This was a fun read. Loveable characters, good plot. I enjoyed how it was told in flashbacks and present time. Definitely would recommend.

A stunning novel full of secrets, twists and turns, and Cathrina does a wonderful job of keeping the reader engaged through the novel. Beautiful prose and realistic characters and not skimpy on the grit. An author to watch!

Synopsis: Rae and Marly were best friends, that is until Rae went after Marly’s boyfriend. In the midst of their drama Marly finds Rae’s dead body. It seems to be a suicide but the police, and Marley, think there is more to the story.


Where to begin? I loved this book SO MUCH. Read it in one day. It literally keeps you guessing until the very end. It’s Told in an alternating timeline, one of my favorite formats. The characters are excellently written. The story is vivid and captivating. I felt for Marly and Rae the entire time. I was rooting for Marly and Duffy. The cast of characters are ALL shady. I had my suspicion of whodunnit early on, I was HALF right 🤣🔪 Read this!!! I would say if you enjoyed these books you’ll enjoy this one:

Pretty Little Liars
The Last Time I Lied
One of Us Is Lying

A promise is a promise that you take to the grave and beyond. I admired Marly for hunting down the person responsible for her best friends death. I liked the flashbacks included in the story because they provide context in the relationship of madly and Rae. I think this book was very well thought out and I loved the characters

Told half through flashbacks, this story follows Marly after she finds her best friend Rae's body in their cabin sanctuary after they had a falling out. After reporting Rae's death to the police and informing them that her best friend was involved with Duffy, Marly's boyfriend, Marly brings the police to their cabin. However, upon arrival at the cabin, she and the police find Duffy there, and he promptly informs them that Marly's wrong about everything. Marly refuses to believe Rae killed herself and begins re-examining the last year of their friendship and all the fights that led to them falling out.

What slowly unfolds is a mystery that involves Marly, Rae, Duffy, their parents and their friends. It's hard to tell who's lying and who's being honest, and at times everyone looks guilty. As Marly searches for answers, more and more angles appear - and the questions around Rae's death only mount.

***Thanks to NetGalley for providing me a complimentary copy of MARLY IN PIECES by Cathrina Constantine in exchange for my honest review.***

1.5 STARS

ONE WORD: overwritten.

Marly doesn’t believe her best friend Rae committed suicide, so she sets out to solve what she sees as her BFF’s murder.

MARLY IN PIECES was an arduous read for me, one I didn’t particularly enjoy. My initial impression of the friendship feeling artificial, rather than authentic stayed with me through the story. Marly and Rae’s friendship, the central aspect of the story seemed more like an adult writing what she thought a teen best friendship should be like, more than a real one which never left me. Although the pieces for authenticity existed through out the story, nothing from the abuse to the “investigation” to the conclusion seemed realistic to any teenager I’ve ever known or worked with.

MARLY IN PIECES had flashes of promise with several well written scenes and phrases which is why I bumped up to two stars.