Winter Breakage

The Edge of Everything #3

by David Levithan

A winter-break gathering among college friends is a surprisingly revealing day in this heartfelt coming-of-age short story by New York Times bestselling author David Levithan.

Eric, a college freshman, joins his four dormmates for an afternoon in New York City—the first time he’s seen them outside their campus bubble. But feeling increasingly invisible among these new friends, Eric’s anxieties compound. As they roam the streets of New York, Eric begins to question if he’s even truly wanted there. Soon, though, the friends start to reveal pieces of themselves. Can Eric let go enough to show them who he really is?

David Levithan’s Winter Breakage is part of The Edge of Everything, a collection of short coming-of-age stories of first love, messy choices, and self-discovery. Each story can be read or listened to in one sitting.

Genres: Short Stories, Contemporary, Young Adult, Audiobook, LGBT, Novella, Romance

36 pages, Kindle Edition

Published June 23, 2026

About the author

David Levithan (born 1972) is an American children's book editor and award-winning author. He published his first YA book, Boy Meets Boy, in 2003. Levithan is also the founding editor of PUSH, a Young Adult imprint of Scholastic Press.

Reviews

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

⊹₊⟡⋆ TL;DR: Is it possible to relate so much to a short story? Because I did. 😭



〖 ᴺᴼᵂ ᴾᴸᴬᵞᴵᴺᴳ: Iris by The Goo Goo Dolls 〗
↻ ◁ II ▷ ↺ 1:31 ───ㅇ───── 4:49



⊹₊⟡⋆ College freshman Eric and his four friends meet up in the bustling city of New York in the 90s (lucky 😒🤭). Still, like anyone who feels like the people around them don’t truly see them, Eric wonders if he’s as important to the friend group as the others as they learn more about one another outside campus. But maybe it isn’t their fault that they don’t know him. After all, how can anyone get to really know you if you won’t let them? And, golly-gee-whiz, do I need to keep asking myself that question.

I highlighted a lot of sentences in this one because it seems like Eric and I are the same person. Likes to stay in the background but wish we could be like those who are the life of the party, go with the flow because we can do our own thing on our own time and we don’t want to be a bother, and surface level friendships can be nice and all but having deep conversations are what matter most to us because there’s being seen and then there’s actually being seen. But I’m a hypocrite because sometimes I don’t like to be asked those deep, get-to-know-me-better questions. I know I’m a weird, awkward, oddball–I don’t want everyone else to know that. Besides, I don’t want to go over those cringey conversations that will leave me awake in horror at night. I need sleep, please and thank you. 😅

Anyways, it was fun and interesting to watch Eric and his friends get to know each other better outside of school and realize that life isn’t going to be the same for them, especially their friendships back home. Life moves on and changes with the seasons–we need to allow it to happen and change with it, too, because it’s bound to happen, sooner or later. I liked all the characters, the writing, and the story as a whole.

All in all, this was my second-favorite short story out of the series. 🩵

𖦹 Thank you to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for providing the arc in exchange for an honest review! All opinions and statements are my own. 𖦹

[Christy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars

This one was okay. Eric was dealing with finding himself in college with a new group of friends.

Audio book source: Audible
Story Rating: 3.5 stars
Narrators: Daniel Henning
Narration Rating: 4 stars
Genre: Contemporary
Length: 1h 4m

[Devyn Miller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley for the ARC!

A great reminder to just… enjoy the ride. And that everyone has their own issues. You never have the full story.

[☕︎︎𝐋𝐞𝐱𝐢✞ · Rating 3 out of 5]

⭐️⭐️⭐️


Eh….

Kinda weird honestly😭

It went in a direction of where I thought the main character, Eric, was gay…but he wasn’t?😰

Because he was talking about Noah like he’s had a crush on him..but he didn’t😭. It was just confusing to say the least👹.


And guys- this is just my beliefs but I don’t read LGBTQ+ books or anything related to that. Now I’ll read books with side characters like that…but not book that revolve around it🤷‍♀️. This is not me saying that I don’t like those types of people I just don’t agree with them and that’s okay!🥺👍.


I appreciated the anxiety rep bc uh I think I could possibly have a little of it😭.

Now it would’ve been a different story if the main character was a girl…THEN I WOULDVE EATEN THIS UPPPPPP AHHAHA🤭.

I think I’m now realizing that I like the book better when the main character is a girl and the books written by a fellow girlie😍👍.

So that was my fault with picking this up😔.



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Characters ! ❄️



Eric : I felt for him while reading this🥺🥺🥺. He was kinda weird but hey…I’m weird too join the club hehe🤭. I understood all of the overthinking bc I’ve had situations where I felt like I didn’t belong😰. Actually now thinking of it I feel like that everyday at school when I’m with my “best friend” that ends up ignoring most of what I say😔🤷‍♀️. Enough of my trauma dumping heh…anyway he was an…interesting character🤷‍♀️.



Noah : I would probably fall head over heels for him ngl-👏🥹. Now I’m no boy but is this really how some guys talk to other guys??? Maybe I don’t have the best examples set before me and this is actually how some guys communicate this eachother👹🤷‍♀️. I DONT KNOW BOYS ARE HARD TO READ😭. I’m probably over analyzing this whole situation so I’m js gonna stop thinking abt it rn😰😰😰. ANYWAY- he was a decent character😀👍.



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Quotes ! 💛


Check out my Notes and Highlights if your interested in seeing my commentary on some quotes from this novella!

(Currently traveling rn so they won’t be posted until I get some WiFi!)


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Overall ! 🌨️


This was okay…😀👍

Would I read it again?…no👹


I wouldnt exactly recommend it either idk my thoughts are kinda jumbled rn😭 maybe it’s the car fog👹



I mean if you enjoy any of the things down below then you can give it a shot <3


❄️ Friend Reunion

💛 Mental Health Rep

❄️ No Romance (at least I think?)

💛 College Age Main Characters


I can’t come up with any others😭…there was also some language in this novella so watch out for that if you don’t particularly like language😔.


*cue the cool music*

*cue me bungee jumping but breakdancing at the same time (PFT it’s possible👹)*


🕺
⛰️⬇️


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Post-read ! 🌙

That was lowk rlly weird and sad-😭. Rtc!

[ren ౨ৎ (rozanov's version) · Rating 2 out of 5]

if you’re interested in reading about a character with social anxiety who is on winter break with his friends who he seemingly has no connection with, this may be the book for you.

[Alya ( 20 comments restriction ) · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed how this focused on thoughts and feelings in regards to fitting in and friendships ect, but wasn't anything groundbreaking

My Bookstagram

[mandie ੈ♡˳ · Rating 3 out of 5]

as someone with social anxiety who overthinks every little interaction, i completely related to this guy. what is it with this collection of stories that has me feeling like i'm 14 years old again? also, i am insanely jealous that they got to hang out at fao schwarz and play with that floor piano from big.

[anzhelika ୨ৎ · Rating 4 out of 5]

⋆ ˚｡⋆୨୧˚ 4 stars ˚୨୧⋆｡˚ ⋆

wow so this novella kind of broke my heart. eric is spending time with college friends who don't really know him. i think the author did a good job at showing the anxiety eric experiences and how he overthinks things. at times this story hit a little close to home which is why i found it a little sad. it's such a horrible feeling of not belonging in a group of people/friends or just feeling invisible.

˗ˋˏ ୨୧ thank you to NetGalley, Amazon Original Stories, and David Levithan for the digital arc in exchange for an honest review! ୨୧ ˎˊ˗

[har. [semi ia]]

┆ ⤿ 🗽 ⌗ started: july 2, finished: july 2

4 stars 𓂃˖ ࣪⊹

summary: ⋆˚࿔
during winter break, college freshman eric spends a day exploring new york city with four of his dormmates, hoping to strengthen the friendships they've built on campus. but outside the familiar comfort of college life, eric can't shake the feeling that he doesn't quite belong. as the day unfolds, quiet conversations and unexpected moments reveal that everyone is carrying their own insecurities. through their shared vulnerability, eric begins to realize that true friendship isn't about fitting in perfectly, it's about allowing yourself to be seen.

thoughts: ⋆˚࿔
another quick read that i finished in one sitting! as someone with pretty bad social anxiety, this one hit close to home. i found eric's thoughts and insecurities incredibly relatable, and they reminded me so much of my high school self. that constant fear of not fitting in, holding onto the past, and wondering if people actually want you around felt very real. i also loved the reminder that you never truly know what someone else is going through. everyone is carrying their own struggles, even if they don't show them, and a little understanding can go a long way.

ⓘ thank you to amazon original stories, david levithan, netgalley, for the arc in exchange for a honest review.
⊱ ۫ ׅ ✧ OUT ON JUNE 23

[books (samaira's version) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5⭐️

The fear, the self doubt, and insecurities when entering a new part of your life was so accurately shown in 'Winter Breakage.'
It is the most wonderful time of the year (aka winter break) of Eric's freshman year in college. He meets up with some of his new friends from college.
The book is an exploration of the feelings and emotions that accompany someone who's not alone, yet feels lost and lonely. It is a step forward for Eric, and an opportunity to be honest and real with his friends.
It was so much more than five friends hanging out during their break. The way the other characters are portrayed made me understand them instead of disliking them because they didn't try to know the real Eric.
I am quite conflicted in my opinion of them all, but the story had many hidden layers, and a perfect comparison to what life is really like with it's ups and downs.

Thanks to Netgalley for providing me with an ARC. All opinions are my own!

[Mirinha · Rating 3 out of 5]

For such a short story, Winter Breakage gives a surprisingly strong sense of who the main character is. I enjoyed how much focus was placed on his thoughts and feelings, and his struggle to feel like he truly belongs felt very relatable.

The story takes its time with a small moment in his life, which worked well and made the emotions feel more real. The 90s setting also added some charm. It left me curious about what happens next, but I was satisfied with the snapshot we got.

Thank you to Netgalley and Amazon Original Stories for this e-ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Genna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do recall experiencing something like this with friends - I think it comes with discovery.

I received a complimentary copy of this book via Netgalley. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

[Daniel Myatt · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this story a little slow and not that interesting. Setting it in the past (1990s) didn't add anything, and I found the characters a bit flat.

It passed the time, but I doubt I'll remember it, which is a shame as Boy Meets Boy is an all-time favourite of mine (also written by this author).

[Dozelina 666 · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was probably the most difficult story for me to connect with from The Edge of Everything collection so far.

The strongest part was definitely the nostalgia. Even in such a short format, the story captures that late-90s/early-college feeling really well, and I enjoyed that aspect quite a bit.

The story follows Eric, a college freshman spending part of winter break with a group of dorm friends in New York City. What starts as a simple outing slowly becomes an exploration of belonging, friendship, and the anxiety that comes with trying to figure out where you fit.

I think many readers will probably connect with Eric's fears and insecurities. The story does a good job showing that awkward stage of new friendships, when you're constantly wondering if people actually like you, if you belong in the group, or if you're just sort of... there.

Personally, I struggled a little because the story is so short. At only around 30 pages, I never felt like I had enough time to really get to know the characters or become emotionally invested in them.

That said, I can absolutely see why this story might resonate strongly with readers who have experienced those feelings of uncertainty and social anxiety.

Overall, while this wasn't my favorite entry in the collection, I appreciated its themes and the emotions it was exploring.

⭐ 3.5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for the ARC.

https://turnthepagewithana.blogspot.c...

[Anniek · Rating 2 out of 5]

Many thanks to Amazon Original Stories and Netgalley for the digital review copy. This novella is out now!

I truly don't know what to make of this. I liked that it's set in the 90s, but other than that, this did just about nothing for me. If anything, I found it extremely confusing and I just didn't connect with it at all.

[Sam · Rating 3 out of 5]

Eric is spending time with his college friends who honestly don’t really know him. I think David Leviathan did a great job at capturing the anxiety and overthinking of friendships. It was almost too good that it made me feel uneasy while reading it.

[Jane Ellen · Rating 4 out of 5]

I’ve always felt there were two types of people in the world: those who are happy to just exist, and those who are constantly questioning their own existence, looking inside and out and wondering how they fit or don’t fit with everyone and everything else.

Eric is certainly in the latter group. He picks at the seams of his life, tracing the lines of his relationships and seems frustrated by the skating over the surface that a lot of his new college friends seem to do.

At one point in this story, one of his friends tells Eric he finds him challenging “Because while we’re all shooting the shit, you’re wrestling with it.”

Eric's uncertainty about his place in the world—and within his friendships—is something many introspective readers will recognize. We are the people who struggle with small talk, always wanting to skip ahead to the conversations that reveal something essential. A kind of people who are always asking questions like “what are you afraid of” when others would like to stay in safe water that won’t require them to see themselves or others so clearly.

The feelings captured in this book are ones that I think a lot of readers can relate to, and the story softly captures the confusion and longing so many of us feel while searching for connection, especially in our younger years.

Eric says of meeting his high school friends after moving on to college that “The story didn’t really move forward, but I enjoyed myself, and saw a few things in a slightly different way.” Similarly, this short story may not move your own story forward, but it will help you to see “a few things in a slightly different way”. It certainly did for me. 4/5 stars

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon for the arc.

[Gill MacLean · Rating 2 out of 5]

In January 1991, Eric spends the day wandering around New York City with a few of his college friends. But he’s not used to seeing them outside of the college bubble, and his insecurities leave him questioning whether he really belongs with this group. Can he overcome his doubts and let his friends have the chance to know the real Eric?

This story unfortunately didn’t hit for me. It read like wandering without a clear storyline. I think this concept could’ve worked as a chapter or two in a longer novel about the character’s self-discovery, but as a novella the themes didn’t have enough chance to be explored.

Anyone who’s had a friend who (not so) secretly resents you can definitely relate to the relationship between Andie and Eric. Their interactions stung to read. I appreciate that the author didn’t try to justify Andie’s behaviour with something from her past/home life.

The NYC setting was fun! I think setting it in 1991 worked for the story, it forces the reader to consider ways to really connect—not just a generic text or an Instagram DM.

Thank you to NetGalley and Amazon Original Stories for offering me a free copy in exchange for an honest review!

[Shahana · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book felt like the author looked directly into my soul and decided to write about it.

Eric’s anxieties around friendship, belonging, and wondering whether the people around him actually want him there hit a little too close to home. What really got me was realizing, alongside Eric, that even the people we think we know can still be strangers in so many ways. Sometimes our understanding of our friends is only surface level, and that realization can be both unsettling and comforting at the same time.

For such a short read, this packed so much emotional depth. David Levithan captured the uncertainty of early adulthood and new friendships so beautifully. It felt incredibly honest and quietly reassuring without ever becoming overly sentimental.

This is one of those stories that doesn’t rely on huge plot twists or dramatic moments. Instead, it finds beauty in ordinary conversations, quiet realizations, and the vulnerability that comes with letting people truly see you.

A beautifully written coming-of-age story that reminded me we’re all a little more complicated, and a little more lonely, than we often let on.

[Liz | lizzuplans · Rating 3 out of 5]

Really glad I am not a teenager anymore.
Gosh, all the doubt about yourself as a person, yourself in a group, others in a group, everything in life… immediately tired.

Well written, a bit too fragmented (does fit in with fleeting and chaotic thoughts), and slightly hard to connect with.
I did get a nostalgic city wanderings with your friends -feeling so that was nice.

I received an ARC of this book (thanks!) and these are my own opinions.

[Nicole Mellott · Rating 3 out of 5]

Novella 3 of the Edge of Everything series - Yes, this is the third one I’ve listened to today! Not sure if it was end of the day tired or what, but this one didn’t hold my interest as much as the other two I finished so far. The main character was relatable, but it felt like they rushed the ending a bit only to leave things on a cliffhanger…

[Lisbet Hill · Rating 2 out of 5]

Obviously this is a super short story, but was this friend group supposed to have zero chemistry or connection whatsoever? I don’t know… I just didn’t really understand the point of it. It basically felt like it was about a boy with social anxiety, and beyond that, I wasn’t sure what the story was trying to say.

[Brigettha · Rating 2 out of 5]

Thank you to netgalley for my copy of this arc !
This story wasn’t for me, but that’s ok, it will be someone else’s favourite short story. This story just confused me a bit, it seemed like the story was changing directions.

[Steffany · Rating 3 out of 5]

A group of college friends meet in NYC over winter break. Another "slice of life" type story, about discovering yourself and your place. Nostalgic vibes.

[Amanda · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cute but too short for me to really understand the characters and their motivations. But I always love. David Levithan story!

[Avery]

Dnf

[Mazmum · Rating 2 out of 5]

I mean I finished it because it’s a novella but I have no idea what the point of it was. Like this guy feels lonely and left out but he doesn’t really try to get to know anyone else properly either. It was kind of meh.

[Jessica · Rating 1 out of 5]

I really struggled with Winter Breakage. I kept waiting for the story to pull me in, but it never did. The characters felt flat, and I had a hard time connecting with any of them or caring about what happened.

The pacing was slow, and despite being a short read, it felt much longer than it actually was. The story seemed to wander without building to anything particularly satisfying, and by the end I was left wondering what the point was.

Unfortunately, this one just wasn’t for me. I finished it, but it wasn’t an enjoyable experience, and it’s a book I won’t be revisiting or recommending.

[Get Your Tinsel in a Tangle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Winter Breakage dropped me directly back into that very specific age where every social interaction feels like it should come with a post-game analysis and a panel of experts.

Eric is a college freshman meeting up with four dorm friends in New York over winter break, and from the second they get together, his brain is working overtime. Does anybody actually want him there? Are they friends because they like him or because they happened to get assigned rooms in the same building? If he disappeared into a crowd, would anyone notice before dinner?

It's exhausting. Not because the book is exhausting. Because Eric is exhausting in the way every anxious nineteen-year-old is exhausting, including most of us if we're being honest.

The entire story is basically a bunch of college kids wandering around New York in the early 90s, talking, people-watching, seeing movies, and trying to figure out who they are outside the versions of themselves they brought from high school. Nothing huge happens. Nobody is saving the world. Nobody is solving a murder. The biggest battle here is Eric versus his own brain, and unfortunately his brain came prepared.

What David Levithan absolutely nails is that weird period when your college friends aren't really your friends yet. They're people you eat with, study with, run into in hallways, and suddenly you're spending an entire day together wondering whether any of these relationships survive once convenience leaves the chat.

And poor Eric desperately wants connection while also making connection as difficult as humanly possible. He wants people to know him. He wants them to understand him. He wants deeper conversations. He wants to feel seen. But every time someone gets close, he starts spiraling about whether he's saying the wrong thing, asking too much, revealing too much, revealing too little. Watching him overthink his way through every interaction felt painfully familiar.

The friendship dynamics were actually my favorite part. Everyone starts out feeling a little surface-level, which is exactly how Eric sees them, but as the day goes on little pieces start slipping through the cracks. Suddenly these aren't just random dorm people anymore. They're scared of things. They want things. They're carrying around their own weird insecurities. It's a nice reminder that everyone else is usually having a much stranger internal experience than we give them credit for.

I do think the novella format works against it a little. There were moments where I wanted more time with these characters, especially as some of the relationships started becoming more interesting. The story ends right around the point where I felt fully invested, which is both a compliment and a complaint.

The 90s setting was also doing a lot for me. There's something oddly comforting about a version of college life where nobody can disappear into their phone every six seconds. These kids are just out in New York having conversations and sitting with their feelings, which honestly sounds horrifying but makes for a pretty good story.

By the end, I landed around 3.5 stars. Winter Breakage isn't really about friendship or romance or even college. It's about that awful feeling that everyone else got handed the instructions for being a person and you're still standing there pretending you understand what's happening. Thankfully, it also remembers that most people are faking it just as hard as you are.

Huge thanks to Amazon Original Stories and NetGalley for the ARC. I came for a quick little novella and somehow ended up getting emotionally ambushed by a college freshman wandering around New York having an existential crisis.

[Shahdan Hanafi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Winter Breakage by David Levithan (The Edge of Everything #3)
Date Read: 26 Jun 26 - 26 Jun 26
Source: Kindle
Rating: ★★★☆☆
Song: Heather by Conan Gray ♫

Rating breakdown:-
Chemistry Between Characters: ● ● ● ○ ○
Emotional Impact: ● ● ● ● ○
Romance Development: ● ● ● ● ○
Tension Longing: ● ● ● ○ ○
Ending Satisfaction: ● ● ● ○ ○

To be honest, reading Winter Breakage by David Levithan feels like navigating the quiet, internal storm that happens when you are surrounded by people but still feel entirely alone. It is a thoughtful and sensitive story that captures the specific, fragile anxiety of the college freshman experience, where every social interaction feels like a high-stakes test of belonging.

The emotional impact is the absolute highlight of this experience. Levithan has a remarkable ability to tap into the core of feeling invisible, making the journey of Eric through New York City resonate with a deep, personal pull. It is a story that prioritizes the internal development of its characters, ensuring that the relationships build in a way that feels organic and well-paced, even when the romantic or interpersonal tensions are simmering beneath the surface.

The characters are defined by their tentative search for connection. Eric is a relatable protagonist whose struggle to find his place within his new group of dormmates creates a poignant sense of isolation. Watching him roam the city while grappling with the fear that he is not truly wanted by the people he is trying to befriend makes every small, revelatory moment they share feel significant. The way the dynamic shifts as his friends begin to show their own vulnerabilities provides the essential emotional texture that makes the story feel grounded and honest.

The plot is a masterclass in atmospheric introspection. The narrative moves with a contemplative, steady pace that mirrors the rhythm of a day spent wandering through an unfamiliar city. By focusing on the interplay between Eric and his companions, the story elevates the simple act of socialization into a meaningful exploration of identity and self-doubt. The conflict is rooted in the quiet fear of being misunderstood, and the resolution offers a decent, thoughtful conclusion that recognizes the complexity of forming new bonds while you are still figuring out who you are.

Winter Breakage is a quiet and observant piece of fiction that reminds us that we are all carrying hidden insecurities. It is a gentle, resonant reminder that the bravest thing we can do is let the people around us see who we truly are, even when we are terrified that we might not be enough.