At the Water's Edge

Loved the rawness of emotions. A beautiful story of loss, despair, hurt and finally healing and love found. A truly enjoyable read.

This book is endlessly emotional, particularly if you have struggled or do struggle with depression and the darkness that comes with it. Depression can be caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain or by life's circumstances. In this story, Ella struggles with both. She's come home to Oregon to stay in her family's lakeside cabin, both to distance herself from her busy life in Boston and take some time for herself with no distractions, and to try to heal from her childhood living in a dysfunctional family by being near said family and opening up a dialogue.Having depression myself, caused by emotional trauma as an adult, I found this story hopeful. Ella has been to therapy and done some work, and now has some tools to continue working on herself in her hometown of Northville. A woman that she knew in school becomes an integral part of her healing. Kay treats her with warmth and respect, listens to her, tries to understand her, and is endlessly patient with her, but she also calls her out on her self-pity and self-deprecation. It is just the balance that Ella needs to feel supported and cared for and to realize some hard truths that she wasn't previously able to see. Ultimately, Kay is a safe place for Ella, and I think that finding a safe place is what allows the healing to start... in the book for sure, but also in real life.If you haven't struggled with depression, you probably know someone who does. Reading this might help you understand them better and maybe help you help them a bit.On another note, because of the sheer emotional magnitude of this book and the meaningful relationship between Ella and Kay, the sex scenes are some of the best I've read.

This story had a few ups and downs for me so I'll mention both:It was great because I loved seeing the perspective of a woman who needed to go through a healing process in order to discover herself. The first half of the book had me hooked and completely lost in the journey. The romance aspect was built up nicely and seemed much more mature than the typical "madly in love at first sight" stories.The second half of the book fell a little flat for me. The main character wasn't the only one who needed a bit of healing, as her parents and sister needed a bit of help and communication as well. This was all written beautifully and realistically, which tells me that the author really knew something about this family situation. What held me back from a 5 star review is that I think the healing process was drawn out a bit longer than what seemed to be necessary. I'm not saying "get better faster people!" I'm saying that some moments seemed contradictory in order to draw it out longer for the sake of angst in the storyline.Overall it was an interesting story!

In many ways it brought me home.The family struggles the Lake that now I will never see again and the family that has passed away leaving me “the last standing.”Rose Prince

Wow, I definite love the way HB develops her characters. Ella’s struggle had made her detach and too scared to commit. Kay’s life had showed her the beauty of an unconditional love and she was eager for it. And the rest of the characters also had something to say. My 1st impression of each character changed many times through the book, along with the emotions they inspired. Because this is a love story, but also a story about healing; about picking up the pieces and becoming whole again. Very different from other HB's stories!The story is a bit slower than others I’ve read from HB, yet the fun is always there. The attraction, the flirting and teasing, all the possibilities while skinny-dipping… However, sometimes as a love requirement, patience has to be stronger than lust and slow is the only way it can go. Especially when you find the right person, but yet you have to teach her that there is no wrong time for love. 'At the Water’s Edge' IS the perfect foundation for 'It Takes Two'. Which makes me wonder, will Ella and Kay come back in another story?

I'm always amazed at the power and magnitude of a Harper Bliss book but this one is another that has knocked it out of the park. A home run hit, no doubts about it.Part of the way through I thought to myself "this may be just a bit too heavy, can I make it through?" But the expert talented writer that she is knows exactly when to press on with the difficult stuff and when to inject some laughter and always some love. This is an incredible talent evident on every page. I highly recommend it.

At our lowest is when life often times make sense. I don't pretend to understand the demons Ella faced or how dark her world had become for her to choose such a faith but that was not to be the end of her story because even on your worst day there's a possibility of good and Kay was such a bright light.She had to go through all that wrong, face all her fears to realize someone can live you with all your flaws and Kay was her perfect match she understood her, she was a listening ear and she calmed her and pushed her just enough for her to realize she doesn't need to hold unto those demons anymore.Great book as always Harper Bliss I'm becoming a big fan girl of yours

This is the first book I've read by this author. I liked the story because it showed just how much a woman can be affected by family relationships she has done everything possible to run from. It also shows that love can be found in your own back yard when you least expect it.Kay and Ella were interesting women from the same home town but from two different worlds emotionally and professionally. Kay was patient with Ella and was able to help her overcome her skittishness and impulsiveness when Ella's emotions and past history would have sabotaged their budding relationship.I liked the story and will be reading this author again.

A dark and brooding tale, but not without a sense of hope and healing – 4 StarsThe story begins with Ella Goodman returning to Water’s Edge holiday park following a failed suicide attempt. It’s a place where she felt most comfortable as a child, and the place that Ella now believes holds the key to her recovery. On meeting owner-manager, Kay Brody, Ella feels an immediate connection to the woman, and within days of Ella’s arrival their relationship starts to deepen…Told in the first person, the reader sees Ella’s family from her point of view. What this book does really well is show how Ella’s perceptions of the family-dynamic changes as she herself begins to come to terms with her own nature. However, although Ella perceives her as essential to her healing, I just couldn’t fully get to grips with Kay Brody’s character or her motivations. I felt many of her interactions with Ella seemed more about control than compassion.This is a difficult story to tell, but one that’s well-written and does much to explain just how devastating depression can be. From the outset, the author excels at building a picture of just how fragile and volatile Ella and her family are. Given the subject matter, I wasn’t expecting a pleasant read (and it wasn’t), but it was compelling. Once I’d started reading, this was a book I wanted to finish; it was also a book where I was relieved to reach the end.

What didn’t i like about this book? The fact it was set in a little town by the lake! I wish i could visit one some day. Also, the mental issues where so relatable and i have never wanted to go as far as this person did. But I understand the desp misery she was living in and how she felt trapped. It helped a lot to see how to heal my own family of origin issues.And that darling Kai!! I’ d be happy to just have her as a friend! She’s a great person. But apparently there’s a goddess in heaven and she’s wonderful lover too! Love it through and through

Having read (I think) all of Harper's books and novellas, somehow this one passed me by. OMG what a read. So, so different from her usual, which are either very good or excellent (9 or 10), 'At the Water's Edge' goes to 11. I promise you will cry with Ella & Kay as well as at them. Very raw, very emotional.The book is all told in first person from Ella's POV which isn't that usual for Harper's novels. It's not at all lovey-dovey as it starts from a very dark place. As others have said this is not a full on erotic lesbian ficton which Harper is best known for but fiction that has erotic lesbian overtones. It shows in the quality of her writing and how much you feel for the main protagonists that I virtually devoured the book in one sitting.Harper acknowledges that the book helped her and ultimately there is a very, VERY positive message; its author and her writing.

An attempted suicide is a difficult subject to tackle be it a work of fiction or a true story. Surviving a suicide attempt and then facing the aftermath and facing one's family friends can be extremely hard, but this story was written with great empathy. Many of us have been in Ella's position and I bet a few of us wish we had Kay as a friend as her character was so able to keep things in perspective for the Ella.This story was extremely well written and though a difficult subject not a difficult story to read. I would certainly recommend this book to my friends both the Ellas and the Kays and all those in between! Look forward to more books from this author.

The author says it took her fifteen years to write this book. That there are autobiographical elements in it comes through loud and clear. At times it is quite dark but this is tempered by the feeling that Kay will be there to make things better no matter how bad they seem. A lot of contemporary issues are deftly examined through the plot and the dialogue. It is a heartwarming, romantic and positive experience to read this book and the ending will leave you giddy with happiness. I have not yet read all of Harper's books but that has become an ambition after reading this one.