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Pieces of Blue
From New York Times bestselling author Holly Goldberg Sloan, a compelling and heartfelt novel for fans of Maria Semple and Emma Straub about a family trying to restore a ramshackle beachside motel—and their own lives
What good was thinking the future only held cloudy skies? Wasn’t the reality that pieces of blue were always there, waiting to break through?
When Paul Hill drowns in a surfing accident, his broken-hearted wife, Lindsey, and their three children are left in huge financial trouble. Once Paul’s life insurance finally comes through, Lindsey impulsively uses the money to buy a charmingly ramshackle motel in Hawai’i, hoping for a fresh start. Teenage Olivia quickly develops a crush on a handsome but monosyllabic skateboarder. Twelve-year-old Carlos reinvents himself as a popular kid named Carl. And Sena, the youngest, will do whatever it takes to protect her beloved motel chickens.
But while the kids adjust, Lindsey is flailing, trying to pretend she knows how to bring a motel—and herself—back to life. Then a handsome stranger rolls into the motel parking lot, and she’s surprised to feel a long-dormant part of herself stirring. She accepts his offer to help, unaware that he may have secrets of his own. And all the while, out in the Pacific, the trade winds are fiercely blowing.
Funny and tender, full of twists and turns and heart, Pieces of Blue is a portrait of an irresistible family learning to start over.
What good was thinking the future only held cloudy skies? Wasn’t the reality that pieces of blue were always there, waiting to break through?
When Paul Hill drowns in a surfing accident, his broken-hearted wife, Lindsey, and their three children are left in huge financial trouble. Once Paul’s life insurance finally comes through, Lindsey impulsively uses the money to buy a charmingly ramshackle motel in Hawai’i, hoping for a fresh start. Teenage Olivia quickly develops a crush on a handsome but monosyllabic skateboarder. Twelve-year-old Carlos reinvents himself as a popular kid named Carl. And Sena, the youngest, will do whatever it takes to protect her beloved motel chickens.
But while the kids adjust, Lindsey is flailing, trying to pretend she knows how to bring a motel—and herself—back to life. Then a handsome stranger rolls into the motel parking lot, and she’s surprised to feel a long-dormant part of herself stirring. She accepts his offer to help, unaware that he may have secrets of his own. And all the while, out in the Pacific, the trade winds are fiercely blowing.
Funny and tender, full of twists and turns and heart, Pieces of Blue is a portrait of an irresistible family learning to start over.
261 pages, Kindle Edition
First published May 9, 2023
191 people are currently reading
11511 people want to read
About the author
Holly Goldberg Sloan
14 books1,423 followersHolly Goldberg Sloan was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan, and spent her childhood living in California, the Netherlands, Istanbul, Washington, DC, and Oregon (where she graduated from high school). She wrote the screenplay for Angels in the Outfield and directed The Big Green, as well as a number of other successful family feature films.
The mother of two sons, Holly lives with her husband (the writer/illustrator Gary Rosen) in Santa Monica, California. I'll Be There was her debut novel. Her next book, Counting By 7s, was Amazon's best novel of the year for middle grade. Her book Just Call My Name is a follow up to I'll Be There and takes place several months after the ending of the first novel.
Appleblossom the Possum was written by Sloan and Illustrated by Rosen and comes out of Sloan's love for Charlotte's Web. Her next novel will be published in January of 2017 from Dial/Penguin Random House.
The mother of two sons, Holly lives with her husband (the writer/illustrator Gary Rosen) in Santa Monica, California. I'll Be There was her debut novel. Her next book, Counting By 7s, was Amazon's best novel of the year for middle grade. Her book Just Call My Name is a follow up to I'll Be There and takes place several months after the ending of the first novel.
Appleblossom the Possum was written by Sloan and Illustrated by Rosen and comes out of Sloan's love for Charlotte's Web. Her next novel will be published in January of 2017 from Dial/Penguin Random House.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 352 reviews
February 13, 2023
4.5 rating…..
…..I’ve got that glowing satisfying, feeling that one often gets after reading a novel that we thoroughly enjoyed!!!
From Portland to Hawaii, a single mother, with her three kids start a new life in the run-down motel that Mom bought.
Great storytelling-awesome environment & biosphere-
LOVE THE KIDS!!!
The cottages in each of the motel rooms had sagging beds, corroded pipes, slow, drains, and dripping faucets. Half of the old-fashioned, two -prong electrical outlets didn’t work. And geckos were running along the length of the ceiling beams catching gnats, and flies.
A lot of repair work was needed before the cottages were ready for guests to come stay. The motel was over eighty years old.
Lindsay bought the property site unseen from a couple in their eighties who were ready to retire from being motel owners.
There were tropical trees and plants, Bougainvillea, coral, ferns, banyan trees, tropical flowers, palm trees, the blue green ocean, plantation style wooden cottages, all built off the ground on uprights, chickens, roosters, a couple of owls, a one-eyed cat, African tulip trees, plumeria, Angel trumpets, mongooses, asparagus, and papaya groves — a little gecko with bulging turquoise-rimmed eyes with a splash of red hot sauce on its spine.
Down by the ocean, there were turtles, small, sharks, parrot fish, perch, triggerfish, butterfly, fish, mullets, and eels.
The area was gorgeous!
Lindsay (originally from Wales) had lived with her husband Paul Hill, in Portland with their three kids.
Paul had started a tech business.
In the beginning his startup was going well, but then a few years later, he had a “reversal of fortune”.
For a few years their family was living the high and almighty life in the wealthy fast lane. We will see how each child and Lindsey were affected.
After they lost everything, their nanny went back to Sweden. They lost their house, and moved a few times into smaller places that cost less.
Then Paul dies > surfing. (again-we will see how this loss was for the kids and ‘mom’).
For more than half of the novel — it was simply enjoyable getting to know the characters, (wonderfully distinct), and take in how each family member was adjusting to their new lifestyle in the remote area of O’ahu.
I learned some interesting details about Hawaii (such as the official colors of each Hawaiian island), that I hadn’t even learned from James A. Michener’s thousand page historical epic novel.
Plus … I’ve been going to Hawaii (almost every December for forty-four years since my Honeymoon)….so Hawaii holds personal history for me.
I can’t stress enough how wonderful the characters were —
Seven year old Sena was a wiz-kid… curious, bright, passionate about animals, and precocious in the best of endearing ways.
Olivia, was a kick-ass fourteen year old… teetering between being self-conscious and sensitive about fitting in with her peers — (definitely interested in boys) to being downright forthright gutless when action was called for.
Carlos- the only boy in the family was a very kind, optimistic twelve year old peacemaker.
Lindsay was a great mom …. and even with the insurmountable amount of responsibility on her plate — I admired her naturalness in creating balance between protecting her children and giving them plenty of room for independent growth.
We meet Chris Young … a man from the mainland who had been visiting this motel every October for about twenty years. His wife had died a couple of years ago — but the motel still held emotional value. He knew the old owners, Rangi and Pearl Kalama before Lindsay bought it.
After he meets Lindsay - Chris, a ghostwriter by trade, had enough manual electrical skills - and other tool belt abilities, that he offered to help Lindsey get the motel ready to open for business in exchange for staying in one of the cottages.
It’s all very engaging entertaining storytelling…
it would make a great movie…..
…..even without the couple of surprise-twists that happened later in the novel.
But….
these ‘surprises’ ….. ‘were’ surprises…..
ha, like a wild-spicy-surf-ride of tumbling and tumbling.
….[sorry, no spoilers]….
It’s the type of novel that’s easy to fall into …. escape from your own daily life … bask in the pure pleasure of being with a sweet family you’ll want to root for ….while soaking in the beauty, culture, archaeological history and mystical lushness of Hawaii.
It would have been a full five stars had ‘one’ aspect of this story been tied-tighter.
But Holly Goldberg Sloan …. did a great job giving readers one heck of an enjoyable novel. (I really do hope to see a movie) —
Easy to recommend to all my friends….
…..I’ve got that glowing satisfying, feeling that one often gets after reading a novel that we thoroughly enjoyed!!!
From Portland to Hawaii, a single mother, with her three kids start a new life in the run-down motel that Mom bought.
Great storytelling-awesome environment & biosphere-
LOVE THE KIDS!!!
The cottages in each of the motel rooms had sagging beds, corroded pipes, slow, drains, and dripping faucets. Half of the old-fashioned, two -prong electrical outlets didn’t work. And geckos were running along the length of the ceiling beams catching gnats, and flies.
A lot of repair work was needed before the cottages were ready for guests to come stay. The motel was over eighty years old.
Lindsay bought the property site unseen from a couple in their eighties who were ready to retire from being motel owners.
There were tropical trees and plants, Bougainvillea, coral, ferns, banyan trees, tropical flowers, palm trees, the blue green ocean, plantation style wooden cottages, all built off the ground on uprights, chickens, roosters, a couple of owls, a one-eyed cat, African tulip trees, plumeria, Angel trumpets, mongooses, asparagus, and papaya groves — a little gecko with bulging turquoise-rimmed eyes with a splash of red hot sauce on its spine.
Down by the ocean, there were turtles, small, sharks, parrot fish, perch, triggerfish, butterfly, fish, mullets, and eels.
The area was gorgeous!
Lindsay (originally from Wales) had lived with her husband Paul Hill, in Portland with their three kids.
Paul had started a tech business.
In the beginning his startup was going well, but then a few years later, he had a “reversal of fortune”.
For a few years their family was living the high and almighty life in the wealthy fast lane. We will see how each child and Lindsey were affected.
After they lost everything, their nanny went back to Sweden. They lost their house, and moved a few times into smaller places that cost less.
Then Paul dies > surfing. (again-we will see how this loss was for the kids and ‘mom’).
For more than half of the novel — it was simply enjoyable getting to know the characters, (wonderfully distinct), and take in how each family member was adjusting to their new lifestyle in the remote area of O’ahu.
I learned some interesting details about Hawaii (such as the official colors of each Hawaiian island), that I hadn’t even learned from James A. Michener’s thousand page historical epic novel.
Plus … I’ve been going to Hawaii (almost every December for forty-four years since my Honeymoon)….so Hawaii holds personal history for me.
I can’t stress enough how wonderful the characters were —
Seven year old Sena was a wiz-kid… curious, bright, passionate about animals, and precocious in the best of endearing ways.
Olivia, was a kick-ass fourteen year old… teetering between being self-conscious and sensitive about fitting in with her peers — (definitely interested in boys) to being downright forthright gutless when action was called for.
Carlos- the only boy in the family was a very kind, optimistic twelve year old peacemaker.
Lindsay was a great mom …. and even with the insurmountable amount of responsibility on her plate — I admired her naturalness in creating balance between protecting her children and giving them plenty of room for independent growth.
We meet Chris Young … a man from the mainland who had been visiting this motel every October for about twenty years. His wife had died a couple of years ago — but the motel still held emotional value. He knew the old owners, Rangi and Pearl Kalama before Lindsay bought it.
After he meets Lindsay - Chris, a ghostwriter by trade, had enough manual electrical skills - and other tool belt abilities, that he offered to help Lindsey get the motel ready to open for business in exchange for staying in one of the cottages.
It’s all very engaging entertaining storytelling…
it would make a great movie…..
…..even without the couple of surprise-twists that happened later in the novel.
But….
these ‘surprises’ ….. ‘were’ surprises…..
ha, like a wild-spicy-surf-ride of tumbling and tumbling.
….[sorry, no spoilers]….
It’s the type of novel that’s easy to fall into …. escape from your own daily life … bask in the pure pleasure of being with a sweet family you’ll want to root for ….while soaking in the beauty, culture, archaeological history and mystical lushness of Hawaii.
It would have been a full five stars had ‘one’ aspect of this story been tied-tighter.
But Holly Goldberg Sloan …. did a great job giving readers one heck of an enjoyable novel. (I really do hope to see a movie) —
Easy to recommend to all my friends….
May 11, 2023
Pieces of Blue by Holly Goldberg Sloan is a Family Fiction Story with a Touch of Mystery!
Lindsey Hill's husband Paul has died in a surfing accident and his body has never been recovered. Lindsey and her three children are heart-broken, lost, and financially shattered.
After months of waiting for Paul's life insurance money and craving a new start, Lindsey uses the payout to buy a cottage motel on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
Lindsey's children, Olivia -14, Carlos -12, and Sena -7, seem to be adjusting to the move from Portland, OR to Hawaii quite nicely but Lindsey's still struggling.
She bought the motel sight-unseen and she's overwhelmed by its neglected condition.
"So charming" and "good bones" comes to mind when describing this property and, needless to say, it needs replacement or refurbishing of nearly everything inside and out.
When a former guest offers to help with the work in exchange for staying in one of the cottages, Lindsay happily agrees. She could use the adult company and besides that, he happens to be attractive, intelligent, and unmarried...
Pieces of Blue has a lot to offer the reader. The backstory is deep and complete, the characters are diverse and well-developed, and the island's residents, scenery, and history are interesting, beautiful and fascinating. Additionally, there's a touch of mystery mingled within that helps to keep the story moving along nicely.
The audiobook is narrated by the talented Barrie Kreinik. Need I say more?
Lindsay's character is a great mom and her children are all uniquely special and sweet. Maybe they're a little too perfect, the story is a little too predictable, and a bit too much like a 'Hallmark Channel' movie. But sometimes a story like this and the timing of reading it fits just right for what you need at the moment. That's what Pieces of Blue turned out to be for me and I recommend it to others who are in need of the same!
3.75⭐rounded up!
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Holly Goldberg Sloan for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
Lindsey Hill's husband Paul has died in a surfing accident and his body has never been recovered. Lindsey and her three children are heart-broken, lost, and financially shattered.
After months of waiting for Paul's life insurance money and craving a new start, Lindsey uses the payout to buy a cottage motel on the island of Oahu in Hawaii.
Lindsey's children, Olivia -14, Carlos -12, and Sena -7, seem to be adjusting to the move from Portland, OR to Hawaii quite nicely but Lindsey's still struggling.
She bought the motel sight-unseen and she's overwhelmed by its neglected condition.
"So charming" and "good bones" comes to mind when describing this property and, needless to say, it needs replacement or refurbishing of nearly everything inside and out.
When a former guest offers to help with the work in exchange for staying in one of the cottages, Lindsay happily agrees. She could use the adult company and besides that, he happens to be attractive, intelligent, and unmarried...
Pieces of Blue has a lot to offer the reader. The backstory is deep and complete, the characters are diverse and well-developed, and the island's residents, scenery, and history are interesting, beautiful and fascinating. Additionally, there's a touch of mystery mingled within that helps to keep the story moving along nicely.
The audiobook is narrated by the talented Barrie Kreinik. Need I say more?
Lindsay's character is a great mom and her children are all uniquely special and sweet. Maybe they're a little too perfect, the story is a little too predictable, and a bit too much like a 'Hallmark Channel' movie. But sometimes a story like this and the timing of reading it fits just right for what you need at the moment. That's what Pieces of Blue turned out to be for me and I recommend it to others who are in need of the same!
3.75⭐rounded up!
Thank you to NetGalley, Macmillan Audio, and Holly Goldberg Sloan for an ALC of this book. It has been an honor to give my honest and voluntary review.
April 3, 2023
This is Holly Goldberg Sloan's first adult fiction, and I hope it won't be her last! It's a heartfelt family drama, second-chance romance, and mystery all in one. The story starts a little slow, but by the last third of the book, you're hit with a life-changing twist you never see coming. I loved the ending - it was meaningful and memorable.
The story revolves around Lindsey and her three children who are still struggling with the loss of Paul - a disgraced CEO who went missing in a surfing accident. After dealing with prolonged grief, Lindsey decides to use her husband's insurance money to buy a rundown hotel in Hawaii/Oahu, the same place where she spent her honeymoon with Paul. Lindsey moves there with her children, Olivia (14), Carl (12), and Sena (7), with the goal of restoring and managing the hotel. However, she soon realizes that her restoration plan is doomed to fail.
Thankfully, a former guest becomes a volunteer to help Lindsey fix the place in exchange for staying in one of the rooms. But this charming stranger, who may change Lindsey's life, has his own secrets.
I won't give too much away, but the best thing about the book was the characterization of the children - each one was perfectly portrayed. I also enjoyed the romance between Chris and Lindsey. This book was a surprising blend of family drama, women's fiction, romance, and mystery, all skillfully combined.
I would like to extend my special thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
The story revolves around Lindsey and her three children who are still struggling with the loss of Paul - a disgraced CEO who went missing in a surfing accident. After dealing with prolonged grief, Lindsey decides to use her husband's insurance money to buy a rundown hotel in Hawaii/Oahu, the same place where she spent her honeymoon with Paul. Lindsey moves there with her children, Olivia (14), Carl (12), and Sena (7), with the goal of restoring and managing the hotel. However, she soon realizes that her restoration plan is doomed to fail.
Thankfully, a former guest becomes a volunteer to help Lindsey fix the place in exchange for staying in one of the rooms. But this charming stranger, who may change Lindsey's life, has his own secrets.
I won't give too much away, but the best thing about the book was the characterization of the children - each one was perfectly portrayed. I also enjoyed the romance between Chris and Lindsey. This book was a surprising blend of family drama, women's fiction, romance, and mystery, all skillfully combined.
I would like to extend my special thanks to NetGalley and Flatiron Books for sharing this digital reviewer copy with me in exchange for my honest thoughts.
May 17, 2023
Pieces of Blue was author Holly Goldberg Sloan’s first adult book that she has written. I would describe it as a heartfelt family drama with a touch of mystery and romance. I listened to the audiobook that was read by one of my favorite narrators, Barrie Kreinik. The characters were engaging and it was well plotted. It was a bit slow in the beginning but it picked up as the story progressed and the ending was a bit predictable yet thrilling and believable. The setting was Oahu, Hawaii.
Lindsey and Paul Hill lived in Portland, Oregon with their three children. They were living “the American Dream” until one day they weren’t. It was like one day they were living in the lap of luxury without a care in the world and the next day everything came crashing down on them. Paul Hill’s way of dealing with the way his life was spiraling out of control was by going surfing. He took off very early one morning to do that but never came home. It was surmised that Paul, Lindsey’s husband and Olivia’s, Carlos’s and Siena’s father had drowned while surfing. His body was never found, though. Lindsey and her children were devastated beyond measure about Paul’s death. Their financial situation was not good either. Lindsey discovered that Paul had taken a life insurance policy out just prior to his death. There was so much red tape though to get it. Without an actual body, the insurance company wouldn’t release the money for an extended period of time. When the life insurance company finally relinquished the insurance money to Lindsey she bought a hotel in the Ko’olauloa District, near the town of La’ie on Oahu sight unseen. Lindsey and her three children just wanted to get as far away from Oregon as they could.
From the moment Lindsey, Olivia (14), Carlos (12) and Sena (7) arrived in Hawaii nothing went quite right. Firstly, Lindsey was forced to buy the rental car they had been given because she had a minor accident in it before even leaving the airport and had not purchased insurance for the car. Then when they arrived at the hotel, it was immediately evident that it was in dire conditions. Lindsey knew she was way over her head. This endeavor was proving to be overwhelming. Then a few days later, Lindsey encountered a visitor at the hotel. It was a man, a very handsome man, who had stayed at the hotel in the past. Like Lindsey, he had lost his wife. His name was Chris. He used to come to the hotel Lindsey had recently purchased with his wife every year until his wife died. Chris and Lindsey struck a deal with each other. Lindsey allowed Chris to stay in one of the out buildings at the hotel in exchange for him helping her with some of the many repairs the hotel required. There was a mutual attraction between Lindsey and Chris right from the start. Was Lindsey’s luck beginning to change? However, secrets were being kept by both. Would those secrets deny them a second chance at happily ever after?
Pieces of Blue by Holly Goldberg Sloan was quite enjoyable. I really liked the unique personalities of Lindsey’s three children. Sena, the precocious seven year old with an incredible passion for all living creatures, was my favorite. The author really portrayed the Hawaiian landscape, people, culture and food in her expressive prose. I hope that Holly Goldberg Sloan continues to write adult fiction because I would definitely read her next book. If you enjoy a good family drama with a touch of mystery and romance, then I highly recommend you read this book.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to Pieces of Blue by Holly Goldberg Sloan through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
Lindsey and Paul Hill lived in Portland, Oregon with their three children. They were living “the American Dream” until one day they weren’t. It was like one day they were living in the lap of luxury without a care in the world and the next day everything came crashing down on them. Paul Hill’s way of dealing with the way his life was spiraling out of control was by going surfing. He took off very early one morning to do that but never came home. It was surmised that Paul, Lindsey’s husband and Olivia’s, Carlos’s and Siena’s father had drowned while surfing. His body was never found, though. Lindsey and her children were devastated beyond measure about Paul’s death. Their financial situation was not good either. Lindsey discovered that Paul had taken a life insurance policy out just prior to his death. There was so much red tape though to get it. Without an actual body, the insurance company wouldn’t release the money for an extended period of time. When the life insurance company finally relinquished the insurance money to Lindsey she bought a hotel in the Ko’olauloa District, near the town of La’ie on Oahu sight unseen. Lindsey and her three children just wanted to get as far away from Oregon as they could.
From the moment Lindsey, Olivia (14), Carlos (12) and Sena (7) arrived in Hawaii nothing went quite right. Firstly, Lindsey was forced to buy the rental car they had been given because she had a minor accident in it before even leaving the airport and had not purchased insurance for the car. Then when they arrived at the hotel, it was immediately evident that it was in dire conditions. Lindsey knew she was way over her head. This endeavor was proving to be overwhelming. Then a few days later, Lindsey encountered a visitor at the hotel. It was a man, a very handsome man, who had stayed at the hotel in the past. Like Lindsey, he had lost his wife. His name was Chris. He used to come to the hotel Lindsey had recently purchased with his wife every year until his wife died. Chris and Lindsey struck a deal with each other. Lindsey allowed Chris to stay in one of the out buildings at the hotel in exchange for him helping her with some of the many repairs the hotel required. There was a mutual attraction between Lindsey and Chris right from the start. Was Lindsey’s luck beginning to change? However, secrets were being kept by both. Would those secrets deny them a second chance at happily ever after?
Pieces of Blue by Holly Goldberg Sloan was quite enjoyable. I really liked the unique personalities of Lindsey’s three children. Sena, the precocious seven year old with an incredible passion for all living creatures, was my favorite. The author really portrayed the Hawaiian landscape, people, culture and food in her expressive prose. I hope that Holly Goldberg Sloan continues to write adult fiction because I would definitely read her next book. If you enjoy a good family drama with a touch of mystery and romance, then I highly recommend you read this book.
Thank you to Macmillan Audio for allowing me to listen to Pieces of Blue by Holly Goldberg Sloan through Netgalley in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.
August 8, 2023
You have seen this plot before, and you have read these characters before – the teens are…well teen-like, and the youngest child is imaginative.
The Mom is a single mom who works too hard trying to make up for the loss of the dad, loves her kids, never stops trying to please. She struggles against the norm and a new location to start over while establishing a future for herself and her kids, and of course, there is a mysterious and handsome stranger.
The locals are supportive and want to help.
And…
There is even a hurricane to add some tension and excitement at the end.
But am I getting ahead of the story here?
Premise: Lindsey Hill takes the life insurance from the death of her husband’s drowning during a surfing trip to buy a Hawaiian motel. Their kids, Sena, Carlos, and Olivia are each in differing stages of mourning and acceptance of her choice.
Everyone copes with these changes in their lives in different ways.
Lindsey has no idea what to do about this rundown motel until Chris Young, a Philadelphia native, shows up seeking shelter (remember that mysterious and handsome stranger?). He agrees to help her renovate the place in trade to stay at one of the cottages.
Can Lindsey move on after the "devastating" loss of her husband?
Who is Chris…really?
Will the kids settle in?
And what if Lindsey's husband’s death isn’t all that it appeared to be? What will Lindsey do? What about the children?
There is interesting local Hawaiian color throughout the pages. But… is the author truly honoring it?
And why did the author make Lindsey’s character Welsh? Was it a statement about immigrants living the American dream? It just didn’t seem to fit anywhere.
The kid’s stories, well…predictable.
The motel – rundown – predictable.
And then the hurricane? What? All of a sudden this is a thriller?
So many questions of this reader/reviewer.
And then…
Said tension ebbs away gently after a ridiculous conclusion providing easy answers to complicated problems? How noble.
Be aware that there is a couple of trigger points in this book of attempted suicide and a drug overdose.
I don’t know folks.
In summary…
This is a been-here-before with some obviously recognizable and one huge over-the-top plot points.
If you can get through that, it should be a cute little cozy for readers.
The Mom is a single mom who works too hard trying to make up for the loss of the dad, loves her kids, never stops trying to please. She struggles against the norm and a new location to start over while establishing a future for herself and her kids, and of course, there is a mysterious and handsome stranger.
The locals are supportive and want to help.
And…
There is even a hurricane to add some tension and excitement at the end.
But am I getting ahead of the story here?
Premise: Lindsey Hill takes the life insurance from the death of her husband’s drowning during a surfing trip to buy a Hawaiian motel. Their kids, Sena, Carlos, and Olivia are each in differing stages of mourning and acceptance of her choice.
Everyone copes with these changes in their lives in different ways.
Lindsey has no idea what to do about this rundown motel until Chris Young, a Philadelphia native, shows up seeking shelter (remember that mysterious and handsome stranger?). He agrees to help her renovate the place in trade to stay at one of the cottages.
Can Lindsey move on after the "devastating" loss of her husband?
Who is Chris…really?
Will the kids settle in?
And what if Lindsey's husband’s death isn’t all that it appeared to be? What will Lindsey do? What about the children?
There is interesting local Hawaiian color throughout the pages. But… is the author truly honoring it?
And why did the author make Lindsey’s character Welsh? Was it a statement about immigrants living the American dream? It just didn’t seem to fit anywhere.
The kid’s stories, well…predictable.
The motel – rundown – predictable.
And then the hurricane? What? All of a sudden this is a thriller?
So many questions of this reader/reviewer.
And then…
Said tension ebbs away gently after a ridiculous conclusion providing easy answers to complicated problems? How noble.
Be aware that there is a couple of trigger points in this book of attempted suicide and a drug overdose.
I don’t know folks.
In summary…
This is a been-here-before with some obviously recognizable and one huge over-the-top plot points.
If you can get through that, it should be a cute little cozy for readers.
April 27, 2024
What good was thinking the future only held cloudy skies? Wasn’t the reality that pieces of blue were always there, waiting to break through?
When Lindsey Hill’s husband, Paul, drowns while surfing in Oregon, she relocates the family to Hawaii using Paul’s life insurance to purchase a sight-unseen motel.
The Mau Loa Hotel turns out to be a ramshackle beachside hotel in need of repairs but it quickly becomes ‘home’ to moody 14-year-old Olivia, inquisitive 12-year-old Carlos and precocious 7-year-old Sena. In rebuilding the hotel, they rebuild themselves and their family from grief after being torn apart by tragedy. When their first guest arrives, he impacts their lives and their journey in Hawaii takes a completely different trajectory.
This book may be about reinvention, but it’s also about:
🌴The isolating nature of grief
🌴The innocence of love
🌴The power of knowledge
🌴The desperate desire to turn back the clock
🌴Learning to rely on your inner strengths
🌴Hawaiian hospitality
🌴Aloha spirit
🌴Life after tragedy
It takes the Hills to almost lose everything to gain the most important things - family and a sense of belonging. Ohana is definitely an important focus in the Hawaiian culture.
I absolutely loved this book! It’ll be one of my treasured reads of 2024. It’s certainly encouraged me to see the pieces of blue on a less-than-stellar day.
When Lindsey Hill’s husband, Paul, drowns while surfing in Oregon, she relocates the family to Hawaii using Paul’s life insurance to purchase a sight-unseen motel.
The Mau Loa Hotel turns out to be a ramshackle beachside hotel in need of repairs but it quickly becomes ‘home’ to moody 14-year-old Olivia, inquisitive 12-year-old Carlos and precocious 7-year-old Sena. In rebuilding the hotel, they rebuild themselves and their family from grief after being torn apart by tragedy. When their first guest arrives, he impacts their lives and their journey in Hawaii takes a completely different trajectory.
This book may be about reinvention, but it’s also about:
🌴The isolating nature of grief
🌴The innocence of love
🌴The power of knowledge
🌴The desperate desire to turn back the clock
🌴Learning to rely on your inner strengths
🌴Hawaiian hospitality
🌴Aloha spirit
🌴Life after tragedy
It takes the Hills to almost lose everything to gain the most important things - family and a sense of belonging. Ohana is definitely an important focus in the Hawaiian culture.
I absolutely loved this book! It’ll be one of my treasured reads of 2024. It’s certainly encouraged me to see the pieces of blue on a less-than-stellar day.
May 1, 2023
(free review copy) Sigh. This was one of my most anticipated May releases based on the premise and the fact that I love the author's middle grade works. But this book is honestly a mess. It started out fairly strong, although I instantly became wary with completely random narration changes becoming more frequent after a bit. Sloan wrote the youngest child the best and I wonder if perhaps this had actually been written as a middle grade novel narrated by this kid if it would been more successful? It would 100% have been better if only narrated by the mother, Lindsey, at least, rather than hopping all over the place.
The first half though was fairly decent - I can put up with a lot of literary flaws in service of a decent story, so I was waving stuff off until I just couldn't any more. With about 1/3 of the book left, the male narrators were introduced and they were so jarringly different from everyone else, it pulled me out of the story. And then some weird intrigue / drama stuff was introduced that I hated and then cue BIG ACTION SEQUENCE and an incredibly weak, rushed ending. This book needed a much better editor, or another 5 rounds of edits to possibly pull it together.
And then there's the problematic thing I was a little unsure of from the very beginning. Writing a white family moving to Hawaii is always a red flag to me, and although I acknowledge that Sloan did seem to nod at recognizing the damage that colonialism has done to the islands, it just never felt right to me. Also, two of the kids' names are examples of cultural appropriation, and Sloan even recognizes that in the story! I don't really understand why that was done on purpose?
Here is the Kirkus review for a more professional explanation of my plot issues. This Publishers Weekly review is what made me think I needed to read this book, and the review seems to be talking about an entirely different story. I'm disappointed by it, but also many of the other reviews here are glowing, as are some elsewhere, so it may just be me??
All in all, I hope to read much more wonderful middle grade from the author and I hope should the adventures in adult lit continue, much more editing is done.
Source: digital review copy via Edelweiss
The first half though was fairly decent - I can put up with a lot of literary flaws in service of a decent story, so I was waving stuff off until I just couldn't any more. With about 1/3 of the book left, the male narrators were introduced and they were so jarringly different from everyone else, it pulled me out of the story. And then some weird intrigue / drama stuff was introduced that I hated and then cue BIG ACTION SEQUENCE and an incredibly weak, rushed ending. This book needed a much better editor, or another 5 rounds of edits to possibly pull it together.
And then there's the problematic thing I was a little unsure of from the very beginning. Writing a white family moving to Hawaii is always a red flag to me, and although I acknowledge that Sloan did seem to nod at recognizing the damage that colonialism has done to the islands, it just never felt right to me. Also, two of the kids' names are examples of cultural appropriation, and Sloan even recognizes that in the story! I don't really understand why that was done on purpose?
Here is the Kirkus review for a more professional explanation of my plot issues. This Publishers Weekly review is what made me think I needed to read this book, and the review seems to be talking about an entirely different story. I'm disappointed by it, but also many of the other reviews here are glowing, as are some elsewhere, so it may just be me??
All in all, I hope to read much more wonderful middle grade from the author and I hope should the adventures in adult lit continue, much more editing is done.
Source: digital review copy via Edelweiss
February 2, 2023
Lindsay's world came apart when her husband died in a surfing accident. She and her three children have been up and down during the last few years as their economic situation rose and then sank, and they had to move to smaller and smaller apartments. Her husband, who initiated a tech start-up, made a ton of money at first but then lost it all in illegal scams.
Once the large death insurance settlement arrives, Lindsay buys a motel on the island of Oahu, sight unseen, in a very remote area of the island. She wants to start over and this hotel is the perfect fit. It is old and has had hardly any upkeep for years. Lindsey doesn't know where to start. Even with lists, she feels out of her element.
When Chris, a man who used to stay at the hotel, comes by and offers to help Lindsay with the electrical system, she is ecstatic. Maybe she is a bit more than ecstatic because he is good-looking, intelligent and knows how to fix things at the hotel. It's been a while since she's had an adult to talk to.
Lindsay's kids are great. There is Olivia, 15 years old and wanting to have a boyfriend. She has her eyes on Koa, who helped the motel's previous owners. Carlos changes his name to Carl because he feels more comfortable not being named for Carlos Santana, as his father wished. Sena is the biggest trip of all the children. She takes the hotel's chickens under her wing and acts like she's 7 going on 40. Her intelligence and precocious behavior are fun to read about.
I was especially delighted by the Hawaiian history, archeology and mythology that was thrown in this book. I learned a lot and appreciated this aspect of the novel.
All proceeds fairly well for the family until about 2/3 into the novel when a crisis and tragedy occurs. No spoilers here. I will say, however, that at first I thought of this as a beach read. My opinion changed as I read more and more. Ms. Sloan tells a good tale that had me totally hooked. I rooted for Lindsay and her family and hoped that Lindsey and Chris would get together. What brought this book down to a 4 is the inconclusive ending and the unnecessary mystery that was thrown in. Ms. Sloan is a writer to watch and one I will be looking forward to reading.
Once the large death insurance settlement arrives, Lindsay buys a motel on the island of Oahu, sight unseen, in a very remote area of the island. She wants to start over and this hotel is the perfect fit. It is old and has had hardly any upkeep for years. Lindsey doesn't know where to start. Even with lists, she feels out of her element.
When Chris, a man who used to stay at the hotel, comes by and offers to help Lindsay with the electrical system, she is ecstatic. Maybe she is a bit more than ecstatic because he is good-looking, intelligent and knows how to fix things at the hotel. It's been a while since she's had an adult to talk to.
Lindsay's kids are great. There is Olivia, 15 years old and wanting to have a boyfriend. She has her eyes on Koa, who helped the motel's previous owners. Carlos changes his name to Carl because he feels more comfortable not being named for Carlos Santana, as his father wished. Sena is the biggest trip of all the children. She takes the hotel's chickens under her wing and acts like she's 7 going on 40. Her intelligence and precocious behavior are fun to read about.
I was especially delighted by the Hawaiian history, archeology and mythology that was thrown in this book. I learned a lot and appreciated this aspect of the novel.
All proceeds fairly well for the family until about 2/3 into the novel when a crisis and tragedy occurs. No spoilers here. I will say, however, that at first I thought of this as a beach read. My opinion changed as I read more and more. Ms. Sloan tells a good tale that had me totally hooked. I rooted for Lindsay and her family and hoped that Lindsey and Chris would get together. What brought this book down to a 4 is the inconclusive ending and the unnecessary mystery that was thrown in. Ms. Sloan is a writer to watch and one I will be looking forward to reading.
May 5, 2023
What good was thinking the future only held cloudy skies? Wasn't the reality that pieces of blue were always there, waiting to break through?
Grieving the loss of her husband in a surfing accident, Lindsey impulsively uses his life insurance money to buy a remote, ramshackle-yet-charming motel in Hawai'i -- a far cry from the life she lives with her three children in Portland. As she and her family adjust to life on O'ahu, Lindsey learns quickly that she's in over her head with the motel. But then a handsome would-be motel guest arrives just in time to help, and to turn her life upside down in more ways than one.
Pieces of Blue is an intensely atmospheric, immersive book, with lush, vibrant descriptions of O'ahu's flora and fauna. Holly Goldberg Sloan brings the setting fully to life, completely transporting the reader to a remote beachside Hawaiian motel with plenty of wear and tear and plenty of charm. Sloan incorporates several aspects of Hawaiian culture, history, and tradition successfully, as well as acknowledges the impacts of colonialism and the tourist trade on the islands (important to do, in my opinion, given the plot of this novel). But as much as I wanted to connect with this story, I found myself struggling with it.
Pieces of Blue is Sloan's first foray into adult fiction, and unfortunately, that shows. Sometimes it comes across as a contemporary beach read, and sometimes it reads like YA. The book switches perspectives among Lindsey and her three children (sometimes jarringly), and the perspective of the youngest daughter, Senna, is by far the strongest. I think if this had been written as a middle-grade novel entirely from Senna's perspective, I would've enjoyed it more. Unfortunately, the characters don't have a lot of emotional depth, and for a novel about such heartfelt topics, Sloan's straightforward writing struck me as strangely unsentimental. I listened to portions on audio, and although I usually enjoy Berrie Kreinik, her narration of this novel came across as too robotic, which probably only added to that feeling of emotional distance.
The pacing is uneven, with some additional perspectives being added late in the book in service to the twists, and then things escalate very quickly in a melodramatic, action-heavy conclusion that doesn't seem to fit the tone of the rest of the book. There are some good moments in Pieces of Blue, some important themes and some opportunities for poignant, insightful observations. It just didn't all come together for me in the end. Thank you to Flatiron Books, Macmillan Audio, and NetGalley for the advance reading opportunity.
August 21, 2023
This book was sooooo much more than I anticipated and I loved every page. I would love a sequel - I am going to be thinking of this family for a long time.
June 25, 2023
If I could give a 3.5/5 I would!! It was overall a good book, but felt a little elementary for the first half. The first 120ish pages were slower and very light and then the last half was a quick rush and then it was over. I did enjoy the scenery/setting and perspectives of the book! I feel like the author did a great job for her first adult novel, but you can definitely tell she primarily wrote children’s books before this one.
October 25, 2023
I’ve read Counting by 7s by this author and loved it. This is her first book for adults. It’s set in Hawaii and presents such a strong sense of place. The plot had some twists and turns that I didn’t anticipate at all. I really enjoyed it and couldn’t turn the pages on my kindle fast enough! So glad today was a sea day on our cruise so I could read all morning!
January 7, 2023
I thoroughly enjoyed this novel. It is full of family drama, second chance love, and even a mystery. I loved reading the story, not only from the perspective of Lindsey, the main character, but from her three children as well each of their voices was distinct and unique. I also liked the feeling of being in Hawaii again, and the inclusion of Hawaiian words, spirituality and culture.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
Thanks to NetGalley, the author and publisher for an advanced reading copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.
April 3, 2023
I can't wait for this book to come out. One of the benefits of working at a book store is reading advance copies! This is a fast read that is well written, surprising and thougtful. And being that it takes place in Hawaii I think it is a great pick for vacation.
July 8, 2023
While I have not read any of Sloan’s YA fiction, I would say this book is a successful transition to writing adult fiction. The plot was refreshing and I thoroughly enjoyed “revisiting“ Hawaii in the lush descriptions of the ocean, flora, and fauna of Oahu, including, of course, the brightly colored feral chickens.
Sloan’s depiction of a family moving forward from the death of a husband/father (Paul) and a huge downward spiral in fortune is perhaps a little glossy in its treatment of grief and economic recovery. But when the book opens, the family is muddling along two years from the accident and recovering with an insurance payout, so perhaps that is fair. Teenaged Olivia, for example, is traveling through a common stage in the grief process, feeling “relief“ that she is no longer experiencing “sightings“ of “fake dads . . . in crowds or hiding in the shadows” but pained by “a deeper heartbreak” to realize her father’s memory is “vanishing, and she would have to force herself every day to think about him“ (185).
The mother and children are well developed, and each of the children has her/his own distinct personality, with brilliant, chicken-loving 7-year-old Sena being the most distinctive. As the book moves back and forth in time, Chris and Paul feel flatter, perhaps because we are kept from their perspectives until the last few chapters of the book. But given the secret at the heart of Chris’s behavior, that may well be justified. Similarly, I didn’t think while reading the first 200 pages that I’d ever feel sympathy for Paul, yet when Sloan later spends some time in his POV, I did.
The last section of the book contains one of the most sensory, heart-pounding descriptions of a hurricane and its resulting devastation that I’ve ever read. The psychological aftereffects on the family, including what in real life would probably include some PTSD, are not well represented.
Overall, while this narrative contains nothing earthshaking, it’s a good ramble through tropical storyland. Perfect for a summertime read.
Sloan’s depiction of a family moving forward from the death of a husband/father (Paul) and a huge downward spiral in fortune is perhaps a little glossy in its treatment of grief and economic recovery. But when the book opens, the family is muddling along two years from the accident and recovering with an insurance payout, so perhaps that is fair. Teenaged Olivia, for example, is traveling through a common stage in the grief process, feeling “relief“ that she is no longer experiencing “sightings“ of “fake dads . . . in crowds or hiding in the shadows” but pained by “a deeper heartbreak” to realize her father’s memory is “vanishing, and she would have to force herself every day to think about him“ (185).
The mother and children are well developed, and each of the children has her/his own distinct personality, with brilliant, chicken-loving 7-year-old Sena being the most distinctive. As the book moves back and forth in time, Chris and Paul feel flatter, perhaps because we are kept from their perspectives until the last few chapters of the book. But given the secret at the heart of Chris’s behavior, that may well be justified. Similarly, I didn’t think while reading the first 200 pages that I’d ever feel sympathy for Paul, yet when Sloan later spends some time in his POV, I did.
The last section of the book contains one of the most sensory, heart-pounding descriptions of a hurricane and its resulting devastation that I’ve ever read. The psychological aftereffects on the family, including what in real life would probably include some PTSD, are not well represented.
Overall, while this narrative contains nothing earthshaking, it’s a good ramble through tropical storyland. Perfect for a summertime read.
November 27, 2024
Somewhat anticlimactic and meaningless? The plot didn’t really go anywhere or have a true purpose and that bothered me. I couldn’t tell if the husband was being painted in a negative or positive light which was frustrating. And the conclusion of his character? Literally don’t even understand what happened? The storyline in general was just about what I expected for a book I blindly picked up from the store. I loved the youngest daughter and she reflected so much of her father’s mind. I wished the relationships between father and kids was explored more. I think it would have had a lot more impact if the story extended more from the children’s perspective and followed their adult years.
July 19, 2023
Great beach read and we really touched on all the themes (love, deceit, mystery, tragedy, etc). Really cute!!
February 8, 2025
This book was just ok. The story line wasn’t for me and the little plot twists they had was the only thing keeping me going. I liked the short chapters as well.
May 23, 2023
This was a very easy read but it didn’t make me feel anything. The best part about it were the three kids and their witty and astute observations but everything else felt lackluster.
The story follows Lindsey and her three kids restarting their lives in Hawaii after her husband was accused of fraud and disappeared while surfing in Oregon. She decides to buy a motel and rebuild it along with the rest of their lives. When a stranger arrives one day offering help, Lindsey realizes that maybe it’s possible for her to fall in love again but both of them have secrets that may tear them apart.
I didn’t buy the love story. Absolutely nothing happened between them for me to believe that something was sparked and the level of self sacrifice seems unrealistic. On top of all that nothing they want comes to fruition at the end and it feels unfinished. There are some very sweet and funny parts that carry the book but it wasn’t enough.
The story follows Lindsey and her three kids restarting their lives in Hawaii after her husband was accused of fraud and disappeared while surfing in Oregon. She decides to buy a motel and rebuild it along with the rest of their lives. When a stranger arrives one day offering help, Lindsey realizes that maybe it’s possible for her to fall in love again but both of them have secrets that may tear them apart.
I didn’t buy the love story. Absolutely nothing happened between them for me to believe that something was sparked and the level of self sacrifice seems unrealistic. On top of all that nothing they want comes to fruition at the end and it feels unfinished. There are some very sweet and funny parts that carry the book but it wasn’t enough.
January 27, 2025
entertaining but didn’t care about any of them
February 1, 2023
Lindsey's husband has died in a surfing accident and she and her 3 children need a new start. Moving from Oregon to Hawaii and buying a run down beach motel is a new start. This started slow and picked up momentum and I am sure it will be widely read this summer on the beach, near the pool and by book groups. This story felt familiar to me; the teenage daughter is pouty and difficult, the son, the middle child embraces change and the younger 7 year old daughter is wise beyond her years. It dragged at some points as it was a lot of the same days with the kids going to school, Lindsey walking and working on the motel, and then school evenings, dinner and homework. A handsome stranger shows up and starts to help Lindsey with repairs and her loneliness. Ultimately, I felt Lindsey was a little too naive; if she had been a stronger character, it might have been a stronger story. Thank you to BookBrowse.com and Flatiron Books for this ARC. This review has been submitted to Book Browse.
March 4, 2023
I won this in a Goodreads giveaway. In this story a mother moves to Hawaii from Oregon with her three kids after the death of her husband. The family is working on rebuilding a motel. The story follows all four characters as they are dealing with the loss and also adapting to a new environment. I feel like them seeing Paul and him kind of reinventing himself could be metaphorical and have two different meanings. Like he actually died, or he never actually died, he just reinvented himself. The author did their research and there were a lot of fun facts about Hawaii, my favorite was the one about the Mongoose. The ending was good because the characters reached some sort of resolution.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
January 29, 2023
A widow with three children buys a rundown motel in paradise(Hawaii) after the presumed death of her husband. A somewhat slow beginning leads to serious dramatic action with some strong plot twists. You’ll root for the family, and even though the ending is slightly contrived you’ll enjoy the ride.
May 3, 2023
Every year I look forward to the month of May, it is the time that I begin searching for my summer beach reads. I have a soft spot for any book that takes place in a tropical or beach setting, I think mostly because I am stuck in the middle of nowhere, landlocked from the beautiful ocean. They are my escape when I am stuck inside trying to stay cool, while it is 100 degrees outside combined with about 90 percent humidity. Stepping outside here is like stepping into Dante's 9th circle of hell- because of course since that is where the worst of the sinners go, it's got to be hella hot right?
Thanks to MacMillan Audio I was able to get my hands on an early listen of Holly Goldberg Sloane's new novel Pieces of Blue, and it was the perfect way to kick off my summer of beach reads.
It is set in Hawaii where Lindsey and her three children move after a tragic surfing accident results in her husband's death. Lindsey takes the life insurance money and buys a ramshackle motel on the island of Ohau, and attempts to start their life over. I loved the setting, I use to live in the area that the book takes place in, in fact, Sloane even mentions one of my favorite casual eating establishments Giovanni's ( IYKYK ), so reading it was like taking a trip back to my old stomping grounds, thus making the book so much more enjoyable to me.
As far as the characters in the book, I liked them all, but the stand-out characters to me were her three children, Olivia ( 14 ) Carlos ( 12 ), and Sena ( 7 ). They each had such strong personalities, and they added a great deal of depth to the story.
Lyndsey was a great mom to the children, ad she worked hard on trying to make their new life as normal as possible, even with the enormous amount of changes that were taking place in their lives, she was a real trooper with all her responsibilities.
Also, there was Chris, a visitor from the Mainland, he and his wife had often come to Ohau and spent time at the motel before she had passed on. He takes on some handyman duties that need to be done around the place to pay for his room there, and of course, he comes with a complicated past and secrets.
This was a quick read, a great story about repairing your life after tragedy and learning your inner strengths. It was a great family saga, which I have always been drawn to. But also, the descriptions of the lush island were so visible they also became a bit of a character in the story, and they put you right in the middle of the area. Sloane even put in several twists that kept the story from feeling dry and kept the story moving along. All in all, it was not a bad choice for my first beach read of the season.
Thanks to MacMillan Audio I was able to get my hands on an early listen of Holly Goldberg Sloane's new novel Pieces of Blue, and it was the perfect way to kick off my summer of beach reads.
It is set in Hawaii where Lindsey and her three children move after a tragic surfing accident results in her husband's death. Lindsey takes the life insurance money and buys a ramshackle motel on the island of Ohau, and attempts to start their life over. I loved the setting, I use to live in the area that the book takes place in, in fact, Sloane even mentions one of my favorite casual eating establishments Giovanni's ( IYKYK ), so reading it was like taking a trip back to my old stomping grounds, thus making the book so much more enjoyable to me.
As far as the characters in the book, I liked them all, but the stand-out characters to me were her three children, Olivia ( 14 ) Carlos ( 12 ), and Sena ( 7 ). They each had such strong personalities, and they added a great deal of depth to the story.
Lyndsey was a great mom to the children, ad she worked hard on trying to make their new life as normal as possible, even with the enormous amount of changes that were taking place in their lives, she was a real trooper with all her responsibilities.
Also, there was Chris, a visitor from the Mainland, he and his wife had often come to Ohau and spent time at the motel before she had passed on. He takes on some handyman duties that need to be done around the place to pay for his room there, and of course, he comes with a complicated past and secrets.
This was a quick read, a great story about repairing your life after tragedy and learning your inner strengths. It was a great family saga, which I have always been drawn to. But also, the descriptions of the lush island were so visible they also became a bit of a character in the story, and they put you right in the middle of the area. Sloane even put in several twists that kept the story from feeling dry and kept the story moving along. All in all, it was not a bad choice for my first beach read of the season.
August 28, 2023
Pieces of Blue takes us along on the journey of Lindsey and her three kids, Olivia, Carlos, and Sena, after their husband/father is lost at sea in a surfing incident, as they decamp from Oregon to Hawai'i. Lindsey has purchased a motel with the insurance payout from the incident. Chaos, sort of, ensues, as Lindsey knows little about running a motel, let alone electrical and pretty much anything else associated with the hospitality industry. Fortunately, a former guest named Chris happens upon the property just when Lindsey needs help the most.
We get to know each member of this family through ever-changing POVs (sometimes on the same page), a device that gets us into each one's head....but not really enough.
For like 2/3 of the novel, this is a tale of a family trying to put the pieces back together. Then, almost without warning, the mood shifts, and secrets are revealed. One of the big reveals was completely telegraphed almost from the start, so much so that when it was revealed, it was almost a given. The other big reveal, which was not at all expected, gave me quite a jolt (largely because it was potentially hurtful to one of the main characters).
It is for the shift in tone and mood at about that 2/3 mark that I give this 4 stars (would've been 3-ish otherwise). Completely turned this domestic tale on its head. Well done. I read that this is the author's first adult novel. I hope it isn't her last.
We get to know each member of this family through ever-changing POVs (sometimes on the same page), a device that gets us into each one's head....but not really enough.
For like 2/3 of the novel, this is a tale of a family trying to put the pieces back together. Then, almost without warning, the mood shifts, and secrets are revealed. One of the big reveals was completely telegraphed almost from the start, so much so that when it was revealed, it was almost a given. The other big reveal, which was not at all expected, gave me quite a jolt (largely because it was potentially hurtful to one of the main characters).
It is for the shift in tone and mood at about that 2/3 mark that I give this 4 stars (would've been 3-ish otherwise). Completely turned this domestic tale on its head. Well done. I read that this is the author's first adult novel. I hope it isn't her last.
May 4, 2023
I am grateful to have won an advanced reader’s copy from Goodreads and Flatiron Books. Thank you to both! My good fortune does not affect my review.
I have read another book by this author (Counting by 7s) and thoroughly enjoyed it. Glad that Pieces of Blue is her adult fiction debut.
So why does a recent widow decide to buy a motel in Hawaii, sight unseen? Still not sure why but that doesn’t deflect from the story.
The characters are interesting, although indecisive at times. I especially liked Sena. She is well beyond her years.
I thought a few events occurred faster than they should have realistically.
Some of the book was predictable to me.
What I loved was the description and details of the places and culture. I felt that the author had been to the North Shore in person at some point. I loved reading about the area and people because I have been there several times. The author was spot on.
4 stars - The writing was well done and the story flowed for the most part. I didn’t like how fast some things happened and the indecisiveness of some of the characters.
I would still definitely recommend reading this book.
I have read another book by this author (Counting by 7s) and thoroughly enjoyed it. Glad that Pieces of Blue is her adult fiction debut.
So why does a recent widow decide to buy a motel in Hawaii, sight unseen? Still not sure why but that doesn’t deflect from the story.
The characters are interesting, although indecisive at times. I especially liked Sena. She is well beyond her years.
I thought a few events occurred faster than they should have realistically.
Some of the book was predictable to me.
What I loved was the description and details of the places and culture. I felt that the author had been to the North Shore in person at some point. I loved reading about the area and people because I have been there several times. The author was spot on.
4 stars - The writing was well done and the story flowed for the most part. I didn’t like how fast some things happened and the indecisiveness of some of the characters.
I would still definitely recommend reading this book.
June 28, 2023
The first 40, or so pages were slow, but then it picked up speed and never slowed down. I liked this book, maybe not as much as Counting By 7's, but it's best not to compare the two as they are totally different books in different genres and with different subjects.
I thought the author did a great job at describing feelings through picture and action. She also keeps the reader guessing, especially through the final 100 or so pages. Here I thought I was getting to bed early, and 3 hours later I am still awake because I could NOT put it down. That does not usually happen to me. I feel like most books have an exciting final 50 or so pages, but this was more riveting and for far longer than other final chapter readings I can remember.
Clean rating: PG-13. There are a few swear words, including the "f" word, but each only 2 or 3 times - I didn't feel like it was excessive. There is an intimate scene, but it doesn't get too steamy or go too far for an adult, though I won't be encouraging my teens to read this one yet.
I thought the author did a great job at describing feelings through picture and action. She also keeps the reader guessing, especially through the final 100 or so pages. Here I thought I was getting to bed early, and 3 hours later I am still awake because I could NOT put it down. That does not usually happen to me. I feel like most books have an exciting final 50 or so pages, but this was more riveting and for far longer than other final chapter readings I can remember.
Clean rating: PG-13. There are a few swear words, including the "f" word, but each only 2 or 3 times - I didn't feel like it was excessive. There is an intimate scene, but it doesn't get too steamy or go too far for an adult, though I won't be encouraging my teens to read this one yet.
July 18, 2023
A recently widowed mother of three takes the life insurance payout and impulsively buys a motel in Hawaii. What a hook! I wanted to read this immediately and the lush atmosphere of the novel felt perfect for summer. This is Holly Goldberg-Sloan’s first adult novel, normally she writes middle grade, so it’s no surprise that the children in this book are written beautifully well and nuanced with lots of great character development. I wish the whole book was from their POV because when it focuses on their entitled boring mother who doesn’t seem to have any interest in learning the local customs or language but seems resentful that it might take a long time to be considered a local?! Yuck! No thanks! And then when a good looking Black man shows up being friendly and looking to rent a cottage assumes of course he should fall all over her if she shows even the slightest bit of interest and then she after a few weeks thinks they’re in love?! What? Could have done without her tbh, I think her adult characters need more work. But, her children were interesting and INTERESTED and I loved the setting, the unexpected twists at the end and the idea of buying and running a broken down motel? Pure gold.
Despite me hating the main character I think this is a good summer read and an even better character study as what NOT to do or how to act if you ever move to Hawaii.
August 6, 2023
Lindsey Hill and her three kids move to rural Oahu after the disappearance of her husband in a surfing accident in the Pacific Northwest. After receiving his life insurance payout she makes the impulsive decision to buy a motel in Hawaii and start over with her kids.
It was easy to root for each member of the Hill family as they sought to find their place in their new home and discover what the islands had to offer. Hawaii was like a character in itself and the spirit of aloha permeated the family’s story at every turn.
This book was a quick read with a lot of heart and a beautiful setting. There were some twists and turns but ultimately the story ended on a satisfying and upbeat note. I had some frustration with Lindsey but she was a loving mother trying to make a good life for her children so that was easy to forgive. I recommend this book to someone wanting a contemporary feel good story or who wants to read a story set in the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. 🌺
* I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
It was easy to root for each member of the Hill family as they sought to find their place in their new home and discover what the islands had to offer. Hawaii was like a character in itself and the spirit of aloha permeated the family’s story at every turn.
This book was a quick read with a lot of heart and a beautiful setting. There were some twists and turns but ultimately the story ended on a satisfying and upbeat note. I had some frustration with Lindsey but she was a loving mother trying to make a good life for her children so that was easy to forgive. I recommend this book to someone wanting a contemporary feel good story or who wants to read a story set in the beautiful Hawaiian Islands. 🌺
* I received an advanced copy in exchange for an honest review.
July 27, 2023
This is the perfect summer read, and so enjoyable. I loved learning so much about Hawaii and it’s landscape and customs. Each character had their own narrative and were well developed, I especially loved reading the kids and teens thoughts. Seven year old Sena’s unusual personality and love of the chickens in the Island added to the fun. I had no expectations going into this, I picked it up at the library and hoped for the best. I was pleasantly surprised and I’m glad I read it! There’s a light mystery in the story that keeps the story going. I learned lots of interesting things like about the ghost forest in Oregon and even the secrets in the very soil of Hawaii itself.
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