Skip to main content

Member Reviews

I LOVED it. Well-written, women's fiction. It’s a little long, but it contains glimpses of life. Anyone can read it. Highly recommended!

Was this review helpful?

I loved this generational story of three very interesting woman at different yet poignant parts of there lives. I laughed, I cried, I related, and I felt all the feels. This was a beautiful book about womanhood and friendship.

Was this review helpful?

I loved Meredith, Alone, so I was really excited about this one.

In The Pieces of Us, we follow three generations of the McAllister family who have all endured life changing events. The first, Minnie, is 58 and suffering from Alzheimer's. Minnie is living with her daughter, Cat, and granddaughter, Ruby. Cat has taken on the role of caring for her mother, but her world is turned upside down when she discovers something that makes her question everything she knows.

Minnie, Cat and Ruby are all very strong women, and I personally enjoyed all of their stories and seeing them all come together. I'm always a big fan of multi-timeline chapters, and Alexander does this to perfection in this book.

Overall, The Pieces of Us is a heartwarming, poignant story that I'd highly recommend. It doesn't come without its difficult topics (mentions of rape, abortion and abusive parents), so do consider these before picking it up.

Was this review helpful?

A warmth honest story, bringing to life the complexities of Alzheimer’s, pregnancy, identity, and motherhood. The story is full of love, forgiveness and family bonds, it will stay with me for a while.

Was this review helpful?

Catriona McAllister is juggling a lot in the Pieces of Us. Her mother, Minnie, has been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s, so the decision has been made that Minnie will come to live with Cat and her sixteen year old daughter Ruby.

Whilst Cat is sorting through Minnie's stuff. She comes across some documents that may change her whole life as she knows it. And, whilst dealing with this bombshell, Ruby has a life altering decision to make too.

I really enjoy a multi generational narrative. It provides us with the knowledge of how each character has formed their lives and how they all impact each other, especially given they are family.

Interspersed within the main storyline is that of Beth. As a reader, we don't know from the start how she links into Cat's story or even if she is linked. But, I really enjoyed trying to form a theory. Through Beth's story, we learn how times have changed for women over the years for the better. And, the contrast between Beth and Ruby is big.

This story definitely tugs at the heartstrings, and I really enjoyed it

Was this review helpful?

First book I've read by this author. Alzheimer's is a hard hitting subject to write about and Alexander does it so well. I liked the three main female characters. With thanks to NetGalley for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Was this review helpful?

A fabulous story about 3 generations of women and their relationships, trauma and personal battles. Minnie is only in her late fifties but has early onset dementia, and is being looked after by her daughter, Cat. Their relationship and the real emotional struggle that families have to face when dealing with this awful condition is dealt with sensitively and with real understanding. In the background is another story, set many decades earlier, about Beth who is a 16 year old living in Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, and who is dealing with some difficulties of her own. Gradually the two tales entwine and had me gripped, desperate to find out how this story was going to unfold. Really loved it and highly recommend!
,

Was this review helpful?

A beautiful story about a woman, looking after her mum, who has Alzheimers, finds out she is actually adopted. Whilst she comes to terms with this and wants to find out who her borth parents are, her own daughter becomes pregnant. The story passes back and forth between now and then, looking at the difference in young pregnancies and the way family's acted. a heartfelt story founded on love. This book was wonderful and I would recommend anyone to read it.

Was this review helpful?

Emotional, tender, and beautifully written 💔🌸. The Pieces of Us is a deeply moving exploration of grief, resilience, and putting yourself back together. Claire Alexander’s writing is compassionate and raw, with characters you’ll root for and a story that lingers. I loved the gentle hope woven through the heartbreak. Perfect for fans of character-driven fiction with heart.

Was this review helpful?

I loved this story of 3 generations of women, was completely drawn into the story and could not put it down. Warmly written with both insight and empathy. I would very much recommend and look forward to reading more from this author.

Was this review helpful?

A fantastic read - I felt fully invested in each character and felt I was living their story with them . Loved the fact it’s based on 3 women over 3 generations living through life events many of us can face at those ages . I found myself wondering how the women were getting in during the day which is always a sign of a good book!
I’d highly recommend - thank you for allowing me to access it early .

Was this review helpful?

I absolutely adored Meredith Alone so I was thrilled to have the opportunity to read The Pieces of Us. It’s a beautifully written and emotional story about three generations of women- single parent Cat who lives with her 16 year old daughter Ruby and cares for her mother Minnie who has young onset Alzheimer’s. The novel explores the importance of family and where we come from and so much of it resonated with me. The author writes with such warmth and sensitivity and a real love for her characters and I became completely immersed in the story of Cat and her family. A gorgeous, moving novel that I loved and would highly recommend.
Many thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this digital ARC,
4.5 stars

Was this review helpful?

The pieces of us is such a tender beautifully written read full of love, forgiveness, family bonds, sadness and hope.
Three strong female characters, who illustrate quite wonderfully inter generational living as three generations are crammed into Cats little flat,all with very different needs and at various stages of life!
Cat mum to Ruby and daughter to Minnie, the lynch pin of the family and pulled in all directions by her mum and daughter!
Ruby 16 years old and newly pregnant
Minnie newly diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and unable to live alone as the condition progresses so has moved in with Cat and Ruby.
Each women at different stages of life with very different ever changing needs but bonded by family, although this is shaken to the core after a discovery by Cat.
The importance of family, friends and the ties that bind us!
A truly heartfelt read that tackles Alzheimer’s and teenage pregnancy in a wonderfully sensitive manner.
A read that will stay with you long after you have finished book
Thank you NetGalley for this early read

Was this review helpful?

The Pieces of us a deeply emotional and beautifully written book that tugs at your heart from the very first page. With raw, realistic characters and a story that feels painfully relevant, it explores trauma, healing, and the quiet strength it takes to reclaim your life.
I found myself crying more than once, not because it’s tragic for the sake of drama, but because it’s real and I had been in that position! It’s a story that lingers, reminding you of the resilience buried in the broken pieces. I highly recommend this book!

Was this review helpful?

Admittedly not my usual genre, but I really enjoyed this book. It is so moving and you go through every emotion. Fantastic writing. I'd love to read it for the first time again.

Was this review helpful?

If you loved the author previous novel Meredith Alone you are going to love this book, it tells the story of 3 generation of woman in a family and I adored this book and I loved all the characters and could not put this book down

Without giving any spoilers away I would highly recommend this book and I cried and laughter and I loved how this book touches on Alzheimer’s , I worked for 4 years looking after dementia patients so I could related to the book

Wishing the author all the best with this book

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this book and I would recommend it

Was this review helpful?

i could not wait to read this book. having read Meredith Alone i was on tenter hooks for Claire's next book. and im so glad that she has joined the author world because this one was just as good. by the way if you havent read her first novel, do so immediately.

this books is once again written with that same tender warmth and such woven knowledge of human nature and depth. its warm, its hard, its soft, it delightful. it has all the pieces of three generations of woman woven together into a wonderful plot. now dont get me wrong its not soft in the themes. no no, Claire once again tells the tale of three woman with very real sometimes heart wrenching things going on in their lives. but the way it is written means you feel it too, you care for the characters, and you feel seen yourself.
we have three generations of a family here. first is Minnie. who onset of Alzheimer's means she can no longer care for herself. and things are rapidly getting worse, and confusing, and often sad at times. she now lives with Cat and her grand Daughter.
Cat is a single mum. shes is juggling almost everything and every ones lives. as well as trying to keep on top of her own. life isnt anything but challenging when we meet her. and when sorting through some of her mums things she discovers things that turns her world upside down. but there isa bigger problem with that because how can she ever ask her mum for answers?
and then there is the youngest of them. Ruby, who at 16 has just found out she is pregnant.
what comes next from the telling of this story is words and pages of such brilliance i could not recommend it enough. Claire is a true talent in the author world and i feel lucky that ive got to read these books of hers. they will stay with me long after ive finished and stay permanently on my faves list.

Was this review helpful?

I really enjoyed Meridith alone, which was Claire Alexander's debut novel. So I was interested to see if her next novel was as good. It certainly was!
Cat is a single Mum struggling to juggle everything going on in her life. With a teen daughter and her Mum Minnie, who has early onset dementia, life is challenging. Minnie has just moved in with Cat as she is no longer able to care for herself and while sorting through Minnie's belongings Cat discovers a shocking truth. Everything she knows is turned upside down and her Mum isn't able to help her. Meanwhile her daughter Ruby has her own life turned up side down.
This book really was a real page turner and I couldn't wait to pick it up as often as possible. I have a mother in law with dementia and the author captured the disease perfectly. Showing the sad truth of a loved one who is beginning to forget those who do so much for them .
A great read and highly recommended.

Was this review helpful?

This is a story about three generations of women, who all go through life changing events. Minnie cannot understand why her mind is not working as well as it should be, the Alzheimer's has taken hold of her and won't let go. Minnie is Cat's mother and Cat is struggling with seeing how Minnie is declining very quickly. Cat knows there is little that can be done but it is still so hard to see Minnie like this. Ruby is Cat's daughter and with everything her mum is going through at the moment with her gran, can Ruby tell her mum about a big event that is going to change her life, but is this what Ruby wants? It was an interesting concept for a book but one that worked really well. You kind of get a different perspective for what all three women are going through. It was heart breaking reading about Minnie especially when it is a subject that is close to home. It is a relatable subject and I know one that many people are going through. It is a moving read.

Was this review helpful?

This was a really good read which I will recommend to others.
Thanks for the opportunity to read and review it.

Was this review helpful?