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A Tiny Piece of Something Greater
Reid Watsford has a lot of secrets and a past he can’t quite escape. While staying at his grandmother’s condo in Key Largo, he signs up for introductory dive classes, where he meets Joaquim Oliveira, a Brazilian dive instructor with wanderlust. Driven by an instant, magnetic pull, what could have been just a hookup quickly deepens. As their relationship evolves, they must learn to navigate the challenges of Reid’s mental illness—on their own and with each other.
258 pages, Paperback
First published May 17, 2018
6 people are currently reading
750 people want to read
About the author
Jude Sierra
7 books110 followersJude began her writing career at the age of eight when she immortalized her summer vacation with ten entries in a row that read “pool+tv”.
As a sucker for happy endings and well written emotional arcs and characters, Jude is an unapologetic bookaholic. She finds bookstores and libraries unbearably sexy and, to her husband’s dismay, is attempting to create her own in their living room.
She is a writer of many things that hope to find their way out of the sanctuary of her hard drive, and many that have found a home in a fanfiction community.
She is currently working on her Master of Arts in Writing and Rhetoric and managing a home filled with her husband, two young sons, and two cats. Her first novel, Hush, was published in 2015 and her second novel, What it Takes, was published in January of 2016. She has an upcoming novel, Idlewild, coming in October of 2016
As a sucker for happy endings and well written emotional arcs and characters, Jude is an unapologetic bookaholic. She finds bookstores and libraries unbearably sexy and, to her husband’s dismay, is attempting to create her own in their living room.
She is a writer of many things that hope to find their way out of the sanctuary of her hard drive, and many that have found a home in a fanfiction community.
She is currently working on her Master of Arts in Writing and Rhetoric and managing a home filled with her husband, two young sons, and two cats. Her first novel, Hush, was published in 2015 and her second novel, What it Takes, was published in January of 2016. She has an upcoming novel, Idlewild, coming in October of 2016
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 72 reviews
December 31, 2021
rep: gay mc with cyclothymia, Brazilian gay mc
ARC provided by the publisher.
This isn’t the kind of love story I usually go for & I’m very grateful for that. But also, despite the romance being a major part of the novel, somewhat of a catalyst for the whole plot, this isn’t really a love story. Not in the sense that the love is the most vital & important arc. Rather, it’s a story of a young gay man who is still learning to navigate adulthood while battling his mental illness and who also happens to fall in love.
The main character - Reid - has cyclothymia and that really shapes the whole novel. He moves into his grandmother’s condo by the ocean to get away from his family & all the bad, exhausting things (and people) that make it harder for him to truly recover. To breathe. It’s not often that you find a book that honestly is mostly about living with a mental illness and even less often - an ownvoices one. That’s why A Tiny Piece is even more special.
Sierra doesn’t shy away from describing all the ugly parts of a mental illness, all the ache, the struggles, all the ways in which it can break a person. At the same time, though, she always makes sure not to paint it as something bad. There was this great quote that stayed with me, something Reid’s therapist said during one of their group therapy sessions:
Nothing here would work as well as it does, if it wasn’t for Sierra’s wonderful writing. Her prose feels very lyrical in all the small moments, the ones that could otherwise be read as mundane. She plucks just the right words & even though they’re simple and not “fancy” at all, she still manages to weave the most delicate, graceful metaphors. She turns the otherwise harsh feelings into something tangible (still able to hurt you but not without you knowing why) and gives an extra layer of warmth to the soft ones.
Like I said, the romance is quite a big part of the novel as well. Reid meets Joaquim - a Brazilian scuba diving instructor - at the very beginning and they both develop crushes on each other right away, it’s extremely cute. It’s not an angsty story where you’re not sure about the romantic outcome until the very end (the boys start dating soon after meeting). Instead, A Tiny Piece is their journey to a warm, healthy relationship. We get to watch the guys through each bump along the way, through the obstacles that they resolve by talking and listening to one another.
The love is in abundance on every single page of the novel, it pours out of their words and more importantly - their actions. This makes A Tiny Piece one of the most hopeful books you could imagine & together with the sunny beaches of Florida, it creates a beautifully summery, tender story.
ARC provided by the publisher.
This isn’t the kind of love story I usually go for & I’m very grateful for that. But also, despite the romance being a major part of the novel, somewhat of a catalyst for the whole plot, this isn’t really a love story. Not in the sense that the love is the most vital & important arc. Rather, it’s a story of a young gay man who is still learning to navigate adulthood while battling his mental illness and who also happens to fall in love.
The main character - Reid - has cyclothymia and that really shapes the whole novel. He moves into his grandmother’s condo by the ocean to get away from his family & all the bad, exhausting things (and people) that make it harder for him to truly recover. To breathe. It’s not often that you find a book that honestly is mostly about living with a mental illness and even less often - an ownvoices one. That’s why A Tiny Piece is even more special.
Sierra doesn’t shy away from describing all the ugly parts of a mental illness, all the ache, the struggles, all the ways in which it can break a person. At the same time, though, she always makes sure not to paint it as something bad. There was this great quote that stayed with me, something Reid’s therapist said during one of their group therapy sessions:
“You are a normal person. We all are. We all have brains that work differently, that’s all. You guys have been handed challenges. But you are worthy of happiness and health and help.”
Nothing here would work as well as it does, if it wasn’t for Sierra’s wonderful writing. Her prose feels very lyrical in all the small moments, the ones that could otherwise be read as mundane. She plucks just the right words & even though they’re simple and not “fancy” at all, she still manages to weave the most delicate, graceful metaphors. She turns the otherwise harsh feelings into something tangible (still able to hurt you but not without you knowing why) and gives an extra layer of warmth to the soft ones.
Like I said, the romance is quite a big part of the novel as well. Reid meets Joaquim - a Brazilian scuba diving instructor - at the very beginning and they both develop crushes on each other right away, it’s extremely cute. It’s not an angsty story where you’re not sure about the romantic outcome until the very end (the boys start dating soon after meeting). Instead, A Tiny Piece is their journey to a warm, healthy relationship. We get to watch the guys through each bump along the way, through the obstacles that they resolve by talking and listening to one another.
The love is in abundance on every single page of the novel, it pours out of their words and more importantly - their actions. This makes A Tiny Piece one of the most hopeful books you could imagine & together with the sunny beaches of Florida, it creates a beautifully summery, tender story.
January 29, 2022
aaaahhhh, I really, really love Jude Sierra's writing style. this is the third book of theirs I've read and it's also the third home run for me.
this was an extremely sweet story and also an important one. going into this, i knew NOTHING about cyclothymia, but this book does a wonderful job of exploring and explaining the intricacies of this disorder.
my only small gripe is
overall, though, I really did enjoy this. 4 stars.
this was an extremely sweet story and also an important one. going into this, i knew NOTHING about cyclothymia, but this book does a wonderful job of exploring and explaining the intricacies of this disorder.
my only small gripe is
overall, though, I really did enjoy this. 4 stars.
May 16, 2018
The first thing that attracted me to this book was obviously the cover, which is made by CB Messer. Did you see how amazing it is? Let's go stare at it together for a bit more, shall we? Another thing that deserves mentioning is the title. When you reach the point in the book where the characters use that phrase you'll fall a little bit in love with it yourselves.
So, after all this praise why only 2 stars? Well, that has to do with me and my inability to get into the story and connect with the plot. There was nothing wrong with the writing style, the plot or the characters, it's just that me and this particular story didn't mess well. The truth is that for some reason we didn't get along right from the start. There were interesting parts that I read enthusiastically, but most of the time I read along totally removed from what was happening on the page. The plot was mostly Reid's journey, his stuggle to balance his mental illness with his everyday life and his hopes for the future.
"A Tiny Piece of Something Greater" is a very personal story for the author, as we learn from her note at the end, and sometimes it read that way too. There are a lot of details about the mental illness - cyclothymia - that Reid lives with and a lot of information about it. Reid's mental health is and always will be a work in progress. He has to dedicate hours in therapy and developing skills to help him understand his moods and manage them as best as possible. It's a constant battle that shifts and changes and he should adjust accordingly and that's what we're left with from this story. It's all very realistic and read very true and I appreciated that.
It may not end in a HEA but we get a nice epilogue with a very tentative HFN and a possibility for a future for the two of them. However, I don't really believe that Reid and Joaquim are going to make it together in the long run, but that's okay because Joaquim was an important stop in Reid's life, someone to help him believe in himself more, get a sense of what a healthy and happy relationship is like and someone to spend a nice summer with. I think that was all their relationship could be because their dreams, hopes and needs for the future didn't really align and that makes it difficult to imagine a future where they could be together.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. *
So, after all this praise why only 2 stars? Well, that has to do with me and my inability to get into the story and connect with the plot. There was nothing wrong with the writing style, the plot or the characters, it's just that me and this particular story didn't mess well. The truth is that for some reason we didn't get along right from the start. There were interesting parts that I read enthusiastically, but most of the time I read along totally removed from what was happening on the page. The plot was mostly Reid's journey, his stuggle to balance his mental illness with his everyday life and his hopes for the future.
"A Tiny Piece of Something Greater" is a very personal story for the author, as we learn from her note at the end, and sometimes it read that way too. There are a lot of details about the mental illness - cyclothymia - that Reid lives with and a lot of information about it. Reid's mental health is and always will be a work in progress. He has to dedicate hours in therapy and developing skills to help him understand his moods and manage them as best as possible. It's a constant battle that shifts and changes and he should adjust accordingly and that's what we're left with from this story. It's all very realistic and read very true and I appreciated that.
It may not end in a HEA but we get a nice epilogue with a very tentative HFN and a possibility for a future for the two of them. However, I don't really believe that Reid and Joaquim are going to make it together in the long run, but that's okay because Joaquim was an important stop in Reid's life, someone to help him believe in himself more, get a sense of what a healthy and happy relationship is like and someone to spend a nice summer with. I think that was all their relationship could be because their dreams, hopes and needs for the future didn't really align and that makes it difficult to imagine a future where they could be together.
*An ARC of this book was kindly provided to me by the publisher, via NetGalley, in exchange for an honest review. *
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June 2, 2018DNF. No rating.
I could not get into this book, no matter how hard I tried. I really, really hate third person, present tense, so that was a big factor, for sure. However, there was something... remote about the story. I felt like an outsider while I was reading, not like I was a part of these characters' lives.
I could not get into this book, no matter how hard I tried. I really, really hate third person, present tense, so that was a big factor, for sure. However, there was something... remote about the story. I felt like an outsider while I was reading, not like I was a part of these characters' lives.
May 20, 2018
I was sent this book as an advanced copy by the publisher via NetGalley for reviewing purposes, but all opinions are my own.
This was exactly the kind of book I was in the mood for! A healthy and sexy M/M romance that's never too smutty and never fetishized, with important ownvoices mental illness representation.
Reid and Joaquim come from different backgrounds. Most of the novel focuses on them learning to know each other and especially learning how to be together. Reid has cyclothymia and while Joaquim learns to be with him and be respectful of him when he’s cycling and needs space, Reid also needs to learn to let go of some of the behavior and negative expectations he’s still carrying from a past unhealthy relationship.
I think this is an important book because of the mental illness representation and how openly it’s talked about. It’s also definitely not a “love fixes mental illness” novel, far from it in fact, and I wish more novels were this honest when it comes to building healthy relationships not in spite of but alongside a mental illness.
Rep: Brazilian gay MC, cyclothymic gay MC, M/M relationship
TW (taken from the publisher’s website):
• Discussion of mental illness, therapy and recovery
• A portrayal of a cyclothymic character who experiences rapid mood cycles and anxiety
• Non-graphic discussion of past self-harm and off-page relapse
• Non-graphic reference of a past suicide attempt
This was exactly the kind of book I was in the mood for! A healthy and sexy M/M romance that's never too smutty and never fetishized, with important ownvoices mental illness representation.
Reid and Joaquim come from different backgrounds. Most of the novel focuses on them learning to know each other and especially learning how to be together. Reid has cyclothymia and while Joaquim learns to be with him and be respectful of him when he’s cycling and needs space, Reid also needs to learn to let go of some of the behavior and negative expectations he’s still carrying from a past unhealthy relationship.
I think this is an important book because of the mental illness representation and how openly it’s talked about. It’s also definitely not a “love fixes mental illness” novel, far from it in fact, and I wish more novels were this honest when it comes to building healthy relationships not in spite of but alongside a mental illness.
Rep: Brazilian gay MC, cyclothymic gay MC, M/M relationship
TW (taken from the publisher’s website):
• Discussion of mental illness, therapy and recovery
• A portrayal of a cyclothymic character who experiences rapid mood cycles and anxiety
• Non-graphic discussion of past self-harm and off-page relapse
• Non-graphic reference of a past suicide attempt
April 9, 2023
you ever didn't like a book and feel like you have to start the review by apologizing for being the sort of person that you are
anyway. sorry. me again.
i was debating between two and one stars (how generous of you jonathan) and i was asking myself whether i took anything from this book and the answer is.. no.
i found the characters one dimensional, the dialogues were so stilted it was impossible to sit through and the writing was so much the definition of just okay that it bothered me even more than it would have had it been straight up bad.
the only part i liked was the few page long conversation about the MCs mental health and even then i didn't care about the characters nor their relationship enough to... well... care.
1.5 stars
read as part of 202-Queer 🌈✨
april reading: 6/26
anyway. sorry. me again.
i was debating between two and one stars (how generous of you jonathan) and i was asking myself whether i took anything from this book and the answer is.. no.
i found the characters one dimensional, the dialogues were so stilted it was impossible to sit through and the writing was so much the definition of just okay that it bothered me even more than it would have had it been straight up bad.
the only part i liked was the few page long conversation about the MCs mental health and even then i didn't care about the characters nor their relationship enough to... well... care.
1.5 stars
read as part of 202-Queer 🌈✨
april reading: 6/26
May 28, 2018
4.5 stars for my first foray into a Jude Sierra novel.
I recreated the cover art on my nails!
My first Jude Sierra book and I am so disappointed in myself! I have had her other books on my TBR and hadn't made time for them...and now I regret not having her words in my life before now.
Jude spins her words into a thing of beauty. She wrote this story that had this heaviness to it but was filled with hope.
A Tiny Piece of Something Greater is a romantic story that had an abundance of heart and hope. I loved going along on the journey as Reid trusts himself and his decisions while Joaquim navigates falling in love for the first time. The beautiful writing really made this emotional journey an enjoyable read.
Every step forward Reid took in order to grasp hold of his future, I was sure he was going to find success. Joaquim was the most patient and loving person. He was just what Reid needed at this moment in time. I have high hopes for these two, I will always want them to succeed.
We get a quiet HFN and it works for this book. And if this is how Jude Sierra tells a story, sign me up for all her releases because she has me.
*ARC provided by Netgalley*
I recreated the cover art on my nails!
My first Jude Sierra book and I am so disappointed in myself! I have had her other books on my TBR and hadn't made time for them...and now I regret not having her words in my life before now.
Jude spins her words into a thing of beauty. She wrote this story that had this heaviness to it but was filled with hope.
A Tiny Piece of Something Greater is a romantic story that had an abundance of heart and hope. I loved going along on the journey as Reid trusts himself and his decisions while Joaquim navigates falling in love for the first time. The beautiful writing really made this emotional journey an enjoyable read.
Every step forward Reid took in order to grasp hold of his future, I was sure he was going to find success. Joaquim was the most patient and loving person. He was just what Reid needed at this moment in time. I have high hopes for these two, I will always want them to succeed.
We get a quiet HFN and it works for this book. And if this is how Jude Sierra tells a story, sign me up for all her releases because she has me.
*ARC provided by Netgalley*
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May 29, 2018I'm not rating this one as I've not been able to finish it and I think it'd be unfair to pull this book's overall rating down.
There is some exceptional writing in this book, the true voice experience is clear to see and, as the author's note elaborates, it is something they have intimate experience with.
Part of my problem is that I feel so far removed from the characters that it's difficult for me to relate to them and so I found it really hard to get enthused about wanting to read more about a young lad struggling to deal with his mental health.
Is that a poor effort on my behalf, yes it probably is, I think books like this need to be written and I think they need to be read and I probably will come back and try and finish it at some point when can give it the serious time and consideration it needs.
But, at the moment, that isn't now and I have too many other books that I need to read for specific deadlines to want to read a book which, while important, isn't giving me any enjoyment as well.
#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
There is some exceptional writing in this book, the true voice experience is clear to see and, as the author's note elaborates, it is something they have intimate experience with.
Part of my problem is that I feel so far removed from the characters that it's difficult for me to relate to them and so I found it really hard to get enthused about wanting to read more about a young lad struggling to deal with his mental health.
Is that a poor effort on my behalf, yes it probably is, I think books like this need to be written and I think they need to be read and I probably will come back and try and finish it at some point when can give it the serious time and consideration it needs.
But, at the moment, that isn't now and I have too many other books that I need to read for specific deadlines to want to read a book which, while important, isn't giving me any enjoyment as well.
#ARC kindly provided by the author in return for an honest and unbiased review.
May 17, 2018
A Joyfully Jay review.
4.5 stars
I have read several books by Jude Sierra and her style remains consistent. This book offers a third-person narrative and the entire story is character driven and mostly driven by Reid. Reid hasn’t had an easy time. He was diagnosed as being cyclothymic, a mood disorder, and he’s really trying to get his life on track. He’s taking his meds and he’s going to therapy and he has carved out an online support system, but Reid still has setbacks. When he meets Joaquim and then gets to know him, he wants him in the worst way. But Reid is so happy that he can just be Reid in his new location and not Reid with the mental health issues.
The book takes us pretty deep into Reid’s mind and he has a strong character. For where he is in life, his mental health issues take over every aspect. And, as he begins a relationship with Joaquim, it raises questions about if he is truly ready for a relationship. It’s difficult for him to be open with Joaquim and tell him all about his issues, which include cutting. So, for a good portion of the time, Joaquim is left in the dark trying to figure out just what is going on with Reid as Reid moves from one mood cycle to the next. But, when things are good, Joaquim grounds Reid and the guys are sweet and soft and kind to each other. Sierra’s prose is lyrical and descriptive, and it read like a balm to Reid’s soul when he was in an even place with Joaquim.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
4.5 stars
I have read several books by Jude Sierra and her style remains consistent. This book offers a third-person narrative and the entire story is character driven and mostly driven by Reid. Reid hasn’t had an easy time. He was diagnosed as being cyclothymic, a mood disorder, and he’s really trying to get his life on track. He’s taking his meds and he’s going to therapy and he has carved out an online support system, but Reid still has setbacks. When he meets Joaquim and then gets to know him, he wants him in the worst way. But Reid is so happy that he can just be Reid in his new location and not Reid with the mental health issues.
The book takes us pretty deep into Reid’s mind and he has a strong character. For where he is in life, his mental health issues take over every aspect. And, as he begins a relationship with Joaquim, it raises questions about if he is truly ready for a relationship. It’s difficult for him to be open with Joaquim and tell him all about his issues, which include cutting. So, for a good portion of the time, Joaquim is left in the dark trying to figure out just what is going on with Reid as Reid moves from one mood cycle to the next. But, when things are good, Joaquim grounds Reid and the guys are sweet and soft and kind to each other. Sierra’s prose is lyrical and descriptive, and it read like a balm to Reid’s soul when he was in an even place with Joaquim.
Read Michelle's review in its entirety here.
June 14, 2021
3.5 stars!
reading this book was such a joyful and cathartic experience<33
reading this book was such a joyful and cathartic experience<33
April 16, 2018
This book was both incredibly heartbreaking and wonderfully soothing at the same time. This was my first Jude Sierra book, and I will definitely be checking out more from her!
Read the full review on my blog!
Read the full review on my blog!
May 23, 2018
This book was a gorgeous, heartbreaking, uplifting, amazing love story. I have endless love for Joaquim and Reid. <33333333 Full review coming to www.thenovelapproachreviews.com
June 13, 2018
This is my third Jude Sierra read. I've loved all three of them; her writing is quite poetic in it's way, but this particular story hit really close to home for me. As far as the story is concerned, we have a HFN situation. Reid has suffered greatly in the past, and a lot [but not all] of his symptoms were very familiar to me indeed. Joaquim is trying to be just the sort of boyfriend Reid needs to help him overcome some of his problems, although he obviously feels overwhelmed at times. These two were quite romantic too [there were several puddle of goo moments]. Perhaps I would've liked to get more of a perspective from Reid's parents POV I have to admit, but the story really started when Reid left home in Wisconsin and made his way to the Florida Keys to escape people [mostly his toxic ex boyfriend] trying to tell him how and what he should feel when they really didn't have a clue what he was going through. 4.5 stars from me.
Jude was spot on in her story...mental health issues are not taken seriously enough over here in the UK either. Lack of medical staff, long waiting lists for diagnosis and treatment, and all the time, the sufferer thinks they're slowly going mad. A very upsetting situation.
Jude was spot on in her story...mental health issues are not taken seriously enough over here in the UK either. Lack of medical staff, long waiting lists for diagnosis and treatment, and all the time, the sufferer thinks they're slowly going mad. A very upsetting situation.
June 12, 2021
The set-up of this book is really quite simple--two guys in their early twenties are both away from home on the same island, meet, and fall in love. Reid is 20 and taking care of his grandma's condo while she's with his family in Wisconsin. Joaquim, who is 22, has come to the island from Brazil to intern as a scuba diving instructor. They meet when Reid signs up for scuba diving classes. It really just follows the two of them as they get to know one another and build a relationship, which is sometimes difficult because Reid is cyclothymic and deals with mood swings and other mental health problems. Seeing these two fall in love and navigating a relationship together was something that just made my heart ache; it isn't easy for either of them, but they really try to understand each other and make the best of it. Finding books about people in their early twenties that aren't new adult college romance is kind of hard, especially queer ones, so I just really appreciate this book for being exactly what I needed.
Content warnings (as found in the book): Discussion of mental illness, therapy, and recovery. It includes a portrayal of a cyclothymic character who experiences rapid mood cycles and anxiety. There is non-graphic discussion of past self-harm and off-page relapse. It also contains non-graphic reference to a past suicide attempt.
Content warnings (as found in the book): Discussion of mental illness, therapy, and recovery. It includes a portrayal of a cyclothymic character who experiences rapid mood cycles and anxiety. There is non-graphic discussion of past self-harm and off-page relapse. It also contains non-graphic reference to a past suicide attempt.
Read
April 18, 2018This is a wonderfully beautiful and hopeful book. It's also, at time, raw and heartbreaking, but in a very gentle way. Jude's writing is almost dreamlike. Soft and calming.
A Tiny Piece very much a New Adult book about two young men on the cusp of the rest of their lives and how they find love and acceptance with each other.
It's also a book that deals heavily with the reality of living with a mental illness and how that affects, your relationships, and your life. It's real and raw, as I've said. But hopeful, so hopeful, and full of light. Reid isn't his illness, but it's a part of who he is, and Joaquim accepts that fully, even though it's hard sometimes. There's no stigma here. No platitudes, either. And that, by itself is a breath of fresh air.
But then all relationships are hard sometimes; it's one of the things about being human beings. The communication and downright love between these two is so wonderful and refreshing, even when it doesn't always go quite right. How these two navigate each other and themselves is something I think anyone can learn from. I want to be as thoughtful as these two with all the people in my life.
A Tiny Piece very much a New Adult book about two young men on the cusp of the rest of their lives and how they find love and acceptance with each other.
It's also a book that deals heavily with the reality of living with a mental illness and how that affects, your relationships, and your life. It's real and raw, as I've said. But hopeful, so hopeful, and full of light. Reid isn't his illness, but it's a part of who he is, and Joaquim accepts that fully, even though it's hard sometimes. There's no stigma here. No platitudes, either. And that, by itself is a breath of fresh air.
But then all relationships are hard sometimes; it's one of the things about being human beings. The communication and downright love between these two is so wonderful and refreshing, even when it doesn't always go quite right. How these two navigate each other and themselves is something I think anyone can learn from. I want to be as thoughtful as these two with all the people in my life.
May 17, 2018
I'm partial to books that illustrate this vital truth: everyone deserves to be loved. I'm especially partial when they're about characters who aren't sure they do. Because of this, I absolutely loved A Tiny Piece Of Something Greater!
Reid heads to Florida for a fresh start while he's in recovery for self-harming behaviors and in treatment for his cyclothymia. He feels he's put his family through a lot because of his mental illness and he's still figuring out how to handle his co-dependent relationship with his ex-boyfriend.
At the same time, there's a brightness to Reid and an inner strength he's discovering. His character growth through the course of the novel was stunning. I simply adored him.
Joaquim is training to become a scuba diving instructor. He's from Brazil and has a bit of wanderlust, content to leave the future in the air while he goes from place to place. Yet he's also such a dependable, calm man. He serves as a good example for anyone who has a loved one with mental illness.
We get to see how they're drawn to one another and how they work through their insecurities and figure out the beginnings of their relationship. Reid may feel he has a lot of baggage but I liked how Joaquim felt like they were learning one another's stories and he really wanted to better understand Reid no matter what.
I loved watching Reid figure out what he needed in each moment. Mental illness was handled with such grace and compassion and I'm so glad we got to see Reid use coping skills and therapeutic tools. He’s in a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) group, which was my favorite class when I was getting my masters in social work. Any book that highlights DBT has a special place in my heart.
There are no quick fixes for Reid but Joaquim is in it with him, willing to support Reid however he needs. I loved how watching Joaquim figure out the ways he needed to compromise his free-spirited ways for the good of the relationship. This was such a beautiful and moving portrait of what love looks like. That Reid didn't believe he deserved to experience love like this, that Joaquim and Reid were so perfect for one another...my heart spills over.
It ends with a HFN (Happy For Now) and because Reid and Joaquim are in their early 20s, I'm absolutely fine with that. It's so hope-filled that I do believe their happily-ever-after awaits.
This is the second book I've read by Jude Sierra and it blew me away. She's pretty much reached auto-buy status. Her writing is vivid and nuanced. I love the way she brings her characters to life and how very real they feel. This is a deeply personal story for her as she also has cyclothymia and I'm deeply grateful she wrote it. We need more #ownvoices stories along these lines. Highly recommended.
Disclosure: Thank you to A Novel Take PR for the free advance copy!
Reid heads to Florida for a fresh start while he's in recovery for self-harming behaviors and in treatment for his cyclothymia. He feels he's put his family through a lot because of his mental illness and he's still figuring out how to handle his co-dependent relationship with his ex-boyfriend.
At the same time, there's a brightness to Reid and an inner strength he's discovering. His character growth through the course of the novel was stunning. I simply adored him.
Joaquim is training to become a scuba diving instructor. He's from Brazil and has a bit of wanderlust, content to leave the future in the air while he goes from place to place. Yet he's also such a dependable, calm man. He serves as a good example for anyone who has a loved one with mental illness.
We get to see how they're drawn to one another and how they work through their insecurities and figure out the beginnings of their relationship. Reid may feel he has a lot of baggage but I liked how Joaquim felt like they were learning one another's stories and he really wanted to better understand Reid no matter what.
I loved watching Reid figure out what he needed in each moment. Mental illness was handled with such grace and compassion and I'm so glad we got to see Reid use coping skills and therapeutic tools. He’s in a Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) group, which was my favorite class when I was getting my masters in social work. Any book that highlights DBT has a special place in my heart.
There are no quick fixes for Reid but Joaquim is in it with him, willing to support Reid however he needs. I loved how watching Joaquim figure out the ways he needed to compromise his free-spirited ways for the good of the relationship. This was such a beautiful and moving portrait of what love looks like. That Reid didn't believe he deserved to experience love like this, that Joaquim and Reid were so perfect for one another...my heart spills over.
It ends with a HFN (Happy For Now) and because Reid and Joaquim are in their early 20s, I'm absolutely fine with that. It's so hope-filled that I do believe their happily-ever-after awaits.
This is the second book I've read by Jude Sierra and it blew me away. She's pretty much reached auto-buy status. Her writing is vivid and nuanced. I love the way she brings her characters to life and how very real they feel. This is a deeply personal story for her as she also has cyclothymia and I'm deeply grateful she wrote it. We need more #ownvoices stories along these lines. Highly recommended.
Disclosure: Thank you to A Novel Take PR for the free advance copy!
October 27, 2018
I had conflicting feelings on this one as I was reading it, but the more I think about it, the more I feel like it deserves every one of those 5 stars. Do I think it's a perfect book? Far from it. Do I think it's a valuable book, to me and to others with mental illnesses or loved ones with mental illnesses? Hell yes.
First of all, the MI rep is FANTASTIC (one character has cyclothymia, a mood disorder similar to bipolar but with shorter cycles). The second half of the book, after they're together and are working through how to be in a healthy relationship with each other, is SO GOOD, and I saw so many parallels to my relationship with my husband who's bipolar.
I did have some big issues with the structure of the first half, all of which I also had with the other two books I've read by Jude Sierra. It's like sometimes she just can't quite seem to connect all the narrative threads, and it feels like there are some important details missing. She just never quite writes what I expect-- like sometimes she'll surprise me with beautiful, stunningly insightful writing, other times it feels like reading the novel version of Madlibs. And that often fucks with my ability to really believe in the characters' attraction in the beginning.
But. BUT.
Something changed partway through and I ended up connecting with these two characters and their relationship so, so much. It made me think of how far my husband has come in coping with his mental illness, how far we've both come as a couple, how little both of us understood when we were younger, how long it took me to realize the patterns of communication and unhealthy interactions. It made me think about the things worth cherishing. It made me so grateful for where we are now.
And these are not little things. How often can you say that a book gave you something as valuable as all that? Any of the negative things I could say about the first half really pale in comparison. How could I rate this book down? The answer is, I can't.
First of all, the MI rep is FANTASTIC (one character has cyclothymia, a mood disorder similar to bipolar but with shorter cycles). The second half of the book, after they're together and are working through how to be in a healthy relationship with each other, is SO GOOD, and I saw so many parallels to my relationship with my husband who's bipolar.
I did have some big issues with the structure of the first half, all of which I also had with the other two books I've read by Jude Sierra. It's like sometimes she just can't quite seem to connect all the narrative threads, and it feels like there are some important details missing. She just never quite writes what I expect-- like sometimes she'll surprise me with beautiful, stunningly insightful writing, other times it feels like reading the novel version of Madlibs. And that often fucks with my ability to really believe in the characters' attraction in the beginning.
But. BUT.
Something changed partway through and I ended up connecting with these two characters and their relationship so, so much. It made me think of how far my husband has come in coping with his mental illness, how far we've both come as a couple, how little both of us understood when we were younger, how long it took me to realize the patterns of communication and unhealthy interactions. It made me think about the things worth cherishing. It made me so grateful for where we are now.
And these are not little things. How often can you say that a book gave you something as valuable as all that? Any of the negative things I could say about the first half really pale in comparison. How could I rate this book down? The answer is, I can't.
May 3, 2018
3.5 stars
First of all, I need to highlight something important about this book. Reid Wastford, one of the main characters, has cyclothymic. It is a mental illness, which is described as "milder version" of bipolar. It's an important representation, an #ownvoice story based on the author's note at the end of this book.
I have never heard about this illness before, and I think Jude Sierra does a good job of describing what Reid is going through. It is educative, realistic, and touching all at once. I enjoyed reading the therapy session scenes.
Most important thing about this book that it shows how Reid's story is a JOURNEY. His disease doesn't magically cured because Reid falls in love. He still struggles with it trying to find a balance throughout.
I also found the setting of Key Largo to be a wonderful secondary character. I loved it when our young men swim or dive and it seemed to add the necessary calmness for our heroes to build their relationship.
Having said that, I wasn't completely satisfied with the romance. The thing is, I also thought that I didn't know a lot about Reid outside of his illness. Yes, sure, there were tidbits of information, like him being the only child, that his favorite book is Boy Meets Boy, that his favorite food is beef stroganoff that his mother makes, that his favorite color is blue
... BUT most of Reid's side of this book sort of strongly tied into his mental illness. This includes how Reid reacts to his ex-boyfriend and how he decides whether he wants to pursue his newfound love with Joaquim with full honesty.
On that note, Joaquim seems also to be a rather perfect fit for Reid. Oh, yes, of course there are moments that he doesn't know what to do to approach Reid when Reid is not in his better days. But other times, Joaquim seems to be rather (too) well-adjusted for someone like Reid. I guess I want to read about Joaquim making trials and errors too.
AND the ending is better described as HFN. My romantic heart wishes that it has sort of epilogue, or something a little bit of guarantee that Reid and Joaquim will be just fine.
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
First of all, I need to highlight something important about this book. Reid Wastford, one of the main characters, has cyclothymic. It is a mental illness, which is described as "milder version" of bipolar. It's an important representation, an #ownvoice story based on the author's note at the end of this book.
I have never heard about this illness before, and I think Jude Sierra does a good job of describing what Reid is going through. It is educative, realistic, and touching all at once. I enjoyed reading the therapy session scenes.
Most important thing about this book that it shows how Reid's story is a JOURNEY. His disease doesn't magically cured because Reid falls in love. He still struggles with it trying to find a balance throughout.
I also found the setting of Key Largo to be a wonderful secondary character. I loved it when our young men swim or dive and it seemed to add the necessary calmness for our heroes to build their relationship.
Having said that, I wasn't completely satisfied with the romance. The thing is, I also thought that I didn't know a lot about Reid outside of his illness. Yes, sure, there were tidbits of information, like him being the only child, that his favorite book is Boy Meets Boy, that his favorite food is beef stroganoff that his mother makes, that his favorite color is blue
... BUT most of Reid's side of this book sort of strongly tied into his mental illness. This includes how Reid reacts to his ex-boyfriend and how he decides whether he wants to pursue his newfound love with Joaquim with full honesty.
On that note, Joaquim seems also to be a rather perfect fit for Reid. Oh, yes, of course there are moments that he doesn't know what to do to approach Reid when Reid is not in his better days. But other times, Joaquim seems to be rather (too) well-adjusted for someone like Reid. I guess I want to read about Joaquim making trials and errors too.
AND the ending is better described as HFN. My romantic heart wishes that it has sort of epilogue, or something a little bit of guarantee that Reid and Joaquim will be just fine.
The ARC is provided by the publisher via Netgalley for an exchange of fair and honest review. No high rating is required for any ARC received.
dnf
October 3, 2019dnf @55%
August 12, 2018
it hit me at the epilogue. and then it hit me harder at the author's note. I can't stop crying hhh
this book is real. it hit so close to home, I don't even have words. as someone who struggles with mental illness, this book means the WORLD to me. and I'm not kidding. I love the fact that it doesn't shy away from the real stuff, the hard stuff, the heartbreaking stuff, the frustrating stuff, it'all there, laid bare on the page, but it's so hopeful at the same time, and it inspires this kind of relief and reassurance, reassurance that things will get better and I am worthy of being happy and loved. there's nothing more I could've asked for.
the focus is on Reid and Joaquim's relationship, while dealing with Reid's mental illness but not making it a plot device. I'm crying guys, I can't stop. I kept waiting for the big break-up to happen, for the angst that's always present (for some reason) in every contemporary book, around 70% of the story BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN! seriously I can't stop crying.
the thing is, relationships are difficult. be it romantic love, platonic love, family bonds, people fight and disagree and hurt each other, and Reid and Joaquim are no exception. but they work together through all of it, they communicate and try and put effort into it and it means so fucking much to me to see a healthy relationship like this in a book, it's refreshing and so so good. I'm struggling so much with this because most people don't want to communicate and I'm left all alone and so frustrated, because people don't know what healthy relationships are like, all they see are toxic couples and coping methods, and people breaking up and fighting as soon as things start to get a little rough. THIS BOOK IS SO IMPORTANT!!! Reid and Joaquim are a healthy couple who communicates and puts effort into their relationship and I just ;------;
that being said, this book means the world to me, read it, it's important for so many reasons and I treasure it with all my heart.
this book is real. it hit so close to home, I don't even have words. as someone who struggles with mental illness, this book means the WORLD to me. and I'm not kidding. I love the fact that it doesn't shy away from the real stuff, the hard stuff, the heartbreaking stuff, the frustrating stuff, it'all there, laid bare on the page, but it's so hopeful at the same time, and it inspires this kind of relief and reassurance, reassurance that things will get better and I am worthy of being happy and loved. there's nothing more I could've asked for.
the focus is on Reid and Joaquim's relationship, while dealing with Reid's mental illness but not making it a plot device. I'm crying guys, I can't stop. I kept waiting for the big break-up to happen, for the angst that's always present (for some reason) in every contemporary book, around 70% of the story BUT IT DIDN'T HAPPEN! seriously I can't stop crying.
the thing is, relationships are difficult. be it romantic love, platonic love, family bonds, people fight and disagree and hurt each other, and Reid and Joaquim are no exception. but they work together through all of it, they communicate and try and put effort into it and it means so fucking much to me to see a healthy relationship like this in a book, it's refreshing and so so good. I'm struggling so much with this because most people don't want to communicate and I'm left all alone and so frustrated, because people don't know what healthy relationships are like, all they see are toxic couples and coping methods, and people breaking up and fighting as soon as things start to get a little rough. THIS BOOK IS SO IMPORTANT!!! Reid and Joaquim are a healthy couple who communicates and puts effort into their relationship and I just ;------;
that being said, this book means the world to me, read it, it's important for so many reasons and I treasure it with all my heart.
May 22, 2018
2.75 stars
What initially drew me to this book, besides the cover, was the depiction of being in a relationship with someone who has cyclothymia. This is often described as being a milder bipolar.
Jude Sierra strove to erase some of the stigma that is attached to people who suffer from a mental illness, and I thought that portion was thoughtfully done. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t connect with the characters. It’s almost as though Sierra sacrificed character development, to really drive home that Reid suffers from a mental illness. It was really his book, and Joaquim was just there to propel his story.
What initially drew me to this book, besides the cover, was the depiction of being in a relationship with someone who has cyclothymia. This is often described as being a milder bipolar.
Jude Sierra strove to erase some of the stigma that is attached to people who suffer from a mental illness, and I thought that portion was thoughtfully done. Unfortunately, I just couldn’t connect with the characters. It’s almost as though Sierra sacrificed character development, to really drive home that Reid suffers from a mental illness. It was really his book, and Joaquim was just there to propel his story.
June 15, 2018
Beautiful, heartbreaking, romantic, and most importantly, honest. This novel is an unflinching look at life with mental illness. At times hard to read, but it is oh so important. Our collective silence as a society towards addressing mental illness is more harmful than we can fathom. Shame and guilt are the antagonists. Reid's story is one that we can learn from, to see what happens when we lean into what we don't know. It could very well save someone's life.
You are still here. We are still here. And that is a beautiful thing.
You are still here. We are still here. And that is a beautiful thing.
August 10, 2021
DNF 30%
April 17, 2018
I understood this book but I haven’t experienced anything like what the characters are going through.
Reid suffers from a little known mental illness that leaves him able to cope but unable to feel what he
considers ͞normal.͟ His mood swings, often quickly, other times slowly, from depressed to not quite
euphoric, and back again. He has suffered from this for many years (he’s less than 21 years old) and
through therapy and medication has come to realize that some people are toxic to him. For that reason
he’s left his Wisconsin home to stay at his grandmother’s house in Florida. Not really knowing what he’s
going to do to fill his time he enrolls in SCUBA diving classes and it is there that he meets Joaquim, his
SCUBA instructor. When his former boyfriend shows up uninvited he is able to tell him to go away,
which shows progress in his ability to take care of himself.
Joaquim is doing an internship far from his home in Brazil, hoping to find permanent work in Florida.
Joaquim is attracted to Reid and they fall first in lust and eventually in love. When his hopes for a job fall
through he decides to go back home to visit his family. This is the antithesis of the way Reid functions.
Reid is borderline OCD, keeping his home clean and orderly but unable to function without a life plan.
Joaquim prefers to go with the wind, and what happens, happens.
The reader follows Joaquim, Reid, and their friends as they try to learn about each other, with the
support of their friends. There are ups and downs along the way, and by the end of the book, are closer
to being able to cope. This is the definitive HFN ending, without a firm handle on their futures, either
separately or together. Not everyone’s life plays out along a pattern, especially with the interference of
a mental illness. I won’t say I enjoyed this book as parts of it are very sad and upsetting, but it is a
realistic look at imperfect lives. This is a book I recommend, however, for its view of life as it is.
Reid suffers from a little known mental illness that leaves him able to cope but unable to feel what he
considers ͞normal.͟ His mood swings, often quickly, other times slowly, from depressed to not quite
euphoric, and back again. He has suffered from this for many years (he’s less than 21 years old) and
through therapy and medication has come to realize that some people are toxic to him. For that reason
he’s left his Wisconsin home to stay at his grandmother’s house in Florida. Not really knowing what he’s
going to do to fill his time he enrolls in SCUBA diving classes and it is there that he meets Joaquim, his
SCUBA instructor. When his former boyfriend shows up uninvited he is able to tell him to go away,
which shows progress in his ability to take care of himself.
Joaquim is doing an internship far from his home in Brazil, hoping to find permanent work in Florida.
Joaquim is attracted to Reid and they fall first in lust and eventually in love. When his hopes for a job fall
through he decides to go back home to visit his family. This is the antithesis of the way Reid functions.
Reid is borderline OCD, keeping his home clean and orderly but unable to function without a life plan.
Joaquim prefers to go with the wind, and what happens, happens.
The reader follows Joaquim, Reid, and their friends as they try to learn about each other, with the
support of their friends. There are ups and downs along the way, and by the end of the book, are closer
to being able to cope. This is the definitive HFN ending, without a firm handle on their futures, either
separately or together. Not everyone’s life plays out along a pattern, especially with the interference of
a mental illness. I won’t say I enjoyed this book as parts of it are very sad and upsetting, but it is a
realistic look at imperfect lives. This is a book I recommend, however, for its view of life as it is.
March 15, 2018
Unfortunately, I wasn't a huge fan of this book. There were things that I did like and things that I didn't, so I'll start with what I did like.
I liked the explanation of Reid's mental illness. I knew literally NOTHING about being cyclothymic and, in fact, had never even heard of it. Getting a first hand account of everything that goes through a person's mind by an author who has actually gone through it is fascinating and makes the story feel that much more real. I love reading books about mental illnesses that author's have suffered from because you know you are getting the genuine feelings behind it. Great job with the education, Ms. Sierra!
So what I didn't like.
The author's note says that Reid isn't his mental illness, but unfortunately, I feel like that's all we know about Reid. We aren't given much information about his personality outside of his mental illness; we know nothing about his hopes, his hobbies or anything other than how he's coping with mental illness. It was hard to feel the connection between Reid and Joaquim when everything was just about Reid's mental illness. Furthermore, the book was so focused on Reid's mental illness and his thoughts and feelings that it made it seem like Joaquim was always doing something wrong or like his feelings didn't really matter. I can't imagine how a relationship like that could last when there is no dialogue about how Joaquim could handle things better, what he should or shouldn't say, or even that it's okay for him to feel frustrated when Reid shuts him out.
Another problem I had with this book is that it should have been written from a first person POV. There were times when thoughts and dialogue became confusing due to the third person POV. Being inside Reid's and Joaquim's head would have made for more multi-dimensional characters and would really make readers understand their thought processes.
I'm torn on this book. While I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to my friends as an entertainment read, I could see why reading this book could be helpful and instructive to those who know someone suffering from this mental illness.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
I liked the explanation of Reid's mental illness. I knew literally NOTHING about being cyclothymic and, in fact, had never even heard of it. Getting a first hand account of everything that goes through a person's mind by an author who has actually gone through it is fascinating and makes the story feel that much more real. I love reading books about mental illnesses that author's have suffered from because you know you are getting the genuine feelings behind it. Great job with the education, Ms. Sierra!
So what I didn't like.
The author's note says that Reid isn't his mental illness, but unfortunately, I feel like that's all we know about Reid. We aren't given much information about his personality outside of his mental illness; we know nothing about his hopes, his hobbies or anything other than how he's coping with mental illness. It was hard to feel the connection between Reid and Joaquim when everything was just about Reid's mental illness. Furthermore, the book was so focused on Reid's mental illness and his thoughts and feelings that it made it seem like Joaquim was always doing something wrong or like his feelings didn't really matter. I can't imagine how a relationship like that could last when there is no dialogue about how Joaquim could handle things better, what he should or shouldn't say, or even that it's okay for him to feel frustrated when Reid shuts him out.
Another problem I had with this book is that it should have been written from a first person POV. There were times when thoughts and dialogue became confusing due to the third person POV. Being inside Reid's and Joaquim's head would have made for more multi-dimensional characters and would really make readers understand their thought processes.
I'm torn on this book. While I wouldn't necessarily recommend it to my friends as an entertainment read, I could see why reading this book could be helpful and instructive to those who know someone suffering from this mental illness.
ARC provided by NetGalley in exchange for an honest review
Read
May 21, 2018Review to come. I need to think on this one a bit.
May 25, 2018
Jude Sierra is an amazing wordsmith, and her latest novel, A Tiny Piece of Something Greater, is another fantastic example of her talent. It always takes me a moment to get past her third person present narrative choice, but once I’m in the groove, I find it so easy to get lost in her words. Her style is soothing somehow—I know, that sounds weird, but it’s true!—and her prose is so richly descriptive; I got so sucked into the story and Reid’s journey that I honestly didn’t want to put this book down.
As with Idlewild (one of my favorite books of 2016), A Tiny Piece of Something Greater is largely character driven, and, as such, is heavily focused on the two MCs, though a bit heavier on Reid. It is his journey that we’re on, after all, so a lot of time is spent getting to know him, and what it’s like living with mental illness. Reid has cyclothymia, a mood disorder that causes him to have sometimes very rapid mood swings. Emotional highs and lows that can sometimes cycle so fast that it’s impossible to function properly. He describes it at one point as “a milder form of bipolar.” There are a lot of details in the book about Reid’s condition and what it’s like on a day-to-day basis, but those details allow us to really be in Reid’s headspace, and to get a true picture of what it means to be cyclothymic.
When the story opens, Reid, desperately in need of a fresh start, is on his way to the Florida Keys to stay at his grandma’s condo in Key Largo. Reid needs a break—from his parents, his hometown, and his ex—and spending some time away from everything, to focus on his recovery, seems like the perfect next step. He enrolls in a scuba diving class to stave off boredom, and, as luck would have it, the instructor ends up being charming, laid-back, and irresistible. Joaquim, the irresistible scuba instructor with a weakness for cute boys, never stood a chance when he met Reid, whose description in the book had me swooning a little bit, too!
These guys made me smile SO much, which was awesome and somewhat unexpected, because this book was…hard, at times. It was difficult to read about how much pain Reid was in, and the weight of what that meant for him and Joaquim. Reid has things he doesn’t want to disclose to Joaquim, because he doesn’t want to color the way Joaquim sees him. He wants to hang on to this thing they’ve started, without his mental illness taking center stage, which it inevitably will. But, thankfully Joaquim’s calm nature is like a balm for Reid’s jittery edges, making it a bit easier when Reid does open up to him about everything. And, I love how open, and just real Joaquim is about the things Reid shares with him. If he doesn’t understand, he says that. If he has questions, he tells Reid. But, he always let Reid share at his own pace. I’ve never been in Reid’s shoes but I have been in Joaquim’s, and Sierra did a great job of showing that helplessness that someone who’s trying to be in a support position can feel.
A Tiny Piece of Something Greater isn’t just about Reid’s mental illness, however. At it’s core, it’s a love story. I love how the author put it in her author’s note at the end of the book:
“This story isn’t just about [Reid’s] wellness journey; it is about a boy on an adventure, a boy coming into his own and falling in love.”
That love story was my favorite thing about the book. The romance between these two is so pure. That sounds cliché or something…but, it really is just so honest and pure. They were insanely sexy together, and Sierra is so perfect at showing their intimacy and how connected they were. I swooned so hard over these two.
I’m gonna leave it there… Gorgeous cover (I couldn’t go without mentioning how stunning that cover is), gorgeous story. Interlude Press continues to put out high quality, outstanding books, and Jude Sierra continues to wow me with her words. This book is going to stay with me for a long time. Don’t miss this one, guys!
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
As with Idlewild (one of my favorite books of 2016), A Tiny Piece of Something Greater is largely character driven, and, as such, is heavily focused on the two MCs, though a bit heavier on Reid. It is his journey that we’re on, after all, so a lot of time is spent getting to know him, and what it’s like living with mental illness. Reid has cyclothymia, a mood disorder that causes him to have sometimes very rapid mood swings. Emotional highs and lows that can sometimes cycle so fast that it’s impossible to function properly. He describes it at one point as “a milder form of bipolar.” There are a lot of details in the book about Reid’s condition and what it’s like on a day-to-day basis, but those details allow us to really be in Reid’s headspace, and to get a true picture of what it means to be cyclothymic.
When the story opens, Reid, desperately in need of a fresh start, is on his way to the Florida Keys to stay at his grandma’s condo in Key Largo. Reid needs a break—from his parents, his hometown, and his ex—and spending some time away from everything, to focus on his recovery, seems like the perfect next step. He enrolls in a scuba diving class to stave off boredom, and, as luck would have it, the instructor ends up being charming, laid-back, and irresistible. Joaquim, the irresistible scuba instructor with a weakness for cute boys, never stood a chance when he met Reid, whose description in the book had me swooning a little bit, too!
These guys made me smile SO much, which was awesome and somewhat unexpected, because this book was…hard, at times. It was difficult to read about how much pain Reid was in, and the weight of what that meant for him and Joaquim. Reid has things he doesn’t want to disclose to Joaquim, because he doesn’t want to color the way Joaquim sees him. He wants to hang on to this thing they’ve started, without his mental illness taking center stage, which it inevitably will. But, thankfully Joaquim’s calm nature is like a balm for Reid’s jittery edges, making it a bit easier when Reid does open up to him about everything. And, I love how open, and just real Joaquim is about the things Reid shares with him. If he doesn’t understand, he says that. If he has questions, he tells Reid. But, he always let Reid share at his own pace. I’ve never been in Reid’s shoes but I have been in Joaquim’s, and Sierra did a great job of showing that helplessness that someone who’s trying to be in a support position can feel.
A Tiny Piece of Something Greater isn’t just about Reid’s mental illness, however. At it’s core, it’s a love story. I love how the author put it in her author’s note at the end of the book:
“This story isn’t just about [Reid’s] wellness journey; it is about a boy on an adventure, a boy coming into his own and falling in love.”
That love story was my favorite thing about the book. The romance between these two is so pure. That sounds cliché or something…but, it really is just so honest and pure. They were insanely sexy together, and Sierra is so perfect at showing their intimacy and how connected they were. I swooned so hard over these two.
I’m gonna leave it there… Gorgeous cover (I couldn’t go without mentioning how stunning that cover is), gorgeous story. Interlude Press continues to put out high quality, outstanding books, and Jude Sierra continues to wow me with her words. This book is going to stay with me for a long time. Don’t miss this one, guys!
Reviewed by Jules for The Novel Approach
May 17, 2018
A beautiful, intense, and emotional story about a young man who is struggling with his mental illness. Reid has cyclothemia, which is a relatively mild mood disorder. I had never heard of it, but after reading this book, I got a good idea what it entails. It might be considered a relatively mild disorder, but I thought it was anything but. Jude Sierra paints a raw, gritty, and touching picture of what Reid is going through, every day. Sometimes in excruciating detail, sometimes in poetic metaphors, but always in agonizing and heart-wrenching beauty. “He might be small, but he matters, and Reid wants to be a light.”
This book is more than a story; it is a journey. A journey to cope with the day-to-day struggle of living with a mental disorder. With every known trigger, there are just as many unknown triggers. It is a constant practice, a balancing act, and comes with the knowledge that it will never not be there. “Happiness is his to capture. He’s free. It’s a freedom that’s come with a price, freedom he has to keep working at.”
Reid has learned a lot of coping mechanisms, and his support system is great. I loved the Skype sessions with his therapist and other group members. The setting in the Keys with the quiet of the water and the soothing of the balmy air makes it a perfect backdrop.
It is a journey of learning to love yourself, learning you are worthy of love, learning what and who is good for you. During that journey, he meets Joaquim. And he is good for Reid, with his innate patience and ability to calm people. A steady presence in his life. I loved how he asks the important questions (not what his disorder means, but what it means for Reid), and that he is trying to understand while acknowledging he never will because he is not the one experiencing it. Joaquim loves his unpredictability; he loves his scars. He loves Reid just for Reid. He listens to Reid’s spoken words and untold fears and accepts Reid’s boundaries. He gives Reid his unconditional support without understanding it all. There is a trust between these two men that is astounding, a sweetness that is endearing, an honesty that is heartwarming. Their obvious joy of being together gives this book a welcome uplifting and lighthearted feeling.
This story ends in a happy-for-now with strong signs towards a happily-ever-after.
This book is more than a story; it is a journey. A journey to cope with the day-to-day struggle of living with a mental disorder. With every known trigger, there are just as many unknown triggers. It is a constant practice, a balancing act, and comes with the knowledge that it will never not be there. “Happiness is his to capture. He’s free. It’s a freedom that’s come with a price, freedom he has to keep working at.”
Reid has learned a lot of coping mechanisms, and his support system is great. I loved the Skype sessions with his therapist and other group members. The setting in the Keys with the quiet of the water and the soothing of the balmy air makes it a perfect backdrop.
It is a journey of learning to love yourself, learning you are worthy of love, learning what and who is good for you. During that journey, he meets Joaquim. And he is good for Reid, with his innate patience and ability to calm people. A steady presence in his life. I loved how he asks the important questions (not what his disorder means, but what it means for Reid), and that he is trying to understand while acknowledging he never will because he is not the one experiencing it. Joaquim loves his unpredictability; he loves his scars. He loves Reid just for Reid. He listens to Reid’s spoken words and untold fears and accepts Reid’s boundaries. He gives Reid his unconditional support without understanding it all. There is a trust between these two men that is astounding, a sweetness that is endearing, an honesty that is heartwarming. Their obvious joy of being together gives this book a welcome uplifting and lighthearted feeling.
This story ends in a happy-for-now with strong signs towards a happily-ever-after.
May 17, 2018
(actual rating: 4.5)
I admit, a certain someone over at From Top To Bottom Reviews had me really (and I mean REALLY) hyped for this book.
What can I say? Annie does rec the best books.
So why do I love A Tiny Piece of Something Greater? It is rather difficult to explain without spoilering, but I'll manage:
* the title. I love its ambiguousness
* content warnings. Fuck yeah!
* the realness of its portrayal of mental illness
* and to me it's not even triggering
* People with BPD are not portrayed as the most-deserving-to-die-humans-there'll-ever-be. FUCK YEAH!
Let's take a better look at the last bullet point, shall we?
I'm pretty sure you've gathered that I'm mentally ill and if you've read reviews of mine about books that feature mentally ill characters you know how important this portrayal is to me and how often it's done horribly wrong. I wasn't afraid of this here because it's #ownvoices.
But I not only got a not ableist book, I got a wonderful book that's full of pain and memories and all the little things that you may live with if you've got certain mental illnesses. But most of all I got hope.
This is not a story about a mentally ill character, this is a story with a mentally ill character and I like this approach way better than the first option.
I may enjoy a different thing even more though: Joaquim isn't a means for Reid to heal. There is no magic-love-cure. Instead Joaquim is a person of his own, with his own thoughts, feelings, fears and dreams.
So why am I rating it 4.5 instead of 5 stars? The reason is rather small and it may have to do a little bit with the book's formatting. There are at times very unexpected jumps that left me sort of confused until I found into the new scene. And sometimes the story felt somewhat rushed for me. This ties perfectly to my last words, because more (in-detail?) story means more to read. Now I'm gonna go back to nursing my book hangover because I really don't want A Tiny Piece of Something Greater to end.
Last Words: No really, why did it have to end?
I admit, a certain someone over at From Top To Bottom Reviews had me really (and I mean REALLY) hyped for this book.
What can I say? Annie does rec the best books.
So why do I love A Tiny Piece of Something Greater? It is rather difficult to explain without spoilering, but I'll manage:
* the title. I love its ambiguousness
* content warnings. Fuck yeah!
* the realness of its portrayal of mental illness
* and to me it's not even triggering
* People with BPD are not portrayed as the most-deserving-to-die-humans-there'll-ever-be. FUCK YEAH!
Let's take a better look at the last bullet point, shall we?
I'm pretty sure you've gathered that I'm mentally ill and if you've read reviews of mine about books that feature mentally ill characters you know how important this portrayal is to me and how often it's done horribly wrong. I wasn't afraid of this here because it's #ownvoices.
But I not only got a not ableist book, I got a wonderful book that's full of pain and memories and all the little things that you may live with if you've got certain mental illnesses. But most of all I got hope.
This is not a story about a mentally ill character, this is a story with a mentally ill character and I like this approach way better than the first option.
I may enjoy a different thing even more though: Joaquim isn't a means for Reid to heal. There is no magic-love-cure. Instead Joaquim is a person of his own, with his own thoughts, feelings, fears and dreams.
So why am I rating it 4.5 instead of 5 stars? The reason is rather small and it may have to do a little bit with the book's formatting. There are at times very unexpected jumps that left me sort of confused until I found into the new scene. And sometimes the story felt somewhat rushed for me. This ties perfectly to my last words, because more (in-detail?) story means more to read. Now I'm gonna go back to nursing my book hangover because I really don't want A Tiny Piece of Something Greater to end.
Last Words: No really, why did it have to end?
May 17, 2018
This was lovely.
A Tiny Piece of Something Greater is a calm and emotional story in which Joaquim, who's from Brazil and currently doing an internship as a Master Scuba Diving Trainer, and Reid, who is cyclothymic (a mood disorder) and just needs time away from his family, fall in love.
The center of the story is very much Reid's mental illness and how he deals with it, and how that makes him navigate the blossoming relationship with Joaquim, while at the same time Joaquim learns about the needs the man he loves has - both the ones he's heard about before and the ones he hasn't.
The way these two treated each other was lovely. Their relationship and emotions felt so real, especially the nervousness and anxiety (both in and out of context of Reid's cycling through hypomania and depression), which often seems to be lacking in romance books. The insecurity about how to treat each other, how to interpret the other's reactions, how to manage an emotion that seems not justified while also still acknowledging it - all those and more were very present, which was made even more soothing to read by how constant and honest the communication between the two main characters was.
The one thing I have to criticize was how sometimes I could not tell who of the protagonists was meant. The writing is good, but there were rather frequent occasions where I couldn't figure out who "he" was out of the two, and also at the beginning of a few chapters it took me a few pages to realize who's POV I was reading from.
Thank you to A Novel Take PR for providing me with an eARC
A Tiny Piece of Something Greater is a calm and emotional story in which Joaquim, who's from Brazil and currently doing an internship as a Master Scuba Diving Trainer, and Reid, who is cyclothymic (a mood disorder) and just needs time away from his family, fall in love.
The center of the story is very much Reid's mental illness and how he deals with it, and how that makes him navigate the blossoming relationship with Joaquim, while at the same time Joaquim learns about the needs the man he loves has - both the ones he's heard about before and the ones he hasn't.
The way these two treated each other was lovely. Their relationship and emotions felt so real, especially the nervousness and anxiety (both in and out of context of Reid's cycling through hypomania and depression), which often seems to be lacking in romance books. The insecurity about how to treat each other, how to interpret the other's reactions, how to manage an emotion that seems not justified while also still acknowledging it - all those and more were very present, which was made even more soothing to read by how constant and honest the communication between the two main characters was.
The one thing I have to criticize was how sometimes I could not tell who of the protagonists was meant. The writing is good, but there were rather frequent occasions where I couldn't figure out who "he" was out of the two, and also at the beginning of a few chapters it took me a few pages to realize who's POV I was reading from.
Thank you to A Novel Take PR for providing me with an eARC
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