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Edge of Eighteen
This edition is no longer available. See current edition here.
I’m an adoptee who’ll turn eighteen while away at camp for the summer. My goal has been to request my original birth certificate and search for my birth mom when I return home from camp. It’s all I think about.
Then everything changes when my camp crush, Devin Connell, comes to my rescue during a rainstorm by pulling me into his cabin—where we’re completely alone. After that close encounter, what started as infatuation turns to strong feelings. Our limited but deep conversations quickly stir intense emotions within me, especially when he shares his personal journey surrounding adoption. It feels like fate has brought us together.
Except I’m off-limits to Devin. He’s forbidden to be interested in me. To make matters worse, he refuses to even kiss me. Why?
Devin’s a counselor.
I’m a camper.
A stupid camp rule: no involvement between the two.
This means he can’t touch me—at least not in front of anyone.
Our relationship remains hidden from everyone, including Devin’s ex, another counselor, who wants him back.
Even though he’s secretly mine, I want more. My plan is to ask Devin to give himself completely to me as my eighteenth birthday present.
*** Edge of Eighteen is a slow burn, standalone new adult contemporary romance novel. TW: adoptee issues/adoption trauma/relinquishment/teen pregnancy/sexual situations. Recommended for 17+. ***
I’m an adoptee who’ll turn eighteen while away at camp for the summer. My goal has been to request my original birth certificate and search for my birth mom when I return home from camp. It’s all I think about.
Then everything changes when my camp crush, Devin Connell, comes to my rescue during a rainstorm by pulling me into his cabin—where we’re completely alone. After that close encounter, what started as infatuation turns to strong feelings. Our limited but deep conversations quickly stir intense emotions within me, especially when he shares his personal journey surrounding adoption. It feels like fate has brought us together.
Except I’m off-limits to Devin. He’s forbidden to be interested in me. To make matters worse, he refuses to even kiss me. Why?
Devin’s a counselor.
I’m a camper.
A stupid camp rule: no involvement between the two.
This means he can’t touch me—at least not in front of anyone.
Our relationship remains hidden from everyone, including Devin’s ex, another counselor, who wants him back.
Even though he’s secretly mine, I want more. My plan is to ask Devin to give himself completely to me as my eighteenth birthday present.
*** Edge of Eighteen is a slow burn, standalone new adult contemporary romance novel. TW: adoptee issues/adoption trauma/relinquishment/teen pregnancy/sexual situations. Recommended for 17+. ***
309 pages, ebook
First published July 18, 2020
30 people are currently reading
265 people want to read
About the author
Melinda Hazen
3 books13 followersContemporary romance/new adult author of A Brush With Fame, Edge of Eighteen, and Heart Wreck.
Habitual latte drinker. It’s all about the creamer...
Collector of Betsey Johnson jewelry.
Works with students and is a soccer mom, literally.
Enjoys beta male stories and low angst, preferring outside conflicts rather than arguments on every page. I want to fall in love with the couple and see them earn their happily ever after.
“I wrote my first novel because I wanted to read it.”
- Toni Morrison
Habitual latte drinker. It’s all about the creamer...
Collector of Betsey Johnson jewelry.
Works with students and is a soccer mom, literally.
Enjoys beta male stories and low angst, preferring outside conflicts rather than arguments on every page. I want to fall in love with the couple and see them earn their happily ever after.
“I wrote my first novel because I wanted to read it.”
- Toni Morrison
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 24, 2020
What a fun and fast read! Edge of Eighteen’s love story developed slowly over the course of the book, successfully building anticipation in the reader. Because the characters Dahlia and Devin were so relatable and realistic, the reader had a vested interest in the outcome of the story.
The topic of adoption is a theme throughout the book; each character has a unique perspective to share, which adds complexity to the characters and story. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loved romance novels!
The topic of adoption is a theme throughout the book; each character has a unique perspective to share, which adds complexity to the characters and story. I would highly recommend this book to anyone who loved romance novels!
February 27, 2021
2 stars ⭐️⭐️
Ok now I know why this doesn’t have a lot of reviews. Overall Edge of Eighteen was a cute story… I use the word cute as in its definitely PG cute. If I hadn’t seen a picture of the author I would’ve said it was written by a teenager. This is my first time reading a book by this author and probably be my last. For one it’s way to PG for me and two I can already tell by her writing style that her FMC’s would be doormats.
Let me start to why I think this was only a 2 star book and to be honest I was going back and forth with it being a 1.5 stars or 2 stars. I went with 2 stars, because the plot of the story was my deal breaker. It held my interest.
So it a nut shell this story is about a girl (Dahlia) that is adopted that’s looking to find her birth mother when she turns 18 and in the meantime she goes to a summer camp and meets a boy (Devin) that has abandonment issues too, while getting to know each other they fall in love.
Edge Of Eighteen had a lot of potential of being a good book if it was written more for adults rather then teens. It started off so well, but it fell apart real fast and quick.
Why you ask? Because Dahlia became a Stage 5 clinger.
Like I’m talking “Wedding Crashers” stage 5 clinger.. Dahlia followed Devin around like a lost puppy… I actually was embarrassed for her. Always getting jealous, showing up everywhere he was, and running off when he didn’t pay attention to her. I can personally say this was by far the worst pining over the ML I’ve ever read and that is saying a lot since I’ve read 100’s books.. I just wanted to slap some sense into her.
If I had to describe Dahlia, saying she was a doormat would be an understatement. She was all types of pathetic. Examples…
“The past two days had been hard. Devin hadn’t spent any time with me since our night in the cabin. And to make matters worse, I had to watch Marissa talk to him, sit by him, give him a back massage during the campfire, and hug him good night. I was going crazy. At least he didn’t act interested in her. Camp no longer mattered to me unless the activity somehow involved Devin.”
“Our team worked on drills, one after the other. The competition was at another net doing the same thing. If we didn’t beat Blake, then I worried Devin might not be in a good mood and might pass up meeting me tonight. If that was the case, it was crucial for us to win.”
Those are just a few paragraphs of how Dahlia degraded herself. She was so insecure that she questioned everything. Yes, I know she was 17, but please for the love of god have some self respect! Maybe I just forgot how it was to be 17 again, because I do not remember ever acting like this. 🤷🏻♀️
Next we have our Hero Devin which was described as sweet and nice many times throughout the book, but my definition of Devin would be spineless with absolutely no balls.. He seriously needed to grow a pair..
Supposedly Devin was 21, but acted more like he was 17 too. Most of the book I felt he was in his own little world. He was a bit of a mystery. Never really expressing his feelings. The author made it hard for you to connect with both of her Characters. I felt their chemistry between each other, but something was missing. I can’t pin point it though.
Then there was Dahlia and Lauren friendship, which was laughable. Seriously they were to busy being envious over each other rather then being supportive for each other like a friendship should be. I felt like they were always competing against each other.
“In most circumstances I would have loved the attention—especially since I always took a back seat to Lauren in the love department.”
Yep! Not much more to say on that…
Anyhow, Lauren to me was a selfish bitch. Lauren looked out for Lauren. There was a chapter where Dahlia was put in a situation and Lauren didn’t believe Dahlia. To me that says a lot about a person.
Of course Dahlia being the doormat that she was did nothing about how her friend treated her. Actually the author never resolve that issue that I think most of her readers would have liked.
So in my opinion the author just didn’t follow through on a lot of situation within the story so it felt unfinished.
August 2, 2020
I received an Advanced Reader Copy and then I purchased the Kindle version and read it again in 2 nights! I couldn't put it down! I loved the romance between Dahlia and Devon. The characters were real, relatable, and drew me in. I have never been to Summer Camp but the author almost made me feel like I had. I highly recommend this book!
June 17, 2022
adorable and emotional
This was such a great book. very light hearted and juvenile. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the quirkiness of Dahlia and her relationship with Devin. I also enjoyed that this book touched on some very hard topics.
This was such a great book. very light hearted and juvenile. I thoroughly enjoyed all of the quirkiness of Dahlia and her relationship with Devin. I also enjoyed that this book touched on some very hard topics.
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October 22, 2020🎁 FREE on Amazon today (10/22/2020)! 🎁
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews