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Pieces of Me
The next gut-punching, compulsively readable Kate McLaughlin novel, about a girl finding strength in not being alone.
When eighteen-year-old Dylan wakes up, she’s in an apartment she doesn’t recognize. The other people there seem to know her, but she doesn't know them – not even the pretty, chiseled boy who tells her his name is Connor. A voice inside her head keeps saying that everything is okay, but Dylan can’t help but freak out. Especially when she borrows Connor’s phone to call home and realizes she’s been missing for three days.
Dylan has lost time before, but never like this.
Soon after, Dylan is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, and must grapple not only with the many people currently crammed inside her head, but that a secret from her past so terrible she’s blocked it out has put them there. Her only distraction is a budding new relationship with Connor. But as she gets closer to finding out the truth, Dylan wonders: will it heal her or fracture her further?
When eighteen-year-old Dylan wakes up, she’s in an apartment she doesn’t recognize. The other people there seem to know her, but she doesn't know them – not even the pretty, chiseled boy who tells her his name is Connor. A voice inside her head keeps saying that everything is okay, but Dylan can’t help but freak out. Especially when she borrows Connor’s phone to call home and realizes she’s been missing for three days.
Dylan has lost time before, but never like this.
Soon after, Dylan is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, and must grapple not only with the many people currently crammed inside her head, but that a secret from her past so terrible she’s blocked it out has put them there. Her only distraction is a budding new relationship with Connor. But as she gets closer to finding out the truth, Dylan wonders: will it heal her or fracture her further?
336 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 18, 2023
59 people are currently reading
8194 people want to read
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May 5, 2023
**Many thanks to NetGalley, Goodreads, St. Martin's Press-Wednesday Books, and Kate McLaughlin for an ARC of this book! Now available as of 4.18!!**
"There are quantities of human beings, but there are many more faces, for each person has several"- Rainer Maria Rilke
This emotionally charged and moving YA novel from Kate McLaughlin tackles DID (dissociative identity disorder) in an honest and open way, will have you rooting for our protagonist...and will leave you questioning whether you can figure out which personality is TRULY hers!
Dylan has been trying to figure out just that: who is she? But right now she has bigger problems...she wakes up at an apartment she doesn't recognize, with PEOPLE she doesn't seem to remember...and no idea how she got there. She's excited to learn the handsome guy named Connor who lives there seems to be a fan of hers...but after a making a call to check in at home, Dylan learns this wasn't simply a night away: she's been gone for THREE days.
This isn't the first time Dylan has been missing time...but after all this time, she doesn't know why. Or why there are moments when she doesn't quite feel like herself...voices that sound like hers and yet seem NOTHING like her own. After yet another appointment with a medical professional, Dylan finally learns that she has Dissociative Identity Disorder...and the voices in her head are whole and complete personalities, each with a different function in her life. However, they all share a common goal: they are trying to protect Dylan from reliving a terrifying event from her past...but what WAS it? As Dylan tries to connect with Connor, will her alters allow her to discover the truth so she can begin to heal? Or will the truth remain locked away, leaving Dylan as a prisoner of her own mind?
DID has been a springboard for many a story, and there's good reason: it's a complex disorder that seems perfect for storytelling: many personalities living under one 'roof' have learned to either coexist (or not) in films like "Split" and countless works of fiction, not to mention the non-fiction exploration of Sybil, a woman with SIXTEEN distinct personalities. Most of the fictional works tend to be in the thriller genre, and obviously the presence of multiple personalities (often unknown to the reader) creates the perfect opportunity for a thrilling twist and a big reveal. The beginning of this book almost seems like it too could be a thriller: was Dylan kidnapped? A woman recognizes her on the subway, flirts with her...and Dylan has no idea why...what's the story there?
However, Pieces of Me is far different than your standard YA thriller fare: this story deals with some heavy and traumatic topics, from suicide to abuse, and is VERY informed by research. McLaughlin mentions everything from treatment to characteristics of the disorder, from support groups to pop culture fallacies about the disorder, but weaves the information through the narrative in such a way that she's able to keep the plot moving, balanced and interesting. We hear from the alters throughout the story; and again, this is something I've seen other authors attempt, but in my opinion, McLaughlin NAILED it. The alters felt distinct, real, and purposeful. The secret from Dylan's past may not have been the most shocking or surprising, but the narrative in this one is so strong that I didn't mind waiting for the Big Reveal even though it takes quite a while to get there.
This is also YA that IS very YA in some respects; that being said, it's the kind of YA that keeps me invested and passionate about the genre, Dylan's journey is accessible, affecting, and authentic and serves as a reminder that no matter how lost we are in the recesses of our own minds, if we are all a bit lost, then we are all together in that, too.
4 stars
"There are quantities of human beings, but there are many more faces, for each person has several"- Rainer Maria Rilke
This emotionally charged and moving YA novel from Kate McLaughlin tackles DID (dissociative identity disorder) in an honest and open way, will have you rooting for our protagonist...and will leave you questioning whether you can figure out which personality is TRULY hers!
Dylan has been trying to figure out just that: who is she? But right now she has bigger problems...she wakes up at an apartment she doesn't recognize, with PEOPLE she doesn't seem to remember...and no idea how she got there. She's excited to learn the handsome guy named Connor who lives there seems to be a fan of hers...but after a making a call to check in at home, Dylan learns this wasn't simply a night away: she's been gone for THREE days.
This isn't the first time Dylan has been missing time...but after all this time, she doesn't know why. Or why there are moments when she doesn't quite feel like herself...voices that sound like hers and yet seem NOTHING like her own. After yet another appointment with a medical professional, Dylan finally learns that she has Dissociative Identity Disorder...and the voices in her head are whole and complete personalities, each with a different function in her life. However, they all share a common goal: they are trying to protect Dylan from reliving a terrifying event from her past...but what WAS it? As Dylan tries to connect with Connor, will her alters allow her to discover the truth so she can begin to heal? Or will the truth remain locked away, leaving Dylan as a prisoner of her own mind?
DID has been a springboard for many a story, and there's good reason: it's a complex disorder that seems perfect for storytelling: many personalities living under one 'roof' have learned to either coexist (or not) in films like "Split" and countless works of fiction, not to mention the non-fiction exploration of Sybil, a woman with SIXTEEN distinct personalities. Most of the fictional works tend to be in the thriller genre, and obviously the presence of multiple personalities (often unknown to the reader) creates the perfect opportunity for a thrilling twist and a big reveal. The beginning of this book almost seems like it too could be a thriller: was Dylan kidnapped? A woman recognizes her on the subway, flirts with her...and Dylan has no idea why...what's the story there?
However, Pieces of Me is far different than your standard YA thriller fare: this story deals with some heavy and traumatic topics, from suicide to abuse, and is VERY informed by research. McLaughlin mentions everything from treatment to characteristics of the disorder, from support groups to pop culture fallacies about the disorder, but weaves the information through the narrative in such a way that she's able to keep the plot moving, balanced and interesting. We hear from the alters throughout the story; and again, this is something I've seen other authors attempt, but in my opinion, McLaughlin NAILED it. The alters felt distinct, real, and purposeful. The secret from Dylan's past may not have been the most shocking or surprising, but the narrative in this one is so strong that I didn't mind waiting for the Big Reveal even though it takes quite a while to get there.
This is also YA that IS very YA in some respects; that being said, it's the kind of YA that keeps me invested and passionate about the genre, Dylan's journey is accessible, affecting, and authentic and serves as a reminder that no matter how lost we are in the recesses of our own minds, if we are all a bit lost, then we are all together in that, too.
4 stars
November 24, 2022
Just finished Pieces of Me by Kate McLaughlin in one sitting, and now I'm totally emotionally exhausted! This debut novel tells the story of 18-year-old Dylan, who wakes up one day in an unfamiliar apartment with people she doesn't know. She soon realizes she's been missing for three days and has no idea what happened during that time. Dylan is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder and must grapple with the many people currently crammed inside her head, as well as a secret from her past that has put them there. Her only distraction is a budding new relationship with Connor, but as she gets closer to him, the secrets she's been keeping become harder to keep hidden.
Loved exploring all the characters' stories within Pieces Of Me – such a unique take on mental health and identity This book was so compelling and page-turning that I couldn't put it down. The characters were so well-developed and relatable that I felt like I knew them personally. Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, I couldn't put the book down.
I'm sure there's more to be said by those with personal experience with dissociative identity disorder - let's hear the #OwnVoices reviews.
Thank you to St-Martin's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Loved exploring all the characters' stories within Pieces Of Me – such a unique take on mental health and identity This book was so compelling and page-turning that I couldn't put it down. The characters were so well-developed and relatable that I felt like I knew them personally. Through palpable tension balanced with glimmers of hope, I couldn't put the book down.
I'm sure there's more to be said by those with personal experience with dissociative identity disorder - let's hear the #OwnVoices reviews.
Thank you to St-Martin's Publishing Group and NetGalley for the advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
March 12, 2025
In my quest to read/listen to books about DID, I came across this YA novel on Hoopla. While I typically don’t enjoy YA, the high rating convinced me to give it a try.
The book is definitely well-researched, but there are several aspects about it that are super unrealistic. Dylan’s love interest is way too nice and supportive for someone who she just met. Are there really guys like this out there?
The book also wraps up Dylan’s ability to cope with DID and outs her abuser within a few months. This process would likely take years to process and might not even happen.
It also seemed like the author researched DID and then wrote about a fictional character by plugging in her findings to a superficial plot. In other words, there’s nothing really outstanding about the mystery here. However it might appeal to those new to books about DID and a younger audience.
I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla and recommend this format.
3.5/5 stars rounded down
The book is definitely well-researched, but there are several aspects about it that are super unrealistic. Dylan’s love interest is way too nice and supportive for someone who she just met. Are there really guys like this out there?
The book also wraps up Dylan’s ability to cope with DID and outs her abuser within a few months. This process would likely take years to process and might not even happen.
It also seemed like the author researched DID and then wrote about a fictional character by plugging in her findings to a superficial plot. In other words, there’s nothing really outstanding about the mystery here. However it might appeal to those new to books about DID and a younger audience.
I listened to the audiobook on Hoopla and recommend this format.
3.5/5 stars rounded down
April 18, 2023
Dylan grew up with fairly wealthy, albeit divorced, parents and is close to her twin brother. She loves art, and, on the surface, her life seems great. But she's struggled throughout the years--with ADHD and drinking binges. Lately, she's "losing time," often waking somewhere with no memory of where she is or what she's been doing. When she realizes she's spent three days with a boy named Connor without any memory of it, Dylan knows she has to seek help. She's eventually diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder (DID), which starts to help explain why Dylan feels as if there are voices and people living inside of her head. But the diagnosis is scary and sometimes Dylan isn't sure she can keep going.
I love Kate McLaughlin's books. This one wasn't quite as emotional as some for me--it's beautifully written, of course, as usual, and I definitely felt for Dylan, but it took me quite some time to get sucked into the story, when normally a McLaughlin book is something I read in practically one setting. PIECES has almost a clinical feeling to it; it covers DID so well that it often feels as if we are reading half fiction, half medical tome, especially as Dylan struggles to figure out what is "wrong" with her (I refuse to classify any mental health disorder as something wrong with a person).
However, the story picks up a lot when she is diagnosed. There's still a ton of explanation of DID, but once we get to meet the other people (alters) who make up Dylan's system, the story becomes more meaningful. DID is caused by trauma when the host is young and they splinter into their alters to protect themselves from what happened. Watching Dylan struggle to realize that something terrible happened to her as a child and then show tremendous strength to learn about DID and delve into that incident is pretty amazing. She's a very strong character and McLaughlin also does an excellent job of giving Dylan's many alters their own personalities as well, as we sometimes get their POV as well.
If this all sounds a little weird, it's really not. The book is very well-done and presented quite well. Dylan struggles to have a relationship with Connor, who turns out to be a remarkably nice person. She has a mom who wants what is best for her and a twin who feels jealous at the attention she receives. I do think some of this story was presented a bit through rose-colored glasses (and McLaughlin even acknowledges that in her author's note): Dylan has a boyfriend who is fully accepting, a family who supports her, and the financial resources to seek treatment. It may not be the most realistic portrayal of DID around. But it's certainly eye-opening, and I believe thoughtfully done (no shame, no mocking).
This is a quiet novel, with the only real plot Dylan's diagnosis and her working through to discover the source of her trauma. It's very dark at times, with a huge set of trigger warnings* (see the bottom of this review). But it's compelling and fascinating and well-done, with McLaughlin's typical laser focus on a topic.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in return for an unbiased review.
*trigger warnings: suicide, child abuse/sexual assault, alcohol abuse
I love Kate McLaughlin's books. This one wasn't quite as emotional as some for me--it's beautifully written, of course, as usual, and I definitely felt for Dylan, but it took me quite some time to get sucked into the story, when normally a McLaughlin book is something I read in practically one setting. PIECES has almost a clinical feeling to it; it covers DID so well that it often feels as if we are reading half fiction, half medical tome, especially as Dylan struggles to figure out what is "wrong" with her (I refuse to classify any mental health disorder as something wrong with a person).
However, the story picks up a lot when she is diagnosed. There's still a ton of explanation of DID, but once we get to meet the other people (alters) who make up Dylan's system, the story becomes more meaningful. DID is caused by trauma when the host is young and they splinter into their alters to protect themselves from what happened. Watching Dylan struggle to realize that something terrible happened to her as a child and then show tremendous strength to learn about DID and delve into that incident is pretty amazing. She's a very strong character and McLaughlin also does an excellent job of giving Dylan's many alters their own personalities as well, as we sometimes get their POV as well.
If this all sounds a little weird, it's really not. The book is very well-done and presented quite well. Dylan struggles to have a relationship with Connor, who turns out to be a remarkably nice person. She has a mom who wants what is best for her and a twin who feels jealous at the attention she receives. I do think some of this story was presented a bit through rose-colored glasses (and McLaughlin even acknowledges that in her author's note): Dylan has a boyfriend who is fully accepting, a family who supports her, and the financial resources to seek treatment. It may not be the most realistic portrayal of DID around. But it's certainly eye-opening, and I believe thoughtfully done (no shame, no mocking).
This is a quiet novel, with the only real plot Dylan's diagnosis and her working through to discover the source of her trauma. It's very dark at times, with a huge set of trigger warnings* (see the bottom of this review). But it's compelling and fascinating and well-done, with McLaughlin's typical laser focus on a topic.
I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and Wednesday Books in return for an unbiased review.
*trigger warnings: suicide, child abuse/sexual assault, alcohol abuse
March 25, 2023
Thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for access to this title. All opinions expressed are my own.
TW: Sexual Abuse, Mental Illness, Physical Violence, Hospitalization
Eighteen-year-old Dylan, a college fine arts student is feeling anxious about the large periods of time that are beginning to disappear from her memory. With her mother and best friend's support, Dylan seeks help and soon learns that she has Dissociative Identity Disorder(DID). A novel about a young woman that wants to get to the root of her diagnosis even if the truth hurts.
My thoughts: I chose this book for two reasons. First, I enjoyed the last two Kate McLaughlin books I read and so this was an automatic request. Second, I loved that book cover and after finishing the book, think it's a perfect depiction of how the character Dylan is feeling.
The author does her research( which is included at the back of the novel) and paints a very vivid portrait of what a person with DID might experience. I don't work in the field of psychology so I cannot state that this is a 100% accurate portrayal. As a reader, I felt the book was easy to read and I kept turning the pages to see how the plot would evolve.
My 3-star rating is because I figured out very early on how the story would be resolved. It is also because as amazing as Dylan's family and friends were, it raised an eyebrow that only her twin brother Mark and an acquaintance seemed to express any doubt or anger towards Dylan. Also, it was a bit troubling that even before Dylan gets an official diagnosis her bestie has done a Google search that points to the same conclusion.
Overall, I did enjoy my reading experience and would recommend the book to other interested readers.
Expected Publication Date: 18/04/23
Goodreads Review Published 25/04/23
TW: Sexual Abuse, Mental Illness, Physical Violence, Hospitalization
Eighteen-year-old Dylan, a college fine arts student is feeling anxious about the large periods of time that are beginning to disappear from her memory. With her mother and best friend's support, Dylan seeks help and soon learns that she has Dissociative Identity Disorder(DID). A novel about a young woman that wants to get to the root of her diagnosis even if the truth hurts.
My thoughts: I chose this book for two reasons. First, I enjoyed the last two Kate McLaughlin books I read and so this was an automatic request. Second, I loved that book cover and after finishing the book, think it's a perfect depiction of how the character Dylan is feeling.
The author does her research( which is included at the back of the novel) and paints a very vivid portrait of what a person with DID might experience. I don't work in the field of psychology so I cannot state that this is a 100% accurate portrayal. As a reader, I felt the book was easy to read and I kept turning the pages to see how the plot would evolve.
My 3-star rating is because I figured out very early on how the story would be resolved. It is also because as amazing as Dylan's family and friends were, it raised an eyebrow that only her twin brother Mark and an acquaintance seemed to express any doubt or anger towards Dylan. Also, it was a bit troubling that even before Dylan gets an official diagnosis her bestie has done a Google search that points to the same conclusion.
Overall, I did enjoy my reading experience and would recommend the book to other interested readers.
Expected Publication Date: 18/04/23
Goodreads Review Published 25/04/23
August 28, 2022
Kate McLaughlin you outdid yourself. I really enjoyed this book. I read it in two days. It's about a girl named Dylan with Dissociate Identity Disorder finding strength in not being alone. The author does a wonderful job of developing her character. It is a raw, intimate, and surprising hopeful story. I have a son that has this same disorder and it gave me such hope. I felt like Kate was reading my mind and knew exactly how I felt. My twenty five year old son is reading it now and I have noticed a difference in him. He doesn't feel alone any more. Thanks Kate. You changed our lives. Keep up the great writing. Highly recommend,
May 27, 2024
***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of PIECES OF ME by Kate McLaughlin in exchange for my honest review.***
I’m a big Kate McLaughlin fan, but and enjoyed her previous books more than PIECES OF ME, which I felt tried too hard. McLaughlin did extensive research with people who say they’ve been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and a psychologist, but not clinicians and researchers who know the disorder isn’t like SYBIL was depicted in the TV movies. Dylan’s friend is the first to diagnose her, using Dr Google and while googling diagnoses is common, it often results in false positives because psychiatric conditions are more difficult to ascertain than a Cosmo Quiz. The DSM was never meant to be read by armchair psychologists.
PIECES OF ME means well and I appreciate McLaughlin’s attempts to destigmatize mental illness by giving Dylan a perfect new boyfriend who has virtually no qualms about her serious problems and perfectly supportive divorced parents.
I think readers who enjoy mental health themed books will enjoy PIECES OF ME, I hope that they see this as fiction not a literal depiction of the disorder. Being a child psychologist I worry about accuracy though I’m don’t think most readers are as picky of me on this issue.
Writing wise, McLaughlin’s beautiful wordbuilding gets bogged down with extraneous dialogue that didn’t move plot or characters forward.
My lack of enthusiasm for PIECES OF ME doesn’t make me less of a McLaughlin fan.
I’m a big Kate McLaughlin fan, but and enjoyed her previous books more than PIECES OF ME, which I felt tried too hard. McLaughlin did extensive research with people who say they’ve been diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) and a psychologist, but not clinicians and researchers who know the disorder isn’t like SYBIL was depicted in the TV movies. Dylan’s friend is the first to diagnose her, using Dr Google and while googling diagnoses is common, it often results in false positives because psychiatric conditions are more difficult to ascertain than a Cosmo Quiz. The DSM was never meant to be read by armchair psychologists.
PIECES OF ME means well and I appreciate McLaughlin’s attempts to destigmatize mental illness by giving Dylan a perfect new boyfriend who has virtually no qualms about her serious problems and perfectly supportive divorced parents.
I think readers who enjoy mental health themed books will enjoy PIECES OF ME, I hope that they see this as fiction not a literal depiction of the disorder. Being a child psychologist I worry about accuracy though I’m don’t think most readers are as picky of me on this issue.
Writing wise, McLaughlin’s beautiful wordbuilding gets bogged down with extraneous dialogue that didn’t move plot or characters forward.
My lack of enthusiasm for PIECES OF ME doesn’t make me less of a McLaughlin fan.
November 29, 2023
Review coming soon.
Want to read
May 13, 202213.05.2022 this is about a girl with dissociative identity disorder (!!)
June 7, 2023
I didn't realize exactly what this story was going to be when I requested it , but I ended up getting sucked in and really enjoyed it. I thought it was interesting and informative while still telling a good story. I even cared about all the characters, which is rare for me. It's obvious the author did a ton of research, and I think this book is as accurate as any fictional story on the subject could be. I don't always love YA that sticks to realism, but this was a pleasant surprise.
(Also, for the record, I totally would have been suspicious of Connor and his niceness too, but he was actually great.)
(Also, for the record, I totally would have been suspicious of Connor and his niceness too, but he was actually great.)
April 11, 2023
Unfortunately not for me.
I appreciate the amount of research the author did, although I can't attest to how accurate it is since I myself do not have DID. So as regards to that, I would recommend checking out own voices reviews.
But besides that aspect of the novel, the book itself didn't do much of anything for me. It was hard for me to connect to the characters and the story just felt very surface level. There was really no depth to anyone and everything seemed to move along fairly smoothly.
All the characters seemed to take Dylan's diagnosis very easily and the one character who seemed to have some difficulty accepting it was immediately shut down and looked at as misogynistic, even though his reaction made sense because he was hurting and confused.
But of course the love interest, who unrealistically immediately accepted the fact that Dylan has alters - despite never having experienced someone with DID and only knowing Dylan for like 3 days (while she had someone else fronting the whole time) - is seen as perfect. Which I guess he would be, but his character just didn't make sense.
There was no naunce to anything to be honest, and it felt like no one was allowed to question anything, other wise they were seen as the Bad Guy.
Overall, this just didn't work for me, even though I wish it did.
《Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 》
I appreciate the amount of research the author did, although I can't attest to how accurate it is since I myself do not have DID. So as regards to that, I would recommend checking out own voices reviews.
But besides that aspect of the novel, the book itself didn't do much of anything for me. It was hard for me to connect to the characters and the story just felt very surface level. There was really no depth to anyone and everything seemed to move along fairly smoothly.
All the characters seemed to take Dylan's diagnosis very easily and the one character who seemed to have some difficulty accepting it was immediately shut down and looked at as misogynistic, even though his reaction made sense because he was hurting and confused.
But of course the love interest, who unrealistically immediately accepted the fact that Dylan has alters - despite never having experienced someone with DID and only knowing Dylan for like 3 days (while she had someone else fronting the whole time) - is seen as perfect. Which I guess he would be, but his character just didn't make sense.
There was no naunce to anything to be honest, and it felt like no one was allowed to question anything, other wise they were seen as the Bad Guy.
Overall, this just didn't work for me, even though I wish it did.
《Thank you to Netgalley and the publisher for sending me an ARC in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own. 》
April 19, 2023
After reading What Unbreakable Looks Like, Kate McLaughlin instantly became an auto-read author for me. That fact coupled with this novel being about dissociative identity disorder (DID), I was beyond thrilled to pick this novel up.
Dylan suffers from DID and although she doesn't know it, it's obvious to the reader from the jump. Nearly half the book is Dylan trying to make sense of her blackouts and juggle a relatively normal workload but failing miserably. Her support system is unparalleled but still she can't make sense of her inner voices or rollercoaster emotions.
Dylan frustrated me and I'm not sure if it was her immaturity (this is a YA novel and you can feel it in the writing, emotions, and style), lack of self awareness, or some combination of both. I also felt like she had a fairly "easy" go of it once she learned of her diagnosis. The book certainly didn't tie everything up with a pretty pink bow, but for such a life altering diagnosis, it sort of felt like it did and I imagine for someone actually suffering from DID, this was frustrating and unrealistic. Especially given the very long and somewhat drawn out history to get to her diagnosis, the wrap up felt a little rushed and clean. Another pain point was Conor. He was just too good to be true and again, I get that it's a work of fiction, but I just had too hard a time buying into it.
I really appreciated the author's note about how much research went into this novel. Some of the premise felt far fetched, drawn out at times and rushed in others, and without any first hand knowledge or exposure to DID, some of it felt inauthentic, dramatised, or embellished. Of course, this is a work of fiction so dramatization is to be expected, but it just missed the mark slightly for me.
I've read several books about DID and while I always go in enthusiastically, I usually am a little let down. Perhaps because it's just not as theatrical as one would expect (who didn't love The United States of Tara back in the day?!) or because I just can't quite wrap my head around it but something always doesn't jibe for me and unfortunately, Pieces of Me was no exception.
Overall, I did end up enjoying this book quite a bit. At halfway, I wasn't sure if I should continue so I'm glad I stuck with it. I have a feeling most readers will enjoy this entire book so please don't let my review dissuade you if the premise sounds intriguing!
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
Dylan suffers from DID and although she doesn't know it, it's obvious to the reader from the jump. Nearly half the book is Dylan trying to make sense of her blackouts and juggle a relatively normal workload but failing miserably. Her support system is unparalleled but still she can't make sense of her inner voices or rollercoaster emotions.
Dylan frustrated me and I'm not sure if it was her immaturity (this is a YA novel and you can feel it in the writing, emotions, and style), lack of self awareness, or some combination of both. I also felt like she had a fairly "easy" go of it once she learned of her diagnosis. The book certainly didn't tie everything up with a pretty pink bow, but for such a life altering diagnosis, it sort of felt like it did and I imagine for someone actually suffering from DID, this was frustrating and unrealistic. Especially given the very long and somewhat drawn out history to get to her diagnosis, the wrap up felt a little rushed and clean. Another pain point was Conor. He was just too good to be true and again, I get that it's a work of fiction, but I just had too hard a time buying into it.
I really appreciated the author's note about how much research went into this novel. Some of the premise felt far fetched, drawn out at times and rushed in others, and without any first hand knowledge or exposure to DID, some of it felt inauthentic, dramatised, or embellished. Of course, this is a work of fiction so dramatization is to be expected, but it just missed the mark slightly for me.
I've read several books about DID and while I always go in enthusiastically, I usually am a little let down. Perhaps because it's just not as theatrical as one would expect (who didn't love The United States of Tara back in the day?!) or because I just can't quite wrap my head around it but something always doesn't jibe for me and unfortunately, Pieces of Me was no exception.
Overall, I did end up enjoying this book quite a bit. At halfway, I wasn't sure if I should continue so I'm glad I stuck with it. I have a feeling most readers will enjoy this entire book so please don't let my review dissuade you if the premise sounds intriguing!
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the advanced copy.
October 26, 2022
This is a fascinating story about a girl who discovers she has DID - disassociated identity disorder. Before she knows, she loses gaps of times, discovers drawings she didin't make and finally meets someone that knows her by a completely different name. At first it's jarring and completely understandable that Dylan doesn't know what's going on and is confused. There's a huge turning point and then the stories picks up a bit as we learn more.
I like the reasearch the author did. This doens't feel like a sesationalized or over-the-top story but one that was full of confusion and frustration that moves to understand and compassion. I found it all interesting but a bit slow in places. I like that it wasn't all rainbows and sunshine and instead tackled some really tough topics. Interesting read, I liked it.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
I like the reasearch the author did. This doens't feel like a sesationalized or over-the-top story but one that was full of confusion and frustration that moves to understand and compassion. I found it all interesting but a bit slow in places. I like that it wasn't all rainbows and sunshine and instead tackled some really tough topics. Interesting read, I liked it.
A huge thank you to the author and publisher for providing an e-ARC via Netgalley. This does not affect my opinion regarding the book.
August 3, 2023
Pieces of Me
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Kate McLaughlin
GR: 4.07
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: When eighteen-year-old Dylan wakes up, she’s in an apartment she doesn’t recognize. The other people there seem to know her, but she doesn't know them – not even the pretty, chiseled boy who tells her his name is Connor. A voice inside her head keeps saying that everything is okay, but Dylan can’t help but freak out. Especially when she borrows Connor’s phone to call home and realizes she’s been missing for three days.
Dylan has lost time before, but never like this.
Soon after, Dylan is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, and must grapple not only with the many people currently crammed inside her head, but that a secret from her past so terrible she’s blocked it out has put them there. Her only distraction is a budding new relationship with Connor. But as she gets closer to finding out the truth, Dylan wonders: will it heal her or fracture her further?
Thoughts: For a YA novel, this was a really intriguing premise. A young lady who struggles with DID (dissociative identity disorder), at times, you will question who she really is. McLaughlin addresses DID with grace, honesty, and integrity. Our protagonist has gaps of missing time that she cannot account for. She hears voices that sound familiar, but at the same time, does not sound like her. After going to a psychologist, Dylan learns that she has DID and the voices are trying to protect from a trauma. She is on a quest to discover that trauma, will this push her further into her own mind, or will she discover the truth and heal?
The author has done an amazing job at researching before putting this novel together and delivers an expertise view with some hard trauma topics, such as abuse and suicide. The author also has exceeded at researching DID, this storyline feels very authentic. The story is narrated by the various alter personalities, and came across as truly separate people. The characters were well developed, even the various alters. There was suspense, creepiness, and just keeps you on the edge of your seat to finish the whole story in a sitting.
I would recommend this book. Even at YA, it was really good suspenseful read.
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Author: Kate McLaughlin
GR: 4.07
I requested a digital advanced readers copy from NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press and providing my opinion voluntarily and unbiased.
Synopsis: When eighteen-year-old Dylan wakes up, she’s in an apartment she doesn’t recognize. The other people there seem to know her, but she doesn't know them – not even the pretty, chiseled boy who tells her his name is Connor. A voice inside her head keeps saying that everything is okay, but Dylan can’t help but freak out. Especially when she borrows Connor’s phone to call home and realizes she’s been missing for three days.
Dylan has lost time before, but never like this.
Soon after, Dylan is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder, and must grapple not only with the many people currently crammed inside her head, but that a secret from her past so terrible she’s blocked it out has put them there. Her only distraction is a budding new relationship with Connor. But as she gets closer to finding out the truth, Dylan wonders: will it heal her or fracture her further?
Thoughts: For a YA novel, this was a really intriguing premise. A young lady who struggles with DID (dissociative identity disorder), at times, you will question who she really is. McLaughlin addresses DID with grace, honesty, and integrity. Our protagonist has gaps of missing time that she cannot account for. She hears voices that sound familiar, but at the same time, does not sound like her. After going to a psychologist, Dylan learns that she has DID and the voices are trying to protect from a trauma. She is on a quest to discover that trauma, will this push her further into her own mind, or will she discover the truth and heal?
The author has done an amazing job at researching before putting this novel together and delivers an expertise view with some hard trauma topics, such as abuse and suicide. The author also has exceeded at researching DID, this storyline feels very authentic. The story is narrated by the various alter personalities, and came across as truly separate people. The characters were well developed, even the various alters. There was suspense, creepiness, and just keeps you on the edge of your seat to finish the whole story in a sitting.
I would recommend this book. Even at YA, it was really good suspenseful read.
August 16, 2024
Pieces of Me tells the story of Dylan, who wakes up not remembering where she is and how she got there. As someone who frequently has unexplained chunks of time missing, she seeks help and is diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder, She is told that she has multiple personalities in her that serve to protect her from traumatic events from her childhood. The book slowly reveals how Dylan came to be in this state. I don't know a lot about this disorder and am sure it was difficult to write about with accuracy but I found the whole premise disturbing and implausible at times, but also heartfelt and intriguing. I enjoyed reading this and I applaud the author for taking on such a difficult topic with aplomb.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Wednesday Books and Kate McLaughlin for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
Many thanks to Netgalley, Edelweiss, Wednesday Books and Kate McLaughlin for my complimentary e-copy ARC in exchange for an honest review. All opinions are my own.
April 17, 2023
Happy early release day!
This book is full of triggers, especially sexual abuse and mental disorders. If you aren't familiar with disassociation, it might be worth looking up prior to reading. It might otherwise get a little confusing as she doesn't really explain it in depth until later. Perhaps that was intentional but I didn't think it worked well here.
I enjoyed [most of] this book. I could see this being picked up as a movie sooner than later. The protagonist was well-developed and likable. The overall plot is SO interesting and I plan to do more research on this condition. I've read about disassociation identity disorder (DID) before but reading this sparked my interest all over again.
Similar to many books, my dislike stemmed from the conclusion. I do appreciate it when an author focuses on the positive without some negative twist, but the downside is it tends to be detached from the framework of reality. That in itself is negative and the conclusion didn't completely wrap up perfectly with a bow on top but came close.
I remained interested without feeling a desire for it to end. The anticipation about who did what stayed consistent until nearly the end, which would be logical. However, once the big reveal came out, everything felt rushed and like a summary. Much like reading the large blurbs at the end of a biographical Lifetime movie.
The writing was okay, but was a bit inconsistent (I don't mean this from the standpoint of DID). Each "person" has their own personality, but when one individual doesn't quite talk the same way then it gets weird. It felt more like the author would randomly realize that she needs to market towards younger adults so would throw in some random phrase to keep up with the times. Then it would go back to being mature. It didn't flow very well.
Aside from the author trying and failing to relate to Generation Z, the writing is mostly good.
HOWEVER, Take note:
- ...her eyebrows were perfect. Like, completely symmetrical and full- not a hair in sight.
- She smiles. Her teeth are perfect.
- My mom is beautiful.
- Her skin is flawless porcelain.
- The girl before me is young and tall, with long red hair and a beautiful, flawless face.
I'm pretty sure every character in this book is described using the adjective "perfect." Each of the examples above was related to a different person. Character description (and language) are not this author's strength. She's good at dialogue, plot, and the "feelings" that contribute to the tone.
I did also appreciate that she listed her research at the end because I was very curious about the validity. I have so many questions related to the disorder but she did a great job for it to be a work of fiction. Also, you know, cancel culture. You gotta get the facts right these days.
This book is full of triggers, especially sexual abuse and mental disorders. If you aren't familiar with disassociation, it might be worth looking up prior to reading. It might otherwise get a little confusing as she doesn't really explain it in depth until later. Perhaps that was intentional but I didn't think it worked well here.
I enjoyed [most of] this book. I could see this being picked up as a movie sooner than later. The protagonist was well-developed and likable. The overall plot is SO interesting and I plan to do more research on this condition. I've read about disassociation identity disorder (DID) before but reading this sparked my interest all over again.
Similar to many books, my dislike stemmed from the conclusion. I do appreciate it when an author focuses on the positive without some negative twist, but the downside is it tends to be detached from the framework of reality. That in itself is negative and the conclusion didn't completely wrap up perfectly with a bow on top but came close.
I remained interested without feeling a desire for it to end. The anticipation about who did what stayed consistent until nearly the end, which would be logical. However, once the big reveal came out, everything felt rushed and like a summary. Much like reading the large blurbs at the end of a biographical Lifetime movie.
The writing was okay, but was a bit inconsistent (I don't mean this from the standpoint of DID). Each "person" has their own personality, but when one individual doesn't quite talk the same way then it gets weird. It felt more like the author would randomly realize that she needs to market towards younger adults so would throw in some random phrase to keep up with the times. Then it would go back to being mature. It didn't flow very well.
Aside from the author trying and failing to relate to Generation Z, the writing is mostly good.
HOWEVER, Take note:
- ...her eyebrows were perfect. Like, completely symmetrical and full- not a hair in sight.
- She smiles. Her teeth are perfect.
- My mom is beautiful.
- Her skin is flawless porcelain.
- The girl before me is young and tall, with long red hair and a beautiful, flawless face.
I'm pretty sure every character in this book is described using the adjective "perfect." Each of the examples above was related to a different person. Character description (and language) are not this author's strength. She's good at dialogue, plot, and the "feelings" that contribute to the tone.
I did also appreciate that she listed her research at the end because I was very curious about the validity. I have so many questions related to the disorder but she did a great job for it to be a work of fiction. Also, you know, cancel culture. You gotta get the facts right these days.
August 28, 2023
This was definitely not what I was expecting but it was so, so good. I have not read a book on Dissociative Identity Disorder and this one was done so well, I was hooked from the beginning and did not stop until it was over. Dylan is 18 and wakes up in an apartment she doesn’t recognize, everyone else there knows her, but she has no clue where she is, how she got there or what she has done. And she is with a boy named Connor, who lends her his phone and when she calls home she realizes she’s been missing for three days. From there, she starts her journey to figure out what is going on, and this was such a fascinating read that like I said I could not put it down. What I loved in here was the support Dylan received, the lesson I got on how fascinating the mind works to protect someone from a traumatic experience, and how important it is to hold people accountable that inflect said trauma. I have now read two of McLaughlin’s books and they have both been excellent, I encourage you to read this one and she is now an auto read author for me.
I will say that while this does seem heavy, it is YA so it was easier to get through than you would think, the author works in some moments of levity as any teenager would have, and I really appreciated that. I do recommend this one, it was such a great read.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the digital copy to review.
I will say that while this does seem heavy, it is YA so it was easier to get through than you would think, the author works in some moments of levity as any teenager would have, and I really appreciated that. I do recommend this one, it was such a great read.
Thank you to Wednesday Books and NetGalley for the digital copy to review.
September 2, 2022
I was riveted to this book immediately as Dylan wakes up in a strange bed with no memory of how she got there or how three days have passed! Of course she is terrified but even when she's home, she can't remember anything and is sure she wasn't drunk or high. And so begins a terrifying journey as she literally begins to unravel the past and is diagnosed with DID. It's a fascinating look at the world of this disorder where "alters" protect each other from some trauma the host faced in earlier life. I couldn't put this down! It's compelling as well as difficult to read as Dylan's past comes back to haunt her in ways she never imagined. Many trigger warnings but so worth it!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
Thanks to NetGalley for this ARC!
May 5, 2023
Given my book slump, I was surprised how quickly this one pulled me in. There is a whole lot I loved about this story, including the mental health rep and the focus on interpersonal dynamics. However, there are also a few elements that gave me pause and are worth noting.
While this is labeled YA, the themes and topics addressed including Dissociative Identity Disorder and sexual molestation, feel very heavy for the younger population. I would recommend this one for more mature YA and older. I also had concerns that there may be overdramatizing of this rare disorder, though I do understand this is fiction.
All of that said, I really enjoyed it, especially on audio, and would definitely recommend it.
Thank you Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio for the early copies in exchange for my honest review.
While this is labeled YA, the themes and topics addressed including Dissociative Identity Disorder and sexual molestation, feel very heavy for the younger population. I would recommend this one for more mature YA and older. I also had concerns that there may be overdramatizing of this rare disorder, though I do understand this is fiction.
All of that said, I really enjoyed it, especially on audio, and would definitely recommend it.
Thank you Wednesday Books and Macmillan Audio for the early copies in exchange for my honest review.
June 20, 2023
I have DID. That doesn't mean I'm the final say on this book's quality! This is to say that I came to it with first hand experience and that I have a personal investment in DID/OSDD1 Fiction.
I'm thinking about doing a more comprehensive review at a later date. But for now, I'm just gonna leave two bullet point lists. The second list aimed at fellow systems:
1. The book's DID rep is fine! I think the writer did a good job of representing the mechanical parts of living with the disorder. However, they missed all the somatic and emotional parts. The host ends up being the least interesting alter in the system, sadly. But the other primary alters have a lot more personality and more going on, I liked them. The low rating is NOT because of the DID rep.
2. The book is 2 stars because it doesn't have a plot, is poorly paced, I wasn't into the love interest, second half of the book is rushed, the ending feels under researched, the writing is very tell-don't-show, and it's wish fulfillment aspects felt tonally dissonant with the nature of the story it wanted to tell.
3. The book will probably work for you if you are a teen who's looking for a book to introduce you to the System Experience, and you would like some comfort and wish fulfillment as a CSA survivor. For adults, it will probably work better and hit harder for those who have not read or experienced a lot of the topics the book covers.
Misc Notes for Fellow Systems (WARNING!!! SPOILERS!):
I'm thinking about doing a more comprehensive review at a later date. But for now, I'm just gonna leave two bullet point lists. The second list aimed at fellow systems:
1. The book's DID rep is fine! I think the writer did a good job of representing the mechanical parts of living with the disorder. However, they missed all the somatic and emotional parts. The host ends up being the least interesting alter in the system, sadly. But the other primary alters have a lot more personality and more going on, I liked them. The low rating is NOT because of the DID rep.
2. The book is 2 stars because it doesn't have a plot, is poorly paced, I wasn't into the love interest, second half of the book is rushed, the ending feels under researched, the writing is very tell-don't-show, and it's wish fulfillment aspects felt tonally dissonant with the nature of the story it wanted to tell.
3. The book will probably work for you if you are a teen who's looking for a book to introduce you to the System Experience, and you would like some comfort and wish fulfillment as a CSA survivor. For adults, it will probably work better and hit harder for those who have not read or experienced a lot of the topics the book covers.
Misc Notes for Fellow Systems (WARNING!!! SPOILERS!):
September 10, 2023
A well-told and important YA novel. While it has many of the expected things: romance, family drama, and friendships, this deals with trauma and a look inside of Dissociative Identity Disorder as the protagonist becomes aware of her own DID. As she learns about it in general and starts to understand her own "system," she also has to deal with how others see her and respond to the diagnosis and the sexual trauma that caused it. There isn't anything frivolous about this book, and it adds an important voice for young adults to be aware of, even if they never meet someone with DID.
April 22, 2023
This book was a lot.
Being someone with a healthcare background, though not in psychology, I did see the early signs that eventually led to Dylan’s diagnosis. It also meant I had a strong idea of the type of trauma Dylan must’ve experienced as a child. Though that did not make it any less sad to think about. I also immediately knew who the perpetrator was. One line, that’s all it took. Because there is a pattern of behavior established from that single detail.
I will say I do think the author did a good job of letting us know about the trauma without getting too graphic. A lot was hinted at and implied, and I was genuinely worried we’d have to see Dylan recall it all for herself in order for her to fully break down the walls between herself and her alters, and begin to heal, but thankfully that wasn’t the case. Most of it was kept off-screen.
I felt like Dylan reacted about as well as anyone in her situation could. There was a little denial and resistance at first, but once she resolved to figure out and understand what was truly going on with her she stayed true to that path.
I will say Dylan had an amazing support system, people who love her, support her and do their utmost to try to understand her and her condition. Something I believe others may point out as unrealistic. I can totally see why they’d say that. Because, sadly, there are far too many cases in which the abused are not believed. Far too many cases where people blame the victim rather than the perpetrator or where families protect the abuser for whatever reason, it’s so wrong but it happens too often if studies and statistics are to be believed.
So while maybe that may have made the representation a tad unrealistic for some, I’m glad for it. Because this is the type of resolution I hope all survivors of abuse get. They deserve to be able to live their lives to the fullest, to have people around to love and ground them, and to see justice wrought.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for sharing this digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
Being someone with a healthcare background, though not in psychology, I did see the early signs that eventually led to Dylan’s diagnosis. It also meant I had a strong idea of the type of trauma Dylan must’ve experienced as a child. Though that did not make it any less sad to think about. I also immediately knew who the perpetrator was. One line, that’s all it took. Because there is a pattern of behavior established from that single detail.
I will say I do think the author did a good job of letting us know about the trauma without getting too graphic. A lot was hinted at and implied, and I was genuinely worried we’d have to see Dylan recall it all for herself in order for her to fully break down the walls between herself and her alters, and begin to heal, but thankfully that wasn’t the case. Most of it was kept off-screen.
I felt like Dylan reacted about as well as anyone in her situation could. There was a little denial and resistance at first, but once she resolved to figure out and understand what was truly going on with her she stayed true to that path.
I will say Dylan had an amazing support system, people who love her, support her and do their utmost to try to understand her and her condition. Something I believe others may point out as unrealistic. I can totally see why they’d say that. Because, sadly, there are far too many cases in which the abused are not believed. Far too many cases where people blame the victim rather than the perpetrator or where families protect the abuser for whatever reason, it’s so wrong but it happens too often if studies and statistics are to be believed.
So while maybe that may have made the representation a tad unrealistic for some, I’m glad for it. Because this is the type of resolution I hope all survivors of abuse get. They deserve to be able to live their lives to the fullest, to have people around to love and ground them, and to see justice wrought.
Huge thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press/Wednesday Books for sharing this digital ARC with me in exchange for my honest opinions.
May 10, 2023
This book, about dissociative identity disorder, what used to be called multiple personality disorder, reads like an after-school special. And if the intended audience is reluctant teen readers, I'd say it hit the mark. But for this adult reader, not so much.
It presents the Dylan, a college freshman, and her alters in a black and white fashion. Dylan seems to get along with her alters as if they were friends outside of her head. Connor, who she meets at the beginning of the story when one of her alters is in control, is the perfect gentleman who never takes advantage and seems to have no issues with a woman who can be someone else at the drop of a hat. C'mon, really? Connor is out of the realm of fantasy. The whole book suffers from the "tell" rather than "show" syndrome that English teachers talk about. Still, for reluctant readers who like their stories clear with no nuance or ambiguity, it might be interesting.
It presents the Dylan, a college freshman, and her alters in a black and white fashion. Dylan seems to get along with her alters as if they were friends outside of her head. Connor, who she meets at the beginning of the story when one of her alters is in control, is the perfect gentleman who never takes advantage and seems to have no issues with a woman who can be someone else at the drop of a hat. C'mon, really? Connor is out of the realm of fantasy. The whole book suffers from the "tell" rather than "show" syndrome that English teachers talk about. Still, for reluctant readers who like their stories clear with no nuance or ambiguity, it might be interesting.
December 13, 2021
That was... wow. Kate McLaughlin is incredible and everyone is sleeping on her.
November 17, 2022
Book: Pieces of Me
Author: Kate McLaughlin
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with an ARC. I am going to start out by saying that this is being marketed as young adult, but it is on the upper end of YA. It does contain a lot of mature content, including sexual assault, self-harm, substance abuse, and characters who are eighteen plus. It does do a great job with mental illness and the handling of it. I all of this out there, because there are topics in here that are not appropriate for younger readers.
I love Kate McLaughlin books. I love how much emotion so pours into her writing and how real she makes everything feel. This is one is no different. We follow Dylan who wakes up in bed with someone she doesn’t know. She had not idea what has happened or how she even got there. She finds out that she has been there for three days and her mother has been looking for her. To add to the confusion, this guy starts calling her by a name that isn’t hers. This trend keeps going. She meets people who know her, but are, again, calling her by different names. She has no idea what is going on. She does some digging and after an incident that puts her in the hospital, she is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder. This disorder sends her on the quest of trying to figure out what event in her past lead to this and who is responsible for all of this trauma.
I loved Dylan’s voice. She is someone who is just wants to be an art student and draw. However, all of this is put on hold for her to take care of her mental health. Her confusion and frustration comes out as she tries to make it through her day to day life. She just wants to get better and is just trying to make sense of everything that has happened to her. I liked that we get to see this struggle. Seeing her going through this and doing it in a realistic manner only makes the whole thing all that much real. Dylan is one of those characters that just feels so real to readers. We know her interests and know what she wants in life. We know the struggle. All of this, again, allows the reader to bond with her and form this deep connection with her character. This is what I am looking in a book. I want to see characters who are complex and real.
Dylan’s journey is what makes the book. This is good, because that is what the book is about. It is about her not so much overcoming, but coming to terms that her alters are a part of her. It is about accepting who you are. We see this and we see it those around her. She has a great support system, which is key. She has everything going for her and people wanting to be there for her. This is key with any mental illness. You need to have some people in your life to be there for you no matter what.
Now, the reason I gave this a four star was because I felt the ending was a little rushed and unbelievable. I don’t know the big reveal just felt like meh. We have had this big build up and then it’s over. I would have liked to have seen this fleshed out a little bit more and gotten to see the aftereffects of it. Maybe there will be a second book to explore this? I don’t know.
This book goes not come out for a while. It comes out on April 18, 2023.
Youtube: https://youtu.be/dDans6tzBro
Author: Kate McLaughlin
Rating: 4 Out of 5 Stars
I would like to thank the publisher, Wednesday Books, for providing me with an ARC. I am going to start out by saying that this is being marketed as young adult, but it is on the upper end of YA. It does contain a lot of mature content, including sexual assault, self-harm, substance abuse, and characters who are eighteen plus. It does do a great job with mental illness and the handling of it. I all of this out there, because there are topics in here that are not appropriate for younger readers.
I love Kate McLaughlin books. I love how much emotion so pours into her writing and how real she makes everything feel. This is one is no different. We follow Dylan who wakes up in bed with someone she doesn’t know. She had not idea what has happened or how she even got there. She finds out that she has been there for three days and her mother has been looking for her. To add to the confusion, this guy starts calling her by a name that isn’t hers. This trend keeps going. She meets people who know her, but are, again, calling her by different names. She has no idea what is going on. She does some digging and after an incident that puts her in the hospital, she is diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder. This disorder sends her on the quest of trying to figure out what event in her past lead to this and who is responsible for all of this trauma.
I loved Dylan’s voice. She is someone who is just wants to be an art student and draw. However, all of this is put on hold for her to take care of her mental health. Her confusion and frustration comes out as she tries to make it through her day to day life. She just wants to get better and is just trying to make sense of everything that has happened to her. I liked that we get to see this struggle. Seeing her going through this and doing it in a realistic manner only makes the whole thing all that much real. Dylan is one of those characters that just feels so real to readers. We know her interests and know what she wants in life. We know the struggle. All of this, again, allows the reader to bond with her and form this deep connection with her character. This is what I am looking in a book. I want to see characters who are complex and real.
Dylan’s journey is what makes the book. This is good, because that is what the book is about. It is about her not so much overcoming, but coming to terms that her alters are a part of her. It is about accepting who you are. We see this and we see it those around her. She has a great support system, which is key. She has everything going for her and people wanting to be there for her. This is key with any mental illness. You need to have some people in your life to be there for you no matter what.
Now, the reason I gave this a four star was because I felt the ending was a little rushed and unbelievable. I don’t know the big reveal just felt like meh. We have had this big build up and then it’s over. I would have liked to have seen this fleshed out a little bit more and gotten to see the aftereffects of it. Maybe there will be a second book to explore this? I don’t know.
This book goes not come out for a while. It comes out on April 18, 2023.
Youtube: https://youtu.be/dDans6tzBro
March 15, 2023
4+ stars.
Pieces of Me was such a beautiful, yet difficult read and felt so real.
Imagine waking up and not remembering where you are or who the people around you are, even though you just spent the weekend with them. This is the story of Dylan and her discovering that she has DID (Dissociate Identity Disorder). She knows she has something wrong with her, but no one can pinpoint what it is that she has. After her mother takes her to a new doctor, runs more tests and finds her a new therapist, everything soon begins to fall in place and Dylan finds answers that she has been seeking.
I've read books about DID before, but they usually fall into the suspense category. This was not the same. I felt like I got to know the mental disorder and how it can affect not only the person who has it, but their loved ones as well. We also not only get to know Dylan, but her alters and how they came to be. DID usually arrives after a traumatic event, but Dylan, her brother Mark and her parents can't figure out any traumatic events she may have had since she had a pretty darn good life, besides her parents being divorced. Her parents are successful and they do fine financially, but there is still something missing to the whole of who Dylan is. That's where her alters come in and protect her from the past.
Pieces of Me was a book that I did not want to put down. I really liked who Dylan was as a character and I liked getting to know all the pieces of her (her alters). They show up and you get to know them as well. It was also nice to see Dylan had such a strong support system with her mother, her brother Mark (even if he had his moments), her BFF Izzy and Connor. I think without those loved ones and the people that were there to hold her hand through all the difficult moments, things could've ended up very differently.
While the topic and content was quite heavy, I liked that Dylan gave us a little humor within it all. I also felt like the author did her research and while it is not textbook and clinical, it's obvious she balanced it all very well and gave us a story that was entertaining, but also taught us about a mental health disorder at the same time. I would definitely recommend this to any reader that likes a well told story with great characters, while learning a bit about mental health.
Pieces of Me was such a beautiful, yet difficult read and felt so real.
Imagine waking up and not remembering where you are or who the people around you are, even though you just spent the weekend with them. This is the story of Dylan and her discovering that she has DID (Dissociate Identity Disorder). She knows she has something wrong with her, but no one can pinpoint what it is that she has. After her mother takes her to a new doctor, runs more tests and finds her a new therapist, everything soon begins to fall in place and Dylan finds answers that she has been seeking.
I've read books about DID before, but they usually fall into the suspense category. This was not the same. I felt like I got to know the mental disorder and how it can affect not only the person who has it, but their loved ones as well. We also not only get to know Dylan, but her alters and how they came to be. DID usually arrives after a traumatic event, but Dylan, her brother Mark and her parents can't figure out any traumatic events she may have had since she had a pretty darn good life, besides her parents being divorced. Her parents are successful and they do fine financially, but there is still something missing to the whole of who Dylan is. That's where her alters come in and protect her from the past.
Pieces of Me was a book that I did not want to put down. I really liked who Dylan was as a character and I liked getting to know all the pieces of her (her alters). They show up and you get to know them as well. It was also nice to see Dylan had such a strong support system with her mother, her brother Mark (even if he had his moments), her BFF Izzy and Connor. I think without those loved ones and the people that were there to hold her hand through all the difficult moments, things could've ended up very differently.
While the topic and content was quite heavy, I liked that Dylan gave us a little humor within it all. I also felt like the author did her research and while it is not textbook and clinical, it's obvious she balanced it all very well and gave us a story that was entertaining, but also taught us about a mental health disorder at the same time. I would definitely recommend this to any reader that likes a well told story with great characters, while learning a bit about mental health.
May 7, 2023
Thank you to Netgalley and Wednesday Books for an advance review copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Out April 18, 2023.
4 stars
Pieces of Me is a very moving and gripping story of a girl struggling to get a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder and deciding who she is.
Dylan finds herself in a strange apartment with a strange boy and realizes that she has blacked out and lost 3 days. She’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and tested for multiple other disorders but is still suffering from something else. Her grades are dropping, and friends and family are getting to their breaking point. What is going on in her head to make her lose time?
This book balanced some really unsettling and upsetting plot points with an almost too perfect support system. I didn’t think that was very realistic but it was nice to read! Dylan’s friends, new boyfriend and family all so supportive and understanding to her diagnosis (even her brother who she has some arguments with, overall supports and loves her). You can tell Kate McLaughlin did a lot of research into DID in order to shed light and de-stigmatize preconceived notions the reader may have.
I couldn’t put this book down and I think it’s a great read and taught me a bit more about DID.
Out April 18, 2023.
4 stars
Pieces of Me is a very moving and gripping story of a girl struggling to get a diagnosis of dissociative identity disorder and deciding who she is.
Dylan finds herself in a strange apartment with a strange boy and realizes that she has blacked out and lost 3 days. She’s been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and tested for multiple other disorders but is still suffering from something else. Her grades are dropping, and friends and family are getting to their breaking point. What is going on in her head to make her lose time?
This book balanced some really unsettling and upsetting plot points with an almost too perfect support system. I didn’t think that was very realistic but it was nice to read! Dylan’s friends, new boyfriend and family all so supportive and understanding to her diagnosis (even her brother who she has some arguments with, overall supports and loves her). You can tell Kate McLaughlin did a lot of research into DID in order to shed light and de-stigmatize preconceived notions the reader may have.
I couldn’t put this book down and I think it’s a great read and taught me a bit more about DID.
April 13, 2023
*Trigger Warning*
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) has always fascinated me. It's not a mental health condition that is talked about nearly enough, especially because of the stigma surrounding it. I think McLaughlin did an excellent job portraying the disorder in a way that did not romanticize or over-dramatize.
That being said, there were parts that gave me pause. While it is not difficult to believe that no one noticed the abuse while it was happening, it is a little unbelievable that the family readily accepted the news and transitioned straight into supporting Dylan. While that is obviously the hope for all victims of child sexual abuse, it definitely is not always the case.
Dylan's journey to diagnosis also confused me a bit. Prior to even meeting with the therapist, her best friend has done a Google search and decided that DID is definitely what Dylan is grappling with. Because DID is so rarely discussed, this made me question how she came to that conclusion. Add to that a perfectly supportive new boyfriend who asks minimal questions about Dylan's disorder and is somehow the only person who can recognize her different alters and knows how to best support her, it felt unrealistic at times.
The book was well-written and it kept me interested. But I will say that there's not much of a plot line. It's pretty obvious from early on what the trauma was and who the perpetrator was. Then it's a quick diagnosis. Then Dylan's in love and coping well. It feels a little bit too "happily ever after" at times. Readers who enjoy reading fictional books as a way to learn more about different mental health disorders will enjoy this one. It is based on actual research and does an excellent job placing the reader inside the story to build empathy for Dylan.
Overall, this was a 3.5 star read for me because of the moments I was left questioning the reality of it. Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for gifting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review and opinion.
Dissociative Identity Disorder (DID) has always fascinated me. It's not a mental health condition that is talked about nearly enough, especially because of the stigma surrounding it. I think McLaughlin did an excellent job portraying the disorder in a way that did not romanticize or over-dramatize.
That being said, there were parts that gave me pause. While it is not difficult to believe that no one noticed the abuse while it was happening, it is a little unbelievable that the family readily accepted the news and transitioned straight into supporting Dylan. While that is obviously the hope for all victims of child sexual abuse, it definitely is not always the case.
Dylan's journey to diagnosis also confused me a bit. Prior to even meeting with the therapist, her best friend has done a Google search and decided that DID is definitely what Dylan is grappling with. Because DID is so rarely discussed, this made me question how she came to that conclusion. Add to that a perfectly supportive new boyfriend who asks minimal questions about Dylan's disorder and is somehow the only person who can recognize her different alters and knows how to best support her, it felt unrealistic at times.
The book was well-written and it kept me interested. But I will say that there's not much of a plot line. It's pretty obvious from early on what the trauma was and who the perpetrator was. Then it's a quick diagnosis. Then Dylan's in love and coping well. It feels a little bit too "happily ever after" at times. Readers who enjoy reading fictional books as a way to learn more about different mental health disorders will enjoy this one. It is based on actual research and does an excellent job placing the reader inside the story to build empathy for Dylan.
Overall, this was a 3.5 star read for me because of the moments I was left questioning the reality of it. Thank you NetGalley and Wednesday Books for gifting me an advance copy in exchange for my honest review and opinion.
September 26, 2023
When my mother first started playing the audiobook in the car on the way to school, I wasn't so sure if I would like it or not but I quickly learned to love it. Pieces of Me was very informative about Disociative Identity Disorder and all of the challenges that comes with it while also being a fun and very interesting read. I never expected it to be about DID but now that I look back on it the title makes a lot of sense.
I love how Kate McLaughlin made a mystery out of the DID in the story over what trauma she had that triggered it and how it was slowly revealed. The mystery of it all helped to drive the story along and reel me in forcing me to want to listen and find out who gave her the trauma. It was a very unique interpretation on identity and mental health.
Anyone who loves a good mystery but who also enjoys learning new things would really enjoy this book. It is mainly set for young adults but people of any age could learn to love the book.
I love how Kate McLaughlin made a mystery out of the DID in the story over what trauma she had that triggered it and how it was slowly revealed. The mystery of it all helped to drive the story along and reel me in forcing me to want to listen and find out who gave her the trauma. It was a very unique interpretation on identity and mental health.
Anyone who loves a good mystery but who also enjoys learning new things would really enjoy this book. It is mainly set for young adults but people of any age could learn to love the book.
December 21, 2022
this was ABSOLUTELY INCREDIBLE!
this story follows dylan who wakes up not knowing where she is, how she got there, and who the people around her are. she doesn’t know why people think she’s been missing for three days and does not remember anything. eventually, she gets diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder and starts to navigate her alters and how they have protected her against her past trauma.
this was so interesting and i could tell the author did a ton of research going into this book. the author went into great detail about the diagnosis process, what treatment is available, and how this disorder manifests in the first place. i also really enjoyed how the author switched point of views to dylan’s alters so we could understand them more and know their thoughts and feelings as well. dylan’s story was incredibly powerful and i found it really fascinating. overall, this was amazing and i could not put it down!
thank you to netgalley for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review.
this story follows dylan who wakes up not knowing where she is, how she got there, and who the people around her are. she doesn’t know why people think she’s been missing for three days and does not remember anything. eventually, she gets diagnosed with Dissociative Identity Disorder and starts to navigate her alters and how they have protected her against her past trauma.
this was so interesting and i could tell the author did a ton of research going into this book. the author went into great detail about the diagnosis process, what treatment is available, and how this disorder manifests in the first place. i also really enjoyed how the author switched point of views to dylan’s alters so we could understand them more and know their thoughts and feelings as well. dylan’s story was incredibly powerful and i found it really fascinating. overall, this was amazing and i could not put it down!
thank you to netgalley for giving me this arc in exchange for an honest review.
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