Broken Pieces

by Abby Shrewsbury

Some people spend their whole lives learning how to survive. Sam Reynolds is still learning how to live.

Sam keeps her world small on purpose - she leads a quiet life at a coffee shop, owns a loyal dog, cherishes her found family in Bill and Jessa, and has a long list of unspoken rules that attempt to keep panic from swallowing her whole. After a traumatic upbringing and a life spent stitching herself back together, safety isn’t just a preference. It’s a necessity.

Then Elliot Flint walks into the café with perfect gray-blue eyes, a crooked smile, and a way of seeing her she’s not at all ready for. He’s steady where she’s skittish, gentle where the world has been cruel, and persistent in ways that terrify her. When an unexpected moment shatters the distance she’s so carefully kept, Sam is forced to confront the healing doesn’t happen in isolation. And being known - truly known - might just be the riskiest thing she’s ever faced.

As Sam navigates resurfacing trauma and the fragile hope of something good, Elliot must decide whether he can love someone still learning how to love herself. But rebuilding a life from broken pieces isn’t simple, and what grows between them will test the limits of trust, vulnerability, and resilience.

Told through raw emotion, soft humor, and intimate character moments, Broken Pieces is a contemporary novel about finding safety after fear, choosing love after loss, and learning that the bravest thing a person can do is stay.

Perfect for readers who
• Slow-burn emotional intimacy
• Found family and quiet acts of care
• Trauma-informed storytelling
• Tender but complicated romance
• Characters who feel achingly real

A story for anyone who has ever felt broken - and hoped they weren’t beyond repair.

377 pages, Kindle Edition

Published March 10, 2026

About the author

Shrewsbury is a novelist and coffee enthusiast from Bryant, Arkansas. She lives with her loyal canine sidekicks Gus and Bo, and loves spending time with her family and friends. By day, Shrewsbury is a Content Marketing Specialist. When not working, she enjoys painting, reading by the fireplace, walking with her dogs, and crafting stories that make people experience true, big feelings.

Shrewsbury writes the kind of stories she craves most - honest, a little messy, and unafraid to sit in the hard spaces. She gravitates toward imperfect characters, tangled relationships, and endings that feel like real life (not fairytales). Her narratives often center on grief, resilience, and how love has the ability to shape us into who we are.

She's a strong believer that stories have the capacity to heal wounds we don't even recognize we have, and she hopes to accomplish that with her debut, Broken Pieces.

Reviews

[Lavender (Semi - Hiatus) :( · Rating 5 out of 5]

Thank you so much Abby Shrewsberry for the ARC copy

I have so much emotion for the characters and the story. They are so easy to connect to for real life and if you never experience this. I read the ending and was so heartbroken for Elliot I almost cried at school for that. He helped Sam so much that he healed Sam. Now, he needs to heal himself after healing Sam. They had such great chemistry and I was praying for them to kiss and start dating. It happened but the ending (won't say to not spoil ) you need to read it to understand.

[Sarah Weeks-Jones · Rating 5 out of 5]

How is this a debut?!

Broken Pieces is an absolutely absorbing and gripping novel about trauma, recovery, grief, and the power of human connection. Populated with endearing characters (and a doggo!) and powerful scenes, this is the type of book that haunts a reader long after the last page.

I really loved Sam. She was such a dynamic character, battling her own traumatic past while trying to embrace the new life that she has created for herself. Elliot is the type of man we all dream will stride through the door of the coffee shop and sweep us off our feet. He was so sweet, supportive, and emotionally mature that I honestly spent about 70% of the book wondering if he was too good to be true. Together, the journey this pair goes on is beautiful.

All the above said, this is still a heavy novel. Sam has enough trauma and abuse in her past to fill a series arc on Law and Order. Trigger warnings should definitely be checked before reading, as this book does not shy away from harsh realities (but never gratuitously). Any woman who reads this will absolutely recognise the uncomfortable character who keeps appearing at Sam's coffee shop, making strange comments and acting a bit too familiarly. It's someone we've encountered far too many times.

I have so much more to say about this book, but I don't want to give anything else away! It truly is one to be experienced. Just make sure to have tissues handy!

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book emotionally WRECKED me… and I mean that in the best possible way.

If you only read sunshine-and-rainbows, perfectly wrapped-up happily ever afters… this is not your book. But if you love a raw, true romance that digs into the broken pieces and slowly, painfully, beautifully puts them back together? Then buckle up.

I ugly cried. Not a cute tear. Not a single sniffle. I’m talking full-on emotional damage.

Sam. Elliot. Cooper. Andrew. Every single one of them brought something real and necessary to this story. The depth of these characters? The way their pain felt personal? I didn’t just read this book… I felt it.

This is the kind of story that hurts… but heals at the same time. And those are always the ones that stay with you long after the last page.

[Aline Emerick · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has been a hot minute since I posted an ARC review. I haven’t been taking ARCs lately, but this one I really wanted to read.
As you all know by now, I’m not a romance reader, but I made an exception this time.
The book follows Sam, a girl with a very complicated and painful past, someone with real pain, real trauma, real reasons not to let herself trust. Everything feels deeply real.
Then she meets Elliot… and her healing journey begins.
The book is full of coffee, dog love, and that deep fear of being left alone because of the pain we carry, the kind of pain that scares us so much it makes us close ourselves off from the outside world. I felt that.
I’m not a crier. I can count on one hand the books that have made me cry, but this one made me shed a tear.
You have to be ready to fall in love with Elliot and Sam, to smile at simple things like tacos and coffee… but also to prepare for heartbreak. I can’t say much more, just that this was an intense ride.

[Lauren Alicia Aycock · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was pleasantly surprised by how easy this book was to get into and how much I connected with the characters and how quickly I got invested! It felt like I was watching a movie in my head, the characters read like real, breathing humans and none of them are two dimensional. Sam Reynolds is such a heartbreakingly relatable character who made me remember a lot of my own experiences and the highs and lows of falling in love when you are coming out of severe trauma. It is written with care and genuinely feels like the author knows what it's like to go through what Sam does throughout the story. None of it is gratuitous or feels overdone or melodramatic. Sam's journey falling for Elliott was a pleasure to read and while the ending is heart wrenching I did appreciate the found family and the healing themes so much and it was so worth it!! Elliott reads like a realistic man and literally made my heart melt and it reminded me of many moments of falling in love with my husband. The last 20 chapters I literally read in one single night because I could not put it down! Amazing read!

[Meaghan.Reads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Review from advanced copy provided by Author.

Broken Pieces, at its heart, is a story of rediscovering self after traumatic events, finding new community and safety in others and finally trusting and forgiving yourself. Honestly, I feel like this novel covered an entire life story of love, friendship, grief, and forgiveness but somehow without being too dense or overbearing.

Although Broken Pieces covers heavy subjects, I found so much beauty and hopefulness within, it was impossible to not be moved.

I would recommend this read for anyone who enjoys stories with themes of found families, authentic characters with depth and development and are prepared to feel the full range of emotions.

Thank you to the author, Abby, for allowing me to apart of the ARC review of Broken Pieces and being a small part of your debut novel journey 😊

[Rhiannon Sharples · Rating 4 out of 5]

I always rate books of them making me feel something whether it's angry or happy or sad. Abbey. Bravo my girl! This is a book, a read where you feel Abbeys soul in each and every word on the page. if you want emotions, feels. No sugarcoating the struggles but still finding joy in the little things in life.
found family
slow burn
Highly , highly recommended to anyone and everyone! You'll think about this long after you finish the last page.

[Page Jedi · Rating 4 out of 5]

First of all I am absolutely blown away that this is a debut novel, the level of emotion this author was able to portray did not seem like a debut.
I was instantly hooked on our main character, Sam and was so curious to see what her full back story was as we got snippets here and there and it was clear she carried a lot of trauma.
One of the main things I really liked about this book was that you just didn't know what was going to happen and a lot of things really surprised me, the ending having me completely SHOOK!
Watching the characters fall in love was so sweet, I also loved how much Sam pulled away and tried to shut down, I think the author did such an amazing job portraying some extremely tough topics, while also keeping it light and adding in moments that literally made me laugh out loud.
I had SO many fav quotes, I'm so excited to read anything this author writes in the future.
Thank you so much to Abby Shrewsburry for my arc copy, these opinions are my own.

[Alicia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Broken Pieces is a beautiful, tragic love story that reminds us that we are never truly alone. It is a raw exploration of the messy parts of healing the parts where we don't feel perfect or even worthy of love. Watching Sam navigate the devastating leftovers of past trauma was deeply relatable it captures that universal instinct to hold people at arm's length to protect ourselves from further pain Ultimately, this story is a quiet, powerful reminder that "loss is the cost of loving deeply" a price we pay for the connections that change us.

The fmc, Sam is one of the strongest characters I've gotten to know. The amount of pain she has gone through and still pushes to live a life. Even though in the beginning it was full of fear and trepidation we witnessed her grow and that alone gives hope. Even though Sam believes she's broken, her pieces are valuable because they are evidence of how deeply she is capable of loving.

The standout element of this book is undoubtedly the character of Elliot. We all deserve a love like his patient, understanding, and willing to love someone’s pieces without trying to rush the process or fix them. Just to love them through it all. Their relationship is balanced by wonderful, sarcastic banter that had me giggling out loud, providing a necessary lightness to the heavy themes. Shrewsbury writes grief with profound accuracy, capturing that stagnant feeling when your life stops after a loss while the rest of the world keeps spinning. The book is filled with "forever quotes" that hit close to home, particularly the idea that "when all you've known is surviving, peace can feel like a trick."

While the emotional payoff was high, there were a few structural choices that hindered the experience for me. I personally struggle with frequent time jumps between scenes and chapters I felt that if the timeline had been more linear, the connection between Elliot and Sam could have been even stronger than it already was. Additionally I was left with a few unanswered questions at the finale and i feel to get full closure we needed to know. These felt like slightly missed opportunities in an otherwise gripping narrative.
At first I struggled with Elliot's pov in the beginning but by the end it all made perfect sense. I think Abby was clever on how this part was structured.
Despite those hurdles, this book is a true comfort to anyone who has ever felt like a burden because of their pain. I will repeat this forever, this book is so relatable. All of the emotions. From life long mental pain caused by trauma to the healing process learning to love yourself and allowing others to love you. All the way into the soul shattering steps of grief. "Grief doesn't end. Healing isn't a destination." It teaches us that "love doesn’t end with a heartbeat, it lingers, imprints on us, softening us in some places and hardening us in others." Broken Pieces is an "invitation to keep going, to remember well, and to live with open hands even when they're trembling." As the book beautifully notes, "grief doesn’t end, but if you’re lucky, it teaches you how to love what’s left." This story has helped me heal in my own pain and I beyond grateful that I had the opportunity to read this book. if it wasn't for authors having arc readers I may have never found this story and that would have been tragic

[KrystleReads · Rating 4 out of 5]

Grumpy x sunshine
Found family
He falls first
Slow burn
Tragic contemporary- Emotional damage haha 😝

I just put down Broken Pieces and I’m genuinely a mess.

SNOT UGLY CRY….

It’s one of those books that hurts your whole chest because it deals with the heaviness of trauma, grief, and that exhausting process of trying to outrun your past, in a way that feels totally raw and on edge. I connected with Sam with the her actions and the things she does, as a chronic illness girly this is what keeps me from panic although different scenarios I could still relate and connect with the tiny bubble world I have created.

Sam is such a powerhouse of a character. She’s a survivor who has built this tiny, safe world for herself in a coffee shop with her dog, and she has these rules just to keep the panic at bay. Watching her fight to keep the life she built… is heartbreakingly beautiful also while her history is constantly trying to pull her back under was real and raw for me.

And Elliot he has that…everything we would want in a man green flag energy. He’s the guy you hope actually exists in the world… the one who walks into your workplace and is actually supportive, emotionally mature, sweet, patient with you and level headed. Their connection feels just so earned, even when you’re low key waiting for the other shoe to drop because things feel almost too good to be true with him.

Just a heads up, it’s definitely not a light read. Sam’s history is intense, and the book doesn't sugarcoat the level of abuse Sam has survived. There is a character that will make every woman’s skin crawl because we’ve all met that exact guy at some point in our lives… **shivers**

A moment please…for the power of found family and the grit it takes to let someone see the shattered parts of you 🙌🏼🙌🏼

This is a beautiful, gripping journey, the emotions this brought up was willdddd!! 😭😭

Abby, you can really feel how much of your soul you poured into this debut. The way you handled Sam’s unspoken rules and her healing process felt so beautifully done and trauma informed. Thank you for giving us a story that doesn't shy away from the hard parts of survival whilst also still giving us so much hope. I can't wait to see what you write next.

[Victoria Evans · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you to Abby Shrewsbury for the opportunity for this ARC and to read this early! This is not a typical selection for me so I was honestly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I found this book so easy to read and enjoyed the depth and storytelling. I honestly can’t believe this is a debut novel! Abby Shrewsbury has such an incredible way of telling this beautiful yet heartbreaking story.
Samantha (Sam) is a girl with a horrifically traumatic past who is learning to live again. With help from Elliot, she is able to find love, laughter, and happiness once again.
Something that I appreciated was the fact that Sam’s trauma’s are used throughout the novel to really drive her character development and used in appropriate and realistic ways to form her personality. When it comes to romance novels, I hate when a character’s trauma is used as a “third act scene“/issue to drive a wedge between the characters. Samantha’s traumas are deep rooted but Elliot is determined and finds ways to let his love reach her regardless.

Definitely check the triggers for this one and if you decide to read it, buckle up for the emotional roller coaster.

[Catherine Krabath · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thank you ever so much to the author of this book for the ARC of Broken Pieces — I truly appreciate the opportunity to read it early.

This isn’t a book I likely would have picked up on my own, which makes it all the more surprising how much I genuinely enjoyed it. The story pulled me in with its emotional depth and thoughtful exploration of fractured relationships and personal healing. The characters felt authentic, layered, and imperfect in ways that made their journeys compelling rather than predictable.

While the themes are heavy at times, they’re handled with care and sincerity. Broken Pieces is ultimately a story about resilience and the quiet strength it takes to rebuild. I’m grateful I stepped outside my usual reading preferences for this one — it was well worth it.

[Lavender Penner · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got an ARC copy of this book and I am reviewing it a billion years too late because I received it right before I went into a months-long flare. Sorry for the wait, let's get into it. The author of Broken Pieces has said she likes sad books and I believe her. This book is sad. It's sad on the first page and it's sad on the last page. If you do not like sad books, you will not like this one. I also know I usually read, review, and write romances, so I try to give a heads up when I recommend a book that is not a romance. So, this is NOT a romance. It's emotional, traumatic, and full of beautiful prose, but it is not a romance. Leave your expectations at the door and get ready to cry. Good luck and Godspeed.

[Payton Stamp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Broken Pieces stirred emotions in me in a way I didn’t expect. I found myself relating to both points of view for very different reasons, which made the story feel deeply personal. The way PTSD is portrayed felt raw, honest, and real, not romanticized or glossed over. The details pulled me in, yet still allowed space for my own thoughts and imagination to fill in the gaps.
I grew attached to some characters almost immediately, while others frustrated me just as strongly — which only made the story feel more real. I had never truly experienced the feeling of not being able to put a book down until this one. Broken Pieces stayed with me long after I turned the final page.

[Alex Lux · Rating 5 out of 5]

I don't think I have words for this book. It is nothing fancy or complicated and it doesn't try to be. It is just honest to the core. Brutally and unforgivingly honest about everything ugly in our lives that we try to ignore. I could not pull myself away from this book. I felt every emotion of every character. From the main characters to the incredible side characters, I loved all of them in their own way. This is one of those books that I will randomly remember for years.

I received an ARC for this book and I am beyond grateful.

[Nicole Cochran · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is such an amazingly beautiful story about love, loss, and forgiveness that will leave you in broken pieces.

Even though I haven’t gone through the exact same experiences as Sam, I feel like every woman can relate to her and see themselves in her thoughts and emotions…and probably need to hear the same advice she is given. We all long to be truly seen.

[Debbie Shrewsbury · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found myself not wanting to put the book down and had to make myself get work done and I am not a big reader. I fell in love with the characters and how real and vulnerable they were. As someone who likes happy endings, I know not all stories have happy endings. I cried though the end of the book. I would definitely recommend it.

[Ashley Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I remember reading this book for the first time as Abby’s developmental editor when it was still the bones, and it was so beautiful to see the final version and how far the story and characters came 💜

[Brandi Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a heartbreaking story of grief and finding strength. Sam is a barista at a coffee shop when she meets handsome Elliott, who is smitten with her. Love evolves between the two, but will Sam's broken past come back to haunt her?

This novel is well-written and tells a compelling story. There are depictions of and references to abuse, but nothing is too graphic. There is no vulgar language or explicit content. Make sure to have some tissues handy while reading.

[Marissa · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a very heavy book!! Be warned there is a lot dealt with and lots of sadness!!