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The Edge of Always: Discover this unforgettable and emotional love story
Not yet published
Expected 13 Aug 26
Love, Rosie
meets
A Walk to Remember
in this second chance romance that rekindles a long-lost love and unearths buried secrets.
‘A big, emotional punch of a novel about first love’ LAURA WOOD
‘The whole thing tore my heart to pieces and put it back together’ LUCY VINE
‘Tender, vivid, original and gorgeously written’ LAUREN BRAVO
A first love they never forgot. A second chance to change everything . . .
For best friends Luna and Emmett, each summer was an endless adventure. Reuniting each year, they shared their greatest hopes, dreams and stolen glances under the warm sun. They were two teenagers on the verge of something more, but as they stood at the brink of their future, a devastating secret tore them apart.
For two decades, Luna is heartbroken in more ways than one, until she discovers a portrait of herself in Paris. In a twist of fate, sitting beside her is Emmett, the only boy she ever dreamt of being with. He’s desperate to explain, hoping that the painting holds the answers to twenty years of unspoken questions.
Will one week in Paris be enough to heal the wounds between them, and will they finally get their always?
Dive into this captivating love story for fans of Jojo Moyes, Josie Silver and Carley Fortune.
Readers LOVE The Edge of Always
‘Heartbreaking, hopeful, nostalgic and unforgettable'
‘There aren't enough stars to give this one. It needs more'
‘An absolute triumph and one I'll be shouting about'
‘I was a sobbing mess when I finished this’
‘A big, emotional punch of a novel about first love’ LAURA WOOD
‘The whole thing tore my heart to pieces and put it back together’ LUCY VINE
‘Tender, vivid, original and gorgeously written’ LAUREN BRAVO
A first love they never forgot. A second chance to change everything . . .
For best friends Luna and Emmett, each summer was an endless adventure. Reuniting each year, they shared their greatest hopes, dreams and stolen glances under the warm sun. They were two teenagers on the verge of something more, but as they stood at the brink of their future, a devastating secret tore them apart.
For two decades, Luna is heartbroken in more ways than one, until she discovers a portrait of herself in Paris. In a twist of fate, sitting beside her is Emmett, the only boy she ever dreamt of being with. He’s desperate to explain, hoping that the painting holds the answers to twenty years of unspoken questions.
Will one week in Paris be enough to heal the wounds between them, and will they finally get their always?
Dive into this captivating love story for fans of Jojo Moyes, Josie Silver and Carley Fortune.
Readers LOVE The Edge of Always
‘Heartbreaking, hopeful, nostalgic and unforgettable'
‘There aren't enough stars to give this one. It needs more'
‘An absolute triumph and one I'll be shouting about'
‘I was a sobbing mess when I finished this’
Audible Audio
Expected publication August 13, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
Did Not Finish
June 14, 2026This sounded really promising and I really love a romance.
I started reading it and for two days I completely forgot about it. This never happens with me and books. I got 12% in and had to reread that part again, then got 20% in and got bored. I skipped to the end and read the last 5 pages which told me everything. I didn't care to go back and read how the characters got there.
For some reason, whatever it maybe, I just could not show any interest in this book. I feel like I have read similar stories so maybe I put myself off?
Not for me. DNF
Thanks Netgally for my advanced copy
I started reading it and for two days I completely forgot about it. This never happens with me and books. I got 12% in and had to reread that part again, then got 20% in and got bored. I skipped to the end and read the last 5 pages which told me everything. I didn't care to go back and read how the characters got there.
For some reason, whatever it maybe, I just could not show any interest in this book. I feel like I have read similar stories so maybe I put myself off?
Not for me. DNF
Thanks Netgally for my advanced copy
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Some books tell a love story. Others tell a story about grief. This one somehow manages to tell both at the same time, and it broke my heart in the most beautiful way.
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster UK, and Rebecca Ryan for the opportunity to read this beautiful novel in exchange for an honest review.
If you are looking for a romance that treats teenage emotions with absolute dignity while delivering a sophisticated, art-centric adult love story, The Edge of Summer (or insert exact title here) is a triumph. The novel masterfully bridges two distinct worlds: the gritty, nostalgic summers of a Northumberland caravan park and the sophisticated, evocative streets of Paris.
The story introduces us to two unforgettable characters:
*Luna: A deeply feeling artist and blogger with a lifelong fascination for the macabre. She is carrying a heavy burden of grief that has completely choked out her ability to create art.
*Emmett: Luna’s childhood soulmate. Growing up, Emmett faced an incredibly harsh reality, navigating a life of poverty and the heavy burden of an abusive, addicted mother. His desperation to carve out a better path for himself makes him an incredibly fierce, emotional anchor in the story.
When Luna’s vibrant, beautifully intrusive sister, Mae, who provides the perfect, witty antidote to the book’s heavier themes, discovers that a painting by their late childhood mentor and local artist, Earl, is on display in Paris, Luna knows she has to go. What she doesn’t expect is to collide straight into Emmett in front of the canvas.
Separated by twenty years of silence and an unspoken trauma, their reunion forces two decades of buried secrets, lingering passion, and profound heartache to the surface
What makes this book so spectacular is how it honors the artistic process. The references to real-world art and the profound exploration of what makes something "worthy" of being called art give the narrative an intellectual weight that you don’t always get in contemporary romance. It’s a dual-timeline story that respects its characters at every age, capturing the fierce, all-consuming reality of teenage love without ever belittling it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (An unforgettable 5 stars)
Why this perspective works for me:
1. A Shift in Tone: It repositions the book from a "devastating tear-jerker" to a "sophisticated, atmospheric romance," which will appeal to readers who love art history, travel, and complex character studies.
2. Character Integration: It seamlessly introduces Luna, Emmett, Mae, and Earl, giving them distinct personality traits and explaining exactly how they fit into the narrative engine.
3. Intellectual Appeal: By highlighting the art commentary and the respect given to the young characters' perspectives, it elevates the book's literary merit.
My Verdict:
It’s an incredibly moving, brilliantly plotted story filled with unexpected twists that will leave you absolutely breathless. For fans of deeply emotional, nostalgic, and culturally rich fiction, this is an absolute must-read. By the final chapters, I wasn't simply reading about Luna and Emmett anymore. I felt like I knew them. I wanted happiness for them. I wanted them to find their way back to each other. And when the story reached its emotional conclusion, I found myself completely overwhelmed.
Heartbreaking, hopeful, nostalgic, and unforgettable, this is a story about the people who leave permanent marks on our lives and the courage it takes to face the past. Rebecca Ryan has written a deeply moving novel that stayed with me long after I turned the final page.
Thank you to NetGalley, Simon & Schuster UK, and Rebecca Ryan for the opportunity to read this beautiful novel in exchange for an honest review.
If you are looking for a romance that treats teenage emotions with absolute dignity while delivering a sophisticated, art-centric adult love story, The Edge of Summer (or insert exact title here) is a triumph. The novel masterfully bridges two distinct worlds: the gritty, nostalgic summers of a Northumberland caravan park and the sophisticated, evocative streets of Paris.
The story introduces us to two unforgettable characters:
*Luna: A deeply feeling artist and blogger with a lifelong fascination for the macabre. She is carrying a heavy burden of grief that has completely choked out her ability to create art.
*Emmett: Luna’s childhood soulmate. Growing up, Emmett faced an incredibly harsh reality, navigating a life of poverty and the heavy burden of an abusive, addicted mother. His desperation to carve out a better path for himself makes him an incredibly fierce, emotional anchor in the story.
When Luna’s vibrant, beautifully intrusive sister, Mae, who provides the perfect, witty antidote to the book’s heavier themes, discovers that a painting by their late childhood mentor and local artist, Earl, is on display in Paris, Luna knows she has to go. What she doesn’t expect is to collide straight into Emmett in front of the canvas.
Separated by twenty years of silence and an unspoken trauma, their reunion forces two decades of buried secrets, lingering passion, and profound heartache to the surface
What makes this book so spectacular is how it honors the artistic process. The references to real-world art and the profound exploration of what makes something "worthy" of being called art give the narrative an intellectual weight that you don’t always get in contemporary romance. It’s a dual-timeline story that respects its characters at every age, capturing the fierce, all-consuming reality of teenage love without ever belittling it.
Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (An unforgettable 5 stars)
Why this perspective works for me:
1. A Shift in Tone: It repositions the book from a "devastating tear-jerker" to a "sophisticated, atmospheric romance," which will appeal to readers who love art history, travel, and complex character studies.
2. Character Integration: It seamlessly introduces Luna, Emmett, Mae, and Earl, giving them distinct personality traits and explaining exactly how they fit into the narrative engine.
3. Intellectual Appeal: By highlighting the art commentary and the respect given to the young characters' perspectives, it elevates the book's literary merit.
My Verdict:
It’s an incredibly moving, brilliantly plotted story filled with unexpected twists that will leave you absolutely breathless. For fans of deeply emotional, nostalgic, and culturally rich fiction, this is an absolute must-read. By the final chapters, I wasn't simply reading about Luna and Emmett anymore. I felt like I knew them. I wanted happiness for them. I wanted them to find their way back to each other. And when the story reached its emotional conclusion, I found myself completely overwhelmed.
Heartbreaking, hopeful, nostalgic, and unforgettable, this is a story about the people who leave permanent marks on our lives and the courage it takes to face the past. Rebecca Ryan has written a deeply moving novel that stayed with me long after I turned the final page.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I have read all of Rebecca Ryan’s previous novels and think that The Edge of Always may be her most moving book yet.
This story is told by way of a dual narrative. In the present day, Luna has found out that a previously unknown painting by Earl, an artist she once knew well, has surfaced and is being exhibited in Paris. To her great surprise, she is the subject of the portrait. Despite many people’s advice, she travels to Paris to see the painting and is surprised again to find her teenage love Emmett is also there to see the painting. This brings us to the second strand of the story which follows the love story between these two over several summers which Luna spent with her family in Northumberland in her teens.
The Edge of Always is such an emotional read. The teenage romance between Luna and Emmett is so beautifully written and shows the depth of teenage feelings and how lasting they can be. This relationship brought an element of intrigue to the book as their love is so deep, yet by the present day they haven’t seen each other in around 20 years. I really wanted to know what had happened to drive them apart.
Art and creativity is a strong theme in the novel as it isn’t just Earl who is a talented artist. Luna too has great talent and yet we find that she has given up, another mystery. Through Earl’s paintings, Luna and Emmett connect again and travel across Paris in search of the locations Earl painted in the hope that they will find answers through art.
There was a sense of pervading melancholy throughout the book and yet Rebecca Ryan manages to make it a book full of light and beauty. I genuinely thought it was going to be a totally heart-breaking read in more ways than one and, while there was some sadness, there was also optimism and hopefulness.
The Edge of Always is a beautifully written book about powerful first love, secrets and second chances. It’s full of emotion and filled with characters who will make you both laugh and cry. Luna and Emmett’s story is one which really touched me.
This story is told by way of a dual narrative. In the present day, Luna has found out that a previously unknown painting by Earl, an artist she once knew well, has surfaced and is being exhibited in Paris. To her great surprise, she is the subject of the portrait. Despite many people’s advice, she travels to Paris to see the painting and is surprised again to find her teenage love Emmett is also there to see the painting. This brings us to the second strand of the story which follows the love story between these two over several summers which Luna spent with her family in Northumberland in her teens.
The Edge of Always is such an emotional read. The teenage romance between Luna and Emmett is so beautifully written and shows the depth of teenage feelings and how lasting they can be. This relationship brought an element of intrigue to the book as their love is so deep, yet by the present day they haven’t seen each other in around 20 years. I really wanted to know what had happened to drive them apart.
Art and creativity is a strong theme in the novel as it isn’t just Earl who is a talented artist. Luna too has great talent and yet we find that she has given up, another mystery. Through Earl’s paintings, Luna and Emmett connect again and travel across Paris in search of the locations Earl painted in the hope that they will find answers through art.
There was a sense of pervading melancholy throughout the book and yet Rebecca Ryan manages to make it a book full of light and beauty. I genuinely thought it was going to be a totally heart-breaking read in more ways than one and, while there was some sadness, there was also optimism and hopefulness.
The Edge of Always is a beautifully written book about powerful first love, secrets and second chances. It’s full of emotion and filled with characters who will make you both laugh and cry. Luna and Emmett’s story is one which really touched me.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Thanks to the publisher and NetGalley for the advanced copy :)
Childhood best friends Luna and Emmett have not seen each other for 20 years after a painful event that tore them away from each other. They have one week to resolve the past and discover if there is a future together.
This is my first Rebecca Ryan book, so I didn't know what to expect when it came to the heavy themes of the book. When I realised what was going on, I started to get a bit more stressed about how it would resolve! I think the author did a good job of jumping back and forth between childhood and the present. Both timelines were interesting to read, and I wanted to know more. I really enjoyed Mae; she undercut some of the more serious topics.
I thought Emmett's situation was dealt with well; there was an acknowledgement that both things are true: his mother has a medical condition and is neglecting/abusing her child. Poverty plays a huge part in that situation, so watching Emmett being so desperate to change his path in life was really emotional to read.
I really like the theme of death and the pondering on what is worthy of being called art. I liked that Luna was always into the macabre, even in childhood, that it wasn't a result of her current circumstances. Having a mentor figure in another artist was a really interesting relationship to read. I did find myself googling all the art mentioned in the book, which was fun.
I liked this book a lot and would recommend it to people who enjoy Paris, are interested in the artistic process (or books that mention a lot of pieces :) ) and second chances at love!
TW: Cancer/other medical conditions, death, addiction, childhood neglect/abuse, depression
Childhood best friends Luna and Emmett have not seen each other for 20 years after a painful event that tore them away from each other. They have one week to resolve the past and discover if there is a future together.
This is my first Rebecca Ryan book, so I didn't know what to expect when it came to the heavy themes of the book. When I realised what was going on, I started to get a bit more stressed about how it would resolve! I think the author did a good job of jumping back and forth between childhood and the present. Both timelines were interesting to read, and I wanted to know more. I really enjoyed Mae; she undercut some of the more serious topics.
I thought Emmett's situation was dealt with well; there was an acknowledgement that both things are true: his mother has a medical condition and is neglecting/abusing her child. Poverty plays a huge part in that situation, so watching Emmett being so desperate to change his path in life was really emotional to read.
I really like the theme of death and the pondering on what is worthy of being called art. I liked that Luna was always into the macabre, even in childhood, that it wasn't a result of her current circumstances. Having a mentor figure in another artist was a really interesting relationship to read. I did find myself googling all the art mentioned in the book, which was fun.
I liked this book a lot and would recommend it to people who enjoy Paris, are interested in the artistic process (or books that mention a lot of pieces :) ) and second chances at love!
TW: Cancer/other medical conditions, death, addiction, childhood neglect/abuse, depression
May 6, 2026
I was a sobbing mess when I finished this 😭🥹
Rebecca has written one of the most heartbreaking yet joyous stories I have read 🫶🏻
The story follows Luna, an artist with a blog, a big secret and a lot of emotions as she travels to Paris to visit an art exhibition
The duel timeline gave us such an incredible insight into Luna’s childhood holidays in Northumberland where her days were spent at a caravan park with some real characters including her crush, Emmett and an artist, Earl
The relationship between Emmett and Luna is a tricky
one with Emmett having an addict for a mother and Luna only being in The Edge for the summers but their love story is a magical one
I loved the relationship between Luna and her sister Mae as well as every summer having a “plan”, the “man plan” was one of my favourites 🤭
When Luna and Emmett reunite in Paris to see (now passed away) Earl’s new piece displayed in a gallery, sparks fly and there are some big secrets to reveal
I sobbed my heart out so loud at the end of this book and for Rebecca to mention Yorkshire Reads in her acknowledgements, had me crying all over again. I went through so many emotions during this read and I’d go through them all over again 🥹💖
Rebecca has written one of the most heartbreaking yet joyous stories I have read 🫶🏻
The story follows Luna, an artist with a blog, a big secret and a lot of emotions as she travels to Paris to visit an art exhibition
The duel timeline gave us such an incredible insight into Luna’s childhood holidays in Northumberland where her days were spent at a caravan park with some real characters including her crush, Emmett and an artist, Earl
The relationship between Emmett and Luna is a tricky
one with Emmett having an addict for a mother and Luna only being in The Edge for the summers but their love story is a magical one
I loved the relationship between Luna and her sister Mae as well as every summer having a “plan”, the “man plan” was one of my favourites 🤭
When Luna and Emmett reunite in Paris to see (now passed away) Earl’s new piece displayed in a gallery, sparks fly and there are some big secrets to reveal
I sobbed my heart out so loud at the end of this book and for Rebecca to mention Yorkshire Reads in her acknowledgements, had me crying all over again. I went through so many emotions during this read and I’d go through them all over again 🥹💖
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 9, 2026
Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for the Arc!
Wow. This was an emotional rollercoaster.
The dual timeline really helped to develop the characters stories as we followed Luna’s summers spent in Northumberland as a teenager through various flashbacks. I liked that these flashbacks were their own chapters and so it made it easy to follow whether you were in the present or past.
In the present we follow Luna to a Paris art exhibition where a newly found painting by a now deceased old friend features her as the main focus! It’s here that she’s reunited with Emmett, her teenage crush, and sparks fly. I did like that there was no insta-love or lust here and things developed naturally between them again.
In the past, we see Luna trying to navigate through her teenage years, and we also get more insight into Emmett’s difficult background. It’s messy, but it’s also very real. I really enjoyed the relationship between Luna and her sister Mae in these parts especially when Mae was coming up with all these plans like the “man plan” and dragging Luna along with it.
This is one of those books where it’ll have you feeling every kind of emotion but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn’t want to put this one down after I’d started it due to being so invested!
Wow. This was an emotional rollercoaster.
The dual timeline really helped to develop the characters stories as we followed Luna’s summers spent in Northumberland as a teenager through various flashbacks. I liked that these flashbacks were their own chapters and so it made it easy to follow whether you were in the present or past.
In the present we follow Luna to a Paris art exhibition where a newly found painting by a now deceased old friend features her as the main focus! It’s here that she’s reunited with Emmett, her teenage crush, and sparks fly. I did like that there was no insta-love or lust here and things developed naturally between them again.
In the past, we see Luna trying to navigate through her teenage years, and we also get more insight into Emmett’s difficult background. It’s messy, but it’s also very real. I really enjoyed the relationship between Luna and her sister Mae in these parts especially when Mae was coming up with all these plans like the “man plan” and dragging Luna along with it.
This is one of those books where it’ll have you feeling every kind of emotion but I thoroughly enjoyed it. I didn’t want to put this one down after I’d started it due to being so invested!
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Luna has always been in love with Emmett, the boy she spends every summer with in Northumberland. But when she turns 13, she starts to realise how deep her feelings really are.
In the present day, we know that they have been a couple but have split up. And Luna has never got over it. Now, her sister Mae shows her that a recently discovered painting by their old friend Earl is on display in Paris. And Luna absolutely has to see it.
What she doesn’t expect is to be reunited with Emmett, and for all the lies and heartache to resurface.
This was an absolutely beautiful book! My heart felt everything Luna and Emmett went through, from that summer when they were 13 and 14 until they went away to university, and in the present day where Luna is so full of grief she can’t go back to her beloved art.
I loved the way it was told switching between the past when they were teenagers and present day adults. The feelings felt so real, nostalgic and powerful!
And there were some amazing unexpected twists in the story - it was just brilliantly written and so emotional!
If you’ve not tried a Rebecca Ryan book yet, and you’re a fan of authors like Beth O’Leary, I can’t recommend this highly enough!
In the present day, we know that they have been a couple but have split up. And Luna has never got over it. Now, her sister Mae shows her that a recently discovered painting by their old friend Earl is on display in Paris. And Luna absolutely has to see it.
What she doesn’t expect is to be reunited with Emmett, and for all the lies and heartache to resurface.
This was an absolutely beautiful book! My heart felt everything Luna and Emmett went through, from that summer when they were 13 and 14 until they went away to university, and in the present day where Luna is so full of grief she can’t go back to her beloved art.
I loved the way it was told switching between the past when they were teenagers and present day adults. The feelings felt so real, nostalgic and powerful!
And there were some amazing unexpected twists in the story - it was just brilliantly written and so emotional!
If you’ve not tried a Rebecca Ryan book yet, and you’re a fan of authors like Beth O’Leary, I can’t recommend this highly enough!
May 30, 2026
I adored Rebecca’s earlier books and her original take on romance with relatable characters experiencing believable obstacles, but when I picked this one up I was not expecting to be so emotionally destroyed. A light summer read this is not!
Told in a dual timeline, when I realised 20 years separate the narratives and at least one of our characters has been nursing heartbreak that entire time, I needed to know what had happened to get us to the present day.
The sadness in Luna was heartbreaking, both as an adult and a teenager and Rebecca captures so much emotion and nostalgia, handling difficult topics with real sensitivity.
Thank goodness though for Mae bringing some much needed lightness and positivity. I’m glad Luna had her and if it wasn’t for her solid presence throughout, I’d have felt dragged into a pit of despair for much of this story. The writing is that powerful it hurt my heart.
While this book is heavy with sadness and regret for so much time lost, it is also beautiful and completely incredible. I was moved to crying real ugly tears, so strongly recommend having tissues ready for the last 20% of this book!
I need to sit with my feelings after this one, an absolute triumph and one I’ll be shouting about when it’s published in August.
Told in a dual timeline, when I realised 20 years separate the narratives and at least one of our characters has been nursing heartbreak that entire time, I needed to know what had happened to get us to the present day.
The sadness in Luna was heartbreaking, both as an adult and a teenager and Rebecca captures so much emotion and nostalgia, handling difficult topics with real sensitivity.
Thank goodness though for Mae bringing some much needed lightness and positivity. I’m glad Luna had her and if it wasn’t for her solid presence throughout, I’d have felt dragged into a pit of despair for much of this story. The writing is that powerful it hurt my heart.
While this book is heavy with sadness and regret for so much time lost, it is also beautiful and completely incredible. I was moved to crying real ugly tears, so strongly recommend having tissues ready for the last 20% of this book!
I need to sit with my feelings after this one, an absolute triumph and one I’ll be shouting about when it’s published in August.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Was great to be in Paris with the 2 main characters,Luna and Emmett as via a dual storyline they travel back to their teenage years ( and their very different lives ) and their ‘second chance’ surprise meet up
There is an artistic lilt to the book and made art an unusual,for me,focus for a book but it worked really well and made art emotive and part of everyones story
There are secrets from the past that have to be looked at and this was difficult for both but really well done
Mae,Luna’s older Sister I think will be a love or not love character,she is not one to have mixed feelings about
A really moving,at times sad at others happy,love story that read quickly as wanted to find out how their relationship progressed
A good enlightening emotive read
There is an artistic lilt to the book and made art an unusual,for me,focus for a book but it worked really well and made art emotive and part of everyones story
There are secrets from the past that have to be looked at and this was difficult for both but really well done
Mae,Luna’s older Sister I think will be a love or not love character,she is not one to have mixed feelings about
A really moving,at times sad at others happy,love story that read quickly as wanted to find out how their relationship progressed
A good enlightening emotive read
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
Rebecca Ryan's fourth book is a triumph just like her previous three, though this time with quite a different setting. With a dual timeline spanning decades, the reader is treated to both friends-to-lovers and a second-chance romance that at it's core is much more than that. The exploration into artistic identity and what that means to each individual person was expertly done, and Mae might be my favourite side character ever.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and Simon & Schuster UK for the eARC. All opinions are my own.
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
I enjoyed this second-chance romance but the story was a bit slow.
I found it difficult to connect with the characters and also found the art references a bit difficult to follow.
It was a light-hearted read so worth a go it you enjoy the Paris and art settings.
I found it difficult to connect with the characters and also found the art references a bit difficult to follow.
It was a light-hearted read so worth a go it you enjoy the Paris and art settings.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Full review to come after book tour
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