Member Reviews

It took me a little while to get into the story, but I’m glad I stuck with it. The character development was well done, and I really enjoyed watching the relationships evolve throughout the book.

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Orla inherits a dilapidated Georgian house in London from her late Grandmother. Orla has never set foot inside the house before, despite being raised by her grandmother, but she is determined to restore it to its former glory. Orla was estranged from her grandmother for two decades and it is bittersweet to inherit a house from her.

Beatrice is an American. She was adopted in Ireland at birth while her father was working in Dublin for two years. She has been privileged and indulged her entire life, but has managed to persuade her parents to let her nanny in London for a wealthy American family. The family offered to let her live in but Beatrice wants her own space. She hasn't let on that her reason for working in London is to try and track down her birth mother, her previous investigations having uncovered that the family had a big house in Spitalfields.

Livvie is in a flat share but for some reason one of the other girls has taken against her and is creating a toxic atmosphere, every time Livvie walks into a room they stop talking and/or laugh for no reason. After the girl's boyfriend tries to kiss her at a party in their flat it has got worse and she is desperate to move out.

Luke has recently split up with his girlfriend and was about to move back home, until Orla called him about doing some handywork in her house. They agree an arrangement where she pays him to help her restore the house and she lets him stay in the house at a reduced rate.

Over the course of a few months in 2005/6 these four people come together in the house. There's love, secrets, jealousy, it could bring them together or tear them apart.

I don't know what to say about this book. First, why set it in 2005 - was it just to explain a baby being taken away from its mother? Also, the book jumped between people's points of view but didn't give any clue as to who was 'speaking' at any one time. After a while I realised if the person was writing then it was Orla, but distinguishing between Livvie and Beatrice was more tricky.

More disturbingly, I just don't know what the point of the book was. I finished it and wondered if maybe it was part of a series, or a prequel (or whatever the opposite is of a prequel) but it doesn't appear to be. So we have Orla's story only half told. Luke's story only half told. Livvie's story half told. Beatrice's story sort of told. And a humungous sort of cliff-hanger at the end? Will there be a sequel?

Overall, it was both too predictable and lacked something.

I received an ARC from the publisher via NetGalley.

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Not really liking how each character got their own chapter. To me, it's usually confusing.
But, in this story it seemed to work pretty well without missing a beat. I grew to love every minute of it.
I loved the many secrets that was in Orla's pov. They kept me interest all the way through.
I couldn't put this adventure down and yes, I call it an adventure.
The cover of this book is interesting in itself. It's mysterious and I love the color!
I'm giving this delightful story 5 stars hands down. I highly recommend it.
My thanks for a copy of this book. I was NOT required to write a positive review. All opinions expressed are mine.

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Absolutely fantastic plot! Could not put the book down once I began reading it. Cannot wait for it to be released. I will recommend it to everyone I know!

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All Our Missing Piecess by new to me author Sophie Ranald, published by Storm Publishing, is a full length, stand alone novel.
Well written, a great read, 4,5 stars.
I loved reading Beatrice's story, even when it took me a minute to get into the story, the flow.

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Thanks to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for this Advanced Reader’s Copy of All Our Missing Pieces by Sophie Ranald due to be published May 29, 2025.

When Orla Clifford inherits her grandmother's crumbling house on Damask Square, she sees a chance to rebuild her life while restoring the potentially beautiful house. Orla takes in three lodgers to make ends meet. But one of them, Beatrice, is looking for a secret in the house. Will Orla’s secret be exposed?

What wonderful characters and a wonderful story! Luke, Livvie, Beatrice, and Orla have a fabulous, yet complicated relationship. This heartwarming story was an emotional roller coaster that had me wanting more when it was over. This was a new-to-me author, and I loved her writing and will want to read more from her in the future!

#NetGalley #SophieRanald #StormPublishing #AllOurMissingPieces

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All Our Missing Pieces by Sophie Ranald is a beautifully written story about found family, long-held secrets and emotional healing. When Orla inherits her grandmother’s worn-down Georgian house, she sees it as a chance to start over. As she welcomes three very different lodgers into her home, each with their own baggage, unexpected bonds begin to form.

But Orla is hiding something that could change everything. As the truth edges closer to the surface, the fragile trust between them all is tested.

I really enjoyed this book. Orla felt incredibly real, and her inner world was portrayed with such honesty. It’s one of those stories that sneaks up on you emotionally—I found myself completely invested in each of the characters and their quiet, powerful journeys. A moving and thoughtful read.

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Four strangers will converge on a house and nothing will ever be the same for them.

All Our Missing Pieces is a lovely reminder that some families are found. It also reminds us that secrets can fester and eat away at the soul.

Orlo Clifford is a well fleshed out character and I think everyone will identify with her on some level.

A great book that makes you think, pricks your heartstrings and leaves you feeling whole.

Thank you to NetGalley and Storm Publishing for the opportunity to read prior to it's May 2025 release.

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Thanks to NetGalley, the publisher, and the author for the opportunity to read an advance copy of this book.

I liked the first half much better than the second; I lost interest pretty much at the halfway point. I didn't connect with any of the characters, although I did like Livvie and how she grew to stand up for herself. I found the beginnings of the chapters confusing - I couldn't tell which character's POV it was until a few paragraphs in, and then sometimes went back to the top of the chapter to re-read. I didn't like the abrupt ending with no resolution to what happened to them all. I mean, this wasn't horrible, I wouldn't recommend it, but I can see how others might like it more.

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This is a somewhat melancholic read about Orla who has recently inherited a house in need of significant renovation and her three tenants - Beatrice, Liv and Luke. This is told from the viewpoints of Beatrice and Liv and from diary entries from Orla and builds up a picture of relationships within the household which aren’t always cordial between some but are close between others. Beatrice is in the UK looking for answers but doesn’t necessarily go the right way about getting them and is in honesty quite a prickly and challenging character but she’s very central to the story. This isn’t a happy after read, more a reflection of how complicated life can be and how we have to try our best to navigate it but it’s got some thoughtful moments and fascinating characters. 7/10

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You win some, you lose some – stuff, people, secrets. I enjoyed how Beatrice grew as a character and that not everyone's problems were solved at the end. Like for real, life is messy.

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for a copy of the book.

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