What do you think?
Rate this book
The Edge of Everything
When a rare and highly endangered bird flies into Lucy’s bedroom window, she feels it’s a sign. Of what, she’s not exactly sure, but maybe it means she’ll get her life back on track after the sudden death of her brother a year ago. Maybe she’ll find some meaning in the randomness of existence and work out her place in it all. Maybe she’ll find a way to stop the wild stunts she’s been pulling with Jacinta just to keep her thoughts from spiralling for a few moments.
She takes the injured bird to a local wildlife sanctuary, and there she meets Ben. He’s cute, a tiny bit flirty, and he cares as much about the bird’s survival as Lucy does. He could be the distraction she needs. But when unrelated events collide, Lucy realises things are not going to be that simple.
Miranda Luby’s second novel is a heartfelt portrayal of grief, a tender romance, and a tribute to a very special Australian bird. A celebration of life in all its randomness and wonder.
She takes the injured bird to a local wildlife sanctuary, and there she meets Ben. He’s cute, a tiny bit flirty, and he cares as much about the bird’s survival as Lucy does. He could be the distraction she needs. But when unrelated events collide, Lucy realises things are not going to be that simple.
Miranda Luby’s second novel is a heartfelt portrayal of grief, a tender romance, and a tribute to a very special Australian bird. A celebration of life in all its randomness and wonder.
320 pages, Paperback
First published April 29, 2025
3 people are currently reading
47 people want to read
About the author
Miranda Luby
2 books11 followersMiranda Luby is an author, journalist, copywriter and animal lover living on Victoria’s Surf Coast. She has won several awards for her short stories, and her journalism features in publications such as National Geographic, BBC Travel and the New York Post. Miranda was shortlisted for the Text Prize for her debut novel, Sadie Starr’s Guide to Starting Over.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
August 17, 2025
I read this for my book group, and that's the only reason. The cover made me think it was too romancy, thus I wouldn't like it. I was so very, very wrong, as can happen when judging a book by its cover.
I love, love, loved this. I see awards in this book's future.
Yes there was romance, even a sneaky little love triangle. The reasons for the love triangle are true to life - grief does that to people. And Lucy and her friends and family deal with their grief differently, and in some cases in very unhealthy ways, but Ben has a few tips on grieving, as well as being perfect boyfriend material. Anyone who cares that much about endangered species would be.
"I'm thinking about how translucent life feels."
I love, love, loved this. I see awards in this book's future.
Yes there was romance, even a sneaky little love triangle. The reasons for the love triangle are true to life - grief does that to people. And Lucy and her friends and family deal with their grief differently, and in some cases in very unhealthy ways, but Ben has a few tips on grieving, as well as being perfect boyfriend material. Anyone who cares that much about endangered species would be.
August 19, 2025
ok so part 2 of hannah reading aussie books set in proper summer (nov-feb) and absolutely lovinggggggg them!
this was a really fun read, and i loved the characters! i mean, i loved ben (and jacinta and lockie) but not really lucy. even though she was dealing with charlie's death, i hated how impulsive and bitchy she was to some people.
ben was sosososososo cute though. like so so so so so cute. new book boyfriend right there!!
this was a really fun read, and i loved the characters! i mean, i loved ben (and jacinta and lockie) but not really lucy. even though she was dealing with charlie's death, i hated how impulsive and bitchy she was to some people.
ben was sosososososo cute though. like so so so so so cute. new book boyfriend right there!!
June 21, 2025
Miranda Luby <3 MIRANDA FREAKING LUBYYYYYYYYY
I've been waiting for this book since I first picked up Miranda's debut Sadie Starr, which is still one of my favourite books. This one was very different. It still has Miranda's incredibly storytelling, but it's a lot heavier, clouded by grief. And I loved it.
I love how brave Miranda's writing is. I love that she lets her characters be weird and make mistakes and feel so real, when so many authors shy away from this to make their books more relatable and palatable. The thing is, letting characters go a little crazy, especially when they're having a really hard time where nothing makes sense, is incredibly relatable. We all have our own journeys, and with every mistake Lucy makes, she gets closer to rediscovering herself. This book tells us it's okay to stumble and try and fail when you're trying to get better.
We get the warring of her past and future mirrored through her two love interests (and two best friends), who are both stumbling through their own grief. They all make mistakes and in the end, they have to decide whether they can lean on each other or if they only exacerbate each other's struggles. But Ben <3 Ah what a wonderful love interest, odd and endearing and adorable, exactly what I love in a YA romance. He and Lucy's dynamic is wonderful.
Of course, Miranda knows how to create a fantastic cast of characters, each of whom gets their own journey and is fully rounded out. Lucy's parents are so flawed yet so lovable, while Lucy's friends deal with their own lives and struggles on top of trying to help Lucy. There's a sense of community, of longing to have someone hold you, even when you don't know how to ask and they don't know how to help. The book explores opening up and communicating - even if there's nothing someone can do but be there and listen.
Highly recommend. I know real teens will love this even more than I did.
I've been waiting for this book since I first picked up Miranda's debut Sadie Starr, which is still one of my favourite books. This one was very different. It still has Miranda's incredibly storytelling, but it's a lot heavier, clouded by grief. And I loved it.
I love how brave Miranda's writing is. I love that she lets her characters be weird and make mistakes and feel so real, when so many authors shy away from this to make their books more relatable and palatable. The thing is, letting characters go a little crazy, especially when they're having a really hard time where nothing makes sense, is incredibly relatable. We all have our own journeys, and with every mistake Lucy makes, she gets closer to rediscovering herself. This book tells us it's okay to stumble and try and fail when you're trying to get better.
We get the warring of her past and future mirrored through her two love interests (and two best friends), who are both stumbling through their own grief. They all make mistakes and in the end, they have to decide whether they can lean on each other or if they only exacerbate each other's struggles. But Ben <3 Ah what a wonderful love interest, odd and endearing and adorable, exactly what I love in a YA romance. He and Lucy's dynamic is wonderful.
Of course, Miranda knows how to create a fantastic cast of characters, each of whom gets their own journey and is fully rounded out. Lucy's parents are so flawed yet so lovable, while Lucy's friends deal with their own lives and struggles on top of trying to help Lucy. There's a sense of community, of longing to have someone hold you, even when you don't know how to ask and they don't know how to help. The book explores opening up and communicating - even if there's nothing someone can do but be there and listen.
Highly recommend. I know real teens will love this even more than I did.
February 24, 2025
A well written exploration of grief. Also touches on friendship, romance and family.
Read
April 19, 2025Love love love!
November 22, 2025
The Edge of Everything was probably the best book that i've read all year. Lucy's personality resembles mine in so many ways, like throughout the book she would say some things that I just completely understood because I felt the same way. Like how she feels guilty for liking animals more than humans as a collective whole, GIRL LITERALLY SAME. Just her love for animals in general like I would love to work at that sanctuary. There was wayyy more things that I totally loved about her but the list goes on hehe.
This story is devastaingly beautiful, having an older brother myself, if i experienced what she did I would 100% react in the same way. The way she describes him throughout the whole book and all their cutesy memories made me sob. It felt like I had also lost Charlie. And the reoccurance of the black-hole slowly consuming her and the life bombs. Everything was just so well laid out. When she finally admits that she's got the biggest fear of death as nothing in life is guaranteed, she embraces the depths of the black hole and learns its dimensions instead of pushing it away. I thought that it was beautiful.
BIG PROPS TO LUCY AGAIN!! Finally!! Oh my gosh I have been waiting. Finally the girl in a love triangle makes the right decision. I have (had) this power where as soon as they mention the guy in a book, I instantly know that the protagonist will end up with them. Especially during love triangles. I was almost certain she would end up with Lockie. Completely ditch Ben and go for the mysterious brooding guy who treats her like shit just because he's finally paying attention to her again. WHEN I TELL U I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THIS IN LOVE TRIANGLES!! So the whole time it was Ben and Lucy's time, it felt bittersweet to me because I "knew" that it was fleeting. I "knew" that she would leave the guy who was ACTUALLY trying, who had the same interests as her, who understood her on a deeper level, who FRICKEN LOVES ANIMALS (that alone would be the ultimate decider for me), and who was the biggest green flag ever. Why? Oh because her childhood crush Lockie blinked his eyelashes at her.. I WAS WRONG! She has sense in her. She knew that he only wanted her when she was all good and happy and never in the hard moments where she needed him. I had like only 5 pages left and was so confused like when is this Lockie guy gonna randomly appear and steal her? IT NEVER HAPPENED!! Oh thank u, thank u, THANK U, Miranda Lubyyyy.
Also she's Australian so that's a bonus, except I never want to see Dandenong in a book this good ever again.
This story is devastaingly beautiful, having an older brother myself, if i experienced what she did I would 100% react in the same way. The way she describes him throughout the whole book and all their cutesy memories made me sob. It felt like I had also lost Charlie. And the reoccurance of the black-hole slowly consuming her and the life bombs. Everything was just so well laid out. When she finally admits that she's got the biggest fear of death as nothing in life is guaranteed, she embraces the depths of the black hole and learns its dimensions instead of pushing it away. I thought that it was beautiful.
BIG PROPS TO LUCY AGAIN!! Finally!! Oh my gosh I have been waiting. Finally the girl in a love triangle makes the right decision. I have (had) this power where as soon as they mention the guy in a book, I instantly know that the protagonist will end up with them. Especially during love triangles. I was almost certain she would end up with Lockie. Completely ditch Ben and go for the mysterious brooding guy who treats her like shit just because he's finally paying attention to her again. WHEN I TELL U I AM SICK AND TIRED OF THIS IN LOVE TRIANGLES!! So the whole time it was Ben and Lucy's time, it felt bittersweet to me because I "knew" that it was fleeting. I "knew" that she would leave the guy who was ACTUALLY trying, who had the same interests as her, who understood her on a deeper level, who FRICKEN LOVES ANIMALS (that alone would be the ultimate decider for me), and who was the biggest green flag ever. Why? Oh because her childhood crush Lockie blinked his eyelashes at her.. I WAS WRONG! She has sense in her. She knew that he only wanted her when she was all good and happy and never in the hard moments where she needed him. I had like only 5 pages left and was so confused like when is this Lockie guy gonna randomly appear and steal her? IT NEVER HAPPENED!! Oh thank u, thank u, THANK U, Miranda Lubyyyy.
Also she's Australian so that's a bonus, except I never want to see Dandenong in a book this good ever again.
August 24, 2025
There were lots of signs that I had to read this book. The main character of my own WIP is called Lucy. I had a lovely ex-bf named Ben. And I read an article about plains-wanderers last week! So I'm not the only one who looks into things like our protagonist...
I really enjoyed this book and finished it in two days. Being set in Australia (Melbourne specifically) made it even more special to me. I thought the way Luby wrote the teenage characters was realistic and they behaved the way I expected. There is a cute little romance, but the heart of the book is about grief. Coming to terms with life without a loved one and what that looks like moving forward. Figuring out your place in the world and wanting it to have meaning. Luby demonstrated the existentialist feelings really well; I've definitely felt them before.
I'm glad Lucy wasn't a Mary Sue character. She made many mistakes and missteps, but she acknowledged them and learnt from them.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy YA novels no matter your age, especially those set in Australia.
I really enjoyed this book and finished it in two days. Being set in Australia (Melbourne specifically) made it even more special to me. I thought the way Luby wrote the teenage characters was realistic and they behaved the way I expected. There is a cute little romance, but the heart of the book is about grief. Coming to terms with life without a loved one and what that looks like moving forward. Figuring out your place in the world and wanting it to have meaning. Luby demonstrated the existentialist feelings really well; I've definitely felt them before.
I'm glad Lucy wasn't a Mary Sue character. She made many mistakes and missteps, but she acknowledged them and learnt from them.
I recommend this book to those who enjoy YA novels no matter your age, especially those set in Australia.
July 26, 2025
If only there were books like this when I was a teenager, instead of the BSC or SVH series...
This gorgeous story explores the life and struggles of a teenage girl who's brother has died in a tragic and sudden accident, plunging her whole family into a deep depression - yet they're all pretending to be OK.
She’s become disengaged and disconnected from her friends and life but doesn’t want to cause any more stress to her parents so pretends to hold it together. By chance she comes across an injured endangered bird (her brother?) and as a result of trying to save the bird she meets a group of new kids who understand and support her.
This gorgeous story explores the life and struggles of a teenage girl who's brother has died in a tragic and sudden accident, plunging her whole family into a deep depression - yet they're all pretending to be OK.
She’s become disengaged and disconnected from her friends and life but doesn’t want to cause any more stress to her parents so pretends to hold it together. By chance she comes across an injured endangered bird (her brother?) and as a result of trying to save the bird she meets a group of new kids who understand and support her.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
April 21, 2025
I absolutely loved this new Autralian YA book.
It is funny, it is heartbreaking, it is raw, it is real and it is such a beautiful exploration of grief and our need to make sense of things that just make no sense.
This is a book that asks big questions, and explores big themes, all in a way that allows the reader to laugh and cry in equal measure.
Thanks to the Publisher for the review copy of this book.
It is funny, it is heartbreaking, it is raw, it is real and it is such a beautiful exploration of grief and our need to make sense of things that just make no sense.
This is a book that asks big questions, and explores big themes, all in a way that allows the reader to laugh and cry in equal measure.
Thanks to the Publisher for the review copy of this book.
Read
November 18, 2025The following book reviews have been shared by Text Publishing, publisher of The Edge of Everything.
‘extremely moving… a heartfelt and thought-provoking novel that balances sadness with moments of lightness, romance, and also more importantly hope.’
ReadPlus
‘Devastating, honest, surprisingly funny and hopeful. I loved it from the first page.’
Megan Williams
‘Deeply moving. An invitation to think about our place in an infinite universe, and how enormous and transcendent the simple acts of love, friendship, genuine communication and compassionate connection to all living things can be. Just lovely.’
Helena Fox
‘A poignant story...The Edge of Everything stands out for its thought-provoking exploration of existential questions. Miranda Luby’s powerful and compelling writing adds depth and nuance, offering a fresh perspective.’
Books+Publishing
‘A touching examination of friendship, grief and connection with a touch of romance amidst it all. It’s a lovely, gentle novel that has heart in everything it does and celebrates the little things that make us who we are, and allow us to embrace what we need to in life to move forwards when we feel like we are stuck.’
Book Muse
‘A sincere story that anyone who has lost a young person should read.’
Buzzwords
‘5 stars. Beautiful and heartwarming…So well written, it is hard not to just keep reading.’
GLAM Adelaide
‘Miranda Luby has created a sometimes tender, sometimes funny, always sincere story that fills the reader with hope.’
Ramona Magazine
‘A surprising adventure of healing, friendship and avian challenges.’
BookPeople
‘Beautifully written.’
SAETA
‘Miranda Luby has a knack of blending teen drama and relatable real-life issues with an intellectual, philosophical edge…Thought-provoking, engaging and highly recommended.’
Magpies
‘extremely moving… a heartfelt and thought-provoking novel that balances sadness with moments of lightness, romance, and also more importantly hope.’
ReadPlus
‘Devastating, honest, surprisingly funny and hopeful. I loved it from the first page.’
Megan Williams
‘Deeply moving. An invitation to think about our place in an infinite universe, and how enormous and transcendent the simple acts of love, friendship, genuine communication and compassionate connection to all living things can be. Just lovely.’
Helena Fox
‘A poignant story...The Edge of Everything stands out for its thought-provoking exploration of existential questions. Miranda Luby’s powerful and compelling writing adds depth and nuance, offering a fresh perspective.’
Books+Publishing
‘A touching examination of friendship, grief and connection with a touch of romance amidst it all. It’s a lovely, gentle novel that has heart in everything it does and celebrates the little things that make us who we are, and allow us to embrace what we need to in life to move forwards when we feel like we are stuck.’
Book Muse
‘A sincere story that anyone who has lost a young person should read.’
Buzzwords
‘5 stars. Beautiful and heartwarming…So well written, it is hard not to just keep reading.’
GLAM Adelaide
‘Miranda Luby has created a sometimes tender, sometimes funny, always sincere story that fills the reader with hope.’
Ramona Magazine
‘A surprising adventure of healing, friendship and avian challenges.’
BookPeople
‘Beautifully written.’
SAETA
‘Miranda Luby has a knack of blending teen drama and relatable real-life issues with an intellectual, philosophical edge…Thought-provoking, engaging and highly recommended.’
Magpies
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews