Title: The Edge of Everything
Authors: Rainbow Rowell, Nicola Yoon & David Yoon, Ann Liang, Dustin Thao, David Levithan, and Katie Cotugno
Genre: Young Adult, Coming-of-Age, Short Stories
Format: eARC
Rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (3.75 rounded up)
Release Date: June 23, 2026
Synopsis
The Edge of Everything is a collection of six short coming-of-age stories exploring first love, friendship, self-discovery, family struggles, and the messy process of figuring out who you are.
Written by a group of bestselling YA authors, each story can be read in a single sitting while tackling a different aspect of growing up.
As with any anthology, some stories resonated with me more than others, but overall I thought this was a solid collection with a lot of heart.
My Thoughts:
Back to You - Ann Liang -⭐ 4
This ended up being my favorite story in the collection.
The premise immediately grabbed me: a burned-out young woman literally dies from overworking and wakes up three years in the past with the chance to change her future.
For such a short story, it manages to explore a surprising number of themes, including toxic friendships, family expectations, second chances, and learning to choose your own happiness.
The romance was sweet, but what really stood out was Allison's journey toward realizing that success means very little if you're miserable.
Cozy, emotional, and surprisingly impactful.
Julia at the Drive-In - Rainbow Rowell -⭐ 3.75
A sweet and nostalgic story about first crushes and stepping outside your comfort zone.
Julia has spent years admiring Wyatt from afar, and one night at a drive-in movie finally gives her the courage to speak to him.
Not much happens in terms of plot, but that's part of its charm. The story captures those awkward teenage moments remarkably well and feels very authentic to the experience of having your first major crush.
Cute, relatable, and easy to read in one sitting.
Safe Harbor - Nicola Yoon & David Yoon -⭐ 4
Probably the most relatable story in the collection for me.
The story follows a group of teenagers attending a therapy program after being labeled "problem kids" by the adults around them.
What I appreciated most was how authentic their struggles felt. Divorce, absent parents, family conflict, loneliness, and feeling misunderstood all play important roles here.
Despite some heavy themes, the story remains hopeful and ultimately focuses on finding support and realizing you're not alone.
One of the more emotionally grounded entries in the anthology.
The Price of Admission - Dustin Thao -⭐ 4
This story explores class differences, grief, identity, and belonging through the friendship between Evan and Dalton.
More than the romance, I found myself invested in Evan's personal journey. Watching him navigate an elite school environment while struggling to fit in made for a compelling coming-of-age story.
As for Dalton...
Let's just say he and I had some disagreements by the end.
Still, I loved seeing Evan find people who appreciated him for who he was and build a future that genuinely made him happy.
Winter Breakage - David Levithan -⭐ 3.5
This was probably the most difficult story for me to connect with emotionally.
The strongest aspect was the atmosphere. Levithan does an excellent job capturing the uncertainty that comes with new friendships and the anxiety of wondering whether you truly belong.
I appreciated the themes of social anxiety, friendship, and self-acceptance, but I never quite felt like I had enough time to become invested in the characters before the story ended.
A thoughtful story that simply felt a little too short for what it was trying to accomplish.
Three of Hearts - Katie Cotugno -⭐ 3–3.5
Unfortunately, this was the story I connected with the least.
The beginning showed a lot of promise. I enjoyed getting to know Ellery and seeing her struggle with adjusting to college life far from home.
However, once Camp and Danny entered the story, things started to feel a bit uneven. Camp felt significantly more developed than Danny, which made some of the emotional beats less impactful than they could have been.
The themes of friendship, identity, and self-discovery still worked, but the second half felt rushed compared to the setup.
Not a bad story by any means, just the weakest entry in the collection for me personally.
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