This was such a unique read! I enjoyed the journey Paige went on to discover more about her family. The characters are wonderful, relatable, and the relationships that develop definitely will give you the feels! This is a lovely story about family, friends, and love. I will be looking for more from Alison Hammer!

Alison Hammer's Little Pieces of Me is an emotional, fascinating read! I loved going on the journey with Paige as she discovers some family secrets that affect her relationships. The story is told via two storylines, that of Paige, currently, and her mother during the time of Paige's conception.
Paige was very close to her dad, and after his death she finds out via a DNA testing site that he actually was not her biological father! When she turns to her mom, she is unwilling to discuss Paige's real father with her. Of course Paige wants to find out more about the whole shocking situation to start to better understand her life. We learn more about Paige, her mom, and her biological father throughout the story, and start to see the pieces all come together. I truly enjoyed following the journey of Paige and her mother, and better understanding the dynamic of their strained relationship.

Dual timelines are wonderful when done right. Alison Hammer did a great job of writing two timelines, one in the present and one in the past, and bringing it all together perfectly. I loved learning about Paige’s struggle with the results of a DNA test and learning how the results of that DNA test came to be.

The story of Paige’s mom was interesting. Of course, I did not love the way she treated Alison, but I did understand why it was hard talking about her past. The story of her college years, her being pregnant, and her raising her family gave me an insight into how she became the women she is today.

Paige’s story tore at my heart. Learning that the man she loved and thought she was her father was not. Her mother would not tell her about her father, and she questioned everything she thought she was. I could not imagine what she was going through but through Alison Hammer’s amazing work I felt like I was invested in Paige finding her place in the world. I needed her to get her answers and to accept them and be okay.

Little Pieces of Me is a story of being true to yourself, finding yourself, and acceptance.

My parents took DNA tests recently, then suggested that my brother and I also take one. No, I said--your results should have all the information I need, and if they don't, I'm happier not knowing that!
Unfortunately, Paige, the protagonist of this book, was not so lucky, and a DNA test revealed her biological father was not the man she grew up with. This is the story of her trying to figure out what to do with that information, and how to mend her relationship with her mother. While it was an interesting premise, and not a bad read, it was not a stand-out for me. Paige's character was not wholly fleshed out, and the parts of the book that focused on her dragged.

Little Pieces of Me by Allison Hammer thoughtfully explores the “who am I” question when a DNA test returns an unexpected result. Paige Meyer is in her early 40’s, engaged to a great guy and learns through a DNA test that the father she adored is not her biological father. It has been two years since her father died unexpectantly and Paige’s mother, Elizabeth, refuses to discuss the DNA results with her. Paige’s relationship with her mother has always been strained and she wonders if learning the truth about her biological father will help her understand why.

The story is told in a dual timeline format alternating between Paige’s ‘now’ POV, with the ‘then’ POV shared between her mother, then known as Betsy, and her biological father. Hammer effectively uses the two timelines to gradually reveal Betsy’s story while, in the present day, Paige contemplates how much she wants to know about her biological father.

This is a wonderful story about family, mother-daughter relationships, and nature vs. nurture. It was delightful to read about a 40+ year old Jewish woman where neither fact was central to the story but just who she is. I would have liked more development of some characters, e.g. her younger sister and her grown mother, Elizabeth but I still enjoyed this book.

If you enjoy engaging, contemporary stories that examine the longstanding question of what makes a family and the little pieces that make us who we are, I recommend adding this to your book bag.

Thank you @thishammer #letstalkbookspromo #williammorrowbooks, #NetGalley and #getredprbooks for the eARC of this book. Opinions are my own.

Ancestry tracing and DNA testing has become part of todays culture and helps deliver some fresh new plots in books. Alison Hammer did a great job incorporating these unexpected findings in to Little Pieces of Me.
Paige Meyer receives a “new leaf” on her family tree, and it makes her question her entire identity. How can anyone other than Mark Meyer be her father?

Hammer tells a beautiful woven tale in a Then/Now narrative between Paige and Betsy, her mother. Paige begins to question her relationship with her mother as she pieces together the memories of her childhood and this new information. There are tough conversations to be had in order for both sides to be understood.

I really enjoyed this book. I loved each of the characters and the way the story unfolded.

5 Stars!!!

Thank you Netgalley and the publisher for a free copy of this book in exchange for my honest review.

Really enjoyed the dual timeline. The writing is great and I loved it was a topic that hasn’t been overdone. The parallels in past and present were great.

“Love means different things at different points in your life.”

Paige is 43 years old, in between jobs, about to get married to her fiancé and still grieving her father’s death 2 years prior. She receives an email from a DNA testing website that her biological father isn’t the man she knew all her life! This sends her to question everything she knows about her family, especially her relationship with her mom Betsy. Betsy, on the other hand, vehemently denies this. Paige has no choice but to confront her DNA dad about it. Will knowing the truth about her birth mend her strained relationship with her mom? Or will this only cause more harm than good? As Paige bravely chase the answers, we also learn about Betsy’s life back in 1975, when she’s a sophomore at University of Kansas and had a one night stand with Andy, the golden boy of the campus, following a break up with her sweet but boring boyfriend. The resulting consequences forever altered her future but she must stay resolute for the sake of her unborn child.

Alison Hammer’s Little Pieces of Me is such a tear-jerker novel, with raw emotions spilling left and right from start to finish! Her characters are well-developed and possessed distinct personalities that’s very relatable. I found myself being swept into the world of Betsy and Paige, whose relationship seemed so irreparable after years of burying their real feelings. Andy’s story will also tug at your heart strings. He made me ugly cry the most! I found him to be honestly refreshing about his feelings. These 3 just wanted to love and be loved and accepted without any fears of rejection. I really want them to have their happy endings! Because this novel is dripping with heavy drama, I was glad for the presence of Sissy, Margeaux and Maks, they sure lightened up the mood. And Jeff! As the groom-to-be, he is really the perfect life partner for Paige! Although I would have wanted more POVs from Paige’s other siblings, I still feel that the story wrapped up nicely in the end — realistic and not rushed. There’s so much to unpack in this deeply moving novel, so prepare your Kleenex when you read this! Definitely recommended to add to your TBR!

I really enjoyed Hammer’s You, Me and Us, so I was definitely excited to dive into this one and let me tell you, it did not disappoint!

This book is a story about a surprise result from a DNA test kit.

The story is told from two timelines. In the present day timeline, Paige finds out that her biological father is not the man that raised her, but instead a man named Andy that she’s never heard of. The other timeline occurs in the past and is told from Andy’s perspective, as well as Betsy’s (mom to Paige) perspective.

I really liked Paige and found her to be very relatable in her coping with the news. Her mom, Betsy wasn’t my favorite character. I felt like she could have been more open when Paige came to her about the DNA test, but understand that it was probably difficult for her to talk about. I also really liked Andy. He was my favorite character.

Overall, this was a book that I really enjoyed. Hammer does a wonderful job telling the story including the many complexities and nuances of not only having a parent not expected, but also complicated mother-daughter relationships. I thought it was all very realistic and loved learning that there are real-life people who inspired the story.

I was initially drawn to this book because of its cover, but it didn't take long at all to become immersed in the dual-timeline story. An unexpected revelation from a mail-in DNA test makes this a very contemporary story. I also enjoyed the "historical" timeline though I had to keep reminding myself that it was set during my own college years. That fact along with the Midwestern flavor made it more relatable to me. I can't wait to read this author's previous book. Thanks to NetGalley, Book Club Girls and William Morrow Publishing for the advance copy to read and review.

What makes you you?

Paige never felt like she fit in with her family, but she had an amazing and loving relationship with her father and is still grieving two years after he passed away. When Paige gets an email saying she has a parental DNA match with someone who isn’t her father, she begins to question everything she thought she knew about her life, her family, and herself. In her quest to uncover the truth about her mother’s past and come to terms with her identity, Paige learns that “love means different things at different points in your life.”

Little Pieces of Me is told in dual timelines and from multiple POVs, which worked so well to show how people’s interactions, choices, and experiences can shape not only their future but their children’s as well. The characters were extremely well developed, and I was fully invested in each of their stories. I also really loved the side characters, especially Paige’s best friends and the way they supported her. Identity, connection, and a sense of belonging are very important, and Alison Hammer beautifully portrayed the range of emotions one might experience if their world was turned upside down by news that made them question everything they thought they knew about themselves.

I greatly enjoyed this engaging and thought-provoking novel about identity, self-discovery, forgiveness, and love!

I was lucky to be selected to participate in a Let’s Talk Books buddy read for this title pre-publication.

Little Pieces Of Me is a poignant family drama that isn’t ripped from the headlines per se but does explore a current/modern topic. Our main character, Paige, finds out that her DNA dad is different from her father who raised her based on a DNA test. Her mother, Elizabeth, doesn’t respond well to Paige’s questions and can seem like a villain to some... however, I found Elizabeth (known as Betsy in her youth) to be fascinating and my favorite character. She had a damaging childhood and just did the best she could for her daughter & husband.

You already know that novels exploring the decisions one makes to protect a child that are potentially hurtful are my jam... hello, Florence Adler Swims Forever! Another element in common between these books is the Jewish representation. Another topic explored is the reconciliation of nature vs nurture in the PNE (parent not expected) situations.

CW: pne; adoption; contested parentage; teen pregnancy; homophobia

A note about the author: I find her not unlike Jodi Picoult, which I mean as a compliment. Both are phenomenal contemporary story tellers, and Picoult is prolific/ commercially successful which I want for Alison Hammer.

Isn’t it interesting how book topics trend in publishing & the title you read without you knowing? I am a synopsis avoider, and pick up my books to read based on recommendations, cover and authors I love to read but it’s been interesting that DNA has been so prevalent in my reads this year!

𝐋𝐈𝐓𝐓𝐋𝐄 𝐏𝐈𝐄𝐂𝐄𝐒 𝐎𝐅 𝐌𝐄 by Alison Hammer was an obvious choice for my ARC based book club, loveARCtually to read after her debut novel You and Me and Us was such an incredible book. When a member introduced us so that we could collaborate for a club read, I was elated and knew nothing about the book going into it other than I LOVED Alison's first book.

Written in dual timeline, this character driven novel begins with our main character Paige discovering through a DNA test that her biological father she never knew existed is alive, right after losing the dad she grew up with.

What I loved most about the story was each character and how they were woven together and how easy it was to fall into this story. I LOVED Paige, her age, her friends, how we felt like a part of her rediscovering who she is after the death of her father, and with this life-changing news. Alison's writing style hooks you immediately as you become invested in the characters and their relationships.

The topic of DNA testing is so popular right now. Alison Hammer takes on this subject in Little Pieces of Me with such a genuine and natural narrative that I flew through the pages. I wasn’t worried about the science behind it or the probabilities; no, I was too busy becoming attached to the characters.

𝒩𝑜𝓌: When Paige Meyer receives an email from the ancestry website that she has a new match, she is shocked to find that her father is not the man who raised her. She is still grieving the loss of the man she called dad, and now she must confront her mother about who her biological father was.

𝒯𝒽𝑒𝓃 𝟣𝟫𝟩𝟦: Betsy Kaplan is a student at KU and has been dating sweet Mark Meyer. Betsy sees her wild and spontaneous friend, Sissy, have all the fun, for once she wants to enjoy herself and let loose. Betsy heads out to a keg party and finds herself alone with Andy Abrams. All the girls are hot for Andy, but he never stays with a girl. When Betsy finds herself pregnant, she must do what’s best for all involved, including keeping secrets.

This story bounces between Paige’s present search for answers and her mother’s past. I loved Paige’s friends who were both supportive and honest with her. And Hammer did an excellent job with the relationship between Paige and her mother. I think many times children don’t realize to what ends a mother will go to for their family and those they love, as Betsy wasn’t carrying just the burden of her own secrets.

Thank you to @williammorrowbooks for this #gifted copy.

Happy Pub Day to Little Pieces of Me by Alison Hammer, Author !!!

Captivating, powerful and heartbreaking.
I went into this book completely blind and it was the best surprise, it was amazing!
Little Pieces of Me is a beautiful story about identity, the true meaning of family and self-discovery.
I loved the writting style, I loved the characters, I loved the pace and the way the story made me feel; I just loved everything.
This is my first book from this author and it won’t be my last.

Thank you Let’s Talk Book Promo , @getredprbooks, NetGalley and William Morrow for this ARC.

http://www.instagram.com/booksandcoffeepleasemx

I really enjoyed this novel! There were so many emotions going through my mind as Paige grapples with family and DNA.

Paige thought she knew her existence, and her world is turned upside down as she receives and email from a DNA website that tells her there's a match, to her biological father, a man she never knew existed.

This shocking revelation is exacerbated by the forced and difficult relationship Paige seems to have with her mother. A mother with her own host of secrets to keep.

Thankfully, Paige has a cast of supportive friends, along with her soon-to-be husband, that give her gentle nudges to meet and judge her biological father herself, all without forgetting the father that raised her.

I loved the dual timeline for the story, it is woven together perfectly and as the story thickens, I found myself wanting to turn the pages faster and faster to find out Paige's choices.

Andy, Paige's artistic, gentle, biological father absolutely stole the show, and it was so cathartic to see Paige connecting with him in meaningful ways that she'd been unable to connect previously.

4.5/5

Song/s the book brought to mind: Take Me To Church by Hozier

What an emotional roller coaster, Little Pieces of Me by Alison Hammer gave me all the feels and it was such a hard book to put down. I laughed, I shed tears, and I just loved the different character viewpoints. The book centers on a 43-year-old Paige, her mom Elizabeth (Betsy), and the man a DNA website proclaims is her father, Andy. Not only do you have those 3 viewpoints, but you also get dual timelines. The timeline set in 1975 Kansas alternates between Betsy and Andy, and the current day timeline focuses just on Paige's viewpoint. I found myself forgetting Paige was 43 and I don't know if her character felt that old to me, but it was so interesting seeing how she took the news that the man she thought was her dad wasn't actually her dad. I can't even imagine the things you would feel, especially at that age, and I thought the way Hammer portrayed all her emotions was very realistic and relatable.

My favorite POV was probably Andy's and I not only loved him as a character, but his story really touched my heart. I loved the way Hammer slowly unraveled exactly what happened and why it did, and this along with the two timelines were perfect for the story. I also loved the behind-the-book section in my physical copy where she discusses how she got the idea to write this particular plotline. I think it gave me an even bigger appreciation for Little Pieces of Me, and I love the choices she made with the writing of the novel. Hammer definitely became an instant autobuy author for me with this amazing book, and it was super readable as well as emotional and relatable. I can't wait to read her debut novel now and I hope she writes many more to come!

I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own.

What a fun, sweet story! So many things to love in here, especially the friendships and the love Paige has for her father Mark. When a dna test reveals a different father, Paige feels her world is turned upside down and doesn’t know who she is anymore. Luckily she has the support of her amazing fiancé and friends. A lovely story all around. Get the tissues ready!

This book was absolutely wonderful. It was so timely with more and more people taking DNA tests. I loved the way the author handled the story from all viewpoints. The main characters growth and search for all that make up the little pieces of her are wonderful.

3.5 stars. I wouldn't say this one was absolutely gripping but it was decent. Paige finds out through a genetic test that her father wasn't actually her biological father. She pokes around on the internet and speaks with her mother and aunt to learn bits and pieces of the true story. I thought that the mother's refusal to talk to Paige about what really happened was immature and unlikely. I can understand being upset about it but it felt ridiculous that a 60 year old woman would act so childish about something that happened 40 years ago. But I thought the other characters were decent and I liked reading the backstory of how Andy (the biological father) and Betsy (Paige's mom) came to meet.

On another note, the football references should be edited. The offensive line doesn't score touchdowns (usually) and fieldgoals are not kicked after touchdowns.