Missing Pieces is a story about family tragedy and the heartbreak of having to cope with the death of their little girl little Phoebe who was only two years old, without giving too much of the story away, it takes you through to what Linda and Tom, her mum and dad went through, what I loved most about this book was that it kept you guessing as to how she died, it had me totally gripped throughout, I really enjoyed it.

I found this book to be an excellent example of contemporary fiction. The writing was well done and the characters very in depth. You could really get into this book and allow yourself to feel what the characters were feeling.
Linda and her husband Tom have two young daughters Esme and Phoebe. When a horrible incident at home leaves Phoebe dead Linda who is pregnant and her family have a hard time going on. After Linda gives birth to their third daughter Bea everything feels worse for her. She can't look at her husband who she thinks is having an affair, or her oldest daughter Esme and feels nothing for the new baby.
The chapters in the book go back and forth through the different main characters voices. I really enjoyed reading this book and learning how the family would go forth after all their grief.

Missing Pieces is Laura Pearson’s debut novel. The book is divided into two halves, with the first half telling the story of the months following the death of Tom and Linda Sadler’s daughter Phoebe. The second half is set twenty-five years later, and Phoebe’s younger sister Bea is trying to make sense of Phoebe’s death and the devastating effect it has had on their family.

Pearson explores the subtleties of familial relationships, the fragility of children’s thoughts and emotions, and the way that trauma during childhood can have an effect long after the event has passed. The Sadler family were very believable in the way the reacted to Phoebe’s death, and despite the two halves of the book being set a quarter of a century apart, it was easy to understand what had unfolded during that time.

The writing is delicate and honest, and the book was an emotional read. Despite the upsetting content, Pearson handled the topic sensitively and carefully. I would highly recommend this book.

My thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read Missing Pieces.

Elegant, honest and breathtakingly beautiful, Laura Pearson’s debut novel is an impressive and raw portrayal of how one tragedy affects an entire family. In this captivating story Pearson explores the fragility of childhood and how trauma inherently changes our future, focusing on themes of love, honesty and forgiveness.

The story is split in two: the first half about the death of three-year old Phoebe and how it affects Tom and Linda Sadler; the second half takes place 25-years later, focusing on Phoebe’s older and younger sisters, Esme and Bea, and how her death has affected them. Torn apart by grief and a terrible secret, the Sadler family slowly unravels, but can anything bring them back together?

I was completely swept away by this book. It is utterly mesmerising and emotional, an intricately woven exploration of family and grief that had me reaching for a tissue more than once. Pearson deals with numerous contemporary issues with depth and sensitivity. If you’re a fan of Fiona Neil, you’ll love Laura Pearson’s new novel Missing Pieces.

Thank you so much to Netgalley for letting me read Missing Pieces by Laura Pearson in exchange for my honest review.

I loved this book, I think it was written by someone who has experienced or researched this topic greatly. The characters were exactly the way they should be, in midst of a tragedy, or after, and this is certainly always the case in these types of book. Heart wrenching to read, but beautiful!

Missing Pieces is the first book I've read by Laura Pearson and I am happy to find a new author to follow and read. I loved this book and I hated this book! You'll have to decide what you think after you have read it. I read it in two sittings as I had to find out how it happened! How did sweet, bouncy, happy Phoebe, a child of only three, die? How can they all move on from the pain. Seven year old Esme's little sister is gone forever. Esme just knows it's all her fault Phoebe's mom, very pregnant with her third child, is devastated beyond words and knows she is the reason her baby girl is gone. How can she bring this other baby into the world? Could she even love another child? The father, kind, helpful and loving has a secret. A secret that in his mind made him the guilty party. The damage it does to a family far into the future is what this book is about. It's not revealed until the end how Phoebe actually died, who is really to blame. The new sister Bea feels left out of what once was a happy, loving, and complete family. No one talks about the past at all. Bea only knows she had a sister and she died. The pain each one carries with them swirls around every relationship. Bea, struggles with the feeling of not being a complete part of this family. The fight for survival and the ability to move on are an everyday challenge. It is a book you won't soon forget. I thank NetGalley for allowing me to read the digital copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion.. You'll have to read it to decide if you will love it or hate it. I'm glad I read it.

As this is the debut novel of Laura Pearson, I am elated to note the wonderful skill of storytelling that she possesses and acknowledge her beautiful way with words as she paints a picture of a family shrouded under the cover of grief and the pains of a happier life prior to the moment an unthinkable tragedy struck. As I maneuvered my way through the story, I instantly knew that this would become one of my favorite books and no matter how much time had passed while I was reading it, I simply did not want to put the book down or the story to finish. The mystery surrounding the middle daughter's death hung forbiddingly throughout the story, yet it kept me engaged, desiring to know how the precious 3 year old Phoebe had died. With each page that I turned, I longed to know her cause of death and the moments leading up to the collective despair that each of the family members she left behind endured. I empathized deeply with the mother's lost of her daughter and I felt every bit of the emptiness and heartache she encountered as she desperately tried to come to terms with Phoebe's sudden death. My heart ached with every tear that the mother shed as she downed yet another drink of vodka as she tried to escape her the pain of her reality while chasing away the memory of losing her daughter away in the warming, yet numbing, comfort of alcohol. Midway through the story, there was a heart wrenching shock that left me with my mouth agape, wishing that things had taken another turn. This change in the family's lives set the pace for the remainder of the book and shook me to my core.

As part two of the story began, I was pleasantly pleased to learn more about the family prior to Phoebe's death as the elder sister, Esme, thoughtfully, yet finally, explained to her younger sister, Bea, the circumstances surrounding their sister's death through a series of letters. Esme's jealously, envy, and love-hate relationship towards Phoebe was one that I knew all too well from a personal viewpoint. As Esme finally revealed her truths to her sister and more secrets from the past before there ever was a Bea were revealed, I lavished in the revelations as if I were personally being told the story by Esme herself. This book was emotionally raw, breathtakingly beautiful as it intricately wove a tale of grief, depression, and a searing devoted love for another human being. The character's deep devotion and longing to fill an unfillable void in their lives that once held the departed Phoebe demonstrated the raw emotions one experiences after the death of a loved one. I read this book within 24 hours and I must honestly say that it stole a piece of my heart when I read the last word on the last page. I look forward to reading more works from this brilliant author in the future.

The first half of this book was about the aftermath of a child's death on her family. Linda can barely function in her grief over the loss of her 3-year-old daughter, while Tom struggles to hold the family together. The second half of the book deals with the family's other two daughters and how the loss has shaped their lives. I enjoyed it a lot. It was sad and hard to read at times, the parents' grief and everyone's guilt and self-blame, but I liked it. Four stars.

I loved this book!
This is a beautifully written story of sadness, heartache...and hope!
The story flowed perfectly, I enjoyed the format....each chapter a different perspective from the Mum, dad...and Bea!
This is an author to watch....I would put Laura Pearson in the Jodi Picoult category....she’s just that good!,,,

This novel is an emotionally charged story - a debut from a natural born writer. An ordinary family are thrust into a tragedy when their three-year-old daughter Phoebe dies. There is a snowball effect, and a series of further tragedies as the family fail to cope with the fall-out. Suffering the loss of a child must be a devastating ordeal. To cope with it during pregnancy when the hormones are crazy must be far worse. All the characters seem to close off believing they are responsible for the death and indeed they are a lot of "if only....." situations and serious issues to work through. Each member of the family has their individual way of recovery. None of them wise or workable. Strangely I found myself perpetually changing my opinions of the family members as the story progressed. There is love in the family, but it sours and stagnates as they blame themselves, each other or believe others are blaming them. These secrets emotionally separate the family. Will they find peace and forgiveness? Thank you to NetGalley and Ipso.

A really good debut novel, I look forward to her next book!
This book is well written, the characters are relatable and I really enjoyed the unravelling of the story. It’s heartbreakingly sad though.

Just finished Missing Pieces by @LauraPAuthor What a read! Cried lots but loved it & it's brilliantly written. Highly recommended.

Missing Pieces is a beautifully writing but heartbreaking read. It needs to come with a box of tissues. Covering big issues of bereavement, infidelity, motherhood and what it means to be family, Laura Pearson's writing is exquisite and lyrical. From the very start, the images she creates will stay in your mind for days.. I loved how the story was told in two ways with the past and the present and how each family member's truth is revealed.

A beautiful story and I look forward to reading more by this author.. Thank you to ipso and netgalley for this advance reading copy.

Gripping, tragic and thrilling. Three words to describe this book. The book follows a family after a tragic loss and tells about how this tragedy has shaped their lives. The mother is having a difficult time coping and it shows in her daily life, the father is struggling to keep his wife's spirits up and keep the family together. To find out what tragic I am talking about, you'll have to check out the book and find out :)

I was hooked on this book from the very first page. This book had me up reading into the late hours of the night, often until 2am or later to find out what was going to happen next. Be prepared for a lot of "wow" and "oh no" moments and even a tear or two as you read about the family dynamics and tragedy in this book. So much sadness and grief and it pulls on your heart strings.

I liked how this book was written in two parts. In the first part of the book you follow the lives of the mother, father and their daughter Esme leading up to the tragedy and the time that follows. In the second part of the book you follow their lives and how the tragedy has affected their lives 25 years later.

Thank you to Net Galley and Ipso Books for an ARC copy of this book. It was a pleasure to read and give my honest review.

I would like to thank NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read this advanced Kindle copy of "Missing Pieces" in exchange for an honest review. "Missing Pieces" describes life for a family after the death of a child. Phoebe's mother, father and sister all feel responsible for her death for different reasons. The story covers the events that took place the night Phoebe died and the fallout from that time until almost 30 years later. Laura Pearson's writing is sharp, breathtakingly sad and poignant. She takes the reader through a journey of one family's pain and heartache and chance for recovery. The story seems so realistic that its difficult to believe that its not based on true events. I highly recommend this debut novel from Ms. Pearson.

Great read. Very emotional. Different to my usual reads. But very enjoyable even in the circumstances of the plot of the book

Have you ever experienced something and felt such regret? What if that regret was trusting somebody you thought was trustworthy? Missing Pieces is layered with feelings of loss, regret, sadness, hopelessness. It is also layered with hope, happiness and strength. The Sadler family experienced an ultimate tragedy and cannot move past it. Each character has to live with a regret of their own and instead of them growing closer through this hard time, they grow even further apart. My heart broke during Missing Pieces but my heart was also repaired by the hope that Missing Pieces instilled. Once you begin Missing Pieces, you will not be able to put it down until you find the missing pieces in the Sadler family.

Missing Pieces is one of the most moving books of the year. Laura Pearson's writing in this debut novel is beautiful and a complex story is well told.

A family is torn apart by the death of a young child, Phoebe, and the reader is kept guessing as to the manner of her death until the end. Each member of Phoebe's family: her mother, father and older sister all feel responsible for Phoebe's death. When a new baby, Bea, is born the loss of Phoebe is magnified for them all.

The story is told in timelines twenty five years apart. In 1985 we follow Linda, wife of Tom and mother of 7 year old Esme and 3 year old Phoebe as she tries to come to terms with the loss of her younger daughter. The birth of Bea only serves to exacerbate Linda's pain. In 2011 Bea is about to become a mother herself and wants to know more about the sister who died before she was born. Esme finds the only way she can give the information Bea so desperately craves is to write letters detailingPhoebe's short life. Through this device the family's story is revealed.

I particularly felt for Linda and the pain she suffered; I liked Tom in his role as father especially through the stories he told Esme, but not as a husband. However, Laura Pearson excels in illustrating human frailties so Tom was most realistic. What struck me strongly was the lack of support given to postnatal mothers in the 1980s and the lack of communication within families that continues to this day.

I especially liked that the book is written in the third person and manages to remain close to each character's inner feelings. The one irritant for me was the number of days listed at the beginning of each chapter which I found a distraction.

I'm sure Missing Pieces will be a great success and I look forward to reading more from Laura Pearson. Many thanks to NetGalley and Ipso Books for the opportunity to read and review Missing Pieces.

Wow! Missing Pieces is gripping, heartbreaking and I did not want to put it down. Laura Pearson's writing is phenominal. Losing a child (of any age) has to be the worst thing parents can go through. Learning to move forward without that child is just so hard. This book grabbed me from page 1. It is gripping throughout and the ending had me crying! I've only cried TWICE reading books! This is one of my favorite books of 2018 so far!! I received this book from the publisher and NetGalley for an honest review. I loved it and highly recommend it to all!!

Ultimately, this is the story of the power and devastation of unrequited guilt.

The lives of Tom, Linda, Esme, Phoebe and Bea are permanently scarred and shattered by the circumstances of the tragic death of Phoebe at age 3. Because of circumstances each takes on guilt for the death and each then retreats into his/her own cocoon, not knowing how to reconcile the guilt nor how to bond together to grieve and then live. And of course, the most tragic of all is poor Bea who was not even born until after Phoebe’s death and never knew her mother.

From time to time while reading, I wanted to shake various characters and say, “Talk to each other! Express your feelings! Grieve together – Heal together! You’ve got a precious new family member who shouldn’t bear the brunt of your guilt – she shouldn’t be dragged into the quagmire of your despair.”

But in all honesty, I truly do understand that that’s very difficult to do when being burdened with such terrible guilt.

This book was very deep and probed the emotions in a family. It was quite thought provoking.

Many thanks to NetGalley and Ipso Books for an ARC. All opinions are my own.

Wow. What a book. This is gripping and I couldn’t put the book down.
A very emotional read and I was in tears at the ending. An amazing book.

I received this book from netgallety in exchange for a honest review

. The book follows a family after a huge tragic loss and tells about how this tragedy has shaped their lives. The mother is having a difficult time coping which shows hugely in her everyday life; the father is struggling to keep his wife’s spirits up and keep the family together. Alongside this, the father seeks out an ex-girlfriend who reappears unexpectedly which he later regrets and ends the relationship. There is a lot of sadness, grief, and disappointment, but overall, I felt that author had done her research carefully and engaged the readers throughout the book. I liked the fact the book was written in two parts - the first part took the reader through the lives of the mother, father and their daughter Esme, which led into the tragedy and then the subsequent birth of another daughter and then in the second part of the book, the author still had the reader engaged in following their lives and and we could see how the tragedy had affected their lives 25 years later. A well written book with some very sad overtones but with positive vibes in the second part of the book.

Oh My word, I have just finished Missing Pieces and I am so emotional.
I really do not know how to review this book as I am so lost for words.
AMAZING, is one word I can come up with.
As a 37 year old who was born in the eighties and lived a life I find hard to talk about, this book hit home but in different ways. And until recently I reconnected with my sister/best friend.
This is definitely in my top 10 books ever. I will NEVER forget it!!!

Brilliant book, gives you tears and emotions. You feel yourself feeling the same emotions as the characters. Recommended.

Wow what an amazing debut book, straight away it captures you’re heart it is so beautifully written and impossible to put down, there are moments of sadness ( have the tissues ready) and it feels so real, the characters so strong and realistic that even after reading it, it stays with you and you can’t stop thinking about the pain this family went through
This is an author to watch out for, I can’t wait fior the next literary wonder.
A must read for 2018, thank you to netgalley for letting me review this great book.

This beautiful book had me hooked from the first page. It centres on how a tragedy accident can affecteveryone close to it.

The book is in two parts. The first explores the tragic death of three year old Pheobe and the repercussions on her family, especially her parents , Tom and Linda. The second half is 25 years later and explores how the tragedy is still impacting on the family including Esme and Bea the sisters of Pheobe

The book explores grief , family relationships, trauma, guilt and secrets in a beautiful honest way. Laura Pearson is a fantastic storyteller who told the story very sensitivity. , it is hard to believe this is her debut novel because it is so beautifully written, drawing the reader in . With her magnificent writing style. I personally know a family who have suffered this grief and the book reflected their lives in many ways.

Missing peices is a truly gripping read and will stay with me for a long time. The ending of the book was perfect . This is one of my favourite reads . I throughly recommend it. !!! Thanks to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read this book .

Amazing! I read this story on my kindle while queuing for rollercoasters at Alton towers! Absolutely heartbreaking and yet full of hope and the power of love within families. Held my attention even with all the distractions around me, I couldn’t put this book down. Would definitely recommend this book but be warned that tissues may be needed.

Linda and Tom are happily married with two daughters, Esme and Phoebe and another baby on the way. Then , in a blink of an eye their happiness is gone. One moment in which one daughter dies and the family is ripped apart with guilt.
Years later, the unborn baby, Bea, is pregnant herself and starts to ask questions about her dead sister and what happened?
The remaining Sadlers have to face up to the past and what happened but will it help or tear them further apart.
This is a beautifully written story. Very poignant.

An emotional book. A family is torn apart after the youngest child's untimely death at only three years old, the blame and guilt felt by the remaining members of the family is devastating and drives them apart. It is not until a younger sibling, who was not yet born at the time of the tragedy, questions the remaining members of the family as an adult that the whole episode is revisited and addressed. It is a beautifully written sensitive book and one can definitely empathise with the characters, The book is written in two parts, once around the time of the death of Phoebe and the effect this has on the whole family and later once the older child, Esme and Bea, the child as yet unborn at the start, are adults. Both halves are captivating and hold the reader's attention.

I read that this is the author's first book and I, for one, shall be looking out for subsequent reads as she definitely has a talent.

Oh, my! This is a heartbreaking read. It's so, so good whilst also leaving you slightly broken.

Without giving anything away, it's about one family who suffer tragedy and loss and it's also about friendship, love and grief. I was hooked from the first page to the last as it carries within it such a message of life and hope. It's beautifully written and I look forward to more from this excellent author.

Thanks so much to net galley and Ipsobooks for the opportunity to preview this wonderful book. Wishing you all every success upon publication.

Deeply in love, Linda and Tom Sadler have two beautiful daughters, Esme and Phoebe. They are blissfully happy with their family life and dearly love their two girls. They create happy family memories for them with lovely outings, holidays, imaginative and exciting stories; all in the framework of security and love. Life for the Sadler family is absolutely perfect and both of their daughters thrive on their love and care. When Linda finds she is expecting a third child she worries about how they will cope, but Tom is delighted and assures her they will be fine. He is a hands-on Dad and Linda knows she will be well supported so she settles into the long wait to meet their baby feeling reassured and happy.
During her pregnancy a single moment of distraction results in the tragic death of their beautiful, vibrant Phoebe, their three-year-old bundle of fun and the light of their life. Linda never recovers from her loss and becomes very withdrawn; a blank canvas which once shone brightly over her family. She goes on to the early delivery of their third daughter whom they name Beatrice. But this time, with Bea having to stay in hospital so long, she returns to her family alone and totally wiped out, never really feeling a connection with her infant daughter. Her life is bland, she is exhausted and she exists rather than lives. Nobody ever talks about Phoebe, but each member of the family feels guilty about what happened and Linda does not receive the support and counselling she so desperately needs to overcome her grief. Their lives are devastated but Linda’s is a total wreck.
Thus ends the first part of the novel. Part two moves on twenty five years and to when their youngest daughter Bea discovers she is pregnant. The fractured family have never truly got over their feelings of guilt and each carry with them their own secrets about Phoebe’s death. Bea hasn’t seen much of her father or sister since she moved out, but now that she is pregnant she wants to reconnect and especially to find out more about her family. This is the catalyst to Tom and Esme opening up, until the truth about that day is revealed and the healing really begins. This is an incredibly moving novel and I will never forget this family and their sad story.
‘Missing Pieces’ is an emotional and beautifully written family story. I was totally immersed in it and filled with compassion for each of the carefully crafted characters. I felt so sorry for Linda whose life was altered so tragically that fateful day. I loved how this hugely talented author got inside her characters and brought their various personalities to life so vividly. This debut novel is a totally unmissable study of family dynamics, love, loss, grief, euphoria, secrecy and guilt and is heartbreakingly honest and well portrayed. I particularly liked the letters of support that Esme sent to her sister Bea whilst she was pregnant and the way Laura Pearson wrote from each person’s point of view with empathy and insight. Her understanding and turn of phrase was truly inspirational and very moving. I also loved the idea of the family having their own new beginnings as they recovered from the trauma of exposing the truth. This was such a satisfying ending, uplifting and full of hope.
I received this superb debut novel through NetGalley and publisher Agora in return for an honest review. This is my 5* review. Believe me this is an excellent moving and unforgettable novel. All the opinions are my own with no influence from other parties.

This was a book which did not leave my hand , the story involves 3 sisters of one who's died then the last sister is born , then the family suffer more heartache .I don't want to reveal too much but it's sad and has pages where you so need to know what happens next ,
It's a really good read and definitely a page turner which had me awake into the early hours
Highly recommended

Loved thinking it really tugged at the heart, what a sad story from so many perspectives but with such a lovely outcome, would highly recommend.

A beautiful heart-breaking story that goes through all the feels while it explores grief. This book will tear your heart out.

A fabulous book that draws you in to the sister's lives and what has happened since they last visited the cabins. I could not put this book down and although you knew what had happened in the past it did not take away any enjoyment from turning the pages.

This book told a gentle story of family heartbreak and picking up the pieces again afterwards. Such brilliant descriptions of the characters made them feel like friends and such a moving story made it impossible not to feel real emotion for them. Brilliantly written

I'm almost lost for words after reading this novel. What can I say because I don't think the word emotional quite covers it.

The book is split into two parts, past and present. And whilst I think both parts were written well, it was the first part that had me well and truly sobbing whilst the second had me filled with hope.

*Trigger warning*

This book covers the subjects of child loss and suicide.

I found it was done in a sensitive manner and the characters had some real depth to them which would make it hard for any reader to not connect in some shape or form.

The only thing that made me mark the book down was that the suicide side of things seemed to be brushed over in a sense, I wanted more of the aftermath instead of skipping years down the line, a third piece of the puzzle would have added extra detail to both the storyline and the people who were portrayed in this book.

Missing Pieces is a novel that begins in such a harrowing way that the ending is almost a surprise, when I reached the last page I had a feeling of peace. It wasn't a cut and dry ending, it was left open to the thoughts of what we see happening next.

A refreshing read that I would recommend to others.

I found this book to be heartbreaking and heart lifting in equal measure. It’s a story of loss and grief and how a family can be fractured seemingly beyond repair. It’s also a story of love and growth and hope for the future.

It is hard to believe that this is the Laura Pearson's first book and what a fantastic book it is. This is a heart-wrenching account of a family's loss which leaves the surviving family members is a very fragile state. After the initial account of the loss and subsequent tragedy in 1985, fast forward to 2011 when the surviving sisters have grown up and are involved in careers of their own, both of whom are still haunted by secrets surrounding their sister's death. This book deserves more than 5 stars and I am so looking forward to reading future books by this author. Have some tissues handy.

A beautiful, heartfelt novel written so beautifully a story of love losses and tragedy and a family all trying to cope in different ways and it affects the rest of their lives but eventually they find happiness in the future as well as coming to terms with the past a really emotional read

A family in devastation after the loss of a child and the grief and guilt cause by such a tragedy. Follow the lives of the parents and siblings as they try and come to terms with the loss and the questions that arise through life. A well written truly moving tale.

Thank you to NetGalley, the author & publishers for giving me the opportunity to read this book.

**TRIGGER WARNING, THIS BOOK CONTAINS CHILD LOSS & SUICIDE**

Firstly WOW! What a story, I absolutely couldn't put it down. I think I read this within a couple of days which hasn't happened for a long time. Since having my son 2.5 years ago I have been mindful of stories which contain children. I haven't read anything to do with abductions, missing children or death. Silly really because just because I read it doesn't mean it will happen to our family. I am glad that I didn't read any of the reviews of this book because I wouldn't have picked it up. I am also thankful that I persisted past the first chapter.
A harrowing and beautiful story, I even cried in the bath & now welling up when writing this review. I would instantly read anything by Laura Pearson based on this debut It has taken me a couple of days to write this review as I wanted some time to reflect. Honest & Breathtaking story. I can highly recommend.

What a superb debut from Laura Pearson - she is going to be an author to look out for. Her tragic story about a family who try to cope with two deaths is sad but poignant and uplifting.

Phoebe dies at an early age in the family home. The circumstances are not clear at the beginning but revealed as the story progresses. Each family member feels at fault, and struggle to accept Phoebe's death. Linda (mum) is devastated but also pregnant with Bea. Tom (the husband) and eldest child Esme feel the pain and battle to help Mum. Overcome by guilt Mum commits suicide.

Although the book is sad there are many life affirming moments as Tom, Esme and Bea grow older. The roller-coaster of emotions is quite dramatic. There are new relationships, and the circumstances of Phoebe's death are gradually revealed and the influence it has had on each member of the family.

Gripping! I found it hard to put down and was finished in two evenings.

An emotional, heartbreaking story about a family fragmented after the death of a child.

A brilliant debt novel.

An emotional tale about a family who loses their daughter and what they face afterwards.

I am actually having a hard time writing a review for this book without giving away too much of the story. But, I will say be sure you have some tissue ready when you read it. It feels so real. Just the thought of losing a child is hard enough, but what the family endures afterwards is heartbreaking.

The book is told in two parts. The first part of the book is about Linda and Tom Sadler and how losing their daughter, Phoebe, changes their relationship and other daughter’s life. The second part is 25 years later and focuses on sisters, Esme and Bea. We learn how the death of Phoebe has affected their lives. When Esme reveals some secrets to Bea, she doesn’t know if it will help or harm the family even more, but she needs to open up about them.

This is one of those books that once you read it, you can’t get it out of your mind.

*Thank you to Agora Books and NetGalley for the ARC of this book for an honest review.

I read this book in two sittings, it was incredibly sad but also gave a fascinating insight into how different members of the same family deal with one tragic event. I definitely recommend this book.

This is the story of three family members who each make a seemingly small mistake leading to a devastating outcome and years of consequences. The writing is exceptional with raw grief filtering through every page. It’s a harrowing read at times where you feel desperately sorry for all of them. The characterisation is flawless and Esme crept into my heart. For a debut novel this is astoundingly beautiful.

A very sad story but it wasn't depressing as the story was told in a sensitive way which was amazing for a first novel. Loosing a child must be horrendous for anyone and the guilt and if what's in this story eat in to the family and threaten to destroy them all. It is a compelling read and will certainly stay with me.

Having a small child, I found this novel to be a very difficult read, but not because it isn’t good, it is a breathtaking story, about the death of a child and the devastation the family has suffered from the loss.
A harrowing, emotional and simply heartbreaking read, I cried through the majority of the book. I feel that I need to read something lighthearted to read next.

I found Missing Pieces to be a well written story with finely drawn characters and enjoyed it all but the first half more than the second.
It was brutally honest in places but it did come across as a true reflection of how a family might react to a tragic situation in their lives.