A journey from pain and despair to healing, “At the Island’s Edge”, by C.I. Jerez, is about a young mother and medic traumatized from war experiences and finding peace in beautiful Puerto Rico.
I liked that this is about a woman and how her experiences as a medic in a war zone affect deeply her mental health.
The story is more about Lina, her son and family, and the healing process, than the sweet romance between her and Eli.
Lina’s healing brings her back to her role as a healer and I appreciated that.
I loved the depiction of Puerto Rican society, culture and natural treasures.
Teó is such a captivating character.
The familial relationships and bonds are interesting with its manifestations of love, machismo and some melodrama.
Sometimes these parts dragged a bit.

A heartbreakingly beautiful story of love, loss, and ultimately salvation, At the Island’s Edge is a masterpiece of immersive storytelling at its best. Lina is a single mother riddled with the expectations and baggage of her close-knit Puerto Rican family. Sent to the United States for schooling and to become someone great, the story opens with Lina, a medic in the Army and deployed in Iraq, facing the unspeakable horror of combat and the decision she must make. Trying to come to grips with what she has done, she returns home to her young son Teo and moves home. Home to Puerto Rico, to her family and her roots. Struggling with PTSD, her identity, and an unknown future, she finds the courage to reclaim her life and her dignity. Ms. Jerez writes with an open heart and an eloquent and knowing pen. Sensitive and intimate, you will understand these characters and love them, not just for their strength, but for their humanness as well. Five stars plus.

This book is pretty good. I think that it was a little bit too focused on military, but other than that I liked the themes of family, motherhood, sacrifice, and growth. It kept me engaged while reading

Thank you to NetGalley, to the author, and to the publisher for this complementary ARC in exchange for my honest review!!!

This was a beautifully done novel about veteran returning from war. The concept worked well overall and felt like a real experience. The characters worked well overall and thought everything worked and was glad I got to read this. C. I. Jerez has a strong writing style and can’t wait to read the next book.