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Piece by Piece: A Life Remembered through Things Lost
A fresh take on the loss memoir, Piece by Piece follows a middle-aged mother forced to reconcile the theft of precious keepsakes with the memories and people the items represent.
If things are “just things,” why does it hurt so deeply when we lose them?
When a home burglary strips Kim Danielson of precious heirlooms and other special keepsakes, she loses more than the items themselves. She is also robbed of tangible connections to her history, and physical reminders of loved ones who have died—igniting grief both old and new. Feeling the weight of disappointment for future generations who cannot inherit a piece of her family’s legacy, Kim creates a new and lasting heirloom, one that can never be stolen.
Perfect for anyone who has ever lost anything of meaningful value, this book provides solace and a new perspective on material possessions. A practical template for preserving a legacy with or without artifacts, a soulful and heartfelt memoir, Piece by Piece offers a unique take on loss through the lens of stolen objects while inviting readers to tell the stories of their lives by telling the stories of their things.
If things are “just things,” why does it hurt so deeply when we lose them?
When a home burglary strips Kim Danielson of precious heirlooms and other special keepsakes, she loses more than the items themselves. She is also robbed of tangible connections to her history, and physical reminders of loved ones who have died—igniting grief both old and new. Feeling the weight of disappointment for future generations who cannot inherit a piece of her family’s legacy, Kim creates a new and lasting heirloom, one that can never be stolen.
Perfect for anyone who has ever lost anything of meaningful value, this book provides solace and a new perspective on material possessions. A practical template for preserving a legacy with or without artifacts, a soulful and heartfelt memoir, Piece by Piece offers a unique take on loss through the lens of stolen objects while inviting readers to tell the stories of their lives by telling the stories of their things.
256 pages, Paperback
Published January 27, 2026
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58 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 29 of 29 reviews
December 11, 2025
When I lost things that connected me to memories of people, it felt like losing the people for the second time. from Piece by Piece
All the years we moved from parsonage to parsonage there were certain things that made each house feel like home. Heirlooms, art, books, even favorite kitchen utensils inherited from my mom when we married. I am already a natural hoarder of ephemera and memorabilia, carting around my teenage diaries, old poetry, junior high scrapbooks, and childhood books that I had read and those which we bought for our son.
At my desk is a note written by my grandfather in 1970 telling me to ‘write write write.’ I have my mother’s paintings on the walls in my office. A side table Mom bought in 1959 acts as a printer stand.
I understand how ‘things’ can keep the past in the present, bringing memories special and vivid.
When Kim Danielson’s house was burgled, the thieves took her jewelry, items which were special gifts and family heirlooms. Her mother’s diamond ring. Her husband’s great-grandfather’s pocket watch. The ring her parents gave her on her 18th birthday. Kim mourned their loss, not only for herself but because she could not pass these items on to her children.
Writing the stories behind these items, Kim shares a legacy of love that remains even after the material representations of that love are gone. “No one can ever steal the stories,” she ends. Kim hopes her book will inspire others who have lost items of value to tell their own stories.
A bittersweet memoir.
All the years we moved from parsonage to parsonage there were certain things that made each house feel like home. Heirlooms, art, books, even favorite kitchen utensils inherited from my mom when we married. I am already a natural hoarder of ephemera and memorabilia, carting around my teenage diaries, old poetry, junior high scrapbooks, and childhood books that I had read and those which we bought for our son.
At my desk is a note written by my grandfather in 1970 telling me to ‘write write write.’ I have my mother’s paintings on the walls in my office. A side table Mom bought in 1959 acts as a printer stand.
I understand how ‘things’ can keep the past in the present, bringing memories special and vivid.
When Kim Danielson’s house was burgled, the thieves took her jewelry, items which were special gifts and family heirlooms. Her mother’s diamond ring. Her husband’s great-grandfather’s pocket watch. The ring her parents gave her on her 18th birthday. Kim mourned their loss, not only for herself but because she could not pass these items on to her children.
Writing the stories behind these items, Kim shares a legacy of love that remains even after the material representations of that love are gone. “No one can ever steal the stories,” she ends. Kim hopes her book will inspire others who have lost items of value to tell their own stories.
A bittersweet memoir.
March 3, 2026
A beautiful and often painful look at what we value, what we lose and what holds memories for us. As someone who recently lost her mother and father in the span of a year, I could relate to so much of this book and the memories simple things hold that is worth far more than monetary value.
March 8, 2026
PIECE BY PIECE is a very interesting story about the grief created by a home robbery of some of the author’s family heirlooms. I could appreciate the loss and recovery she went through from this important event in her life. I would recommend this to anyone who has struggled with the loss of material items.
Many thanks to Kim Danielson for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.
Many thanks to Kim Danielson for my gifted copy.
This review will be shared to my Instagram account (@coffee.break.book.reviews) in the future.
Review of advance copy received from Author
After a home burglary stripped Kim Danielson of family treasures, including jewelry passed down through generations and sentimental gifts marking milestones, she faced the painful reality that these weren't replaceable items. They were physical anchors to her past, to people no longer here, and to moments that shaped her life.
Piece by Piece examines why losing meaningful objects cuts so deep. The memoir alternates between the unfolding hours of the day of the theft and intimate portraits of each stolen item and its history. Lovely illustrations of the jewelry open some chapters, adding visual weight to what was lost. This structure mirrors how grief actually works: we move between the shock of present loss and the pull of memory, between what's gone and what it meant. Through this back-and-forth rhythm, Kim explores how we attach identity and love to the things we own, and what happens when those connections are severed.
But what sets this memoir apart is its practicality. Kim doesn't leave readers stranded in grief; instead, she offers a solution. By documenting the histories behind her lost possessions, she creates something more durable than any heirloom: a written record that preserves the essence of what those objects represented. It's a template anyone can follow, whether dealing with theft or simply recognizing that material things won't last forever. (As someone who's experienced loss and inherited too many items to keep, I will be using this template to preserve the stories of heirloom objects.)
For anyone who understands that our belongings carry stories worth saving, Piece by Piece offers real comfort and actionable wisdom. It's tender, honest, and ultimately hopeful, and Kim's voice feels like a compassionate friend’s. As she wisely notes, "No one can ever steal the stories.”
Piece by Piece examines why losing meaningful objects cuts so deep. The memoir alternates between the unfolding hours of the day of the theft and intimate portraits of each stolen item and its history. Lovely illustrations of the jewelry open some chapters, adding visual weight to what was lost. This structure mirrors how grief actually works: we move between the shock of present loss and the pull of memory, between what's gone and what it meant. Through this back-and-forth rhythm, Kim explores how we attach identity and love to the things we own, and what happens when those connections are severed.
But what sets this memoir apart is its practicality. Kim doesn't leave readers stranded in grief; instead, she offers a solution. By documenting the histories behind her lost possessions, she creates something more durable than any heirloom: a written record that preserves the essence of what those objects represented. It's a template anyone can follow, whether dealing with theft or simply recognizing that material things won't last forever. (As someone who's experienced loss and inherited too many items to keep, I will be using this template to preserve the stories of heirloom objects.)
For anyone who understands that our belongings carry stories worth saving, Piece by Piece offers real comfort and actionable wisdom. It's tender, honest, and ultimately hopeful, and Kim's voice feels like a compassionate friend’s. As she wisely notes, "No one can ever steal the stories.”
March 27, 2026
𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐓𝐇𝐈𝐒 𝐈𝐅 𝐘𝐎𝐔
📦 are a collector
📖 love to read heartfelt memoirs
🏚️ have ever been burgled
💍 hold onto precious family heirlooms
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
If things are “just things,” why does it hurt so deeply when we lose them?
When a home burglary strips Kim Danielson of heirlooms and other special keepsakes, she loses more than the items themselves. She is also robbed of tangible connections to her history, and physical reminders of loved ones who have died—igniting grief both old and new. Feeling the weight of disappointment for future generations who cannot inherit a piece of her family’s legacy, Kim creates a new and lasting heirloom, one that can never be stolen.
Perfect for anyone who has ever lost anything of meaningful value, this book provides solace and a new perspective on material possessions. A practical template for preserving a legacy with or without artifacts, Piece by Piece offers a unique take on loss through the lens of stolen objects and invites readers to tell the stories of their lives by telling the stories of their things.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such a moving memoir, and deeply relatable for me. I am a collector of things - I still have items from when I was a kid that I just can’t bear to let go of. For the same reasons as the author - all of the precious memories they contain. They are my own, not others, but I don’t think in the end that it truly makes a difference. I loved reading her stories behind the precious items that she lost when her house was burgled. I think most people don’t understand how much meaning an item can truly hold for someone. It was a shame that the recovery of her heirlooms meant so little to the police. I recommend this one if you are a collector like me, and realize that memories can and are attached to a seemingly worthless item.
📦 are a collector
📖 love to read heartfelt memoirs
🏚️ have ever been burgled
💍 hold onto precious family heirlooms
• 𝐖𝐇𝐀𝐓 𝐈𝐓’𝐒 𝐀𝐁𝐎𝐔𝐓
If things are “just things,” why does it hurt so deeply when we lose them?
When a home burglary strips Kim Danielson of heirlooms and other special keepsakes, she loses more than the items themselves. She is also robbed of tangible connections to her history, and physical reminders of loved ones who have died—igniting grief both old and new. Feeling the weight of disappointment for future generations who cannot inherit a piece of her family’s legacy, Kim creates a new and lasting heirloom, one that can never be stolen.
Perfect for anyone who has ever lost anything of meaningful value, this book provides solace and a new perspective on material possessions. A practical template for preserving a legacy with or without artifacts, Piece by Piece offers a unique take on loss through the lens of stolen objects and invites readers to tell the stories of their lives by telling the stories of their things.
• 𝐌𝐘 𝐓𝐇𝐎𝐔𝐆𝐇𝐓𝐒
This was such a moving memoir, and deeply relatable for me. I am a collector of things - I still have items from when I was a kid that I just can’t bear to let go of. For the same reasons as the author - all of the precious memories they contain. They are my own, not others, but I don’t think in the end that it truly makes a difference. I loved reading her stories behind the precious items that she lost when her house was burgled. I think most people don’t understand how much meaning an item can truly hold for someone. It was a shame that the recovery of her heirlooms meant so little to the police. I recommend this one if you are a collector like me, and realize that memories can and are attached to a seemingly worthless item.
January 27, 2026
This book beautifully braids together the threads of a home robbery resulting in the loss of precious family heirlooms, and the stories behind the objects. From love to loss and everything in between, the author shows you how things are just things, but also they're the receptacles of stories–and that's what makes them matter.
Danielson’s powerful, tender writing style had an emotional impact on me. I cried a few times :), especially reading about the personal losses she’s experienced beyond the jewelry. But I wouldn’t say the book is heavy or sad–on the contrary, I felt the hope and love pulsing through every chapter.
Watching the author confront and deal with the loss of these precious family heirlooms she loves made for good self-reflection. But also, more importantly, I learned that things are meaningful only because of the stories they carry, and that even when we lose the thing we love, we can still retain the story. The stories need to be recorded—written down, as the author has done—to make the thing itself, or the meaning of the thing, longer-lasting, even live forever. As long as the story survives, the essence of the thing remains.
As the author writes in the intro: "Stories can survive, but only if we tell them." This book made me reflect on special items I own, think about why they matter to me, and then want to write those stories down so they won’t be lost. Piece by Piece is for anyone who has lost something they love, because Kim Danielson shows how loss can be transformed into something beautiful.
Danielson’s powerful, tender writing style had an emotional impact on me. I cried a few times :), especially reading about the personal losses she’s experienced beyond the jewelry. But I wouldn’t say the book is heavy or sad–on the contrary, I felt the hope and love pulsing through every chapter.
Watching the author confront and deal with the loss of these precious family heirlooms she loves made for good self-reflection. But also, more importantly, I learned that things are meaningful only because of the stories they carry, and that even when we lose the thing we love, we can still retain the story. The stories need to be recorded—written down, as the author has done—to make the thing itself, or the meaning of the thing, longer-lasting, even live forever. As long as the story survives, the essence of the thing remains.
As the author writes in the intro: "Stories can survive, but only if we tell them." This book made me reflect on special items I own, think about why they matter to me, and then want to write those stories down so they won’t be lost. Piece by Piece is for anyone who has lost something they love, because Kim Danielson shows how loss can be transformed into something beautiful.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Kim Danielson, the Author of “Piece by Piece, A Life Remembered though Things Lost” has written an intriguing and thought-provoking memoir. After a burglary in Kim Danielson’s home, she assesses the jewelry and special significant items that were stolen. Kim is relieved that her children and dog are safe, but regards the intrusion, mess and loss in her closets and drawers. I appreciate that the author vividly describes the jewelry items, so that we can visually see them. For each item the author writes her memories that go through the years and special occasions. I can reflect and identify with this process, as I can tell you the history of special pieces of jewelry, or items that are in my breakfront. These items were in most cases gifted to me by loved ones, family and friends. Some pieces that I have acquired are from vacations and special places that I have been to.
The Author discusses how the memories and history of each piece of jewelry is just as significant as the missing pieces. By writing the descriptions, and her memories down, she is still providing the history from the past, to the present and the future. The Author also mentions how she visits Pawn shops to see if she can find the lost special pieces. Her family and friends, do start to gift her significant pieces to remember the past and start new memories. I highly recommend this relatable and captivating memoir.
The Author discusses how the memories and history of each piece of jewelry is just as significant as the missing pieces. By writing the descriptions, and her memories down, she is still providing the history from the past, to the present and the future. The Author also mentions how she visits Pawn shops to see if she can find the lost special pieces. Her family and friends, do start to gift her significant pieces to remember the past and start new memories. I highly recommend this relatable and captivating memoir.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
Piece by Piece: A Life Remembered through Things Lost is a tender, quietly powerful memoir that reframes grief through the intimate language of objects. Kim Danielson offers a fresh and deeply human meditation on what we lose not only when loved ones die, but when the tangible evidence of their lives disappears.
After a home burglary strips her of heirlooms and keepsakes, Danielson confronts a destabilizing truth: while things may be “just things,” they are also vessels of memory, lineage, and love. Their absence triggers layers of grief personal, ancestral, and anticipatory as she mourns not only what was stolen, but what can no longer be passed down to future generations.
What makes Piece by Piece resonate is its emotional clarity and generosity. Danielson does not sentimentalize possessions, nor does she dismiss their importance. Instead, she explores how objects anchor us to stories, identities, and relationships, and what it means to rebuild when those anchors are gone. In doing so, she creates something enduring: a living heirloom made of memory, narrative, and intention.
Both reflective and practical, the book offers readers a framework for preserving legacy with or without physical artifacts. It is a compassionate companion for anyone who has experienced loss of objects, people, or time itself and a reminder that meaning can be reconstructed, piece by piece.
After a home burglary strips her of heirlooms and keepsakes, Danielson confronts a destabilizing truth: while things may be “just things,” they are also vessels of memory, lineage, and love. Their absence triggers layers of grief personal, ancestral, and anticipatory as she mourns not only what was stolen, but what can no longer be passed down to future generations.
What makes Piece by Piece resonate is its emotional clarity and generosity. Danielson does not sentimentalize possessions, nor does she dismiss their importance. Instead, she explores how objects anchor us to stories, identities, and relationships, and what it means to rebuild when those anchors are gone. In doing so, she creates something enduring: a living heirloom made of memory, narrative, and intention.
Both reflective and practical, the book offers readers a framework for preserving legacy with or without physical artifacts. It is a compassionate companion for anyone who has experienced loss of objects, people, or time itself and a reminder that meaning can be reconstructed, piece by piece.
February 22, 2026
After a break-in, Kim is devastated to find that the thieves of course took the items that were the most valuable. Not valuable cost wise to Kim, but valuable in what each of those items meant and represented to her. It was her whole life, stolen by some stranger whose only thought was how much they could make off of someone else's heirlooms and artifacts. I enjoyed that Kim led us down memory lane with each piece that was stolen, and why there was such meaning behind it. As she was often reminded by many, at least no one was hurt and things are replaceable. Even though it seemed the police weren't doing anything to find what was stolen, eventually she did come to the terms that finding stolen items is not a priority for anyone but the person who it was stolen from. To someone else these pieces have no meaning, no connection, no history and so that was the one thing Kim knew she'd always have and could never be taken. Her memories of these gifts, these jewelry pieces and what they meant to her. This story made me think about the items in my jewelry box and the history behind some of those pieces and that yes, someone could take it all but I would still have the memories of it. Our things really do tell the stories of our lives. Thank you to the author for the complementary novel and to Suzy Approved Book Tours for the invite. This review is of my own opinion and accord.
March 4, 2026
Kim Danielson’s home is full of family heirlooms, sentimental pieces with a story attached, some passed down for generations. These treasures offer connection and solace; that is, until they are stolen when her home is burglarized. What heartache to experience the loss of loved ones, their tangible memories in the form of these gifts, and then to lose them, where they cannot be passed down. The end of a line.
But it wasn’t. Kim Danielson determines what is left and that is the stories behind these items. That cannot ever be taken from her family, and in those stories, the real treasures reside.
In full transparency, I am extremely sentimental about objects, partially due to the number of moves I experienced as a child and losses early on in life. With each move I made, including the most recent, I’ve lost more of these items than I’m sure I realize, which is painful. When I remember those things that likely can’t be recovered, I try to write about them. Kim’s book is a glorious reminder of that.
“Stories can survive, but only if we tell them."
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
But it wasn’t. Kim Danielson determines what is left and that is the stories behind these items. That cannot ever be taken from her family, and in those stories, the real treasures reside.
In full transparency, I am extremely sentimental about objects, partially due to the number of moves I experienced as a child and losses early on in life. With each move I made, including the most recent, I’ve lost more of these items than I’m sure I realize, which is painful. When I remember those things that likely can’t be recovered, I try to write about them. Kim’s book is a glorious reminder of that.
“Stories can survive, but only if we tell them."
I received a gifted copy.
Many of my reviews can also be found on my blog: www.jennifertarheelreader.com and instagram: www.instagram.com/tarheelreader
Review of advance copy received from Author
Review of advance copy received from the author
I rarely wear jewelry. I am not particularly sentimental about material possessions, not even the jewels passed down from my beloved grandmother. With this mindset, I began reading Piece by Piece with slight resistance, assuming this kind of book might not appeal to me. I sure was wrong! (Love it when that happens with a book).
Kim Danielson has a gift of words—and punch lines that smack at your heart chamber. She recounts the challenging experience of having her home—her safe place—robbed and her treasured personal effects hijacked into a story of how her belongings weren't just mere items but memorabilia that left tracks in the author and in her family's life, tracks that can never be erased even if the belongings are gone.
This quote is one of my favorites: "This one little charm contained such a big vault."
Kim Danielson writes with refreshing, sweet honesty, and for this reason alone, this book stands out as one of my favorite reads of 2026.
I rarely wear jewelry. I am not particularly sentimental about material possessions, not even the jewels passed down from my beloved grandmother. With this mindset, I began reading Piece by Piece with slight resistance, assuming this kind of book might not appeal to me. I sure was wrong! (Love it when that happens with a book).
Kim Danielson has a gift of words—and punch lines that smack at your heart chamber. She recounts the challenging experience of having her home—her safe place—robbed and her treasured personal effects hijacked into a story of how her belongings weren't just mere items but memorabilia that left tracks in the author and in her family's life, tracks that can never be erased even if the belongings are gone.
This quote is one of my favorites: "This one little charm contained such a big vault."
Kim Danielson writes with refreshing, sweet honesty, and for this reason alone, this book stands out as one of my favorite reads of 2026.
February 16, 2026
This is one of the best nonfiction books I’ve read this year because it is totally relatable to an experience I had. The author tells of her house that has been broken into and family heirlooms stolen.
She takes those stolen physical items and shares with us the backstory and memories of them.
You may never have had a house break in, but I have. One day while my husband and I were at work someone came in and stole everything. They even wrapped items using our bedspreads. We were alerted because our dog was wandering down the street. It was scary and nerve wracking and sad. My wedding rings, college ring, silver from my husband’s aunt and so many items just gone. They found the person but not the items.
I can see what prompted Kim to write this book. She does a beautiful job putting into words not only the memory of each precious to her item that was stolen but also the description of the robbery and her feelings from its aftermath.
She takes those stolen physical items and shares with us the backstory and memories of them.
You may never have had a house break in, but I have. One day while my husband and I were at work someone came in and stole everything. They even wrapped items using our bedspreads. We were alerted because our dog was wandering down the street. It was scary and nerve wracking and sad. My wedding rings, college ring, silver from my husband’s aunt and so many items just gone. They found the person but not the items.
I can see what prompted Kim to write this book. She does a beautiful job putting into words not only the memory of each precious to her item that was stolen but also the description of the robbery and her feelings from its aftermath.
Read
January 6, 2026Piece by Piece is a tender, deeply reflective memoir that examines grief through the unexpected lens of material loss. Kim Danielson transforms a home burglary into a profound meditation on memory, inheritance, and the emotional weight we assign to objects that tether us to the people we love. The narrative is intimate and compassionate, inviting readers to sit with loss rather than rush past it.
What makes this memoir especially powerful is its universality. Danielson’s reflections gently challenge the idea that possessions are “just things,” revealing how they serve as vessels for identity, history, and connection. By weaving personal memory with practical reflection, Piece by Piece becomes both a source of solace and a guide for preserving legacy beyond physical artifacts. It is quiet, honest, and profoundly human.
What makes this memoir especially powerful is its universality. Danielson’s reflections gently challenge the idea that possessions are “just things,” revealing how they serve as vessels for identity, history, and connection. By weaving personal memory with practical reflection, Piece by Piece becomes both a source of solace and a guide for preserving legacy beyond physical artifacts. It is quiet, honest, and profoundly human.
January 27, 2026
In this beautiful memoir, Kim Danielson shares her painful loss after a home burglary separated her from entire generations of family jewelry and keepsakes. Bravely, she relates all the emotions that follow, but more importantly makes sense of them. Danielson charts a path forward, proving the stories connected to things we love are by far the most important treasures any one of us will ever own.
Along the way, we catch a glimpse of the author's life. The milestones, losses, and great love she feels for her family and her heritage. It's a beautiful story and an inspiring one. It will help anyone dealing with a loss, and it teaches everyone how to capture our best inheritance: all the stories that make us who we are, and how to hold onto them.
A wonderful and satisfying book. I'd recommend it to anyone seeking meaning.
Along the way, we catch a glimpse of the author's life. The milestones, losses, and great love she feels for her family and her heritage. It's a beautiful story and an inspiring one. It will help anyone dealing with a loss, and it teaches everyone how to capture our best inheritance: all the stories that make us who we are, and how to hold onto them.
A wonderful and satisfying book. I'd recommend it to anyone seeking meaning.
January 27, 2026
A memoir that touches your heart deeply. What begins as the loss of material items in a burglary becomes something much more, a reckoning with grief, memory, and the meaning we attach to things.
This book is a return to the stories that will live on forever.
Kim remembers and mourns the meaningful heirlooms that were taken, objects tied to family history and loved ones, and honors the people they represented by telling their stories. As she searches for what was lost, old and new grief surface, and my tears flowed many times while reading, deeply touched as I mourned alongside her.
Kim’s writing is tender, honest, and deeply moving. Without the physical artifacts, she turns to storytelling and creates a new legacy. Through Piece by Piece, she reminds us that while possessions can be stolen, stories endure and love lives on through them.
This book is a return to the stories that will live on forever.
Kim remembers and mourns the meaningful heirlooms that were taken, objects tied to family history and loved ones, and honors the people they represented by telling their stories. As she searches for what was lost, old and new grief surface, and my tears flowed many times while reading, deeply touched as I mourned alongside her.
Kim’s writing is tender, honest, and deeply moving. Without the physical artifacts, she turns to storytelling and creates a new legacy. Through Piece by Piece, she reminds us that while possessions can be stolen, stories endure and love lives on through them.
February 3, 2026
I received Piece by Piece through a promotional book tour, I feel fortunate that it landed in my hands. I got so much insight and reflection as I read it. I’ve lost beloved items through burglary, natural weather crisis, and other life events. Kim Danielson’s thoughts really hit true and made me consider my remaining heirlooms and jewelry sitting in bags with handwritten notes in drawers or jewelry boxes. This may be the motivation to do something, record the memories and send some of the treasures on to others.
I read this book in one sitting - in 200 + pages, this book packs a heartfelt punch. I’m so glad I read it.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @kimdanielsonwrites and @shewritespress for my Advance Reader Copy
Full book tour post on Instagram 2/6/2026 @on_a_sandbar
I read this book in one sitting - in 200 + pages, this book packs a heartfelt punch. I’m so glad I read it.
Thank you @suzyapprovedbooktours @kimdanielsonwrites and @shewritespress for my Advance Reader Copy
Full book tour post on Instagram 2/6/2026 @on_a_sandbar
February 6, 2026
I wasn’t expecting this book to hit me in such a deeply personal way, but it truly did. What began as a story about stolen objects slowly unfolded into something much more profound, a meditation on grief, memory, and the meaning we attach to the things we hold onto.
Having lost both of my parents, I understand how certain objects can feel irreplaceable. They’re never just things. What I loved most about this book, and completely agree with, is the reminder that it’s ultimately the story behind the object that matters most, not the object itself.
This book is tender, thoughtful, and beautifully written. Even if you haven’t lost a loved one, this is a story worth reading, and one that may change how you look at the things you treasure most.
Having lost both of my parents, I understand how certain objects can feel irreplaceable. They’re never just things. What I loved most about this book, and completely agree with, is the reminder that it’s ultimately the story behind the object that matters most, not the object itself.
This book is tender, thoughtful, and beautifully written. Even if you haven’t lost a loved one, this is a story worth reading, and one that may change how you look at the things you treasure most.
February 24, 2026
This memoir really hit me right in the feels. What starts as a heartbreaking loss of treasured heirlooms turns into something much deeper—an exploration of memory, meaning, and what truly lasts. The author weaves joy and sorrow so effortlessly, I was hooked the whole time. It made me rethink my own attachment to stuff (especially the sentimental kind) and can now consider letting some go while holding onto the stories instead. Warm, reflective, and quietly inspiring, this is the kind of book that lingers long after you finish.
February 27, 2026
This book shows such a beautiful way of coping with loss and grief. It's incredibly relatable and brought to mind a ring that my parents gave me for my 16th birthday that was stolen many years ago. I still mourn that loss occasionally despite logic telling me it's just an object. I love the healing benefits the author received by sharing her story and the thoughtful way she created new memories to celebrate the old. It's an emotional journey, but well worth the trip.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
I received a gifted copy in exchange for an honest review.
January 29, 2026
This book made me laugh and cry, but mostly it made me think. The first part of our lives we acquire, education, jobs, titles, recognition, popularity, love, objects etc. As we age, we look to lighten our physical load and want to pass along the things we’ve collected, and share that feeling of value with someone else. The real value though is in the story of how or when or why we valued it, or the people who made it possible. The story is the real treasure.
March 1, 2026
Literary non-fiction is not my normal genre, (far too few tentacles) but this book was fantastic.
I loved how she talked about both the burglary and the history of the items stolen.
One of my favourite parts were the illustrations as they really helped bring these irreplaceable items to life.
While she’ll likely never get her keepsakes back, I’m so glad she and her family will have this book as part of their legacy.
I loved how she talked about both the burglary and the history of the items stolen.
One of my favourite parts were the illustrations as they really helped bring these irreplaceable items to life.
While she’ll likely never get her keepsakes back, I’m so glad she and her family will have this book as part of their legacy.
Review of advance copy received from Author
I loved this book. Piece by Piece is a poignant meditation on loss, grief, and healing. Danielson reminds us that what is lost remains in our hearts. An insightful reflection of what we lose whether material, existential or personal hold memories, history, and love. ~Priya Hutner, author of Chasing Nirvana: A Seeker’s Story of Love, Loss and Liberation.
January 28, 2026
I read this amazing book in 4 hours. I could not put it down. The author provided deep insight into things we lose and the people tied to them. Her story of grief and loss are profound. Her heart is felt on every page. You will cry. You will laugh. And you will connect with your own grief in a new way.
March 8, 2026
I really enjoyed this book. The writing is so vivid that it was easy to imagine every scene as it happened. It felt like walking through the memories alongside the author. I also listened to parts of it on Audible and her calming voice made my commute much more enjoyable. It was a refreshing and comforting read.
January 29, 2026
The author offers a window to her soul after a heartbreaking burglary. The emotional telling of her family memories creates its own gift for generations to come and with that, the feeling that all is not lost.
February 22, 2026
This book was really touching, and the title is perfect. My heart ached for Kim as I learned about each precious piece, its story, and its significance. The book is written with love and wisdom, and I think most, if not all of us, could learn from Kim’s story.
March 16, 2026
A very moving memoir told through the theft of her jewelry most of which were passed to her by her mother, grandmother, aunts, etc.
March 29, 2026
A beautiful and heartwarming story that turns grief into art. It was an easy beach read and I loved how the author intertwined her memories with present day. Highly recommend.
April 4, 2026
As someone who shops second hand, I always wonder how items end up in thrift shops.
I generally land on “someone passed and their family cleaned house”.
As someone who Struggles with Stuff, I understand the concept of not being able to keep everything, but as a Level 10 Sentimentalist it breaks my heart.
To read about someone who lost things, not because they were unwanted, but because of theft made me feel so tender towards the author.
Her book made me look around my home and remind myself of the personal provenance (thanks Antiques Roadshow) of some of my most cherished items.
It brought the givers of those items to the forefront of my mind, and I’m so grateful to the author for encouraging that exercise.
I generally land on “someone passed and their family cleaned house”.
As someone who Struggles with Stuff, I understand the concept of not being able to keep everything, but as a Level 10 Sentimentalist it breaks my heart.
To read about someone who lost things, not because they were unwanted, but because of theft made me feel so tender towards the author.
Her book made me look around my home and remind myself of the personal provenance (thanks Antiques Roadshow) of some of my most cherished items.
It brought the givers of those items to the forefront of my mind, and I’m so grateful to the author for encouraging that exercise.
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