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H.L. Day
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Edge of Living: A hurt/comfort gay romance. Kindle Edition

by H.L Day (Author) Format: Kindle Edition
4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 411 ratings
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Sometimes, death can feel like the only escape.

It's been a year since Alex stopped living. He exists. He breathes. He pretends to be like everyone else. But, he doesn't live. Burdened by memories, he dreams of the day when he can finally be free. Until that time comes, he keeps everybody at bay. It's been easy so far. But he never factored in, meeting a man like Austin.

Hard-working mechanic Austin has always gone for men as muscular as himself. So, it's a mystery why he's so bewitched by the slim, quiet man with the soulful brown eyes who works in the library. The magnetic attraction is one thing, but the protective instincts are harder to fathom. Austin's sure though, that if he can only earn Alex's trust then the two of them could be perfect together.

A tentative relationship begins. But Alex's secrets run deep. Far deeper than Austin could ever envisage. Time is ticking. Events are coming to a head, and love is never a magic cure. Oblivious to the extent of Alex's pain, can Austin discover the truth? Or is he destined to be left alone, only able to piece together the fragments of his boyfriend's history, once its already too late?

Trigger warning: Please be aware that this story deals with suicidal ideation and other dark themes. If this is a subject you find uncomfortable, then this book is not recommended. Despite this, there is a guaranteed HEA.
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  1. Print length
    268 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publication date
    October 26, 2018
  4. File size
    292 KB
  5. Page Flip
    Enabled
  6. Word Wise
    Enabled
  7. Enhanced typesetting
    Enabled
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"This book pulls no punches. It's hard to read in spots because it is so real, but I couldn't put it down. It's an incredible read." -Love Bytes reviews

"A gentle, sweet, and hopeful story." -Joyfully Jay blog.

"This story was more than overwhelming. At times I had to remind myself to breathe... I was just holding it in because it was all so devastating.
Amazingly written in a tentative but also almost unbearable realistic way." -Open Skye book reviews

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07JY9ZQLW
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ (October 26, 2018)
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ October 26, 2018
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • File size ‏ : ‎ 292 KB
  • Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
  • Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
  • Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 268 pages
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.4 4.4 out of 5 stars 411 ratings

About the author

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H.L. Day

H.L. Day

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H.L Day grew up in the North of England. As a child she was an avid reader, spending lots of time at the local library or escaping into the imaginary worlds created by the books she read. Her grandmother first introduced her to the genre of romance novels, as a teenager, and all the steamy sex they entailed. Naughty Grandma!

One day, H.L Day stumbled upon the world of m/m romance. She remained content to read other people’s books for a while, before deciding to give it a go herself.

Now, she’s a teacher by day and a writer by night. Actually, that’s not quite true—she’s a teacher by day, procrastinates about writing at night and writes in the school holidays, when she’s not continuing to procrastinate. After all, there’s books to read, places to go, people to see, exercise at the gym to do, films to watch. So many things to do—so few hours to do it in. Every now and again, she musters enough self-discipline to actually get some words onto paper—sometimes they even make sense and are in the right order.

Customer reviews

4.4 out of 5 stars
411 global ratings

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Customers say

Customers find the story lovely and emotional. They describe it as a fabulous, powerful read with beautiful scenes and details. The book captures their empathy for both characters. Readers praise the narrator's performance as perfect and the voice quality as lovely. The characters are described as sweet, likable, and happy.

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Story qualityReadabilityBeautyHeartfelt storyVoice qualitySweetness
15 customers mention "Story quality"15 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the story's quality. They find the story lovely, real, and likeable. The ending is intense and realistic, making it an amazing book. Readers appreciate the author's hints and well-paced flashbacks that add more graphic details to the narrative.

"...amazing, the characters are so real and likeable, and that happy ending was EARNED dangit. This is an amazing book...." Read more

"Wow. This was truly a heartbreaking and beautiful story. Alex’s story, my god, I could feel his pain. I shed tears for him...." Read more

"...The combination of a wonderful story and a fabulous narrator make it easy to rate this story highly, and I have no qualms about recommending this..." Read more

"...I appreciated how the author added hints to the narrative beginning with the prologue and easing the reader into more graphic details through well-..." Read more

13 customers mention "Readability"13 positive0 negative

Customers find the book engaging and worth reading. They appreciate the well-written subject matter and realistic characters. The pacing and editing are also praiseworthy.

"...The pacing was incredible, the editing was amazing, the characters are so real and likeable, and that happy ending was EARNED dangit...." Read more

"...Austin is a great character. He's caring, hard working, and incredibly patient and gentle with Alex...." Read more

"...Reading it, at times, was hard. The subject matter is so well written that it feels disturbingly real...." Read more

"...Very good, if slightly dark and difficult read." Read more

11 customers mention "Beauty"11 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's emotional story and sex scenes. They find the sex scenes sexy without being overly graphic. The author does a great job setting the scenes and building details without relying on clichés. The book eases the reader into more graphic details through well-paced flashbacks.

"...was so much sweetness, so many heartfelt moments, that it was a beautiful balance that never once got overwhelming to the point of being heavy-handed..." Read more

"...This work is beautiful in the way it shows honest actions and reactions from the characters as they experience awful, life-altering trauma...." Read more

"...to the narrative beginning with the prologue and easing the reader into more graphic details through well-paced flashbacks...." Read more

"...I highly recommend this book. It’s beautiful and touching with a lovely romance, steamy sex, and two characters who are able to overcome..." Read more

10 customers mention "Heartfelt story"10 positive0 negative

Customers find the story emotional and touching. They say it's heartbreaking and beautiful, with a strong sense of love and tenderness that outweighs sorrow. The book captures their empathy for both men, and is uplifting and well-written. It feels disturbingly real and gripping to the soul.

"...boy was it, but along the way, there was so much sweetness, so many heartfelt moments, that it was a beautiful balance that never once got..." Read more

"Wow. This was truly a heartbreaking and beautiful story. Alex’s story, my god, I could feel his pain. I shed tears for him...." Read more

"...The subject matter is so well written that it feels disturbingly real. At times I would forget that I was reading fiction...." Read more

"...from Austin and Alex’s response to it was touching and captured my empathy for both men...." Read more

9 customers mention "Voice quality"9 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the voice quality of the book. They find the narrator's performance perfect and the characters distinct. They appreciate the lovely characters and their interactions. The author did an excellent job in telling Alex and Austin's story, and they loved Austin's love and patience with Alex.

"...The pacing was incredible, the editing was amazing, the characters are so real and likeable, and that happy ending was EARNED dangit...." Read more

"...I loved Austin and his everlasting patience with Alex, he tried to constantly read Alex and give him what he needed...." Read more

"...Then he meets Austin. Austin is a great character. He's caring, hard working, and incredibly patient and gentle with Alex...." Read more

"...His is a lovely character, and I enjoyed watching him in in interactions with a timid and wary Alex...." Read more

5 customers mention "Sweetness"5 positive0 negative

Customers enjoy the book's sweetness. They find the characters likeable and the happy ending satisfying.

"...incredible, the editing was amazing, the characters are so real and likeable, and that happy ending was EARNED dangit. This is an amazing book...." Read more

"...Austin was an excellent partner due to his happy and relaxed nature. I devoured the whole book in a day. Just loved it!" Read more

"...Austin is incredibly sweet and patient, knowing when to back off, and he is so respectful of Alexander's reticence...." Read more

"...This is a story I can relate to because of my sister, she died. Austin is all love and Alex is heartbreaking and so strong." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • ForTheLoveofBooks!
    5.0 out of 5 stars Devastating in the best way
    Reviewed in the United States on April 17, 2019
    Verified Purchase
    This book was recommended to me with a warning: it's heavy. And boy was it, but along the way, there was so much sweetness, so many heartfelt moments, that it was a beautiful balance that never once got overwhelming to the point of being heavy-handed. The subject matter in a different author's hands could have very well been unreadable, but this book had my heart in its hands from page one, would not let it go, wrung it dry, then fluffed it up, and returned my heart to me with so many more feelings than I had anticipated. The sex scenes are beautiful and sexy without being overly graphic, and because of how much the characters mean to each other, you really appreciate those intimate moments. I started reading before bed and read straight through the night because I could not stop. The pacing was incredible, the editing was amazing, the characters are so real and likeable, and that happy ending was EARNED dangit. This is an amazing book. Well done and thank you to the author.
    5 people found this helpful
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  • Kayla
    4.0 out of 5 stars heartbreakingly beautiful, but felt rushed in the end
    Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2024
    Verified Purchase
    Wow. This was truly a heartbreaking and beautiful story. Alex’s story, my god, I could feel his pain. I shed tears for him. I knew what was coming with the flashbacks, but it still didn’t stop my heart from pounding while reading the crux of it. Alex truly took on the weight of the world on his shoulders, and my heart broke for him. Austin was such a positive force in his life, and while meeting Austin didn’t fix any of Alex’s issues, it just makes you glad Alex had SOMEONE in his corner.

    I loved Austin and his everlasting patience with Alex, he tried to constantly read Alex and give him what he needed. But I did grow frustrated throughout the story. I understand not wanting to be pushy and knowing Alex is an adult and can’t be forced to do anything, but Austin barely even asked questions. Like why did it take so long just to ask about his family? Austin clearly had his suspicions and ideas about Alex’s past and his behavior likely being a result from a traumatic event, but he just didn’t pursue trying to find out why. His patience with Alex was incredibly important, but by Austin constantly trying to rationalize Alex’s behavior, it didn’t exactly help him. Austin had some serious rose colored glasses on. As frustrating as it was, all of Austin’s actions/reactions could very well be seen as logical and understandable, so there’s no way I could ever hate him.

    The only thing that truly made no sense was the media coverage of the court case. There’s no way that court case was so televised and had that level of media coverage and they didn’t post pictures of Alex. The media could’ve easily gotten his picture, whether it be from his family home or even pictures taken from the police since it was clearly a public trial. They knew he was the survivor and while he pulled the disappearing act and they couldn’t find him, they knew who he was. Even Alex said it was a relief Austin didn’t pay attention to the news. So I find it pretty unbelievable that not a single person in Austin’s life noticed anything to at least bring it to his attention. Artistic liberties I’m sure but it also doesn’t take away from the story.

    This author absolutely captured Alex’s pain and suffering. I could feel the fear and helplessness right along with him. He deserved the happiest of happy endings, and 16 pages of an epilogue just didn’t seem to do Alex justice. He made leaps and bounds in the year leading up to the epilogue, and it would’ve been nice to read about him rebuilding his life and friendships instead of majority of the book being his misery. I would’ve easily read an additional 100 pages to read more about Alex building and living the life he deserves.

    Second book I’ve read from this author and I’ve enjoyed both, definitely looking forward to more of their work.
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  • HockeyfanT
    5.0 out of 5 stars Difficult but worth it
    Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This is my review of the audiobook:

    Alexander's story broke my heart. He went through a horrible event, we know from the beginning. We just don't know the details until they are slowly doled out in flashbacks. Meanwhile, we know from the very beginning of the book that he has a plan to end his life. Alex walks around in a fog, a mere shadow of the man he once was. Then he meets Austin.

    Austin is a great character. He's caring, hard working, and incredibly patient and gentle with Alex. He is also a bit blinded by love, but I like that about him. It's lovely to see the cracks Austin is able to make in Alex's frozen heart.

    The narrator's performance was perfection. I don't think any of the many narrators I adore could have done any better. I hope he continues along this path, as I'd love to hear more from him.

    The combination of a wonderful story and a fabulous narrator make it easy to rate this story highly, and I have no qualms about recommending this audiobook to others. Be aware though, it does include violence and suicidal thoughts.
    One person found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

  • Erryn Barratt
    5.0 out of 5 stars Emotional devastation & a happy ending (an audio review)
    Reviewed in Canada on March 2, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    This book comes with a strong trigger warning that is appropriate. Assuming you’re comfortable with (or at least can deal with) suicidal ideation and dark themes, this book is one you should definitely listen to.

    I’m struggling to come up with the right words to describe this book. I don’t tend to read blurbs – I just jump in having no idea what to expect. From the first scene, I was hooked. I plowed through the book in a day and was blown away. There were times in the book when heightened emotions were called for – dread, terror, fatigue, devastation. Each time the author brought me right to that place, and I was immersed in the feeling. I felt Alex’s discomfort at his overly friendly neighbour. I rooted for Austin to find a way to break down Alex’s walls, and endured his confusion when he couldn’t.

    I liked the slow courtship in this book. Austin was a surprisingly sensitive soul who sensed Alex’s skittishness and respected the other man, never pushing. We all should be so lucky to have an Austin in our lives. Alex is appreciative, even befuddled. He can’t conceive what Austin is getting out of the relationship since Alex is a shell of the man he once was. Of course Austin doesn’t know that. He only sees the sensitive man before him. The man who has panic attacks and is painfully thin. The man who sometimes detaches completely. Yet over and over Austin is there and, eventually, Alex starts to fall in love.

    Slight problem? Alex has terminal plans, and if he stays with Austin, he’s bound to hurt the man he’s come to care for. This is clearly set up from the beginning and my heart lurched from moment to moment. I was guaranteed a happy ending, but that didn’t mean there were a few close calls and tears in the meantime. Interestingly, when the Oliver plotline was resolved, I believed the book would draw to a close, but there were more than two hours left. Two heart-wrenching hours of knowing what was coming and yet hoping something, anything, would derail Alex’s plans.

    In the end, this book dragged me through the wringer, lurching from emotion to emotion. And I loved that. I adore books who can immerse me in the story and sustain my interest through every word. I can’t say enough good things about the book. If you’re looking for something emotional and powerful, this is the right book for you.

    I’m always game to try a new narrator and Alric March did not disappoint. He had distinctive voices for Austin and Alex, fitting how I pictured each man. I also adored his British accent. I’m a sucker for a great Brit. Like I said, this book is definitely worth a listen and I’ll be happy to try out more books by this author. Oh, and if H.L. were to write a follow-up book with the two unlikely characters who sort of got together, that would be alright with me.
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  • Sue bowdley
    5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful x
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 5, 2018
    Verified Purchase
    Omg...How to do this review...Ok it's already known that an MC in this has suicidal tendencies....He's actually planning it...but this will break your heart and at the same time give you hope that everything will be ok ....What Alex went through and what happened is horrendous but the way he hides it from Austin when they get together will break you....He falls for Austin quite easily, Austin brings out the good in him....Austin is the kind of man who will wait patiently and not push him.....I love how this book was done...No miracle cures for how Alex is feeling, But I so was wishing for him to tell Austin..Near the end you heart will be in your mouth...I just need to say you will need plenty of tissues and you will want to hold Alex tight and protect him as Austin does....A beautiful book and an absolute must read x
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  • CJ
    5.0 out of 5 stars So heart breaking - we all need an Austin
    Reviewed in Australia on April 18, 2022
    Verified Purchase
    What an amazing story, just wow. Austin was wonderful a bit naive but just wanted to love Alex. Alex, what a story, so terribly sad, why would you want to live. But sometimes he annoyed me, the way he was with Austin but then you think how would you act and feel and you understand.
    Its an amazing read not at all you usual read most books are.
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  • Joeybanana
    4.0 out of 5 stars Well written, enjoyable read
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 19, 2021
    Verified Purchase
    I found the American spelling a bit jarring considering the book was set in the U.K. - ass instead of arse, defense rather than defence, color in place of colour etc. Nevertheless it was a compelling story, well told.
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  • Liash
    4.0 out of 5 stars Poignant read
    Reviewed in Australia on October 18, 2020
    Verified Purchase
    Let me start by saying please heed the trigger warnings! Alex is a broken characters whose past is revealed by way of flashbacks throughout the story. This also reveals his desire and long term plan to leave the world behind as soon as the final task he has set himself is complete. This is not something that could be skipped over, and is integral to the overall storyline.

    I loved that this was told in dual POV. We see the facade that Alex puts on, hiding how dark his world really is, and how he manages to fool most people - Austin included. I liked how the secondary characters played into the story and how they balanced our MCs as well.

    I would have liked to see a little more detail at the end - things like Alex's reunion with his old friends, meeting up with his nephew (although that scene is a bonus offering from the author if you sign up to her newsletter), whether Mark and Austin understand each other better and learn to get along. I also wonder if we ever get a story for Mark given the few surprises thrown in towards the end.

    Overall, this was a poignant read. I would love to say it was heartwarming as well, but there was only a small amount of that towards the end which was overshadowed with Alex's actions. I did like that there was no sudden fix, that it was acknowledged that Alex was going to struggle for a while, that he went through several therapists before he found one he gelled with, and was on antidepressants as well. This realism closed out the story well.
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