Debut novel
“I really liked it. It’s easy to read, and you can see how carefully each character is built from chapter to chapter. I found myself crying in some moments and laughing in others.”— Magda P., early reader
Synopsis
The Courage to Collapse is an unflinching, deeply emotional story about the terrifying space between walking away from the past and finding the strength to love again.
“I just want my name back.”
Trapped inside a controlling, hollow marriage, Ella has spent twelve years becoming invisible. Caught in a cycle of separations and fragile reconciliations, she sits on a park bench one freezing January morning, daring to dream of freedom — yet terrified of the price she must pay to reclaim herself.
“Men do not cry. Fathers do.”
Navigating the painful aftermath of a divorce, John lives for the weekends he gets to hold his son’s hand. After each goodbye, he returns to a quiet rented apartment that barely feels like home, rebuilding his life around discipline, fatherhood, and solitude — convinced love is a risk he can no longer afford.
Neither expects the other. Neither is ready. Connected by hushed phone calls, late-night messages, and a love that refuses to play by the rules of their pasts, their journey moves between Bucharest and Cluj-Napoca.
01
Finding your way back to the person you were always allowed to be.
02
Making space for a life and a love you didn't think were possible.
03
The deep and everyday devotion of showing up for your child.
04
The brave, unglamorous work of choosing what comes next.
A gift for new readers
Step into Ella and John’s story with a free taste of the novel. Download the opening chapters and stay a while.
PDF · First 3 chapters
A quiet beginning to a story about courage, freedom, and finding your way back to yourself.
Reader testimonials
Early readers on the heartbreak, resilience, and hard-won hope at the heart of the novel.
“I really liked it. It’s easy to read, and you can see how carefully each character is built from chapter to chapter. I found myself crying in some moments and laughing in others.”
“Every version of the manuscript got better, but this one felt finished. I never had the feeling that anything needed adding or cutting. I loved the epilogue too. It left me with a warm, cozy feeling.”
“I read the final chapters with my heart in my throat. The ending earns every single ounce of hope.”
“Some parts were hard to sit with. I kept thinking about how easily someone can lose themselves when people around them expect them to stay quiet.”
“A deeply human story about starting over. John's devotion as a father and Ella's quiet bravery make this unforgettable.”
“Refuses to make recovery look simple. It honours the messiness of love and the courage it takes to choose yourself.”
A note from the author
Choose the set that matches what you’ve read. Every question is optional, and your answers go straight to Avi.
Finished the whole book
A deeper conversation about the characters, turning points, and ending. This survey discusses the entire plot.
Read the free opening
A short, spoiler-free check-in about the Brașov opening, John’s childhood, and the first glimpse of his family.
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The journey ahead
Digital edition
Formatting underway for digital reading platforms.
Print edition
Available to beta readers, editors, and industry reviewers.
Literary representation
Contact Avi about representation.
Publishing
For rights inquiries, contact Avi.