It all really starts with a text. When someone says, “I have something for you”, you’re really not expecting some terrified, silent child reminiscent of Eleven in her first appearance in Stranger Things to fall into your lap. But this is what happens when Quinn gets her sister’s text and goes to meet her. Nora drops sweet, terrified, silent Lucy on Quinn and bolts before she can ask any questions. After that little scenario, the story plows into a page turner. Little Broken Things takes on overbearing mothers, an amazing amount of secrets, domestic violence, and more. Told from multiple points of view, this book is a gripping story of the lengths we will go to protect those who mean the most to us.

Thank you to Atria and The Great Thought's Ninja Review Team for the advanced copy of this awesome read. All opinions are my own.

Publisher's do authors and readers alike a disservice when they compare one author to another. While this is an interesting read, it is not up to the quality of Liane Moriarty, so keep that in mind.

Dysfunctional families are always a draw, and this book covers several of them. Virtually every character in the book is a result of a dysfunctional family. That in itself put me off a bit, as I would like to think there are some normal, happy people out there!

Nora sends her estranged sister Quinn a text message "I have something for you", shows up at her sister's doorstep with a 6 year old girl, and leaves the child without any explanation except "don't tell anyone" and Arnold Schwarzenegger's famous line "I'll be back". Yes, that got me interested! Seems everyone is keeping secrets, and they are bound to be exposed in time. A secret needs the fresh air of revelation, or it dies.

This was a quick and enjoyable read, with some suspense is involved, however the ending was predictable and came as no surprise. Still, I'm glad I read this book and will check out future offerings by the author.

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Book for allowing me to read an e-ARC of this book.

This story is a collection of relationships. At the time of the book, many of those relationships are built on assumptions. Throughout the book those assumptions are uncovered and proven wrong as the members of a family fight to protect a little girl they don't know. People and how they interact with each other must be Ms. Baart's specialty. She delicately writes scenes that could easily turn out completely and horribly different. The mother, a staid member of the old guard, becomes softer and more accepting. The sisters haven't talked in years but are quick to understand each other, maybe not correctly, but have faith in each other to overlook that. However, perhaps my favorite part of this story was not in a big dramatic twist but in the continuing revealing of little and big things that needed to be shared. It was as though Ms. Baart purposefully tried to avoid "BIG TWIST! GRIPPING CONCLUSION." Instead she handles it as deftly as she does her characters.

Oh the drama! Quinn and Nora are distant sisters who would still do anything for each other. Tiffany is Nora’s bff… and a messed up drug addict with an illegitimate daughter. When Nora texts Quinn that she and Tiffany need her help, Quinn steps up. But it’s hard to know how to do the right thing when Nora won’t give her any details, and Tiffany is nowhere to be found.

I was psyched reading the first half of this book – there are good guys and bad guys, weak women and strong women, loving yet dysfunctional mothers, and a criminal so disgusting he turned my stomach. Baart weaves them all together in a dramatic and suspenseful plot, a story you don’t want to stop reading because you can’t believe what’s happening next.

And then — I’m not sure if it was my particular frame of mind, or if I’ve just read way too many books — I by mistake figured out the one big unknown. The mystery. The root of the drama. The guy who caused the secrets to grow bigger and bigger. And I hate that I figured it out, because it ruined the rest of the story for me. I skimmed the last half of the book, just in case there were some worthy plot points (and there were).

Baart is a master at expressing the love and confusion and envy and all the emotions in a sisterly relationship. What I appreciated most is that Baart lets her female characters be unapologetically themselves. There are no victims here, except maybe a little girl. The grown women own their choices, support each other, and make their own new beginnings.

A compelling multi-layered story of family, LITTLE BROKEN THINGS by talented Nichole Baart —a beautifully written story of secrets of the past, motherhood, and sacrifices. Those desperately trying to protect those secrets.

Triumph over tragedy. Loss, hope, and forgiveness.

Set in Minnesota the Sanford family. Two estranged sisters, Quinn and Nora. They have never been close and Quinn is shocked when she receives a cryptic text message from her older sister Nora.

Nora shows up with a six-year-old girl. Her name is Lucy. (Everlee) She instructs her sister to keep her safe and not mention the child to anyone. Particularly their overbearing mother, Liz.

Quinn is married to an artist. Nora always thought her sister was the perfect one. Quinn was the beauty of the family and JJ was the brains – where did Nora fit in?

Turns out Nora was the whole package: whip-smart and lovely, bighearted and wise. She is hiding a secret. Who is she protecting?

Quinn does not understand where this child came from and why is Nora leaving her in her care? Everyone wants answers.

They must protect the child. Slowly the family mystery is unraveled and the parentage of Lucy.

Told from three POV with highly charged topics. When nothing is as it appears. A family hiding behind a façade.

Haunting and heartbreaking, the painful past is revealed. A tragedy turns into something beautiful, bonding a family from the sins of the past.

Powerful, emotional, and suspenseful. Love and friendship. An inside look at a family. A relationship between a mother and two sisters. The lengths one sister will go to protect the ones she loves.

“Broken things are the loveliest.” —Sara Teasdale

For fans of domestic suspense and authors Amy Hatvany, Karma Brown, Joshilyn Jackson, and Heather Gudenkauf.

“We are all broken—that’s how the light gets in.”― Ernest
Hemingway

My first book by the author and looking forward to reading more. Would encourage you to read more about the author on her website!

Impressive. Truly, her stories celebrate the triumph of the human spirit and beauty in the midst of brokenness.

A special thank you to Atria and NetGalley for an advanced reading copy.

JDCMustReadBooks

Quinn Cruz hasn’t had much to do with her family for years, until she and her husband moved back to her hometown a few months ago. Her brother is too busy. Her mother is too intrusive. And her sister has been aloof for years. So, when Quinn receives a text from Nora one night, “I have something for you,” she jumps at the chance to meet up with her sister.

That “something” is a frightened little girl named Lucy, whom Nora begs Quinn not to speak a word about to anyone before Nora vanishes into the night. Lucy’s haunted eyes trouble Quinn, and she struggles to connect with the girl who is terrified of “him.” Quinn doesn’t know the evil that Nora is facing, but the two of them are desperate to keep one little girl safe, and find out the truth of who she is.

Little Broken Things is extremely well-written, with a pace that builds slow momentum to a breakneck finish. Lucy is so innocent and so broken the reader will immediately care for her, and want to know her truths. Quinn and Nora’s family is broken, and has been for years. The sisters are united in their desire to keep Lucy safe, but the secrets still lurking in the dark may tear the family apart.

(Galley provided by Atria Books via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.)

I am left with many thoughts as I finish “Little Broken Things” “A Novel” by Nicole Baart, Atria Books, November 2017. The timeline of this story is within the last 5 years, and the setting is mostly in a small town by the lake. The Genres for this story are mostly Fiction, and Mystery and Suspense.

The author describes her characters as complex, complicated and dysfunctional. I do appreciate that the author describes certain problems that we see in society today.

Quinn Basset is surprised when her estranged sister, Nora arranges to meet her with a cryptic message, “I have something for you.” Nora’s “something” turns out to be not only a tremendous surprise, but Quinn’s family now is in terrible danger. Nora’s surprise is a little girl named Lucy who looks just like Nora. As soon as Nora leaves Lucy, she quickly departs. Lucy is extremely withdrawn and frightened. Nora had wanted Quinn to keep Lucy a secret from their Mother, who lives across the lake, and from everyone else.

Why is Nora leaving a little girl that looks just like her with her sister? Can you imagine a six-year-old being abandoned, and not knowing why? Why is there all kinds of danger imminent? How will Quinn and the rest of the family deal with this situation?

Both Quinn and Nora have grown up quite comfortably, but in an extremely dysfunctional family. Their father is now deceased, and Liz their mother can either be too laid back or too aggressive. The story moves slowly, but there is some intrigue, suspense and mystery.

Nicole Baart discussed the role of family, especially mother, sisters, and daughters. What exactly is a good mother? …a good sister?…..a good daughter? The author discusses the importance of family, trust, love, support, self-worth, and hope.

I appreciate that the author talks about such issues in society today , as rape, pedophiles, physical and emotional abuse of women and children, neglected and abandoned children, and family problems and entitlement. These are issues that can’t be neglected or pushed away. Yet, they do exist. After reading “Little Broken Things”, I have many thoughts.

I would like to thank NetGalley, Atria Books, Nicole Baart, and the Great Thoughts,Great Readers Ninjas for an ARC for my honest opinion and review. I would recommend this novel for those readers that enjoy reading a suspenseful read.

Women (Nora/Quinn/Liz) protect a little girl (Everlee/Lucy) from evil.

What would you do if your sister appeared with a 6 year old girl (Everlee/Lucy) you knew nothing about, asked you to hide her, uttered the words, "She's one of us," and then took off before you could stop her? Well, that's exactly what happened to Quinn late one summer night. What has Quinn's older sister, Nora, gotten herself into this time? Could the child be related to them? Find out in this suspenseful story as the characters race against time to save a little girl from evil!

Even though I guessed the twist at the end, it didn't stop me from enjoying this book. This was my first time reading anything by this author, and I look forward to more!

Thank you to the author, the publisher, NetGalley, and the Great Thought's Ninja Review Team for a free ARC of this book in exchange for my honest review! All opinions are my own.

The writing was fine, but the characters failed to resonate with me.. Unfortunately, I just wasn't wowed by this story. Was it a thriller? A family drama? A romantic dramedy?

Copy furnished by Net Galley for the price of a review.

The title of this book is spot-on for a family that has grown apart for various and sundry reasons. A mysterious text from one sister to another will set things in motion for a reunion that may prove to hold some answers and possibly repair damage done.

This was a little on the tepid side for me. A mite too predictable, and an ending too pat. On the upside, I liked the notion of how guilt acts as a scavenger, seeping in and feeding on scraps of discontent and melancholy. The author's acknowledgements were well worth reading, very touching.

Baart's Little Broken Things reminds us that objects, thoughts, and people can all be little broken things that deserve to be loved and protected. When Nora drops off a young child at her idyllic sister's home with orders to protect her and not let anyone know she's there, Quinn and her husband Walker are obviously concerned. What has Nora, who has gone against the norm for years, doing with a young child they've never met? Over the course of this novel, the story unfolds as readers see Nora's concerns are founded in experiences she's witnessed for years. Baart's storytelling style hops in time which can get muddlesome, but overall does a great job creating primary and secondary characters you'll be rooting for in no time!

Little Broken Things by Nicole Baart is about the family dynamic of two sisters, Nora and Quinn, and their mother, Liz. Quinn gets a surprise visit from Nora that ends up with a young girl being left w/Quinn without any explanation and just the request by Nora to keep her safe. The whole family becomes involved in the girl's safety and in unraveling the mystery of just who she is and how she might be connected to their family. This story has mystery and intrigue which help drive the plot to a satisfying conclusion. You'll be thinking you've got it all figured out and then there'll come a twist to throw you off. Read and enjoy!

I found myself engrossed in this family and "the broken little pieces" of the suburban family displayed in this book. The title itself explains it all and the novel definitely delivered on the suspense. The tale is about an affluent family and as the story goes their facade that was constructed begins to break piece by piece. Quin and Nora were hauntingly interesting with their relationship and the chain reaction of their lives are set up revolving around a little girl. There is this notion of everything needing to be perfect, you become enthralled in the relationship of these two sisters.

This story started out well, grabbing my interest immediately, but went downhill from there. ☹

I have something for you reads the text message Quinn Cruz receives from her older sister Nora. Nora’s “something” is more shocking than Quinn could have ever imagined: a little girl, cowering, wide-eyed, and tight-lipped. Nora hands her over to Quinn with instructions to keep her safe, and not to utter a word about the child to anyone.

As I’ve stated, Little Broken Things grabbed me initially, but didn’t hold the suspense and intrigue it began with. The story seemed to wander without knowing exactly where it wanted to land. However, a story can usually be saved if you give me a big surprise twist. The twist here didn’t do anything for me and once it was revealed, was almost passed over. It felt rushed and over too quickly. I think too much time was spent on other points and not on closing what should have been the big focus of the book.

Little Broken Things was done well enough that I finished it. I’m glad I read it, but it didn’t leave a lasting impression and I would hesitate before reading another book by this author.

"I have something for you" is the text message Quinn receives from her older sister, Nora, who she rarely talks to and hasn't seen in quite some time. She thinks nothing of it, until Nora wants to meet, and delivers a wide-eye, scared little girl and asks Quinn to keep her safe and tell no one.

No Quinn and her husband must care for this strange girl, all while trying to figure out why.

I have to say it was an enjoyable, quick read. I loved the small town setting and the characters were mostly believable.

The first 2/3 of the book kept my attention, however the last 1/3 seemed to drag on and I just wanted the story to hurry up and end. The conclusion was something I suspected, I just wasn't sure how it would come full circle.

Little Broken Things is the story of a troubled family with strained relationships and secrets. It was worth reading, though it wasn't a stand out novel in my eyes.

3.5 out of 5 star read for me!

Thanks to Netgalley and Atria Books for allowing me the egalley to read and give my honest review. This novel is due to be released in the U.S. on November 21, 2017. Add it to your TBR list by pre-ordering it now!

Happy Reading!

I made it to about 35%. I just couldn't get any farther. The book moves too slow and too much unnecessary information. This book just wasn't do anything for me.

Little Broken Things by Nicole Baart is a solid example of a family drama with a little bit of mystery thrown in for good measure.
Many readers have compared this to Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty and I have to agree with the exception that I only saw the HBO series and did not actually read Big Little Lies. It's similar in the vein that Little Broken Things deals with a dysfunctional, essentially broken, family that has some secrets they are willing to do anything to hide.
I will say that I feel Little Broken Things is a bit light on the mystery element. Once you get into the story it's pretty easy to predict what's coming down the pike. However, I don't feel that fact should deter you from reading it with the adjusted expectation that this is not really a suspense novel - it's good fiction.
Sisters Quinn and Nora don't have much of a relationship now that they've grown up and left home. Out of the blue Quinn receives an ominous text from Nora - "I have something for you" and instructions for Quinn to meet Nora later that night.
Reluctantly, Quinn decides to meet her sister and see what she could possibly have to give her. Nora shows up in the middle of the night with a little girl named Lucy and gives no further explanation as to who the girl is or why Quinn must take her.
The novel spirals into a series of events that uncover a family history that everyone involved would rather keep buried.
A well written story about family bonds and what people will do for those they love when put to the test. It shines a light that we are all broken at some point in our lives, but we pick up and heal and move on and sometimes we come out better than where we started.

Short recap: On a lazy summer night, Quinn receives an ominous text from estranged older sister, Nora. Nora asks Quinn to protect six-year old “Lucy” from harm. No further explanations are given, forcing Quinn to navigate through the shadowy remnants of information Nora leaves behind in the form of Lucy.

There weren’t any earth-shattering discoveries to be had, in my opinion; and it was easy to figure out many of the bigger mysteries posed. That said, it was also clear this book was less about solving a mystery than it was about the various mother-daughter dynamics we create.

The presence of Lucy effects each of the women in different ways: Quinn is forced to deal with her burgeoning desire to become a mother, while continuing to doubt her capability (and ability) to do so. Liz (the mother of both Quinn and Nora) begins to rethink how good of a mother she actually was, and how her inability to “stand up” to her overbearing, late-husband, may have altered that ability in a major way.

Tiffany (mother of Lucy) struggles with doing what’s best for her daughter, while also trying not to lose herself; Nora simply looks to protect her best friend (Tiffany) and Lucy from harm.

All of these women uniquely represent the doubts, fears, struggles, and obstacles each woman likely faces as she navigates the tricky road of being a mother.

I enjoyed seeing Quinn’s character evolve the most.

In my opinion, she took the biggest stride towards maturation—as both a woman and a wife—and, by the end of the book, I had the most hope for her ability to really become the well-rounded woman she once only pretended to be.

Overall, it was pleasant just having a Birdseye view of each woman’s inner thoughts. Even the short peeks at Tiffany’s inner struggles was enlightening—injected at just the right moments and without taking anything away from the overall pace of the story.

A lovely read.

I read Little Broken Things along with six of my Traveling Sisters and it left us in different coulees once again. We were mostly split into two different ones, some sisters were lost in the lush coulee and enjoying this one and others were lost in the dry coulee and finding themselves bored and napping leaving them uninterested in this one.

Little Broken Things starts off suspenseful and caught the attention of some sisters and then slows down quite a bit in the middle leaving us a bit disappointed and then picks up near the end and wrapped up quite nicely for the sisters in the lush coulee. We would have liked it to have been a bit better paced.

Nicole Baart delivers a quieter suspenseful mystery novel with some family drama that is free from using any shock value to surprise her readers, making this one a nice safe read. There is a little dark to the story to add to the dynamics of the family, however, there are no surprises here. The sisters in the dry coulee found that to be predictable and were bored with the storyline. The story is a refreshing yet a little dark that explores the complicated relationships between flawed women and what ties a family together. The story revolves around a little girl Lucy who captured our hearts and we enjoyed the relationships she had with the women in this story.

Norma and I recommend this one to readers who are looking for a safer, suspenseful story with some family drama with no real surprises to shock you.

Publication date: November 21, 2017

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Atria Books and Nicole Baart for providing me an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Traveling Sisters Reviews can be found on our sister blog:
http://www.twogirlslostinacouleereading.wordpress.com

3 stars.

This was a story about a mother’s love and sacrifice for her child and a family coming together after years of separation. At times, the book had my heart pounding, my worry intensifying, my stomach churning and my hope growing. There were some wild twists and turns that caught me completely off guard.

I liked the main characters Quinn and Everlee. The remaining characters I had more of a hard time connecting with. Some ended up growing on me, while others began to irritate me and a few relationships felt awkward and forced. I also found some situations questionable from a realistic perspective, but I was still able to endure and enjoy the story unfolding.

This book started off stronger than it ended. The beginning captured my attention and had me drawn into the storyline and characters. The last third of the book lost its spark for me as there was so much aimless going back and forth chasing after characters.

Overall, I’m happy I read the book and enjoyed the story, but it wasn’t a standout novel for me. I loved reading this along with my Traveling Sisters – that experience never fails!

A big thank you to NetGalley, Atria Books and Nicole Baart for providing an ARC in exchange for an honest review!

Expected Date of Publication: November 21, 2017