Spitting Off the Edge of the World - An M/M Different Worlds Road Trip Romance (Not Strong Enough Book 1)

Julien and Romeo are two broken souls who have endured more cruelty than anyone ever should. They come from vastly different backgrounds, they belong to worlds that should never have collided—yet when they do, it is the beginning of a beautiful journey that is both haunting and healing. Courtney doesn’t hold back with the gritty, honest portrayals of the reality of being a sex worker, and the reminder that the true monsters aren’t strangers, but more often than not, they are the people living in your own home. So please, please check the trigger warning before diving in. The story goes to some very dark places. The journey these two take is sweet and heartbreaking. My heart ached in every single scene as they slowly open up to each other, letting their guards down, and creating a unique and powerful bond that transcends a typical romance. It’s about survival, soul-deep recognition, and finding home in another person. This is easily one of my favorite reads of 2026. If you are looking for a story that will break your heart and then slowly stitch it back together, this is it. Just keep the tissues close by. And look out for ‘Beautiful Disaster’ coming out August 14. I can’t wait for Jinx’s story!

This was such a heartbreaking yet beautifully told story! These two boys, oh my heart just broke for them and their stories made me just want to hug them! Julien and Romeo were two boys who were not supposed to fall in love; who both grew up with those who were supposed to protect them but, didn't. Julien hires Romeo to be his companion for 2 weeks (his final 'ride' before he leaves for good). This journey is one of healing and love for them both. This story is darker due to some of the trauma these two go through however, this is such a good story that I recommend it for all. I can't wait to read Jinx' story next!

First off, heads up. This one isn’t for the faint of heart. Seriously, check the trigger warnings. Spitting Off the Edge of the World is a beautiful story, gorgeous but also pretty brutal. It’s a story about two broken boys who’ve been failed by everyone: Julien, who has money and privilege but has survived abuse and neglect from the very people who were supposed to protect him, and Romeo, who’s been treated like property, like an “investment” for so long he doesn’t realize there’s more to life than that. Both of them carry trauma like a second skin, and the book never pretends healing is quick or tidy. When they cross paths, it starts as a transaction, something meant to be temporary. But it doesn’t stay that way. Watching them go from survival mode to something softer (and scarier) was the best part for me. Romeo and Julien begin to find in each other the closeness and love they thought didn’t exist. They don’t suddenly trust the world, but they keep choosing each other anyway. In a world that’s always tried to break them, they end up being the one place where the other can breathe. Courtney W. Dixon has a real knack for writing messy, complicated, broken souls you can’t help but get attached to, even when it hurts. This one made me sad, angry, and weirdly hopeful all at once. It’s not for everyone, and there were moments I had to take a breather, but if you like intense hurt/comfort, found-family vibes, and a romance that feels like clawing its way toward the light,…

5 ⭐⁣⁣⁣ 2.5 🌶️⁣⁣⁣ WHAT TO EXPECT Male escort Road trip Quick burn Rich/poor Hurt/comfort Different worlds Opposites attract Unexpected love Obsession and possessiveness MY THOUGHTS I won't beat around the bush: this is a saaaad book. Yes, there is 100% a happy ending because Courtney promises us that every time, but the lives that these men have led up until they meet is depressing and degrading and suffocating. They have not lived happy lives, and money has made no difference. They have been alone, even surrounded by people. They've never known love or acceptance... until they find each other. Courtney flips the script on readers in terms of who's going to come across as more resilient when giving us these two very broken MCs. Where you might expect Julien to be stronger, what with his money and resources, it's quickly clear that Romeo (Aleksandr) is truly the stronger one mentally, at least in terms of surviving everything he's been forced to tolerate. He's never known any other way of life. He and Julien see only the best in each other, knowing they are products of their environment. Romeo struggles with this a bit–feeling worthy of attention and care–but he gets there with Julien's time and attentiveness. All I could think about while reading this book was how young they are to have to face all of these hideous circumstances on their own (and then on their own but at least together). So incredibly young, and Romeo's life especially has not prepared him for…

Spitting Off the Edge of the World was a tough one for me. I love a good hurt/comfort, but as someone who has made a career as a sexual assault victim advocate in SoCal, it unfortunately missed the mark for me. Firstly I didn’t totally realize going into it how much the planned suicide was apart of the plot, but I actually appreciate how it was done/navigated. But the thing I had the toughest time with was how unrealistic it was for Romeo/Aleks to not have exhibit any sort of “stockholm syndrome” type behaviors. For those who have worked with human trafficking survivors, it can take many attempts at leaving for it to actually stick. I understand this is fiction, and one has to suspend belief at least a little bit, but I felt like his lack of PTSD-symptoms/behaviors combined with how emotionally easy it was for him to leave (at least from my perspective reading it). Overall, it wasn’t a favorite for me, but I recognize that has more to do with my expertise/lived experience working with human trafficking victims (kind of like how a doctor notices every little thing wrong done in grey's anatomy - not glaring to the every day viewer/reader, but impossible to ignore to those with the right education). 🧁 Male Escort 🧁 Road Trip 🧁 Different Worlds 🧁 Rich/Poor 🧁 Unexpected Love 🧁 Hurt/Comfort 🧁 Quick Burn 🧁 Opposites Attract 🧁 Obsession/Possessiveness 🧁 ‘I’ll Burn the World for You’ 🧁 ‘I’ll Unalive Someone for You’