recommend this book and hope that all who are looking for an uplifting book that offers hope and light will read it!
Disclaimer
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received a complimentary copy of this book from #Revell as part of the #RevellReadsBloggerProgram. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255, “Guides Concerning the Use of Testimonials and Endorsements in Advertising.”
A Family, but not Instantly!
Pearl is a grieving mom and widow. Henry is a homeless man who lived the nightmare of being unwanted, and passed around to numerous foster families while growing up. Pastor Thomas is a recent transplant from the West Coast. A new-born baby, Ivy, is abandoned in the woods, and left to die.
Henry finds Ivy and wants to keep her a secret so she doesn’t live the life he had. Pearl wants to help Henry, but he is afraid she will discover Ivy. Yet how will he take care of Ivy without help while he tries to earn money? Will Pearl keep his secret?
The pastor discovers Henry trying to take baby supplies from the church. How can Henry convince him he is not a thief, but keep quiet about Ivy’s existence?
Fast forward a number of years, and the adult Ivy flees an abusive relationship to return to her hometown. She comes to clean out her grandmother’s home, but also hopes to find answers about her biological mother–and mysteries in her life.
All of these people’s lives become intertwined because of a baby, and create a story you will not want to put down. I highly recommend this 5-plus star book to anyone who enjoys clean, well-written stories from a Christian point-of-view.
Revell Publishing has provided Tickmenot with a complimentary copy of, The Edge of Belonging, for the purpose of review.
It’s September 1994 when homeless Harvey James finds a newborn, still covered in blood and wrapped in a men’s flannel shirt. The moment the tiny girl wraps her fingers around his, Harvey knows that this child cannot be thrown away the way he has been. Each would be the family the other had not had before.
It is September 2020 when The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox finds its way into my hands and doesn’t leave them until I reach the end of this stirring and deeply emotional love story. You know the kind of book where you know what’s coming, but the real enjoyment is in the reading? If you really wanted to shoehorn me into a literary type, that might be it. Life is full of surprises; action, adventure, twists & turns are great in a book, but sometimes I just need to know that it’s all going to end up well and the most stressful plot point is that the male love interest confuses the female love interest’s brother for a romantic rival. There’s just the right amount of tension and misunderstanding before the confusion is unraveled and everyone lives happily ever after.
I spent the entirety of The Edge of Belonging feeling like I had it pegged and thinking I would cruise along and enjoy this one, then shelve it along with all the other cozy books I have enjoyed. I suspect the author knew that was what would happen, because she didn’t let it go so easily. Amanda Cox flat out wrestled with all the stressful plot points. Some of them hit closer to home for me than others, but they are all very real and very relevant. She handled them with care to bring about a story that needed to be told and treasured. I’m all full of book recommendations, in case you haven’t noticed all the blog posts, but this one gets a special spot on my recommendation list. The Edge of Belonging is the kind of book you’ll want to purchase in the physical copy, because I guarantee you will know someone else who needs to read it.
Thank you to the author and to the publisher for allowing me the opportunity to read and review this book. All of the opinions in this review are my own and are completely genuine.
I loved this book!
Title: The Edge of Belonging
Author: Amanda Cox
Pages: 400
Year: 2020
Publisher: Revell
My rating is 5 out of 5 stars.
In the present day, Ivy Lashley has just ended an emotionally and psychologically abusive relationship that has caused her to miss the final minutes of her grandmother’s life. She has returned home to divvy up her grandmother’s possessions to various charities and cleaning up her home. Ivy’s best friend, Reese, has been wondering why Ivy has been uncommunicative over the last several months. He soon learns why.
In 1994, Harvey James hears a strange wailing at the side of the road. He discovers an abandoned baby girl, who he falls in love with right away. He lives in the woods and doesn’t have a job, but he determines he will love this little girl and make sure she knows it. Harvey has led a difficult life being in 14 different foster homes growing up, with each family eventually returning him when he didn’t fit in. He breaks into a church that has a little store with baby items but is caught by the pastor. The pastor offers Harvey a job that Harvey accepts, but how is he going to perform his job with a newborn? Pearl spies Harvey tending the church grounds and offers him a cup of coffee. He accepts and his life will never be the same.
I fell in love with just about every character in this novel! I couldn’t put the book down. I just had to know what was going to happen next in each character’s life. The author’s use of flashback tells the background of the characters, and the present-day chapters show readers the results of choices made in the past. All of the characters in one way or another face a challenge that sets them apart from belonging or normality. Pearl is the very picture of Christ’s love, compassion and mercy demonstrated by her acceptance of who some might deem unlovable. She loves them immediately, right where they are in life. Harvey has such a loving heart for the baby girl he rescues. Reese’s patient waiting for his girl to realize he has loved her forever. I could go on and on, but readers will have to get this book and discover the wonderful tale within. This is definitely going on my “keeper” shelf. I can’t wait to see what this author pens next! Don’t miss this one!!
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.
The Edge of Belonging is such a spellbinding, dual-time novel from Amanda Cox. I foresee Edge of Belonging winning an award for debut novels. For myself, I couldn’t tear my eyes away from the page. Heart-rending themes such as foster homes, homelessness, human trafficking, depression, and PTSD are dealt with from both the sufferer’s and a loving helper’s POV. The raw loneliness hurt, and need that several of the characters experience is portrayed so poignantly. It seems each character in the earlier story (Harvey, Pearl, Thom, and Miriam) feels they are on the edge of belonging to some degree. In the later story, Ivy is the focal point who feels like she doesn’t quite belong, but her best friend Reese has often struggled with those same sentiments. I was thrilled to see how the book’s title applied to so many. I also loved seeing the hope and mercy that certain characters, especially Pearl and Reese, generously dole out to others. Again, so many of Ms. Cox’s characters show significant growth by the end of the story.
While it is easy to see early on where the stories will connect, there remains the fascination of just how
Ms. Cox is going to work it all out.
I usually like to pick a favorite character, but they were all faves. I love Reese for his steadiness and undying care. Harvey, for the way he supersedes his own fears to love another. And Pearl, for her radar to find and genuinely love lost souls.
Get your own copy of this must-read debut!
I received a copy of this book from the author and publisher through Revell Reads via NetGalley. All opinions are my own and no positive review was required.
It’s hard to believe that this is Amanda Cox’s debut novel! She has expertly woven together two storylines from the past and present to create a beautiful story about love, family, and finding a place to belong.
While the plot is unique and the themes are powerful, it’s the rich characterization that sets this story apart. Harvey is such a compelling character, as we see him turn the pain from his past into an unconditional love that would do anything for the baby he found and cared for. Pearl, the grandmother in the story, extends wisdom and grace to everyone she meets. Ivy is someone many women can relate to, as she searches for her purpose in life and healing from an abusive relationship. And Reese, Ivy’s lifelong friend, has become one of my favorite fictional heroes – you’ll have to read the book to find out why!
Amanda Cox is an author to watch – I can’t wait to read whatever she writes next! I highly recommend The Edge of Belonging, and I think fans of Erin Bartels and Amanda Dykes will especially enjoy this book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the publisher. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. Thank you, Revell!
A powerful novel of family love.
Wow, I wanted to read this book since I first saw the cover and description, I was nervous though since this book was from a debuting author, it is a dual-timeline, and the blurb was somewhat vague on what happened in the book.
The instant I picked up The Edge of Belonging I was sucked into a story of redemption, of love, and of hope, Cox used a level of skill that is impressive in a debut author to show a touch of how God loves us through the lives of Harvey, Pearl, Ivy, and the others.
Dealing with hard topics such as suicide, abandonment, homelessness, foster care, and more The Edge of Belonging will truly have you on the edge of your seat.
I voluntarily received and reviewed a complimentary e/copy of this book which I received from the author/publisher. All views expressed are only my honest opinion.
This was a wonderful read and probably the most heartfelt story I have read in a long time. There were so many lessons that a lot of us could use on our own walks in life.
This was a story about family, enduring love, and most of all the grace of God. Sometimes we get so caught up in what we do not have, and completely miss the gifts we already do possess. Each member in this family have had their hurts. I was awed by how they came together, even though there was no blood relation between them.
Author Cox tackles a whole host of hurts from infertility, death of loved ones, suicide, all in a gentle storytelling way. What really impressed me was how all the pieces fit together for everyone to have a second chance. To be blessed once again after a time of mourning. My favorite part was the unfolding plan of this family and of the love that pursued Ivy even when she felt so unworthy.
There was some sadness, I got choked up about some of the plots, but even in them there was a purpose and the sadness was not waisted.
This is the first author Cox book I have read and she is an author that has won me over with her first book. You do not want to miss this story, it is one for the keeper shelf with memorable characters and storyline.
I was provided a copy of this novel from the publisher. I was not required to post a positive review and all views and opinions are my own.
This book was not on my radar until I saw that someone else was reading it and it caught my eye. Wow! What a beautiful, emotional tapestry of love – sacrificial love, that of family in blood and that of family of choice, of God’s healing love, and love that fills holes of loneliness.
When a homeless man living in the woods finds an abandoned baby, he decides to keep her. Harvey was an orphan who grew up in foster care and children homes, passed on when he wore his welcome out, never feeling love since the death of his parents. With this baby, he can show her that she is loved and wanted. But he has to get some help with her needs. He finds a church where he can get formula and diapers and it leads to work as a gardener at the church. His circle is slowly increased with a relationship with Pastor Thomas and Pearl, an older lady living in the parsonage, the former minister’s wife.
This story is told in a dual timeline, with the story of Harvey finding the baby he named Ivy Rose and their first few months along with present day when Ivy is called home when her grandmother Pearl is dying. Ivy is very determined to find answers to how her parents came to adopt her. Her story is an emotional tale that shows how God has a plan for everyone and puts people in place where He directs. Keep the tissues handy but don’t miss this story. This is an author that I hope to read in the future.
I received a complimentary ARC from Revell through NetGalley. All thoughts and opinions are mine only.
Thank you in advance to Revell (a division of Baker Books) for providing a complimentary review copy through their Revell Reads Blogger program. A positive review was not required and all words are my own.
I have never finished a book so quickly in my entire life – particularly one that is this long (roughly it is 371 pages from the first chapter to the last sentence). I started this book on 9/13/2020 at around 4:35pm and read it off/on until I finished at around 1:30am on 9/14. That was roughly nine (9) hours. And, it wasn’t continual hours either.
This stunning, emotional, and dynamic book is from debut novelist Amanda Cox. And, what a debut it is! She carefully crafted a tale that shows what true love is as well as the definition of family.
What drew me in was the blurb from the back of the book as well as the stunning cover which is alternately haunting. I couldn’t wait to get this book and dive right in. It didn’t hurt that I had heard some stellar reviews of this book prior to its release.
The characters are haunting and yet inspirational – a young woman trying to figure out who she is in more ways than one, her parents with a secret, her uncle, and a grandmother who wants to tell Ivy the truth. There is also Ivy’s fiancé, Seth, who is rather abusive and controlling. I didn’t like him from the onset, and it was no surprise at how he reacted throughout the novel. Ivy’s best-friend Reese was one of the strongest supporting characters. Is it bad I was hoping to see Reese knock the snot out of Seth at one point?
These people shaped Ivy into the person she is, but she cannot seem to see that. At first.
There are some references to rape, human trafficking, prostitution, and abuse though. Cox handles them with tact and dignity given them the respect and awareness they deserve.
This is a dual timeline story, all told in third (3rd) person. The past is seen from Harvey (Ivy’s uncle “Vee”), Tom (Ivy’s father), Miriam (Ivy’s mother), and Pearl’s (Ivy’s grandmother) POV. At one point there is Laney/Rose’s POV. Readers might catch on to who she is. I did with her introduction. In present day, the story is told completely from Ivy’s POV. All of this works together to craft a beautiful story about Ivy’s past.
From the beginning, Harvey’s assessment of being homeless puts things into perspective. He also has an interesting note about lost luggage and trash. Cox adding in a funny story about “noodle” cups lightened the mood and tone. Not that the tone is heavy, it isn’t bright with sunshine either.
Cox made it easy to keep track of the characters and the timeline while still carefully crafting the story and taking readers through this wonderful journey. She even tackles what depression is like and how misunderstood it is by others.
Pearl taking care of Harvey instead of judging him or his life; building love day by day is heart-warming and heart-breaking. Readers will perhaps see why there is a connection between Pearl and Harvey.
Cox’s messages about what makes a family is extremely beautiful and touching. Reese tends to bring an army to rally around Ivy whereas Seth was about isolation. Cox has a poignant message in chapter two about “sometimes a person just needs to know that they’re not alone in this world”. With Ivy learning to find her way back to find out who she is – she learns to love and be loved the author demonstrates that.
There is hope despite loss. And, there is healing with home, family, and belonging.
And, given Harvey’s issue with cars (which is completely understandable) – reading the present-day parts made me smile.
The plot was absolutely masterful and powerful. I was so mesmerized I couldn’t put this book down for any great length of time. Very seldom does a book grip me like this one did. The short chapters and quick pacing, made this a rapid read that gripped me from the end of chapter one until the very end of the book. I was still wanting a bit more when I closed the book. Not sure if this is a standalone read, but I would like to see a follow-up/sequel. And, I will be eagerly awaiting the author’s next book.
And, for a debut author, Cox was perfect!
As this is distributed by Revell, there will be some Christian/faith elements. As one of the characters is a pastor; there are going to be references to God, Jesus, prayer, and bible quotes. These are not central to the main story and are used in sparse amounts. This is a clean read with no sex scenes or foul language.
Those who enjoy uplifting, hopeful, and inspiring stories with a dual timeline are certain to enjoy this stellar debut.
This is a five star, HIGH re-read book for me. I’ll definitely be talking about it for days.