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Pieces #1
Falling to Pieces
Not all pain is physical, but that doesn't mean it's not there. Not all wounds are visible, but that doesn't mean the right person can't see them.
A lifetime of lashings from the razor-sharp tounges of her alcoholic mother and cruel boyfriend has left Jade barely able to look at herself in the mirror. Useless. Ugly. Stupid . All she wants is to slip through each day unnoticed. But, then, there's Kiernan Parks.
Despite her best efforts, Kiernan notices her. He sees straight through her walls and is determined to knock them all down around her. To draw her out and prove to her that she is someone worthy of love. Together they find the strength to fight back the darkness. But when they finally step into the light, will the secret Kiernan’s been trying to keep buried destroy Jade, once and for all?
For some people, happy endings are a fairytale.
A lifetime of lashings from the razor-sharp tounges of her alcoholic mother and cruel boyfriend has left Jade barely able to look at herself in the mirror. Useless. Ugly. Stupid . All she wants is to slip through each day unnoticed. But, then, there's Kiernan Parks.
Despite her best efforts, Kiernan notices her. He sees straight through her walls and is determined to knock them all down around her. To draw her out and prove to her that she is someone worthy of love. Together they find the strength to fight back the darkness. But when they finally step into the light, will the secret Kiernan’s been trying to keep buried destroy Jade, once and for all?
For some people, happy endings are a fairytale.
434 pages, Paperback
First published April 1, 2014
82 people are currently reading
744 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
June 3, 2015
I am not really sure what to say about this book. It was pretty depressing. Its a story of living, not just being. I liked it, I won't say I enjoyed it....this isn't a happy story, not really.
August 12, 2020
This book is definitely heartbreaking, and not necessarily in the way that the description described. The verbal abuse that Jade experiences from both her mother and her boyfriend is extreme (almost a little unrealistic in a way). However, the way that she interprets the things that other people says to her is what makes the book so realistic and gut-wrenching. Someone tells her that they like what she did with her hair, and she interprets that as them saying they can tell she tried too hard and it didn't really work out.
*Warning! The rest of this review contains spoilers!*
*Warning! The rest of this review contains spoilers!*
March 8, 2020
Was looking through my read pile and came across this book...this brought backs so many emotions. OMG MY HEART
April 23, 2014
Warning to all - there is no happily ever after; I was left a sobbing mess... Seriously, it was that good.
Incredibly well written NA/YA book - first I've read by the author as I'm not really into the genre but it was fantastic, I was certainly not expecting the final turns the book took which bumped it from a 3.5 star to a 4.5-5 star book. I fear the ending of this will stay with me for a long time, like an alternate ending to a certain J.A. Redmerski book with Cameron - minus the road trip.(If you've read her books, that's a hint.)
Incredibly well written NA/YA book - first I've read by the author as I'm not really into the genre but it was fantastic, I was certainly not expecting the final turns the book took which bumped it from a 3.5 star to a 4.5-5 star book. I fear the ending of this will stay with me for a long time, like an alternate ending to a certain J.A. Redmerski book with Cameron - minus the road trip.(If you've read her books, that's a hint.)
March 19, 2015
"The saying goes that people come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. I’d hoped and
prayed that Kiernan would be with me for a lifetime, but in the end it was for a reason that he was sent
to me. Kiernan changed my life. He changed me. He showed me that there was more to life than
existing. Taught me how to live it, how to experience it, how to treasure it. He gave me hope, and love,
and family. But above all, Kiernan Parks taught me how not to be afraid.
And that was a lesson, for better or worse, that I had a lifetime ahead of me to be grateful for."
Al principio realmente detesté un poco el libro, era una trama muy común y los sucesos predecibles, pero llega un punto en el que cambia completamente y te muestra como una sola persona puede cambiar toda tu vida con un simple gesto...
prayed that Kiernan would be with me for a lifetime, but in the end it was for a reason that he was sent
to me. Kiernan changed my life. He changed me. He showed me that there was more to life than
existing. Taught me how to live it, how to experience it, how to treasure it. He gave me hope, and love,
and family. But above all, Kiernan Parks taught me how not to be afraid.
And that was a lesson, for better or worse, that I had a lifetime ahead of me to be grateful for."
Al principio realmente detesté un poco el libro, era una trama muy común y los sucesos predecibles, pero llega un punto en el que cambia completamente y te muestra como una sola persona puede cambiar toda tu vida con un simple gesto...
August 25, 2014
OMG...This book was heartbreaking. Loved Kiernan & Caulder. Jade was amazing and so strong.
Read
March 17, 2021'He gave me hope and love and family. But, above all, Kiernan Parks taught me how not to be afraid.'
October 26, 2014
Another surprisingly good YA book that tackles some worn-thin issues but in a slightly different and interesting way. Yes, there are a few cliche's in here but the story and characters kept me from putting the book down. And the few glasses of wine I had might have had something to do with it? Despite that, the writing was pretty darn good considering some of the high rated crap I've come across lately. If you're in the mood for a YA teen read that will make you cry- this is the one for you.
Quick Rundown: Doormat and Abused Chick just tries to get through her life living in her shell, one day at a time. She's nothing and not worth anything but trouble to those few around her. Her kindergarten friend pops up all grown up in her class one day and she does everything she can to hide from him. But, he sees something in her (what I don't know because I didn't see it when he did). He works to build her back up and becomes something very special to him. Shit happens and it threatens what work Dude has already done. Grab a box of super soft tissues, folks- you're gonna need them.
Characterization: This is four star to five star. I didn't like this Chick for a while in this book. She was a complete doormat, fraidy cat. But the author did something here with this Chick's interpretations of what people were saying to her that was refreshing though somewhat confusing to begin with. You later come to realize that Chick's interpretations aren't accurate and that ended up giving this Chick depth that I didn't see at first. She does find her backbone though it's a bit wobbly. And we eventually find her to be loyal, loving, genuine and a tough cookie when it comes to the tragedy that she has to go through. Dude starts out to be the perfect savior though we find that he needs to be saved just as much as Chick does. We get a much better look at this Dude in the 1.5 novella which I immediately picked up despite loathing novella's and was glad I did. Supporting characters were fantastic and really well thought out from Dude's Brother and Mother and eventually Chick's own abusive Mother. There really are no bad guys here and the one that is there is taken care of pretty quickly-- this also made the typical YA read different.
Plot: Can't say too much here without giving out spoilers but while this has been done before, it was so heartfelt and gut-wrenching yet positive in the end. I just loved how the author dealt with the characters in regards to the plot twist. It was real and beautiful.
Overall: I balled my eyes out but I'm super sensitive so you might not wake up with puffy eyes like I did. I highly recommend if you're in the mood for this type of YA read. Also, just to note, the novella is in the big brother's point of view and it is not a complete rehash of everything you read in the first book. Some conversations are repeated but a lot of what happened off the screen in this book is shown in the novella. So, first time to do this but I recommend the 160 page novella as well.
-Spuffed
Quick Rundown: Doormat and Abused Chick just tries to get through her life living in her shell, one day at a time. She's nothing and not worth anything but trouble to those few around her. Her kindergarten friend pops up all grown up in her class one day and she does everything she can to hide from him. But, he sees something in her (what I don't know because I didn't see it when he did). He works to build her back up and becomes something very special to him. Shit happens and it threatens what work Dude has already done. Grab a box of super soft tissues, folks- you're gonna need them.
Characterization: This is four star to five star. I didn't like this Chick for a while in this book. She was a complete doormat, fraidy cat. But the author did something here with this Chick's interpretations of what people were saying to her that was refreshing though somewhat confusing to begin with. You later come to realize that Chick's interpretations aren't accurate and that ended up giving this Chick depth that I didn't see at first. She does find her backbone though it's a bit wobbly. And we eventually find her to be loyal, loving, genuine and a tough cookie when it comes to the tragedy that she has to go through. Dude starts out to be the perfect savior though we find that he needs to be saved just as much as Chick does. We get a much better look at this Dude in the 1.5 novella which I immediately picked up despite loathing novella's and was glad I did. Supporting characters were fantastic and really well thought out from Dude's Brother and Mother and eventually Chick's own abusive Mother. There really are no bad guys here and the one that is there is taken care of pretty quickly-- this also made the typical YA read different.
Plot: Can't say too much here without giving out spoilers but while this has been done before, it was so heartfelt and gut-wrenching yet positive in the end. I just loved how the author dealt with the characters in regards to the plot twist. It was real and beautiful.
Overall: I balled my eyes out but I'm super sensitive so you might not wake up with puffy eyes like I did. I highly recommend if you're in the mood for this type of YA read. Also, just to note, the novella is in the big brother's point of view and it is not a complete rehash of everything you read in the first book. Some conversations are repeated but a lot of what happened off the screen in this book is shown in the novella. So, first time to do this but I recommend the 160 page novella as well.
-Spuffed
July 17, 2014
WARNING!! This book will rip your heart out, stomp on it, then leave it in pieces. Exactly what I look for in a book. So, if you are like me you should just go buy it right now. I literally bawled for almost the entire second half of the book. Just when I thought that I was getting it together my heart was torn again.
Jade Carlson had a real shit hand dealt to her. Literally everyone in her life was awful to her, and when people did try to be nice to her the years of emotional abuse that she had been dealt made her think that their words were laced with with malice. I've got to be really honest and say that at first her self hatred made me want to slap her. But as time went on and I saw all of the things that the people who were supposed to love her did to her, I understood much better why she was that way. I felt awful for her.
Kiernan was awesome, from the first moment he entered the book I was in love with him. There was just something about him that completely won me over. I knew, from the first interaction between him and Jade that he wasn't wrapped up in all of the usual trappings of high school. The first time that he was completely selfless and non-judgemental in helping her with something I was all in with Kiernan.
Kiernan's family was just as awesome as he was. At first I wasn't completely sold on Caulder, but Lord did that boy just reach in and rip my heart right out fairly quickly. Thier mother was just so wonderful, I had a great mom and there were times that I found myself wanting her to be my mom. I was absolutely in awe of how completely they accepted Jade into their family and loved her without reservation. If there was ever a person that needed that it was her.
The story was a little slow, for my liking at the very beginning, but in really only took a couple of chapters to be completely engrossed in Jade, Kiernan and their story. From their initial meeting until the end of the book I could feel that they were perfect together. Despite, or maybe because of, the hardships that they both suffered they were able to live, for one another, with complete abandon and it was really beautiful to see.
I can't really say much more without giving away more than I should, but I will say that if you love having your heart broken my a beautifully tragic story then this is the book for you. I am currently impatiently awaiting the next book in the series.
Jade Carlson had a real shit hand dealt to her. Literally everyone in her life was awful to her, and when people did try to be nice to her the years of emotional abuse that she had been dealt made her think that their words were laced with with malice. I've got to be really honest and say that at first her self hatred made me want to slap her. But as time went on and I saw all of the things that the people who were supposed to love her did to her, I understood much better why she was that way. I felt awful for her.
Kiernan was awesome, from the first moment he entered the book I was in love with him. There was just something about him that completely won me over. I knew, from the first interaction between him and Jade that he wasn't wrapped up in all of the usual trappings of high school. The first time that he was completely selfless and non-judgemental in helping her with something I was all in with Kiernan.
Kiernan's family was just as awesome as he was. At first I wasn't completely sold on Caulder, but Lord did that boy just reach in and rip my heart right out fairly quickly. Thier mother was just so wonderful, I had a great mom and there were times that I found myself wanting her to be my mom. I was absolutely in awe of how completely they accepted Jade into their family and loved her without reservation. If there was ever a person that needed that it was her.
The story was a little slow, for my liking at the very beginning, but in really only took a couple of chapters to be completely engrossed in Jade, Kiernan and their story. From their initial meeting until the end of the book I could feel that they were perfect together. Despite, or maybe because of, the hardships that they both suffered they were able to live, for one another, with complete abandon and it was really beautiful to see.
I can't really say much more without giving away more than I should, but I will say that if you love having your heart broken my a beautifully tragic story then this is the book for you. I am currently impatiently awaiting the next book in the series.
February 1, 2015
Oh my goodness. This book. Warning: Do not pick this up unless you have the day off and can allot some time for a serious ugly cry.
I had read in countless reviews that this did not have a happy ending, but upon starting it, I promptly forgot that warning. The beginning of the book didn't immediately capture my love. It was good enough to keep me reading, but I had some serious issues with the main character, Jade. She is a girl who has been dealt a really brutal hand in life, with a sad excuse for a mother and a horrid boyfriend. All the struggles she's faced have completely obliterated her self esteem, leaving her broken and just going through the motions. While I can't imagine handling half of the things Jade dealt with, the way her perceived lack of self worth was described was a bit much for me. Not that I can't necessarily see someone being as broken as she was, but her inner thoughts made me roll my eyes more than once. Just the way it was written made me have a hard time connecting and feeling bad for her. Even so, I kept on, and I'm so happy I did. Cue Kiernan Parks. Swoon. Drool. Daydream. This boy made the story and will forever make me think every other guy is not nearly as worthy. Read this story just for him.
Like I said, the heartbreaking ending that I had been warned about, was quickly forgotten. The big, traumatic turn in this book was very well hidden. I had no idea at all it was coming until it was happening. Though once it did, I remember the forewarned unhappy ending and knew exactly what was going to happen. And to be honest, I'm glad for the spoiler because I could stop myself from hoping for better. Knowing it was coming it was still hard enough to get through. You will basically be guaranteed to cry and if you don't you should go to the doctor because you're tear ducts must be clogged up with crap. It is definitely worth the tears though!! Read it, now.
I had read in countless reviews that this did not have a happy ending, but upon starting it, I promptly forgot that warning. The beginning of the book didn't immediately capture my love. It was good enough to keep me reading, but I had some serious issues with the main character, Jade. She is a girl who has been dealt a really brutal hand in life, with a sad excuse for a mother and a horrid boyfriend. All the struggles she's faced have completely obliterated her self esteem, leaving her broken and just going through the motions. While I can't imagine handling half of the things Jade dealt with, the way her perceived lack of self worth was described was a bit much for me. Not that I can't necessarily see someone being as broken as she was, but her inner thoughts made me roll my eyes more than once. Just the way it was written made me have a hard time connecting and feeling bad for her. Even so, I kept on, and I'm so happy I did. Cue Kiernan Parks. Swoon. Drool. Daydream. This boy made the story and will forever make me think every other guy is not nearly as worthy. Read this story just for him.
Like I said, the heartbreaking ending that I had been warned about, was quickly forgotten. The big, traumatic turn in this book was very well hidden. I had no idea at all it was coming until it was happening. Though once it did, I remember the forewarned unhappy ending and knew exactly what was going to happen. And to be honest, I'm glad for the spoiler because I could stop myself from hoping for better. Knowing it was coming it was still hard enough to get through. You will basically be guaranteed to cry and if you don't you should go to the doctor because you're tear ducts must be clogged up with crap. It is definitely worth the tears though!! Read it, now.
October 18, 2016
4.5 stars
Jade and Kiernan... This is an emotional tale. One of love and loss. One of insecurities and bonds formed. Jade has never thought she was good enough for anything or anyone. So she has accepted her leper of a life. A life of loneliness.
Kiernan is everything Jade has never wanted yet always wanted. He makes her feel... feel everything. He has taken an interest in her and has opened up a world of emotions she never thought possible. But he has a secret. A secret that will break Jade. A secret that could cause her walls to go back up and for her to retreat back to her old self.
The building of new relationships in this story is endearing and heartfelt. My emotions were all over the place in this story. I wanted to hit someone. I wanted to hug someone. I wanted to cry. I wanted to laugh. And that ending!!! Definitely tissue-worthy! I cannot wait for the next book in this series. There are things I would love to see happen, but after you read it, you may not agree with me. But I think a more close relationship with Caudler could be in the cards?
Jade and Kiernan... This is an emotional tale. One of love and loss. One of insecurities and bonds formed. Jade has never thought she was good enough for anything or anyone. So she has accepted her leper of a life. A life of loneliness.
Kiernan is everything Jade has never wanted yet always wanted. He makes her feel... feel everything. He has taken an interest in her and has opened up a world of emotions she never thought possible. But he has a secret. A secret that will break Jade. A secret that could cause her walls to go back up and for her to retreat back to her old self.
The building of new relationships in this story is endearing and heartfelt. My emotions were all over the place in this story. I wanted to hit someone. I wanted to hug someone. I wanted to cry. I wanted to laugh. And that ending!!! Definitely tissue-worthy! I cannot wait for the next book in this series. There are things I would love to see happen, but after you read it, you may not agree with me. But I think a more close relationship with Caudler could be in the cards?
August 1, 2023
Heartwrentching
This is the second time i have read this book and it doesn't get any easier to read each time. It's so beautifully written and absolutely heartbreaking at the same time. The author does an amazing job with this story and portraying the emotions she want to get across. It's just great.
This is the second time i have read this book and it doesn't get any easier to read each time. It's so beautifully written and absolutely heartbreaking at the same time. The author does an amazing job with this story and portraying the emotions she want to get across. It's just great.
August 31, 2014
I forget I'm too old for YA books. All I do is rush through them while shaking my head in annoyance. Nothing particularly wrong with this book, and I'm sure if I were an actual young adult I'd rate this higher.
Read
March 29, 2016i cried the whole time, sad but so beautiful.xxx
May 9, 2016
so very good. and so very heartbreaking.
October 18, 2020
Painfully Beautiful
You cant see me, but I have tears running down my face. This book is indescribable. In addition to crying, its 5 am. I could not put the book down for the life of me.
My favorite thing about Falling to Pieces is how the characters are portrayed and written. Their pain, happiness, fear, bravery and emotions will become yours. They are written like someone their age would act, react, talk and behave - at least, if you take into consideration what they go through.
TW: death, terminal, thoughts of suicide, alcoholism, (very harsh) verbal and emotional abuse (by two people), attempted rape and fighting. HS bullies. [SPOILER] non-consented naked photos passed around school.
An emotionally and verbally abused high school girl is at her wits end, her life is tragic and always has been. Her situation becomes worse and worse, and she cant control any of it. [SPOILER ALERT]. A YOLO, determined terminally boy enters the school, wanting her to realize that she is existing, but not living - and he wants to change that. He becomes her protector, and they fall in love. Its rough, both their circumstances making things incredibly difficult.
The emotional turmoil of the characters... painfully beautiful. There are no dull moments in this book, no skims, very few grammar issues, NO HEA.
A better book than ‘5 feet apart’ and ‘written in the stars’ (or whatever the last one is called). The characters, the love story.. its all so beautifully written.
You cant see me, but I have tears running down my face. This book is indescribable. In addition to crying, its 5 am. I could not put the book down for the life of me.
My favorite thing about Falling to Pieces is how the characters are portrayed and written. Their pain, happiness, fear, bravery and emotions will become yours. They are written like someone their age would act, react, talk and behave - at least, if you take into consideration what they go through.
TW: death, terminal, thoughts of suicide, alcoholism, (very harsh) verbal and emotional abuse (by two people), attempted rape and fighting. HS bullies. [SPOILER] non-consented naked photos passed around school.
An emotionally and verbally abused high school girl is at her wits end, her life is tragic and always has been. Her situation becomes worse and worse, and she cant control any of it. [SPOILER ALERT]. A YOLO, determined terminally boy enters the school, wanting her to realize that she is existing, but not living - and he wants to change that. He becomes her protector, and they fall in love. Its rough, both their circumstances making things incredibly difficult.
The emotional turmoil of the characters... painfully beautiful. There are no dull moments in this book, no skims, very few grammar issues, NO HEA.
A better book than ‘5 feet apart’ and ‘written in the stars’ (or whatever the last one is called). The characters, the love story.. its all so beautifully written.
December 20, 2018
"The saying goes that people come into your life for a reason, a season or a lifetime. I'd hoped and prayed that Kiernan would be with me for lifetime, but in the end it was for a reason that he was sent to me. Kiernan changed my life. He changed me. He showed me that there was more to life then existing. Taught me how to live it, how to experience it, how to treasure it. He gave me hope, and love, and family. But above all, Kiernan Parks taught me how not to be afraid."
After finishing the heart-shredding book Bright Side, I thought it would be best to give my self an emotional break by reading a book with a happy ending. Ha! This was not the book for the job. Reading this book is the equivalent to an intimidation game against the shit show we call life, which ends with me sobbing in a corner.
September 18, 2021
An emotional ride ….
I am sure I read the synopsis and some reviews when I downloaded this book but I completely forgot them before I started reading. I was totally unprepared for this amazingly emotional ride. I find myself struggling how to say I loved the book but the story breaks my heart. Have tissues ready.
* trigger alert for emotional abuse and those that have had cancer touch their lives.
I am sure I read the synopsis and some reviews when I downloaded this book but I completely forgot them before I started reading. I was totally unprepared for this amazingly emotional ride. I find myself struggling how to say I loved the book but the story breaks my heart. Have tissues ready.
* trigger alert for emotional abuse and those that have had cancer touch their lives.
November 24, 2016
Actual rating - 3.5
I felt really sorry for the main character in this. The way people treated her was absolutely awful.
This was a decent read, which made me a bit teary eyed at points. It kept my interest throughout, and I'm now looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.
Overall, A good read.
I felt really sorry for the main character in this. The way people treated her was absolutely awful.
This was a decent read, which made me a bit teary eyed at points. It kept my interest throughout, and I'm now looking forward to reading the rest of the books in the series.
Overall, A good read.
January 1, 2019
This is the first book I read by author Jamie Canosa and all I can say is it will definitely not be the last. This book took me on an emotional rollercoaster. Tissues were totally needed. My heart was falling to pieces. Wow! Just wow!
April 5, 2019
Pieces
This book was everything and yet so heartwrenchingly beautiful. The story and characters were awesome!! This is a new author for me but her talent for delivering a story is great because this one will stay with me for a long time.
This book was everything and yet so heartwrenchingly beautiful. The story and characters were awesome!! This is a new author for me but her talent for delivering a story is great because this one will stay with me for a long time.
July 25, 2019
Nicely written. Didn't quite hit me in the feels enough to make me cry, probably a bit too predictable for that, but the story is well told.
September 2, 2019
Horrible! 😭😡😱🤬
February 25, 2021
A wonderful book
Thank you for writing such a good book!!!! The feelings I got from reading this book helped me remember loved ones!!!
Thank you for writing such a good book!!!! The feelings I got from reading this book helped me remember loved ones!!!
February 8, 2022
MATKO CO TU SIE ZADZIALO!! Jestem ogromnie usatysfakcjonowana zakończeniem, mimo że tak bardzo boli. Ta książka złamała mi serce - I to doslownie. Czuje się zniszczona
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 10, 2022
5/5; 10/10; 100/100 to jak dobra jest ta książka nie ma skali KOCHAM, UBÓSTWIAM, UWIELBIAM ❤️❤️❤️❤️
April 29, 2014
Jade is a broken young girl, after years dealing with her alcoholic, cruel, mean mother, her just as mean boyfriend and struggling through life in general she no longer has any confidence about herself, in fact she hates herself as well as the life she is living.
Then her childhood valentine moves back into town. Kiernan may have been just a young boy when she last saw him but Jade can’t forget the boy she has been crushing on all these years, especially now he’s not a boy any longer and instead is a sexy, confident young man…who also rides a motorcycle. And Kiernan is determined to bring this shy, broken girl into the light, to get her to start living life rather than just existing in it. But Kiernan has a painful secret himself, one that could destroy Jade once the truth is finally revealed.
“But I decided right then and there that sometimes pretty lies are better than the truth”
Jade was a wonderful character. She was broken, beaten down, shy and had no confidence in anything especially herself but I loved her. The author has done a brilliant job in creating her in such a way you feel for this young women and you wish she would believe in herself. Sometimes characters with utter lack on confidence annoy me but not Jade, I truly understood why she was the way she was and I connected with her straight away. I was rooting for her the whole way through, praying she became happy and got to lead a better life.
“Life doesn’t last forever Jade. You can’t forget to live it.”
Kiernan was another character I absolutely adored. He was sensitive, sweet, cute, determined and so kind and so brave. He was the perfect boyfriend, what every young women would want and his determination to give Jade a better life, to make her happy for once was just so heart warming. When we learn his secret I was actually devastated and even shed a tear.
“You saw all these broken pieces that reflected back skewed images of myself and you pieced them back together”
I’m not going to say too much about the story itself as I don’t want to give any spoilers. The plot starts off by focusing on Jade and Kiernan’s determination to give her some happiness and belief in herself and then BAM!! We are hit with Kiernan’s secret and I’m being completely honest when I saw I had no idea…from then on it’s pretty rough I’m not going to lie. I cried ugly tears but I also smiled because Kiernan and Jade were so beautiful together, and the story itself was beautiful as well.
“How beautiful you are. How funny and sweet and special you are.”
This story did start off a little slow for me but once it’s gets going and Jade and Kiernan’s relationship begins to grow I started to fall in love with it, and by the end I couldn’t stop the tears and I didn’t want it to end at all.
A beautiful but heartbreaking story, one that really has touched me and I look forward to reading the next book.
“He gave me hope and love and family. But above all Kiernan Parks taught me how not to be afraid”
Bethany
Then her childhood valentine moves back into town. Kiernan may have been just a young boy when she last saw him but Jade can’t forget the boy she has been crushing on all these years, especially now he’s not a boy any longer and instead is a sexy, confident young man…who also rides a motorcycle. And Kiernan is determined to bring this shy, broken girl into the light, to get her to start living life rather than just existing in it. But Kiernan has a painful secret himself, one that could destroy Jade once the truth is finally revealed.
“But I decided right then and there that sometimes pretty lies are better than the truth”
Jade was a wonderful character. She was broken, beaten down, shy and had no confidence in anything especially herself but I loved her. The author has done a brilliant job in creating her in such a way you feel for this young women and you wish she would believe in herself. Sometimes characters with utter lack on confidence annoy me but not Jade, I truly understood why she was the way she was and I connected with her straight away. I was rooting for her the whole way through, praying she became happy and got to lead a better life.
“Life doesn’t last forever Jade. You can’t forget to live it.”
Kiernan was another character I absolutely adored. He was sensitive, sweet, cute, determined and so kind and so brave. He was the perfect boyfriend, what every young women would want and his determination to give Jade a better life, to make her happy for once was just so heart warming. When we learn his secret I was actually devastated and even shed a tear.
“You saw all these broken pieces that reflected back skewed images of myself and you pieced them back together”
I’m not going to say too much about the story itself as I don’t want to give any spoilers. The plot starts off by focusing on Jade and Kiernan’s determination to give her some happiness and belief in herself and then BAM!! We are hit with Kiernan’s secret and I’m being completely honest when I saw I had no idea…from then on it’s pretty rough I’m not going to lie. I cried ugly tears but I also smiled because Kiernan and Jade were so beautiful together, and the story itself was beautiful as well.
“How beautiful you are. How funny and sweet and special you are.”
This story did start off a little slow for me but once it’s gets going and Jade and Kiernan’s relationship begins to grow I started to fall in love with it, and by the end I couldn’t stop the tears and I didn’t want it to end at all.
A beautiful but heartbreaking story, one that really has touched me and I look forward to reading the next book.
“He gave me hope and love and family. But above all Kiernan Parks taught me how not to be afraid”
Bethany
April 22, 2014
4.5 stars!
I always look forward to the next book from this author and I've read all but one of her books, but I have to say this book definitely packed the most punch with me! It was amazing and had a lot in it! Not only was it about a girl who was treated really badly be shown just how special she is, but it was also about how your life can change in the blink of an eye! The plot of this book was just amazing! It started out with a bad situation and then it ended really emotionally! Also, when I got quite a long way through the plot, there was a massive plot twist and I told myself that I wasn't going to cry, but by the end, I couldn't even read the ending from my tears lol! I was just a wreck! The plot was also written beautifully and was very emotional! As much as I loved the plot, the reason why I took this book down half a star was because it took me about a week to get through! I also felt like some scenes were dragged on a bit too long and the huge twist took quite a bit of the book to come into it, even though it played a massive part! The characters were amazing! Jade was the main character and my heart just completely went out to her! She was pulled down by the people who were supposed to make her feel loved and safe and it made her think that she was never good enough and she was a disappointment! Jade was anything but! She learned a lot in this book and she came so far! I was so happy that she learned how to embrace life and live it to the fullest! My heart again went out to Jade in this book at the end! I wanted to grab her in a hug and not let go of her because she had already been through so much! Kiernan was the love interest of Jade and I could see from the moment he was introduced in this book, just how far he would go to show Jade how beautiful and special she was! He sort of made it his main focus in this book! He wanted Jade to be happy and he wanted the best for her, which made me just adore him! Kiernan was a really special guy and the huge twist in this book made me want to shelter him and give him his full love story with Jade, grandkids and all! When I got to a certain point in this book, I sort of wondered how there could be a second book lol, and to be honest, I'm still sort of wondering what the author has planned for it lol! I'll definitely be reading it though! The ending of this book was just so sad and emotional, that I don't really know what's going to happen in the next book! I know that I'm going to need tissues though! Also, in this book a character really stuck out to me and I knew that he needed his own story! I'm really excited that there's going to be a novella about this character and I can't wait to read it! The cover for this book is stunning! I wasn't sure what the cover was going to look like, but it's absolutely stunning! I love it! Big thank you to Jamie for an ARC of Falling to Pieces and for having me on her Blog Tour!
I always look forward to the next book from this author and I've read all but one of her books, but I have to say this book definitely packed the most punch with me! It was amazing and had a lot in it! Not only was it about a girl who was treated really badly be shown just how special she is, but it was also about how your life can change in the blink of an eye! The plot of this book was just amazing! It started out with a bad situation and then it ended really emotionally! Also, when I got quite a long way through the plot, there was a massive plot twist and I told myself that I wasn't going to cry, but by the end, I couldn't even read the ending from my tears lol! I was just a wreck! The plot was also written beautifully and was very emotional! As much as I loved the plot, the reason why I took this book down half a star was because it took me about a week to get through! I also felt like some scenes were dragged on a bit too long and the huge twist took quite a bit of the book to come into it, even though it played a massive part! The characters were amazing! Jade was the main character and my heart just completely went out to her! She was pulled down by the people who were supposed to make her feel loved and safe and it made her think that she was never good enough and she was a disappointment! Jade was anything but! She learned a lot in this book and she came so far! I was so happy that she learned how to embrace life and live it to the fullest! My heart again went out to Jade in this book at the end! I wanted to grab her in a hug and not let go of her because she had already been through so much! Kiernan was the love interest of Jade and I could see from the moment he was introduced in this book, just how far he would go to show Jade how beautiful and special she was! He sort of made it his main focus in this book! He wanted Jade to be happy and he wanted the best for her, which made me just adore him! Kiernan was a really special guy and the huge twist in this book made me want to shelter him and give him his full love story with Jade, grandkids and all! When I got to a certain point in this book, I sort of wondered how there could be a second book lol, and to be honest, I'm still sort of wondering what the author has planned for it lol! I'll definitely be reading it though! The ending of this book was just so sad and emotional, that I don't really know what's going to happen in the next book! I know that I'm going to need tissues though! Also, in this book a character really stuck out to me and I knew that he needed his own story! I'm really excited that there's going to be a novella about this character and I can't wait to read it! The cover for this book is stunning! I wasn't sure what the cover was going to look like, but it's absolutely stunning! I love it! Big thank you to Jamie for an ARC of Falling to Pieces and for having me on her Blog Tour!
April 29, 2018
POSSIBLE SPOILERS AHEAD.
I won't use the HTML code since I'm not sure if they're really fully 100% spoilers.
Please excuse the impending rants and know that I'm writing this review with tears still in my eyes... Oh, and the fact that my eyes are sore and I've got a headache from crying.
Falling to Pieces happens to be my favorite book outside of my normal YA Fantasy genre. Several reasons to include as to why this is happens to be the following: The main character's personality and way of life is much like that of my own. The more I read through this book, the more I felt as if the author was stalking my life for her own muse. Much like the character, I strive to do everything I can to make other people happy, even if that means to put aside how I feel. She and I both felt unloved and uncared for (though my mother is not like the mother in this book).
What I really liked about the writing style, was the fact that, again, much like me, the character hears things differently than how they are said to them. This is signified in italics (see below for an excerpt to describe what I'm getting at):
I stood there for several long moments that bordered on eternity, staring down at it, terrified to lift my eyes and face my teammates. Could I be a bigger loser? Finally, Jeff--one of Doug's football teammates--stepped in, scooping up the ball and tossing it to the other side.
"Nice try."
Why don't you do us all a favor and play for the other team?
Another reason I started to believe the author was stalking my life was because Kiernan's brother, Cal, calls Jade, Angel. My boyfriend calls me Angel, and I've had people tell me I was one and provide the same explanation Cal gave to Jade when she asked him why he called her that.
"As far as I can see, nothing about your life is easy, at all. And yet here you are."
All in all, the book basically made me love it, slapped me, pushed me down, spit on me and watched me curl up in a ball and cry. You want to know what happened when I reached the end? I sat on the edge of my bed with my hands in my head and wept like a little baby. I then proceeded to take my ass downstairs to my mother, and wailed loudly about how I never read a book that could make me cry like this, and how I can't read another book like it for some time if I wanted to keep my sanity. Basically, if you loved The Fault in our Stars, read this... Seriously. Read it. Love it. Cry.
May 6, 2015
WOW I'm speechless right now and balling my eyes out.
Full Blog Post @Book-Marks the Spot
Falling to pieces is the perfect names for this book because that’s exactly what happened to me after reading it. I’m a blubbering mess and I. Just. Can’t. Words and thoughts have left me. I now have an empty space in my heart, but if this book taught me anything it’s to have hope and to love without abandon. Falling to pieces is a book that makes you are glad you read, but sad that you finished it. The way the book ended was bittersweet and I need the next one like pronto! Jade has come a long way from the beginning of the book. Kiernan taught her that she needs to live life not just exist in it. Nothing in life is ever easy and the things you do work for, you appreciate it more.
I think the next book is going to be just as heartbreaking as this one and I just hope Jade can keep it together. Cal, Kiernan’s brother is the rock in this book, He keeps everyone from falling apart and if they do he picks them up. He is so strong for his family and I adore him.
Jade has not had an easy life, with a drunken mother and a dad that’s never been in her life. She was just living day by day letting people put her down and believing every word they said. It’s not easy getting out of a place where you believe you belong, but with a little help from a hot guy maybe she can climb out of the abyss.
Kiernan is just full of life and doesn’t want to waste a minute on regret. He teaches Jade that she is beautiful the way she is and helps her stand up for herself. He gets her to enjoy what she loves to do and encourages her. He just lives life to its fullest and wants to bring Jade along for the ride. Kiernan is the perfect guy! <3 <3 *sobs*
Overall: Pain, grief, love, hope, are a few words that entered my mind when I finished this book. Falling to pieces is painstakingly good and heart wrenching to the core. Be prepared to be floored with the awesomeness that is Jamie Canosa. She knows how to tell a story and knows just what to write to get us to fall to pieces.
5 STARS
Full Blog Post @Book-Marks the Spot
Falling to pieces is the perfect names for this book because that’s exactly what happened to me after reading it. I’m a blubbering mess and I. Just. Can’t. Words and thoughts have left me. I now have an empty space in my heart, but if this book taught me anything it’s to have hope and to love without abandon. Falling to pieces is a book that makes you are glad you read, but sad that you finished it. The way the book ended was bittersweet and I need the next one like pronto! Jade has come a long way from the beginning of the book. Kiernan taught her that she needs to live life not just exist in it. Nothing in life is ever easy and the things you do work for, you appreciate it more.
I think the next book is going to be just as heartbreaking as this one and I just hope Jade can keep it together. Cal, Kiernan’s brother is the rock in this book, He keeps everyone from falling apart and if they do he picks them up. He is so strong for his family and I adore him.
Jade has not had an easy life, with a drunken mother and a dad that’s never been in her life. She was just living day by day letting people put her down and believing every word they said. It’s not easy getting out of a place where you believe you belong, but with a little help from a hot guy maybe she can climb out of the abyss.
Kiernan is just full of life and doesn’t want to waste a minute on regret. He teaches Jade that she is beautiful the way she is and helps her stand up for herself. He gets her to enjoy what she loves to do and encourages her. He just lives life to its fullest and wants to bring Jade along for the ride. Kiernan is the perfect guy! <3 <3 *sobs*
Overall: Pain, grief, love, hope, are a few words that entered my mind when I finished this book. Falling to pieces is painstakingly good and heart wrenching to the core. Be prepared to be floored with the awesomeness that is Jamie Canosa. She knows how to tell a story and knows just what to write to get us to fall to pieces.
5 STARS
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