The Edge Is Gone: a Teenage Descent Into Addiction and the Fight to Belong

When the noise never stops, how far would you go to find silence?Clara lives in Charleston, West Virginia, where the golden dome of the Capitol shines bright against the Kanawha River. But inside her home, the glow has long since dimmed—replaced by fights that shake the floorboards and a loneliness that clings like smoke.One night by the river, Clara makes a choice that changes everything. A tiny blue pill promises escape, belonging, and a chance to quiet the relentless storm inside her head. What begins as a thrill soon becomes a tether, pulling her deeper into shadows she swore she’d never touch.As friendships fracture, secrets unravel, and the city streets close in, Clara teeters on the edge of losing herself completely. To break free, she must face the hardest fight of all—not against her parents, not against her friends, but against the part of herself that believes she’ll never be enough without the numbness.The Edge Is Gone is a raw, cinematic coming-of-age story about addiction, identity, and the desperate fight to belong. Gritty, emotional, and unforgettable, it’s perfect for fans of Crank by Ellen Hopkins, Go Ask Alice, and readers who believe redemption is always worth the struggle.