Every Single Broken Piece

by Michelle Heard

A tattooed, touch-averse alpha becomes the sunshine to a grieving woman’s darkness—but the secret connecting him to her family’s brutal murder could destroy the love that’s healing them both. From USA Today bestselling author Michelle Heard.

Kelcie

After losing my entire family in a brutal attack, I’m drowning in grief. The only bright spot? My mysterious new neighbor, Levi—a tattooed bestselling author who somehow understands my pain.

He’s grumpy, he’s damaged, and he hates being touched. Except by me.

Levi

I moved next door to Kelcie for one to make sure she’s okay after the tragedy that took her family. A tragedy I know more about than I should.

She’s the only person whose touch doesn’t make my skin crawl. The only one who makes me want to be whole again.

But I’m hiding a devastating secret—one that connects me to the worst night of her life. And when she discovers the truth, it could destroy the fragile love we’ve built from our broken pieces.

Genres: Romance, Dark Romance, Contemporary, Audiobook, Romantic Suspense, Dark, Found Family

285 pages, Paperback

Published July 21, 2026

About the author

Michelle Heard is a USA Today, Wall Street Journal, and Amazon #3 Bestselling romance author.

She writes emotional heart-shattering stories with a whole lot of Mafia & Romance that will leave you smiling with satisfaction. Every book has an unexpected twist that will show the strength of the characters.

Before becoming an author, Michelle had a career in banking. She lives in South Africa with her son, Sheldon, who's also her right-hand man when it comes to all things publishing, and her daughter-in-law, Tayla, who's her best friend.

Reading Order on AMAZON


STANDALONE NOVELS:
***Mafia & Bratva Romance (in order)***

THE SAINTS SERIES:
Merciless Saints - Damien Vetrov
Cruel Saints - Lucian Cotroni
Ruthless Saints - Carson Koslov
Tears of Betrayal - Demitri Vetrov
Tears of Salvation - Alexei Koslov

THE SINNERS SERIES:
Taken By A Sinner - Nikolas Stathoulis
Owned By A Sinner - Liam Byrne
Stolen By A Sinner - Gabriel Demir
Chosen By A Sinner - Luca Cotroni
Captured By A Sinner - Viktor Vetrov


THE CORRUPTED ROYALS SERIES:
Destroy Me - Misha Petrov
Control Me - Nikolai Vetrov
Brutalize Me - Armani De Santis
Restrain Me - Maxim Levin
Possess Me - Alek Aslanhov


SERIES (In Order):

ENEMIES TO LOVERS SERIES:
***College & New Adult Romance***

Heartless - Carter & Della
Reckless - Logan & Mia
Careless - Jaxson & Leigh
Ruthless - Marcus & Willow
Shameless - Rhett & Evie

TRINITY ACADEMY SERIES:
***College Romance***

Falcon - Falcon & Layla
Mason - Mason & Kingsley
Lake - Lake & Lee
Julian - Julian & Jamie
The Epilogue

THE HEIRS:
***College & New Adult Romance***

Coldhearted Heir - Hunter & Jade
Arrogant Heir - Jase & Mila
Defiant Heir - Kao & Fallon
Loyal Heir - Forest & Aria
Callous Heir - Noah & Carla
Sinful Heir - Tristan & Hana
Tempted Heir - Christopher & Dash
Forbidden Heir - Ryker & Danny


SOUTHERN HEROES SERIES:
***Suspense Romance***

The Ocean Between Us – Aiden & Emma
The Girl In The Closet – Cole & Birdie
The Lies We Tell Ourselves – Alec & Reece
All The Wasted Time – Wyatt & Scarlett
We Were Lost – Zac & Chloe


OTHER STANDALONE NOVELS:

Not My Hero - Dark YA Romance

Reviews

[Wobilba]

3.5 stars
This was an emotional rollercoaster read and so much different from every book i've read from this author. Both main characters were likeable and had so much depth to them. Though i did see all the plot twist coming a mile away i still did enjoy the story immensely.

[aira]

my pre-read got deleted...🤡

this was so sad, but I think it was also well-written.

The writing is easy to read and easy to enjoy. I enjoy reading books in one sitting and that usually helps a book win me over in terms of rating, hence the rating for this book. I read one other book by this author and I gave it a similar rating, so I guess I can say that I have been enjoying these standalone books.

thank you to the publisher and netgalley for this arc.

[Carla]

It’s a sad and beautiful story.
It’s worth reading.

[Camii]

No eres solo mi musa. Eres mi milagro, mi recompensa por sobrevivir treinta y tres años de oscuridad"

Michelle Heard siempre me termina sorprendiendo con sus libros porque últimamente sentía que no me terminaban de gustar sus libros y este fue todo lo contrario y me encanto todo de Kelcie y Levi ♥️😭 (preparen sus pañuelos)

Fue muy triste leer este libro porque al inicio la vida de Kelcie es tan linda y llena de calidez por parte de su familia y la manera en la que perdió su hogar y lugar seguro fue muy fuerte para ella porque después de un año de estar en duelo la diferencia entre su vida pasada y presente en enorme 💔. Ella tiene una depresión muy grande y le es imposible comenzar una vida sin las personas que ama y así es como la conoce Levi quién siente un instinto protector muy grande con ella y a pesar de odiar el toque de la gente y ser muy introvertido se da cuenta que estar con Kelcie se siente bien.

La verdad es que la relación de ellos es muy bonita y el crecimiento que tienen juntos es enorme, además el amor entre ellos fue creciendo de a poco y al principio solo tenían una amistad hermosa donde ambos iban compartiendo su dolor conforme crecía la confianza mutua que tenían porque se dieron cuenta que cuando compartían sus recuerdos dolorosos estando juntos se sentían protegidos y seguros. Kelcie fue un amor con Levi y la verdad es que con el pastel llore mucho 😭 el solo necesitaba ser amado y ella lo amor tal y como necesitaba, y lo mas lindo es que siempre todo fue mutuo porque ambos daban lo que recibían y por esa razón funcionaron tan bien que pudieron dejar atrás eso que tantos les dolía y formar recuerdos nuevos donde no existía el dolor y podían vivir siendo libres en su nuevo hogar ♥️🥺.

ACTO DE AMOR ENORME fue el de Levi en los capítulos finales porque la decisión que el tomo hablaba de amor que sentía por su mujer quién era su lugar seguro y le dio una nueva vida 😭 LO AME

[Stormy ✿ (stay-at-home tackler of tbr shelf) ✿]

“With Kelcie, everything was different. For the first time in my life, it felt good to be touched. That alone changed my world. Never mind the desire she made me experience. She made me feel like I belonged. Like I finally had a purpose in life.
To love her” ❤️

📚 Tropes: Trauma/Healing, Betrayal, Neighbors-to-Lovers
🌍 Setting: Verona, Wisconsin

👨🏻 Levi - 32 yrs old, had a horrific childhood marked by extreme physical abuse, which eventually led him to run away from home as a teenager. The trauma had a lasting effect, leaving him irritable, antisocial, and strongly averse to physical contact. Today, he is the author of several bestselling action-thriller novels, though he is currently suffering from writer's block.

👱🏼‍♀️ Kelcie - 24 yrs old, has had a perfect childhood and life surrounded by a very fun loving family. Her father was recently sworn in as mayor of their small town, with his goal being to put a stop to any local drug activity. This of course angered several thugs, prompting them to break into Kelcie’s parent’s house one night, where they viciously attacked each family member that was home. Kelcie was the only survivor of the attack.

One year later….
💞 Levi moved to Verona and bought the house right next door to Kelcie. His plan was to keep his identity a secret and hang around to make sure that she was ok, then head back to his home in Grand Rapids. He definitely never planned to insert himself into her life.

💞 Kelcie is still suffering from debilitating panic attacks, stuck in her grief and unable to figure out how to move forward with her life. Until she meets her new neighbor.

“I try to ignore the burst of happiness I feel because I’m getting to hang out with Levi. It’s the first time in a really long while since I’ve felt something positive.”

💞 Levi was so patient and caring with Kelsie. He listened to her, he understood her feelings of fear and panic. He made her finally feel safe again. Thru his attempts at trying to help her heal, she actually got him to open up and begin his own healing process as well.

At one point there are feelings of betrayal, but both MCs handled it so maturely and realistically. It was such a beautiful, sweet and romantic journey of healing and falling in love with your soul mate.

What I Liked:
🎂 the Happy pretend Birthday party
❤️‍🩹 her supportive older brother Jordan with his great advice
🧩 Memory-for-a-Memory game they played
💦 he lost control and messed his pants
🔥 the steam was pure love making, not sex
😔 how she processed her grief felt real
🐶 Lick, his border collie. What a good pup she was too!
😭 a break-up necessary to the plot, was handled well
❤️ the first 80% was healing and romance perfection

What I Disliked - the last 20%:
💔 repetition of certain actions and phrases that felt romantic in the first 80%, now felt tired and false once it was being overused.
💔 that last additional crazy villainous activity was ott and unrealistic.
💔 the whole last 20% was unnecessary actually, once they get back together post break-up, you would be good to just skip to the cute epilogue!

“How can someone as amazing as you love someone like me?”
The corners of her mouth tip up in a tender smile. “Loving you is as easy as breathing.”
Her words patch the cracks in my soul, and I know this is one of those moments I’ll think back on when I’m lying on my deathbed.
This moment is what makes life worth living.”

⚠️ Warnings - past childhood physical abuse mentioned, on page violent attack and murder of her family during a home invasion.

[Dee]

This had so much promise. In the beginning we see a very traumatic event happen where the FMC’s family is attacked and she’s the only survivor. We’re then introduced to the MMC who is a best selling author who has a big secret related to the attack and is drawn to the FMC. And for me that’s where the story stopped being interesting. I was just so bored and everything felt rushed and too slow at the same time. It was really weird.

[Sarah♡books]

5/5 ⭐️

Kelcie x Levi🤍

📚 Traumatic past
📚 Neighbor
📚 Slow burn
📚 Grieving heroine x antisocial Hero
📚 Found familiy
📚 Dark
🚩 no cheating or sharing, no OW

OM - her friend wants her but she puts him in his place

[Heather]

different from authors norm

Hmm 🤔 not sure about this book. This author usually writes suspense mafia romance.

This is a little out of her wheelhouse. This is small town, trauma, slow burn. There’s Family home invasion and murder and the one girl who survived. The mmc was severely abused physically as a child. This book is them mostly just being in small town vibes and becoming each others safe space and helping each other heal from trauma.

It honestly wasn’t really for me. I finished it but it was just kinda two people trauma dumping/sharing. Then 2 people sort of self isolating and being absorbed with each other.it just didn’t feel like there was a plot. Like them discussing their trauma was the plot. This one wasn’t for me. Even though I love a lot of Michelle heards other books

[Darlene I read WAY to many books]

Michelle books have been putting me in a crying mood and this one made me cry but not ugly cry. We have Kelcie who has a loving family until they were attacked and Murdered infront of her. So its been taking her awhile to grieve and she deserves that time. So I did get annoyed with her brother wanting her to move away and heal faster.
And don't get me started on the town. 😒😒😒 most were assholes some were amazing. And then we meet Levi a famous author who moved next door with his doggie and slowly bonding with Kelcie and letting her grieve take her time and give her something amazing friendship and a relationship.
These two were so good together always defending one another him helping her with her panic attacks. ❤️

Levi did fight it because he does have a secret that would ruin the friendship. And it does come out and it does ruin them for awhile. And he did give her space but always there to make sure she's okay. We all know and can guess what that secret is.


Low angst, no ow/om drama, no cheating, Drama, sexy time, no virgins

Recommend-yes
Cover-⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Heat level-🌶🌶
Sadness-😢😢


Slowburn
Age gap
32mmc/24fmc
Home invasion
Murder
Seperation few weeks
Grief
Praise kink
Mental and physical abuse
Ptsd
No condom
Hea
Epilogue

[Sophie✨]

I knew this book would be emotional, but I wasn't prepared for how deeply it would affect me.

It’s a story about learning how to live again after believing your life ended with your loss. From the very first chapters, there was this quiet heaviness that never left me. Instead of relying on constant drama, Michelle Heard lets the emotions speak for themselves, and somehow that makes every moment hit even harder.

The novel centers on Kelcie, who is shattered by the brutal loss of her family, and Levi, a mysterious, touch-averse author carrying wounds of his own. Their connection unfolds through shared grief, quiet support, and trust, rather than instant declarations, making their bond feel intimate and believable.

Kelcie completely broke my heart. Watching someone who used to be full of warmth slowly try to remember what it feels like to actually live again was incredibly moving. Her grief wasn't written as something that magically disappears. It stayed with her shaped her and became part of every decision she made.

And then there's Levi.

He isn't the loud over-the-top protective hero. Everything he does is quiet. He watches, he notices, he shows up exactly when she's falling apart. The way he cared for Kelcie without trying to force her to heal made me love him more with every chapter. His own trauma was just as heartbreaking, and seeing two broken people become each other's safe place felt incredibly special.

One of my favorite things about this book was the pacing. Nothing felt rushed. Their relationship grew through conversations, shared silence, small acts of kindness, and moments where they slowly let each other inside walls they thought would never come down. Those little moments meant more to me than grand romantic gestures ever could.

I also loved that the suspense wasn't forgotten. Levi's secret kept me constantly wondering how everything would come together, and when the truth finally came out, it completely changed the emotional weight of the story without taking away from the romance.
Readers and reviewers often highlight this balance between emotional healing and the mystery surrounding Levi's past as one of the novel's strengths.

Lick deserves his own appreciation because every scene with him somehow made my heart a little lighter.

This book is painful, hopeful, tender, and beautifully written. It reminds you that healing isn't about forgetting what happened, it's about finding someone who makes carrying the weight a little less lonely.

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Thank you Michelle Heard for the ARC

[Andreea]

The way Every Single Broken Piece by Michelle Heard begins! Right when I started wondering where this calm beginning of the story was heading, everything suddenly started to spiral.

Kelcie is a warm person who loves surrounding herself with people and helping them, but her trauma turns her into someone withdrawn, lonely and numb. Levi is similar in many ways — quiet and reserved, uncomfortable with being touched. He’s also a mysterious character and I was really curious to learn more about who he is, what brought him to Verona and what connection he has with Kelcie.

I often find myself getting attached to the male characters Michelle Heard creates, so it’s no surprise that I quickly grew attached to Levi. He tries to keep his distance from Kelcie and I was really curious why, but his attempts to stay in a safe zone also add a lot of emotion. The attraction between them is undeniable, so I loved the tension that builds, waiting breathlessly for the moment when one of them would take a step toward something more.

They truly complement each other perfectly, being exactly what the other needs in their life. It was so easy for me to believe in their relationship. Levi is incredibly attentive and caring toward Kelcie. Every glance, every gesture, every word filled my heart with joy. The bond that forms between Kelcie and Lick, Levi’s dog, was also so sweet. It felt like Levi understands just how much she needs that connection, and it made me appreciate him even more.

I also liked that the story isn’t overly dramatic. Kelcie manages to stay realistic while still prioritizing her feelings. There’s no unnecessary drama, just natural emotions and insecurities, handled with maturity. I really appreciated that.

Thanks to NetGalley, Michelle Heard and Montlake for this ARC!

[Sarah🐾]

It’s the second best book that Michael wrote in my opinion
It’s perfect I wish that there is more than five stars here so I can give it ♾️/5 Iam very thankful to my dear friend she recommended it to me and it’s the best book I had read this month
The female lead was so kind and gentle i really cry so much for her because her family lose was horrible it’s break my heart but the way the male lead care about her make me feel better he was such a beautiful forest and I love them so much like I wanted to jump and hug them for hours I love his dog lick was such precious protective dog
I recommend it a lot if you want short book with a lot of emotions and gentle warm love❤️

[Pauli]

Hermoso libro 🥹

[Jennifer]

Yall know that scene in Jim Carrey’s The Grinch? The “bleeding hearts of the world unit” scene, that was me this entire fucking book. Or that was my mood and the phrase I was saying was very different. This wasn’t it for me.

[Elizabeth Neal]

Thoughts:

1. The blurb is misleading. It was NOT her entire family. Her brother lives elsewhere with his wife and son.
2. Levi is touch averse to the point human contact is painful to him (he has reasons). Until Kelcie. She can touch him and he enjoys it. With his case being that extreme, I like tbat the heroine is the only one. It makes sense. What does not is that, when he was younger, he met his now ex-wife and, while not hurtful, her touch did make him uncomfortable. Which he could handle. Plus, he was lonely. So, this can't stand to be touched man gets married and endures the uncomfortable (and not enjoyable) kissing and sex with her. Again, it makes no sense. It also lessens the specialness of Kelcie being able to touch him without any issue. This is, I believe, the second hero this author has written with problems being touched. Yet somehow, not including their respective heroines, both were able to be touched. (The other one had a active sex life, which was ridiculous considering his problem. Family couldn't touch him, but he was just fine having sex with various women.) That's not how this works. That's not how any of this works.
3. Yeah, was not surprised by Colby's escalation.
4. Nor his mom's.
5. Kinda rude to not let us know what they name their daughter. I kept waiting to be told they did so after her mom, sister, or both.
6. Will Deputy Stone (Jonas) and Jill get a HEA?
7. What about Waverly (and her son, Lucas)?

[Colleen]

DNF at 50%

Everytime I’ve been picking it up I’m reading like 2 pages then putting it down again so I’m dnfing

[Zoreads_ox]

My first book by Michelle and it will not be my last,
I loved everything about this book, sucked me in right from the beginning!
The book was heavy emotional but also so beautifully written too! The characters were so easily likeable Levi and kelcie (the main characters) are my favourite!
This story will stay with me for a long time & I absolutely will be purchasing a physical copy when it’s released.

Thank you so much to NetGalley & Michelle for letting me ARC read this book!

[Cataa (Taylor's Version)]

Le iba a poner 1,5 pero me parecio bien tierno el final y hoy estoy de buen humor asi que lo dejo como esta. Para mi es super raro Leer un libro de Michelle que no sea mafia romance, definitivamente se siente diferente y en mi caso lastimosamente no en el buen sentido.

Kelcey perdio a sus papás y hermana por un asesinato entrando en una etapa de depresión que la atormentaba y se nos presenta a Levi que es un escritor que al parecer está relacionado con el asesinato pero no nos dicen de qué forma como hasta el 50% porque todo ese proceso es solamente ver como se enamoran bien insta love y forman confianza y el con esos pensamientos conflictivos internos en los que decia “oh no puedo estar con ella” y no digo que no haya sido fácil de leer porque hablando claro, Michelle tiene una pluma bastante fácil pero cuando se desvelo el misterio fue bastante predecible e incluso el conflicto sentimental de la protagonista fue bastante extraño porque ella llegó a la conclusión de que realmente siempre habría vuelto a él y que en esas páginas en las que no estuvieron juntos fueron solo un descanso para pensarlo.

Y ahí casi por el final entraron en un lapsus en el que estaban bien y de la nada llegaba gente a hacerles daño y así otra vez (y en eso consistió el otro 50%) lo cual me dejo con un sinsentido porque creo que el libro fue más largo de lo que debió haber sido y eso que de hecho es “corto” pero no, no fue mi tipo de lectura, sin duda falto mucha exploración en varios temas pero bueno.

[Nouf]

Review of advance copy received from Netgalley.



I truly enjoy her writing style I lose track of time whenever I read her books.

I enjoyed this one so much especially how they found comfort in each other's company it felt like they were in their own world.

I felt sad for what happened to her family and what she witnessed I can't blame her for struggling to move on and I hated how everyone kept calling her stubborn.

Colby was very annoying and his mum is horrible. What's wrong with this family?!

I was kinda shocked to find out it was the stepbrother involved because I thought the stepdad was behind what happened to her family.

Honestly I don't blame her for her reaction when she learned the truth about his family.

Again Colby and his MUM are the worst.

The only thing I didn't like was that I think they did it right in front of the dog :/.



Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher and the author for the ARC in exchange for an honest opinion.

[KDRBCK]

Every Single Broken Piece by Michelle Heard published by Montlake is a full length, stand alone.
An emotional read, heartwrenching, raw and gritty, gives all the feels.
The characters Kelsie and Levi are through a lot, become neighbors, become friends maybe.
A mafia romance that gives pretty goosebumps, 4,5 stars.

[Aurora Ash]

⭐️⭐️⭐️ 3 Stars

Okay, so first things first...

📢 THIS IS NOT THE MICHELLE HEARD BOOK I WAS EXPECTING.

When I pick up a Michelle Heard book, my brain automatically prepares for danger, obsession, suspense, morally questionable men, and enough drama to keep me glued to the pages at 2 a.m.

Instead, I got trauma therapy: The Romance.

And honestly? I'm still not entirely sure how I feel about it.

💔 Kelcie and Levi have both been through absolutely horrific things. Like, every time one of them shared a new piece of their past, I was sitting there thinking, "Damn... can somebody please give these two a break?"

The emotional weight of this story is HEAVY.

Like HEAVY heavy.

Like "I need a fluffy rom-com after this" heavy.

The book is basically about two broken people finding comfort in each other and becoming one another's safe place. And I can absolutely appreciate what the author was trying to do. There were some genuinely touching moments that hit me right in the feels.

But...

And this is a big but...

At times it felt like the entire plot was:

✨ Trauma.
✨ Sharing trauma.
✨ Thinking about trauma.
✨ Processing trauma.
✨ More trauma.

Repeat.

I'm being slightly dramatic, but not by much. 😂

There were multiple points where I found myself waiting for something significant to happen, only to realize that the emotional conversations WERE the plot.

If you're someone who loves deeply character-driven stories, you'll probably eat this up.

Unfortunately, I kept waiting for another layer that never fully arrived.

🐶 HOWEVER.

Can we all agree that Lick was the real star of this book?

I would happily read 400 pages from Lick's point of view.

Give me:
Lick's thoughts.
Lick's daily schedule.
Lick judging the humans.

I'd read all of it.

Best character. No notes. 🏆🐾

As for Levi...

I actually really liked him.

The poor man desperately needed a hug.

Well... technically he desperately DIDN'T want a hug.

But you know what I mean. 😭

His trauma shaped so much of who he was, and I found his chapters far more compelling than I expected. He was awkward, withdrawn, protective, and surprisingly sweet underneath all his emotional armor.

That said...

There were parts of his character arc that required me to suspend my disbelief a little.

I'm not saying it couldn't happen.

I'm just saying my eyebrow spent a good chunk of the book permanently raised. 🤨

Especially when certain issues seemed to resolve much faster than I personally expected.

Kelcie was easy to root for too. My heart broke for her. The way grief consumed her life felt realistic and honestly one of the strongest parts of the book.

One thing I really appreciated was that the story doesn't treat healing like a straight line.

People don't just wake up one day and decide they're fine.

Trauma changes you.

Grief changes you.

And this book does a good job showing that reality.

🌻 My biggest issue was the pacing.

The first 70% felt incredibly slow.

Then suddenly the final stretch showed up like:

🚨 PLOT HAS ENTERED THE CHAT 🚨

And all the action, reveals, drama, and chaos started happening at once.

The problem was that I saw most of it coming.

Every time the book tried to shock me, I was over here like:

"Yep."
"I knew that."
"Called it."
"Been expecting that for 150 pages."

The twists weren't bad.

They just weren't surprising.

Also...

Can we talk about Colby?

Because every time that man appeared on page, my irritation levels increased by approximately 500%.

The walking embodiment of "she said no but I'll keep trying anyway."

Sir.

Please.

Read the room.

Read the county.

Read the entire state.

The answer is STILL NO. 🙄

By the end of the book, I was invested enough to finish and I did enjoy seeing Kelcie and Levi get their happy ending.

I just never became completely obsessed with them the way I wanted to.

I liked them.

I rooted for them.

I wanted them to heal.

But I never got that feeling where I wanted to scream into the void about how perfect they were together.

Overall, this was a good book.

Not a bad book.

Not a great book.

Just a solid read that didn't fully click with me.

⭐ If you love:
🐾 Adorable dogs
💔 Trauma healing
🏡 Small-town settings
❤️ Emotional intimacy
🐢 Very slow-burn romance
🫂 Broken characters finding comfort in each other

You'll probably enjoy this much more than I did.


Final thoughts:

Lick deserved more page time.
Colby deserved worse
The plot needed more plot.
The emotions were emotional.
And while this wasn't my favorite Michelle Heard book, I'm still glad I read it.

⭐️⭐️⭐️

[Maddie (Bookaholic_Dreamer)]

3.5 ⭐️

Every Single Broken Piece is the newest Standalone release from author Michelle Heard.
The story has us following Kelcie Woodruff and Levi Graye through their dual POVs, in this Age-Gap, Neighbours to Lovers, Found Family, Mystery, Suspense Romance.

The story packed major punches from being super emotionally charged, given the journeys Kelcie and Levi find themselves navigating upon.
Considering they were not only venturing upon their own individual paths, which happened to be full of ups and downs and highs and lows. Given all that they were dealing with in their own personal lives.
Particularly for Kelcie, due to all that she endured and suffered through with trauma and heartbreak. All of which we see and learn through her inner monologue that has her expressing as much within her POV chapters.
Resulting in paving through the many emotions Kelcie and Levi faced and tackled through.

There was also the journey that caused their paths to intertwine with one another, bringing Kelcie and Levi together.
Seeing as they were both broken, author Michelle paved a story that had us seeing them slowly but surely connect through their shared brokenness and navigate through the ride that not only brought them closer together.
But also had them working their way through the suffering they were still dealing with by helping one another, given the heaviness of their own personal ordeals. Eventually bringing each other back to life, while leading each another to come out stronger on the other end and that too together.
Something that was always brought forth and expressed within their POV chapters.

Just going to preface this by saying while I absolutely love Michelle Heard’s book, seeing as they never fail to deliver, having always thoroughly enjoyed all the books of hers I have read thus far.
But with that said, Every Single Broken Piece did fall short for me considering the issues I had and just couldn't get past.

One issue for me came from Kelcie and Levi’s relationship.
IMO it did seem a little too fast with how quickly things were able to develop between the two.
It would’ve been nice to see more development showcased within the growth of their relationship, especially since there didn’t seem to be enough for my liking.

Another came from how quickly Levi was able to overcome his touch aversion with Kelcie.
Considering how long he had been dealing with the issue, which was still ongoing, the fact that with Kelcie it seemed to be over with so quickly just didn’t make sense or add up to me.

The story development in regards to the plot and subplot of which included secondary characters towards the end seemed a little rush to me.
Not only with how fast it all occurred, but the way it ended without any real thorough development or explanation showcased, resulting in a swift ending.
It ended up being something I just wasn’t the biggest fan of, since it would’ve been nice to see it play out a little more and thoroughly too instead of speeding through.

All in all, Every Single Broken Piece made for a good read despite my issues, allowing for a deeply heavy emotionally story.
Not only from all that took place, but with the heavy themes and topics, that paved the way for an emotional whirlwind.
And for that I say author Michelle Heard did a good job in how she managed to write it when it came to Kelcie and Levi’s story.



*I received an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

[Nicole]

Kelcie had what seemed like a perfect family and perfect life, but one night changed everything and left her a shadow of who she used to be. A year later, she’s barely functioning when she meets her new neighbour who seems just as broken as she is. He’s an antisocial introvert, who can’t stand to be touched, but somehow doesn’t recoil from hers. As she begins to find herself again in his arms, she starts to hope for the first time in a long time.

When Liam heard about the tragedy involving Kelcie’s family, he couldn’t resist tracking her down, and ended up moving into the house next door to her. Convinced that he was only there to make sure she was alright, he resigned himself to keeping his distance, until the day her brother introduced himself and everything changed. Now she’s the only one whose touch he welcomes, and he knows he won’t survive without her, but if she finds out the secret he’s keeping, he might be forced to.

I was lucky enough to immersive read this book early, courtesy of @netgalley and I absolutely loved it! I purposely didn’t read the synposis after I received it, so I didn’t remember the storyline before I dove in, and let me tell you, this one left me rattled. Watching Kelcie’s life shatter in real time was devastating, and seeing her struggle to move past it even harder, but the way Liam loved her back to life was absolutely everything. I loved that Kelcie was the only one able to touch Liam, as if it was a physical manifestation of their deep emotional connection. While I can understand why Liam kept his secret (although I began to suspect what it was early on), the way it was ultimately revealed to Kelcie was cruel, and left them both in pieces. This couple’s road was rocky at the best of times, but I know they will stick with me for a long time.

[Ghaz]

What to expect:
- [ ] Forced proximity
- [ ] Grieve
- [ ] Love/heal
- [ ] Protective MMC
- [ ] Found family

This story is emotional, heart wrenching, and gritty.

Every emotion, trauma in this book is written so beautifully that you will feel it same as the character is feeling.

I love a strong welled FMC and you will find her in this book and will love her as much as i did. All the things in her life , she went through and still stayed strong, I found it very inspiring.

The MMC brings that intense, protective, touch her and die, kinda a vibe and i am here for it. I love a good morally grey MMC and Levi is 100% is the one you will love him.

Overall, this is gripping, emotional read. Character development is amazing, emotions are very well portrayed. This story is one of those which will stay with you.

[Alicia]

If you love angst, you'll love this book.

Kelcie is living the life she loves when it all falls apart in a single night.
She lost her entire family in a brutal home invasion. And now, almost a year later, she is still drowning in grief. She mostly keeps to herself until she meets her new neighbor Levi.
He's grumpy, damaged, and doesn't like to be touched except by Kelcie.

When Levi heard what happened to Kelcie, he moved next door to make sure she was okay. And to ease the guilt he feels. But what shocks him the most is that her touch doesn't make his skin crawl.

They're both helping the other heal, but Levi worries that his secret will destroy the fragile love they've been building.

Thanks so much to the author and Candi Kane PR for this ARC to review.

[Sundy Tr.]

Levi (33) & Kelcie (25).

I wasn’t expecting such an intense, emotional start and it had all my attention.

Both MCs have serious issues due to trauma and they are perfect for each other. I liked both of them and how their relationship developed. The pace was amazing until 70% where it changed a bit and it was less exciting. And I think the last incident was pointless.

Did I mention it’s veeery emotional? I suggest not reading it when you’re feeling down.

I enjoyed it a lot and had a great time overall.

The cover has nothing to do with the book btw, the model does not even have tattoos!

-Dual 1st person POV
-Spice: 🌶️🌶️.5

Overall: 4/5 ⭐️ for me.

[Colorado]

Two characters bonding over the experience of trauma

This is a romance between Levi and Kelcie whose lives have been shaped by trauma and who bond by sharing their experiences. By listening to each other, they help each other bear the weight of terrible memories and begin to heal. As their experiences were violent, there are dark elements to the book.

From the very beginning, readers know that Levi is connected to Kelcie in some way that he's afraid to reveal. His secret drives some drama in the story.

[Romance_book_obsessed]

Available on KU!
Kelcie and Levi had to go through so much for her happily ever after😩 Levi doesn’t like to be touched by anyone but her 🥹

[Alina-Madalina]

4.5⭐️

[Kourtney]

Just…wow. 🙃