Pieces of Us by Eve Ainsworth is a raw and emotional novel that explores the complexities of grief, teenage life, trauma, and healing.

I did enjoy this book, however I found it slow at times, which meant it took me a while to read. However, I am sure that for someone who could relate to these tropes, they would find this a more personal and relatable story.

Thank you again for the opportunity to read this as an ARC.

⭐⭐⭐

Pieces of Us by Eve Ainsworth follows Millie through her journey navigating the loss of her best friend. Upon the death of her friend she receives a grateful Jar in her will. Moments in time her friend had written down on pieces of paper. Happy times the two do them shared and instructions to go to each of those places.

As she works her way through the jar she keeps bumping into Jay, someone she used to love but who her friend Fliss loved too. Her friend also kept some secrets that could shatter Millie when she learns them.

She takes us on her journey of grief, the good memories and the bad. Will she be able to forgive once she knows everything? Will she be able to love life again?

This book would be great for those who are fans of P.S. I love you, it definitely had similar vibes. Thank you to Eve for working with NetGalley. I received an advanced reader copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion and review.

It was a lovely book with great memorable characters! The emotional depth touched my heart and definitely gonna read more from the author!!

Although I can see where the author was guiding this story, It unfortunately didn't captivate me at all.

I found the characters somewhat lacking and unable to connect with, and the storyline itself just didn't hold my attention well enough,

This book could be so much more. It has an excellent plotline, and in the blurb, it sounds great. The idea of happiness jar was sweet. But it was a really slow read. Lottie, Sara's best friend, is dead, and she is dealing with grief. But Lottie was selfish and a lair throughout the book. Sara and Jay loved each other, but they didn't trust each other. Lottie took advantage of both and kept them separated with her lies. I couldn't connect with any of the characters. They all were so bad at communication. The ending was okay. Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the eARC.

Sara's best friend Lottie is dead and nothing in life is working out as she'd planned. Then Lottie leaves her a ‘jar of joy’ in her will – filled with instructions to visit places where they had their happiest memories. With every happy memory comes painful memories as well. And Jay – the man they both loved – keeps turning up at the same places.

This was quite the complicated friend group. Sara, Lottie, Jay and Dec were all close as teenagers but present day showed that they'd grown apart. The dual timelines from both Lottie and Sara's POVs gave some insight.

I kept turning the page as secrets came to light. I was frustrated at times and bewildered at others but I was hooked and had to see how things turned out. Ending was a bit rushed after the buildup but I loved all the resolutions that took place.

Thank you to Netgalley and Publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Rating: 3.5⭐
Steam level: 3🌶️ Open door, mild details

DNF.

I can tell where this is going and I’m not for it AT ALL. Not only that but the writing is lowkey so bad and I just CAN’T stand the MCs like at all.

No hate to the author ever! This just wasn’t the right read for ME.

𝙏𝙝𝙖𝙣𝙠 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙩𝙤 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙂𝙖𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙮 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙥𝙪𝙗𝙡𝙞𝙨𝙝𝙚𝙧 𝙛𝙤𝙧 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝘼𝙍𝘾!

"Pieces of Us" by Eve Ainsworth is undeniably poignant and tackles powerful themes: a heartfelt exploration of friendship, love, and the long (and difficult) process of healing. That being said, Ainsworth’s writing is still engaging, especially her ability to make readers feel deeply connected to the characters. However, the pacing is not as well thought as the emotional depth, since it sometimes feels a bit uneven. Additionally, the cover, while being visually appealing, doesn't truly reflect the deepness and, at times, darkness of the book so can be a little bit misleading to those who tend to get most of the mood of the book based on its cover.

Thank you so much to NetGalley, Canelo and Eve Ainsworth for the ARC!

There is something "off" about this story, so much so that it is hard to feel uplifted by the ending. Yes, the author tries to make out all is well, it's a positive etc., but what Lottie did leaves a feeling of distaste. I couldn't like her due to her actions, despite what happened to her (no spoilers here). I feel Jay's character needed developing. Love the premise of the jar of joy, though in this story, it seemed to be all about remembering Lottie. What a horrid character. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I wasn't sure whether I thought it was a jar of joy, or a jar of tricks that had been left by a dying friend.
I didn't mind this book but I didn't really connect with the characters.
It wasn't a bad read though.
Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Eve Ainsworth’s Pieces of Us is a deeply emotional and thought-provoking novel that explores trauma, toxic relationships, and the complexities of healing. The story’s gripping narrative keeps readers engaged, but while I thoroughly enjoyed the book, I found myself grappling with mixed feelings by the end.

The novel follows Sara and Lottie, two girls whose lives are interwoven in unexpected ways. What initially seems like a story of rivalry and teenage struggles takes a much darker turn, revealing Sara as the true victim. Ainsworth masterfully builds suspense, slowly peeling back layers of manipulation and emotional abuse. This gradual revelation is both powerful and unsettling, making it clear that I wasn’t entirely prepared for the depth of Sara’s suffering.

However, the pacing towards the end felt rushed. After such a careful buildup, the resolution arrived too quickly, leaving me wanting more time to process Sara’s journey and her recovery. While I appreciated the raw emotion and the important themes tackled, I wished for a more in-depth exploration of the aftermath.

One of the most frustrating elements was the Jar of Joy. While its intention was to promote positivity, it inadvertently reinforced Lottie’s dominance, making her feel like the ultimate “winner” in their dynamic. This aspect left me conflicted, as it seemed to diminish some of the justice and closure I was hoping for.

Overall, Pieces of Us is an impactful read that doesn’t shy away from difficult topics. Despite its somewhat abrupt conclusion, the novel succeeds in delivering a poignant and thought-provoking story. Fans of contemporary YA fiction that delves into emotional and psychological struggles will find much to reflect on in Ainsworth’s work.

I received an arc from NetGalley and this is my honest opinion.

This was a gut wrenching read for me. This was a story about friendship, grief, love, unresolved conflicts and betrayal. Sara and Lottie formed an unlikely friendship however Lottie wasn’t always the most honest person through their friendship. Their connection with Jay and Dec may never be the same after certain betrayal occurs. Will their friendship make it through the storm?

This duel timeline story will go back and forth between Sara and Lottie from past to present and back again. Loved the ending and how intricate this storyline was.

Eve Ainsworth’s novel explores grief, friendship, and personal growth through dual timelines. Sara mourns her friend Lottie’s death while reflecting on their decade-long friendship. Initially, Lottie’s actions frustrate Sara, but over time, she recognizes Lottie’s efforts to make amends and bring joy. The story’s well-executed dual perspectives and steady pacing add depth, making it an emotionally resonant read.

It must be so hard to carry hurt around. Especially when that hurt comes from a once all encompassing loving friendship group. Then to have a loss to that pain. It leaves you in both grief,anger and pain of the passed but also remembering the good times? Or the love you all had for eachother. That's a whole lot of mixed up feelings. And makes grieving a whole lot harder.
And this book involved a heap of feelings. And it does it well. It was a big lesson in what not communicating does. Which sadly is all too often at the bottom of aoooo many things that go wrong with friend and lovers alike. We are all quick to silence ourselves and others through fears or love or both. And then things go unsaid. Or other things are said instead. And that is what pur group ha e featured throughout this book. And it's a lesson for us all.

Thank you NetGalley and Canelo for this ARC!

Eve Ainsworth has crafted a poignant and emotionally charged story, weaving themes of grief, heartache, friendship, family trauma, and so much more.

Sara, Jay, and Dec had been inseparable friends for what felt like forever until Lottie, a newcomer to their school, joined their circle. The narrative alternates between Sara's present-day mourning after Lottie's death and the past, exploring the origins of their friendship over a decade.

At first, I found myself deeply moved by Sara's grief, as it mirrored my own experience of losing a best friend to cancer. However, as I delved into Lottie's chapters, I felt a growing sense of anger. Her actions and thoughts were hard to understand, and I struggled to find any justification for them. But as the story unfolded, I appreciated watching Lottie's personal growth in the years leading up to her death. She came to realize the harm she had caused and was determined to bring joy to the people she loved. I think a big take away from this story is that time truly does play a large role in life.

The dual perspectives and timelines were well executed, adding depth and complexity to the narrative. While the story unfolded at a slower pace, the pacing was perfect, keeping me engaged as I eagerly awaited the conclusion.

Rating: 3.25

I found this book incredibly frustrating for a few reasons. For one, I don't really like love triangles add in the fact that these are supposed to be the best of friends just made it worse and another thing I hate in romance books is the miscommunication trope. I was a little forgiving at first because they were so young but when you're 28 and dying not telling your best friend the truth is just heartless. Lottie just hoped her jar of joy/tricks works and her two friends would just happen to meet up and find out what really happened all those years ago.

I hated every character in this story they are petty, self-centered and at times downright cruel. Being drunk is not a good reason to fuck your best friend's boyfriend and then lie to him about you. I liked the idea of the book, leaving a jar for a loved one filled with happy memories but you should do it as a kindness not to ease your own guilt over the multitude of times you failed your so-called best friend. I also liked the two points of view and the two timelines. We get Eve in the present and Lottie in the past. I loved knowing what was going on in both their heads at different times.

This book did not leave me feeling sad about a young lady's death, I almost felt like "fuck around and find out" where Lottie was concerned. Unless the author set out to have me hate every character in her book she failed to impress me. I can see why some would like it but for me, it was just infuriating.

You can trust Eve to write a hell of an emotional book. This book hit hard in many ways. Some more personal than others but nonetheless it was amazing! Really enjoyed the plot - the way it was set out and the changing POVs.

I think the topics of heartbreak and grief were captured in a very emotional and moving way. It was also very interesting to see the little plot twists in how the characters ended up in the place they have.

Overall a great and emotional read I would recommend to anyone.

From the moment I started this book I was completely immersed in the characters and story line. Such a cleverly put together plotwith two different points of view and the different time frames, with the gradual unveiling of secrets and lies and an examination of what friendship really looks like.


Really powerful writing about grief, betrayal and true love, I couldn't put this book down. The characters of Sara and Lottie were so well drawn that even with their flaws, you still rooted for them. I was swept along by the story and highly recommend.

Sur le chemin de la guérison.

La narration à plusieurs voix est toujours efficace et ici, le changement de temporalité ajoute encore plus de rythme à la lecture. Un véritable page turner. Les personnages sont bien construits, ce qui les rend attachants. On suit leur évolution au fil des pages et à travers des sujets forts tels que la gestion du deuil, la recherche et l'acceptation de soi, la complexité des relations amicales et amoureuses et la valeur des souvenirs. Ce qui m'a dérangée, c'est le trop grand nombre d'incompréhensions entre les personnages et l'excuse de l'alcool qui, à mon avis, est utilisée de façon abusive et avec trop de légèreté.

Malgré ces quelques reproches, je ne pouvais pas mettre une note en dessous de 4, car j'ai été profondément touchée par la justesse de certains passages. Je ne connaissais pas cette autrice et c'est une belle découverte.

Rating is a 3 because at times it felt higher or lower. For whatever reason, cover and description lead me to believe that it would be more romance than it actually was. The cover seems so bright, but a lot of it was deep and some of it dark.

The main characters are group of “friends” Lottie, Sara, Jay, and Dec. Dec seems to play a minor role in the group, and unfortunately he has very little depth other than being a plot device at times. The other three are definitely all youth that experienced trauma with parents who have some serious issues.

I can relate to this personally because I experienced neglect and abuse for much of my life under 18, and as such Lottie’s need to be loved and her neediness resonates with me. I can remember being clingy in relationships and even at the beginning of my marriage. However, I don’t love the fact that she did such heinous things to Sara and Jay (and even poor Dec) because of it. And I really don’t love that this is turned into some positive at the end. That if she hadn’t done these things Jay and Sara wouldn’t have grown and “healed” before finally getting together.

This brings me to Jay and Sara. I do agree that they caused enough damage on their own. But I think Sara knew from the very beginning that Lottie was trouble. I think she knew this because of the trauma she faced. Hyper-vigilance being common in those who face trauma, I think she noticed the small things but Lottie gaslit her so well because in essence as it goes with trauma survivors she found someone like her Mom. That part is at least well written.

I know this is mainly Sara and Lottie’s story, but I so wish there had been more development of Jay’s character because what I saw makes me still feel he is problematic even if he felt like the hurt one, especially when he had a “relationship” with Lottie. Hurt people hurt people. But there isn’t really evidence he’s actually done the work to become better.

And that leads to maybe the biggest problem of them all and this is big spoilers here. Sara and Jay learn the truth of all, talk a bit, and the go on a share the relationship tour around town. Then Sara is moving to New Castle, everyone is fine and happy, and all is right with the world. But none of the trauma is actually healed! It’s all still there, everyone is just choosing to ignore it. All of the parents have just decided they’ve made mistakes but life is too short and are at peace now for the most part.

Overall the book wasn’t what I expected and while some things were done well (the trauma bonding and personality disorders), the happily ever after just didn’t feel true. It had a lot of potential, but missed the mark at the end.