The Edge of Harmony

by Lucy Milbaud

Wanting him was never part of the plan. Choosing him could cost her everything.

In a future UK where only genome-matched couples are allowed to have children, birth rates have collapsed, and reproduction has become a duty.

Aven's idea of hell is motherhood. But when her name is drawn in the lottery, she's forced to attend the Harmony Retreat, date her assigned matches, and choose one to start a family for the good of the nation.

Her plan is simple: survive the retreat, let Harmony think they won, and find a way to avoid the future chosen for her. But when a secret from her past resurfaces, compliance is no longer enough. Suddenly, the wrong choice could cost her far more than motherhood.

As Aven is forced to play a more dangerous game, an Enforcer she can't afford to want repeatedly breaks the rules to protect her. The walls she so carefully built start to crumble and the temptation of this forbidden, dangerous connection grows harder to resist as he becomes the only place she feels safe.

🔥 slow burn romance

❤️‍🔥 forbidden love

🫠 yearning & mutual pining

🛡 protective MMC

🔰 green flag love interest

🌶 earned spice

🥂 luxury dystopian setting

💛 found family

🤭 banter

🦽 disability rep

🗓 adult characters (late 20s/early 30s)

For readers who loved CONFORM, THE HANDMAID'S TALE and THE HUNGER GAMES.

Genres: Dystopia

426 pages, Paperback

Expected publication November 17, 2026

Reviews

[ᴹⁱʰᵃᵉˡᵃ · Rating 5 out of 5]

Welcome to Harmony Retreat... a place where women's rights are none existent. They are supposed to reproduce and grow the population and that is all. If this makes you angry just as I was angry at the idea, then give this book a chance.

Aven is that girl, women, who doesn't want children. She just got chosen for this month's retreat, something she hoped wouldn't happen. But she won't go in there without a plan, she has something in mind. Thing is... plans don't always work, she will discover some things, someone from her past will try and make her 'stay' hell. And also... she will find love. Asher, the Enforcer at the retreat, the one she should not fall in love with, makes her feel everything. But a love between them is impossible. Harmony knows everything and even talking freely is hard for them. But every moment, every glance, every spoken word and them getting to know each other brings them even closer.

But will they be able to be together? You can only read and find out. But be prepared for a lot of emotions, you will be scared, anxious, angry, heartbroken. It's a book you feel, a dystopian romance debut worth reading.


I read an early copy.

[Carlene Williams]

I read an early copy.
An absolute delight to read! I loved it and devoured it. The narrative feels invigorating, with a plot that balances refreshing originality and well‑timed twists. The author has crafted a compelling foundation for the continuation of the series, leaving readers eager for what lies ahead. The characters are vividly drawn, and their dynamic interactions add depth and resonance to the story. It’s an exhilarating journey that offers something to captivate every reader. I am already anticipating the next instalment with great excitement

[Abbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC Review


Dystopian Married at First Sight/Love Is Blind meets The Handmaid’s Tale and The Selection vibes.

Set in a world that's not too far removed from our own, this story feels especially relevant given the ongoing conversations around reproductive rights and women's rights in general. It really drives home just how easily a society like this could become our reality, which made it all the more chilling to read.

I don't think I've ever related to a female main character as much as I did to Aven. As a woman in her late twenties, she's a refreshing change from the typical teenage heroine often found in dystopian novels. She's fiercely independent, adamantly child-free, and suddenly forced into a government-mandated reproductive programme. At the same time, she's trying to navigate the trauma of an abusive past relationship, made even worse by the fact that her ex-partner is revealed to be one of her three assigned matches.

Aven's journey was beautifully written and incredibly impactful. The emotional weight of her experiences felt so real, and I was completely invested in her story from start to finish. The hatred I felt towards Tarin was unmatched. Every scene involving him had me feeling angry, frustrated, and desperate for Aven to get the freedom and happiness she deserved.

And then there's Asher.

Asher is the perfect golden retriever, protective MMC, and he absolutely stole my heart. The chemistry between him and Aven is impossible to ignore from their very first meeting. Their connection is forbidden in so many ways, which only makes you root for them even harder. Every interaction had me eagerly turning the pages, desperate to see what would happen next.

One thing I'd love to see explored further in book two is the history of this world. I'd love a deeper look into how society reached this point, how these laws became accepted, and why so many people seem willing to comply with them. Learning more about the road that led to this dystopian reality would make the world-building even stronger.

Overall, this was an easy 5-star read for me. I genuinely couldn't put it down and found myself thinking about it whenever I wasn't reading. It's a thought-provoking, emotional, and completely addictive story that I would highly recommend to anyone who enjoys dystopian fiction with compelling characters, high stakes, and a romance that will have you hooked from the very beginning. I cannot wait to return to this world and see what's next for Aven and Asher in book two!

[Sami · Rating 5 out of 5]

ARC REVIEW:

I wasn’t sure what I was expecting when I received my ARC copy to read. The Harmony Retreat: basically like a forced Love Island/The Bachelor except your rights are non/existent to survive in a world that claims they need their citizens to “reproduce.”

Aven Amberlyn: selected to take part in the Harmony Retreat, forced to relive constant trauma and battle through / sort through her emotions. She’s forced to face her past day after day. Her saving grace? Mr. Green Flag Asher Cole, Harmony Enforcer. It’s forbidden, every touch, every conversation is earned. How do you fall in love with someone you can’t have? Maybe that’s what makes it more enticing.

I’m hoping for more world building in the second book as I would love to know what happened in greater detail all those years ago as to why this is the system now and how everyone goes along with it. Dystopian and reckless governments always start slow, stripping few freedoms in front of people’s faces they wouldn’t recognize until it’s too late. I love this setting though, it’s modern, it’s relevant, it’s not too far off into the future. It’s a bleak atmosphere. It’s not easy to resist the one man who constantly saves you and protects you.

I’ve never hated a character more than Tarin. It was written so beautifully, that each page I was so angry with anything he did or any words that came out of his mouth. Like, it was almost watching the pages come to life and play out in my head. The representation of emotional abuse that ultimately led to the worst was well-handled and well-written. It’s easy for the reader to connect with the FMC, especially if they’ve gone through similar circumstances. You feel some parts deep in your soul.

I think it’s an interesting and unique concept for a storyline today. I’ve always known I wanted to have children, but there’s some people who weren’t made for that, and that’s okay too. At the end of the day, the plot comes down to choices being stripped away from society, ultimate control and power hungry people in power. That’s why I think I want more background. I want to read more about how shady and dark the society goes and how everyone got to where they were. That would tie book 2 together with a big bow for me.

I loved this book so much, though. I hate being the reader that’s like “where’s book 2?” After reading an ARC but……I’m impatient and excited 👏🏼👀❤️

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

"The Edge of Harmony” takes place in a time when the government is trying to repopulate the nation. The catch? Women are giving up their rights to their bodies and their choices by way of a fake smiles, empty commitment, and reluctant parenthood glossed over with shiny material gains.
Aven’s name is drawn for the Harmony retreat to reveal her three potential matches for her seven years of reproductive value to society. What she finds is a found family, a platonic love, and a forbidden love. A secret from her past threatens her journey from day 1 to week 4.
For lovers of a dystopian read, the Edge of Harmony is a must read. Dystopian books are what hooked me as a younger reader. This story brought back the nostalgia of being a reader hooked on a series and characters.
The emotional turmoil of the FMC is palpable. The tension of her forbidden love is just long enough to make you desperate for their connection, but not so short for it to feel like it’s just lust. The pacing was steady without any lulls in the storyline. The ending is not a cliffhanger, but leaves the story wide open for a series.
For some reason Asher having a beard and blonde hair JUST WORKS. 💞
Overall, I wouldn’t change a thing. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ it’s a 6 star for me! I will have the book on my shelf as soon as possible with a space saved for book 2

[Jojo_Bookish Nurse · Rating 5 out of 5]

I received this as an advanced copy.

Wow. This author's writing sucks you in from the start. You have a society that needs more births. What better way then to draw names, find your perfect geome match, and have you go off to a retreat to start dating the choices.

Only our fmc had a bad past with her ex... and she's matched to him! She doesn't even desire children, but Harmomy gives you no other choice. And boy, does her ex have something big on her that can bring her world crashing down.

The wild born are birthed outside of the standards. She just so happens to meet and fall head over heels for one. Except he has a lot to lose himself.

The ex can't let the past go and makes it to where she ultimately has to escape. Now being out there in the wilderness, with nothing and no one, is going to be her greatest challenge. There's no going back.

Highly recommend this book and can't wait for the next.

[Hannah W · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read an early copy as a Beta reader and read this book months ago. I still think about it DAILY. I’m obsessed with Aven and Asher and the absolute yearning in this book, the stolen glances and touches were amazing! Asher’s thoughtfulness and how he cared for Aven melted me… and THE RING 😩

The amount of emotions this book makes you feel and how deeply you feel them is insane and something I’ve been craving for a long time. There’s little things that Lucy kept referring to that just added to the depth. I’ll never look at wisteria the same again!

I would sell my soul, a kidney and myself for book 2 and I can’t wait to read the finished copy! I’ll be the first in line to buy the book!

[Cayt · Rating 4 out of 5]

*spoiler free review of advanced readers copy*

“𝙏𝙝𝙞𝙨 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙨. 𝙔𝙤𝙪 𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧.”

This was an easy, addictive read!

The first few chapters hooked me and I wanted to keep reading to find out what happens next

It’s well written, the plot is intriguing, the setting unique, and the pacing is good.

This book absolutely gives June and Nick (A Handmaid’s Tale) vibes where there are a lot of stolen glances, small touches, and secret meet-ups.

The found family in this story was great and I appreciated how the author not only wrote the MMC to be caring and protective of the FMC, but also vulnerable himself at times.

Personally, I 𝘳𝘦𝘢𝘭𝘭𝘺 wanted to see a deeper emotional connection between the two main characters

If a slow burn dystopian romance with found family, secrets and a green flag, protective MMC sounds like your kind of thing, add this to your TBR (check the content warnings)

[Florence Baud · Rating 5 out of 5]

The author easily pulled me into Aven and Asher's story thanks to her fluid writing, a pace that doesn't slow down throughout the novel (quite the opposite) and an unexpected ending.

The feelings, the emotions are described so well that I felt close to Aven. The story is told so well that I almost feel like I watched the movie. In short, a lovely discovery with this first novel from this young author, who, without a doubt, will get people talking about her.

[Lucy-victoria Godsall · Rating 5 out of 5]

This story had me gripped from page 1 and kept me in a chockhold the whole way through. The relationship between Asher and Aven was steamy with the small amount of physical interaction they were able to have. Aven's story with her choice about having a baby was handled very sensitively. The side storys to do with the other characters was great and I loved all characters overall.
Loved, Loved, Loved this book, I need more like now please.

[Gemma Jayne · Rating 5 out of 5]

The yearning, excitement, and tension of what is to come made this book great. The elements of shock and the unexpected also kept me gripped. I haven’t read a book in a long time where I couldn’t put it down and had to force myself to sleep! 5/5 I need book 2 now! But I also will be buying this once it’s officially released!