For sixteen year old Peyton Lane, life has never been easy. She’s not popular, overweight, and oh yeah, her sister is embarrassed of her. But over the course of a tumultuous year, everything changes for Peyton. Suddenly all eyes are on her and it’s not because she’s fat. From a pair of handsome twins to a couple of dangerously sexy rockers, Peyton will have to find out who she can trust with her heart. From the ups and downs to the twists and turns—this is Peyton’s story of finding one’s voice and growing into your own.
This is a coming of age romance that involves realistic situations and raw emotions.
Krista Pakseresht has always been a dreamer, from the first time she opened her eyes. Creating worlds through words is one thing she is truly talented at. She specializes in Young adult/New adult romance, horror, action, fantasy, and non-fiction under the pen name Kira Adams.
She is the author of the Infinite Love series, the Foundation series, the Darkness Falls series, and the Looking Glass series.
(Source: I received a digital copy of this book for free on a read-to-review basis. Thanks to author Kira Adams.)
This was an interesting story about one girl’s battle with low self-esteem, and peer pressure.
Peyton was an interesting character, and she really did grow so much over the course of the book. I felt quite sorry for her at the beginning of the book because of the way she was bullied at school, but as the book progressed she did let her own ideas about how people saw her, hold her back from doing what she wanted to do. Peyton always seemed like quite a lonely person, but it was questionable at the end whether this was by default, or by choice.
The storyline in this was quite varied, and seemed to cover quite a long period of time. We started with Peyton’s struggles following her attempted suicide, but then moved on to Peyton’s love life, and her future career in the music business. I did feel like it was a little difficult to really put a finger on what the strongest storyline was at points, but the story was entertaining none the less.
There was some romance, although it was a big change for Peyton to go from being fat and unpopular to having guys fighting over her! Again she let her own ideas about her body influence her romantic relationships though, which was a bit of a shame.
The ending was okay, and I was glad that Peyton finally seemed to be getting a happy ending. It will be interesting to see what happens to Peyton in the next book in the series. Overall; interesting story about peer pressure, and self-awareness, 7 out of 10.
I poured my heart and soul into this book. And I do mean that honestly. The lyrics are my real life lyrics that have been written throughout my life. I modeled Peyton very closely to myself and being able to have the opportunity to share some of these elements of myself with others is priceless...
This is an excellent must read. Characters are believable, likable, and awesome. The story is very well written, intriguing, emotional, and could be about anyone growing up, and finding themself. Learning to except themself, and love who they are inside. This was really, really a wonderful book.
Peyton is a plus size girl who is a plain Jane. She has a crush on Jax but little does she know, it's the wrong twin. Jace is the one she really likes.
Being tired of everything, she starts to work out and take care of herself. Little does she know, she's attracting attention. Not all of it is good. Something happens that has her screwed up and not trusting. Jace has continually saved her.
Jace has problems behind closed doors that no one knows about. Hr tries to do what he's suppose to, but it's never good enough. He's secretly liked Peyton, even before she lost weight.
This book is YA, but it was really good. The characters have you drawn in and wanting more. This book blew me away and I just couldn't believe what I was reading. I am looking forward to the next book.
And let me tell you it was amazing. I started reading this book at 7 am and I couldn't and didn't want to put it down. Peyton life and situation draw me in. Everything that happened to her was somehow related to me, just certain things not everything. Peyton life had ups and downs but she finally found herself and as I was reading this novel. I smiled to myself. I would totally recommend this book to anyone to who like geNre. To people who love seeing a charchters develop so much thoughout the book.
I received this book from the author for an honest review. The author had no influence in this review.
Interesting piece of work here to be honest. And this review contains spoilers ... so keep away if you don't want to know (much)!!
Peyton:: She was insecure about her weight. I totally understand that because for me it takes work to keep fit. And it doesn't boost our confidence about ourselves. But sometime she just took things too far. I mean seriously ... did you have to ? And when it comes to boy trouble ... suddenly everyone wants her and she is CONFUSED about her feelings. I understand when it's between two boys ... but more .... calm down Peyton and stop doing whatever you're doing and please tell me :). I know that sounds hypocritical, sorry. But when she's finally with 'x person' and 'y person' says he likes/loves her, she doesn't know what to do; you have 'x person' ... someone you do love and just stay with him!! But overall I saw that she was trying her best to get along with her family and others and I admire that she had grown into a stronger character.
Colton/Jace:: OMG ... I would seriously KILL him if he was real. I mean, I was starting to love him , and he goes and messes up BIG TIME. And he wants forgiveness ... okayyyyy ... and he breaks Peyton's trust again! What does it take for a man to be sincere to a woman? And Jace falls into a similar category ... but I really never loved him.
Brooklyn:: Love her name by the way. She was a typical fatty and confident go who's just bitchy when they mess with her people. Not a bully like most.
Jace:: The good and sweet boy who just happens to have a bad family. He was the best choice for Peyton, but we usually go with the bad boys who want to change. But isn't he handsome and hot ... so I forgive his role/character. Sad you didn't realize what you had in front of you earlier.
Kayleigh:: I felt like you didn't love me and were embarrassed of being my sister ... I really did. But you changed and helped me view everything differently and thankyou for that. I really would have liked to get along earlier.
Overall:: I can't say I loved it because some things didn't make sense. Peyton was back to normal after her accident and the story wasn't realistic. I could happen, but the chances are down to a minimal. But I did finish it in two days ... so I did like it and it's another love story that broke my heart and I would recommend it to all looking for romance and tragedy.
I was sent a copy of this book by the author to review for her and overall I really liked this. I enjoyed all the song lyrics or poems at the beginning of the chapters, they were definitely a brilliant touch and added that something extra to the book. In this book we meet Peyton, at the age of 16, she’s overweight, definitely not popular at school and even her sister is embarrassed by her. After a run in with the schools most popular boy Jax at a party, she decides that something needs to be done. Along the way to finding herself and becoming happier, she meets Jace, Jax’s twin brother. Being nothing alike in their personalities she comes to enjoy spending time with Jace. Jax, however is the one that she has been hung up on for years. Jax starts to show interest in Peyton as she loses her weight and becomes more popular after starting a band with her friends. She starts to feel good about herself finally, she not only has Jax’s attention, but also the attention of Colton, a member of her favourite band who inspired her to sing. Jace is hot and cold, one minute she thinks he likes her and the next he emphasises their ‘friendship’. Confuse by all the mixed attention she turns to Jax finally after refusing his advances for a while. Jace tries to warn her that he is up to no good, but she ends up finding out the hard way. There are a lot of up and downs for Peyton along the way, she does however finally get a nicer relationship with her sister, which she has always wanted. But will she get the guy she wants?? This was a pleasure to read, there were a few type errors and that was really the only downside to it. I am looking forward to reading more by Kira as she is definitely a talented writer.
I don't like rating this 2 stars. I really wanted to enjoy this, wanted to root for Peyton, the overweight and often overlooked girl, dispirited from years of bullying.
And for the first quarter, I did.
Unfortunately, after that, it lost me.
The more Peyton developed and came into her own, the less I liked her. I found her to be self absorbed -everything was made to be about her, and her priorities were seriously skewed.
The drama; her supportive circle of loved ones (underdeveloped and under-appreciated); her successes with her weight, image and band: All overshadowed by her love life angst.
She'd have made for a more rounded character, I think, had she looked outside of herself occasionally, gave the others in her life greater presence, consideration and credit.
As for the writing style, it was jarring. My annoyance with the awkward flow increased the further in I read. Inconsistencies in the plot were many, repetition of info was frequent, and a fair few scenes left me feeling I was missing something.
Pieces of Me. And man, pieces of me were shattered while reading this book. I don't even know where to begin. This book was a game changer, a YA written to explain the peaks and pits of high school, and how love can heal all wounds.
Peyton and Jace. Two individuals who are completely different yet so perfect for each other. The shy girl who has insecurities that hold her back. And the nice twin who knows exactly how to make her feel like the only girl in the world. We see these two find their pace with each other. How their relationship started off a friendship and turned into more. A beautiful journey where they discover who they are as a person and how to handle life with all its successes and challenges.
Beautiful, beautiful job, Kira. I loved every moment between Jace and Peyton. And I'm excited to read what else is in store for them.
I felt really sorry for Peyton at the start. Bullying is a horrible thing to go through, so i could understand why she felt so low. As the book progressed though, so did she. By the end of the book, she was a completely different character!
There was a few things that happened in this that i didn't expect, which was good, as it kept my interest.
I'm looking forward to reading book two, which is from Jace's point of view.
Pieces of me is the second book I have read by Kira Adams and let me just say she really likes to tell stories of messy teenage struggles. I LOVE IT, I admire the fact that in her own words she talks about pieces of this book are pieces of her past. It made me want to read the story even more. This is the first book in the Foundation series and I am ready to read book two!
I don't know if it is the struggle of the main character Payton or the transformation I related to in this book, maybe just the combination. I feel like there is a little bit of Payton in all of us, even if we haven't quite admitted it yet. The struggles of finding self acceptance felt true. The drama of young love, or what love really is in high school. Trying to fly below the radar to just exist yet finding your true calling is the exact opposite.
A common theme in Kira's books so far have been bullying and the hard realities that happen to those who suffer this infuriating senseless act. I feel like she writes so clearly yet skims the surface in a way that it is left to the reader to fill in the gaps of each persons fight to change who they are. I liked how the evolution of the characters was their choice and not based on what they felt they needed to do to fit in. There is a strength in digging deep that I felt emerge from Payton through the story that had me cheering for all the confidence she found.
This is a book that dives into areas of youth today that are heartbreaking and real. It is encouraging to see an author take on topics that are hard and raw, but also relatable to so many. If you like reading YA and really want something more that teens hooking up, this book gives you some real depth and insight into emotions and actions that have severe consequences.
This is the first book that I have read by Kira Adams and I was completely captivated by the story of Peyton. I could completely relate to her and her experiences of not looking like everybody else! I thought that she was a fantastic character. There were some really interesting twists in this book that made it less predictable than I first anticipated. Peyton was backed up by a variety of interesting secondary characters who were great to read about too. This story has a wonderful real life feel about it and that’s one of the reason I loved it so much – I felt every emotion that Peyton did and it’s probably having been through some similar situations myself. I loved her outcome because she had a rough time and some awful things happened to her. I also really liked Jace’s character – polar opposite to his twin brother Jax, he was really kind and caring and I loved that he didn’t care what Peyton looked like even if it took him a while to admit that! The story was a nice easy read and flowed really well. The writing was really good and I found I couldn’t put the book down. I am definitely looking forward to more books in this series and finding out more about Jace’s story!
*** I Love Story Time was gifted an ARC in exchange for an honest review ***
5 Stars!!
I would like to say thank you to Kira Adams for contacting I Love Story Time regarding Pieces Of Me. If she didn't, I'm not sure I would have came across it and that is not a good thing! I loved it! I liked so many things about it. I liked all the characters and I was able to connect with Peyton instantly. The things that Peyton went through in this story brought tears to my eyes. There were so many moments when I was wiping my tears throughout this book. From the minute I started reading, I couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting and it took me into the late night/early morning hours. Lets just say....the next morning I was so tired when I had to wake up for work!
Peyton was constantly struggling with fellow classmates from her school harassing her because she wasn't one of the skinny popular girls. She was constantly made fun of. She didn't have many friends, and only trusted a few people. However, things started to change in her life for the better, opening herself up to new beginnings. She met new people and started having more friends. The last thing she expected was getting closer to the opposite sex. No guy had ever given her the time or day, until now. The best thing about it, is that there was more than one!
Throughout Peyton's journey she connects with different guys on different levels. These guys are different in so many ways. I don't even know which one I loved! I liked the connection that she had with her fellow song writer. Then I fell for the connection she had with the rock star, and I loved the connection she had with the boy from school too! All their relationships were so special and not one of them would hold anything back when it came to the nice words they spoke to Peyton, that just made me love them more.....
"Someday, Peyton, you are gong to find someone who is going to tell you that you are beautiful every day, someone who will hold your hand in public, and never miss a moment to kiss you. Someday you will find that person you want to share that beautiful part of yourself with, and someone who will make sure the moment is as perfect as it can be with you."
"You changed my life Peyton Lane...and for the better. I have a permanent smile on my face, and you know damn well it's because of you."
My favorite one was.....
"I love how talented and passionate you are. I love your blunt honesty. I love your heart. I love your determination. I fell in love with the girl in here."He pointed to my heart. "I didn't fall in love with a body or an image-I fell in love with the whole person, you."
I really loved everything about this story. It was not only heart warming, but there were also so many twist and turns that you don't see coming. There were definitely moments that I got nervous about what was going to happen next. The things that Peyton and other characters went through broke my heart. The conversations she had with her sister brought tears to my eyes. I loved everything, and I would highly recommend this awesome story. I can't wait to read Book 2 that, thankfully, is coming out really soon so that I can continue with Kira's wonderful story! If you haven't picked this lovely book up, don't waste another minute! This will be a story that will definitely stay with you!
*** I Love Story Time was gifted an ARC in exchange for an honest review ***
5 Stars!!
I would like to say thank you to Kira Adams for contacting I Love Story Time regarding Pieces Of Me. If she didn't, I'm not sure I would have came across it and that is not a good thing! I loved it! I liked so many things about it. I liked all the characters and I was able to connect with Peyton instantly. The things that Peyton went through in this story brought tears to my eyes. There were so many moments when I was wiping my tears throughout this book. From the minute I started reading, I couldn't put it down. I read it in one sitting and it took me into the late night/early morning hours. Lets just say....the next morning I was so tired when I had to wake up for work!
Peyton was constantly struggling with fellow classmates from her school harassing her because she wasn't one of the skinny popular girls. She was constantly made fun of. She didn't have many friends, and only trusted a few people. However, things started to change in her life for the better, opening herself up to new beginnings. She met new people and started having more friends. The last thing she expected was getting closer to the opposite sex. No guy had ever given her the time or day, until now. The best thing about it, is that there was more than one!
Throughout Peyton's journey she connects with different guys on different levels. These guys are different in so many ways. I don't even know which one I loved! I liked the connection that she had with her fellow song writer. Then I fell for the connection she had with the rock star, and I loved the connection she had with the boy from school too! All their relationships were so special and not one of them would hold anything back when it came to the nice words they spoke to Peyton, that just made me love them more.....
"Someday, Peyton, you are gong to find someone who is going to tell you that you are beautiful every day, someone who will hold your hand in public, and never miss a moment to kiss you. Someday you will find that person you want to share that beautiful part of yourself with, and someone who will make sure the moment is as perfect as it can be with you."
"You changed my life Peyton Lane...and for the better. I have a permanent smile on my face, and you know damn well it's because of you."
My favorite one was.....
"I love how talented and passionate you are. I love your blunt honesty. I love your heart. I love your determination. I fell in love with the girl in here."He pointed to my heart. "I didn't fall in love with a body or an image-I fell in love with the whole person, you."
I really loved everything about this story. It was not only heart warming, but there were also so many twist and turns that you don't see coming. There were definitely moments that I got nervous about what was going to happen next. The things that Peyton and other characters went through broke my heart. The conversations she had with her sister brought tears to my eyes. I loved everything, and I would highly recommend this awesome story. I can't wait to read Book 2 that, thankfully, is coming out really soon so that I can continue with Kira's wonderful story! If you haven't picked this lovely book up, don't waste another minute! This will be a story that will definitely stay with you!
This is by far the best book I read all summer!!!!!!!!!!!! I love that each chapter had a little poem in it.
Ok, I was approached by the author to read her next novel in exchange for an honest review.. Well, since i LOOVVVEEDDD the first book i read, i was honored to be considered for another novel...
Peyton is a size 15. is a junior in high school, and gets made fun of a lot. Her bulling will have you in tears. you will relate to her in your own way. (for those of you that hand a hard high school years. if you cannot relate then you might want to rethink your younger days because you could be that bully!) Her sister is the most popular girl in school, and is embarrassed of her. Peyton is in love with a boy named Jax. He was the captain of the football team. The only problem is that he doesn't know her like that. he bullies her. The funny thing is, She been crushing on him her whole life.
Peyton decides it is time to start a band. Her friends and her got to open for their favorite band, and they made it big. the whole school know now that Peyton can sing. this will start a little more bulling, but Peyton doesn't care. Peyton and her friend started working out in a gym because they want to look good. Peyton is down a lot of pant sizes and weighs 150 pounds. She is getting more confidence, and is making some changes in her life.
Peyton has never kissed a boy before. She is waiting for the day. Now that she is famous a lot of boys want her attention. She is hanging out with a guitarist from the band she opens for, jax now wants her attention, and for some reason, Jax's twin brother also fancies her. Peyton will make a lot of dumb decisions which will have you yelling at your book! Peyton will find out that all boys do not have good intentions. This will include date rape drugs, other girlfriends, Pregnancies, and betrayal. Peyton will also find out she has a night and shining armor who comes and saves the day every time she is in need. Lastly, Peyton will find true love. In the mean time she will start to find herself and figure out which boy is for her.
well, i can't end a book without any drama!! Peyton will find out that someone wants revenge. She will be scared, and someone will go to great lengths to try to kill her. This will cause a void in a current relationship blooming. She will have to stay strong, and undo a lot of walls that she puts up to get thru all of this. Can Peyton finally follow her dreams, and get what she always wanted?!
* I received an ebook in exchange for an honest review. *
From the very first page Author Kira Adams takes the book and reels you in - The book opens when Peyton is at her lowest point, following her attempted suicide. No one saw it coming but yet there it is. No one but her family knows what happened and Peyton isn't ready to share, but there was that guy that she saw....yep that is how fast you are hooked and unwilling to put the book down. I started this in the early morning and finished it the next day, I could not force myself to stop reading, there was just no good stopping point. The plot flowed so smoothly and seamlessly and the characters became your friends after the first few chapters.
The author did an amazing job with the characters. I loved Jace and Peyton, I thought that I liked Colton and Noah and I knew that I just didn't like Jax at all. It felt like I was a part of the story and that I was back in the halls of the high school with them. Author Kira Adams has perfected the voice.mind of a teenage girl and all of the drama and angst that comes along with them. She was able to make the reader relive their high school years whether they wanted to or not. She had the requisite "bully", the best friends and the love life that others enjoyed speculating about. She even had the weight issues, the sister issues and then Peyton found her niche. She found out that she could sing and make it as a singer and that changed everything, especially her outlook on life.
Author Kira Adams takes a story and gives you the good, the bad and the ugly and the reader loves it - she talks about those situations that other authors try to avoid and it works - she is great at it! I love the realness of her stories and situations and I love the fact that nothing is off limits. She takes a hard topic and relates it in a way that the reader can understand and appreciate. I look at some things from a whole new perspective now that I have read this author's books - I love her style of writing and her topics and I am looking forward to reading much more by her in the future! She is an amazing author and I am so glad that I found her! Make sure you add this and all of her other books to your TBR list - you won't be sorry! Enjoy this one and her others, they are a can't miss!
***Review has been done in conjunction with Nerd Girl Official. For more information regarding our reviews please visit our Fansite: www.facebook.com/NerdGirl.ng ***
I received a free ebook copy for an honest review. I'm on the fence if I want to give this 3 stars or 4 stars. There are sooo many aspects of this book that I loved & could really relate to but than there are a few that I just couldn't wrap my head around. Peyton is a junior in high school who has struggled with her weight & her self worth. She feels like an outcast in her family & her school. Yet she does have a good support system in her mother & her 2 best friends Madison & Brooklyn. I felt like the insecurities that led Peyton to do something very drastic at the start of the book were beautifully written & had me in tears. The friendships with Madison, Brooklyn & even her sister Kayleigh evolved so well. I did get a little frustrated with how immature she was when it came to talking or relating to guys. She was very flighty & wishy washy on who she liked. It's like she decided that she loved whoever showed her an ounce of interest. But who knows maybe some girls do fall into things like that if they are super insecure, that part I couldn't relate to. As for the guys in this story omfg, I don't know where to begin. I kind of felt like the Jax stuff was way overkill to the story. Colton, oh man Colton he seemed like he might be the guy for her. He said all the right things at a time of self discovery for her & a time that she was starting to lose weight & feel good about herself. But than things just veered in a way where I seriously wanted to throat punch him & shake Peyton!! Jace, what to say about Jace..... I liked him, kind of. He seemed real to me, you know that typical teenage boy who doesn't really know how to show or express his feelings. That boy who likes a girl but won't do anything about it because of his fear of what his peers will think. Because the girl he likes isn't the stereotypical cute skinny girl. Jace found himself drawn to Peyton but because of his fears he pretty much played with her head. I am happy to say that things seemed to work out for everyone & I got my HEA. I'm definitely gonna read The Fighter, I want to get Jace's POV. I also really loved the music aspect of this book, I could relate to that. Music & dance are my life, it's always been a good way to escape for me & Peyton used music to escape & express herself.
This book follows the main character, Peyton, through a a full year of ups and downs and massive changes in her life. During this journey, she suffers a lot of blows, but always ends up a better and stronger version of herself. We get to walk in the shoes of a girl who is in essence a social outcast - she is overweight and the target of constant abuse at school, and then she meets him.
What I liked 1. Peyton - Peyton was an interesting character. We meet her when she has essentially hit rock bottom, and we get the pleasure of struggling with her and getting to be part of her metamorphosis. But, did she really change or rather did she allow her real self to emerge? I think it was a little of both. She learns to love herself and her circumstances and along the way, other people want to love her too.
2. Peyton's friends - Peyton was blessed with a great group of supportive friends. She wasn't always honest with them, but they always had her back and they constantly tried to push her out of her comfort zone so that she could grow.
3. The author understood that this kind of growth and self-actualization takes time. There were no instantaneous rewards for Peyton. She gets a guy after a lot of work and time. She goes from an overweight, plain jane after a myriad of steps and a lot of time. I like that we had to wait patiently and we got the cheer and hope for Peyton.
And if that's not enough for you and you love a good LifeTime movie, you will love this story. There is a LOT of drama. I hope to learn more about Jace in the next book. I feel as though we just scratched the surface there, but overall, a great read where I was able to root for the underdog and watch her come out on top.
There is something hauntingly beautiful about opening a book only to discover that what you're reading is not only a love story, but a coming of age tale about truly finding yourself and loving yourself to no ones standards but your own. Pieces of Me from Kira Adams is that and so much more that it has me immediately diving into the next installment of the series.
Upon reading the first chapter, you learn so much about Peyton Lane in a way that not many YA books choose to start with- surviving an attempted suicide. But it's that very incident that lets you see into her soul. She's taunted and tormented, and overweight, but smart and beautiful, and determined to to turn her life around.
We get to experience her story throughout her junior year of high school through her eyes and it's such a remarkable journey to join her on! In a year she goes from the bottom of the totem pole to the top; from never having held hands with someone to dating one of the hottest guys in school; from being a nobody to being someone people want to know and be best friends with. But we also get to experience the loss, the devastation, the grief and the heartache right along side her.
And all of that is where Kira Adams truly got me. Every good moment made me feel like I was soaring high like I was personally living those moments. Every sorrowful moment made me clench my hand over my crying heart as if it were me personally experiencing the loss.
Add in a mix of amazing characters - Peyton's two best friends; her sister; and the guys who take the amazing voyage with her, Jax, Jace and Colton - and you will see why Kira has such a profound way of sucking you into her stories and reaching for the next one as soon as you've finished.
This book had me hooked from the very first paragraph, it was such a shocking harsh opening and I knew the book would be amazing. I love that the protagonist, Peyton, is overweight, that's something that sadly isn't seen enough, and it's the first book I've ever read that features this. It's the most realistic YA book I've ever read, especially in the way relationships are shown. Most books, it's love at first sight, easy love, and friendships are immediate. Not this book! Not for Peyton! She makes people work for her trust and affection, and I loved that. It wasn't immediately obvious who she would end up with, which kept the book from getting predictable. I'm incredibly happy with who she ended up with.
SPOILERS
The scene with Jax in the hotel after the dance had me on tenterhooks. I was literally sitting bolt upright, holding my breath. I must say, I felt incredibly relieved after his accident. I think that shows just how good this book is, that it had such a big effect.
END OF SPOILERS
The writing in this book was fantastic, Kira Adams has perfected the voice of a teenage girl, something most writers are unable to do. They've all been teenagers, but it seems that they forget how to be one once they start writing. I've never read a book with such a perfect protagonist voice as this one, and it's been a lovely change.
I rated this book 5 stars on Goodreads.
This book was given to me in exchange for an honest review. My views are in no way affected by the author or publisher.
I received this book from the author in exchange for my honest review. So here goes :)
3.5 Engrossing Stars
I read this book in a day pretty much. It sucked me in and had me wondering what would happen next in the story. I do read YA/NA books on a fairly regular basis, though they aren't typically geared towards my age. I still enjoy them a great deal. This one sucks you in and takes you back to high school, good or bad you are there remembering what is was like being popular, what is was like being unpopular, just what it was like in general.
You first meet Peyton Lane, a junior in high school when she isn't at her best. She struggles with not fitting in, being overweight, being unpopular, thinking her sister doesn't like her, body image issues, and various other issues you expect to find in high school. She has her first kiss, has her first love, and many other firsts for her. The story follows her through situations that seem to keep dragging her down and she just keeps trying to get ahead and rise to the occasion. She will find her voice within the story and you see her transformation though some insecurities are still there.
There are several love interests and at times you begin to wonder when is enough enough? There is Colton the lead guitarist of a band Peyton loves. Jace & Jax the twins, she has lusted after Jax all her life and Jace is his twin and new in town. I don't want to give too much away so you just have to read to see what happens.
It is well worth the read and there is some suspense involved that keeps you reading.
Ok, this was the best book of the three given to me by the author in exchange for an honest review.
Wow, just wow! Peyton is such and easy character to like, and I could relate to her on a personal level. I love that she tells us about her issues with weight (tho personally I think a size 15 is nothing near 'fat') and everybody has those issues. She is strong and although she has a bump in the road, after the ordeal had settled she gained clarity and realised that isn't the route she wants, so she stands tall, yet still tries to remain in the background :) Jace.. What can I say.. He reminds me a little of Parker (from the forever series) so instantly I was able to image the guy he reminds me of, acting in this story. He's sweet, and loyal but being as young as they are, is also a little affected by peer pressure, tho that doesn't stop him falling for Peyton, at any size :) Jax on the other hand is the complete opposite.. I love a good 'hate this character' guy, but after what Jace puts up with I wonder if his father is the reason for his Jekyll and Hyde personality. Everything is written perfectly, and I loved the story! I loved the fact that her family become closer, she realises her worth, and of course I loved the introduction of the different guy characters, adding to her confusion :)
Hope the second book doesn't take to long to come out because I definitely need to finish these characters story!! Awwww to be young again ;)
I really loved this YA story. There was a LOT going on and sometimes I dislike that ( I don't like it when there is a lot of drama in books) but this one didn't seem like drama to me. It was more of real life problems that teens deal with in their lives and although I didn't go through any of it like Peyton did, I really liked reading about her struggles and everything that she was going through. Characters are likable and you will fall in love with quite a few. I liked that Peyton was not quite sure of what she wanted and who, she had a few boys she liked and you don't really know who will be the love interest till later in the story. The villain in the story was a bully and you might hate him, the author did a great job at making him bad enough for you to hate. There were some sad moments, not ugly cry kind of moments, but this story does make you feel emotion. There are some twists that you don't see coming, or at least I didn't and it made for a very interesting plot. I was never bored with the story, it does have a lot going on enough to keep you interested throughout. I loved the lyrics to the songs at the beginning of every chapter, I really enjoyed reading them all. There is a love story of course, a young love story so even though it does have sexual content it does not have steamy sex scenes so don't expect that when reading. The story is very good without them anyways ;) I will recommend to my friends.
(Complimentary Copy from author in exchange for honest review)
Payton is insecure about her weight and being bullied at school, Payton is a plain jane who has a big ass crush on Jax but she doesn't realise it's Jace she really likes.
Jace is sweet, handsome guy who likes plus size Payton they both talk and get to know each other and become friends. Jace invites Payton and her friends to a party and she meets the ugly side of Jace but really it's Jace's brother Jax she meets, Jace and Jax are twin brothers that really look like each other.
Payton meets Colton who is in a band because Payton and her friends start a band together and they play along side Colton's band, Colton is a really nice guy he helps Payton realise that she is beautiful on the inside and outside but Jace helps her to trust and fall in love.
Payton doesn't know what she wants Colton or Jace it takes a big ass accident and Colton coming to see her that everything changed, she started to love Jace to me she loved him from day one it just took longer for her to realise it.
The ending was really nice I had a big smile on my face it's nice to know that Payton finally got what she wanted to be loved for who ahe really is the sweet, caring girl with a large heart which to me is really sweet.
I must say I really loved this book it gave me the insight to her life and what she wanted.
Pieces of Me is a book that took me back to high school and I felt like I was reading from my best friend's perspective from that time. She struggled with her weight, and acted so much like Peyton, the main character, did. So, Peyton's insecurities, naivety, and struggles with confidence felt so real and familiar to me.
This was a book that I really had a hard time putting down. The storyline is absolutely addicting and this author has a way with words that is beautiful. I loved the lyrics at the beginning of each chapter and seeing how they played into Peyton's story. I loved the multiple love interests that kept me guessing who Peyton was going to end up... And I, of course, loved her choice!
I was struggling with deciding whether or not to give this book 4 or 5 stars. Seriously, the only thing I disliked were some missing commas and a few other things that could have been edited better (those who know me, know I'm a bit of a grammar nerd). However, the storyline is so fantastic that I could overlook them since it wasn't horrible or anything. So, I'm going with 5 stars.
I am definitely going to be reading more from this author. I'm so glad that she reached out for me for a review, because I'm not sure I would have come across her otherwise.
*Note: I received a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but it did not alter my opinion of it in any way.
As someone who has always struggled with their weight, I really connected with Peyton. I was her size in school and I was bullied and made fun and I remember those moments where I considered ending it all. The way Peyton was so concerned with her appearance and losing weight and then how she looked after she lost the weight, I completely understood. When people continuously point out your weight issues and make comments, etc it makes it hard to get those thoughts out of your head. Even when you lose the weight you always see yourself as the 'fat girl'. Jace is every chubby girls dream. The popular cute boy is sweet too. We had a couple of those in my school that were dreamy and I could picture them as the character of Jace. This story was very fast paced, a lot of events occur. Poor Peyton went through a lot of rotten experiences before getting to feel happy, just to have it ripped away from her because she wouldn't allow herself to trust. The ending was not left on a cliffhanger, but there is another book. I look forward to reading book 2!
I received this book for an honest review from the author. I loved this book. For me it was a very quick and interesting read. The author does something that most authors are unable to do accomplish and that is being a teenage girl. When I first opened up this book I was unsure of what I was going to read. Payton is a young girl who is obese and is falling in love with the wrong twin brother. Payton is a girl who tried take her life away and now is on watch by her family. I am always wondering what the title has to do with the story and the title Pieces of Me really worked. After she attempted suicide she is now trying to gather up what is left of her. I was probably one of the few that did not like the poems at the beginning of each chapter. I thought it was a way for the reader to be more in the shoes of Payton when the story already did that. Over all I would recommend this book to anyone.
If you ever had to go through life with a taste of guilt, due to how you imagine yourself to be "ugly", please don't even attempt it! There's always a vision of hope knocking at your door and that is what I saw reading this novel.
In this book, a beautiful, yet confused woman named Peyton Lane goes through a life full of obstacles: where there was pain, heartbreaks, image crisis and a horrible accident; that faith hardly even intended to be a part of her. But through all of these ordeals, she learned how to love her family and 'true' friends all over again. And in between these episodes there was romances she endured and had to figure out if it was worth fighting for.
I hope readers that have difficulty accepting themselves will be able to find comfort in this book as it did for me.