Fragments of Gray

by Holly Caste

𝙎𝙝𝙚’𝙨 𝙮𝙚𝙖𝙧𝙣𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙖𝙣 𝙖𝙙𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙪𝙧𝙤𝙪𝙨 𝙧𝙤𝙢𝙖𝙣𝙘𝙚.𝙃𝙚 𝙙𝙤𝙚𝙨𝙣’𝙩 𝙗𝙚𝙡𝙞𝙚𝙫𝙚 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙝𝙖𝙥𝙥𝙞𝙡𝙮 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙧 𝙖𝙛𝙩𝙚𝙧.𝙇𝙞𝙩𝙩𝙡𝙚 𝙙𝙤 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙮 𝙠𝙣𝙤𝙬, 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙞𝙧 𝙨𝙩𝙤𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙖𝙧𝙚 𝙖𝙗𝙤𝙪𝙩 𝙩𝙤 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙩𝙬𝙞𝙣𝙚.Angry and directionless, Grayson begrudgingly goes to spend the summer with his sister, Rae in Golden Bay Beach. Although their parents want them to mend their relationship, Grayson’s plan is to keep to himself.That is, until he starts spending time with his sister’s best friend, Emma.Grayson quickly becomes captivated by Emma’s gentleness and compassion. An innocent night of sneaking through her window to make sure she’s safe turns into a summer of romance, healing and transformation.When Grayson realizes Emma has also suffered the cruelty of the world, he does everything he can to lessen her pain. Grayson and Emma find the shattered parts of one another and try to put each other’s pieces back together.Only, once a person’s broken, can they ever be glued back the same?_______Fragments of Gray is the second book in the Golden Bay Beach Series. This is an interconnected book following Grayson and Emma, however the series needs to be read in order. Book one in the series is titled Anything Rae Touches

Genres: Small Town Romance, Grumpy Sunshine

390 pages, Paperback

Published October 27, 2023

Reviews

[Kasey Reid · Rating 5 out of 5]

I feel like I never have the words to express my feelings after finishing anything written by Holly Caste - and I mean that in the best possible way. Everything Holly writes is so so beautifully written, especially in regard to the serious topics depicted throughout her novels. Stories like these are raw and emotional and I’m glad Holly doesn’t shy away from the important topics.

My love for Grayson and Emma grew for them as individuals and as a couple from the very beginning to the very end.

Fragments of Gray tells the story of Grayson and Emma, both who have experienced significant trauma and were forced to grow up too young. While visiting his sister Rae for the summer, Grayson tries *and fails, thank goodness* to stay away from Emma because getting attached only means more pain. Eventually they make a promise to each other to spend the summer living out their youth together that they previously missed out on. A summer of fun, a summer of romance and a summer of helping each other continue to heal.

Things I especially loved:
✨ Graysons protectiveness for the girls in his life - not only Emma but also for Rae. While he and Rae continued to battle a rocky relationship throughout the years, he never stopped having her best interest at heart.
✨ Grayson encouraging Emma to find/love herself and take back her own body before he ever steps into the picture.
✨ As in Anything Rae Touches, and more throughout this book, I loved the idea of how much art was included. Art can be a great and healthy way for survivors and victims to express themselves as an outlet.

This book just had me in my feels the whole time!! - (happy, sad, laughing, crying, hating - but only on specific characters and iykyk)

🌶️: 4/5 - one thing about a Holly Caste book is you’re always going to get top tier spice! UPDATE TO THIS SECTION ONLY: the kindle reading part 🥵

~please note this is the second book in the series and if you haven’t read Anything Rae Touches, read that first!~

TW: please check the trigger warnings before reading this book as it might not be a fit for everyone.

[Esther | esthersreadingnook · Rating 5 out of 5]

Had the honor of beta reading this for Holly Caste and I can absolutely say it was an honor!

This book, follow up to Anything Rae Touches but with the POVs of two different characters, has it all.

Emotional, inspiring, SPICY. Holly really puts it all in her books and makes you feel all the things. I truly laughed, I cried, I smiled and kicked my feet, I blushed.

Holly has such a way with dealing with incredibly hard topics and making you connect with her characters even if their struggles have never been your own.

Please read this duet. You won’t regret it. And please read the trigger warnings beforehand! 🫶🏼

[Noelle Katschke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Let me just say that Holly Caste can do NO WRONG!!! I devoured this book and I don't think I have read 400+ pages faster. I have so many thoughts that I am not exactly sure where to start, but here we go:

1. This had some TOP TIER spice. Most importantly, I loved the way that Gray taught Emma to love and embrace herself before he ever took the next step in their relationship. They were so in tuned with each other it was intoxicating.

2. I wrote this in my first review of Anything Rae Touches, but Holly touches on trauma and grief in a way that is so tasteful. I feel like a lot of authors skim the surface of the grieving process because it can be so intimidating to discuss, but Holly dove right in. This book could even help someone process their own grief. Loss and trauma can make us feel so alone but both books have highlighted that there is no wrong way to process your thoughts.

3. "I'm not a man of faith by any means. But if I was, I'd find it in you." I literally died....

4. Finally, the poetry in this book was so beautiful. It was a work of ART on its own. I would honestly buy a book filled with the poetry and words of Grayson. I am pretty sure I highlighted every single passage because of the raw emotion in each one. Whether it was fear, love, pain, loneliness, fire... it was all so beautiful. Publish Fragments of Gray --- the poetry book--- and I will definitely be the first to buy it.

[Carina O’Donnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

****THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS***

Well I can’t tell if I’m crying happy tears or sad tears. I fell in love with Rae and Miles in ART, and I have now fallen in love with Grayson and Emma. These four characters are so beautifully crafted. They’re flawed yet inspiring. Broken but incredibly strong and resilient. The world needs more of these stories to be told.

I love how this book picked up right where ART left off. I felt as if I was fully in understanding of the world Grayson was entering and was SO excited to see how his relationship with Rae would evolve throughout the story. I love how there were ups and downs, but most importantly I love how things weren’t just magically fixed. I feel like sometimes in books & movies there’s one conversation and everything is mended. This brings a very realistic shift in their relationship based on the trauma they went through both separately and together. My heart BROKE when Grayson finally shared his feelings with Rae, but at the same time I felt so PROUD.

Emma is such a wonderful character. I love how she breaks the confines on what a lot of people perceive religion to be (the way her dad does) and explores it in her own way. She still prays, she still has faith, it’s just not in the same manner her father sees it. She can pray and still like sex, the two aren’t mutually exclusive🤷🏻‍♀️. Based on the trigger warnings I assumed where her story was going, but it INFURIATED me that her father blamed her for her rape and not the ADULT man who abused her. It kills me how real that situation may be for some and I think it’s such an important story to tell. While I’m not usually one for fights, Grayson fighting Kane was SUCH a good moment.

There were some things about Emma that I found myself really relating to, specifically about her mom. I too lost my mom at an age where I can’t really remember her. While Emma was 1, I was 2, so I understand so well what it’s like to create the vision of who I thought she was or how I thought our relationship could be. What would the present look like if she was still here? What along the way would have changed?

I also love that there’s no third act break up in this, but that they have a rough situation and allow each other to get mad and work through it. Grayson hurting Kane was something he knew was wrong and would make Emma mad, LET HER GET MAD, told her the truth, and the two worked through it. I love depictions of healthy communication in a relationship.

One thing I really loved about this and ART, is how the book title was incorporated into the stories in such an organic way. Having Rae’s studio being named Anything Rae Touches and Grayson receiving a book of his poems called Fragments of Gray literally put the biggest smile on my face. What a cool artistic choice to make!

Overall, I’m obsessed with these Golden Bay Beach books and will probably never stop raving about them and telling people to read them. Rae, Miles, Emma & Grayson officially hold pieces of my heart now.

[alyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fragments of Gray is the second part of the Golden Bay Beach series and a gorgeously written, inspiring novel. It covered topics of grief, love, courage and friendship all depicted in their own perfect ways.

FOG follows Gray and Emma in their journey of falling inlove. Starting off with Emma, my absolute favourite character Holly’s ever written, she is like this blossoming flower you get to see growing through out the book and feel proud of her when you finally see her confidence. Her story was like no other, a victim of people closest to her. She’s everything you want in a book girlie. Gray, also a broken character we get to see finding his way, is a protector. I loved him in this book, sneaking through her window every night. He was such a romantic and made me swoon so bad. Whilst his story was not similar to Raes, finally seeing them repair their sibling bond made me feel so many things🥹.

Id recommend this book for the plot, the characters, the writing style, the smut, the world building and honestly anything else you can think off. Holly is a very dear author to me, she writes about things close to my heart and I can’t thank her enough for writing something so meaningful.

Thank you for my ARC copy, I’ll definitely be coming back🩷

[Megs: Glitter in the Pages · Rating 5 out of 5]

I think Emma described this book best "It's heartbreaking and breathtaking all at once."

You need to read Anything Rae Touches before reading this book. Please be kind to yourself and check the trigger warnings. There are some heavy topics.

Holly did an outstanding job once again with her characters and how the portray their emotions and grief.

Emma is my hero. "I've never depended on a man to come in to save the day. I'm well aware of the confines of my castle. And I plan on saving myself." She doesn't stop what happened in the past, change her future. She still is so strong and has so much courage.

Grayson. I just want to wrap him in a hug. His poetry and his writing was so raw and beautiful. His emotions and when he gets lost in his head. But his protectiveness he feels for the people is loves, wow.

I loved seeing Rae and Miles. I loved seeing their strained relationship as siblings because of their past and them putting it back together and healing.

I highlighted so much of this book. I cried too. This duet (both ART and FOG) are going to be staying with me for a long time.

[Brittany · Rating 4 out of 5]

Fragments of Gray - Holly Caste
**ARC Review**

"𝑰'𝒎 𝒏𝒐𝒕 𝒂 𝒎𝒂𝒏 𝒐𝒇 𝒇𝒂𝒊𝒕𝒉 𝒃𝒚 𝒂𝒏𝒚 𝒎𝒆𝒂𝒏𝒔. 𝑩𝒖𝒕 𝒊𝒇 𝑰 𝒘𝒂𝒔, 𝑰'𝒅 𝒇𝒊𝒏𝒅 𝒊𝒕 𝒊𝒏 𝒚𝒐𝒖."

Holly sure knows how to tug at your heart strings and make you blush all at once. This is the second book right after Anything Rae Touches (which if you haven't read yet, I am begging you to do so) This follows Grayson, Rae's brother, from the previous book. The tragedy he went through along with the emotional havoc, as led him to be closed off to ANY kind of relationship...all to protect himself from more hurt.

"𝑮𝒆𝒕 𝒓𝒊𝒅 𝒐𝒇 𝒕𝒉𝒂𝒕 𝒎𝒐𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒇𝒖𝒄𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒓𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒔𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒆 𝒉𝒐𝒘 𝒎𝒖𝒄𝒉 𝒐𝒇 𝒂 𝒃𝒂𝒅 𝒈𝒊𝒓𝒍 𝒚𝒐𝒖 𝒂𝒓𝒆."

Enter Emma, a ray of light and a dose of sunshine. She is a preachers daughter, born with her own shackles and has her own set trauma that she is working through. She INSTANTLY knows she wants Gray and makes it her mission to make it known. She is a strong FMC and knows what and who she wants. She slowly, but surely opens Gray up to the possibility of....living. Gray is protector and proves that over and over. Their story has you going through all the emotions and just loving their love.

Holly knows how to make you squeal, cry, swoon and blush! Throw in writing a man who goes through your kindle highlights so you can have some fun? And it's definitely a book that will leave you wanting more.

𝑨𝒏𝒅 𝒕𝒉𝒐𝒖𝒈𝒉 𝒐𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒃𝒓𝒐𝒌𝒆𝒏, 𝒕𝒐𝒈𝒆𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒓 𝒘𝒆 𝒂𝒓𝒆 𝒘𝒉𝒐𝒍𝒆.

[Keaton Davis · Rating 4 out of 5]

“I’ll make you mine, Red. But I want you to be yours first.” 🖤

“Start reading, Red.” 🔥🖤

“I want to hear all your stories, Emma. Let me hold some of your pain.” 🖤

“Eyes on me, Emma.” 🔥🖤

“As you wish.” 🖤

“I want all your flames, Red.” 🖤

She found her fire and set her whole world ablaze. 🖤

“Cara would be really proud of you.” 😭🖤

And though once broken, together we are whole. 🖤

[Missy · Rating 5 out of 5]

First things first, check content warnings before you read this book. Also, if you have not read Anything Rae Touches then you really need to read that one first. Rae's story really sets up Grayson's and you also meet Emma.

With that being said, this is another incredible book by Holly Caste, she has been added to my auto-buy authors list. She writes the most beautifully broken characters. This book follows Grayson and Emma. Grayson is staying with his sister for the summer, his parents hope he will find direction and they hope he will reconnect with his sister, Rae. Emma works the front desk in Rae's building and her and Grayson have an instant connection. Emma is a romantic at heart and Grayson doesn't believe in love, but they decide to have a friends with benefits summer fling.

The beauty of Holly's books are that even though both Emma and Grayson are dealing with very heavy things, she was able to add some sweet innocence into this story. Both Emma and Grayson were forced to grow up way before they should have had to, but they take the summer to do those things "normal" kids would do, like go to an amusement park or get drunk (one of my favorite scenes). Don't let the innocence fool you though, this book is also quite spicy!

I loved the evolution of Emma and Grayson's romance. I loved how protective Grayson was of not only Emma, but anyone in his life. I loved Grayson's writing, which was sprinkled throughout the book. I loved Emma's sunshine and optimism, despite all she had to go through. I loved seeing Rae and Miles and to know they are still doing well. I loved how the longer Gray and Emma were together, the more confidence she gained and the more she started standing up for herself. I loved that Gray started to allow himself to feel love toward Emma.

Holly has a special ability to write characters who have experienced unspeakable trauma and the healing journey is raw and painful but also so beautiful. Her characters feel like real people. If you have not read her books, please please read them!

[Tracey Magruder · Rating 5 out of 5]

In January I was first introduced to the world of The Golden Bay Beach Series when I read the first book, Anything Rae Touches and I was left in awe of the story telling of author Holly Caste. So, when book two, Fragments of Gray, became available to review I jumped at the chance, and I was not disappointed.

Fragments of Gray takes two of the supporting characters from book one who had a blossoming chemistry and tells their story. It weaves in the main couple from Anything Rae Touches and builds on the world and relationships that book created. It tells the love story of two people who have survived horrible traumas and have to fight to overcome it and create the life they want to live. This book doesn’t shy away from difficult topics or the ugly parts of life, but instead weaves all that into the narrative in a truly moving way.

Grayson and Emma both have absolutely heartbreaking pasts. There are several trigger warnings associated with the book, but I won’t list them here to avoid spoilers. The thing I loved most though, was Grayson’s character development from the beginning of the book to the end. His past haunts him, and it manifests as anger. How he chooses to deal with that anger ultimately has consequences and he doesn’t escape unscathed. I think ultimately it adds so much depth to where he ends up at the end of the book and had me staying up well past bedtime to find out the conclusion to the book.

Ratings:
Overall: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Spice: 🌶️🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book is raw and real. The whole series will have moments that will make you laugh out loud and moments that will leave you needing a minute to collect yourself emotionally. I love nothing more than a book that truly commits to exploring the tough topics and making us stop and think. Yet, underneath it all is a beautiful (and steamy) love story that left me breathless.

Make sure you read book one before starting Fragments of Gray. I can’t recommend this series enough, so check it out now.

[Gina · Rating 5 out of 5]

“I’m not a man of faith by any means. But if I was, I’d find it in you.”

Fragments of Gray is a spin-off of Anything Rae Touches, which needs to be read first to understand what the MMC is going through. I don’t want to give anything away, so I have to choose my words carefully. Grayson is in a bad way from childhood trauma and goes to Golden Bay Beach for the Summer to stay with his sister, Rae, whom he has a strained relationship with. While there, he meets Emma, who has her own trauma, which she hides with her pretty smile and bubbly personality.

Grayson and Emma quickly become friends and agree to have a carefree Summer of fun before going their separate ways. Little did they know at the time, just how important they are to each other’s mental health and healing. As they grow closer, they begin to open up and tell each other things they’ve never told anyone. This little step forward starts their journey of helping each other put the broken pieces of themselves back together.

“You were never the one who needed saving, Emma. I was.”
“We were the hero in each other’s story.”

This book will hurt your heart but it is also beautiful, just like the first book, which inspired it (don’t worry, they both have a HEA). Both are journeys of trauma, healing and finding love. I can’t explain it more than that, you just have to read them. Holly quickly became a favorite author of mine when I was an ARC reader for her very first book. She’s a fantastic writer, keeping you wanting more and unable to put the book down. With every book she writes, I find myself hanging on her every word, and looking forward to her next work of art. In my opinion, her books are masterpieces full of real-life issues that set out to help people.

Happy Reading!!

[Stacey · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don’t remember how (or even when) I discovered Holly but damn. I’m so glad I did. She really puts me in my feels. Anything Rae Touches has been one of my fav reads this year and this one is no different. Emotional and raw and so damn real.

Grayson is the quiet brother of Rae (book 1) and Emma works at the front desk at Rae’s condo (and also her best friend). They meet when Gray and his parents come to see Rae and meet Miles (I love that Miles was a big part of this story too).

Emma comes from a *toxic* purity culture and is the daughter of a (wealthy) pastor who thrives on money and pleasing those around him. That includes blaming Emma for being gr00med (and worse) by an older member of the church.

Gray helps her step out of her shell and teaches her to love herself again. AND BOY DOES HE TEACH HER. He finds out she loves romance novels and then *studies* them.

He turns about to be better than any book boyfriend she ever had.

Like the first one, this one touches on a lot of dark subjects. Please don’t skip the content warnings. Although this isn’t a dark romance, the topics are darker and can be tough to read.

5 ⭐️
4🌶️

It definitely helps to have read the first book but you could get through this if you hadn’t. You would have a lot of questions though and some may go unanswered. But I promise you, book 1 is 100% worth the read. I cannot wait to get through Holly’s backlist. She has quickly become an auto buy/auto read author for me!

[Brittney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book…Holly does such an excellent job of creating heartbreakingly beautiful stories. I am so glad that I encountered her books this year.

These characters really shine through their growth and healing…the weight of the trauma they have endured in the past brought to life on these pages. Fragments of Gray touches on some heavy topics - be sure to read with care and check trigger warnings. There is still plenty of spice that is weaved in so well with the rest of the story.

You could technically read this as a standalone since it is centered on another couple and gives a good understanding of the past, but it is really best read after Anything Rae Touches. The trauma that Rae and Grayson endured, how they process it, how it affects them, really shines through best when you see events through Rae's eyes first and a big part of this book is also the relationship between Rae and Grayson which will come through best with both perspectives.

I highly, highly recommend.

What you'll find: grumpy/sunshine, best friend's brother, virgin mcs, he writes - she reads, she falls first but he falls harder, grief and healing, kindle highlights research, fractured sibling relationship, and a fantastic mix of heavy, light, and spice. Fragments of Gray is dual 1st person POV and is best enjoyed after reading Anything Rae Touches. It is available in kindle unlimited.

[Kimberly · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first discovered Holly Caste through a buddy read for her book ,Anything Rae Touches, the first book in this series. I quickly discovered that Holly has a gift for writing raw, honest emotions and a delicate way of handling trauma. This incredible skill will have me reading anything she writes. I had the absolute honor of being an ARC reader for her latest piece, Fragments of Gray, which is just another example of her talent. Grayson and Emma's story is one of about finding hope and the light in the darkness. Though Grayson and Emma battle different demons, one thing they both understand is a loss of control over the world around them. Their connection sparks what is supposed to be a fun, summer fling, but it is never quite that simple, is it? I was skeptical that there was room for a new couple in the part of my book heart dedicated to the Golden Bay Beach bunch, but Grayson and Emma carved their way in with ease.


“Sometimes being directionless leads you to exactly where you need to be.”

"Attachment equals pain—I will stand by that until my dying day."

“You never need to apologize for showing me the real you. I’ll take all the darkness along with the light.”

“I’m going to f*ck you better than any of your book boyfriends could.”

“Life isn’t just black and white. It’s gray.”

[Erin Chudzinski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fragments Of Gray

By: Holly Caste

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️/5

Please read trigger warnings before reading this book.

First off this book will forever be on my mind! Holly Caste you wrote another beautiful story that is one of my top reads of the year!

This is the second book in the Golden Bay Beach Series (make sure you read Anything Rae Touches before reading this one).

This books broke me and put me back together again. There were times that I was crying, laughing, and quite literally wanting to throw my kindle and the spice 🥵.

Emma and Grayson are still on my mind. I loved watching them fall in love. Emma is so strong. She doesn’t let her past get in the way of her future. Her character growth is amazing and when she finally has courage she holds her own. I also love how much she adores Gray. Grayson’s writing and poetry is absolutely beautiful and so raw. If I could be in the book I would be giving him the biggest hug. The ones he loves he protects with no questions asked. He will do anything for the people he loves, even if there are consequences.

I absolutely loved seeing Rae and Grayson rekindle their relationship. It made my heart so happy!

This is a must read book!

Thank you so much Holly for allowing me to read the Arc of FOG!!

[Kim Concannon · Rating 5 out of 5]

God what can I say about this book, This series, This author! I could say so many wonderful things but it would never be good enough. There is nothing like experiencing the ups and downs, the heartbreak and the breathtaking beauty that is Holly Caste’s writing. The first in this series- Anything Rae Touches, had me in an absolute chokehold. I cried and felt the heartbreak Rae experiences on the pages, I felt the Joy and love Rae feels through out her journey. And reading Fragments of Gray was no different. I related to Grayson and the harboring of his trauma and the fear that comes with opening up and expressing your inner thoughts. I can relate to Emma and her compartmentalization of her own trauma just to get through her days until her plans fall into place. These character have such depth to them and you really do feel like you are a part of that world when reading these books. But there’s also a lightness and fun and god is there some wonderful smut thrown in. I will forever be a Holly Caste stan and I eagerly await any and all works of art her brilliant mind creates for us to get lost in.

[marisela · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙜𝙞𝙫𝙚 𝙢𝙚 𝙖𝙡𝙡 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧 𝙥𝙞𝙚𝙘𝙚𝙨, 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙡𝙚𝙩 𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙚𝙡𝙥 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙥𝙪𝙩 𝙮𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙨𝙚𝙡𝙛 𝙗𝙖𝙘𝙠 𝙩𝙤𝙜𝙚𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙧.”

tropes:
– grumpy | sunshine
– opposites attract
– she falls first, but he falls harder
– healing journey | coming of age
– he writes, she reads
– virgin mmc

holly doesn’t miss! i finished fragments of gray friday night and i’m still thinking about emma and grayson!

fog follows grayson, a hopeless soul, who’s sent to golden bay to repair his relationship with his sister, but what he doesn’t expect is to find a safe haven with emma, a hopeless romantic, the closer they become..

add this book to your tbr immediately!! when i tell you that i’m so in love with emma and gray, believe me. they were everything and more. the way that i connected with them both in so many aspects was incredible. the way that my heart ached and the tears i shed for emma and gray just shows the way how holly’s writing is able to evoke all the emotions! and don’t even get me started on the spiceee, who would’ve thought sweet little emma and quiet grayson had it in them.. 🫠 and that epilogue was just perfect after the healing journey they went on!

i’ll be thinking about red & gray for a long time.. 🥹

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

“𝐼'𝓁𝓁 𝓂𝒶𝓀ℯ 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝓂𝒾𝓃ℯ, ℛℯ𝒹," 𝐼 𝓅𝓇ℴ𝓂𝒾𝓈ℯ.
"ℬ𝓊𝓉 𝐼 𝓌𝒶𝓃𝓉 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝓉ℴ 𝒷ℯ 𝓎ℴ𝓊𝓇𝓈 𝒻𝒾𝓇𝓈𝓉.”

Gray and Emma’s story felt therapeutic and raw.. finding that true love at a young age, healing…learning to take back years of their lives that were held hostage by grief and trauma. They were able to find things in each other that set them free. 🥹😭🤧

This book and Holly’s writing just digs deep into your soul. It’s refreshing and heartbreaking and yet filled with romance and swoony moments.

Also, When Gray saw Emma’s annotated romance books and was basically like “I’ve got you”... 😮‍💨 These two were 🥵 and literally EVERYTHING!!!!

Gray’s writing is so beautiful and well done. It really transformed this whole story into something so wonderful and encouraging people to write out their feelings. 🫶🏻

𝒜𝓃𝒹 𝒾𝒻 𝓈𝒽ℯ 𝒾𝓈 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝓅𝒽ℴℯ𝓃𝒾𝓍 𝒶𝓈𝒸ℯ𝓃𝒹𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒻𝓇ℴ𝓂 𝒾𝓉 𝒶𝓁𝓁, 𝓇ℯ𝒹 𝒻𝓁𝒶𝓂ℯ𝓈 𝒾𝑔𝓃𝒾𝓉𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽ℯ𝓇 𝓈𝓅𝒾𝓇𝒾𝓉, 𝓉𝒽𝒶𝓃 𝐼 𝒶𝓂 𝓉𝒽ℯ 𝒶𝓈𝒽ℯ𝓈, 𝒹ℯ𝓁𝒾𝒸𝒶𝓉ℯ 𝒻𝓁ℯ𝒸𝓀𝓈 ℴ𝒻 𝑔𝓇𝒶𝓎 𝓈𝓂ℴ𝓀ℯ 𝓌ℴ𝓇𝓈𝒽𝒾𝓅𝒾𝓃𝑔 𝒽ℯ𝓇 𝒶𝓉 𝒽ℯ𝓇 𝒻ℯℯ𝓉.

One of my fave reads this year!

♾️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
This is book 2. Book 1 follows his sister Rae’s story and you do get a glimpse of Emma and Gray so definitely read that first!!

ℛℯ𝒶𝒹 𝒾𝒻 𝓎ℴ𝓊 𝓁ℴ𝓋ℯ…
🔆grumpy/sunshine
📖she reads/he writes
👄angsty
🪟sneaking in/out
🙆🏼‍♀️new adult
❤️‍🩹healing journey
😮‍💨steamy
⚠️check triggers

[Jessica · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a beautiful book! I loved Gray and Emma and I loved how they helped each other. Grief and pain are hard and heavy things, you can either let it crush you or find a way to move on from it. Emma learned to move on Gray let it crush him but together they found a way to actually start healing. This was such a good book! Though the church portrayed here is more a cult in my opinion it is not a true reflection. One thing that Grey said really stuck with me and its so true maybe even makes you a little mad, because he’s right there IS evil in this world it is unavoidable, there will always be bad apples.. deadly apples. We may not be able to predict the future but when the bad things happen that we didn’t see coming? That’s when rubber meets road thats when how you respond matters. And HC gave us both options in so many words and it was a beautiful story of what it means to let go of those bad and evil things and be a light, don’t let those evil things take anymore from you. This was a emotional and spicy read I can’t wait to see whats next from HC!

[Rachelle LeBlanc · Rating 3 out of 5]

Grayson has anger issues. He lost one sister to a school shooting and almost lost the other when she OD’ed.

Emma was groomed and then raped by a man who attended her father’s church. She has dealt with her dad and the man blaming her for what happened.

Grayson is sent to Golden Bay to spend the summer with his sister. This is when he and Emma meet. They finally find happiness and hope for the first time in a long time. Grayson and Emma find healing and peace in a future together.


I liked how both Emma and Grayson had a past to work through. They helped each other heal while slowly falling in love.

There was part of the books I skipped through (sex scenes) because once they started it happened more than I would have cared for. I do understand why it’s included in the story from Emma’s stand point, it was just a little much for me.

Do check trigger warnings before reading some include drugs, sexual assault, school shooting, grief, etc.

I received a complementary copy of Fragments of Gary from Romance me with books.

[Tara · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautifully crafted story of overcoming trauma and how everyone deals differently. If you read Anything Rae Touches you briefly met Grey and Emma. Grey is the brother of Rae. The trauma that Grey experienced is related to her. His life is very dark. When he meets Emma, who has her own set of trauma, he suddenly feels things he has suppressed for years. As they grow closer over the summer they learn how healing letting people in can be.

This book is as gut wrenching as the first. The themes and emotions throughout are real and beautifully written. Emma and Greyson’s love story is poignant. He shows her how to open herself up and be free. She shows him a safe place to voice his thoughts. They give each other safe spaces to heal.

There are multiple triggers throughout be mindful. They are heavy but handled respectfully. You might need a light fluffy read after this but it’s worth the tears and heartache to get to the gorgeous end.

[Anisha · Rating 5 out of 5]

After getting a little sneak peek in Anything Rae Touches, I was so excited to read Grayson and Emma’s story and let me tell you - it did not disappoint! Holly Caste is such a truly talented writer and it blows my mind how she’s able to write such beautiful heartbreaking stories that can make you feel so many things. Her characters are so deep, interesting and very unique, and the way they are described and portrayed to readers is so amazing. Her stories are also so interesting and unique and always address really heavy topics in an incredibly delicate way.

It is so hard not to fall in love with Emma and Grayson, both as individuals and together. I had mentally prepared myself to cry during this book and I definitely shed more tears than I thought I would. It’s just such a beautiful story and if you loved Anything Rae Touches, you’ll get a few cameos as well. I HIGHLY recommend reading this book!

[Read_With_Christy · Rating 5 out of 5]

🖋 Grumpy-Sunshine
🖋 Virgin MMC
🖋 Opposites Attract
🖋 Small Town
🖋 Sexual Awakening

Holly truly is a genius when it comes to writing trauma. The way she writes trauma in such a realistic way is both heartbreaking and beautiful. She breaks your heart reading the backstories of both Grayson & Emma but then she puts you back together while watching both characters help each other grow. Watching the growth in Grayson was absolutely beautiful. I felt like I could truly feel his pain. I loved watching Emma learn what she enjoyed while being with Gray. And for Gray being a virgin I loved that he always put Emma first in everything. The scene were he made her read while he did “things” 🔥😳

I also really enjoyed seeing Gray & Rae fix their relationship. I would have loved to see them bond even more but of course this is a romance. Lol.

Overall, this book was amazing as always! Holly truly never misses. She is a phenomenal author and an even better human being.

[Erika wickwire · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another emotional, traumatic book from holly caste. We got a few glimpses of Emma and Grayson in Rae and miles’ story but this one is all about them. Emma is a pastors daughter and has trauma that too many others in our world have as well. We read about Graysons baggage and trauma in Rae’s book but we get to see how he deals with it (or doesn’t) in this book. I really felt for Emma because she had to have her trauma in her face all the time and didn’t have anyone in her corner until she met Rae and gray. I love that gray and Emma decided to take back their lives and their youth, even if only for the summer. I love that we got to see more of Rae and miles in this one.

[Paige Hair · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨ARC Review✨

Don't let the classic "summer fling" setup fool you, this book goes so much deeper than that. After finishing the first book of the Golden Bay Beach series (Anything Rae Touches), you go into this new story already knowing that Grayson comes from a very dark past and Emma is seen by most as a ray of sunshine. What you quickly start to realize is that Grayson and Emma truly need each other - not just for a summer of fun and sexual discovery, but also to learn how to heal from the trauma that plagues them both.

Both characters have survived troubling childhoods, but now that they have each other for the summer they can finally just be young and free together. Their chemistry is undeniable and it was so enlightening to see how they each handled their own grief. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing this young couple not only learn from each other, but also dig deep within themselves to learn how to start over and make a new life.

Holly Caste masterfully wove together a fun, steamy summer romance along with a deeply emotional and healing story that I think everyone needs to read at least once in their life. It truly doesn't get any better than this.

[MeShellReads · Rating 5 out of 5]

✨eARC Review✨

I love Holly’s writing. Her books touch on heavy and emotional topics but man do they hit. This is the second book in the Golden Bay Beach series, and if you haven’t read Anything Rae Touches, you definitely should start there. While this book can be read as a standalone, I recommend starting with the first book to get the start of Grayson’s story.

This story follows Emma and Grayson and it was a beautiful ride. The two of them help each other heal while also falling in love. Grayson is dealing with so much grief while helping Emma truly find herself and it was perfect. There is a line in the book that really just speaks volumes as to how I felt while reading it.
“It was heartbreaking and breathtaking all at once.” I cried and smiled and loved this story with my whole heart. Holly, thank you so much for this ARC. It was truly a masterpiece!

Available today! 🩶

#fragmentsofgray #hollycaste #smalltown #grumpysunshine #forbiddenromance #kindleunlimited #romancereader #booklover #bookreview #bookaesthetic

[Stephanie Hubenak · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm not quite sure how Holly does it, but I completely consumed by her writing and this world that she has created. I can't remember the last time that I was so completely protective over a set of characters but here we are. Grayson and Emma are just so deserving of the love that they found. This book is emotional, much like the previous book, Anything Rae Touches.

What you'll get:
- Trauma bonding
- Life after trauma
- Opposites attract
- Broken/Damanged MMC
- Grumpy/Sunshine


I laughed, I cried, I fanned myself. This book was top tier! All the stars. Holly, you are amazing!

[Shivi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fragments of Gray

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
🌶️🌶️🌶️

This book won my heart from the very beginning. I already loved Golden Bay Beach with Rae’s story in #AnythingRaeTouches but I find myself wishing I was there even more with book two.

This book broke my heart, bandaged it, broke it again and then made me feel whole again. I couldn’t put it down. Hearing how Emma and Gray have been affected by circumstances they have not put themselves in but were forced into through life happening and how they found a way to find security with one another.

And the spice was incredible!! 🌶️🥵

Please check trigger warnings before reading.

[Savannah · Rating 5 out of 5]

As soon as we saw the connection between Grayson and Emma in book 1, I knew their relationship would be explosive! Grayson helping Emma through her trauma was so touching and seeing Grayson fix his relationship with Rae really had me in tears at parts. This series has really touched my heart and I'm not sure if Holly Caste has other plans for this series but I would love to see more future healing and growth between these two couples.

[Devons book corner · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fragments of Gray is the second part of the Golden Bay Beach series, and it's a beautiful story that is very well written. This book is heartbreaking, but it's also breathtaking, and it's one you won't forget anytime soon. I loved Gray and Emma so much, but I really loved how they helped each other. When I say RUN, and go grab a copy of this book, I'm not kidding. I promise you that it is worth the read.