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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Cox has knocked it out of the park with her debut novel The Edge of Belonging, and she has become a favorite author for me now. This story drew me in and I found it difficult to put it down. I loved this story of healing, forgiveness, and acceptance. The characters were relatable and real. The author did a wonderful job of tying the story together. The dual-time line was very easy to follow, and you do not find this very often. I very highly recommend this book.
I received an advanced reader copy from the publisher. All opinions are my own.
I was excited to receive this book to read and review. I had not read anything by Ms. Cox so I wasn’t sure what to expect. Not only did I enjoy the book, I enjoyed the book very much.
The main characters were very well developed. Ivy is trying to figure out her life and her past, Harvey is trying to overcome his past. The other supporting characters were very well defined as well.
This book jumps back and forth in time, but it is not in an annoying way, it works very well. This book is one I did not want to put down and one that I also was sad to see come to an end.
This book is a Christian book, but not in a preachy way. Two of the characters are a pastor of the church and his wife this book shows that we are all sinners and have our faults. I felt that the book shows the importance of leaning on your faith to help you in your everyday life.
The editing of this book was also very well done. I did not notice any errors at all.
My review is totally my own, unbiased opinion and the book was given to me in return for an honest review. I would recommend this book to my friends. I give this book a 5 out of 5 star review and am looking forward to more books by Amanda Cox
This is a phenomenal debut novel! It was fascinating how the lives of these characters were interwoven. I do think Harvey is one of my very favorite characters and I really want to read at least one more story about him. Grandma Pearl’s faith, love, acts of service and kindness melted my heart. I love split time novels and this one is now a favorite. I can’t wait for future books from Amanda Cox, I have found a new favorite author! I received a copy of this book, all thoughts are my own.
#The Edge of Belonging# by Amanda Cox is a Women’s Christian fiction book. Amanda is a blogger and curriculum developer for a national nonprofit youth leadership organization. She has a bachelor’s in Bible and Theology and a Master’s in counseling. She has had a decade of counseling. This book is the author’s debut novel. It is outstanding and well written. The characters are well developed and the reader will be drawn to their weaknesses and struggles in their lives. The struggles and weaknesses make the characters more real . The themes are abandonment, loss, self sacrifice, unconditional love. Pearl is a character I admired. She cared for many people in the story. She extended herself beyond what many people do. She reached out to a homeless man, took care of a baby , supported the local minister and his wife, volunteered for a local nonprofit organization that helped hurting people. Pearl made a huge impact on her world. Thank you to the author, netgalley, the publisher for allowing me to read and review this book. This book is excellent, well written and hard to put down. I hope it is very successful.
This book was a breath of fresh air. In this time of polarized writing and overused tropes The Edge of Belonging stands out as a unique and heartwarming story.
The intertwined lives of a homeless man, an abandoned baby, an elderly woman, and pastoral couple toward wholeness and family was well written and wholly satisfying.
The dual timeline was not confusing and added depth to the characters. I loved the journey they each took toward faith and unconditional love as they navigated their individual life journeys.
Threads of faith, love, acceptance, and healing were woven throughout the story and grabbed my emotions from the very start. This is one of the best books I’ve read this year. I recommend it!
I was given an ARC courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell through Interviews and Reviews and NetGalley. This is my honest review.
I almost passed this book by. My influencing schedule was full and there were books I wanted to reread, but it kept calling to me. I am so very glad I listened to its voice. Let me tell you now: this book is worth way more than the allowed five stars. Way more.
One night a thirty year old homeless man named Harvey finds a just born baby girl abandoned on the side of the highway near the woods in which he lives. He takes her in, names her Ivy Rose and starts loving her. But how will Harvey manage to raise a baby when he lives in the woods? He doesn’t even have a job, so how will he feed and clothe her? From this point on, we see clearly God’s magnificent orchestration in the lives of these people. It is absolutely amazing. This book is so incredibly profound. It squeezed my heart and then cause it to burst with joy. If it had been a physical book instead of digital, I would have clasped it to my heart and hugged it. Then, I wept, literally wept, with tears dripping off my face, during the last part of this tremendous story. I don’t ever recall a debut novel moving me this much. Never. I not only highly recommend this book, I urge you to read it. Seriously. Read this book.
*My thanks to Revell Publishing for a copy of this book via Net Galley. The opinions in this review are entirely my own.
In Ms. Cox’s debut novel, readers will be immersed in this split-time novel between the past and present. The stories are intertwined beautifully to tell a story about belonging and love. The characters’ stories could be applicable to anyone today and what is going on in their lives. The title says it all in talking about belonging and the need to be connected with others. This book hooked me from the beginning and I wanted to keep reading to discover the rest of the story. The book focuses on Ivy Rose who does not know anything regarding her adoption. She has people who are important to her in her life, but she just wonders about where she came from. This book will take you on a journey of her story and those connected to her. I loved Ivy’s story, but Harvey’s is so touching. His story is a reminder that there are people in the world hurting and how important it is to take the time to connect with others. We never know when we can make the difference in someone else’s life. This story reminded me of that and of letting go to all that holds us back and just being ourselves not who others think we should be. I highly (highly) recommend this book and know you will not be disappointed! I will be looking forward to this author’s next books after finishing this one! Definitely MUST-READ!
***I was given a free electronic copy of this book from the publisher. This is my honest opinion. Even though I received this copy free, this is my own opinion.
The Edge of Belonging by Amanda Cox was like a breath of fresh air amid uncertain times that cause you to reflect inward to who you really are. It is listed as a dual timeline, but I think it reads just like a complete story of getting to know a person from beginning to end, with some very thought-provoking moments.
“What if this whole thing is really about finding your missing pieces?”
This book and the characters in it made me go on a roller-coaster of thoughts, emotions, and feelings. I was hooked from the very beginning and read the book in one sitting because it was so good. I loved how Amanda Cox used the dialogue to make me feel as if I were in the story observing everything unfolding. She also used everyday life situations to convey hope for every situation tastefully touching on topics like depression, abandonment, abuse, PTSD, and death. It was masterfully done and quite hard to believe that this was her debut novel! (I cannot imagine what she will write after getting “practice” under her belt). The Edge of Belonging has some of the most poignant moments in it that I have ever read before in a book. Ivy Rose, Harvey James, Reese, and Pearl brought to light one of life’s most resounding questions… Who are you?
“You are Braver than you know. And more Loved than you realize.”
The plot is a dual timeline, I do not always like them because they can be kind of wonky, but wow, this one was done to perfection. It was really like looking through a window and watching the characters interact on the other side, definitely one of the best (if not the best) dual timelines I have ever had the pleasure of reading before. Interwoven with great landscape descriptions and interesting background on all the characters plus, the 20 years kept secrets… well this book is one I will be recommending for a long time to come.
While diving deep into the different characters’ lives Amanda Cox managed to give many happy endings and bring you on a journey of discovery that I think everyone can relate to and enjoy. I highly recommend this book and give it 5 stars. Great job on your first book Amanda Cox, I cannot wait to see what you write next!
*I volunteered to read this book in return for my honest feedback. The thoughts and opinions expressed within are my own.
The Edge of Belonging left me feeling better than it found me. After I finished reading it, I sat back and mulled it over. I realized I had just read a book about extremely heavy topics and yet I came away feeling lighter and more hopeful than before I started. I am blown away by how Amanda Cox took such tragic topics and wove them together in a truly beautiful, heartwarming story. This book is an insightful look at family and what being one really means. It is that and so much more. I will be recommending this book to all my reader friends.
I don’t cry often at books, but this one got me. The exploration of what really makes a family and the importance of discovering where you belong were beautifully done.
Beautiful. This story was truly beautiful. There is so much meaning and emotion in this story, it floors me. I am finding it hard to find the words to do this story justice in my review. Quite simply I adored the characters, the story, all of it. This may be Amanda’s first book, but she writes like she has written many, many books. She has a new fan in me and I will NOT miss any future books by her. This one is destined for my keeper shelf.
I received this book as a member of the launch team and was not required to post a positive review. All thoughts are my own.
Wow! Can I just say this book is waiting to bless you with an anointed story that will leave you breathless. What is love, what makes a family, how are the pieces of our lives connected. These are all questions that are intertwined into a masterpiece. The characters are lovable and relatable and it’s hard to pick a favorite. We are all part of Gods perfect plan and sometimes the slightest thing leads to puzzle pieces that connect to each other years down the road. I find it hard to describe what this book meant to me. In my opinion it deserves 10 stars and will go on my favorites list for 2020. Note to self have tissues nearby.
I received a complimentary copy from the author/publisher. The honest review and opinions are my own and were not required.
I loved this debut novel! Oh my goodness! The book made me feel so many emotions I’m still having trouble catching my breath days after I’ve closed the last page. Amanda Cox’s writing style is powerful and flawless, creating a story that easily pulled me in from the very first page (I’m not ashamed to admit I cried in the first chapter!). I had a really hard time putting the book down as I was drawn into the story and wanted to read more about the characters—I developed very real emotions over these fictional people! I think I stayed up much too late one night to finish the book. This story is packed full of such great messages including adoption, homelessness, suicide, abuse, PTSD, depression, grief, childlessness, depending on God, being loved by God, and the sense of belonging both in family and in society. I loved the spiritual themes that I could apply to my own life. The connections across the split time narrative were such a joy to read. I can tell the author poured her heart into writing this book and I am so appreciative of the incredible story. I think I could write pages and pages about what I loved about this book, but to quickly summarize—it has become one of my favorite reads this year and I cannot recommend it enough!
I received a complimentary copy of this book from the author. Opinions expressed in this review are entirely my own.
Oh. My. Stars. This is one of the BEST books I’ve read this year!! This is in my top 2 books of the year, too!! Ivy Rose is 24, and still trying to find answers about her adoption years ago. She’s heard rumors, but she doesn’t know the truth she wants to find. When she finally finds all of the answers, she realizes that not only does God love her, but so does the family He gave her, even if they weren’t blood related. This book gave me all of the feels, from beginning to end. I was drawn in from the first page, and didn’t want to put the book down. This book should be required reading for every prospective foster parent in this country, and if you already are a foster parent, you need to be made to read this book, too!!
I received a complimentary copy of this book, was not required to leave a review, and the opinion expressed is my own.
I loved this read, full of heart tugs, and love, in all different forms.
Such wonderful characters, human, yes, these people live their faith, and we walk with them as they go about their days and giving.
Even the title of this read resonates with me, as we shift effortlessly from past to present, and all the while we are page turning as a new born baby draws broken lives together.
If you read one book this year, you might want to choose this one, it is so good!
I could just picture Harvey, a man broken by life, and yet always there in the time of need! Pearl who has lost her loved ones, and then Miriam and Thomas, pastor and wife, facing fertility issues. In the end it is Ivy Rose God uses to meld these lives!
I received this book through Net Galley and the Publisher Revell, and was not required to give a positive review.
This book was terrific! I couldn’t put the book down because I needed to see what happens between Reese and Ivy. I did laugh at some of their antics in the book because that’s what friends do.
There were also some places that my heart broke for the characters too. I found myself wanting to pray for them, as well. Have y’all ever done that? Ivy’s story spoke to my heart so much because you see, I’ve been adopted too, and my parents were vague about it, just like Ivy’s parents.
I love this quote that Ivy’s mom said, “You and Reese will change one way or another, whether you like it or not. You can’t hang on to what once was forever.”
So many times, I wish I could hang on to the past, but then we couldn’t enjoy what God has in store for us now, could we? Friends like Reese and Ivy are a rarity indeed. For once you find one, you’d better hang on to them. For they will always be there for you no matter what.
This is a new to me author who I will be adding to my long, long list of favorites! This story will pull you in from the beginning and not let you go. It will leave you thinking about it long after it’s over. I didn’t want it to end. It was so good! I highly recommend this book.
I received this book courtesy of Baker Publishing Group/Revell through Interviews & Reviews. I was not required to write a positive review and all opinions are my own.
The Edge Of Belonging Is An Incredible Story Of Love, Family And Belonging That Tugs On All The Right Heartstrings! It Is One I Will Recommend Over And Over Again.
Amanda Cox’s gentle storytelling and magnetic, multi-layered characters draw readers into a beautiful tale of life, hope and love. She carefully wraps the characters’ pasts of brokenness into sweet healing and offers a ray of hope as they surrender to the path God has designed for their lives. I was so very impressed and touched by the characters in which we, as readers, can each find a piece of ourselves. Each character’s humanity was evident as they made broken choices, encountered life-altering events and struggled with depression, grief, loss, abandonment and helplessness, in turn making their joys, triumphs, and sacrificial love that much sweeter.
As a woman who’s walked through infertility and loss, and as an adoptive parent surrounded by the fostering community, my heart swelled over the hope, building of family and connections made in this story. From my own experiences, I’ve seen how God masterfully weaves stories together, even years later, and I cherish those blessings in my life. Amanda delicately, and masterfully, showcases God’s carefully designed plan in the details of Pearl, Harvey, Rose and Ivy’s stories. Through these very tangible characters’ heartwarming story, readers are drawn into a tender tale that wraps around one’s soul.
It goes without saying that this story is well-written, well-planned and well-executed. It offers a smooth pace of transition between present day Ivy’s life and the story surrounding her birth and adoption 24 years prior. The faith based elements are strong but gentle and ushered in a way that even secular readers would enjoy. The beauty of the bond of family not genetically connected, a childhood friendship that blossoms into romance and the various view points this story offers are an added bonus.
This story is rich in God’s goodness, timing and love. How He places just the right people around us at the right time…How He loves us unconditionally. How He has predestined us with a purpose in mind. I cried, I smiled, I rejoiced. For my adopted daughter, it is always my hope and prayer that she find comfort, purpose and light in her story and I think this book adequately demonstrated that with Ivy. What a sweet and precious novel… One I’m proud to display on my shelf and honored to recommend as a novel worth reading.
Amanda Cox tells an exquisite tale of finding home and family. The story is about Ivy Rose and is told from two perspectives. Present day Ivy yearns to know her beginnings. In flashbacks we see baby Ivy from her first day. Four seemingly diverse people are brought together by a tiny baby.
This is an achingly beautiful story of growing faith and living out the love of Christ despite difficulties. The characters are real and relatable. They have their flaws but Ms. Cox shows us that compassion can bring healing. We struggle along with Miri, Thom, Harvey and Pearl as they battle their own inner demons and rejoice when they find their purpose again.
This is an exceptional debut novel. I will be glad to read another offering from Amanda Cox.
* I received a complimentary copy of this book from Revell Publishing on behalf of the author. I was not required to give a favorable review. All opinions are my own.*
What a heartfelt and emotional story about family and finding your true home!
It takes special talent to write a story that gracefully handles tough topics without making the book difficult to get through. Amanda Cox definitely has that talent. Even with the heartbreak these characters face, not once did I ever anticipate anything but hope for them. Nicely done!
The Edge of Belonging features vibrant characters that will absolutely wiggle their way into your heart! So – just who is keeping the truth about Ivy’s adoption a secret? You’ll have to wait ’til September 8th to find out!
I definitely recommend this book! Amanda Cox is an exciting new voice in Christian fiction! I’m really looking forward to reading what she publishes next!
The Edge of Belonging is available for preorder at Baker Book House or Christian Book . Reserve your copy today!
I received a complimentary advanced reading copy of this book from Amanda Cox and Revell Books. A positive review was not required. Opinions expressed are my own.
This was a realistic, moving, and heartwarming story. Loved the title and many of the multi-dimensional characters in this well-written debut novel. I appreciated the way all the pieces ended up fitting together as Ivy tries to learn about her birth mother and how she ended up with her adopted family. The Christian themes are gracefully woven into the plot, making full use of the dual timeline narrative. I finished this book two days ago and am still thinking about it. It’s an excellent example of a successful effort – Brava Amanda!
Thanks to LibraryThing Early Reviewers and Baker Publishing Group for an advance reader’s copy. All comments and opinions are my own.