The Parts Worth Keeping

by L.L. Wright

Lydia Miller has spent six years fitting her life around someone else’s plans.

She built a successful career in New York publishing, supported her boyfriend through medical school and residency, and waited patiently for the future they were supposed to share. But when an unexpected opportunity offers Lydia the chance to leave editing behind and pursue her dream of becoming a literary agent, Trevor makes one thing clear: her ambitions were never part of his carefully constructed plan.

So Lydia walks away.

With one suitcase, a broken heart, and a six-month internship waiting in Connecticut, she returns briefly to the South Carolina town she left at nineteen. She expects family interference, unsolicited advice, and painful reminders of the life she abandoned. She does not expect Brad Whitaker.

Brad is a furniture builder and restoration expert with rough hands, a dry sense of humor, and an irritating ability to see through Lydia’s polished exterior. He understands that the most valuable things are rarely perfect. Sometimes they are scratched, unfinished, or in need of more work than anyone anticipated.

As Lydia begins rebuilding her career and creating a home of her own, Brad shows her what it feels like to be supported without being controlled. But choosing herself has become Lydia’s greatest defense, and letting someone else into her plans may require more courage than leaving her old life behind.

A warm, witty contemporary romance about starting over, finding purpose, and discovering that a meaningful life does not have to be polished to be worth keeping.

217 pages, Kindle Edition

Published August 10, 2026

About the author

Lorelei Wright is an American author of Young Adult fiction, short stories, and adult romance. She can often be found writing and editing late into the night when her family is fast asleep and the house is quiet. When she is not busy taking orders from the bossy characters that take up residence in her mind she spends time baking, crafting, and otherwise adventuring with her two toddlers and exceptionally handsome husband.

Reviews

[Marty]

Thank you Booksirens for the opportunity to read The Parts Worth Keeping.

I was expecting to read the usual chick lit style book where everything ends up on the same path with "A Baby In The End." This was a plot that was way more than just 'the parts we keep.' At 216 pages it was a quick read but an eye opener to do what it right for you, and not following another's agenda.

This story was so much more and it spoke to me as I too know what it's like to live in a relationship where I was told how things would go. I wish I had read this many years ago.

The book was fun, informative with no endless sub plots or any bodies stacking up.

[Elohor Egbordi]

This is an easy 5-star read for many reasons.

1. I love a book about books, readers, writers, etc.

2. The opening paragraph reeled me in until I read the book in its entirety, so it is definitely a page-turner.

3. The characters are so warm yet beautifully flawed that you can't help rooting for them.

4. This is one story which stays with you long after you're done reading.

5. The writing is so enthralling that it took me quite a bit of time to realise I was reading a 'clean romance'.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Keisha Hause]

I really enjoyed this book from beginning to end. I loved reading about Lydia’s journey of blowing up her life after realizing that she had lost herself and it wasn’t what she truly wanted. Watching her start completely over, create the life she wanted, and learn that she didn’t need to have everything figured out every step of the way was one of my favorite parts of the story.

Her dynamic with Brad had me interested from the beginning. I appreciated how supportive and attentive he was with Lydia. From remembering exactly how she liked her coffee to supporting her career and letting her decide the status of their relationship, he always made it clear that he wanted to be part of her life without taking it over.

I also appreciated how real Lydia felt. She fell back into old habits of avoiding conflict toward the end, but she was able to recognize the mistakes she was making before it was too late.

This was a really enjoyable story about starting over, personal growth, and finding someone who wants to build a life with you and not for you.


I received an advance review copy of The Parts Worth Keeping by L.L. Wright for free through BookSirens, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Corinne Rodrigues]

This romance by LL Wright, The Parts We Keep, is really warm and insightful. It’s about how you dim your own light for someone else’s goals. Lydia Miller just broke up with her boyfriend of six years. Her boyfriend’s future plans don’t include her dream of being a literary agent. She heads back to her home in South Carolina. From there, she starts building a life that is genuinely hers.

Brad Whitaker’s job is furniture restoration. He makes an interesting love interest. He doesn’t save Lydia. He doesn’t try to fix her either. He allows her to be her own person.

This is warm, quietly funny, and emotionally honest story. It reminds us that we shouldn’t have to alter our identity to achieve it.True love validates our being.

I received an advance review copy for free, and I am leaving this review voluntarily.

[Alessandra Evers]

- thank you to book sirens for a copy of this book -

What a powerful story about learning to chose yourself, stepping out of your comfort zone, and having the strength to walk away from the wrong relationship. Beautifully written.

[peace_equestrian]

I enjoyed reading every chapter of this book. I loved how Lydia chose herself and pursued her career goals rather than staying in a relationship that did not serve her. I also praise Lydia's mum for being a beacon of strength whenever her daughter was at her lowest.

This book allowed me to rethink and gave me an eye-opening experience of what literary agents do.

Thank you for this ARC, Booksirens.