Review: 'Pieces of You' by Ella Harper (2014)

Lucy. I don’t even know how to start this letter.  Something happened. Something terrible . . .
Lucy was always sure of one thing – her future with husband and soulmate Luke. But after eight long, heartbreaking years trying to have a baby, that future is crumbling before her eyes. When a terrible accident puts Luke into a coma, Lucy is forced to reassess everything she thought she wanted. 
Then a woman arrives with a shocking secret that will force Lucy to make the hardest decision of her life.
On the 25th of September 2014, the paperback version of Ella Harper's debut novel 'Pieces of You' was released. I was really excited about this book, because I had already read many positive things on Twitter and other book blogs and I was lucky enough to be part of the blog tour for the novel in August (click here to see the blog post which includes an exclusive extract from the novel!). When I found a review copy on my doormat, I couldn't wait to finally sit down with it and be introduced to Ella Harper's writing, especially after the many positive things I had heard and read!
Lucy Harte works as a florist and is married to the love of her life, paramedic Luke. Everyone around them knows Lucy and Luke are soulmates, the real deal. However, after eight years of trying to have a baby together without any luck, things aren't going so well between the two of them. Lucy wants nothing more than to have a child of her own and, even after the numerous miscarriages, she secretly has high hopes for their last IVF treatment. But then, completely unexpected, Lucy's world comes crashing down and suddenly she is forced to rethink everything and make some decisions that will change her life for always.
This book was just as compelling and heartbreaking as other readers had told me it would be; what an incredible debut novel by Ella Harper (who is actually author Sasha Wagstaff who chick lit fans might be familiar with). The story is told from three different female perspectives: the main character Lucy, her sister-in-law Nell, and her mother-in-law. The characters are really well-rounded and each had their own interesting point of view to share and story to tell. If you ask me, the strongest aspect of this book is undoubtedly the amazing love between Lucy and Luke. It is so obvious that these two characters are meant to be together, but at the same time the book shows that even people madly in love with one another have to overcome struggles and fight for their relationship.
The blurb of the book gives away a large part of the plotline, but there were still a few twists in the story I did not see coming. This novel is so well-written and emotional; I didn't want to put it down before I knew what would eventually happen to Lucy and I felt all kinds of emotions while reading it; from happiness to anger to tears. Somehow, this book is incredibly real and my thoughts were still on the characters a couple of days after I'd finished it. It's a perfect read for book clubs, because there are so many aspects to discuss or think about. 'Pieces of You' is an incredibly compelling, powerful, heart-breaking novel; a great read and I personally can't wait to see what else Ella Harper has in store for us. 
Rating:

8,5/10

  For more information about this book: Amazon.co.uk / Amazon.com / Goodreads
Thanks to the publisher for providing me with a review copy in exchange for an honest review.

Blog Tour: 'Pieces of You' by Ella Harper

Today I'm really excited to be part of the blog tour for Ella Harper's upcoming release 'Pieces of You'! The book sounds like a really intriguing and emotional read and I can't wait to pick up my own copy as soon as the paperback version will be released on the 25th of September. The e-book version is available from today; click here to order it now on Amazon!

Thirty-something Lucy and Luke Harte, have everything – jobs they love, a great home, lovely family and friends – except the one thing they want the most: a baby. After eight miscarriages and years of disappointment, their luck has finally turned. Lucy is nearly four months pregnant – the furthest she has ever got – and both she and Luke are ecstatic. But fate has another plan for Lucy and, on the day of their fifth wedding anniversary, Luke is involved in a horrific car accident.

As Luke lies in a coma, Lucy tries, with the support of her mother-in-law Patricia, best friend Dee and sister-in-law Nell, to hold everything together. But life for Lucy and the Harte family is about to change more than they could ever have imagined when Stella, a colleague of Luke’s, turns up at the hospital pregnant with his baby…

Pieces of You is the heart-wrenching debut novel from Ella Harper that tackles hard-hitting questions about the impact of unexplained fertility and IVF on relationships. 

Is it a women’s prerogative to want a baby at any price? How does unexplained infertility and IVF effect men? What are the consequences when a man’s once passionate relationship with their partner can feel like it has become about nothing more than being a sperm donor? These powerful topics are skilfully dealt with in Pieces Of You as Lucy Harte’s obsession with having a child starts tearing her relationship with her husband Luke apart but, tragically, she doesn’t realise it until it is too late.

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I want to thank the publisher for providing me with an exclusive extract from the novel to share with all of you today!

‘What are we doing here, Harte?’

   If I sounded impatient, it was because I felt it. I’d been standing outside Luke’s hospital for about fifteen minutes and my toes were beginning to seize up. It was one of those crisp, frosty mornings where pavements and branches of trees looked as though demented elves had gone crazy sprinkling sugar all over them; pretty enough, but also bloody freezing.

   ‘Just hang on a bit longer,’ Luke frowned, checking his watch. ‘What time do you have?’

   ‘It’s nine fifteen and your mother is going to be cross if I’m late for work.’ I grabbed his wrist, pulling at the battered metal strap of his watch. ‘I know you love this thing, but seriously, it has terrible time-keeping issues.’

   ‘I know, I know. But it’s my dad’s…you know I can’t take it off. It’s the law.’ Luke straightened. ‘Ah, here’s the girl I’ve been waiting for.’

I personally can't wait to read the entire novel!