"Little Pieces of Me" by Allison Hammer is a heartwarming and emotionally resonant novel that explores the complexities of family, identity, and the power of forgiveness. Hammer's characters are beautifully crafted, with each one displaying depth and nuance that adds layers to the story. Set against the backdrop of a small Midwestern town, the atmosphere is richly evoked, immersing readers in a world where secrets lurk beneath the surface and the bonds of family are tested.

Hammer's writing style is poignant and engaging, with prose that captures the emotional depth of the characters' journeys with grace and sensitivity. The plot of "Little Pieces of Me" unfolds with a perfect blend of mystery and introspection, as the protagonist delves into her past in search of answers about her identity. The pacing is brisk and engaging, with each chapter unveiling new revelations and deepening the intrigue. The dynamics between the characters are expertly portrayed, adding depth and authenticity to the relationships that drive the narrative forward.

Overall, "Little Pieces of Me" is a captivating and thought-provoking novel that will stay with readers long after they've turned the final page. Hammer's skillful storytelling, richly drawn characters, and immersive setting make for an immensely enjoyable reading experience. Whether you're a fan of family dramas or simply love a good story of self-discovery and redemption, "Little Pieces of Me" is a must-read that is sure to leave a lasting impression.

Synopsis:

When Paige Meyer gets an email from a DNA testing website announcing her father is a man she's never met, she is convinced it's a mistake. As she digs deeper, she begins to question everything. She never felt like she fit in, and what does it mean for Paige's memories of her father, a man she idolized and whose death she is still grieving? Back in 1975, Betsy Kaplan, Paige's mom, is a straightlaced sophomore at the University of Kansas. She's tired of playing it safe. Enter Andy Abrams, the golden boy on campus with a potentially devastating secret. After their night together has unexpected consequences, Betsy is determined to bury the truth and rebuild a stable life for her unborn child, whatever the cost.

Review:

This feels pretty relevant, with the growth of the DNA testing kits that are out there these days. This book gave me alllll the feels. There are dual timelines and multiple POVs. I loved the character development that happened through this book for the characters. I also liked how the characters were realistic and flawed.

Thank you to William Morrow for the digital copy!

I’m sorry it took me so long to read this book, but I’m glad I did. I loved the alternating timelines and the moving story. As a mother, I have an appreciation for what a mother is willing to do and the sacrifices along the way.

Give me all the feels! What a wonderful story! Full of emotion and the story was just so engrossing. Highly recommend!

*Thank you @williammorrowbooks for the copy in exchange for an honest review.*

📖My Thoughts📖

What would you do if you discovered that part of who you thought you were was a lie? DNA tests have become a pretty popular thing these days. Imagine finding out that the person you knew as your father your whole life wasn’t your actual biological father. This book was a very emotional and at times, a tough book to read. I really felt for Paige and it drove me bonkers how her mother acted towards not only her, but the entire situation as well. This was written in a nonlinear timeline as well as multiple points of view and I think it was a perfect fit for this book. This book pulled me in right from the start. I think it was intriguing, compelling and one hell of an emotional rollercoaster. The crazy part about this book is that this is something that absolutely has happened to people. As hard as it was to read this at times, it hit me in all my emotions and I loved every minute of it. I highly recommend this book!
Thank you Netgalley, Alison Hammer and William Morrow for the opportunity to read and review this book. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️💫

With this day and age of technology, you never know what emails you will receive. This is exactly what happens to Paige when she receives an email from a stranger claiming to be her father. However, the man she always thought was her father has already passed on. This obviously puts Paige into a tailspin.

It is no secret that I LOVE books in alternating POV's and this was no exception.

This was an emotional book and an enjoyable read.

Jewish representation, family secrets and more - what else could I ask for? Hammer's sophomore novel was wonderful and captured my attention and heart as much as her debut. I look forward to continuing to read more from her in the future!

How would you feel if the man you knew as your father all your life was not biologically related you, and you found out randomly from an ancestry website?

I totally empathize with the main character of this story. She is dealing with the loss of her father & finds out he actually isn't her biological one. Dealing with grief and the loss of identity is a huge theme that runs through this story. Being happy, learning to be happy, and thinking you need certain things to be happy is a strange concept in a world of FOMO. Add that to what society sees as "acceptable" can put huge pressure on anyone.

The dual timeline gives the reader an insight in what actually happened forty years ago & the secret that had stayed hidden for so long. As a woman and a mother, I would do anything for my children even if it hurt me in the process. I enjoyed reading from each woman's perspective, but I really got emotional in the last few chapters as the whole story, with all its little nuances come to light.

I got this book for free from NetGalley in exchange for my honest review.Paige joins FamilyTree, a DNA testing site. She wasn't expecting much from it, maybe some hints from an ancestor who could explain her being the only one in the family with red hair.She gets an email from FamilyTree and the story begins. I enjoyed this book.

DNF - Did not finish. I did not connect with the writing style or plot and will not be finishing this title. Thank you, NetGalley and Publisher for the early copy!

This was an very emotional book. The story jumps back and forth from Paige's P.O.V., then reverts to the past telling both Andy's P.O.V to and Betsy's P.O.V.

Paige is a 43 year old woman, engaged to be married to the love of her life, Jeff. Her dad, Mark, died of a heart attack two years ago; he was her best friend. She never really had a warm relationship with her mom, Elizabeth, because they were so different. She has twin sisters 13 years younger, and she always envied the way her mom easily gave her love to them, yet kept her distance with Paige. Paige always felt like the black sheep of the family. She's artistic, where everyone else had a brain for business. She was born with a head full of red hair and brilliant blue eyes, and everyone else in her family were brunettes.

When she gets an email from a DNA ancestry match telling her that she just matched with a biological parent, her whole world explodes. Her mother had kept a very important secret from both her late dad and Paige for the past 43 years. Elizabeth being her usual self, played it off as a lie and ignored all of Paige's numerous questions. So Maks, her best friend, takes it upon himself to research her biological father to get her some answers.

This was a riveting story that kept you glued to your Kindle. But the end will blow your mind!!

A must read!!

I loved Alison Hammer’s first novel, You and Me and Us so much that this was an auto-read for me and I didn’t even read the blurb! After this book, Hammer has become an auto-buy author for me! I’ve never had DNA testing done, but I have always been curious about it. This story about father/daughter Andy and Paige just kept me smiling throughout. You will feel all emotions as the story unfolds – laughing, crying and in the end smiling.

What would you do if you received an email from a DNA website identifying someone you've never met as your parent? This is the premise that author Alison Hammer has based this book upon.

Paige is in her early 40's and still mourning the death of the man she always thought of as her father when she receives an email saying a different man has been identified as her father. This throws Paige into a tailspin. At first the thinks that it must be a mistake. then she begins to dig deeper and in the process we learn more about Paige and her mother Betsy. The book is told in the alternating perspectives of Paige in the current day and Betsy in 1975 during her college days. Paige has always felt a distance between her mother and herself and through her research into her own past finds a path to becoming closer to her mother.

This was an emotional novel about family, connection, secrets and identity. This was the second book that I've read by Hammer and both were enjoyable domestic dramas. I definitely look forward to more from this author!

What if a basic truth you believed with all your heart was suddenly no longer true? That’s exactly what happens to Paige. Through a simple email she realizes everything she took for granted as the truth is no longer true. Who is she really? I was immediately hooked on this novel. The dual
timeline and the characters, both in the past and present day, really worked for me. A great enjoyable read. Thank you NetGalley and William Morrow and Custom House for providing me with an ARC in exchange for my honest opinion.

Thank you NetGalley for this ARC

This is a story of curveballs that make you question your entire existence.

Paige's father has died and she is still processing this loss 2 years later. She gets an email from an ancestory website that will change her entire life forever. "You have a DNA match for a parent".

This book is a journey into a Pagie's mother's choice and how it is coming to light 24 years later. Paige is sent on a journey to find out who her father really is and what events lead her to this place.

A heartwarming and heartbreaking story of love, loss and being true to yourself. A wonderful plot and a well thought out journey to the end of this book.

As someone who is adopted and has no interest in finding my biological parents, I found the premise of this intriguing. It's hard to imagine the upheaval something like this would bring. It's easy to relate to Paige and the turmoil she feels by this turn of events. I liked the dual timelines - I wish Paige's mother would've had a little more story to flesh out her character. The ending was a little Hallmark movie but that's not a negative - we all need that from time to time. Great job by Alison Hammer.

As a big genealogy buff that has done DNA testing and found surprising family “secrets” & connections I absolutely loved this. I can’t wait to read more by Alison Hammer!

Thank you to the publisher and Netgalley for the eGalley. All opinions are my own.

Alison Hammer had my interest at long-buried secrets! This book far exceeded my expectations. It has all the feels!

I enjoyed this dual timeline novel told from two different point of view. Paige never felt like she fit in with her family, but no matter what she knew she had her Dad and his love. When he dies, she is completely lost and then, shocked, when she gets the results of a DNA test and finds things in her life weren’t what she thought.
Interesting and thought-provoking, I enjoyed Paige’s journey and found her mother’s POV made the story even richer. Once I started reading, I didn’t want to stop until the entire story unraveled. Alison Hammer’s LITTLE PIECES OF ME is a well-written look at what defines a person. Full of emotion, I couldn’t put it down.
Thanks to the publisher for an advanced copy of this novel. All opinions are my own and freely given.
#littlepiecesofme #alisonhammer #williammorrow

This has captivated me from first page to last. I love DNA and genetic stories as they bring out a lot of emotions. I also like the stories jumping back and forth between points of view of the characters. Both stories are compelling and heartwarming!