Over the Edge is my first book by Brandilyn Collins and it didn’t let me down. I had a small social media chat with Tosca Lee (a favorite author of mine) who recommended this book to me after hearing the personal impact Lyme had in our own household. A year plus later, I heeded her recommendation, and I am so glad I did.

What caught my eye initially was that the book shares a story of an unlikely Lyme sufferer who has been pulled into the Lyme Wars. This subject hits close to home with seeing my own loved one suffer. I remember stumbling on the documentary called Under Our Skin and watching the Lyme Wars play out. It sickens me to think that there are “medical professionals” out there who make it difficult for those who suffer from this debilitating condition to receive the aid they need.

When I read that Brandilyn Collins herself imagined what it would be like for these “medical professionals” to wake up to the reality of this nightmare people suffer from by experiencing it themselves it resonated with how I felt as well. What would any of the skeptics say when they experienced the dramatic decline in health themselves? What if their own loved one was stricken with the disease? These imaginings are what led to the creation of Over the Edge. 

As a veteran of Lyme herself, Brandilyn uses her gift in writing to help the reader feel as if they are experiencing the illness themselves. For those who suffer from Lyme, it’s like revisiting experiences they have had or continue to have. For those who do not have Lyme, it gives a better understanding of what life is like.

Although this book is educational and extends sympathy to those struggling with Lyme, Brandilyn doesn’t disappoint with suspense either. The book is certainly a page-turner. I finished it in less than two days- even staying up through the night because I couldn’t help but wonder what would happen next. 

Being that this is Lyme awareness month (May) I wanted to mention a few things: Although this book is a work of fiction (and great fiction at that!) it presents information from reputable sources that are worth diving deeper into. You will feel for the main character in more than one way as you will find out when you read the book. Entertaining as the book is I hope it raises awareness on what it is like to suffer from Lyme, why it’s important to be there for your loved one, and the Lyme Wars that continue on. As a fun bonus, B&H Publishing has an app available that will help you squish ticks while learning facts about Lyme and unlocking chapters to the book, Over the Edge. Click here to see the game. If you haven’t read Over the Edge already, I highly recommend it.

I received this book for free from B&H and the opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”